Patents by Inventor Michael J Foxx

Michael J Foxx 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: 9951887
    Abstract: A pipe clamp wedge is disclosed that can be used with an existing pipe clamp anchor to secure a brake line pipe to a rail car. The wedge has a cradle portion having a concave side receiving the pipe, and a convex wedge side opposite the concave side. The cradle portion has a height increasing in a longitudinal direction, and a pair of opposed channels on lateral sides of the wedge are adapted to receive tabs on the pipe anchor. A pair of tabs on the wedge extends in the opposite direction from the tabs on the pipe anchor on either side of the cradle portion. Thus, the wedge can be slid onto the anchor, tightening around the pipe as the wedge moves in the longitudinal direction onto the anchor, and the wedge is dimensioned so that when the wedge cannot move further, the tabs on the wedge extend beyond the pipe anchor and may be bent up (toward the railcar) to secure the wedge. The parts of the combination are adapted so that sliding the pipe onto the anchor and bending the tabs may be done with a hammer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: STRATO, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Foxx, Zhen Liu, Jennifer Mak, Larry Hixon
  • Patent number: 9694832
    Abstract: A coupler head and mounting bracket combination for supporting a brake hose fitting uses a lug formed integrally with the coupler head and a support bracket mating with the lug. In embodiments, the bracket may be installed in a plurality of vertical positions on the coupler head. The bracket is maintained in a position inboard of the lateral side of the coupler head, to reduce or eliminate the likelihood that the bracket will interfere with the other equipment or the car body. Embodiments of the invention are particularly adapted for “E” type and “F” type coupler heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Strato, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Foxx, Jason Reiling, Kevin P. McGarvey, George Vermesi
  • Publication number: 20170089490
    Abstract: A pipe clamp wedge is disclosed that can be used with an existing pipe clamp anchor to secure a brake line pipe to a rail car. The wedge has a cradle portion having a concave side receiving the pipe, and a convex wedge side opposite the concave side. The cradle portion has a height increasing in a longitudinal direction, and a pair of opposed channels on lateral sides of the wedge are adapted to receive tabs on the pipe anchor. A pair of tabs on the wedge extends in the opposite direction from the tabs on the pipe anchor on either side of the cradle portion. Thus, the wedge can be slid onto the anchor, tightening around the pipe as the wedge moves in the longitudinal direction onto the anchor, and the wedge is dimensioned so that when the wedge cannot move further, the tabs on the wedge extend beyond the pipe anchor and may be bent up (toward the railcar) to secure the wedge. The parts of the combination are adapted so that sliding the pipe onto the anchor and bending the tabs may be done with a hammer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Michael J. FOXX, Jennifer Mak, Larry Hixon, Zhen Liu
  • Publication number: 20170080955
    Abstract: A coupler head and mounting bracket combination for supporting a brake hose fitting uses a lug formed integrally with the coupler head and a support bracket mating with the lug. In embodiments, the bracket may be installed in a plurality of vertical positions on the coupler head. The bracket is maintained in a position inboard of the lateral side of the coupler head, to reduce or eliminate the likelihood that the bracket will interfere with the other equipment or the car body. Embodiments of the invention are particularly adapted for “E” type and “F” type coupler heads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Michael J. Foxx, Jason Reiling, Kevin P. McGarvey, George Vermesi
  • Patent number: 8713773
    Abstract: A tool, method and system are provided adapted to remove a gasket from a glad hand fitting, and also to vent pressurized air from between two coupled glad hand fittings. A tool is provided with an angled tool head, adapted to be received in a glad hand fitting and to be positioned against a surface of the guard arm of the glad hand. The tip of the tool head is positioned against the gasket and the tool is pivoted against the glad hand to bias the gasket out of the recess in the glad hand fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Strato, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Foxx, Edgardo Jimenez
  • Publication number: 20120266458
    Abstract: A tool, method and system are provided adapted to remove a gasket from a glad hand fitting, and also to vent pressurized air from between two coupled glad hand fittings. A tool is provided with an angled tool head, adapted to be received in a glad hand fitting and to be positioned against a surface of the guard arm of the glad hand. The tip of the tool head is positioned against the gasket and the tool is pivoted against the glad hand to bias the gasket out of the recess in the glad hand fitting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Strato, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Foxx, Edgardo Jimenez
  • Patent number: 6120108
    Abstract: A wafer flange assembly designed to fit in between existing components of a freight car air braking system comprises a wafer flange having a center bore and an O-ring in surrounding relation thereto to create an airtight flowpath between the air braking system components, and further comprises a tunnel bore disposed within the wafer flange and creating an airtight flowpath from the brake cylinder line to a male quick disconnect valve mounted to the wafer flange, whereto a female quick disconnect valve may be attached to facilitate measurement of the brake cylinder line air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Strato, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J Foxx
  • Patent number: D779299
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Strato, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Foxx, Zhen Liu, Larry Hixon, Jennifer Mak
  • Patent number: D942894
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: STRATO, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Foxx, Jason Reiling