Patents by Inventor Mark Steven Pettinga

Mark Steven Pettinga 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).

  • Publication number: 20250058978
    Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Publication number: 20250033898
    Abstract: In one aspect, a roller conveyor gap blocker is provided that includes a body configured to be supported in a gap by upstream and downstream rollers. The body has a plurality of laterally spaced upstream lower members with laterally aligned, upstream lower free end portions. At least one of the upstream lower free end portions has an upstream recessed portion that is above a lowermost end of one of the other laterally aligned, upstream lower free end portions to provide clearance for a drive member. The body has a plurality of laterally spaced downstream lower members of the body with laterally aligned, downstream lower free end portions. At least one of the downstream lower free end portions has a downstream recessed portion that is above a lowermost end of one of the other laterally aligned, downstream lower free end portions to provide clearance for the drive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: Mark Steven Pettinga, Parker Jensen
  • Publication number: 20240367911
    Abstract: In one aspect, a gap blocker having a body with an upper blocking portion and leg portions of the body connected to the upper blocking portion at longitudinally spaced apart locations. The leg portions of the body have an initial, undeflected configuration with at least one of the leg portions having a first orientation relative to the upper blocking portion. The leg portions of the body have an operating configuration with the body in a gap between rollers wherein the at least one of the leg portions has the first orientation relative to the upper blocking portion. The upper blocking portion has upper contact portions and the leg portions have lower contact portions for contacting the rollers. The body also has outer surface portions intermediate the upper and lower contact portions configured to be in clearance with the rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Patent number: 12071314
    Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Patent number: 12065313
    Abstract: In one aspect, a gap blocker having a body with an upper blocking portion and leg portions of the body connected to the upper blocking portion at longitudinally spaced apart locations. The leg portions of the body have an initial, undeflected configuration with at least one of the leg portions having a first orientation relative to the upper blocking portion. The leg portions of the body have an operating configuration with the body in a gap between rollers wherein the at least one of the leg portions has the first orientation relative to the upper blocking portion. The upper blocking portion has upper contact portions and the leg portions have lower contact portions for contacting the rollers. The body also has outer surface portions intermediate the upper and lower contact portions configured to be in clearance with the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Publication number: 20230416015
    Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Publication number: 20230286754
    Abstract: In one aspect, a gap blocker having a body with an upper blocking portion and leg portions of the body connected to the upper blocking portion at longitudinally spaced apart locations. The leg portions of the body have an initial, undeflected configuration with at least one of the leg portions having a first orientation relative to the upper blocking portion. The leg portions of the body have an operating configuration with the body in a gap between rollers wherein the at least one of the leg portions has the first orientation relative to the upper blocking portion. The upper blocking portion has upper contact portions and the leg portions have lower contact portions for contacting the rollers. The body also has outer surface portions intermediate the upper and lower contact portions configured to be in clearance with the rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Publication number: 20230278808
    Abstract: In one aspect, a gap blocker having a body configured to be supported in a gap of a roller conveyor by upstream and downstream rollers. The body has an upper blocking portion with upper contact portions for slidingly contacting the upstream and downstream rollers above a narrowest portion of the gap. The body further includes a plurality of laterally spaced upstream leg portions connected to the upper blocking portion and a plurality of laterally spaced downstream leg portions connected to the upper blocking portion longitudinally spaced from the upstream leg portions. The upstream leg portions have upstream distal end portions to be positioned below the narrowest portion of the gap for keeping the body in the gap. The downstream leg portions likewise have downstream end portions to be positioned below the narrowest portion of the gap for keeping the body in the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Patent number: 11713199
    Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Patent number: 11661283
    Abstract: In one aspect, a gap blocker having a body with an upper blocking portion and leg portions of the body connected to the upper blocking portion at longitudinally spaced apart locations. The leg portions of the body have an initial, undeflected configuration with at least one of the leg portions having a first orientation relative to the upper blocking portion. The leg portions of the body have an operating configuration with the body in a gap between rollers wherein the at least one of the leg portions has the first orientation relative to the upper blocking portion. The upper blocking portion has upper contact portions and the leg portions have lower contact portions for contacting the rollers. The body also has outer surface portions intermediate the upper and lower contact portions configured to be in clearance with the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Publication number: 20230102050
    Abstract: In one aspect, a gap blocker is provided for a roller conveyor having rollers for conveying an object in a downstream longitudinal direction. The rollers include adjacent rollers having a longitudinally extending gap therebetween and at least one of the rollers has an annular groove for receiving a drive member. The gap blocker includes a body configured to be supported in the gap by the adjacent rollers and an upper blocking portion of the body to extend across the gap. The body further includes a locating member configured to extend into the annular groove and inhibit lateral movement of the body in the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Publication number: 20230098268
    Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Patent number: 11597608
    Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Publication number: 20220162016
    Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Publication number: 20220089374
    Abstract: In one aspect, a gap blocker having a body with an upper blocking portion and leg portions of the body connected to the upper blocking portion at longitudinally spaced apart locations. The leg portions of the body have an initial, undeflected configuration with at least one of the leg portions having a first orientation relative to the upper blocking portion. The leg portions of the body have an operating configuration with the body in a gap between rollers wherein the at least one of the leg portions has the first orientation relative to the upper blocking portion. The upper blocking portion has upper contact portions and the leg portions have lower contact portions for contacting the rollers. The body also has outer surface portions intermediate the upper and lower contact portions configured to be in clearance with the rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Patent number: 11186448
    Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Publication number: 20210179365
    Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Publication number: 20210101757
    Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Patent number: 10913616
    Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
  • Patent number: D1064492
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Mark Steven Pettinga