Patents by Inventor James L. Lawrence
James L. Lawrence has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10399845Abstract: A testable overfill prevention valve (“TOPV”) for a liquid storage container. The TOPV allows an individual to readily verify the operability of the TOPV. Preferably, a test member of directly contacts a portion of a latch to release a flow control member so that the flow control member can move from an open position to a closed position wherein in the closed position liquid is generally prevented from flowing out the TOPV. The test member preferably directly contacts the flow control member to move the control member to an intermediate position between open and closed positions allowing an individual looking down into the TOPV to see that the flow control member has moved sufficiently to confirm operability of the TOPV. Preferably, the test member is spring biased to a non-testing position and the entire test member is disposed in the housing of the TOPV when in a testing position.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: EMCO WHEATON RETAIL CORPORATIONInventors: James L. Lawrence, Nicholas P. Clontz
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Patent number: 10352017Abstract: A manhole cover assembly removably supported by a manhole skirt or rim wherein when the manhole cover assembly is removed from the manhole skirt or rim an individual can access one or more components (e.g., underground fuel storage tank) through an opening in the manhole skirt or rim. Preferably, the manhole cover assembly is light weight and very strong so that there is little or no deflection of the cover of the manhole cover assembly when subjected to a predetermined load. Preferably, the manhole cover assembly is adapted for use in refueling stations to withstand the load placed thereon when a refueling tanker or other vehicle runs over the manhole cover assembly with little or no deflection of the cover of the manhole cover assembly. Preferably, the assembly forms a liquid tight seal with the manhole skirt to prevent liquid from passing into the storage area below the skirt.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2018Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: EMCO WHEATON RETAIL CORPORATIONInventors: Matthew Steven Granger, James L. Lawrence
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Publication number: 20190092618Abstract: A testable overfill prevention valve (“TOPV”) for a liquid storage container. The TOPV allows an individual to readily verify the operability of the TOPV. Preferably, a test member of directly contacts a portion of a latch to release a flow control member so that the flow control member can move from an open position to a closed position wherein in the closed position liquid is generally prevented from flowing out the TOPV. The test member preferably directly contacts the flow control member to move the control member to an intermediate position between open and closed positions allowing an individual looking down into the TOPV to see that the flow control member has moved sufficiently to confirm operability of the TOPV. Preferably, the test member is spring biased to a non-testing position and the entire test member is disposed in the housing of the TOPV when in a testing position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: James L. Lawrence, Nicholas P. Clontz
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Patent number: 9228690Abstract: An apparatus for repairing an existing spill containment manhole operably associated with an underground fuel storage tank. The apparatus includes a containment vessel for containing fuel spilled during filling of the underground fuel storage tank. A major portion of the containment vessel is adapted to be inserted into an existing spill containment manhole. Preferably, the containment vessel includes an upper annular flange that extends over and surrounds a portion of an existing cover rim of an existing spill containment manhole thereby isolating an upper portion of the containment vessel from an upper portion on the existing spill containment manhole when the containment vessel is installed. Optionally, a replacement cover is provided to replace an existing cover of the existing spill containment manhole. The replacement cover may include at least one sealing member that engages the inner surface of the at least one wall of the containment vessel when installed.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2013Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Emco Wheaton Retail CorporationInventor: James L. Lawrence
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Publication number: 20130233402Abstract: An apparatus for repairing an existing spill containment manhole operably associated with an underground fuel storage tank. The apparatus includes a containment vessel for containing fuel spilled during filling of the underground fuel storage tank. A major portion of the containment vessel is adapted to be inserted into an existing spill containment manhole. Preferably, the containment vessel includes an upper annular flange that extends over and surrounds a portion of an existing cover rim of an existing spill containment manhole thereby isolating an upper portion of the containment vessel from an upper portion on the existing spill containment manhole when the containment vessel is installed. Optionally, a replacement cover is provided to replace an existing cover of the existing spill containment manhole. The replacement cover may include at least one sealing member that engages the inner surface of the at least one wall of the containment vessel when installed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2013Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: Emco Wheaton Retail CorporationInventor: James L. Lawrence
