David O Keith
Engineers in Highland, UT

5673525, Oct 7, 1997

Oct 15, 1996

8/731469

David O. Keith - American Fork UT
David M. Hansen - American Fork UT

H.K. Composites, Inc. - Orem UT

F04B 162, F04B 500

5230911

Highly insulating and substantially pointed connector rods used in making highly insulative composite wall structures. At least a substantial portion of the connector rod is injection molded in a single step from an appropriate resinous material or moldable plastic. The connector rod has a first substantially pointed end in a penetrating segment for facilitating entry through an insulating layer and for making abutting contact with a form sidewall when manufacturing a composite wall structure using a cast-in-place method. The opposite end, or trailing segment, also includes a substantially pointed end that makes abutting contact with another form sidewall. A middle or mesial segment resides within the insulating layer, which is sandwiched between two structural layers of a hardenable material, such as concrete. A first ridge or flange at the intersection between the mesial and trailing segments limits the depth of penetration of the connector rod when inserted through the insulating material. A second ridge or flange that is attached thereafter to the connector rod at the inspection between the mesial and penetrating segments locks the connector rod in place in a desired orientation within the insulating layer.

6895720, May 24, 2005

Jul 23, 2003

10/626127

David O. Keith - American Fork UT, US

HK Marketing LC - American Fork UT

E04C001/41, F16B015/02

5230911, 5230912, 524051, 52426, 5274519, 411475, 411482, 411488, 411923

Connectors configured for providing composite wall structures with high composite action. In one embodiment, the connectors comprise a body having two spaced-apart sidewalls and a web portion extending therebetween, having a thickness that is less than the diameter or width of the sidewalls in the same dimension. The body also includes a tapered end comprising a single elongate edge or a plurality of spaced-apart edges or pointed ends at one end for facilitating penetration of the connector through layers of the composite wall during manufacture. An orienting protrusion orients the connector at a predetermined depth within the layers of the composite wall during manufacture. One or more structures anchoring anchor the connectors of the invention to layers of structural material placed on opposing sides of an insulation layer of the composite wall.

5830399, Nov 3, 1998

Sep 11, 1995

8/526805

David O. Keith - American Fork UT
David M. Hansen - American Fork UT

H. K. Composites, Inc. - Orem UT

B28B 116, B28B 722, E04C 141

264253

Methods for manufacturing highly insulating connector rods and highly insulating composite wall structures using such connector rods. The connector rods are highly insulating and are injection molded in a single step from an appropriate resinous material or moldable plastic. Discontinuous fibers may be impregnated within the resinous material or other moldable plastic. The single step molding method yields connector rods having pointed ends for facilitating entry through an insulating layer and a first structural layer not yet cured, and also an enlarged head for receiving an impact from a hammer or mallet or for facilitating gripping by the installer. The enlarged head also provides an anchoring effect within a second structural layer upon curing. The connector rods are manufactured to include a ridge or flange to limit the depth of penetration by the connector rod when inserted into the insulating material when forming the composite wall structure. The ridge or flange also helps to prevent the collapse of the second structural layer towards the first structural layer after formation of the composite wall structure and implementation at a building site.

5996297, Dec 7, 1999

Feb 4, 1998

9/020599

David O. Keith - American Fork UT
David M. Hansen - American Fork UT

H.K. Composites, Inc. - Orem UT

E04B 162, E04C 222

52410

A connector used in forming a composite wall structure that includes two structural layers and an insulative layer. The connector secures the two structural layers together and is insulative so as to minimize the transfer of thermal energy across the insulating layer. The connector is inserted through the insulating layer during manufacturing of the wall structure. The connectors include reinforcement attaching structures for securing reinforcement material in a substantially fixed position before and during formation of the structural layers. The reinforcement attaching structures may be integrally formed on the connector or may be included on a bracket plate that is attached to the main shaft of the connector. Insertion of the connector through the insulating layer may be facilitated by an optional set of cutting structures positioned at one end of the connector, including a pointed tip, a plurality of cutting surfaces extending longitudinally from the tip, and longitudinal curved surfaces each preferably having a leading concave segment and a trailing convex segment.

