Patents by Inventor Norman F. Curtis

Norman F. Curtis 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: 7837407
    Abstract: A ball joint assembly for a vehicular steering or suspension application includes a cap-like housing in which is captured the articulating ball portion of a stud. A shank extends from the ball portion, outwardly from the housing cap, to provide a connection and anchoring interface for the suspension member or other anchoring component. The connection interface with the anchoring suspension member is characterized by a specially designed surface which is convenient to machine, provides increased surface-to-surface contact area, and provides additional advantages such as improved stress distribution and NVH benefits. A washer-like cone adaptor mates with a specially formed adaptor interface region on the stud. On its outer surface, the adaptor has a broad tapering feature designed to seat in a complementary-shaped receiving flare in the anchoring suspension member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Federal Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger G. Sellers, Norman F. Curtis, Yanjun Xue, George R. Schmidt, Scott Warhover, Thomas J. Byrnes
  • Publication number: 20080247811
    Abstract: A ball joint assembly for a vehicular steering or suspension application includes a cap-like housing in which is captured the articulating ball portion of a stud. A shank extends from the ball portion, outwardly from the housing cap, to provide a connection and anchoring interface for the suspension member or other anchoring component. The connection interface with the anchoring suspension member is characterized by a specially designed surface which is convenient to machine, provides increased surface-to-surface contact area, and provides additional advantages such as improved stress distribution and NVH benefits. A washer-like cone adaptor mates with a specially formed adaptor interface region on the stud. On its outer surface, the adaptor has a broad tapering feature designed to seat in a complementary-shaped receiving flare in the anchoring suspension member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Roger G. Sellers, Norman F. Curtis, Yanjun Xue, George R. Schmidt, Scott Warhover, Thomas J. Byrnes
  • Patent number: 7393152
    Abstract: A ball joint assembly (28) for a vehicular steering or suspension application includes a cap-like housing (42) in which is captured the articulating ball portion (32) of a stud (30). A shank (34) extends from the ball portion (32), outwardly from the housing cap (42), to provide a connection and anchoring interface for the suspension member (16) or other anchoring component. The connection interface with the anchoring suspension member (16) is characterized by a specially designed surface which is convenient to machine, provides increased surface-to-surface contact area, and provides additional advantages such as improved stress distribution and NVH benefits. A washer-like cone adaptor (54) mates with a specially formed adaptor interface region (48) on the stud (30). On its outer surface, the adaptor (54) has a broad tapering feature (56) designed to seat in a complementary-shaped receiving flare (58) in the anchoring suspension member (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Federal Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger G. Sellers, Norman F. Curtis, Yanjun Xue, George R. Schmidt, Scott Warhover, Thomas J. Byrnes