Patents Examined by John C. Hong
  • Wire-drawing method and system
    Patent number: 10784024
    Abstract: A wire-drawing method comprises providing a rod comprising a wrapped sheet, wherein the sheet comprises a plurality of copper layers and a plurality of graphene layers; extracting an inner layer of the wrapped sheet from the rod to form a spiral; and forming a wire by feeding the spiral through an opening of a die unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Ultra Conductive Copper Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Horst Jakob Adams
  • Automated removal and replacement of vehicle wheels and tires
    Patent number: 10773550
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for automated vehicle wheel removal and replacement are provided. One system includes a computer system with applications for scheduling the replacement of tires for the vehicle. An electronically controlled lift device and robotic apparatus is configured for interaction with the computer system. The lift device mechanically adjusts arms for placement on lift points of vehicles. The robotic apparatus detects positioning of lug nut configuration for a wheel, removes lug nuts, and then removes the wheel from the wheel hub with gripping arms. The wheel and tire are then handed off to a separate tire changing machine. When a new tire is replaced the robotic apparatus then mounts the wheel to the original wheel hub, and then secures the lug nuts to the lug nut bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: RoboTire, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Downey, Victor Darolfi, Robert Baranowski, Mark Bauer, Bernard J. Michini
  • Grill and food containing assembly for hands-free rotation and flipping of food products
    Patent number: 10758083
    Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes a method of operating a grill having a food containing assembly. The method includes installing a first cooking grate in a perimeter grate frame and in spaced-apart relationship to a second cooking grate to which food is placed on. The method also includes cooking the food for a period of time and translating the food containing assembly, where the perimeter grate frame rotates at least 180 degrees from an original position. The method also includes cooking the food for an additional period of time, translating the food containing assembly to the original position, displacing the first cooking grate from the perimeter grate frame, and removing the food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: FLIPPIN' BBQ
    Inventors: Timothy Weaver, Shane Murphy, Olando Dicks, Dave Dicks
  • Methods and apparatus for additively manufactured exoskeleton-based transport structures
    Patent number: 10751800
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to additively manufactured vehicle exterior structures, designed to enclose the vehicle surface and support required operational loads. The vehicle structure includes cavities into which components that require an external interface are inserted. A plurality of components are assembled and integrated into the vehicle structure. The structure may be 3-D printed using multiple printing techniques applied in parallel or in series. In an embodiment, the components and structure are modular, use multiple materials and manufacturing techniques, and enable reparability and replacement of single parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Broc William TenHouten, Kevin Robert Czinger, Stuart Paul Macey, David Charles O'Connell, Jon Paul Gunner, Antonio Bernerd Martinez, Narender Shankar Lakshman
  • Insertion body, assembly of insertion bodies and method for inserting an insertion body
    Patent number: 10755160
    Abstract: An assembly of a plurality of identical insertion bodies, wherein each insertion body has an RFID tag as an electronic or electromechanical transmitter and/or receiver device. The insertion bodies are connected to one another, one next to the other or one behind the other by one or more connecting elements, wherein the connecting elements are designed to be torn off mechanically by an external force effect on a single insertion body. In this way, the connecting elements can form, when combined as a type of magazine, a linear arrangement for a pneumatic or electrical nail gun device or bolt gun device as an insertion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: WEWEWE GMBH
    Inventor: Axel C. Burgbacher
  • Method for forming a joint using a self-piercing rivet
    Patent number: 10751787
    Abstract: A joint is formed in a stack of at least two sheets of light metal alloy, using a self-piercing rivet that is fully hollow. The rivet is coated at least along a portion of its bore by a lubricant and pierces the upper surface thereof and such that the shank deforms outwardly to interlock with the materials but without penetration to the die side of the material. The outside diameter of the shank of the rivet is 5.4 mm or less. The die has a volume that is less than 60% or 70% of the effective solid volume of the rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Atlas Copco IAS UK Limited
    Inventor: Russell John Trinick
  • Method for forming a seal in an end piece of a flexible pipe including a pressure sheath
    Patent number: 10753522
    Abstract: A method includes providing, around an end section of the pressure sheath, of a crimping ring that is intended to be introduced into the pressure sheath; placing, around the end section and the crimping ring, of an end vault of the end piece, the end vault having an engagement surface for engaging with the crimping ring capable of pushing the crimping ring radially into the pressure sheath; relatively moving of the crimping ring in relation to the engagement surface in order to crimp the crimping ring in the pressure sheath. The method includes, prior to the relative movement, a heating of the end section of the pressure sheath, capable of reducing the Young's modulus of the polymer material of the end section of the pressure sheath and of maintaining a reduced Young's modulus during the relative movement step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Grégory Peckeu, Julia Pinson, Antoine Colmard
  • Cooking sleeve for vertical grill
    Patent number: 10743711
    Abstract: A cooking sleeve, which may also be described as a cooking pouch, which is removably secured to a vertical grill. The cooking sleeve is compressible, but restores to an original shape when compression is released. Food is inserted into the sleeve at a first end and exits the sleeve at a second, opposite end. The cooking sleeve is non-stick and formed of a food grade material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MANITOWOC FSG OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Lon Lehman, Eugene Tippmann, Jr.
