Patents by Inventor Loring Smith

Loring Smith 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: 11971068
    Abstract: The present invention is directed at a bushing for coupling the shift cable end and shift lever in motor vehicles where the shift cable end comprises an oblong body having a coupling aperture, a notch, a front shelf and rear shelf protruding into the coupling aperture, and the shift lever is comprised of a base, a shaft, a neck and a head, and the two are coupled through a bushing and retaining clip. The bushing comprises a seating member configured to sit within the coupling aperture having a bore, a securing member to engage the notch, two members extending from the top surface of the seating member to provide stability and define a space to accommodate the retaining clip, and angled surfaces extending from the seating member to engage the retaining clip. The bottom surface of the seating member has recesses to accommodate the front and rear shelves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Inventor: Loring Smith
  • Publication number: 20240003379
    Abstract: The present invention is directed at a specialized bushing for use in coupling the shift cable end with the shift lever in various motor vehicles wherein the shift cable end is comprised of a coupling member having a coupling aperture, and the shift lever is comprised of an elongated member having a tapered portion, a cylindrical portion and a head. The bushing preferably includes a seating member configured to sit within the shift cable end having a bore configured to receive a portion of the elongated member of the shift lever, a leading and trailing shoulder to radially and longitudinally secure the seating member within the shift cable end, and a securing member to receive and house the tapered and cylindrical portions of the shift lever and permit the head of the shift lever to be pushed through and beyond the securing member to secure the shift lever within the bushing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventor: Loring Smith
  • Publication number: 20240003378
    Abstract: The present invention is directed at a specialized bushing and method for use in coupling the shift cable end with the shift lever in various motor vehicles where the shift cable end is comprised of an oblong body having a coupling aperture, a notch, a front shelf and rear shelf protruding into the coupling aperture from opposite sides of the oblong body, and the shift lever is comprised of a base, a shaft, a neck and a head, and the two are coupled through the use of a bushing and horseshoe-shaped retaining clip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventor: Loring Smith
  • Publication number: 20220307589
    Abstract: The repair of shift cable ends in various motor vehicles without the replacement of the entire shift cable is accomplished using a specialized bushing that operably couples the shift lever and shift cable end. In particular embodiments, the shift cable end is seated in an installation tool and a specialized bushing is inserted into the shift cable end by applying a compressive force to the bushing and the installation tool. The installation tool is removed and the shift lever is inserted into the bushing. The bushing has a coupling means to simulate the factory installed coupling mechanism, a securing means for maintaining the bushing's alignment and securing it within the shift cable end, and a pressure-relief means for relieving pressure within the bushing as the lever is inserted into the bushing. In some embodiments, the hushing has a compression means for allowing the bushing to be easily compressed into the shift cable end without deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventor: Loring Smith
  • Patent number: 11415213
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for promptly repairing the shift cable end in various motor vehicles. The prompt repair of the shift cable end in various motor vehicles without the replacement of the entire shift cable apparatus is accomplished using a specialized hushing made to fit securely within the shift cable and engage the shift lever, thus operably coupling the shift lever and shift cable end. In particular embodiments, a drilling tool is used to enlarge the coupling aperture within the shift cable end and a specialized bushing is inserted into the shift cable end. The bushing has a coupling means to simulate the factory installed coupling mechanism and an alignment and securing means for maintain the bushing's alignment and securing it within the shift cable end. The shift lever is then inserted into the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Inventor: Loring Smith
  • Patent number: 10845140
    Abstract: Method and tool for promptly aligning the mating port of a gas block with the gas port of a rifle barrel. The prompt alignment of the mating port and gas port is accomplished by using an alignment tool have an alignment port and an alignment slot. The alignment tool is inserted into the gas block such that the alignment port is centered over the mating port and that a portion of the alignment tool protrudes from the gas block. The top surface of the alignment tool is marked circumferentially and the forward end of the gas block is marked perpendicular to the alignment slot. The alignment tool is then removed from the gas block and affixed to the rifle barrel such that the alignment port is centered over the gas port. The barrel is marked through the alignment slot in line with the circumferential marking on the top surface of the alignment tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Inventors: Loring Smith, Benjamin Gray
  • Patent number: 10619723
