Patents by Inventor David M. Houck

David M. Houck 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: 8196912
    Abstract: A cold formed railcar spring including a spring pad formed from a perform of thermoplastic polyester elastomer having a durometer hardness ranging between about 40 and about 45 on the Shore D scale and sandwiched between a pair of metal plates. Each metal plate has a generally centralized bore extending therethrough and includes a plurality of radially spaced mechanical fasteners formed as an integral part of each plate. Each fastener has first and second generally parallel surfaces and a barb extending from a side of the fastener such that, upon axial compression of the preform, the fastener is pressed axially inward of one end of the perform such that the barb on the fastener mechanically interlocks with the spring pad whereby securing the plate to the spring pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Carlstedt, Rodney K. Chesley, Erik D. Jensen, David M. Houck
  • Publication number: 20100059470
    Abstract: A cold formed railcar spring including a spring pad formed from a preform of thermoplastic polyester elastomer having a durometer hardness ranging between about 40 and about 45 on the D Shore scale and sandwiched between a pair of metal plates. Each metal plate has a generally centralized bore extending therethrough and includes a plurality of radially spaced mechanical fasteners formed as an integral part of each plate. Each fastener has first and second generally parallel surfaces and a barb along a length thereof such that, upon axial compression of the preform, the fastener is pressed axially inward of one end of the preform such that the barb on the fastener mechanically interlocks with the spring pad whereby securing the plate to the spring pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Richard A. Carlstedt, Rodney K. Chesley, Erik D. Jensen, David M. Houck