  • Electrically assisted flow drill screwdriving and fixture therefore
    Patent number: 10731684
    Abstract: Electrically assisted flow drill screwdriving processes (EAFDS) and devices are described. The methods can augment traditional FDS and allow for softening of metals of a stack-up, which can enable FDS joining of thicker and stronger materials such as boron steel. EAFDS methods can reduce cycle time and can be used to join thicker cross-sections with reduced installation torque. Also disclosed are fixtures for attachment to existing devices that can provide for the electrical augmentation of existing FDS processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Clemson University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Brandt J. Ruszkiewicz, Jamie D. Skovron, Laine Mears
  • Hole punch and also a method for the piercing of a workpiece which is present as a foam material and/or as a sandwich material and also a method for the manufacture of the hole punch
    Patent number: 10718369
    Abstract: A hole punch and a method for piercing a workpiece wherein a hole punch includes a sheet metal part and a piercing body attached thereto which carries out the piercing function and which is provided with a thread cylinder or can be provided with a thread cylinder, for example by pressing a threaded pin into a centrally arranged passage of the hole punch, wherein the hole punch can also be formed in one piece as a piercing body with a sheet metal-like flange. Furthermore a method is claimed for the manufacture of the hole punch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: PROFIL VERBINDUNGSTECHNIK GMBH & CO.
    Inventors: Oliver Diehl, Andreas Lembach
  • Method of supporting a structure using an index pin locking apparatus
    Patent number: 10717547
    Abstract: A method for supporting a structure includes coupling an index pin to the structure, moving an index head relative to the structure to receive the index pin within a bore extending through the index head, and actuating a pin lock of the index head to retain the index pin within the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Paul R. Stone
  • Device and method for fastener element retention and installation
    Patent number: 10710221
    Abstract: A method and a device seek to improve productivity of the installation of fasteners. Improved productivity is targeted by holding a fastener to a driving tool with mechanical components for a substantial portion of an installation sequence to prevent nuisance disengagement between fasteners and their driving tool including dropping of fasteners early in an installation cycle. The productivity of this fastener holding approach is best realized by allowing a streamlined operation with little interaction between the device and an operator. Specifically, a fastener installation device is described which requires no direct manipulation of the device during the sequence of loading a fastener, installation of the fastener, disengagement of the device from the fastener to allow complete installation of the fastener, and loading a subsequent fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventor: Kevin Scott Koch
  • Vacuum system assembly tool
    Patent number: 10710224
    Abstract: A tool for positioning a flat ring for installation of the flat ring at the end of a cylindrical body. The tool is particularly useful for the installation of gaskets between CF flanges. The tool is configured as a collar that is placed around one of the flanges, with fingers that extend to contact the outer rim of the gasket. The collar is placed around the flange, and the fingers hold the gasket in place until the second flange is moved into position and is bolted finger-tight to the first flange. At this point, the two flanges hold the gasket in place, and the collar is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITIED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE AIR FORCE
    Inventors: John Richardson Harris, Rufus Cooksey
  • Support structures for additive manufacturing techniques
    Patent number: 10710306
    Abstract: A support structure for an additive manufacturing system includes a support body with a support body material and an interface disposed on the support body with an interface material. The interface material has a ductile-to-brittle transition temperature that is higher than the ductile-to-brittle temperature of the support body material for selectively fracturing the interface material to separate an additively manufactured article from the support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Kiley James Versluys, Sergey Mironets
  • Composite article assembly system and method
    Patent number: 10710293
