Patents by Inventor John Wayne Rhule

John Wayne Rhule 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).

  • Alignment systems for strut assemblies
    Patent number: 9163923
    Abstract: A method of determining alignment of a spring component relative to an upper spring mounting plate of a strut assembly using an alignment system is provided. The method includes placing an alignment gauge component on the upper spring mounting plate at a preselected location. The alignment gauge component has a right angled body with a positioning portion resting on the upper spring mounting plate and a transverse measuring portion having an opening extending therethrough located alongside the spring component. A measuring rod is inserted through the opening of the measuring portion with the positioning portion of the alignment gauge component engaged with the upper spring mounting plate. The measuring rod has a measurement region that includes one or more color-coded areas for determining an alignment condition of the spring component relative to the upper spring mounting plate with the measuring rod extending through the opening and contacting the spring component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Ivor McGuire, John Wayne Rhule
  • Alignment Systems for Strut Assemblies
    Publication number: 20150135546
    Abstract: A method of determining alignment of a spring component relative to an upper spring mounting plate of a strut assembly using an alignment system is provided. The method includes placing an alignment gauge component on the upper spring mounting plate at a preselected location. The alignment gauge component has a right angled body with a positioning portion resting on the upper spring mounting plate and a transverse measuring portion having an opening extending therethrough located alongside the spring component. A measuring rod is inserted through the opening of the measuring portion with the positioning portion of the alignment gauge component engaged with the upper spring mounting plate. The measuring rod has a measurement region that includes one or more color-coded areas for determining an alignment condition of the spring component relative to the upper spring mounting plate with the measuring rod extending through the opening and contacting the spring component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Ivor McGuire, John Wayne Rhule