Patents by Inventor Timothy D. King

Timothy D. King 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).

  • Method and apparatus for tensioning composite material
    Patent number: 7862767
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for tensioning material (12) over a mold (14), such as a cure tool, comprises a tensioning fork (10) consisting of two substantially parallel tapered legs (18,20) between which material (12) is disposed. A tensioning fork (10) is positioned at a first side edge (42) and proximate a first end edge (38) of the material (12). A first leg (18) of the tensioning fork (10) is disposed under the material (12), and a second leg (20) of the tensioning fork (10) is disposed over the material (12). When force is applied to the second leg (20), it pivots about the first leg (18) along the length of the legs, remaining parallel to the first leg (18), thereby pressing a portion of the material (12) against the mold (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Coleman, Timothy D. King
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TENSIONING COMPOSITE MATERIAL
    Publication number: 20100181700
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for tensioning material (12) over a mold (14), such as a cure tool, comprises a tensioning fork (10) consisting of two substantially parallel tapered legs (18,20) between which material (12) is disposed. A tensioning fork (10) is positioned at a first side edge (42) and proximate a first end edge (38) of the material (12). A first leg (18) of the tensioning fork (10) is disposed under the material (12), and a second leg (20) of the tensioning fork (10) is disposed over the material (12). When force is applied to the second leg (20), it pivots about the first leg (18) along the length of the legs, remaining parallel to the first leg (18), thereby pressing a portion of the material (12) against the mold (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert A. Coleman, Timothy D. King
  • Method and apparatus for tensioning composite material
    Patent number: 7717694
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for tensioning material (12) over a mold (14), such as a cure tool, comprises a tensioning fork (10) consisting of two substantially parallel tapered legs (18,20) between which material (12) is disposed. A tensioning fork (10) is positioned at a first side edge (42) and proximate a first end edge (38) of the material (12). A first leg (18) of the tensioning fork (10) is disposed under the material (12), and a second leg (20) of the tensioning fork (10) is disposed over the material (12). When force is applied to the second leg (20), it pivots about the first leg (18) along the length of the legs, remaining parallel to the first leg (18), thereby pressing a portion of the material (12) against the mold (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Coleman, Timothy D. King
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TENSIONING COMPOSITE MATERIAL
    Publication number: 20090065963
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for tensioning material (12) over a mold (14), such as a cure tool, comprises a tensioning fork (10) consisting of two substantially parallel tapered legs (18,20) between which material (12) is disposed. A tensioning fork (10) is positioned at a first side edge (42) and proximate a first end edge (38) of the material (12). A first leg (18) of the tensioning fork (10) is disposed under the material (12), and a second leg (20) of the tensioning fork (10) is disposed over the material (12). When force is applied to the second leg (20), it pivots about the first leg (18) along the length of the legs, remaining parallel to the first leg (18), thereby pressing a portion of the material (12) against the mold (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Coleman, Timothy D. King