Patents Assigned to Tulip Corporation
  • Patent number: 11443268
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the intermodal delivery of materials within an at least substantially autonomous carrier traveling along a delivery path. The carrier may dock with a transit vehicle or engage directly with a railway to travel along a transit line while making a delivery. The carrier may also be suitable for securably storing materials therein, such as where a plurality of carriers stop at a storage hub located substantially near and/or along the delivery path. The storage hub may include a charging station for the carriers, and serve as a portable warehouse for both materials and carriers. When adequately charged, the carrier may deliver materials to their final destinations. Or, the materials may be transferred to a load transporter to facilitate first- and/or last-mile delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TULIPS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eric Fosgard
  • Patent number: 8033153
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to cold form rings or a lead battery terminal with undercuts or overhangs to improve the sealing properties of the rings. The apparatus can be one of a segmented die device and a die device wherein one die member moves relative to the other die member. In either apparatus at least one ring on the battery terminal is transferred from having a first shape into a second different shape with an overhang.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard N. Spiegelberg, Terry J. Evraets
  • Patent number: 7985496
    Abstract: A cold formed battery terminal and a method for forming the like having a body defining a cavity and an insert formed of a material different than the body confined in the cavity. The insert includes an insert base, at least one side wall, and at least one flange extending radially outward from the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventors: Terry J. Evraets, Bernard N. Spiegelberg
  • Patent number: 7905384
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cold forming a battery terminal having a battery coupling portion and an electrical coupling portion are provided. The battery coupling portion defines a first longitudinal axis and the electrical coupling portion defines a second longitudinal axis, the first axis being spaced from a distance from the second axis. The battery coupling portion and the electrical coupling portion may include one or more extensions. The electrical coupling portion may further include an insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard N. Spiegelberg, Terry J. Evraets
  • Patent number: 7641100
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cold forming a battery terminal having a base and an insert. The insert includes a first portion encapsulated within the base and a second portion that extends beyond a first side of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard N. Spiegelberg, Terry J. Evraets
  • Patent number: 7628049
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to cold form rings or a lead battery terminal with undercuts or overhangs to improve the sealing properties of the rings. The apparatus can be one of a segmented die device and a die device wherein one die member moves relative to the other die member. In either apparatus at least one ring on the battery terminal is transferred from having a first shape into a second different shape with an overhang.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard N. Spiegelberg, Terry J. Evraets
  • Patent number: 7163763
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cold forming a battery terminal having a base and an insert. The insert includes a first portion encapsulated within the base and a second portion that extends beyond a first side of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard N. Spiegelberg, Terry J. Evraets
  • Patent number: 7070441
    Abstract: A battery terminal includes an undercut groove that provides a leak proof seal between a battery terminal and a plastic battery cover or housing. The leak proof seal prevents electrolyte from seeping from the interior of the housing as well as prevents electrolyte from seeping between the battery terminal and plastic housing when the battery housing is filled with electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventors: Mark K. Gregory, Bernard N. Spiegelberg, Terry J. Evraets
  • Patent number: 7021101
    Abstract: A method and apparatus utilizing a radial rolling process to cold form rings on a lead battery terminal with undercuts or overhangs to improve the sealing properties of the rings. The apparatus includes a fixture configured to securely position the battery terminal beneath a rolling station. The rolling station includes a radial rolling spindle having a plurality of cam shaped rollers configured to transform at least one ring on the battery terminal from having an initial rectangular cross-sectional shape into a desired arrowhead cross-sectional shape when the terminal and cold metal forming member are rotated relative to each other. A drive assembly is configured to rotate the battery terminal and radial rolling head relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventor: Bernard N. Spiegelberg
  • Publication number: 20040003640
    Abstract: A method and apparatus utilizing a radial rolling process to cold form rings on a lead battery terminal with undercuts or overhangs to improve the sealing properties of the rings. The apparatus includes a fixture configured to securely position the battery terminal beneath a rolling station. The rolling station includes a radial rolling spindle having a plurality of cam shaped rollers configured to transform at least one ring on the battery terminal from having an initial rectangular cross-sectional shape into a desired arrowhead cross-sectional shape when the terminal and cold metal forming member are rotated relative to each other. A drive assembly is configured to rotate the battery terminal and radial rolling head relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: Tulip Corporation
    Inventor: Bernard N. Spiegelberg
  • Publication number: 20030224248
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cold forming a battery terminal having a base and an insert. The insert includes a first portion encapsulated within the base and a second portion that extends beyond a first side of the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Tulip Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard N. Spiegelberg, Terry J. Evraets
  • Patent number: 6644084
    Abstract: A method and apparatus utilizing a radial rolling process to cold form rings on a lead battery terminal with undercuts or overhangs to improve the sealing properties of the rings. The apparatus includes a fixture configured to securely position the battery terminal beneath a rolling station. The rolling station includes a radial rolling spindle having a plurality of cam shaped rollers configured to transform at least one ring on the battery terminal from having an initial rectangular cross-sectional shape into a desired arrowhead cross-sectional shape when the terminal and cold metal forming member are rotated relative to each other. A drive assembly is configured to rotate the battery terminal and radial rolling head relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventor: Bernard N. Spiegelberg
  • Patent number: 5918751
    Abstract: A display rack for soda bottles or the like, the rack including a number of trays each having a pillar in each corner of the tray and a post seated on the top of a corner pillar of a lower tray and seated in the bottom of a corner pillar on an upper tray to thereby provide a space sufficient for removal of bottles from any tray in the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel E. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5913424
    Abstract: A stackable reusable storage and display tray for bottles or cans having labels on the outer surface thereof, the tray including a plastic bottom having end walls and side wall molded as an integral tray, the side walls and end wall being formed by posts or pillars equally spaced around the perimeter of the bottom wall and forming openings in alignment with the longitudinal and lateral rows of bottles or cans, the pillars being located to support the trays in stacked position and being nestable by inverting one of the trays and inserting it into another of said trays for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Kelly, Ted Lemke
  • Patent number: 5814421
    Abstract: A method an apparatus is disclosed for forming a battery terminal having a threaded hard metal insert received within an outer portion formed of softer metal such as lead. A preformed outer portion is deformed by an orbital head forming apparatus to secure the hard metal insert within the outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard N. Spiegelberg, Mark E. Sauter
  • Patent number: 5791183
    Abstract: A method and apparatus utilizing a ring forming head to cold form a ring on a lead battery terminal. The apparatus includes a seating station configured to securely position the lead battery terminal within a fixture. The apparatus further including a rolling head having a plurality of rollers, and a drive system for engaging and rotating the rolling head and lead battery terminal relative to each other. The terminal includes an anti-torque structure formed in the terminal to engage a battery housing at the exterior surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard N. Spiegelberg, Dale W. Owens
  • Patent number: 5711910
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming stackable plastic battery containers having stacking grooves is disclosed. A hot tip injection nozzle is centrally located within a raised section of a die thereby forming a depression within the stacking grooves. The nozzle has a gate offset from the nozzle center line. In this manner, the gate remnant formed by the gate offset does not interfere with the stacking of the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventors: Charles W. Kostrivas, Bernard N. Spiegelberg
  • Patent number: 5655400
    Abstract: A method and apparatus utilizing a single progressive die to cold form a finished lead battery terminal from a lead slug. The apparatus includes a lead pickup station, a progressive die having three stations, a drop off station and a transfer mechanism. The transfer mechanism indexes the lead slug from each station to the next with each cycle of the progressive die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard N. Spiegelberg, Dennis J. Brown
  • Patent number: D441957
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel E. Kelly
  • Patent number: D398152
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Tulip Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel E. Kelly