6112491, Sep 5, 2000

Oct 12, 1999

9/417158

David O. Keith - American Fork UT
David M. Hansen - American Fork UT

H. K. Composites, Inc. - American Fork UT

E04B 230, E04B 162

52410

Methods for manufacturing highly insulating connector rods and highly insulating composite wall structures using such connector rods. The connector rods are highly insulating and are injection molded in a single step from an appropriate resinous material or moldable plastic. Discontinuous fibers may be impregnated within the resinous material or other moldable plastic. The single-step molding method yields connector rods having pointed ends for facilitating entry through an insulating layer and a first structural layer not yet cured, and also an enlarged head for receiving an impact from a hammer or mallet or for facilitating gripping by the installer. The enlarged head also provides an anchoring effect within a second structural layer upon curing. The connector rods are manufactured to include a ridge or flange to limit the depth of penetration by the connector rod when inserted into the insulating material when forming the composite wall structure. The ridge or flange also helps to prevent the collapse of the second structural layer towards the first structural layer after formation of the composite wall structure and implementation at a building site.

5606832, Mar 4, 1997

May 15, 1996

8/645000

David O. Keith - American Fork UT
David M. Hansen - American Fork UT

H. K. Composites, Inc. - Orem UT

E04B 162, E04B 500

52410

Highly insulating connectors used in making highly insulative composite wall structures. At least a substantial portion of the connector is injection molded in a single step from an appropriate resinous material or moldable plastic. The connector has a substantially pointed end in a penetrating segment for facilitating penetration of the connector through an insulating layer and a yet unhardened structural material, such as concrete, that will harden into a first structural layer. The opposite end, or gripping segment, includes arcuate wings for facilitating gripping of the connector during placement in the insulating layer and first unhardened structural layer, and also for anchoring the connectors upon hardening of a second structural layer. A middle or mesial segment resides within the insulating layer, which is sandwiched between the first and second structural layer. The arcuate wings are curved toward the penetrating end and terminate in an elongated surface to limit the depth of penetration of the connector when inserted through the insulating material.

6138981, Oct 31, 2000

Aug 3, 1998

9/128594

David O. Keith - American Fork UT
David M. Hansen - American Fork UT

H.K. Composites, Inc. - American Fork UT

E04G 1706, E04G 1106

249 41

Connectors used in manufacturing composite wall structures to substantially prevent forms from being displaced in response to pressure generated by concrete poured between the forms. In a completed composite wall structure, the connectors extend through two structural layers and an insulating layer positioned therebetween. The composite wall structures are formed by positioning the insulating layer between and in a spaced-apart relationship to the two forms. The connectors are subsequently inserted through the insulating layer and the forms. As concrete is then poured into spaces between the forms and the insulating layer, a bearing surface on a form retention segment, which extends beyond the outer surface of the forms, abuts the forms and prevents them from moving away from the insulating layer. The bearing surface is either directly positioned on the form retention segment or on a form locking device attached to the form retention segment. After the concrete hardens, the forms are removed and the form retention segments are optionally detached from the remainder of the connector.

5519973, May 28, 1996

Apr 8, 1994

8/225910

David O. Keith - American Fork UT
David M. Hansen - American Fork UT

H.K. Composites, Inc. - Orem UT

E04B 162, E04B 500

52410

Highly insulating connector rods used in making highly insulative composite wall structures are disclosed. The high R-value connector is injection molded in a single step from an appropriate resinous material or moldable plastic. Discontinuous fibers may be impregnated within the resinous material or other plastic. The connector rod has a pointed end for facilitating entry through an insulating layer and a first structural layer and an enlarged head for receiving an impact from a hammer or mallet. The enlarged head also provides an anchoring effect within a second structural layer. A ridge or flange helps to orient the connector rod when inserted into the insulating material and also helps to prevent the collapse of the second structural layer toward the first structural layer.

2004005, Mar 25, 2004

Sep 25, 2002

10/254168

David Keith - American Fork UT, US

E04B002/00, E04C002/00, E04C002/54, A47B013/08

052/782240

Connectors configured for providing composite wall structures with high composite action. The connectors comprise a body having two sidewalls and a web portion extending therebetween. The body also includes a tapered end at one side for facilitating penetration of the connector through layers of the composite wall during manufacture. Orienting means orient the connector at a predetermined depth within the layers of the composite wall during manufacture. Anchoring means anchor the connectors of the invention to layers of structural material placed on opposing sides of an insulation layer of the composite wall.

D357855, May 2, 1995

Aug 17, 1993

D/011867

David O. Keith - American Fork UT
David M. Hansen - American Fork UT

H. K. Composites, Inc. - Orem UT

D 8384