Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Espinosa

Thomas M. Espinosa 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: 9303399
    Abstract: A holder for a concrete anchor to be embedded in concrete, comprises base portion; a first sleeve portion vertically disposed above the base portion; post portions including vertical openings, the post portions including respective top edges for providing a shoulder to engage the nail heads when the nails are installed in the vertical openings. A concrete anchor assembly for being embedded in concrete, the assembly including the holder; and an anchor body held by the holder, the anchor body including a rod portion and a head portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas M. Espinosa
  • Publication number: 20160076239
    Abstract: A reinforced building wall comprises a foundation; an anchor rod extending from the foundation; a first stud wall disposed above the foundation, the first stud wall including a first bottom plate and a first top place; a second stud wall disposed above the first stud wall, the second stud wall including a second bottom plate and a second top plate; the first tie rod including first and second threaded end portions, the first end portion is operably connected to the anchor rod; a second tie rod including third and fourth threaded end portions, the third end portion is operably connected to the second end portion of the first tie rod; the second tie rod including an outer end portion operably attached to the second stud wall; an intermediate portion of the first tie rod is unthreaded and comprises at least about 75% of the length of the first tie rod; and an intermediate portion of the second tie rod is unthreaded and comprises at least about 75% of the length of the second tie rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas M ESPINOSA
  • Publication number: 20160069065
    Abstract: Concrete coupling assembly comprises a base holder for being attached to a concrete forming surface, the base holder including a central opening; a coupler having one end disposed within the central opening, the coupler having an axis for being positioned substantially transverse to the forming surface, the coupler having first and second threaded bores through the one end for attachment of a threaded rod; and a separate anchor body threadedly attached to another end of the coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas M. Espinosa
  • Patent number: 9222251
    Abstract: Concrete coupling assembly comprises a base holder for being attached to a concrete forming surface, the base holder including a central opening; a coupler having one end disposed within the central opening, the coupler having an axis for being positioned substantially transverse to the forming surface, the coupler having first and second threaded bores through the one end for attachment of a threaded rod; and a separate anchor body threadedly attached to another end of the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas M. Espinosa
  • Publication number: 20150308100
    Abstract: Structural member for a reinforced stud wall including a tie rod. A horizontal longitudinal hollow bearing member having a horizontal longitudinal axis and horizontal and parallel top and bottom walls extending along the horizontal longitudinal axis. The top and bottom walls are configured to support a downward compression force transverse to the top wall from the tie rod when the tie rod is attached to the top wall. First and second web flanges connect the top and bottom walls to form first and second ā€œIā€-shaped cross-sections joined together side-by-side, the web flanges extending along the longitudinal axis of the hollow bearing member. The web flanges are configured to transfer downward compression force on the top wall to the bottom wall. Opening through the top and bottom walls allows the tie rod to extend vertically therethrough, the opening being confined within a space between vertical portions of the web flanges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas M ESPINOSA
  • Publication number: 20150308101
    Abstract: An anchor for supporting a load comprises an anchor rod having a lower threaded portion for being embedded in a concrete structure and an upper portion for extending outside the concrete structure; a metallic body attached to the lower portion, the body including a top surface and a bottom surface joined by a vertical side surface; and the side surface including at least one shoulder extending therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas M. ESPINOSA
  • Patent number: 9097001
    Abstract: An anchor for supporting a load comprises an anchor rod having a lower threaded portion for being embedded in a concrete structure and an upper portion for extending outside the concrete structure; a metallic body attached to the lower portion, the body including a top surface and a bottom surface joined by a vertical side surface; and the side surface including at least one shoulder extending therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas M. Espinosa
  • Patent number: 9097000
    Abstract: A structural member for a reinforced stud wall including a tie rod connected to a foundation of the wall. The structural member comprises a longitudinal hollow member having top and bottom walls; and first and second web flanges connecting the top and bottom walls, the web flanges extending along a longitudinal axis of the hollow member. An opening through the top and bottom walls to allow the tie rod to extend therethrough, the opening being disposed between the web flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas M. Espinosa
  • Publication number: 20150197931
    Abstract: An anchor for attaching a structure to a concrete structure, comprises an anchor rod having a lower threaded portion for being embedded in a concrete structure and an upper portion for extending outside the concrete structure; an anchor body including a first threaded central opening for threadedly receiving one end portion of the lower threaded portion; and a support including a floor. The support includes a second central threaded opening through the floor portion for threadedly receiving another end portion of the lower portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas M. ESPINOSA
  • Publication number: 20150184373
    Abstract: An anchor holder for concrete decks comprises a body for being inserted into an opening in a metal deck, the body including an outside vertical wall and an opening for receiving an anchor. The body includes arms normally biased extending outwardly from the vertical wall, the arms being collapsible toward the body when the body is inserted into the opening in the metal deck and expanding outwardly after passing the opening to be disposed below the metal deck. A support is attached to the body, the support to engage a top surface of the metal deck to apply an upward force on the body and keep the collapsible arms engaged against an underside of the metal deck when the body is attached to the metal deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas M. ESPINOSA
