Patents by Inventor Anthony A. Imm

Anthony A. Imm has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Flexible, self conforming, workpiece support system and accessories
    Patent number: 6695298
    Abstract: An apparatus and accessories are disclosed for a flexible support apparatus 100, 900 using elongated support members 110 to support a face of a workpiece 10 and respective protrusions 335. The elongated support members 110 are arranged through at least one plane of perforated material 120, where the elongated support members 110 are profiled against the workpiece 10 and respective protrusions 335. The profile of the elongated support members 110 is created by contacting forces 132 generated by bringing the workpiece 330 and the plurality of elongated support members 110 together. A holding force is then applied to the elongated support members 110 to support the workpiece 10 against forces applied by a workstation. Fluid 902 is used to raise expansion members to raise the plurality of elongate support members 110. A perforated plate 920 is used to control the flow of fluid 902 between a fluid cavity 910 and the plurality of expansion members 904.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventors: Allen David Hertz, Anthony A. Imm, Eric L. Hertz
  • Method and apparatus for self-conforming support system
    Patent number: 6264187
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a flexible support system using elongated support members to support a face of a module. The flexible support member(s) are arranged through a primary member with apertures, where the elongated support members are automatically returned to a home position by a self restoring mechanism, the position of the elongated support members are adjusted by the contacting forces applied by bringing the module and the flexible support apparatus together, then applying a clamping force to secure the elongated support members where the elongated support members can sustain the loads applied onto a module during an assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Galahad, Co.
    Inventors: Allen D. Hertz, Eric L. Hertz, Anthony A. Imm, J. Stephen Wiggs
  • Flexible, self conforming, workpiece support system
    Patent number: 6029966
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a flexible support system using elongated support members to support a face of a workpiece. The flexible support members are arranged through at least one plane of perforated material, where the elongated support members are raised to the maximum designed position, the shafts of the elongated support members are subjected to a resistive force, the position of the elongated support members are adjusted by the contacting forces applied by bringing the workpiece and the flexible support assembly together, then applying a locking force to secure the elongated support members where the elongated support members can sustain the loads applied during the operation onto the workpiece. Additionally, methods are disclosed which allow the elongated support members to optionally drop upon reaching a designed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Inventors: Allen D. Hertz, Anthony A. Imm, J. Stephen Wiggs