Patents by Inventor Andrew M. Kwarciak

Andrew M. Kwarciak has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8490242
    Abstract: Caster alignment mechanism having a first component operably connected to a leg of a mobile device and a second component operably connected to a caster of the mobile device. The first and second components are positioned in parallel orientation to each other wherein alignment of the caster with the leg of the mobile device is achieved by the attractive characteristics of the first component with an upper magnet to the second component with a lower magnet. One embodiment of the caster alignment mechanism includes a fixed gap between the upper magnet and the lower magnet for an always engaged or “on” mode. The fixed gap can be adjusted to vary magnetic field strength depending on user specifications for ease of turning. Another embodiment of the caster alignment mechanism includes a switching mechanism to change modes between engaged or “on” mode and disengaged or “off” mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Universit Of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Rory A. Cooper, Andrew M. Kwarciak, Mark A. McCartney, Jonathan Lee Pearlman
  • Publication number: 20110162166
    Abstract: Caster alignment mechanism having a first component operably connected to a leg of a mobile device and a second component operably connected to a caster of the mobile device. The first and second components are positioned in parallel orientation to each other wherein alignment. of the caster with the leg of the mobile device is achieved by the attractive characteristics of the first component with an upper magnet to the second component with a lower magnet. One embodiment of the caster alignment mechanism includes a fixed gap between the upper magnet and the lower magnet for an always engaged or “on” mode. The fixed gap can be adjusted to vary magnetic field strength depending on user specifications for ease of turning. Another embodiment of the caster alignment mechanism includes a switching mechanism to change modes between engaged or “on” mode and disengaged or “off” mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Rory A. Cooper, Andrew M. Kwarciak, Mark A. McCartney, Jonathan Lee Pearlman
  • Publication number: 20080209673
    Abstract: An improved caster comprising a caster mount attachable to a frame of a mobile device, caster stem attached to the caster mount and operable to attach to a caster fork and wheel assembly, and a biasing means operable to restrict the rotation of the caster stem and thereby to prevent caster drift and flutter and to promote tracking of the mobile device. The biasing means can be in manner whereby the caster stem has at least one vertical notch defined therein and the biasing means comprises a spring plunger located in the caster mount. The spring plunger has an internal spring and a movable ball member attached to the spring and which faces the caster stem whereby the ball is biased against the caster stem and situated within the caster stem notch when the caster stem is in a desired rotational position. The biasing means can also employ magnets located in the caster stem and caster mount which align at opposite attracting poles when the caster is in a desired position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Rory A. Cooper, Andrew M. Kwarciak, Mark A. McCartney