Patents by Inventor Donald Whitacre

Donald Whitacre 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).

  • Service load bearing assembly for spreading out high induced stresses
    Patent number: 8109528
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a suspension assembly including a bolt made from a bolt material; a suspension component made from a suspension material, the suspension component having a suspension opening therethrough, the suspension opening having a geometry for insertion of at least a first portion of the bolt; and a bushing assembly including an elastomeric element and a bushing opening therethrough, the bushing opening having a geometry for insertion of at least a second portion of the bolt; wherein the suspension material has a yield strength that is substantially higher than a yield strength of the bolt material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Automotive Casting Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Whitacre, Zhiyou Xu
  • SERVICE LOAD BEARING ASSEMBLY FOR SPREADING OUT HIGH INDUCED STRESSES
    Publication number: 20110204587
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a suspension assembly including a bolt made from a bolt material; a suspension component made from a suspension material, the suspension component having a suspension opening therethrough, the suspension opening having a geometry for insertion of at least a first portion of the bolt; and a bushing assembly including an elastomeric element and a bushing opening therethrough, the bushing opening having a geometry for insertion of at least a second portion of the bolt; wherein the suspension material has a yield strength that is substantially higher than a yield strength of the bolt material,
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: DONALD WHITACRE, Zhiyou Xu
  • Offset suspension bushing
    Patent number: 7914021
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a suspension assembly including a bolt made from a bolt material; a suspension component made from a suspension material, the suspension component having a suspension opening therethrough, the suspension opening having a geometry for insertion of at least a first portion of the bolt; and a bushing assembly including an elastomeric element and a bushing opening therethrough, the bushing opening having a geometry for insertion of at least a second portion of the bolt; wherein the suspension material has a yield strength that is substantially higher than a yield strength of the bolt material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Automotive Casting Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Whitacre, Zhiyou Xu