Patents Examined by Kyle A Cook
  • Patent number: 12252050
    Abstract: A seat support element having an outer layer that includes an outer surface and an inner surface, a synthetic skin extending over the inner surface of the outer layer, and a first foam layer extending over the synthetic skin. A method of forming the seat support element includes the following steps: forming the outer layer by applying at least one layer of paint against a first forming surface of a forming tool, applying the synthetic skin against the inner surface of the outer layer, and applying the first foam layer against an inner surface of the synthetic skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Faurecia Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Anne-Sophie Cabouillet, Fabrice Etienne, Pierre Fichet Delavault, Davy Phomsavanh
  • Patent number: 12228157
    Abstract: A flexible shoulder pin module includes a barrel having an annular head portion, a cylindrical body portion, and a through-hole extending from a top surface of the body portion to a bottom end of the head portion; and a shoulder pin having a shaft portion and a shoulder portion formed thereon. The through-hole includes a first portion adjacent to the top surface of the body portion, and a second portion having a greater diameter than the first portion. The shaft portion is insertable through the first portion into the second portion. The shoulder portion is configured to adjustably extend above the top surface of the body portion to clamp a panel thereto. A compressible device is configured to be disposed around the shaft portion and secured by a stopper panel, which is coupled to the shaft portion and placed adjacent to the head portion within the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Chun Chang, Hsin-Chieh Lin, Yao-Long Lin
  • Patent number: 12226882
    Abstract: A tool for mounting a bearing and shaft subassembly in an aircraft engine component, including a rod extending from a first end to a second end and adapted to extend through a hollowed shaft, the rod having a shaft seating portion at the first end adapted to engage a first end of the shaft. A holder is engageable to the second rod end to receive a second end of the shaft. The holder is displaceable towards the shaft seating portion during engagement to the second rod end. At least one sleeve is adapted to wrap about a shaft outer surface, removably securable to the shaft, and having an end defining a bearing facing surface to axially engage the bearing. The holder is displaceable towards that surface to axially load the bearing against the sleeve and maintain the shaft between the holder and the shaft seating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Martine Boissonneault, Philippe Boro
  • Patent number: 12228161
    Abstract: A self-aligning mechanical fastener includes an active apparatus and a passive apparatus and is configured to have locked and unlocked states. The active apparatus includes a motor that drives a shaft in first direction to advance a plunger towards the passive apparatus to transition the fastener to the locked state. The plunger includes a tapered distal end that mechanically engages a locking body. The locking body is moved laterally by the tapered distal end to apply a force to a locking frame that is located in a slot defined in a housing of the passive apparatus. The force causes the mechanical fastener to be locked. To unlock the mechanical fastener, the motor drives the shaft in a second direction to retract the plunger away from the passive apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Ample, Inc.
    Inventor: Ankit Srivastava
  • Patent number: 12214433
    Abstract: A method for producing a tooth geometry includes selecting a root-side starting contour configured as an ellipse segment and a head-side partial contour of a tooth; selecting an adaptation region for at least a part of the root-side starting contour; determining for the adaptation region a correction specification determined using a correction function configured as an at least third-order polynomial having at least one adjustable function parameter comprising adjustable coefficients; modifying the root-side starting contour using the correction specification to form a root-side final contour, and producing the tooth geometry by chip-removing machining based on the head-side partial contour and the root-side final contour. Also disclosed are a computer program product for carrying out the method, a tool for manufacturing the tooth geometry based on the method, and a machine component having the tooth geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Flender GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Hess
  • Patent number: 12209614
    Abstract: A first piece (13) includes a first ring portion (13b) and a second ring portion (13c) which are arranged side by side in an axial direction and an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the first ring portion (13b) are respectively larger than an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the second ring portion (13c). A second piece (16) is obtained by pressing the first piece (13) while the first piece (13) is disposed between a first set and a second set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Kouhei Mori, Mizuki Watanabe, Isao Shintou, Hiroshi Koyama
  • Patent number: 12208925
