Patents Assigned to Asyst Technologies
  • Patent number: 11719381
    Abstract: Provided is an adjustable linkage arm that includes an elongated housing, a wedge member situated inside the elongated housing, a wedge screw rotationally coupled to the elongated housing and threadably engaged with the wedge member to provide translation of the wedge member along a first axis during rotation of the wedge screw, and a first arm extension member situated at least partially inside the elongated housing and slidingly coupled to a first side of the wedge member, wherein translation of the wedge member along the first axis provides translation of the first arm extension member along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Asyst Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Scott T. Fladhammer, Michael B. Grimm
  • Patent number: 11701995
    Abstract: An adjuster gear screw is provided that includes an adjuster shaft having a threaded portion and a shaft end, a gear head having a plurality of radial protrusions spaced by a plurality of radial indents, and a flange having a flange front surface, an elongated neck interconnecting the adjuster shaft and the gear head, and a gear having a gear rear surface, a plurality of teeth, and a plurality of fingers and notches extending along an inner circumference, wherein the gear is axially secured to the gear head in a first longitudinal direction via abutment of the gear rear surface with the flange front surface, and in a second longitudinal direction via engagement of the plurality of fingers with the plurality of indents, and wherein the gear is rotationally secured to the gear head via abutment of the plurality of radial protrusions with the plurality of notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Asyst Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Scott T. Fladhammer, Michael B. Grimm
  • Patent number: 11635184
    Abstract: A ball socket assembly is provided that includes a ball socket having a socket base with a plurality of socket legs extending therefrom, the socket legs include ball stud interface surfaces forming a ball cavity for receiving and selectively engaging a ball head of a ball stud, a plurality of slots extending between the plurality of socket legs, a lower abutment wall having a bend line and situated in the socket base, and a flexible securing substrate positioned under the lower abutment wall, the socket assembly further including a mating boss substrate having a first boss inner passage with a first passage inside diameter, a second boss inner passage having a second passage inside diameter, wherein the first passage inside diameter is greater than the second passage inside diameter, a boss transition wall between the first boss inner passage and the second boss inner passage, and a boss bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Asyst Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Scott Fladhammer
  • Patent number: 11585416
    Abstract: A fine pitch adjuster that includes a housing, a wheel gear positioned within the housing and coupled to a ball stud, wherein rotation of the wheel gear provides inward and outward longitudinal translation of the ball stud relative to the housing, and a clutching worm input drive including, an inner drive sleeve having a shaft portion and a head portion, the shaft portion including a plurality of sleeve slots formed therein and a plurality of engagement ribs, and an outer worm gear sleeve having worm gear threads, the worm gear threads coupled at least indirectly to the wheel gear, and an inner chamber, the outer worm gear sleeve including a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along the inner chamber for mating engagement with the plurality of engagement ribs, wherein rotation of the inner drive sleeve provides clutchable engagement with the outer worm gear sleeve to rotate the wheel gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Asyst Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Scott T. Fladhammer
  • Publication number: 20230048664
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight aiming device is provided that includes, a device housing having an input drive gear, a screw chamber, an output screw having a screw shaft, a screw first end that is rotationally coupled at least indirectly with the input drive gear, and a screw second end. The device further including an indicator nut having a base with a nut indicator mark, a first leg and second leg extending from a base bottom portion, and an expandable threaded opening extending between a first threaded wall of the first leg and a second threaded wall of the second leg, the threaded walls selectively engageable with a threaded portion of the screw shaft, wherein the threaded opening is expandable to disengage the first threaded wall and the second threaded wall from the threaded portion to allow longitudinal movement of the indicator nut withing the device housing without rotating the output screw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Asyst Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Scott T. Fladhammer, Michael B. Grimm, Peter F. Schwichtenberg, Paul M. Sutenbach
  • Publication number: 20220381324
    Abstract: A fine pitch adjuster that includes a housing, a wheel gear positioned within the housing and coupled to a ball stud, wherein rotation of the wheel gear provides inward and outward longitudinal translation of the ball stud relative to the housing, and a clutching worm input drive including, an inner drive sleeve having a shaft portion and a head portion, the shaft portion including a plurality of sleeve slots formed therein and a plurality of engagement ribs, and an outer worm gear sleeve having worm gear threads, the worm gear threads coupled at least indirectly to the wheel gear, and an inner chamber, the outer worm gear sleeve including a plurality of grooves extending longitudinally along the inner chamber for mating engagement with the plurality of engagement ribs, wherein rotation of the inner drive sleeve provides clutchable engagement with the outer worm gear sleeve to rotate the wheel gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Asyst Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Scott T. Fladhammer
  • Patent number: 11371594
