Patents by Inventor John Richard Thorpe

John Richard Thorpe 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).

  • Patent number: 8939681
    Abstract: This invention relates to a composite bag for use in earth bag construction systems such as backfill pack systems in underground mines and a construction system using such bags. The composite bags each comprises a pair of long, narrow inner bags of woven polypropylene located longitudinally within and constrained along their length by an outer bag of woven polypropylene. In use, the composite bags are laid flat on top of one another on a working surface (for instance the footwall in an underground mine). The bags could be glued or otherwise attached to one another in this configuration. Tie elements, such as timber elongates, are threaded through aligned slits spaced apart along the length of the bags. The elongates are set against the hanging wall and a backfill slurry is pumped into the inner bags. As each inflating composite bag expands, the slurry water weeps from the bags which rise up the timber elongates during the pumping process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignees: Timrite (Pty) Ltd, Raffia Tufbag (Pty) Ltd
    Inventors: Frans Petrus Roelof Pienaar, John Richard Thorpe
  • Patent number: 8100264
    Abstract: An intermediate bulk container includes a flexible storage container, a rigid rectangular base member including a plurality of pole engaging formations on its upper surface which are arranged about its periphery, a plurality of poles, the lower end of each of which is releasably engageable with a pole engaging formation on the base so that the poles collectively provide a support cage for the storage container, a rigid pole location member (10) which includes a central opening through which the support container may be filled and a plurality of pole engaging formations with which the upper ends of the poles are releasably engageable, and bracing elements connecting a pair of poles on at least two adjacent sides of the cage to each other for holding the poles, in the planes in which they are located in the assembled container, perpendicular to the base and pole locating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Almar Packaging (Pty) Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Roy Wood, John Richard Thorpe
  • Publication number: 20110286687
    Abstract: This invention relates to a composite bag for use in earth bag construction systems such as backfill pack systems in underground mines and a construction system using such bags. The composite bags each comprises a pair of long, narrow inner bags of woven polypropylene located longitudinally within and constrained along their length by an outer bag of woven polypropylene. In use, the composite bags are laid flat on top of one another on a working surface (for instance the footwall in an underground mine). The bags could be glued or otherwise attached to one another in this configuration. Tie elements, such as timber elongates, are threaded through aligned slits spaced apart along the length of the bags. The elongates are set against the hanging wall and a backfill slurry is pumped into the inner bags. As each inflating composite bag expands, the slurry water weeps from the bags which rise up the timber elongates during the pumping process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Frans Petrus Roelof Pienaar, John Richard Thorpe
  • Patent number: 7431173
    Abstract: An intermediate bulk container comprising a storage container which is made from a suitable flexible material, a forklift pallet base including pole engaging formations on its upper surface which are arranged about its periphery, a plurality of poles the lower ends of which are releasably engageable with formations on the pallet base to provide a support cage for the storage container, a holed pole location member including pole engaging formations with which the upper ends of the poles are engageable to lock the poles together to inhibit transverse outward bulging of the storage container from between the poles and to preserve the container support cage against a load in the storage container with the underside of the pallet base and the upper surface of the pole locating member including formations, which are releasably engageable with compatible formations on containers below and above it in a stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Almar Packaging International Inc.
    Inventor: John Richard Thorpe
  • Publication number: 20070034627
    Abstract: An intermediate bulk container includes a flexible storage container, a rigid rectangular base member including a plurality of pole engaging formations on its upper surface which are arranged about its periphery, a plurality of poles, the lower end of each of which is releasably engageable with a pole engaging formation on the base so that the poles collectively provide a support cage for the storage container, a rigid pole location member (10) which includes a central opening through which the support container may be filled and a plurality of pole engaging formations with which the upper ends of the poles are releasably engageable, and bracing elements connecting a pair of poles on at least two adjacent sides of the cage to each other for holding the poles, in the planes in which they are located in the assembled container, perpendicular to the base and pole locating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Inventors: Richard Roy Wood, John Richard Thorpe
  • Patent number: D476814
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Almar Packaging International Inc.
    Inventor: John Richard Thorpe
  • Patent number: D492460
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Almar Packaging International Inc.
    Inventor: John Richard Thorpe