Seattle, Washington
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has awarded TuffNek and RuffGuard a patent for their innovative stud isolator with integrated nail protection.
"This patent enables us to openly market and license TuffNek and its sibling brand, RuffGuard nationally, bringing an exciting innovative new plumbing product to the construction industry," says inventor Shannon Loew.
TuffNek and RuffGuard have been in product development for four years, iterating prototypes with contractors and manufacturers to drive continuous improvement and enhancing performance. The product complies with IAPMO IGC193, following testing in their lab, making it UPC Certifiable upon manufacture and compliant to 2027 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) Table 1701.2.
Initially IAPMO wasn't sure how to test the product as it was the first time anyone had combined two separate code-required functions into one product, marrying stud separation with nail protection. IAPMO had one standard for nail plates and one for stud isolators, but not one that allowed a stud isolator to also perform nail protection. Loew explains, "IAPMO was great to work with. They saw the unique value we were providing the end-consumer with TuffNek. Together we updated the Standards and were able to run the product successfully through their prototype lab."
TuffNek is at once simple and innovative, combining two code-required features into one product -- the typical stud face nail plate and the stud isolator that wraps the pipe and protects it inside the standard 1-3/8" boring hole. Combining the two products into one reduces the time plumbers need for installation in half. TuffNek also reduces total steel required by nearly 40%, compared to standard nail plates. All of this eliminates an entire SKU for construction from manufacture to shipping to installation which means reduced weight and volume in freight, delivery to construction site, and on-site distribution. Less steel also means lower carbon intensity and lower costs to the manufacturer.
TuffNek's integrated nail plate collar also means never failing inspection for forgetting a nail plate. "When researching the product idea initially, we learned how many construction projects were facing delays because of failed inspections for missing nail plates. The fact that such a common mistake could cause such big impact on project timeline seemed like a real opportunity to us. Combining the nail plate into the isolator means never failing inspection," said Loew.
TuffNek and its sibling RuffGuard are available in standard and acoustic dampening models. Both brands are each separately available for license to manufacture and distribute in the U.S. and internationally within wholesale and retail channels. The designs are patented and names trademarked. Contact hello@tuffnek.com to learn more.
