Patents by Inventor Lee A. Smith

Lee A. Smith 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: 11585059
    Abstract: A pier mat of erosion control blocks for abating erosion around piers of a wharf. A mat of blocks is arranged so as to have a linear end edge and a vacant space formed in an opposite end edge thereof, where the vacant space is for surrounding at least a part of a pier. A linear end edge of another similar pier mat is installed so as to abut the end edge of the first mat having the vacant space, thereby fully surrounding the pier. A method of installing a pier mat of erosion control blocks is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Lee A. Smith
  • Patent number: 11555284
    Abstract: An articulated concrete block system that includes a gabion mattress drainage layer. The two major components of the system reduce the effects of erosion and increase the hydraulic stability in areas that experience high velocity water flows, hydraulic jumps, and will dissipate wave energy action for shoreline and coastal erosion. Geosynthetics are first placed on the ground surface, followed by a gabion mattress drainage layer, a smaller aggregate layer for fine grading, another optional geosynthetic layer, and then the articulated concrete blocks overlie the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventor: Lee A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10322525
    Abstract: Disclosed is a universal mold having removable arm members and socket members that can be configured to fabricate the border blocks, the corner blocks and the interior blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventor: Lee A. Smith
  • Patent number: 9797106
    Abstract: A revetment block for reducing the energy of water flowing over a levee. The revetment blocks each have a tapered top surface that tapers upwardly from a downstream end of the block to an upstream end of the block. The upwardly tapered top surface terminates in an abrupt downward transition edge. When plural tapered top blocks are installed together in a mat on a surface of the levee, the oncoming water surge encounters the many abrupt transition edges and reduces the energy of the water surge. The tapered top revetment blocks can be installed on the water side of the levee, or on the land side of the levee, or both sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventors: Lee A. Smith, James S. Kole, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9605389
    Abstract: A mat of revetment blocks formed with interior revetment blocks having interlocking arms and sockets. The mat has opposing sides formed with revetment toe blocks having either an arm or socket that interlocks with a socket or arm of the interior revetment blocks. The toe blocks each have an outer linear edge that forms a linear border of the mat. The toe blocks rest on respective anchor portions that extend into the ground. The mat can be used to form a roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Lee A. Smith
  • Patent number: 9499950
    Abstract: Positive interlocking revetment blocks adapted for providing a matrix having one or more linear borders. Disclosed are border blocks that each have one side without an interlocking arm or socket, thus providing part of a linear side of the matrix. Disclosed also are corner blocks that each have two sides without an interlocking arm or socket, thus providing part of linear sides to the matrix. Interior interlocking blocks are constructed for interlocking with the border blocks and the corner blocks, and with each other to form a matrix that has one or more linear sides. Also disclosed is a universal mold having removable arm members and socket members that can be configured to fabricate the border blocks, the corner blocks and the interior blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventor: Lee A. Smith
  • Patent number: 8678704
    Abstract: A revetment block with a top surface that is tapered upwardly from the upstream end to the downstream end. Thus, when a number of tapered blocks are installed end to end on a grade, the upstream end of any of the blocks can be raised due to underlying ground irregularities without degrading the safety factor of the blocks. The tapered revetment blocks can also be constructed with positive interlocking arms and sockets to enhance the integrity of a matrix of such blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Erosion Prevention Products, LLC
    Inventors: Lee A. Smith, James S. Kole, Jr., James R. DeShaw
  • Patent number: 8678705
    Abstract: An erosion control block having registration ribs and slots on opposite edge surfaces to align neighbor blocks together in a cabled mat of blocks. The blocks have a pair of parallel cable channels therethrough, as well as a single orthogonal cable channel formed therethrough. With this arrangement, the blocks are versatile and can be configured in a mat of side-by-side blocks, or in a mat of staggered blocks. Neighbor mats can be easily fastened together. The parallel cable channels are formed through the block at a location adjacent an articulation edge so that when a mat of cabled blocks are lifted in a catenary, the articulation between blocks is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Erosion Prevention Products, LLC
    Inventors: Lee A. Smith, James R. DeShaw
  • Patent number: 8123435
    Abstract: A concrete revetment block having interlocking arms and sockets and an array of vegetation holes. Two arms and two sockets are formed in the block to provide interlocking capabilities with neighbor blocks of a mat. One arm of the block is constructed with a partial thickness and one socket is constructed with a partial depth, thereby providing vertical interlocking capabilities with the neighbor blocks. An array of holes is formed through the block to allow vegetation to grow therethrough. Various holes are located in the block to allow easy grasping of the block by a workman for lifting the same. The holes are formed in the core square of the block, with respective diameters related to the thickness of the block to maximize the hydraulic stability of the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Erosion Prevention Products, LLC