    Abstract: A supplemental driver assembly is disclosed that includes a supplemental drive gear having an upper portion including a tool engagement recess and circumferential supplemental drive gear teeth, and a cylindrical neck extending axially from the upper portion to an output shaft having one or more drive engagement protrusions, as well as a drive guide housing with a gear pocket for housing the upper portion of the supplemental drive gear, the gear pocket including a cylindrical pocket wall extending from a perimeter of a pocket floor, the pocket wall having a drive guide passage extending therethrough for receiving a side adjuster tool, wherein the gear pocket receives the supplemental drive gear and allows for rotational movement of the upper portion within the gear pocket, and a cylindrical collar extending axially from the gear pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Asyst Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Scott T. Fladhammer
  • Publication number: 20220107050
    Abstract: Provided is an adjustable linkage arm that includes an elongated housing, a wedge member situated inside the elongated housing, a wedge screw rotationally coupled to the elongated housing and threadably engaged with the wedge member to provide translation of the wedge member along a first axis during rotation of the wedge screw, and a first arm extension member situated at least partially inside the elongated housing and slidingly coupled to a first side of the wedge member, wherein translation of the wedge member along the first axis provides translation of the first arm extension member along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Asyst Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Scott T. Fladhammer, Michael B. Grimm
  • Publication number: 20220032837
    Abstract: An adjuster gear screw is provided that includes an adjuster shaft having a threaded portion and a shaft end, a gear head having a plurality of radial protrusions spaced by a plurality of radial indents, and a flange having a flange front surface, an elongated neck interconnecting the adjuster shaft and the gear head, and a gear having a gear rear surface, a plurality of teeth, and a plurality of fingers and notches extending along an inner circumference, wherein the gear is axially secured to the gear head in a first longitudinal direction via abutment of the gear rear surface with the flange front surface, and in a second longitudinal direction via engagement of the plurality of fingers with the plurality of indents, and wherein the gear is rotationally secured to the gear head via abutment of the plurality of radial protrusions with the plurality of notches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: Asyst Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Scott T. Fladhammer, Michael B. Grimm
  • Publication number: 20220018509
    Abstract: A ball socket assembly is provided that includes a ball socket having a socket base with a plurality of socket legs extending therefrom, the socket legs include ball stud interface surfaces forming a ball cavity for receiving and selectively engaging a ball head of a ball stud, a plurality of slots extending between the plurality of socket legs, a lower abutment wall having a bend line and situated in the socket base, and a flexible securing substrate positioned under the lower abutment wall, the socket assembly further including a mating boss substrate having a first boss inner passage with a first passage inside diameter, a second boss inner passage having a second passage inside diameter, wherein the first passage inside diameter is greater than the second passage inside diameter, a boss transition wall between the first boss inner passage and the second boss inner passage, and a boss bottom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: Asyst Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Scott Fladhammer
  • Patent number: 11161449
    Abstract: An adjuster gear screw is provided that includes an adjuster shaft having a threaded portion and a shaft end, a gear head having a plurality of radial protrusions spaced by a plurality of radial indents, and a flange having a flange front surface, an elongated neck interconnecting the adjuster shaft and the gear head, and a gear having a gear rear surface, a plurality of teeth, and a plurality of fingers and notches extending along an inner circumference, wherein the gear is axially secured to the gear head in a first longitudinal direction via abutment of the gear rear surface with the flange front surface, and in a second longitudinal direction via engagement of the plurality of fingers with the plurality of indents, and wherein the gear is rotationally secured to the gear head via abutment of the plurality of radial protrusions with the plurality of notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Asyst Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Scott T. Fladhammer, Michael B. Grimm
  • Patent number: 11149785
    Abstract: A coupling assembly is provided that includes a ball socket having a central socket axis, the ball socket includes a lower body portion extending to an upper flange portion, wherein the body portion and flange portion are at least partially segmented by a plurality of longitudinal socket slots to form a plurality of longitudinally extending arms, further included are a plurality of longitudinally extending journaling ribs protruding radially from the body portion, wherein the ribs include an upper rib portion and a lower rib portion, and wherein the upper rib portion has a greater radial width than the lower rib portion, a plurality of wedges extending from the body portion, a plurality of engagement tabs extending from the body portion, each having a tab end portion, and a ball stud engagement cavity centrally formed between the arms for receiving and pivotably securing a ball head of a ball stud therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Asyst Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Scott T. Fladhammer, Michael B. Grimm
  • Publication number: 20210048059
    Abstract: An injectable cap assembly is provided that includes a cap housing with a cover portion having a base that extends substantially therearound, and an inner chamber positioned therein, a sealant flow channel extending along the base, a sealant input tube in fluid communication with the sealant flow channel and extending upwards from the base, a sealant output tube in fluid communication with the sealant flow channel and extending upwards from the base. The assembly further includes a cap insert securable within the inner chamber of the cap housing, the insert having a plurality of insert fingers for engagement with a fastener, and a plurality of outer walls interconnected with the insert fingers, the outer walls securably engageable with the inner chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: Asyst Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael B. Grimm, Scott T. Fladhammer