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Patent number: 8425145Abstract: An apparatus for repairing an existing spill containment manhole operably associated with an underground fuel storage tank. The apparatus includes a containment vessel for containing fuel spilled during filling of the underground fuel storage tank. A major portion of the containment vessel is adapted to be inserted into an existing spill containment manhole. The containment vessel includes at least one wall that surrounds an existing pipe section operably associated with the underground fuel storage tank when the containment vessel is installed. The at least one wall has an inner surface and an outer surface. Preferably, the containment vessel includes an upper annular flange that extends over and surrounds a portion of an existing cover rim of an existing spill containment manhole thereby isolating an upper portion of the containment vessel from an upper portion on the existing spill containment manhole when the containment vessel is installed.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2010Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Emco Wheaton Retail CorporationInventor: James L. Lawrence
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Patent number: 8066037Abstract: A nozzle for dispensing fuel into a vehicle having a body portion and a spout extending from the body portion. The spout passes fuel from the body portion to a vehicle during refueling. The body portion includes a fuel flow control member for allowing or preventing fuel from passing through the body portion and the spout. A fuel collector collects fuel remaining in the body portion and the spout after the fuel flow control member shuts-off the flow of fuel through the body portion and the spout. Preferably, the fuel collector is configured to allow fuel collected in the fuel collector when the vehicle is being refueled to drain into the fuel tank of the vehicle after the flow control member prevents fuel from passing through the body portion and the spout but prior to removal of the spout from the fuel tank of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2008Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: EMCO Wheaton Retail CorporationInventors: James L. Lawrence, Charles S. Pearson, Didier Kaczmarek
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Publication number: 20110243658Abstract: An apparatus for repairing an existing spill containment manhole operably associated with an underground fuel storage tank. The apparatus includes a containment vessel for containing fuel spilled during filling of the underground fuel storage tank. A major portion of the containment vessel is adapted to be inserted into an existing spill containment manhole. The containment vessel includes at least one wall that surrounds an existing pipe section operably associated with the underground fuel storage tank when the containment vessel is installed. The at least one wall has an inner surface and an outer surface. Preferably, the containment vessel includes an upper annular flange that extends over and surrounds a portion of an existing cover rim of an existing spill containment manhole thereby isolating an upper portion of the containment vessel from an upper portion on the existing spill containment manhole when the containment vessel is installed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2010Publication date: October 6, 2011Inventor: James L. Lawrence
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Patent number: 7735529Abstract: A nozzle for dispensing fuel into a vehicle. The nozzles includes a body portion and a spout extending from the body portion. The spout passes fuel from the body portion to a vehicle. The body portion includes a fuel flow control member for allowing or preventing fuel from passing through the body portion and the spout into the vehicle. The spout has first and second portions. The first portion of the spout is positioned adjacent the body portion and the second portion of the spout is removed from the body portion. Preferably, at least one fuel collection member is provided for collecting fuel remaining in the body portion and the spout after the fuel control member shuts-off the flow of fuel through the spout to prevent dripping of fuel from the end of the spout.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2007Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: EMCO Wheaton Retail CorporationInventors: James L. Lawrence, Charles S. Pearson, Jose Rodriguez
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Publication number: 20090050233Abstract: A nozzle for dispensing fuel into a vehicle. The nozzles includes a body portion and a spout extending from the body portion. The spout passes fuel from the body portion to a vehicle during refueling. The body portion includes a fuel flow control member for allowing or preventing fuel from passing through the body portion and the spout into the vehicle. A fuel collector collects fuel remaining in the body portion and the spout after the fuel flow control member shuts-off the flow of fuel through the body portion and the spout. Preferably, the fuel collector is configured to allow fuel collected in the fuel collector when the vehicle is being refueled to drain into the fuel tank of the vehicle after the flow control member prevents fuel from passing through the body portion and the spout but prior to removal of the spout from the fuel tank of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2008Publication date: February 26, 2009Inventors: James L. Lawrence, Charles S. Pearson, Didier Kaczmarek