    Inventors: James R. DeShaw, Lee A. Smith
  • Patent number: 8123434
    Abstract: A concrete interlocking revetment block having a pair of arms and a pair of sockets. The arms have enlarged ends and the sockets have enlarged cavities to interlock similar blocks together and prevent lateral separation. The arms extend outwardly from respective side edges of the block, with radial axes orthogonal to each other so as to be adjacent to each other. The sockets are formed into respective side edges of the block, with radial axes orthogonal to each other so as to also be adjacent to each other. The depth of at least one socket is less than the thickness of the block. A portion of the socket is thus covered with concrete to thereby provide reinforcement between adjacent sockets of the block, and reduce incidences of breakage. At least one arm is also formed with a thickness less than the thickness of the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Erosion Prevention Products, LLC
    Inventor: Lee A. Smith
  • Patent number: 7037037
    Abstract: An erosion control block having male tab members and female socket members providing an interlocking relationship with neighbor blocks so that lateral removal therebetween is prevented. The erosion control block includes cable channels formed therein from respective opposite corners of the block so that an axis of the cable channels forms an “X” in said block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Erosion Prevention Products, LLC
    Inventors: Lee A. Smith, Belinda F. Smith
  • Patent number: 6955500
    Abstract: A method of cabling erosion control blocks of a mat together. The blocks have formed therein cable channels in a cris-cross manner, diagonally between the corners of each block. Cables are threaded through the blocks in a zig-zag manner, from the top of the mat to the bottom of the mat. The ends of the cables are terminated at two opposing sides of the mat so that the mat can be lifted by a spreader bar. The cables at the other two opposing sides of the mat are terminated for attachment to adjacent mats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Erosion Prevention Products, LLC
    Inventors: Lee A. Smith, Belinda F. Smith, James S. Kole, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6508607
    Abstract: A block having a semicircular male lobe and a semicircular female recess on opposing sides thereof. On other opposing sides of the block, there is formed a side edge shape such that when neighboring blocks are placed together, a circuitous water channel is formed between the blocks. The block includes cable channels formed therethrough, with the cable channels opening at the side edges into cable cavities. The cable cavities facilitate access to ends of the cables when the blocks are placed side by side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Inventors: Lee A. Smith, Belinda F. Smith
  • Patent number: 6276870
    Abstract: A method for installing and replacing revetment blocks in a cabled matrix. Each revetment block has a large opening therein for access to the cables that pass therethrough. The cable of a broken block is severed in the opening, and the parts of the broken block are removed. The ends of the severed cable are threaded through a replacement revetment block, and the block is lowered into place in conjunction with the neighboring blocks. The ends of the severed cable are pulled into the opening in the block and spliced together, preferably using a ferrule that is crimped to the ends of the severed cable. The large opening in each block also facilitates threading the cables through the rows of blocks in a matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Erosion Prevention Products, LLC
    Inventor: Lee A. Smith
  • Patent number: 5752038
    Abstract: A method and system for determining an optimal placement order for code portions within a module to improve locality of reference and reduce the working set of the module are provided. The optimal placement order for code portions within a module reflects the concurrency of usage for code portions during execution of the module. All code portions which execute within a certain period of time are placed in close proximity to each other within the executable module. When determining the optimal placement order for each code portion, the present invention executes an instrumented version of the module to collect execution data for each code portion, analyzes the execution data to determine the optimal placement order for each code portion, and links the code portions according to the determined optimal placement order. The instrumented version of the module contains instructions that, when executed, cause execution data to be recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Russ Blake, M. Reza Baghai, Lee A. Smith
  • Patent number: 5556228
    Abstract: An erosion control block of octagonal shape, having a pair of arms extending from a peripheral side edge thereof, and a pair of cavities formed in the block with openings to the peripheral side edge. The block interlocks with other similar blocks and provides an effective interlocked matrix of such blocks. The arms have enlarged ends that loosely fit within the cavities, thereby allowing rotation about a vertical axis of one block with regard to another block. When two blocks are interlocked and rotated to the fullest extent, peripheral edges of the blocks abut, thereby placing a radial tension strain on the neck of the arm, rather than a lateral strain, thereby reducing the possibility of breakage of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Inventor: Lee A. Smith
  • Patent number: D360022
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Inventor: Lee A. Smith
  • Patent number: D360024
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Inventor: Lee A. Smith
  • Patent number: D360025
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Inventor: Lee A. Smith
  • Patent number: D688817
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Erosion Prevention Products, LLC
    Inventors: Lee A. Smith, James R. DeShaw