Patents by Inventor Robert Mercier

Robert Mercier 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: 20240117835
    Abstract: A retention apparatus, system and method is useful for attaching items, panels or other devices to a rail formed in longitudinal lengths and configured with a cross-sectional profile having multiple cooperating structures between the rail and a channel nut. Self-aligning, mating structures include a recess formed between a tooth and shelf on an interior first channel portion of the rail and a flange of the channel nut with concurrent mating of an anchor latch of the rail and a hook flange on the channel nut. Latching of the channel nut is accomplished initially by compression of the biasing element as the channel nut is inserted and then, upon release, biasing element-induced movement of the channel nut into a latching position. Grounding spikes on the biasing element form electrical contact points between the rail, the clamp and the frame of the solar panel or other device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: PMC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamas KOVACS, Robert MERCIER
  • Patent number: 11891951
    Abstract: A scramjet engine with a novel isolator is disclosed herein. The scramjet includes an air inlet configured to receive and direct air into the engine and a combustor operable to receive air from the air inlet and combust fuel therein as is conventional. An isolator is positioned between the air inlet and the combustor. The isolator includes a primary flow path separated into a plurality of separate secondary flow channels formed therethrough. The smaller secondary flow channels prevent shockwaves from propagating upstream from the combustor to the inlet that can occur during some operating conditions of a supersonic combustion flow process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Robert Mercier, Mark Gruber, Ryan Milligan
  • Patent number: 11867219
    Abstract: A retention apparatus, system and method is useful for attaching items, panels or other devices to a rail formed in longitudinal lengths and configured with a cross-sectional profile having multiple cooperating structures between the rail and a channel nut including a recess formed between a tooth and shelf on an interior first channel portion of the rail and a flange of the channel nut, between an anchor latch of the rail and hook flange on the channel nut, and cooperating forces and movement of the biasing element secured to the channel nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: PMC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamas Kovacs, Robert Mercier
  • Publication number: 20230112327
    Abstract: A retention apparatus, system and method is useful for attaching items, panels or other devices to a rail formed in longitudinal lengths and configured with a cross-sectional profile having multiple cooperating structures between the rail and a channel nut including a recess formed between a tooth and shelf on an interior first channel portion of the rail and a flange of the channel nut, between an anchor latch of the rail and hook flange on the channel nut, and cooperating forces and movement of the biasing element secured to the channel nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: PMC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamas KOVACS, Robert Mercier
  • Patent number: 11619193
    Abstract: A scramjet engine with a novel isolator is disclosed herein. The scramjet includes an air inlet configured to receive and direct air into the engine and a combustor operable to receive air from the air inlet and combust fuel therein as is conventional. An isolator is positioned between the air inlet and the combustor. The isolator includes a primary flow path separated into a plurality of separate secondary flow channels formed therethrough. The smaller secondary flow channels prevent shockwaves from propagating upstream from the combustor to the inlet that can occur during some operating conditions of a supersonic combustion flow process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Robert Mercier, Mark Gruber, Ryan Milligan
  • Patent number: 11486434
    Abstract: A retention apparatus, system and method of attaching items, panels or other devices to a rail formed in longitudinal lengths configured with a cross-sectional profile having multiple cooperating structures between the rail and a channel nut including a recess formed between a tooth and shelf on an interior first channel portion of the rail and a flange of the channel nut, between an anchor latch of the rail and hook flange on the channel nut, and cooperating forces and movement of the biasing element secured to the channel nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: PMC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamas Kovacs, Robert Mercier
  • Patent number: 11060295
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bar system for securing a snow fence to a membrane pad assembly connected to a structure. The bar system comprises a base bracket with an arm attachment portion having one or more openings and an arm bracket comprising one or more openings for operably connecting to the arm attachment portion using fasteners. At least one of the openings in the base bracket is configured to operably connect to the membrane pad assembly. At least one of the one or more openings in the arm bracket comprising an arcuate opening so as to allow movement along X,Y and rotational axis, e.g. horizontally, vertically and/or to allow the arm bracket to move between an open position and a closed position relative to the arm attachment portion so as to allow entry of a bar extrusion. The bar extrusion being secured by the fasteners in the one or more openings between the arm attachment portion of the base bracket and the arm bracket so as to hold snow, ice and other objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: PMC INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Tamas Kovacs, Robert Mercier
  • Publication number: 20210102577
    Abstract: A retention apparatus, system and method of attaching items, panels or other devices to a rail formed in longitudinal lengths configured with a cross-sectional profile having multiple cooperating structures between the rail and a channel nut including a recess formed between a tooth and shelf on an interior first channel portion of the rail and a flange of the channel nut, between an anchor latch of the rail and hook flange on the channel nut, and cooperating forces and movement of the biasing element secured to the channel nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: PMC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamas KOVACS, Robert MERCIER
  • Publication number: 20200224424
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bar system for securing a snow fence to a membrane pad assembly connected to a structure. The bar system comprises a base bracket with an arm attachment portion having one or more openings and an arm bracket comprising one or more openings for operably connecting to the arm attachment portion using fasteners. At least one of the openings in the base bracket is configured to operably connect to the membrane pad assembly. At least one of the one or more openings in the arm bracket comprising an arcuate opening so as to allow movement along X,Y and rotational axis, e.g. horizontally, vertically and/or to allow the arm bracket to move between an open position and a closed position relative to the arm attachment portion so as to allow entry of a bar extrusion. The bar extrusion being secured by the fasteners in the one or more openings between the arm attachment portion of the base bracket and the arm bracket so as to hold snow, ice and other objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: PMC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamas KOVACS, Robert MERCIER
  • Patent number: D866299
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: PMC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamas Kovacs, Robert Mercier
  • Patent number: D903472
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: PMC INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Tamas Kovacs, Robert Mercier
  • Patent number: D928599
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: PMC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamas Kovacs, Robert Mercier
  • Patent number: D928600
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventors: Tamas Kovacs, Robert Mercier
  • Patent number: D929855
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: PMC INDUSTRIES, INC..
    Inventors: Tamas Kovacs, Robert Mercier
  • Patent number: D939332
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: PMC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamas Kovacs, Robert Mercier
  • Patent number: D939337
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: PMC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamas Kovacs, Robert Mercier
  • Patent number: D939338
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: PMC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamas Kovacs, Robert Mercier
  • Patent number: D939339
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: PMC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamas Kovacs, Robert Mercier
  • Patent number: D1036241
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Inventors: Tamas Kovacs, Robert Mercier
  • Patent number: D1098883
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2025
    Assignee: PMC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamas Kovacs, Robert Mercier