Patents by Inventor Scott D. Bostian

Scott D. Bostian 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: 11739801
    Abstract: A coupling assembly includes first and second coupling members, a locking member, and a blocking structure. The locking member may be a strut, a pawl, or the like. The locking member is disposed between the coupling members and is movable between coupling and uncoupling positions. The coupling position is characterized by abutting-engagement of the locking member with each coupling member. The uncoupling position is characterized by non-abutting engagement of the locking member with at least the first coupling member. The blocking structure is associated with at least one of the first coupling member and the locking member. The blocking structure prevents the locking member from entering the coupling position, and thereby prevents abutting engagement of the locking member with the first coupling member, while rotation of the first coupling member in an engagement direction relative to the second coupling member is above a predetermined rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Thomas, Riley C. Moore, Spencer J. Kane, Scott D. Bostian
  • Publication number: 20220106991
    Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a hub, a linear actuator, and a bearing assembly. The hub is rotatable about a rotational axis. The linear actuator has a translator mounted concentrically over the hub. The bearing assembly is at an interface between the translator and the hub. The bearing assembly permits transmission of torque between the translator and the hub while allowing for axial movement of the translator in a direction along the rotational axis relative to the hub. The bearing assembly includes a rolling element(s) (e.g., ball bearing, ball, roller, needle). The bearing assembly may further include a (full circumference, or divided segment) cage which entraps the rolling element(s). The clutch assembly may further include a coupling member supported for rotation about the rotational axis. The hub, with the translator concentrically mounted thereon, is mounted concentrically over a portion of the coupling member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon J. Voelker, Scott D. Bostian, Carl Thomas Beiser
  • Publication number: 20210372491
    Abstract: A coupling assembly includes first and second coupling members, a locking member, and a blocking structure. The locking member may be a strut, a pawl, or the like. The locking member is disposed between the coupling members and is movable between coupling and uncoupling positions. The coupling position is characterized by abutting-engagement of the locking member with each coupling member. The uncoupling position is characterized by non-abutting engagement of the locking member with at least the first coupling member. The blocking structure is associated with at least one of the first coupling member and the locking member. The blocking structure prevents the locking member from entering the coupling position, and thereby prevents abutting engagement of the locking member with the first coupling member, while rotation of the first coupling member in an engagement direction relative to the second coupling member is above a predetermined rotational speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Thomas, Riley C. Moore, Spencer J. Kane, Scott D. Bostian
  • Publication number: 20200173502
    Abstract: A controllable coupling assembly having substantially no backlash is provided. The assembly includes a set of reverse locking formations each of which includes a load bearing surface having a sloped geometry and being adapted to lock a reverse locking element in place along the load bearing surface based on a mechanical tolerance between load bearing surfaces of forward and reverse locking elements through a wedging effect to prevent relative rotation between first and second coupling members of the assembly in a reverse direction about a rotational axis, to absorb at least a portion of the tolerance and to substantially eliminate any backlash between the locking elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott D. Bostian
  • Patent number: 9677506
    Abstract: A carburetor provides a supplemental fuel supply to an engine and includes a body, a fuel metering diaphragm and a fluid pump. The fuel metering diaphragm defines part of a fuel metering chamber and a reference chamber and has at least a portion that is movable relative to the body to increase and decrease the volume of the fuel metering chamber to control fuel flow in the fuel metering chamber. The fluid pump is carried by the carburetor or another component upstream of the carburetor and has an outlet in fluid communication with the metering reference chamber and an actuator arranged to discharge fluid through the outlet to increase the pressure within the metering reference chamber and thereby increase the fuel flow rate from the fuel metering chamber to the air-fuel passage to provide a supplemental fuel supply to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Scott D. Bostian, Matthew A. Braun, Gary J. Burns
  • Publication number: 20150184616
    Abstract: A carburetor provides a supplemental fuel supply to an engine and includes a body, a fuel metering diaphragm and a fluid pump. The fuel metering diaphragm defines part of a fuel metering chamber and a reference chamber and has at least a portion that is movable relative to the body to increase and decrease the volume of the fuel metering chamber to control fuel flow in the fuel metering chamber. The fluid pump is carried by the carburetor or another component upstream of the carburetor and has an outlet in fluid communication with the metering reference chamber and an actuator arranged to discharge fluid through the outlet to increase the pressure within the metering reference chamber and thereby increase the fuel flow rate from the fuel metering chamber to the air-fuel passage to provide a supplemental fuel supply to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Scott D. Bostian, Matthew A. Braun, Gary J. Burns
  • Publication number: 20150069641
    Abstract: A fuel and air supply device for an engine includes at least one carburetor body having a main bore and an air passage and an air valve operably associated with the air passage to control air flow through the air passage. In at least some implementations, the air passage has a portion with a reduced dimension compared to a different portion of the passage. This may facilitate, among other things, a varying external size of the device and facilitate its use within constrained spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: Scott D. Bostian