Patents by Inventor Joshua E. Clapper

Joshua E. Clapper 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: 12595869
    Abstract: A polymer pipe includes a length between a first end and a second end, the length and the first end having a first diameter. The second end is a belled or female end having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. An insert device is received within the second end and has an annular body formed of a body material and has a spline portion formed as a part of the insert device. The spline portion includes a spline carried by the insert device and resiliently movable in a radial direction relative to an axis of the annular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: WESTLAKE PIPE & FITTINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew Wells, Joshua E. Clapper
  • Publication number: 20260043502
    Abstract: An anti-rotation apparatus for a pipe joint includes: a stop piece having a body with a retaining portion and a locking part; a first joint part and a second joint part coupled to one another and having an axis in a lengthwise direction of the pipe joint; a locking receptacle provided in the first joint part; and a receiving receptacle provided in the second joint part. The retaining portion of the body of the stop piece is retained in the receiving receptacle of the second joint part and the locking part protrudes in a direction of the locking receptacle. When the locking part and the locking receptacle are rotationally aligned and the locking part is disposed in the locking receptacle of the first joint part, relative rotation about the axis between the first joint part and the second joint part is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2025
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Inventors: George Ferguson, Joshua E. Clapper, Thomas Soper, Roy L. Dean, Dmitry Yashin, Andrew Wells, Austin Bragg, Andrew Schlosser, Harrison Connors, Jake Hostrander
  • Publication number: 20260043300
    Abstract: An anti-rotation apparatus for a pipe joint includes: a stop piece having a body with a retaining portion and a locking part; a first joint part and a second joint part coupled to one another and having an axis in a lengthwise direction of the pipe joint; a locking receptacle provided in the first joint part; and a receiving receptacle provided in the second joint part. The retaining portion of the body of the stop piece is disposed in the receiving receptacle of the second joint part and the locking part protrudes in a radial direction relative to the axis. When the locking part and the locking receptacle are axially and rotationally aligned, and when the locking part is disposed in the locking receptacle of the first joint part, relative rotation about the axis between the first joint part and the second joint part is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2025
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Inventors: George Ferguson, Joshua E. Clapper, Thomas Soper, Roy L. Dean, Dmitry Yashin, Andrew Wells, Austin Bragg, Andrew Schlosser, Harrison Connors, Jake Hostrander
  • Publication number: 20260043501
    Abstract: An anti-rotation apparatus for a pipe joint includes: a stop piece having a body with a retaining portion and a locking part; a first joint part and a second joint part coupled to one another and having an axis in a lengthwise direction of the pipe joint; a locking receptacle provided in the first joint part; and a receiving receptacle provided in the second joint part. The retaining portion is disposed in the receiving receptacle of the second joint part. The locking part protrudes and is movable in a radial direction relative to the axis. When the locking part and the locking receptacle are rotationally aligned, the locking part is disposed in the locking receptacle of the first joint part and relative rotation about the axis between the first joint part and the second joint part is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2025
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Inventors: George Ferguson, Joshua E. Clapper, Thomas Soper, Roy L. Dean, Dmitry Yashin, Andrew Wells, Austin Bragg, Andrew Schlosser, Harrison Connors, Jake Hostrander
  • Patent number: 12516764
    Abstract: A polymer pipe has a length between a first end and a second end. The length and the first end have a first diameter and the second end is a belled end having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. An insert device is received or pre-installed within the second end and has an annular body with a seal part coupled to the annular body and a spline groove formed in the annular body and facing radially inward. Another polymer pipe is inserted in the belled end to form a pipe joint assembly and has a mating spline groove on the outer surface. The spline groove and mating spline groove axially align and receive a spline therein to axially interlock the two polymer pipes to form a pipe joint assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2026
    Assignee: WESTLAKE PIPE & FITTINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew Wells, Joshua E. Clapper
  • Patent number: 12264763
    Abstract: A pipe system includes a tubular body with an axis, a bore that is axial and a retainer groove formed in the bore of the tubular body. A retainer is mounted in the retainer groove. An entirety of the retainer is both axially movable and radially movable relative to the retainer groove during formation of a pipe assembly with a pipe in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: WESTLAKE PIPE &FITTINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, Dmitry Yashin, Roy L. Dean
  • Patent number: 12203581