  • Patent number: 9062452
    Abstract: A holder for a concrete anchor comprises a body including a base portion for attachment to a concrete forming surface. The body includes a projection portion extending vertically from the base portion. A coupling is attached to the projection portion at one end of the coupling. The opposite end of the coupling is for threading into an anchor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas M. Espinosa
  • Publication number: 20150078857
    Abstract: A checker nut for locking a threaded body to a threaded rod comprises a main body portion having a top bearing surface for engaging a threaded body and radial projections extending from the main body portion. The main body portion includes a central opening with a female thread, the thread for cooperating with threads on a threaded rod. The projections extend beyond the outer periphery of a threaded body to be locked by the checker nut on a threaded rod, the projections providing leverage to a user to tighten the top bearing surface against the threaded body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas M. ESPINOSA
  • Patent number: 8943777
    Abstract: An anchor for attaching a structure to a concrete structure, comprises an anchor rod having a lower threaded portion for being embedded in a concrete structure and an upper portion for extending outside the concrete structure; an anchor body including a first threaded central opening for threadedly receiving one end portion of the lower threaded portion; and a support including a floor. The support includes a second central threaded opening through the floor portion for threadedly receiving another end portion of the lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas M. Espinosa
  • Patent number: 8806835
    Abstract: A checker nut for locking a threaded body to a threaded rod, comprises a main body portion having a top bearing surface for engaging a threaded body. The main body portion includes a central opening with an inside surface. A female thread is disposed on the inside surface and extends therefrom, the female thread for cooperating with threads on a threaded rod; and the female thread is disposed on the inside surface a distance from the top bearing surface equal to at least one thread required to be passed by a threaded body on a threaded rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas M. Espinosa
  • Publication number: 20140157717
    Abstract: A holder for a concrete anchor to be embedded in concrete, comprises base portion; a first sleeve portion vertically disposed above the base portion; post portions including vertical openings, the post portions including respective top edges for providing a shoulder to engage the nail heads when the nails are installed in the vertical openings. A concrete anchor assembly for being embedded in concrete, the assembly including the holder; and an anchor body held by the holder, the anchor body including a rod portion and a head portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas M. ESPINOSA
  • Patent number: 8751206
    Abstract: Computerized online engineering tool system for specifying the various components of a holdown system that assemble a run comprising a tie rod in a frame wall structure from the foundation up through the walls to the top floor, and bearing members and tension devices securing the tie rod to the wall. The system comprises a server; a database of drawing elements and hardware component parts; a program operably associated with the server and the database with the steps of i) allowing a user to login into the server; ii) allowing the user to select options for the run; iii) providing the user a data input and calculated data page for the load at each framing level and rod size sufficient to handle the load; and allowing the user to download a shop or installation drawing of the run generated using the drawing elements and hardware component parts from the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Earthbound Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Espinosa, Edward Wayne Chin, Johan Lockhart Pingree
  • Publication number: 20140026515
    Abstract: A holder for a concrete anchor comprises a body including a base portion for attachment to a concrete forming surface. The body includes a projection portion extending vertically from the base portion. A coupling is attached to the projection portion at one end of the coupling. The opposite end of the coupling is for threading into an anchor body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas M. ESPINOSA
  • Patent number: 8511019
    Abstract: A building comprises foundation; a first stud wall; a second stud wall; the second stud wall is disposed above the second first stud wall; a tie rod operably attached to the foundation and extending within the first and second stud walls; a first nut connecting the tie rod to the second stud wall; a first spring urging the first nut and the tie rod upwardly; a second nut connecting the tie rod to one of the first stud wall and the second stud wall, the second nut being disposed below the first nut; a second spring urging the second nut and the tie rod upwardly; the first spring is configured to carry a load at least substantially equal to the weight of a portion of a length of the tie rod disposed between the first nut and the second nut; and the second spring is configured to carry a load disposed below the second nut, the portion extending to where the tie rod is attached to the foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas M. Espinosa
  • Publication number: 20130067849
    Abstract: Concrete coupling assembly comprises a base holder for being attached to a concrete forming surface, the base holder including a central opening; a coupler having one end disposed within the central opening, the coupler having an axis for being positioned substantially transverse to the forming surface, the coupler having first and second threaded bores through the one end for attachment of a threaded rod; and a separate anchor body threadedly attached to another end of the coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas M. ESPINOSA
  • Patent number: 8380470
    Abstract: A computerized online engineering tool system for specifying the various components of a holdown system that assemble a run comprising a tie rod extending inside a frame wall structure from the foundation up through the walls to the top floor, and bearing members and tension devices securing the tie rod to the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Earthbound Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Espinosa, Edward Wayne Chin, Johan Lockhart Pingree