Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Douglas T. Johnson
-
Patent number: 7578249Abstract: An antivibratory system is provided by means of a servo motor driven shaker affixed to the head or bed frame of a tufting machine and programmed for rotation of a balancing weight to minimize vibration caused by operation of tufting machine at a particular speeds and needle stroke lengths.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2008Date of Patent: August 25, 2009Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventors: Michael R. Morgante, Paul E. Beatty
-
Patent number: 7431974Abstract: The present invention provides for tufted needlefelts with partially or totally obscured loop bights that provide good tuft bind.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2005Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventors: Brian Lovelady, Steven Frost, Ernest S Boyd
-
Patent number: 7426895Abstract: A tufting machine as disclosed with a variable yarn feed mechanism and a method for tufting patterns with yarns from two rows of needles offset longitudinally from one another in a fashion that the different stitch lengths are selected in a fashion that the yarns from each row of needles are complementary to the other and maintain a consistent stitch density.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2005Date of Patent: September 23, 2008Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventors: Jeff Smith, Mike Bishop, Brian Lovelady, Roberta M. Rumfola
-
Patent number: 7318383Abstract: A narrow gauge hollow needle tufting apparatus is provided with longitudinally aligned yarn feed openings, longitudinal funnel slots, self aligning hollow needles, and a castellated backing support bar.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2006Date of Patent: January 15, 2008Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventor: Gary L. Ingram
-
Patent number: 7222576Abstract: A gated looper apparatus has an array of individually mounted pressurizable air cylinders with piston rods acting against biased slider bars in communication with looper gates. Baising elements are mounted external of pneumatic cylinders about slider bars with protective ferules to provide greater responsiveness and ease of maintenance.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2006Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventor: Michael Kilgore
-
Patent number: 7191717Abstract: Lateral pins (20) are used to provide a tufting machine modular gauge assembly that allows damaged or broken gauge elements (10) to be replaced individually. The modular gauge assembly consists of a gauge bar (25) with a plurality of modular blocks (15) removably attached to the bar. The modular blocks are six sided with a detent (110) and fastener mechanism (65) for attaching the block to the gauge bar. The gauge elements may be attached to the block by dedicated screw-pins (145) or by a lateral pin (20) that passes through all the gauge elements within a block. The lateral pin may either pierce the gauge elements (at 70) or abut the gauge elements. Abutting pins may be malleable and segmented and secured in position by set screws.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2003Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventors: Jerry T. Green, Gary Ingram, George Leonard Caylor
-
Patent number: 7107918Abstract: A needle plate module is provided with fingers having a bent portion received in a lateral channel portion enabling standard screw sizes to the fingers into the module over a wide range of finger gauge spacings.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2004Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventors: George Leonard Caylor, Gary Ingram
-
Patent number: 7089874Abstract: The present invention provides alternative scroll-type yarn feed attachments for tufting machines characterized by independent servo-motor control of sets of yarn feed rolls, and a software design system to facilitate use of the attachment to produce novel patterns and photo images.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2005Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventors: Michael R. Morgante, Mike Bishop, Randall E. Stanfield, Eric J. Vaughen, Richard Prichard
-
Patent number: 6945184Abstract: A tufting machine having a servo driven yarn feed attachment adapted to feed two yarns on each yarn feed roll is provided with a tube bank that allows tufting of two single end patterns on the tufting machine from one set of yarn drives.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2004Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventors: Steven Frost, Richard Prichard
-
Patent number: 6675729Abstract: A tufting machine modular gauge assembly that allows damaged or broken gauge elements to be replaced individually. The modular gauge assembly consists of a gauge bar with a plurality of modular blocks removably attached to the bar. The modular blocks are six sided with a detent and fastener mechanism for attaching the block to the gauge bar. The gauge elements may be attached to the block by dedicated screw-pins or by a securing pin that passes through all the gauge elements within a block.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventor: Jerry Green
-
Patent number: 6672230Abstract: Lateral pins are used to provide a tufting machine modular gauge assembly that allows damaged or broken gauge elements to be replaced individually. The modular gauge assembly consists of a gauge bar with a plurality of modular blocks removably attached to the bar. The modular blocks are six sided with a detent and fastener mechanism for attaching the block to the gauge bar. The gauge elements may be attached to the block by dedicated screw-pins or by a lateral pin that passes through all the gauge elements within a block. The lateral pin may either pierce the gauge elements or abut the gauge elements. Abutting pins may be malleable and segmented and secured in position by conical ended bolts.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2002Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventors: Jerry Green, Gary Ingram