    Abstract: A method of kitting a robotic assembly for servicing aviation equipment including determining a current workscope associated with the equipment; determining at least one of parts and tooling associated with the current workscope; equipping the robotic assembly with at least some of the determined parts, tooling, or both; and the robotic assembly at least partially autonomously servicing the equipment using the equipped parts, tooling, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignees: General Electric Company, Oliver Crispin Robotics Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, David Scott Diwinsky
  • Patent number: 12202031
    Abstract: A method for removing a two-part connector in a workpiece arrangement includes providing a workpiece arrangement having first and second surfaces and having a hole connecting the first surface to the second surface. A connector is fastened in the hole, which connector has a bolt extending along a central axis and a sleeve fastened on the bolt. The bolt has a head portion and a shank portion with retaining grooves. The sleeve is fastened to the bolt on the side of the second surface such that the inner surface thereof engages with the retaining grooves and prevents a relative movement of bolt and sleeve parallel to the central axis. The sleeve has an outside diameter which is greater than the diameter of the hole in the workpiece arrangement. The sleeve is cut and or the bolt, and the connector is removed from the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Jörn Skirke, Alexander Schäfer
  • Patent number: 12186520
    Abstract: A system, method, and article for delivering an antimicrobial agent into the lumen of a trans-dermal catheter are disclosed. In an embodiment, the system comprises an elongate member configured for insertion into a lumen of a catheter, and the elongate member containing an antimicrobial. An antimicrobial agent can be placed on an interior surface of a retaining ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: ICU Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Ziebol, Keith J. Modert
  • Patent number: 12156356
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are provided for the encapsulation of electronic devices. The encapsulation includes positioning an electronic device in a cavity of a mold, and screen or stencil printing an encapsulant, in a liquid form, around the flexible electronic device. The mold is of a sufficient thickness to allow the encapsulant to completely cover electronic components mounted on a first surface of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Flex Ltd.
    Inventors: Weifeng Liu, Jesus A. Tan, William L. Uy, Dongkai Shangguan
  • Patent number: 12116980
    Abstract: A coupling system for coupling a curved object to a central shaft, the curved object includes an inner surface facing the central shaft and an outer surface. The system includes a coupling member for coupling the curved object to the central shaft; at least one pocket integrally formed on a curved surface of the curved object and defined as a depression with respect to at least one of the inner and outer surfaces. The pocket includes: a flat portion having an aperture for holding the coupling member; and a flange portion which merges continuously from the flat portion to the curved object and is shaped such that the flat portion is disposed perpendicularly to the coupling member; a fastening member for fastening the coupling member to the flat portion. The thickness of the flat portion and flange portion is the thickness of the curved object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Inventors: Mark Daniel Farb, Irakli Baitish, Arthur Bayzer
  • Patent number: 12083852
    Abstract: A toe link support is disclosed. In a first aspect, the toe link aperture of a hub has been bored out to receive inner and outer spacers. The spacers have bolt holes through which a toe link bolt is inserted to secure a toe link to the hub. The bolt is secured by a nut. The spacers protect the hub from damage by the bolt, and vice versa, resulting from motion of the toe link. In a second aspect, the outer spacer is further configured to be inserted into the bolt hole of the toe link, further protecting the bolt from damage. A method of supporting a toe link is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Shock Therapy Suspension, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Smith, Ernie Ely
  • Patent number: 12077909
    Abstract: A method for producing a synthetic tensile member having a precisely known and stable length. The invention also comprises equipment configured to carry out the method. A tensile member is prepared by attaching terminations to an assembly of synthetic filaments. The tensile member is then attached to a loading apparatus that subjects the tensile member to a pre-defined loading process. The tensile member is thereby conditioned to a stable length. The length is then measured and a length adjusting component is incorporated into the tensile member to create a precise and stabilized length that is configured for the tensile member's particular application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Inventor: Richard V. Campbell
  • Patent number: 12066059