    Abstract: Installation of a bushing into the shift cable end of an automatic transmission, without replacing the entire shift cable end, is accomplished via methods and specialized tools that do not divert the force applied by compressive tools away from the non-load-bearing surfaces of the bushing and shift cable end, and maintain the axial alignment of the bushing with the shift cable end during installation, thus preventing deformation of the shift cable end and bushing during installation, and ensuring the proper coupling of the shift cable end and shift lever. In particular embodiments, a shift cable end protective member is secured to the shift cable end, a bushing installation member is inserted into the bushing, through the shift cable end and into the protective member, and a compressive force is applied simultaneously to the protective member and installation member, thus pressing the bushing into place within the shift cable end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Inventor: Loring Smith
  • Publication number: 20190346223
    Abstract: Method and tool for promptly aligning the mating port of a gas block with the gas port of a rifle barrel. The prompt alignment of the mating port and gas port is accomplished by using an alignment tool have an alignment port and an alignment slot. The alignment tool is inserted into the gas block such that the alignment port is centered over the mating port and that a portion of the alignment tool protrudes from the gas block. The top surface of the alignment tool is marked circumferentially and the forward end of the gas block is marked perpendicular to the alignment slot. The alignment tool is then removed from the gas block and affixed to the rifle barrel such that the alignment port is centered over the gas port. The barrel is marked through the alignment slot in line with the circumferential marking on the top surface of the alignment tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Loring Smith, Benjamin Gray
  • Patent number: 10215273
    Abstract: Installation of a bushing into the shift cable end of an automatic transmission, without replacing the entire shift cable end, is accomplished via a method that does not require the use of compression tools and maintains the axial alignment of the bushing with the shift cable end during installation, thus preventing deformation of the shift cable end and bushing during installation, and ensuring the proper coupling of the shift cable end and shift lever. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the bushing may be installed by radially compressing the leading shoulder of the bushing and passing the bushing through the shift cable end, then releasing the leading shoulder of the bushing so that it engages the shift cable end and secures the bushing in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Inventor: Loring Smith
  • Publication number: 20170321797
    Abstract: Installation of a bushing into the shift cable end of an automatic transmission, without replacing the entire shift cable end, is accomplished via methods and specialized tools that do not divert the force applied by compressive tools away from the non-load-bearing surfaces of the bushing and shift cable end, and maintain the axial alignment of the bushing with the shift cable end during installation, thus preventing deformation of the shift cable end and bushing during installation, and ensuring the proper coupling of the shift cable end and shift lever. In particular embodiments, a shift cable end protective member is secured to the shift cable end, a bushing installation member is inserted into the bushing, through the shift cable end and into the protective member, and a compressive force is applied simultaneously to the protective member and installation member, thus pressing the bushing into place within the shift cable end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventor: Loring Smith
  • Publication number: 20170191530
    Abstract: Installation of a bushing into the shift cable end of an automatic transmission, without replacing the entire shift cable end, is accomplished via a method that does not require the use of compression tools and maintains the axial alignment of the bushing with the shift cable end during installation, thus preventing deformation of the shift cable end and bushing during installation, and ensuring the proper coupling of the shift cable end and shift lever. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the bushing may be installed by radially compressing the leading shoulder of the bushing and passing the bushing through the shift cable end, then releasing the leading shoulder of the bushing so that it engages the shift cable end and secures the bushing in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventor: Loring Smith
  • Publication number: 20150330499
    Abstract: Installation of a bushing into the shift cable end of an automatic transmission, without replacing the entire shift cable end, is accomplished via methods and specialized tools that do not require the use of compression tools, or divert the force applied by compressive tools away from the non-load-bearing surfaces of the bushing and shift cable end, and maintain the axial alignment of the bushing with the shift cable end during installation, thus preventing deformation of the shift cable end and bushing during installation, and ensuring the proper coupling of the shift cable end and shift lever. In particular embodiments, a shift cable end protective member is secured to the shift cable end, a bushing installation member is inserted into the bushing, through the shift cable end and into the protective member, and a compressive force is applied simultaneously to the protective member and installation member, thus pressing the bushing into place within the shift cable end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventor: Loring Smith