    Abstract: A polymer pipe has a length between a first end and a second end. The length and the first end have a first diameter and the second end is a belled end having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. An insert device is received within the second end and has an annular body and a spline groove formed in the annular body and facing radially inward. The insert device is pre-installed in the belled end during the belling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Westlake Pipe & Fittings Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Wells, Joshua E. Clapper
  • Patent number: 12038108
    Abstract: A pipe restraining system has first and second pipes. Each pipe has an axis and a groove adjacent an axial end thereof. A bushing bridges and hydraulically seals with the first and second pipes. First and second clamp rings removably attach the bushing to a respective one of the first and second pipes. When the pipe restraining system is assembled, axial tensile loads passing through the first pipe are transmitted through the first clamp ring, the bushing, and the second clamp ring to the second pipe. An axial distance between the first and second pipes remains substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Westlake Pipe & Fittings Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, Dmitry Yashin, Roy L. Dean
  • Publication number: 20240093816
    Abstract: A pipe system includes a tubular body with an axis, a bore that is axial and a retainer groove formed in the bore of the tubular body. A retainer is mounted in the retainer groove. An entirety of the retainer is both axially movable and radially movable relative to the retainer groove during formation of a pipe assembly with a pipe in the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, Dmitry Yashin, Roy L. Dean
  • Patent number: 11543054
    Abstract: A pipe retrieval machine includes a frame defining a decoupling region and a travel axis and a transporting mechanism supported on the frame. The transporting mechanism has a first gripping structure adjacent an infeed end of the machine and a second gripping structure adjacent an outfeed end of the machine. The decoupling region is between the first and second gripping structures. The machine has a drive system to move the first and second gripping structures at a steady state speed to direct a pipe along the travel axis. The pipe retrieval machine includes one or more safety features to stop the drive system either automatically or through manual action, one or more safety features to inhibit or prevent damage to components of the decoupling region in the event of a malfunction, or both. Methods of operating a pipe retrieval machine include any of the operation procedures, method steps, safety features, and/or functions as described and in any combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: NORTH AMERICAN PIPE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, Michael A. Dotsey, Dmitry Yashin, Aaron Blinn, Mark Brunni, John Swartzentruber
  • Patent number: 11441714
    Abstract: A pipe system has a pipe with an axis and a retainer groove formed in an exterior of the pipe near an axial end of the pipe. The pipe system also has a tubular body with an interior and one end sized to receive the axial end of the pipe therein to form a pipe assembly. The pipe system also has a retainer configured to be received in the retainer groove and to be both axially movable and radially movable relative to the retainer groove during formation of the pipe assembly and to retain the pipe and the tubular body in the pipe assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: NORTH AMERICAN PIPE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, Dmitry Yashin, Roy L. Dean
  • Publication number: 20220163156
    Abstract: A polymer pipe includes a length between a first end and a second end, the length and the first end having a first diameter. The second end is a belled or female end having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. An insert device is received within the second end and has an annular body formed of a body material and has a spline portion formed as a part of the insert device. The spline portion includes a spline carried by the insert device and resiliently movable in a radial direction relative to an axis of the annular body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew Wells, Joshua E. Clapper
  • Publication number: 20220034426
    Abstract: A pipe retrieval machine includes a frame defining a decoupling region and a travel axis and a transporting mechanism supported on the frame. The transporting mechanism has a first gripping structure adjacent an infeed end of the machine and a second gripping structure adjacent an outfeed end of the machine. The decoupling region is between the first and second gripping structures. The machine has a drive system to move the first and second gripping structures at a steady state speed to direct a pipe along the travel axis. The pipe retrieval machine includes one or more safety features to stop the drive system either automatically or through manual action, one or more safety features to inhibit or prevent damage to components of the decoupling region in the event of a malfunction, or both. Methods of operating a pipe retrieval machine include any of the operation procedures, method steps, safety features, and/or functions as described and in any combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, Michael A. Dotsey, Dmitry Yashin, Aaron Blinn, Mark Brunni, John Swartzentruber
  • Publication number: 20210301954
