Patents by Inventor Neal Hixon

Neal Hixon 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: 11628635
    Abstract: A cross-corrugated support structure includes a sheet having a first and a second set of corrugations. The first set of corrugations is defined by a series of alternating ridges and grooves that extend the length of the sheet in a first direction. The second set of corrugations is also defined by a series of ridges and grooves that extend the length of the sheet in a second direction that intersects with the first direction. The intersection of the first and second set of corrugations creates cross-corrugations throughout the sheet. To provide compressive and tensile strengths suitable for large-scale construction applications, the sheet may be made of a carbonaceous material such as carbon fiber or graphite treated to rigidly retain a shape including the first and second set of corrugations within the sheet. The sheet may be reinforced by securing support members or additional corrugated sheets to the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Structural Materials, LLC
    Inventor: Neal Hixon
  • Patent number: 11618225
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing cross-corrugated support structures is provided. A mold having a molding surface with a first plurality and a second plurality of corrugations therein is used to introduce corrugations into a flexible, carbonaceous sheet. Cross-corrugations are introduced into the sheet by placing the sheet onto the molding surface, encapsulating the sheet to form a vacuum chamber, and evacuating the vacuum chamber of air. As air is evacuated from the vacuum chamber, the sheet is drawn upon the molding surface causing the sheet to conform to the shape of the molding surface. Thermosetting resin is infused into the sheet and cured causing the sheet to rigidly retain the shape of the molding surface. The sheet is further reinforced by securing at least one support member to the sheet using thermosetting resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Structural Materials, LLC
    Inventor: Neal Hixon
  • Publication number: 20220072810
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing cross-corrugated support structures is provided. A mold having a molding surface with a first plurality and a second plurality of corrugations therein is used to introduce corrugations into a flexible, carbonaceous sheet. Cross-corrugations are introduced into the sheet by placing the sheet onto the molding surface, encapsulating the sheet to form a vacuum chamber, and evacuating the vacuum chamber of air. As air is evacuated from the vacuum chamber, the sheet is drawn upon the molding surface causing the sheet to conform to the shape of the molding surface. Thermosetting resin is infused into the sheet and cured causing the sheet to rigidly retain the shape of the molding surface. The sheet is further reinforced by securing at least one support member to the sheet using thermosetting resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Structural Materials, LLC
    Inventor: Neal Hixon
  • Patent number: 11203168
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing cross-corrugated support structures is provided. A mold having a molding surface with a first plurality and a second plurality of corrugations therein is used to introduce corrugations into a flexible, carbonaceous sheet. Cross-corrugations are introduced into the sheet by placing the sheet onto the molding surface, encapsulating the sheet to form a vacuum chamber, and evacuating the vacuum chamber of air. As air is evacuated from the vacuum chamber, the sheet is drawn upon the molding surface causing the sheet to conform to the shape of the molding surface. Thermosetting resin is infused into the sheet and cured causing the sheet to rigidly retain the shape of the molding surface. The sheet is further reinforced by securing at least one support member to the sheet using thermosetting resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Structural Materials, LLC
    Inventor: Neal Hixon
  • Publication number: 20210138714
    Abstract: A cross-corrugated support structure includes a sheet having a first and a second set of corrugations. The first set of corrugations is defined by a series of alternating ridges and grooves that extend the length of the sheet in a first direction. The second set of corrugations is also defined by a series of ridges and grooves that extend the length of the sheet in a second direction that intersects with the first direction. The intersection of the first and second set of corrugations creates cross-corrugations throughout the sheet. To provide compressive and tensile strengths suitable for large-scale construction applications, the sheet may be made of a carbonaceous material such as carbon fiber or graphite treated to rigidly retain a shape including the first and second set of corrugations within the sheet. The sheet may be reinforced by securing support members or additional corrugated sheets to the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: Applied Structural Materials, LLC
    Inventor: Neal Hixon
  • Publication number: 20200230896
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing cross-corrugated support structures is provided. A mold having a molding surface with a first plurality and a second plurality of corrugations therein is used to introduce corrugations into a flexible, carbonaceous sheet. Cross-corrugations are introduced into the sheet by placing the sheet onto the molding surface, encapsulating the sheet to form a vacuum chamber, and evacuating the vacuum chamber of air. As air is evacuated from the vacuum chamber, the sheet is drawn upon the molding surface causing the sheet to conform to the shape of the molding surface. Thermosetting resin is infused into the sheet and cured causing the sheet to rigidly retain the shape of the molding surface. The sheet is further reinforced by securing at least one support member to the sheet using thermosetting resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: Applied Structural Materials, LLC
    Inventor: Neal Hixon