Patents Represented by Attorney Jon E. Shackelford
  • Patent number: 7025522
    Abstract: An adjustable height bicycle seat post assembly comprises a hollow seat post for supporting a bicycle seat slidably supported on plastic shims inside a hollow tube. The hollow tube clamps into the frame of a bicycle. A main spring forces the post upward, but a locking mechanism interconnects the post with the tube in various fixed positions relative to the tube. The locking mechanism includes a foundation and a projection extending from the foundation having a counterbore for guiding a plunger into holes on the post. The locking mechanism adheres to the outside of the tube to bear shearing forces on the plunger. An endcap on the locking mechanism and a top cap on the tube protect the assembly from foreign debris. The locking mechanism may be manipulated remotely using a magnetic switch assembly or manually using a manual assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Inventors: Wayne Sicz, Arlen Wisseman
  • Patent number: 6003495
    Abstract: In operation, the main pump (24) is activated and the main value (18) is opened in response to the ignition switch (28) being turned ON to pump fuel from the fuel supply tank (12) to the injectors in the injector manifold (14). During the ON condition, the return control valve (48) is closed to prevent back flow from the injector manifold (14) to the fuel tank (12). In response to the ignition switch (28) being turned to the OFF condition, the main valve (18) is closed and the main pump (24) is deactivated and, most importantly, the return control valve (48) is opened and the return pump (40) is activated to place a negative or vacuum pressure on the upstream side of the injectors to return the residual fuel therein to the fuel tank (12). This prevents the residual fuel from leaking through the injectors and into the combustion chambers of the engine (10), which, in turn, would make it difficult to immediately restart the engine (10) because of a fuel rich condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Tipton, David E. Winn
  • Patent number: 5970935
    Abstract: The assembly comprises a flexible bulb 12 defining a pumping chamber 14 and secured at opposite ends by bands 34 to inlet and outlet housings 26. An inlet check valve 18 is supported by an inlet valve wall 38, which is, in turn, supported in a recess 36 in the inlet housing, to control fuel flow to the pumping chamber 14 while preventing reverse fuel flow out of the pumping chamber 14. An outlet check valve 22 is supported by an outlet valve wall 52 which is, in turn, supported in a recess 36 in the outlet housing for controlling fuel flow from the pumping chamber 14 while preventing reverse flow from the outlet housing into the pumping chamber 14. The assembly is characterized by a pressure relief valve, generally shown at 24, disposed between the inlet and the pumping chamber 14 for allowing fuel under a predetermined pressure in the pumping chamber 14 to reverse flow into the inlet. The opposite ends differ only by the inlet valve wall 38 supporting the relief valve 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Harvey, Steven P. Weaver
  • Patent number: 5955202
    Abstract: A curved sliding element for a plain bearing and a method of producing same. The sliding element includes a generally semi-circular backing member having a central apex and a concave surface. At least one, and preferably two, intermediate layers are applied to the concave surface of the backing member. A dispersion alloy overlay is applied to the exposed intermediate layer using an electron beam vaporizer. The electron beam vaporizer evenly deposits the dispersion alloy over an angular segment, approximately 70.degree. on either side of the apex, in a such controlled manner that the thickness of the overlay deviates less than 15% across the entire angular segment. The vaporizer is moved during the overlay deposition in a linear path relative to the backing member while maintaining the distance from the linear path of the vaporizer to the apex between 150 to 350 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Wiesbaden GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Steeg, Klaus Goedicke, Torsten Kopte, Christoph Metzner
  • Patent number: 5939215
    Abstract: A metallic backing layer such as steel covered by a functional layer of AlSn, AlPb, CuPb, CuSn or CuZn, applied by spraying in air, and a softer covering layer applied to the functional layer by chemical or electrolytic deposition exhibits improved corrosion resistance, running-in behavior and conformability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Wiesbaden Gmbh
    Inventor: Gerd Andler
  • Patent number: 5919331
    Abstract: Elastomers are securely bonded to metal substrates using an aqueous adhesive solution containing a silane adhesive in combination with a phosphonium quaternary salt additive. The additive concentration is preferably between 15% and 40% of the silane concentration. The concentration of the silane and additive in the water base is preferably 2.7%, on a weight basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry C. Smith, Bhawani S. Tripathy
  • Patent number: 5788380
    Abstract: In order to take account of dimensional variations in crankcases and connecting rods, the lower bearing shell (9) in the unmounted state is formed such that the outer contour is in the shape of an arc having a radius r.sub.a and the inner contour has the shape of a semi-ellipse having semi-axes a.sub.i and b.sub.i. The bearing semi-axis a.sub.i passes through the vertex (19) of the lower bearing shell (9). When the bearing is mounted, the contour of the upper bearing shell (8) remains unchanged while the lower bearing shell (9) is slightly deformed such that its outer contour assumes the shape of a semi-ellipse having semi-axes a.sub.a and b.sub.a. The short semi-axis b.sub.a passes through the vertex (19) of the lower bearing shell (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Glyco-Metall-Werke Glyco B.V. & Co. KG
    Inventors: Fritz Niegel, Hjalmar Weiland
  • Patent number: 5756025
    Abstract: A seal for movable structural components, like piston rods or shafts, includes a carrier body made of thermoplastic material and a sealing member locked to said carrier body and made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material. A form-lock connection is achieved by an undercut which is formed permanently in the sealing member and filled with plastic material of the carrier body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Dichtungstechnik G. Bruss GmbH & Co.KG
    Inventors: Steffen Heine, Michael Kinzel, Heiko Schumacher
  • Patent number: 5728429
    Abstract: A method and a device for producing thin layers from liquids to form coatings or foils. A substrate and a liquid application point are moved relative to each other and during the movement the liquid is applied at the application point onto the substrate, while forming a liquid strip, in an amount which is greater than is necessary for the formation of the liquid strip. The excess liquid is guided from the application point to the removal point against the outlet direction and the formed liquid strip is allowed to solidify.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Glyco-Metall-Werke Gkyco B.V. & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Berrenberg, Ingo Steinbach