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Patent number: 7216680Abstract: A nozzle for dispensing fuel into a vehicle. The nozzle includes a body portion and a spout extending from the body portion. The spout passes fuel from the body portion to a vehicle. The body portion includes a fuel flow control member for allowing or preventing fuel from passing through the body portion and the spout into the vehicle. The spout has first and second portions. The first portion of the spout is positioned adjacent the body portion and the second portion of the spout is removed from the body portion. Preferably, at least one fuel collection member is provided for collecting fuel remaining in the body portion and the spout after the fuel control member shuts-off the flow of fuel through the spout to prevent dripping of fuel from the end of the spout.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2006Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: EMCO Wheaton Retail CorporationInventors: James L. Lawrence, Charles S. Pearson, Jose Rodriguez
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Patent number: 6983772Abstract: A nozzle for dispensing fuel into a vehicle. The nozzles includes a body portion and a spout extending from the body portion. The spout passes fuel from the body portion to a vehicle. The body portion includes a fuel flow control member for allowing or preventing fuel from passing through the body portion and the spout into the vehicle. The spout has first and second portions. The first portion of the spout is positioned adjacent the body portion and the second portion of the spout is removed from the body portion. Preferably, at least one fuel collection member is provided for collecting fuel remaining in the body portion and the spout after the fuel control member shuts-off the flow of fuel through the spout to prevent dripping of fuel from the end of the spout.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2004Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: Emco Wheation Retail CorporationInventors: James L. Lawrence, Charles S. Pearson, Jose Rodriguez
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Patent number: 6161591Abstract: A flexible hose construction and method of making the same are provided, the flexible hose construction comprising an inner tube made of polymeric material, an outer sleeve of reinforcing material disposed in telescoping relation on the inner tube from one end thereof to the other end thereof, rib structure disposed between the sleeve of reinforcing material and the inner tube, the rib structure being disposed on the inner tube so as to define alternating coil structure of rib structure and coil structure of non-rib structure serially along the longitudinal axis of the inner tube in a like repeating pattern thereof, the coil structure of non-rib structure comprise coil structure of void space, and an outer tube of polymeric material disposed between the rib structure and the sleeve of reinforcing material so as to extend in a generally straight-line manner from coil structure of the rib structure to coil structure of the rib structure so as to tend to prevent the sleeve of reinforcing material from entering iType: GrantFiled: July 29, 1999Date of Patent: December 19, 2000Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey J. Winter, Homer N. Holden, James L. Lawrence
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Patent number: 6039082Abstract: A flexible hose construction and method of making the same are provided, the flexible hose construction comprising an inner tube made of polymeric material, an outer sleeve of reinforcing material disposed in telescoping relation on the inner tube from one end thereof to the other end thereof, rib structure disposed between the sleeve of reinforcing material and the inner tube, the rib structure being disposed on the inner tube so as to define alternating coil structure of rib structure and coil structure of non-rib structure serially along the longitudinal axis of the inner tube in a like repeating pattern thereof, the coil structure of non-rib structure comprise coil structure of void space, and an outer tube of polymeric material disposed between the rib structure and the sleeve of reinforcing material so as to extend in a generally straight-line manner from coil structure of the rib structure to coil structure of the rib structure so as to tend to prevent the sleeve of reinforcing material from entering iType: GrantFiled: May 6, 1999Date of Patent: March 21, 2000Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey J. Winter, Homer N. Holden, James L. Lawrence
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Patent number: 6000434Abstract: A flexible hose construction and method of making the same are provided, the flexible hose construction comprising an inner tube made of polymeric material, an outer sleeve of reinforcing material disposed in telescoping relation on the inner tube from one end thereof to the other end thereof, rib structure disposed between the sleeve of reinforcing material and the inner tube, the rib structure being disposed on the inner tube so as to define alternating coil structure of rib structure and coil structure of non-rib structure serially along the longitudinal axis of the inner tube in a like repeating pattern thereof, the coil structure of non-rib structure comprise coil structure of void space, and an outer tube of polymeric material disposed between the rib structure and the sleeve of reinforcing material so as to extend in a generally straight-line manner from coil structure of the rib structure to coil structure of the rib structure so as to tend to prevent the sleeve of reinforcing material from entering iType: GrantFiled: May 29, 1998Date of Patent: December 14, 1999Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey J. Winter, Homer N. Holden, James L. Lawrence
