Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Fitch

Thomas C. Fitch 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: 8444343
    Abstract: A bollard assembly includes a bollard, and a load transfer member disposed in the bollard, and a shock absorber disposed within the load transfer member. A fastener extends through the load transfer member and shock absorber, and secures the bollard, load transfer member and shock absorber to a ground surface. The load transfer member adjoins the bollard so as to be disposed between the shock absorber and the bollard, and the load transfer member is configured so that when an impact force is applied to the bollard, the force is transferred from the bollard to the shock absorber via the load transfer member. The deflection is absorbed by the shock absorber so that the anchor remains undeformed and the ground remains undamaged. Moreover, due to the resilience of the shock absorber, the bollard and load transfer member are returned to a normal, upright orientation upon withdrawal of the impact load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: McCue Corporation
    Inventors: David S. McCue, Brent Hild, Teodoro A. Mesa, Thomas C. Fitch
  • Patent number: 8376650
    Abstract: A bollard assembly is disclosed that includes an elongate hollow bollard having opposed first and second ends, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, and through hole formed in the side wall. The assembly also includes a sleeve configured to receive and support a lower portion of the bollard, and a hollow cylindrical insert disposed within the lower end of the bollard. A pin protrudes outward from the insert sidewall, extends through the bollard through hole and engages the sleeve, whereby the assembly is retained in an assembled configuration. The bollard includes a prescribed breakaway line along which an upper portion of the bollard can be separated from the lower portion upon sufficient impact. Once the upper portion is broken away, the insert permits the lower portion of the bollard to be removed from the sleeve and replaced with a replacement bollard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: McCue Corporation
    Inventors: Brent Hild, Thomas C. Fitch, Teodoro A. Mesa, David S. McCue
  • Publication number: 20120301219
    Abstract: A bollard assembly includes a bollard, and a load transfer member disposed in the bollard, and a shock absorber disposed within the load transfer member. A fastener extends through the load transfer member and shock absorber, and secures the bollard, load transfer member and shock absorber to a ground surface. The load transfer member adjoins the bollard so as to be disposed between the shock absorber and the bollard, and the load transfer member is configured so that when an impact force is applied to the bollard, the force is transferred from the bollard to the shock absorber via the load transfer member. The deflection is absorbed by the shock absorber so that the anchor remains undeformed and the ground remains undamaged. Moreover, due to the resilience of the shock absorber, the bollard and load transfer member are returned to a normal, upright orientation upon withdrawal of the impact load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: McCue Corporation
    Inventors: David S. McCue, Brent Hild, Teodoro A. Mesa, Thomas C. Fitch
  • Publication number: 20120251236
    Abstract: A bollard assembly is disclosed that includes an elongate hollow bollard having opposed first and second ends, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, and through hole formed in the side wall. The assembly also includes a sleeve configured to receive and support a lower portion of the bollard, and a hollow cylindrical insert disposed within the lower end of the bollard. A pin protrudes outward from the insert sidewall, extends through the bollard through hole and engages the sleeve, whereby the assembly is retained in an assembled configuration. The bollard includes a prescribed breakaway line along which an upper portion of the bollard can be separated from the lower portion upon sufficient impact. Once the upper portion is broken away, the insert permits the lower portion of the bollard to be removed from the sleeve and replaced with a replacement bollard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: McCue Corporation
    Inventors: Brent Hild, Thomas C. Fitch, Teodoro A. Mesa, David S. McCue
  • Patent number: 7901156
    Abstract: A plate-mounted bollard which includes an internal impact absorption mechanism that enables the bollard to absorb impact forces greater than conventional plate-mounted bollards. The bollard makes use of a force transfer process that shifts impact forces to areas better able to resiliently absorb the impact without causing damage to the bollard, the impact absorption mechanism, or the ground in which the bollard is installed. The impact absorption mechanism consists of an internal resilient core rod mounted at its proximal end to a base plate which is fixed to the ground. Impact forces are then transferred through an outer shell to the distal or upper end of the internal resilient core. With energy from the impact force being distributed along the maximum length of the resilient core rod, the rod flexes and the full length of the rod is utilized to absorb the impact energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: McCue Corporation
    Inventors: David S. McCue, Daniel B. Ballou, James F. McKeever, Thomas C. Fitch, Teodoro A. Mesa, Sandra K. Jauron, Brent Hild
  • Publication number: 20100172692
    Abstract: A plate-mounted bollard which includes an internal impact absorption mechanism that enables the bollard to absorb impact forces greater than conventional plate-mounted bollards. The bollard makes use of a force transfer process that shifts impact forces to areas better able to resiliently absorb the impact without causing damage to the bollard, the impact absorption mechanism, or the ground in which the bollard is installed. The impact absorption mechanism consists of an internal resilient core rod mounted at its proximal end to a base plate which is fixed to the ground. Impact forces are then transferred through an outer shell to the distal or upper end of the internal resilient core. With energy from the impact force being distributed along the maximum length of the resilient core rod, the rod flexes and the full length of the rod is utilized to absorb the impact energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: McCue Corporation
    Inventors: David S. McCue, Daniel B. Ballou, James F. McKeever, Thomas C. Fitch, Teodoro A. Mesa, Sandra K. Jauron, Brent Hild
  • Publication number: 20080304909
    Abstract: A bollard mounting system mounts a bollard body to a stationary post mounted in the floor or ground. The bollard mounting system includes a plurality of locking protrusions and a key protrusion coupled with or otherwise integral with the post. The bollard mounting system also includes a keyed collar disposed on the bollard body. When the bollard body and the keyed collar are positioned on the post, the locking protrusions and the key protrusion engage the keyed collar locking the bollard body onto the stationary post. Installation of the bollard body only requires sliding the bollard body with the keyed collar into place over the stationary post. The locking protrusions are not externally accessible and not externally visible after the bollard body is locked in position, which reduces the likelihood of theft or damage to the locking mechanism in an aesthetically desirable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: McCue Corporation
    Inventors: DAVID S. MCCUE, Daniel B. Ballou, Brent Hild, Thomas C. Fitch, Sandra K. Jauron, James Edward Sullivan
  • Patent number: D646404
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: McCue Corporation
    Inventors: Brent Hild, Thomas C. Fitch, Teodoro A. Mesa, David S. McCue
  • Patent number: D655945
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: McCue Corporation
    Inventors: David S. McCue, Teodoro A. Mesa, Brent Hild, Thomas C. Fitch, Timothy David Stratford