    Abstract: An assembly tool (104) for positioning the rolling elements (150, 155) of a bearing assembly (100) during a preloading operation includes a roller seating actuator (400) configured to be removably coupled to a portion of the bearing assembly during the preloading operation, and a roller seating ring (420) movably coupled to the roller seating actuator. The roller seating ring includes a distal end (440) configured to engage an end of a rolling element of the bearing assembly. A biasing member (460) is positioned between the roller seating actuator and the roller seating ring and biases the roller seating ring away from roller seating actuator such that the distal end of the roller seating ring engages and presses the rolling element axially into engagement with a rib (145) of a race of the bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventor: Hiroshi Marunaka
  • Patent number: 12054276
    Abstract: A method of assembling an aircraft gearbox. The method includes mounting an outer race and a plurality of rollers of a roller bearing in an opening of a gearbox housing, mating a cylindrical guide sleeve having a lead-in chamfer with a gear assembly having a gear and a cylindrical shaft such that a trailing shoulder of the guide sleeve is positioned proximate a leading shoulder of the shaft, the shaft including an inner race of the roller bearing, axially passing the lead-in chamfer of the guide sleeve through the plurality of rollers, radially outwardly urging the rollers toward the outer race with the guide sleeve, axially passing the leading shoulder of the shaft through the plurality of rollers, positioning the inner race relative to the plurality of rollers to form the roller bearing and removing the guide sleeve from the gear assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: John Nathan Maxwell
  • Patent number: 12042843
    Abstract: A fastener application device comprising an hydraulically-operated tool head held by an operator and having an actuator trigger, a base structure having an air-operated power cylinder operatively attached to an hydraulic cylinder to supply hydraulic pressure to the tool head in response to operation of the actuator trigger. The tool head and base structure are connected only by air and oil lines that are long enough to allow the base structure to be supported on, for example, a workbench, requiring the tool operator to support only the weight of the tool head during a fastener installation sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Gage Bilt, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony P. Potts, Brian H. Leigh, Kyle R. Lang
  • Patent number: 12042840
    Abstract: A hot press processing device 1 includes steps of: a heating step of heating a workpiece W; a press step of press-molding the workpiece W heated in the heating step; a cooling step of cooling a part of the workpiece W press-molded in the press step and causing it to undergo martensite transformation to form a hard zone Zh in the workpiece W, and cooling another part of the workpiece W and causing it to undergo ferrite/bainite transformation to form a soft zone Zs in the workpiece W. In the cooling step, the hot press processing device 1 cools a predetermined portion Zb in the soft zone Zs after increasing rigidity and hardness of the predetermined portion Zb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoyuki Irie, Ichirou Ino, Yoshihide Hirao, Chie Okawa
  • Patent number: 12038035
    Abstract: A threaded fastener includes a bolt and a washer. The washer has a washer main body and a seal member provided at an outer peripheral side of the washer main body. The washer is caulked and fixed to a shank portion of the bolt in a water stop state, and the seal member is in contact with a fastened member in a water stop state, with a bearing surface of the washer main body held in contact with the fastened member. The seal member is provided on its outer periphery with a protrusion portion that protrudes outward beyond a radially outer end of a contact portion of the seal member with the washer in a no-load state. A back surface of the protrusion portion on the opposite side of the fastened member is an inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOPURA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Youichi Matsueda
  • Patent number: 12030413
    Abstract: Rigidity is improved at a part where side frame pieces overlap each other in a side frame. In a vehicle seat provided with a seat back frame, a side frame of the seat back frame has a first side frame piece and a second side frame piece partially overlapping each other in a direction of extension of the side frame. The side frame has an overlapping part where both the first side frame piece and the second side frame piece overlap each other. At the overlapping part, the side frame pieces overlap each other in a state where a plurality of closed regions and closed by being surrounded by both side frame pieces are formed in a cross section of the overlapping part intersecting with the direction of extension of the side frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Onuma
  • Patent number: 12006975
    Abstract: A method of forming a bearing ring having improved hardness is disclosed herein. The method generally includes a duplex hardening process in which the bearing ring is first subjected to a heat treatment. After the heat treatment process, the bearing ring undergoes a nitriding treatment in predetermined portions, including at least a raceway and a cage pilot surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rick De Jong, Roland Plum, Ben Baer