    Abstract: A pipe restraining system has first and second pipes. Each pipe has an axis and a groove adjacent an axial end thereof. A bushing bridges and hydraulically seals with the first and second pipes. First and second clamp rings removably attach the bushing to a respective one of the first and second pipes. When the pipe restraining system is assembled, axial tensile loads passing through the first pipe are transmitted through the first clamp ring, the bushing, and the second clamp ring to the second pipe. An axial distance between the first and second pipes remains substantially constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, Dmitry Yashin, Roy L. Dean
  • Publication number: 20210278025
    Abstract: A polymer pipe has a length between a first end and a second end. The length and the first end have a first diameter and the second end is a belled end having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. An insert device is received within the second end and has an annular body and a spline groove formed in the annular body and facing radially inward. The insert device is pre-installed in the belled end during the belling process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew Wells, Joshua E. Clapper
  • Patent number: 11098834
    Abstract: An assembly includes a tubular body having an axis, an axial end, a bore that is axial an aperture and a retainer groove formed in the bore and contiguous with the aperture. The assembly also includes a retainer mounted in the retainer groove. The retainer has a debris shield located external to the tubular body. The retainer includes a nominal configuration wherein the debris shield is configured to close off access to the aperture and the retainer groove to prevent debris from accumulating therein. In addition, the retainer includes an expanded configuration wherein the debris shield is not configured to completely close off access to the aperture and the retainer groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: NORTH AMERICAN PIPE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, Dmitry Yashin, Roy L. Dean
  • Patent number: 11098832
    Abstract: A pipe seal assembly includes a stiffener having an axis, an inner diameter (ID) and an outer diameter (OD). The seal assembly also includes an elastomer that is coupled to and extending though the stiffener, such that the elastomer is located on both the ID and the OD of the stiffener. A method of manufacturing a tubular member includes forming the tubular member with a female end; locating a seal assembly having an extension inside the female end, pressing the seal assembly into the female end to form a seal groove, belling the tubular member using the seal assembly to form a belled shape, and pressing the extension into the interior of the female end to form a spline groove inside the female end adjacent the seal groove; and then sacrificially removing the extension, but leaving the seal assembly to form a final assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: NORTH AMERICAN PIPE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, Roy Dean, John R. Magargal
  • Publication number: 20210215287
    Abstract: A polymer pipe has a length between a first end and a second end. The length and the first end have a first diameter and the second end is a belled end having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. An insert device is received or pre-installed within the second end and has an annular body with a seal part coupled to the annular body and a spline groove formed in the annular body and facing radially inward. Another polymer pipe is inserted in the belled end to form a pipe joint assembly and has a mating spline groove on the outer surface. The spline groove and mating spline groove axially align and receive a spline therein to axially interlock the two polymer pipes to form a pipe joint assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew Wells, Joshua E. Clapper
  • Patent number: 11054060
    Abstract: A pipe retrieval machine has a frame defining a decoupling region and a travel axis and a transporting mechanism having a first gripping structure adjacent an infeed end of the machine and a second gripping structure adjacent an outfeed end of the machine. The decoupling region is disposed between the first and second gripping structures. A drive system is configured to move the first and second gripping structures at a steady state speed to direct the pipe along the travel axis. A decoupling device in the decoupling region has a decoupler that is automatically operable to engage a locking part of the coupling. The decoupling device is configured to selectively and automatically stop the pipe relative to the decoupling device, to disassemble at least one pipe section from the pipe, to move the detached pipe section from the machine, and to advance the remaining pipe for disassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: NORTH AMERICAN PIPE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, Dmitry Yashin, Aaron Blinn, Mark Brunni, John Swartzentruber, Michael A. Dotsey
  • Patent number: 11035505
    Abstract: A pipe restraining system has first and second pipes. Each pipe has an axis and a groove adjacent an axial end thereof. A bushing bridges and hydraulically seals with the first and second pipes. First and second clamp rings are removably attach the bushing to a respective one of the first and second pipes. When the pipe restraining system is assembled, axial tensile loads passing through the first pipe are transmitted through the first clamp ring, the bushing and the second clamp ring to the second pipe. An axial distance between the first and second pipes remains substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: NORTH AMERICAN PIPE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua E. Clapper, Dmitry Yashin, Roy L. Dean