Patents Represented by Attorney Jack D. Puffer
  • Patent number: 5586401
    Abstract: A display apparatus for displaying a phonograph album cover or the like is described which is composed of a front and a rear cover plate, both of transparent material for supporting the album cover therebetween. The cover plates are attached to each other by pairs of upper and lower fasteners of transparent material. The upper fasteners being placed outside of the area occupied by the album cover and the lower fasteners being placed below the lower edge of the album cover and spaced horizontally apart a distance less than the horizontal dimension of the lower edge of the album cover, whereby the album cover is supported on the lower fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Inventors: Gary T. Sheehan, Paul G. Landry
  • Patent number: 5255697
    Abstract: A walking support device is provided which allows the user to be placed in the device without lifting and is fully adjustable to provide partial or full sitting support for the user. Additionally, the device may be partially dissembled by hand and be folded to a compact size for easy transportability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Working Inc.
    Inventor: William K. Grauer
  • Patent number: 5207082
    Abstract: A key holder in which a key may be fastened, includes an elongated handle for providing the user with a mechanical advantage in operating key locks. The key is retained in the holder by means of a pin inserted in the key ring hole in the bow of the key. The key is clamped in the body of the holder by a set screw operating on a clamping plate located in the key receiving opening of the body of the holder. The handle may be fixed in the body or made slidable for the convenience of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Inventor: Thomas H. LeMaitre
  • Patent number: 4373169
    Abstract: A wide-angle image generator of the closed-circuit television type primarily for a helicopter flight simulator, employs four vidicons, each receiving a portion of an image from a single optical system viewing a wall mounted terrain model. The optical system includes an objective lens mounted at the lower end of a yaw tube. The position of the axis of the objective lens relative to the axis of the tube as well as rotation and position of the tube relative to the terrain model are determined by movement of the simulator controls, thus varying the presentation on one display of monitor screens within the view of the pilot at the controls, and another display of monitor screens within the view of an observer. The number of monitors per display is equal to the number of the vidicons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: John E. Burkam
  • Patent number: 4358074
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft having a fuselage and a wing with two nacelles disposed on opposite sides of the fuselage, each of the nacelles having a turbo fan therein with drive means connected thereto for air flow through the nacelle from a forward air inlet to air exit openings, the air flow within the nacelle divided into twi air streams, one of the air-streams being directed downwardly through a variable area forward chin nozzle provided with a cascade of vanes for directing the outflow in a desired direction with the other air stream exhausted through an aft nozzle of variable area at the aft outlet opening against a slotted flap system mounted aft of the aft nozzle against which the outflow from the aft nozzle is directed so that the two air streams provide pitch, roll and yaw control as well as balanced lift and propulsion utilizing controlled thrust modulation and vectoring for all regimes of flight from vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) or short takeoff and landing (STOL) or a combination o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1982
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Allen H. Schoen, John J. Schneider, David Bevan, Harold Rosenstein, David R. Woodley
  • Patent number: 4349317
    Abstract: A bearingless rotor system has a flexible strap member to which the root of a rotor blade is attached, and a pitch rod aligned with the pitch axis and mounted to the rotor blade root and to a pitch arm, which arm transmits control system variations by way of a pitch link to the pitch rod. Tapered shoes are disposed adjacent the surfaces of the strap and are capable of applying a restoring force to the strap in opposition to flexural displacements of the strap member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1982
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Rene A. Desjardins
  • Patent number: 4349167
    Abstract: A light-weight aircraft passenger seat, which includes a plurality of integrally mounted wire-bending energy attenuators, and which can be floor mounted to face either forward or backward. Four seat legs, pivotally connected between the seat and floor, extend upward at the same angle from the floor, which is determined by two energy attenuators also pivotally connected between the seat and the floor, and extending upward from the floor in an opposite direction from the seat legs. When facing forward, the seat is stroked forward and downward. When facing backward, the seat is stroked backward and downward. In either a forward or backward facing disposition, the free ends of the energy attenuations extend into the back of the seat. Also the seat is flexibly connected to the seat legs and energy attenuators, which, in turn are connected by swivels to the floor to provide seat articulation as the floor distorts during a crash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1982
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Mason J. Reilly
