Andrew J Happel

US Patent:

7263746, Sep 4, 2007

Filed:

Aug 9, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/199829

Inventors:

Ronald W Neuhaus - Fort Wayne IN, US
Andrew J Happel - Fort Wayne IN, US

Assignee:

Press-Seal Gasket Corporation - Fort Wayne IN

International Classification:

F16L 33/213
F16L 55/163
F16B 2/04

US Classification:

24279, 277616, 404 25

Abstract:

An expansion ring assembly for sealing a gasket within an opening in the wall of a structure, the assembly including a drive mechanism having a pair of block members each having a threaded bore, and a bolt having oppositely threaded ends respectively threaded within the bores. The block members are removably engaged with respective ends of the expansion ring. An oversleeve is disposed in overlapping relationship with the expansion ring ends, and the expansion ring ends and the oversleeve include cooperating ratcheting structures. Rotation of the bolt of the drive mechanism in a first direction causes the block members to move outwardly along the bolt to expand the expansion ring and concurrently sequentially engage the ratcheting structures of the expansion ring ends and the oversleeve.

US Patent:

7677603, Mar 16, 2010

Filed:

Jan 27, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/341795

Inventors:

Andrew J. Happel - Fort Wayne IN, US

Assignee:

Press-Seal Gasket Corporation - Fort Wayne IN

International Classification:

F16L 27/00

US Classification:

2851392, 285220, 285901, 277607

Abstract:

A seal assembly for effecting a fluid tight seal between a pipe and an opening in the wall of a structure, particularly a relatively thin-walled structure made of a rigid plastic, fiberglass, or of metal, for example. The seal assembly generally includes a seal ring and an annular nut. The seal ring includes a relatively rigid fastener component having external threads, and a relatively resilient sealing component joined to the fastener component and including a first sealing projection for providing a compressive seal between the seal ring and one side of the structure wall, and a second annular sealing projection for providing a compressive seal between the seal ring and the outer surface of a pipe inserted through the seal ring. The seal ring is inserted through the opening in the structure, and the annular nut is threaded onto the external threads of the fastener component and into engagement with a first side of the wall to thereby compress the first sealing projection against the opposite, second side of the wall. Thereafter, a pipe is inserted through the seal ring to compress the second sealing projection between the outer surface of the pipe and the seal ring.

US Patent:

7827665, Nov 9, 2010

Filed:

Feb 10, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/352498

Inventors:

Andrew J. Happel - Fort Wayne IN, US
Timothy A. Andrews - Marion IN, US
Michael R. Miller - Churubusco IN, US
James W. Skinner - Fort Wayne IN, US

Assignee:

Press-Seal Gasket Corporation - Fort Wayne IN

International Classification:

B23P 6/00
B23P 23/00

US Classification:

2940202, 2940208, 277316, 277604, 249 63

Abstract:

A gasket and mandrel assembly, including a gasket having an annular main body portion with an anchor flange and a pipe sealing portion. The gasket is foldable between a folded position in which the pipe sealing portion is disposed substantially within the main body portion and an unfolded position in which the pipe sealing portion extends outwardly of the main body portion along its longitudinal axis. A pair of mandrels are respectively fitted on opposite sides of the folded gasket to enclose most of the gasket for casting the gasket within a wall in a concrete structure. At least one of the mandrels includes an annular outer surface aligned parallel or substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the gasket. Removal of the mandrels results in the cast opening in the concrete structure having a circular inner surface which is disposed parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gasket and the resulting opening such that, if the gasket should fail, the gasket may be removed from the opening and an expansion-type gasket may be sealingly compressed against the opening surface with an expansion band assembly.

US Patent:

8118519, Feb 21, 2012

Filed:

Dec 10, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/331541

Inventors:

Andrew J. Happel - Fort Wayne IN, US
Chad E. Csadenyi - Fort Wayne IN, US

Assignee:

Press-Seal Gasket Corporation - Fort Wayne IN

International Classification:

F16B 13/00

US Classification:

405135, 411 71

Abstract:

A grout and lifting tube for casting within a concrete segment. The tube provides enhanced sealing between the tube and the concrete to prevent moisture leakage into a structure formed by a plurality of the concrete segments. The tube includes a generally cylindrical body having an exterior with an anchoring rib structure, a threaded interior, a proximal end, a distal end. An annular gasket is disposed at the proximal end of the tube body, and may be secured to the proximal end of the tube body by a mechanical interlock and/or by unitary co-molding. After the concrete section is placed and grout is pumped through the tube, a plug is threadable into the proximal end of the tube to both compress the gasket between the plug and the tube at a first seal, and to compress the gasket between the plug and the concrete surrounding the proximal end of the tube at a second seal to provide robust, watertight sealing.

