Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Flaherty & Broitman P.C.
  • Patent number: 7380752
    Abstract: Architectural archway structures for aircraft. The archway structure can be positioned individually, or in pairs or other sets along the length of the interior of an aircraft, such as a commercial passenger airplane. The archways extend across the ceiling of the interior of the cabin and extend downwardly to a point adjacent the luggage bins. End caps are provided to conform the end of the archways with the interior luggage bins. The invention provides a unique “look and feel” and architectural configuration, and does not result in seat loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Peter S. Guard, David A. Young
  • Patent number: 7382327
    Abstract: A vibration isolation system for the antenna of a vehicle, such as a maritime vessel. The vibration isolation system has a staged construction that slidably attaches the maritime antenna to a maritime vessel along up to three independent axes of translation. This staged construction is adapted for independently decreasing movement of the antenna along the independent axes of translation. Accordingly, the staged construction prevents the antenna from rotating due to induced translational vibration and thus enhances the pointing performance for the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Larry A. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7377080
    Abstract: A staircase system (2) includes a rail element (40) and multiple stair elements (42). Baluster elements (44) are coupled to the rail element (40) and to the stair elements (42). A center support system (46) is coupled to and supports the rail element (40) and the stair elements (42). The center support system (46) has a stowed state and a deployed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Christopher J. Mills
  • Patent number: 7377733
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding an aerospace structure, having an edge and a surface, includes a base. Coupled to the base is an edge support adapted to releasably engage the edge of the structure. Also coupled to the base is a stanchion. Moveably coupled to the stanchion is a surface support adapted to support the surface of the structure when the edge of the structure is retained by the edge support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Wright, Gary E. Georgeson, Michael D. Fogarty
  • Patent number: 7374075
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for automatically feeding slider-zipper assemblies to a station where the slider-zipper assemblies can be attached to bag material, such as thermoplastic film. The apparatus includes a slider guide having a channel running the length thereof. The channel has a cross section that allows passage therethrough of sliders slidably mounted to a tape of connected slider-zipper assemblies. A tape drive mechanism is located at the outlet of the slider guide. The tape drive mechanism includes a pair of rollers that form a nip therebetween. The zipper flanges of the tape are threaded through the nip. The rollers have respective grooves that form a space for passage of the sliders as the tape is advanced by the rollers. The zipper tape with sliders exits the tape drive mechanism and is drawn into a zipper flange sealing position by a tape transfer assembly comprising a bank of drive rollers having silicone surfaces in contact with the zipper tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Cortigiano, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7373836
    Abstract: A controlled system (480) for application of force on a test object includes a force actuator (484) that is coupled to and applies a force on the test object. A velocity signal generator (482) is in a feedforward configuration relative to the force actuator (484) and generates a velocity signal (503) that is predictive of the velocity of the test object. A controller (482) is coupled to the force actuator (484) and to the velocity signal generator (482) and generates a desired applied force signal (546) compensated by the velocity signal (503).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gerard V. Bohr, Norman J. Englund
  • Patent number: 7364362
    Abstract: A tamper-evident reclosable package having a header that is tack sealed to the zipper. A light tack, in the form of a light weld, is made at the end of the package header. The header is the top portion of the package and is designed to shroud the zipper. The header serves as a tamper-evident feature, and also serves to maintain cleanliness and aesthetics of the package. The header must be tom before a person can gain access to the contents of the package. Typically, means for preferential tearing are provided for easy removal of the header. The tack seal contributes to the maintenance of the cleanliness and aesthetics of the package, while still allowing easy removal of the header. The tack is light (i.e., low bond strength or pull-off force) in order to not make it significantly more difficult to open the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Schneider, Lewis Albert Haws, David C. Wallace
  • Patent number: 7360425
    Abstract: A method for constructing a compensated composite structure, including a support tube coupled to a flexure plate and enclosing a capacitor plate, includes selecting a material for the support tube whereby the coefficient of expansion is larger than that of the material of the capacitor plates. Further, the method includes selecting the lengths of the support tube and the capacitor plate such that the composite structure is insensitive to changes in temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ray F. Campbell, Joan D. Wada, Michael J. Costello, Mohsen A. Khatiblou
  • Patent number: 7358803
    Abstract: A power control system for a satellite receiving radio-frequency signals includes a traveling wave tube amplifier system and corresponding traveling wave tube. An anode voltage of the traveling wave tube amplifier system is used to modulate or saturate the current of the electron beam of the traveling wave tube so that the output power of the traveling wave tube amplifier system, from the saturated electron beam, is proportional to a waveform envelope of the radio-frequency signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David Ross Goldberg, John E. Eng, Eric F. Nicol
  • Patent number: 7357166