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Patent number: 5901755Abstract: A flexible hose construction and method of making the same are provided, the flexible hose construction comprising an inner corrugated hose made of polymeric material and having a plurality of outwardly convex projections with recesses therebetween and extending from one end thereof to the other end thereof, an outer sleeve of reinforcing material disposed in telescoping relation on the inner hose, and a tube of polymeric material disposed between the sleeve of reinforcing material and the inner hose and extending in a generally straight-line manner from projection to projection of the inner hose so as to tend to prevent the sleeve of reinforcing material from entering into the recesses of the inner hose an amount that would tend to substantially reduce the flexibility characteristics of the inner hose.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1997Date of Patent: May 11, 1999Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey J. Winter, Homer N. Holden, James L. Lawrence
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Patent number: 5894865Abstract: A flexible hose construction and method of making the same are provided, the flexible hose construction comprising an inner corrugated hose made of polymeric material and having a plurality of outwardly convex projections with recesses therebetween and extending from one end thereof to the other end thereof, an outer sleeve of reinforcing material disposed in telescoping relation on the inner hose, and a tube of polymeric material disposed between the sleeve of reinforcing material and the inner hose and extending in a generally straight-line manner from projection to projection of the inner hose so as to tend to prevent the sleeve of reinforcing material from entering into the recesses of the inner hose an amount that would tend to substantially reduce the flexibility characteristics of the inner hose.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1997Date of Patent: April 20, 1999Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey J. Winter, Homer N. Holden, James L. Lawrence
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Patent number: 5715870Abstract: A flexible hose construction and method of making the same are provided, the flexible hose construction comprising an inner corrugated hose made of polymeric material and having a plurality of outwardly convex projections with recesses therebetween and extending from one end thereof to the other end thereof, an outer sleeve of reinforcing material disposed in telescoping relation on the inner hose, and a tube of polymeric material disposed between the sleeve of reinforcing material and the inner hose and extending in a generally straight-line manner from projection to projection of the inner hose so as to tend to prevent the sleeve of reinforcing material from entering into the recesses of the inner hose an amount that would tend to substantially reduce the flexibility characteristics of the inner hose.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1996Date of Patent: February 10, 1998Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey J. Winter, James L. Lawrence
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Patent number: 5462090Abstract: A flexible hose construction and method of making the same are provided, the flexible hose construction comprising an inner corrugated hose made of polymeric material and having a plurality of outwardly convex projections with recesses therebetween and extending from one end thereof to the other end thereof, an outer sleeve of reinforcing material disposed in telescoping relation on the inner hose, and a tube of polymeric material disposed between the sleeve of reinforcing material and the inner hose and extending in a generally straight-line manner from projection to projection of the inner hose so as to tend to prevent the sleeve of reinforcing material from entering into the recesses of the inner hose an amount that would tend to substantially reduce the flexibility characteristics of the inner hose.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1994Date of Patent: October 31, 1995Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey J. Winter, Homer N. Holden, James L. Lawrence
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Patent number: 5450975Abstract: A fluid storage vessel and providing spacing protrusions for creating interstitial spaces to permit fluid flow about the outer wall of the inner tank to a collection zone where leaked fluid may be detected. Leak detection devices are provided to determine if the inner tank is leaking fluid. A sump base is formed during the rotomolding process to create a secondary containment layer including a sump base of one-piece construction. The sump base includes entry ports for facilitating the insertion of conduit to access the fluid stored in the fluid storage vessel. The method used to create the secondarily contained fluid storage vessel includes a rotomolding process which provides a seamless construction and eliminates mechanical connections of either the outer shell or the sump base and the shell.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1994Date of Patent: September 19, 1995Assignee: Total Containment, Inc.Inventor: James L. Lawrence