Patents by Inventor James A. Lessard

James A. Lessard 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: 6371468
    Abstract: The present invention is a universal workpiece holder that includes a unique positioning hub and a plurality of clamping devices for clamping a variety of annularly shaped workpieces having different interior and/or exterior diameters. The positioning hub includes multiple sets of spokes, wherein when a particular set of spokes aligns with the clamping devices, the workpiece holder is able to secure a particularly sized annulus without distorting it. Moreover, upon rotating the positioning hub about its center and aligning a different set of spokes with the clamping devices, the workpiece holder is able to secure a differently sized annulus. Each set of spokes corresponds to a certain sized annulus, thereby eliminating the need for an independent workpiece holder for each differently sized annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: United Technologies Research Center
    Inventors: James A. Lessard, Joseph A. Gosselin