Patents by Inventor Joseph T. Culp

Joseph T. Culp 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: 6057012
    Abstract: A propane fuel storage tank having a fuel-containing tank body with an outer printed sleeve made of linear heat-shrink plastic material heat-shrunk in tight fitting encircling relation about the tank for preventing viewing of surface imperfections in the tank beneath the sleeve. A method of making and reconditioning propane fuel tanks is disclosed which includes loosely positioning a sleeve of such linear heat-shrinkable plastic material about the tank body and exposing the plastic sleeve to a temperature above its heat-shrink temperature to cause it to contract and tightly conform about the outer perimeter of the tank. The sleeve preferably encompasses a central cylindrical side wall of the tank, portions of the upper and lower semi-spherical end walls of the tank, and the lower foot ring, which results in a like-new reconditioned tank without the necessity for complete removal of surface imperfections and prior adhesively applied labels, or the need for complete repainting of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Blue Rhino Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph T. Culp, Richard Belmont
  • Patent number: 5922158
    Abstract: A propane fuel storage tank having a fuel-containing tank body with an outer printed sleeve made of linear heat-shrink plastic material heat-shrunk in tight fitting encircling relation about the tank for preventing viewing of surface imperfections in the tank beneath the sleeve. A method of making and reconditioning propane fuel tanks is disclosed which includes loosely positioning a sleeve of such linear heat-shrinkable plastic material about the tank body and exposing the plastic sleeve to a temperature above its heat-shrink temperature to cause it to contract and tightly conform about the outer perimeter of the tank. The sleeve preferably encompasses a central cylindrical side wall of the tank, portions of the upper and lower semi-spherical end walls of the tank, and the lower foot ring, which results in a like-new reconditioned tank without the necessity for complete removal of surface imperfections and prior adhesively applied labels, or the need for complete repainting of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Blue Rhino Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph T. Culp, Richard Belmont