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).
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Patent number: 8444343Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 27, 2011Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: McCue CorporationInventors: David S. McCue, Brent Hild, Teodoro A. Mesa, Thomas C. Fitch
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Patent number: 8376650Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: McCue CorporationInventors: Brent Hild, Thomas C. Fitch, Teodoro A. Mesa, David S. McCue
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Publication number: 20120301219Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: McCue CorporationInventors: David S. McCue, Brent Hild, Teodoro A. Mesa, Thomas C. Fitch
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Publication number: 20120251236Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: McCue CorporationInventors: Brent Hild, Thomas C. Fitch, Teodoro A. Mesa, David S. McCue
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Patent number: 7901156Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 6, 2010Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: McCue CorporationInventors: David S. McCue, Daniel B. Ballou, James F. McKeever, Thomas C. Fitch, Teodoro A. Mesa, Sandra K. Jauron, Brent Hild
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Publication number: 20100172692Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2010Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: McCue CorporationInventors: David S. McCue, Daniel B. Ballou, James F. McKeever, Thomas C. Fitch, Teodoro A. Mesa, Sandra K. Jauron, Brent Hild
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Publication number: 20080304909Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2008Publication date: December 11, 2008Applicant: McCue CorporationInventors: DAVID S. MCCUE, Daniel B. Ballou, Brent Hild, Thomas C. Fitch, Sandra K. Jauron, James Edward Sullivan
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Patent number: D646404Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2010Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: McCue CorporationInventors: Brent Hild, Thomas C. Fitch, Teodoro A. Mesa, David S. McCue
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Patent number: D655945Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2011Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: McCue CorporationInventors: David S. McCue, Teodoro A. Mesa, Brent Hild, Thomas C. Fitch, Timothy David Stratford