US Patent:

20060049627, Mar 9, 2006

Filed:

Sep 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/220229

Inventors:

Andrew Happel - Fort Wayne IN, US

International Classification:

F16L 49/00

US Classification:

285230000

Abstract:

A gasket which may be cast in place within a concrete structure, such as a manhole riser or septic tank, for example, to seal a connection between a pipe and the concrete structure. The gasket includes a main body portion and a sealing portion which are made from different materials. The main body portion may be made of a substantially rigid material, such as a semi-rigid plastic, for example. The sealing portion, which is united with the body portion, may be made of a substantially resilient material, such as flexible plastic or a rubber-type material, for example. In this manner, the substantially rigid portion of the gasket provides for effective anchoring in a cast wall, and the substantially resilient portion is compressible to provide a robust seal with a pipe that is inserted through the gasket.

US Patent:

20060175765, Aug 10, 2006

Filed:

Feb 4, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/051591

Inventors:

Andrew Happel - Fort Wayne IN, US

International Classification:

F16L 17/06

US Classification:

277609000

Abstract:

A gasket for pipe-to-pipe connections, which is closely received within a rectangular-shaped annular groove in the bell end of a pipe, and provides a compressive, fluid-tight seal with the spigot end of another pipe. The gasket includes a two-part body having a substantially rectangular profile in section, including a relatively rigid component joined to a relatively resilient component. The resilient component includes a radially inwardly projecting sealing lobe for providing a compressive seal with the spigot end of a pipe, and a reinforcement portion of the rigid component is disposed between the sealing lobe and the pipe bell end to provide a radially non-compressible reaction surface against which the sealing lobe is compressed. The rigid component also includes a tapered leading edge portion for aligning and centering the spigot end of a pipe upon insertion within the gasket, and the leading edge portion is reinforced by a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs.

US Patent:

20110024993, Feb 3, 2011

Filed:

Sep 23, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/888809

Inventors:

Andrew J. Happel - Fort Wayne IN, US
Timothy A. Andrews - Marion IN, US
Michael R. Miller - Churubusco IN, US
James W. Skinner - Fort Wayne IN, US

Assignee:

PRESS-SEAL GASKET CORPORATION - Fort Wayne IN

International Classification:

F16L 5/02
B22C 9/24

US Classification:

277606, 249 57

Abstract:

A gasket and mandrel assembly, including a gasket having an annular main body portion with an anchor flange and a pipe sealing portion. The gasket is foldable between a folded position in which the pipe sealing portion is disposed substantially within the main body portion and an unfolded position in which the pipe sealing portion extends outwardly of the main body portion along its longitudinal axis. A pair of mandrels are respectively fitted on opposite sides of the folded gasket to enclose most of the gasket for casting the gasket within a wall in a concrete structure. At least one of the mandrels includes an annular outer surface aligned parallel or substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the gasket. Removal of the mandrels results in the cast opening in the concrete structure having a circular inner surface which is disposed parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gasket and the resulting opening such that, if the gasket should fail, the gasket may be removed from the opening and an expansion-type gasket may be sealingly compressed against the opening surface with an expansion band assembly.

US Patent:

20120023829, Feb 2, 2012

Filed:

Jul 28, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/193268

Inventors:

Andrew J. Happel - Fort Wayne IN, US
Myron S. Worley - Middlebury IN, US
Katherine A. Bergfeld - Waterville OH, US

Assignee:

PRESS-SEAL GASKET CORPORATION - Fort Wayne IN

International Classification:

E06B 7/22
B29C 47/06

US Classification:

494791, 49506

Abstract:

A one-piece seal is used between the rear doors of a semi-trailer truck and the rear frame of the truck, the seal having a good compression set resistance. The seal is made from multiple extrusion members that are fused, welded, or otherwise integrally, monolithically connected at corner joints to form a central opening. The extrusion members have a sealing profile, or cross-section, that allows for the compression and deflection of a pair of sealing lobes to create inner and outer seals, respectively, between the trailer frame and the door structure at the rear of a semi-trailer truck, as well as between the doors themselves.