Patents by Inventor Timothy N. Zier

Timothy N. Zier 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: 9963854
    Abstract: A guardrail for a walkway of a machine includes a vertical channel post having an end wall and side walls forming an open channel. The vertical channel post may taper in the side-to-side and fore-aft directions as the post extends bottom to top. The vertical channel post may also transition from a generally rectangular cross-section near the bottom to a more rounded cross-section at the top. Curved top notches at the top of the vertical channel post allow a top rail of the guardrail to rest on top of the post and be attached. Intermediate notches along vertical edges of the side walls receive an intermediate rail of the guardrail. The top notches and the intermediate notches are arranged so that the top rail and the intermediate rail may be vertically aligned and parallel to each other and to the walkway enclosed by the guardrail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Madera, John M. Teter, Dennis D. Wetterich, Timothy N. Zier, Terril J. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20170130424
    Abstract: A guardrail for a walkway of a machine includes a vertical channel post having an end wall and side walls forming an open channel. The vertical channel post may taper in the side-to-side and fore-aft directions as the post extends bottom to top. The vertical channel post may also transition from a generally rectangular cross-section near the bottom to a more rounded cross-section at the top. Curved top notches at the top of the vertical channel post allow a top rail of the guardrail to rest on top of the post and be attached. Intermediate notches along vertical edges of the side walls receive an intermediate rail of the guardrail. The top notches and the intermediate notches are arranged so that the top rail and the intermediate rail may be vertically aligned and parallel to each other and to the walkway enclosed by the guardrail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Madera, John M. Teter, Dennis D. Wetterich, Timothy N. Zier, Terril J. Johnson