Edward C Musil

US Patent:

7007349, Mar 7, 2006

Filed:

Mar 4, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/382996

Inventors:

Edward C. Musil - Orland Park IL, US
Richard B. Reynolds - Naperville IL, US
John H. Winkelman - Naperville IL, US
Jorge Carlos Peña Basulto - Santiago, CL
André Ribeiro Daltro-Santos - Rio de Janeiro, BR

Assignee:

Flexible Steel Lacing Company - Downers Grove IL

International Classification:

F16G 3/08

US Classification:

24 37, 1988442

Abstract:

A rubberized conveyor belt fastener is provided including a plate portion and elastomeric material that extends beyond lateral sides of the plate so that gaps between adjacent plate portions in a conveyor belt splice can be minimized. The plate portions can also include elastomeric material extending over the upper surface thereof to better absorb impact forces therewith. Preferably, the elastomeric material connects a strip of plates together. Both upper and lower plates can be provided with elastomeric material with the lower plates of solid plate fasteners having bolts preassembled thereto deriving the additional benefit of utilizing the elastomeric material to hold the bolt head in its lower plate aperture.

US Patent:

7165293, Jan 23, 2007

Filed:

Oct 7, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/246505

Inventors:

Edward C. Musil - Orland Park IL, US
Richard B. Reynolds - Naperville IL, US
John H. Winkelman - Naperville IL, US
Jorge Carlos Peña Basulto - Santiago, CL
André Ribeiro Daltro-Santos - Rid de Janeiro, BR

Assignee:

Flexible Steel Lacing Company - Downers Grove IL

International Classification:

F16G 3/08

US Classification:

24 37, 1988442

Abstract:

A rubberized conveyor belt fastener is provided including a plate portion and elastomeric material that extends beyond lateral sides of the plate so that gaps between adjacent plate portions in a conveyor belt splice can be minimized. The plate portions can also include elastomeric material extending over the upper surface thereof to better absorb impact forces therewith. Preferably, the elastomeric material connects a strip of plates together. Both upper and lower plates can be provided with elastomeric material with the lower plates of solid plate fasteners having bolts preassembled thereto deriving the additional benefit of utilizing the elastomeric material to hold the bolt head in its lower plate aperture.

US Patent:

7654389, Feb 2, 2010

Filed:

Apr 14, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/823878

Inventors:

Joseph Vogrig - Naperville IL, US
Edward C. Musil - Orland Park IL, US

Assignee:

Flexible Steel Lacing Company - Downers Grove IL

International Classification:

B65D 85/24

US Classification:

206338, 206341, 206820

Abstract:

A rivet collating system is provided that includes a rivet holder for supporting rivets in a predetermined pattern. In one form, the rivet holder includes a unitary plate in which apertures are configured for supporting the rivets depending therefrom. In another form, the collating system includes a plate body and drive heads that are integrally connected via frangible portions to the plate body. Preferably, retaining webs are provided about the apertures to releasably hold the rivet heads therein. The drive heads are driven downward to sever the frangible portions with the webs flexing to release the rivet heads so that the rivets can be received in bores of a guide block of a belt fastener installation tool. A method of manufacture of the rivet holders is also disclosed.

US Patent:

54678676, Nov 21, 1995

Filed:

Apr 20, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/230540

Inventors:

Edward C. Musil - Orland Park IL
William J. Daniels - Orland Park IL

Assignee:

Flexible Steel Lacing Company - Downers Grove IL

International Classification:

B65G 1530

US Classification:

1988442

Abstract:

A splice assembly is provided for connecting together a pair of belt ends by splice members having elongated tensile members such as cables or straps in a manner which allows for troughing of the belt across its width at the connected belt ends. End members are fastened to the ends of the cables or belts and the belt fasteners have slots or apertures for engageably receiving the ends members of the cables or straps, whereby the cables or straps are affixed to both of the first and second belt ends to be joined along the width of the belt ends. There is a small gap between adjacent belt fasteners which allows for flexion of the belt to allow for the aforementioned troughing of the belt. The belt splice may be provided with a support slab, which protects the cables or belts against abrasion or being snagged and which also maintains a plurality of cables or straps in spaced, generally parallel relation. The opposite ends of the support slab, from which the ends of the cables or straps protrude, are preferably curved inwardly to accommodate the leading end of the belt fasteners to shield this region from particulate sifting.