    Abstract: A composite article assembly arrangement includes an all-in-one assembly station for supporting certain two-workpiece or composite article assembly methodologies with a view toward a preferred lid assembly application. The all-in-one assembly station includes a stationary main base plate, opposed intermediate compactor plates, and opposed outer plates, which compactor plates and outer plates are movable relative to the stationary main base plate. One or more continuous webs bearing thermoformed first and second workpieces are directed through the assembly station, which assembly station operates to both separate the first and second workpieces from the web(s) as directed therethrough and assemble the first and second workpieces in one clapping movement of the compactor plates and outer plates relative to the main base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventor: Pavel Savenok
  • Vehicle latch mechanism jig
    Patent number: 10703427
    Abstract: A jig has a frame, a carrier and a hood latch supporting assembly. The frame has two first shafts and a bracket attachment portion. The carrier has two sliders and a second shaft. The two sliders are fitted to the first shafts for movement in a Z-direction along the first shafts. The second shaft is perpendicular to the first shafts. The two sliders and the second shaft are rigidly fixed to one another. The hood latch supporting assembly has a second slider and a latch support portion. The second slider is fitted to the second shaft for movement in an X-axis direction along the second shaft. The latch support portion is coupled to the second slider for movement therewith. The frame assembly allows movement of a latch mechanism loosely fitted to a bracket during alignment of the latch mechanism to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Shannon Leigh Stevens
  • Bottle top liquid infusion system
    Patent number: 10702095
    Abstract: A liquid infusion system has an infusion chamber with open top and bottom ends. The top end has a removable cover. Flavored ingredients are placed in the chamber. A lower housing is rotatably secured to the bottom end of the chamber. A one-way valve located within the lower housing allows liquid flow in only a single direction. A stopper configured to be inserted into a bottle of virgin liquid is connected to the lower housing. When the system is tilted downward, virgin liquid is free to flow from the bottle and into the chamber. Bringing the bottle to vertical closes the valve and allows the virgin liquid and any ingredients placed in the chamber to steep, to produce a flavored infused beverage. The lower housing can be rotated and locked into a position in relation to the infusion chamber to prevent the flow of liquid into or out of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: FRESHLINK PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, LLC
    Inventors: Dean Chapman, Shane Blomberg, Ed Kilduff, Andrew Reeves
  • Rivet for friction self-piercing riveting and friction self-piercing riveting connection system thereof
    Patent number: 10695821
    Abstract: A rivet rotational feeding method for friction self-piercing riveting (F-SPR) system, comprising: a semi-hollow rivet, a driving spindle and a die. The bottom surface of the rivet head is connected to the semi-hollow rivet shank. The semi-hollow rivet shank has a wedge-shaped end. The rivet head has rotation driving structures and positioning structure on the top end. The rotation driving structures are central symmetric concave or convex surfaces. The positioning structure is a central symmetric and mirror symmetric concave or convex surface. The matching between the driving spindle and the rivet can improve the rotation reliability and positioning accuracy of the riveting at a high rotational speed during F-SPR process, which is beneficial to solve the problems of poor stability and non-coincidence between the geometry axis and the rotation axis of the rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SHANGHAI JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yongbing Li, Yunwu Ma, Ming Lou, Zhongqin Lin
  • Apparatus and methods for aligning heavy metal plates during tank construction
    Patent number: 10688627
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for aligning heavy metal plates during tank construction using an alignment device, which is temporarily attached to the heavy metal plates with a pair of locking members pivotably coupled to a frame and a pair of adjustable alignment members attached to the frame between the pair of locking members. The alignment device may be attached to the heavy metal plates without the inefficiencies, hazards and other disadvantages associated with welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Bechtel Oil, Gas & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: William Brawner
  • Flexible pipe joint
    Patent number: 10690276
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a flexible pipe to a further flexible pipe in an end-to-end configuration, wherein the apparatus includes and the method utilizes an elongate tubular element having a first and second end and an outer surface having a raised central region. At least one vent passage extends at least partially across the raised central region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: TRINITY BAY EQUIPMENT HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Hegler, Andrew James Heaton