  • Patent number: 4338050
    Abstract: A method and tool for drilling holes in a composite of materials having different strength and elastic characteristics. The tool has a planar end surface inclined in two directions relative to the tool axes, and an axially-extending flute which define, with the periphery of the tool, a cutting single end point and adjacent cutting edges which are guided within the hole being formed by three axially-extending wearstrip segments of the tool periphery. The radius of the tool is gradually reduced from the final wearstrip to the side of the flute opposite the cutting single end point. The cutting end portion of the tool may be formed of a very hard carbide material. The method provides for simultaneous point and surface cutting of the composite. Point and surface cutting occur at the outer circumferential surface of the hole generally along a radius of the hole to be drilled. Cutting also occurs along a radius of the hole being generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Theodore Ozer, Alexander Yankovoy, James Imbessi
  • Patent number: 4335174
    Abstract: An end closure for honeycomb structures is disclosed. The end closure effectively provides for the sealing of the end of a honeycomb structure in order to prevent moisture from entering and propagating into the structure. The invention includes a structure and method for closing the end of a honeycomb structure with a molded closure. A foam adhesive, in combination with a tape adhesive, forces the tape adhesive to conform to the shape of the irregular honeycomb core, thereby providing an effective bond and seal of the honeycomb face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1982
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Raymond P. Belko
  • Patent number: 4333551
    Abstract: A load limiter or a crash attenuation device based on wire bending principals is disclosed. Excessive tensile shocks, such as the accelerative forces imposed on a low stretch load restraint in a helicopter if it crashes, are absorbed by forcing a bifurcated double coil to successively bend and straighten as it travels through a pair of wire guides in response to the forces being transmitted into the limiter by the load restraint. The reaction force absorbed is a function of the wire diameter and stiffness while the reaction stroke is a function of the number of turns in the coil reels. The device further has an adjustment mechanism so it can easily be adapted to a wide variety of design conditions without changing the basic configuration of the limiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Joseph Shefrin
  • Patent number: 4332248
    Abstract: An apparatus or guide to aid in inserting the needle of syringes and the like into body conduits such as veins, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pair of members which are placed on the opposite sides of a vein, parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, thereby preventing lateral movement of the vein while it is being pierced by the needle. In an embodiment of the invention a guide is provided to aid in inserting the needle to the desired depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1982
    Inventor: Thomas N. DeVitis
  • Patent number: 4329119
    Abstract: A load absorbing elastic member or members is incorporated in the design of a rotor blade to assist in reducing flapwise and chordwise bending moments, torsional loading, and to reduce or eliminate the control system loads induced by rotor blade moment stall. In all its embodiments, the load absorbing elastic member has operatively associated therewith a constraining member which serves as a strain amplifier permitting the load absorbing elastic member to achieve its purpose effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Joseph M. Baskin
  • Patent number: 4316701
    Abstract: What follows is a description of a composite aerodynamic rotor blade assembly which has been optimized from the standpoint of both fabrication cost and structural integrity. The rotor blade is fabricated using fewer overall assemblies to optimize cost and includes an aft fairing structure which is uniquely characterized in that it includes not only the typical elements of an aft fairing structure of the composite blade, but the spar heel as well. In assembly the skin members of the aft fairing structure are secured between the spar heel and the cap member of the assembly. This insures a fail-safe design and in this way the skin members are enabled to carry load effectively. The deicing blanket is assembled with the spar and cap member so that its supporting structural material serves as a load carrying member. Also, the spar, the inboard termination of the cap member, and the spar heel together form the root end of the rotor blade into which the torsion splices are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1982
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas S. Scarpati, Robert J. Ford
  • Patent number: 4314795
    Abstract: A family of airfoils for use in rotary wing aircraft, particularly helicopters, is disclosed. The family is characterized by having a maximum c.sub.1.sbsb.max at M=0.4 and maximum delay in drag divergence while maintaining zero lift pitching moment levels c.sub.m.sbsb.o correctable within the range of -0.01 to +0.01. The present family of airfoils provide high lift at maximum angle of attack when the blade is retreating and maximum delay in drag rise or drag divergence when the blade is advancing. The airfoil section of the family enable a helicopter rotor to counteract, more efficiently, the rolling moment which would otherwise be induced by a rotorcraft's forward flight; this is achieved by the present family of airfoils while maintaining the airfoil sectional pitching moment coefficient at or about zero thereby enabling the blade in which the airfoil sections are incorporated to impose minimum structural loads on the rotorcraft's control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Leone U. Dadone