US Patent:

51578123, Oct 27, 1992

Filed:

Jun 28, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/722705

Inventors:

Edward C. Musil - Lyons IL

Assignee:

Flexible Steel Lacing Company - Downers Grove IL

International Classification:

F16G 300

US Classification:

24 33P

Abstract:

Disclosed is an integral one piece plastic fastener for securing belt ends together. The fastener has upper and lower plastic plates clasped to a belt end with integral, hollow rivets projecting from the upper plate through openings in the bottom plate and with hollowed ends of the rivets deformed to form rivet heads for maintaining clasping of the plastic plates on the belt end. Also disclosed is a rivet head forming tool which smoothly forms rivet heads by a spinning process in which a rotating tool is forced against the hollow end of the rivet and spun with sufficient velocity and applied with a high force to create a sufficient heat and pressure to cause the end wall of the rivet to curl and turn over radially outwardly to form a rivet head tightly pushing against the lower plate of the fastener.

US Patent:

52916448, Mar 8, 1994

Filed:

Jun 5, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/893937

Inventors:

Edward C. Musil - Lyons IL

Assignee:

Flexible Steel Lacing Company - Downers Grove IL

International Classification:

B23P 1900

US Classification:

2924353

Abstract:

Disclosed is an integral one piece plastic fastener for securing belt ends together. The fastener has upper and lower plastic plates clasped to a belt end with integral, hollow rivets projecting from the upper plate through openings in the bottom plate and with hollowed ends of the rivets deformed to form rivet heads for maintaining clasping of the plastic plates on the belt end. Also disclosed is a rivet head forming tool which smoothly forms rivet heads by a spinning process in which a rotating tool is forced against the hollow end of the rivet and spun with sufficient velocity and applied with a high force to create a sufficient heat and pressure to cause the end wall of the rivet to curl and turn over radially outwardly to from a rivet head tightly pushing against the lower plate of the fastener.

US Patent:

47085584, Nov 24, 1987

Filed:

Feb 21, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/831609

Inventors:

Edward C. Musil - Lyons IL

Assignee:

Flexible Steel Lacing Company - Downers Grove IL

International Classification:

F16B 1506

US Classification:

411457

Abstract:

A fastener having pointed ends for penetrating a belt. The preferred fastener is a wire hook fastener for joining the ends of belting and it is formed with pointed wedge-shaped ends defined by inclined top surfaces and flat bottom surfaces and inwardly inclined sidewalls extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The pointed wedge-shaped ends penetrate the belting and in a plane which coincides with the surface of the belting to limit deflection to form a uniform and strong joint between the wire hook fastener and the belting.

US Patent:

49967509, Mar 5, 1991

Filed:

Jun 26, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/371214

Inventors:

Edward C. Musil - Lyons IL

Assignee:

Flexible Steel Lacing Company - Downers Grove IL

International Classification:

F16G 302

US Classification:

24 33C

Abstract:

A wire belt fastener is formed from a piece of wire to have a wire body having a pair of arms joined by a U-shaped hinge pin section. The ends of the wire are flattened to form wide areas having grooves to receive the head and the bent ends of a staple. The fasteners are aligned in a juxtaposed array by a connector wire or rod extending normal to the arms and spanning across a series of belt fasteners to space them evenly to receive interdigitated hinge loops of another array of belt fasteners. A belt stop comprising a projecting piece of wire is secured to an inner surface of one arm of the wire belt fastener to be abutted by the cut belt end to limits its insertion into the gap between the arms of the wire belt fastener. To reduce the lateral width of the belt fasteners and to place more metal in the splice, the wire cross-section at the hinge loop is substantially oblong with flat faces of adjacent, intermeshed fasteners being side by side. The wire body is oblong in shape except for the flattened ends without having to cut away metal from the wire body and scraping the severed metal.