  • Publication number: 20200355217
    Abstract: A coupling assembly is provided that includes a ball socket having a central socket axis, the ball socket includes a lower body portion extending to an upper flange portion, wherein the body portion and flange portion are at least partially segmented by a plurality of longitudinal socket slots to form a plurality of longitudinally extending arms, further included are a plurality of longitudinally extending journaling ribs protruding radially from the body portion, wherein the ribs include an upper rib portion and a lower rib portion, and wherein the upper rib portion has a greater radial width than the lower rib portion, a plurality of wedges extending from the body portion, a plurality of engagement tabs extending from the body portion, each having a tab end portion, and a ball stud engagement cavity centrally formed between the arms for receiving and pivotably securing a ball head of a ball stud therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: Asyst Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott T. Fladhammer, Michael B. Grimm
  • Patent number: 10800318
    Abstract: An adjuster extender is provided that includes a tubular sleeve longitudinally connected to an extender stud, the sleeve having an inner bore for matingly receiving an adjustment shaft of an adjuster to provide radial support therebetween, and a plurality of engagement arms that extend from the sleeve into the inner bore, the engagement arms including arm ends for engaging an adjuster stud on the adjustment shaft to provide an axial interlock between the sleeve and the adjustment shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Asyst Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael B. Grimm, Scott T. Fladhammer
  • Patent number: 10793058
    Abstract: An adjuster adjusts the position of a fog lamp, headlamp, or other form of adjustable, automotive lamp. The adjuster includes a side-opening retainer screw interface. The side-opening retainer allows the adjuster to provide clutching throughout travel. In addition, a distal end of the retainer includes a set of retainer snap fingers and a separate set of spring fingers. The snap fingers and spring fingers allow for a strong, elastic connection to a lamp mating panel and allow the retainer to securely connect to lamp mating panels of various thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Asyst Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott T. Fladhammer, Michael B. Grimm
  • Publication number: 20200114804
    Abstract: An adjuster gear screw is provided that includes an adjuster shaft having a threaded portion and a shaft end, a gear head having a plurality of radial protrusions spaced by a plurality of radial indents, and a flange having a flange front surface, an elongated neck interconnecting the adjuster shaft and the gear head, and a gear having a gear rear surface, a plurality of teeth, and a plurality of fingers and notches extending along an inner circumference, wherein the gear is axially secured to the gear head in a first longitudinal direction via abutment of the gear rear surface with the flange front surface, and in a second longitudinal direction via engagement of the plurality of fingers with the plurality of indents, and wherein the gear is rotationally secured to the gear head via abutment of the plurality of radial protrusions with the plurality of notches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: Asyst Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott T. Fladhammer, Michael B. Grimm
  • Publication number: 20200017019
    Abstract: An adjuster adjusts the position of a fog lamp, headlamp, or other form of adjustable, automotive lamp. The adjuster includes a side-opening retainer screw interface. The side-opening retainer allows the adjuster to provide clutching throughout travel. In addition, a distal end of the retainer includes a set of retainer snap fingers and a separate set of spring fingers. The snap fingers and spring fingers allow for a strong, elastic connection to a lamp mating panel and allow the retainer to securely connect to lamp mating panels of various thicknesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: Asyst Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott T. Fladhammer, Michael B. Grimm
  • Patent number: 10351046
    Abstract: A lamp adjuster is provided that includes a housing having a first adjustment point and a nose, a gear having an extended cylindrical portion, an output shaft disposed longitudinally within the housing, the output shaft having a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion, a first channel and a first retraction stop. The adjuster further including a first housing tang extending from the nose, the first retraction stop engageable with the first housing tang to prevent further retraction of the output shaft, and wherein the first threaded portion has a major thread diameter greater than a major thread diameter of the second threaded portion, and the first and second threaded portions functionally engage the threaded interior of the extended cylindrical portion, and a clutching slot provided at the first threaded portion to allow for selective disengagement of the first threaded portion from the partially threaded interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Asyst Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Scott Fladhammer
  • Publication number: 20190176681
    Abstract: A lamp adjuster is provided that includes a housing having a first adjustment point and a nose, a gear having an extended cylindrical portion, an output shaft disposed longitudinally within the housing, the output shaft having a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion, a first channel and a first retraction stop. The adjuster further including a first housing tang extending from the nose, the first retraction stop engageable with the first housing tang to prevent further retraction of the output shaft, and wherein the first threaded portion has a major thread diameter greater than a major thread diameter of the second threaded portion, and the first and second threaded portions functionally engage the threaded interior of the extended cylindrical portion, and a clutching slot provided at the first threaded portion to allow for selective disengagement of the first threaded portion from the partially threaded interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Asyst Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Scott Fladhammer