Steven P Thompson

US Patent:

7250003, Jul 31, 2007

Filed:

Jul 21, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/186605

Inventors:

Steven L. Thompson - Girard KS, US

International Classification:

B21D 53/24

US Classification:

470 18, 470 24, 470 49, 470 87, 470197, 2642711

Abstract:

An encapsulated fastener includes a nut adapted to receive a bolt. The nut is encapsulated by an encapsulation including an extension, which includes a tube adapted for receiving a portion of the bolt and a flange adapted for engaging a face of the nut. The encapsulation extension is placed on the nut in an overmolding tool, wherein an encapsulation base is injection molded over a portion of the encapsulation extension. The encapsulation base encapsulates the nut, except for its bore, which is sealed off during the overmolding process by a spring-mounted mandrel. Alternative embodiments of the invention include tubes with different configurations for contacting the bolt whereby the tube or cylinder is reinforced. A method and tooling for manufacturing the encapsulated fastener are also provided.

US Patent:

7896751, Mar 1, 2011

Filed:

Mar 30, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/750493

Inventors:

Steven L. Thompson - Girard KS, US

International Classification:

B21D 53/24

US Classification:

470 18, 470 2, 470 24, 470 51, 470 87

Abstract:

An encapsulated fastener includes a nut having a face with a concave gap adapted to receive a bolt. The nut is encapsulated by an encapsulation including an extension, which includes a tube adapted for receiving a portion of the bolt and a flange adapted for engaging a face of the nut. The encapsulation extension is placed on the nut in an overmolding tool, wherein an encapsulation base is injection molded over a portion of the encapsulation extension. The encapsulation base encapsulates the nut and extends into the nut concave gap forming a base foot and washer protrusion. The nut is encapsulated except for its bore which is sealed off during the overmolding process by a spring-mounted mandrel. Alternative embodiments of the invention include tubes with different configurations for contacting the bolt whereby the tube or cylinder is reinforced. A method and tooling for manufacturing the encapsulated fastener are also provided.

US Patent:

20050104375, May 19, 2005

Filed:

Nov 12, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/988126

Inventors:

Steven Thompson - Girard KS, US

International Classification:

F16L019/08

US Classification:

285342000, 285104000, 285339000

Abstract:

A conduit coupling device for joining conduits including a lock ring, a lock nut and a body, the body have an end adapted to receive the lock nut and the lock ring. The lock ring has an anti-shear and pull-out resisting construction adapted for resisting lock ring shear and conduit pull-out. The lock nut is adapted to receive the lock ring and compress the lock ring onto the conduit as the lock nut is received by the body end. The lock ring has proximal and distal ends with a bore being adapted to receive the conduit said bore having an inner surface F with an inner liner bonded to the inner surface of the bore. The anti-shear and pull-out resistant construction may include the inner liner having sawtooth ridges or grit particles to help resist lock ring shear and conduit pull-out and convert the conduit pull-out force to a shear force. In addition, the lock ring may include an annular flared rim forming an annular, concave shear engagement surface. Alternatively, the anti-shear and pull-out resistant construction may include an annular receiver located in either the lock ring or the conduit and a stop ring received by the annular receiver.

US Patent:

20070126231, Jun 7, 2007

Filed:

Dec 26, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/645457

Inventors:

Steven Thompson - Girard KS, US

International Classification:

F16L 47/00

US Classification:

285249000

Abstract:

A conduit coupling device for joining conduits including a lock ring, a lock nut and a body, the body have an end adapted to receive the lock nut and the lock ring. The lock ring has an anti-shear and pull-out resisting construction adapted for resisting lock ring shear and conduit pull-out. The lock nut is adapted to receive the lock ring and compress the lock ring onto the conduit as the lock nut is received by the body end. The lock ring has proximal and distal ends with a bore being adapted to receive the conduit said bore having an inner surface with an inner liner bonded to the inner surface of the bore. The anti-shear and pull-out resistant construction may include the inner liner having sawtooth ridges or grit particles to help resist lock ring shear and conduit pull-out and convert the conduit pull-out force to a shear force. In addition, the lock ring may include an annular flared rim forming an annular, concave shear engagement surface. Alternatively, the anti-shear and pull-out resistant construction may include an annular receiver located in either the lock ring or the conduit and a stop ring received by the annular receiver.

