Patents by Inventor Larry Satterfield
Larry Satterfield 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).
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Patent number: 10710648Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for flexibly attaching a trailer skirt to a trailer. This can include attaching a trailer mounting bracket to a trailer and attaching a bi-modulus bending member to the trailer mounting bracket in a cantilevered configuration at a bracket end of the bi-modulus bending member. The bi-modulus bending member includes a bending element set configured to elastically buckle when a lateral force component exceeds a threshold force, and the bi-modulus bending member is configured to return to a straightened configuration after buckling and bending to a buckled configuration when the threshold force is removed.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements MichelinInventors: Philippe Macherel, Calvin Rhett Bradley, David C. Lung, Larry Satterfield
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Patent number: 10696335Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for mounting a trailer skirt to a trailer. This includes attaching a trailer skirt to a trailer, the trailer skirt configured to pivot in a longitudinal direction of the trailer skirt. In certain embodiments, such methods are accomplished using a trailer-skirt coupling apparatus, the apparatus including a trailer mounting bracket configured for mechanically coupling the apparatus to a trailer and a skirt-supporting member operably attached to the trailer mounting bracket in a cantilevered configuration, where in the cantilevered configuration, the skirt-supporting member is configured to pivot in a longitudinal direction of the trailer skirt.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements MichelinInventors: Philippe Macherel, Calvin Rhett Bradley, David C. Lung, Larry Satterfield
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Patent number: 10695997Abstract: A transporter and a method are provided for retrieving at least one reinforcing ply and conforming the at least one reinforcing ply to a forming surface of a rotatable forming drum having one or more tire components disposed thereon.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2016Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELINInventors: Raymond Balzer, Almira Aleckovic, Michael Petrovich, Eric Rivers, Larry Satterfield
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Patent number: 10577033Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for attaching a trailer skirt to a trailer. Embodiments of the methods include attaching a skirt-supporting member to a trailer in a cantilevered configuration, and operably coupling a trailer skirt to the skirt-supporting member to provide a sliding coupling between the trailer skirt and the skirt-supporting member. Embodiments of the apparatus provide a trailer-skirt coupling apparatus including a trailer mounting bracket configured for mechanically coupling the apparatus to a trailer, a skirt-supporting member operably attached to the trailer mounting bracket in a cantilevered configuration, and a skirt channel configured to slidingly couple the skirt-supporting member to the trailer skirt.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements MichelinInventors: Philippe Macherel, Calvin Rhett Bradley, David C. Lung, Larry Satterfield
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Publication number: 20180361695Abstract: A transporter and a method are provided for retrieving at least one reinforcing ply and conforming the at least one reinforcing ply to a forming surface of a rotatable forming drum having one or more tire components disposed thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2016Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: RAYMOND BALZER, ALMIRA ALECKOVIC, MICHAEL PETROVICH, ERIC RIVERS, LARRY SATTERFIELD
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Publication number: 20180319442Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for mounting a trailer skirt to a trailer. This includes attaching a trailer skirt to a trailer, the trailer skirt configured to pivot in a longitudinal direction of the trailer skirt. In certain embodiments, such methods are accomplished using a trailer-skirt coupling apparatus, the apparatus including a trailer mounting bracket configured for mechanically coupling the apparatus to a trailer and a skirt-supporting member operably attached to the trailer mounting bracket in a cantilevered configuration, where in the cantilevered configuration, the skirt-supporting member is configured to pivot in a longitudinal direction of the trailer skirt.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2016Publication date: November 8, 2018Applicant: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements MichelinInventors: Philippe MACHEREL, Calvin Rhett BRADLEY, David C. LUNG, Larry SATTERFIELD
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Publication number: 20180290695Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for flexibly attaching a trailer skirt to a trailer. This can include attaching a trailer mounting bracket to a trailer and attaching a bi-modulus bending member to the trailer mounting bracket in a cantilevered configuration at a bracket end of the bi-modulus bending member. The bi-modulus bending member includes a bending element set configured to elastically buckle when a lateral force component exceeds a threshold force, and the bi-modulus bending member is configured to return to a straightened configuration after buckling and bending to a buckled configuration when the threshold force is removed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2016Publication date: October 11, 2018Applicant: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELINInventors: Philippe MACHEREL, Calvin Rhett BRADLEY, David C. LUNG, Larry SATTERFIELD
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Publication number: 20180281875Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for attaching a trailer skirt to a trailer. Embodiments of the methods include attaching a skirt-supporting member to a trailer in a cantilevered configuration, and operably coupling a trailer skirt to the skirt-supporting member to provide a sliding coupling between the trailer skirt and the skirt-supporting member. Embodiments of the apparatus provide a trailer-skirt coupling apparatus including a trailer mounting bracket configured for mechanically coupling the apparatus to a trailer, a skirt-supporting member operably attached to the trailer mounting bracket in a cantilevered configuration, and a skirt channel configured to slidingly couple the skirt-supporting member to the trailer skirt.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2016Publication date: October 4, 2018Applicant: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELINInventors: Philippe MACHEREL, Calvin Rhett BRADLEY, David C. LUNG, Larry SATTERFIELD
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Patent number: 8980030Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forming a multi-layered tire component, the steps of the method including providing a mechanical system, the system including a plurality of cutting members; translating a sheet of material along a translation path through the mechanical system; cutting a first strip from the sheet with one or more of the plurality of cutting members, this step occurring during the step of translating; mechanically applying the first strip to a building surface, this step occurring during the step of translating; cutting a second strip from the sheet subsequent to the step of cutting the first strip, this step occurring during the step of translating; mechanically applying the second strip to a building surface, this step occurring during the step of translating.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2008Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.Inventors: Daniel Robert Rey, Larry Satterfield
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Patent number: 8691034Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus (10) for forming a tire component upon an axially tapered building surface (100). In particular embodiments, such methods include the step of providing a mechanical system, the system including a plurality of cutting members (42) and an application surface (64) for transferring material to the axially tapered building surface, the axially tapered surface comprising a surface of revolution that varies radially along a rotational axis of the surface. Particular embodiments may also include translating a sheet of material along a translation path through the mechanical system, and cutting a strip of material from the sheet with one or more of the plurality of cutting members during the step of translating.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2008Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.Inventors: Daniel Rey, Larry Satterfield
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Publication number: 20110232830Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus (10) for forming a tire component upon an axially tapered building surface (100). In particular embodiments, such methods include the step of providing a mechanical system, the system including a plurality of cutting members (42) and an application surface (64) for transferring material to the axially tapered building surface, the axially tapered surface comprising a surface of revolution that varies radially along a rotational axis of the surface. Particular embodiments may also include translating a sheet of material along a translation path through the mechanical system, and cutting a strip of material from the sheet with one or more of the plurality of cutting members during the step of translating.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2008Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.Inventors: Daniel Rey, Larry Satterfield
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Publication number: 20050279444Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus that is used in the building of a tire and an assembly process for building a tire. The apparatus comprises an apparatus frame and a main shaft that is rotatable in at least one axis about the apparatus frame. The apparatus further comprises a building drum that is provided with a plurality of drum segments disposed concentrically about the axial center of the drum and are movable in both the axial and radial directions and is fixed to the main shaft in rotation. The drum segments further comprise right and left shoulders located axially at the lateral edges, and the base of each of the shoulder extends axially to form a lateral projection. At least one version of the apparatus has right and left shoulders of unequal heights to facilitate fabrication of tires having unequal bead seat diameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2005Publication date: December 22, 2005Inventors: Jean-Pierre Latieyre, Larry Satterfield, Daniel Dupuis, David Bailey