Patents by Inventor Dale Stewart Apgar

Dale Stewart Apgar 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: 8857045
    Abstract: A method of assembling a circuit board assembly is provided. The circuit board assembly includes a circuit board assembly fixture and a plurality of fixed circuits. The method includes coupling the plurality of fixed circuits to the circuit board assembly fixture. The plurality of fixed circuits includes at least one of a fully flexible circuit, a flexible circuit having stiffeners, and a rigid circuit. The fixture includes a plurality of supporting surfaces each including a first side, configured to receive at least one of the fixed circuits, and an opposite second side. The fixture includes at least one hinge, at least one fastening mechanism extending from the first side, and at least one retainer coupled to at least one of the plurality of supporting surfaces. The method includes folding the circuit board assembly fixture into a desired alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ryan Adam Conger, Robert Ivan Rose, Dale Stewart Apgar, Robert Paul Stachow, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110232084
    Abstract: A circuit board assembly fixture is used in assembling a circuit board assembly. The fixture includes supporting surfaces each including a first side and an opposite second side, wherein each first side receives at least one of the fixed circuits to be coupled together using at least one flexible circuit. The fixture also includes at least one hinge to couple the supporting surfaces together, wherein the hinge enables the supporting surfaces to be folded into a desired alignment relative to each other and provides structural support for the assembly. Moreover, the fixture includes at least one fastening mechanism extending from the surface first side to retain the fixed circuits in position relative to the supporting surfaces. Further, the fixture includes at least one retainer coupled to at least one of the supporting surfaces to retain an alignment of each of the supporting surfaces relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Ryan Adam Conger, Robert Ivan Rose, Dale Stewart Apgar, Robert Paul Stachow, JR.
  • Patent number: 7975369
    Abstract: A circuit board assembly fixture is used in assembling a circuit board assembly. The fixture includes supporting surfaces each including a first side and an opposite second side, wherein each first side receives at least one of the fixed circuits to be coupled together using at least one flexible circuit. The fixture also includes at least one hinge to couple the supporting surfaces together, wherein the hinge enables the supporting surfaces to be folded into a desired alignment relative to each other and provides structural support for the assembly. Moreover, the fixture includes at least one fastening mechanism extending from the surface first side to retain the fixed circuits in position relative to the supporting surfaces. Further, the fixture includes at least one retainer coupled to at least one of the supporting surfaces to retain an alignment of each of the supporting surfaces relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ryan Adam Conger, Robert Ivan Rose, Dale Stewart Apgar, Robert Paul Stachow, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110067232
    Abstract: A circuit board assembly fixture is used in assembling a circuit board assembly. The fixture includes supporting surfaces each including a first side and an opposite second side, wherein each first side receives at least one of the fixed circuits to be coupled together using at least one flexible circuit. The fixture also includes at least one hinge to couple the supporting surfaces together, wherein the hinge enables the supporting surfaces to be folded into a desired alignment relative to each other and provides structural support for the assembly. Moreover, the fixture includes at least one fastening mechanism extending from the surface first side to retain the fixed circuits in position relative to the supporting surfaces. Further, the fixture includes at least one retainer coupled to at least one of the supporting surfaces to retain an alignment of each of the supporting surfaces relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Ryan Adam Conger, Robert Ivan Rose, Dale Stewart Apgar, Robert Paul Stachow, JR.