  • Patent number: 4312398
    Abstract: A method of forming ceramic fiber and metal composite structures is disclosed. The method is particularly useful in forming such structures having a complex shape. Fibers are coated with an investment grade sticky wax as a fugitive organic binder. Aluminium oxide coated with a sticky wax binder have been found to have greater flexibility than the fibers alone or fibers coated with other binders. The coated fibers are then laid up into a preform of the desired shape. The preform is elevated to a moderate temperature prior to pressure compaction. The preform may be combined with other preforms to form a more complex shape. The preform is then installed in a casting mold and elevated to a temperature sufficient to remove the sticky wax binder. Molten metal is then introduced into the mold where it fills the voids created by the removal of the sticky wax. Subsequent to cooling, the fiber and metal composite material is removed from the casting mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Joseph J. Van Blunk
  • Patent number: 4311213
    Abstract: A vibration isolation system for a passenger carrying helicopter with which the crew seats in the cockpit area and the floor in the passenger area are decoupled from the airframe thereby isolating the seats and floor from the airframe vibrations. In addition, the fuel tanks of the helicopter are isolated from the airframe so that a force feedback from the fuel tank to the airframe resulting from the changing fuel quantity is effectively eliminated. The system employs nodal isolators which both isolate (decouple) and support the particular structural mass in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1982
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Rene A. Desjardins, Vladimir Sankewitsch
  • Patent number: 4302154
    Abstract: An integrated transmission and helicopter rotor head is disclosed. Lift and bending moments generated by the rotating hub are carried by non-rotating support structure. The rotating rotor shaft is adapted to carry only torque loads. Partial gear reduction takes place above the rotor shaft, thereby reducing its torque loading. The invention includes a planet gear assembly wherein the ring gear is connected to the rotating hub, while the rotor drive shaft causes rotation of the sun gear. The hub swashplate is located above the hub with its control rods passing through the planet gear assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: John C. Mack
  • Patent number: 4300738
    Abstract: A support structure for thin wall, lightweight, ducts which are commonly used in aircraft is disclosed. The support structure, a clamp, has a split, circular body with a tapered separation. A support bracket is connected to the body of the clamp which permits mounting to a bulkhead. The split circular body of the clamp is designed in a manner which allows for quick mounting and dismounting the duct without the use of tools. The split line is at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the clamp. The clamp will grip the duct tight enough to prevent movement between the duct and the support without damaging the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1981
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Thomas B. Whinfrey
  • Patent number: 4289288
    Abstract: A split ring grommet for use in routing electrical cables, and the like, through aircraft bulkheads is disclosed. The grommet has a flange which is formed at one end thereof and tabs on its outer surface. The grommet is designed so that when it is inserted into the hole in a bulkhead the tab and flange engage the edge of the bulkhead which forms the periphery of the hole. A clamp is provided for securing the opposing faces of the split ring grommet. The clamp slips over the non-flanged end of the grommet and has locking members which fit into slots in the grommet on either side of the opposing faces. The tabs and locking members are spring biased so as to insure a tight fit between the grommet and the bulkhead. Electrical cables, hydraulic tubing and the like are secured by straps which engage both the cables and the grommet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1981
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: N. Keith Gransberry, Allen C. Haggerty
  • Patent number: 4259144
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tape applicator head for dispensing tape onto a working surface for the construction of primarily structural parts, and to a method of laying tape onto a working surface.The tape applicator head includes a housing which is preferably displaced relative to the working surface. The housing includes a tape dispensing outlet where at least one tape dispensing structure has a tape engaging surface which imparts a tension to the tape as the tape applicator head is displaced relative to the working surface to drive the tape through the tape head. Preferably, two tape dispensing blocks are mounted to the housing at the tape dispensing outlet adjacent to each other. These blocks define spaced, symmetrically oriented surfaces which alternately engage the tape and impart the noted tension thereto as the tape applicator head is displaced in two opposing directions relative to the working surface. With this latter arrangement, the orientation of the tape applicator head is maintained unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1981
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Robert H. Ballentine