US Patent:

20080206016, Aug 28, 2008

Filed:

Jul 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/829846

Inventors:

Steven L. Thompson - Girard KS, US

International Classification:

B21D 53/24

US Classification:

411432

Abstract:

An encapsulated fastener includes a nut adapted to receive a bolt. The nut is encapsulated by an encapsulation including an extension, which includes a tube adapted for receiving a portion of the bolt and a flange adapted for engaging a face of the nut. The encapsulation extension is placed on the nut in an overmolding tool, wherein an encapsulation base is injection molded over a portion of the encapsulation extension. The encapsulation base encapsulates the nut, except for its bore, which is sealed off during the overmolding process by a spring-mounted mandrel. Alternative embodiments of the invention include tubes with different configurations for contacting the bolt whereby the tube or cylinder is reinforced. A method and tooling for manufacturing the encapsulated fastener are also provided.

US Patent:

20110150603, Jun 23, 2011

Filed:

Mar 1, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/038207

Inventors:

Steven L. Thompson - Girard KS, US

International Classification:

F16B 37/00

US Classification:

411427

Abstract:

An encapsulated fastener includes a nut having a face with a concave gap adapted to receive a bolt. The nut is encapsulated by an encapsulation including an extension, which includes a tube adapted for receiving a portion of the bolt and a flange adapted for engaging a face of the nut. The encapsulation extension is placed on the nut in an overmolding tool, wherein an encapsulation base is injection molded over a portion of the encapsulation extension. The encapsulation base encapsulates the nut and extends into the nut concave gap forming a base foot and washer protrusion. The nut is encapsulated except for its bore which is sealed off during the overmolding process by a spring-mounted mandrel. Alternative embodiments of the invention include tubes with different configurations for contacting the bolt whereby the tube or cylinder is reinforced. A method and tooling for manufacturing the encapsulated fastener are also provided.

US Patent:

20130223953, Aug 29, 2013

Filed:

Apr 2, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/855536

Inventors:

Steven L. Thompson - Girard KS, US

International Classification:

F16B 37/14

US Classification:

4113661, 2952502, 411427

Abstract:

An encapsulated fastener includes a nut having a face with a concave gap adapted to receive a bolt. The nut is encapsulated by an encapsulation including an extension, which includes a tube adapted for receiving a portion of the bolt and a flange adapted for engaging a face of the nut. The encapsulation extension is placed on the nut in an overmolding tool, wherein an encapsulation base is injection molded over a portion of the encapsulation extension. The encapsulation base encapsulates the nut and extends into the nut concave gap forming a base foot and washer protrusion. The nut is encapsulated except for its bore which is sealed off during the overmolding process by a spring-mounted mandrel. Alternative embodiments of the invention include tubes with different configurations for contacting the bolt whereby the tube or cylinder is reinforced. A method and tooling for manufacturing the encapsulated fastener are also provided.

US Patent:

20140265305, Sep 18, 2014

Filed:

Mar 17, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/216233

Inventors:

Steven L. Thompson - Girard KS, US

International Classification:

F16L 19/04

US Classification:

285 89

Abstract:

A conduit coupling construction including a coupling body threadably mounting a pair of lock nuts on its ends. Conduit ends are passed through the lock nuts and into the coupling body. Each lock nut receives a respective lock ring adapted for compression onto a respective conduit. The lock ring transforms an axial force on the conduit to a shear force to enhance gripping for pull-out resistance. The central body portion is transparent and allows an end of a conduit to pass completely through the body for more convenient installation onto two separated pieces of conduit, thereby joining them. This construction allows the coupler to be slipped over a first conduit section, aligned with a second conduit section, and the two sections joined without the need to bend either conduit.