-
Patent number: 6629662Abstract: A carpet rolling machine for quickly and efficiently rolling carpet around a core without causing damage to the carpet. The machine includes a moveable dispenser for applying an adhesive flap to the core prior to winding the carpet around the core. The leading edge of the carpet is positioned between the flap and the core so that it may attach to the adhesive on the interior surface of the flap. Once the leading edge of the carpet is properly positioned, the carpet is wound around the core by a roll up.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2001Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: Tuftco Finishing Systems, Inc.Inventors: Ike Howden, Will Creswell, Bob Creswell, David Clark
-
Patent number: 6550407Abstract: The present invention provides a double end yarn drive pattern attachment for tufting machines characterized by independent servo-motor control of yarn feed rolls capable of increased torque to carry multiple yarn ends on a single feed roll, thereby economically retaining many advantages of a single end pattern attachment.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2002Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventors: Steven Frost, Richard Prichard
-
Patent number: 6516734Abstract: The present invention provides a scroll-type yarn feed attachment for tufting machines characterized by independent servo-motor control of yarn feed rolls.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2001Date of Patent: February 11, 2003Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventors: Michael R. Morgante, Mike Bishop, Randall E. Stanfield, Eric J. Vaughen
-
Patent number: 6508185Abstract: The present invention provides a single end scroll-type yarn feed attachment for tufting machines characterized by an array of single end yarn drives operated by servo motor controllers, and methods of using such an attachment to create and tuft new carpet patterns.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2002Date of Patent: January 21, 2003Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventors: Michael R. Morgante, Mike Bishop, Randall E. Stanfield, Eric J. Vaughen, Richard Prichard
-
Patent number: 6502521Abstract: The present invention provides a single end scroll-type yarn feed attachment for tufting machines characterized by independent servo-motor control of yarn feed rolls while eliminating tube banks typical of tufting machine feed attachments and produces new tufted carpet designs.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2001Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventors: Michael R. Morgante, Mike Bishop, Randall E. Stanfield, Eric J. Vaughen, Richard Prichard
-
Patent number: 6439141Abstract: The present invention provides a single end scroll-type yarn feed attachment for tufting machines characterized by independent servo-motor control of yarn feed rolls while eliminating tube banks typical of tufting machine feed attachments to produce new tufted carpet designs.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2001Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventors: Michael R. Morgante, Mike Bishop, Randall E. Stanfield, Eric J. Vaughen, Richard Prichard
-
Patent number: 6334854Abstract: An orthotic device developed and customized to control the desired movement of the patient's defective lower limb. The device incorporates a footplate made of a rubber-like elastomeric material and a proximal segment that encompasses the foot at the metatarsophalangeal joints and the shin portion of the leg. This proximal segment is made of a rubber-like elastomeric material laminated into multiple layers of fabric throughout the proximal segment. Additional strips of fabric are positioned within the proximal segment of the device to limit or promote certain motions within the foot and ankle. This device incorporates a continuous closure from the foot to the proximal segment, creating total contact and hydrostatic containment of the foot and lower leg.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1999Date of Patent: January 1, 2002Inventor: Locke Henderson Davis
-
Patent number: 6312430Abstract: A novel, bipolar, electrosurgical instrument is provided with two end effectors. Current is passed through the second end effector and through an insulated conduit to the distal tip of the first end effector. The first and second end effectors allow the current to travel along exposed conductive strips which are spaced apart cutting surfaces by a gap of preferably approximately 0.020-0.040 inches when the first and second blade supports are brought into contact with tissue. Current flows between the exposed metal strip on the first blade and the exposed metal strip on the second blade thereby effecting cauterization, preferably slightly in advance or at the point of cutting between the ceramic and metal blades. The first and second end effectors may be partially insulated to direct current between the conductive strips, and both may have gaps at their respective surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Endoscopic Concepts, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey A. Wilson, John K. Danks, Jim Young
-
Patent number: 6283053Abstract: The present invention provides a single end scroll-type yarn feed attachment for tufting machines characterized by independent servo-motor control of yarn feed rolls while eliminating tube banks typical of tufting machine feed attachments and produces new tufted carpet designs.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1999Date of Patent: September 4, 2001Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventors: Michael R. Morgante, Mike Bishop, Randall E. Stanfield, Eric J. Vaughen, Richard Prichard