Patents by Inventor ROBERT E. COMBS

ROBERT E. COMBS 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: 11725379
    Abstract: A structural reinforced composite construction mat includes a plurality of composite plastic beams that are ganged together to define the mat, with a plurality of flitch plates disposed between at least some of the plastic beams to provide additional strength and rigidity to the mat. The plastic beams may be made of a composite material have a generally rectangular cross-section. The flitch plates have a width (vertical height) when disposed between adjacent beams that is less than the width (vertical height) of the beams, such that the flitch plates may be recessed below and above the top and bottom surfaces of the mat, respectively. A plurality of rods extend in the lateral direction through the beams and plates to compress the beams and plates against each. The flitch plates may be metal or fiber-reinforced resin and may further include slotted holes to allow the beams to retract lengthwise in response to environmental changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Plastic Ties Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Claude Brown, Jr., David C. Crane, Robert E. Combs
  • Publication number: 20220268012
    Abstract: A structural reinforced composite construction mat includes a plurality of composite plastic beams that are ganged together to define the mat, with a plurality of flitch plates disposed between at least some of the plastic beams to provide additional strength and rigidity to the mat. The plastic beams may be made of a composite material have a generally rectangular cross-section. The flitch plates have a width (vertical height) when disposed between adjacent beams that is less than the width (vertical height) of the beams, such that the flitch plates may be recessed below and above the top and bottom surfaces of the mat, respectively. A plurality of rods extend in the lateral direction through the beams and plates to compress the beams and plates against each. The flitch plates may be metal or fiber-reinforced resin and may further include slotted holes to allow the beams to retract lengthwise in response to environmental changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: CLAUDE BROWN, JR., DAVID C. CRANE, ROBERT E. COMBS
  • Publication number: 20220178133
    Abstract: A structural reinforced composite construction mat includes a plurality of composite plastic beams that are ganged together to define the mat, with a plurality of flitch plates disposed between at least some of the plastic beams to provide additional strength and rigidity to the mat. The plastic beams may be made of a composite material have a generally rectangular cross-section. The flitch plates have a width (vertical height) when disposed between adjacent beams that is less than the width (vertical height) of the beams, such that the flitch plates may be recessed below and above the top and bottom surfaces of the mat, respectively. A plurality of rods extend in the lateral direction through the beams and plates to compress the beams and plates against each. The flitch plates may be metal or fiber-reinforced resin and may further include slotted holes to allow the beams to retract lengthwise in response to environmental changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: CLAUDE BROWN, JR., DAVID C. CRANE, ROBERT E. COMBS
  • Patent number: 11280079
    Abstract: A structural reinforced composite construction mat includes a plurality of composite plastic beams that are ganged together to define the mat, with a plurality of flitch plates disposed between at least some of the plastic beams to provide additional strength and rigidity to the mat. The plastic beams may be made of a composite material have a generally rectangular cross-section. The flitch plates have a width (vertical height) when disposed between adjacent beams that is less than the width (vertical height) of the beams, such that the flitch plates may be recessed below and above the top and bottom surfaces of the mat, respectively. A plurality of rods extend in the lateral direction through the beams and plates to compress the beams and plates against each. The flitch plates may be metal or fiber-reinforced resin and may further include slotted holes to allow the beams to retract lengthwise in response to environmental changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Axion Structural Innovations
    Inventors: Claude Brown, Jr., David C. Crane, Robert E. Combs
  • Publication number: 20190136503
    Abstract: A structural reinforced composite construction mat includes a plurality of composite plastic beams that are ganged together to define the mat, with a plurality of flitch plates disposed between at least some of the plastic beams to provide additional strength and rigidity to the mat. The plastic beams may be made of a composite material have a generally rectangular cross-section. The flitch plates have a width (vertical height) when disposed between adjacent beams that is less than the width (vertical height) of the beams, such that the flitch plates may be recessed below and above the top and bottom surfaces of the mat, respectively. A plurality of rods extend in the lateral direction through the beams and plates to compress the beams and plates against each. The flitch plates may be metal or fiber-reinforced resin and may further include slotted holes to allow the beams to retract lengthwise in response to environmental changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: CLAUDE BROWN, JR., DAVID C. CRANE, ROBERT E. COMBS
  • Publication number: 20190136532
    Abstract: A beam assembly includes a plastic composite beam and a flitch plate, where the flitch plate is secured to the plastic composite beam to improve the strength and rigidity of the beam. The assembly may include a plurality of rods extending through holes defined in the flitch plate and the beam to compress the flitch plate and the beam and to create a frictional engagement between the flitch plate and the beam. The flitch plate may have a height that is less than the height of the beam, such that upper and lower surfaces of the flitch plate are recessed from the upper and lower surfaces of the beam. The assembly may include two beams with a flitch plate disposed laterally between the beams. The flitch plate may include projections or protrusions that engage the beams to secure the flitch plate to the beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: CLAUDE BROWN, JR., DAVID C. CRANE, ROBERT E. COMBS
  • Publication number: 20130002408
    Abstract: An electronic system including a user interface for transmitting an operational parameter control signal in response to manual manipulation of the user interface. A processor is coupled to the user interface and adjusts an operational parameter of the electronic system in response to receiving the operational parameter control signal. An actuatable device is actuated by a user. In response to the user actuation, the actuatable device prevents the processor from adjusting the operational parameter of the electronic system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventor: Robert E. Combs, JR.
  • Patent number: 8299901
    Abstract: An electronic system including a user interface for transmitting an operational parameter control signal in response to manual manipulation of the user interface. A processor is coupled to the user interface and adjusts an operational parameter of the electronic system in response to receiving the operational parameter control signal. An actuatable device is actuated by a user. In response to the user actuation, the actuatable device prevents the processor from adjusting the operational parameter of the electronic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America
    Inventor: Robert E. Combs, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090195404
    Abstract: An electronic system including a user interface for transmitting an operational parameter control signal in response to manual manipulation of the user interface. A processor is coupled to the user interface and adjusts an operational parameter of the electronic system in response to receiving the operational parameter control signal. An actuatable device is actuated by a user. In response to the user actuation, the actuatable device prevents the processor from adjusting the operational parameter of the electronic system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventor: Robert E. Combs, JR.