    Abstract: An aircraft stringer lay-up assembly is provided comprising a contoured curing block and a first mandrel element positioned thereon. The first mandrel assembly includes a first bar assembly having a plurality of rigidity reducing first slots formed along a first mandrel length. The plurality of rigidity reducing first slots protruding partially through a first mandrel depth of the first mandrel element to allow the first bar assembly to conform to the contoured curing block. A composite ply assembly is laid up onto the first mandrel element and cured while conformed to said contoured curing block such that a contoured composite stringer element is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Doan D. Pham, Mark Tollan
  • Patent number: 7353978
    Abstract: A method of making tailored blanks in accordance with one embodiment comprises the steps of friction welding a first joining surface of a first structural member having a substantially non-rectangular parallelogram profile to a first portion of a joining surface of a substrate; and thereafter concurrently linear friction welding first and second joining surfaces of a second structural member having a substantially non-rectangular parallelogram profile to a second portion of the surface of the substrate and to a second joining surface of the first structural member respectively. The first and second portions of the surface of the substrate are adjacent. Two or more structural members having a substantially non-rectangular parallelogram profile can be linear friction welded in succession to the substrate and to each other, thereby building a structural assembly having a long flange or other long feature of a desired length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kevin T. Slattery, Christopher H. Swallow, Loren J. Strahm
  • Patent number: 7353682
    Abstract: A pipe flaring apparatus for use in flaring the end of a pipe preferably comprises a housing, a three jaw clamping chuck (3) in the housing which clamps the pipe (11) as the chuck (3) is propelled along an inclined surface (10a) of a chuck clamp (10) also in the housing by the operation of an outer piston (4) slidable in the housing by mechanical or hydraulic means. An inner piston (5) also mounted in the housing and preferably within the outer piston propels the required flaring tool (6) inwardly compressing pipe end (11a) between the clamping chuck die (3a) and a pipe flaring tool forming face (6b) to form an appropriate flare (11b) on the pipe end (11a). When the inner and outer pistons (4, 5) are deactivated resilient members preferably in the form of helical compression springs (8a, 8b) disengage the flaring head tool (6) and the clamping chuck (3) from the flared pipe (11a). The pipe (11) can easily be withdrawn through the chuck (3) and chuck clamp (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: American Grease Stick Company
    Inventor: Nigel Alexander Buchanan
  • Patent number: 7351188
    Abstract: A reclosable package comprising a hooded zipper with a pair of off-center lines of perforations that are hermetically sealed by a layer of material. The lines of perforations facilitate tearing off the hood to gain access to the zipper. One method of manufacture involves joining the hooded zipper to respective web portions formed by folding a web and then slitting the folded web in two. Another method of manufacture involves joining the hooded zipper to respective web portions formed by slitting a web in two and then orienting the two web portions into mutually confronting positions. The package may be constructed to have a wicket flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Schaller, Eric Paul Plourde
  • Patent number: 7350541
    Abstract: A one-way valve allows air to be drawn from a collapsible, flexible, airtight bag using a vacuum source. When the vacuum source is removed, the one-way valve prevents air from re-entering the bag. The valve assembly comprises a base, a valve element supported by the base, and a cap fitted onto an end of the base that is disposed in the exterior of the bag. The base comprises a flange that is disposed in the interior of the bag and is joined to a peripheral area surrounding a hole in one wall of the bag. One surface of the flange has a series of concentric heat-concentrating circular beads for speeding up the conduction heat sealing operation by which the valve assembly is attached to the bag. The valve cap is provided with a circular wall that presses the diaphragm of the valve element against a circular bead on an annular seat formed on the base for supporting the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Kobetsky
  • Patent number: 7347961
    Abstract: A method and system (10) having a flowable pressure pad (22) for consolidating an uncured laminate sheet (14) during a cure cycle is provided. The system (10) includes an autoclave machine (12) for utilizing a pinmat (20) for to perforate and consolidate the sheet (14). This pinmat (20) has a mat portion (28) and a plurality of pins (26) extending from the mat portion (28). These pins (26) are intended to penetrate the uncured laminate sheet (14) during a perforation cycle that occurs prior to the cure cycle. During the cure cycle, the autoclave machine (12) applies a predetermined amount of and pressure heat to the pressure pad (22) for a predetermined amount of time so as to cause the pressure pad (22) to flow around the protruding pins (26). This feature allows the pressure pad (22) to transfer a substantial portion of the applied pressure to the uncured laminate sheet (14) so as to improve consolidation of the sheet (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kevin L. Obrachta, Blaise F. Bergmann
  • Patent number: 7349471
    Abstract: A communication receiver (30) includes a data receiver (34) that receives a pulse-position modulated signal (38). A clock circuit (70) separates a reference clock signal (36) into multiple coordinating clock signals A, B, and C. Multiple time integrators (78) are gated to generate multiple time-integrated signals in response to the pulse-position modulated signal (38) and the coordinating clock signals A, B, and C. A combiner (96) forms a demodulated signal from the time-integrated signals IntA, IntB, and IntC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Albert Cosand, Donald A. Hitko, Michael Yung
  • Patent number: D565931
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher Samhammer, Richard K. Simms, Linsey K. Mallory, Patrick C. Moran, Ximena Rozo, Juliane B. Trummer
  • Patent number: D566520
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher Samhammer, Richard K. Simms, Linsey K. Mallory, Patrick C. Moran, Ximena Rozo, Juliane B. Trummer
  • Patent number: D567064
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher Samhammer, Richard K. Simms, Linsey K. Mallory, Patrick C. Moran, Ximena Rozo, Juliane B. Trummer
  • Patent number: D569706
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher Samhammer, Richard K. Simms, Linsey K. Mallory, Patrick C. Moran, Ximena Rozo, Juliane B. Trummer