Patents by Inventor Bart Shafer

Bart Shafer 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).

  • Bogie mechanism for a tiltrotor proprotor door
    Patent number: 10539180
    Abstract: A door roller mechanism for cooperation with a roller track including a carriage member having a door attachment feature; at least one roller disposed for rotation on a first side of the carriage member when the carriage member moves in the rolling direction; at least one roller disposed for rotation on an opposite second side of the carriage member when the carriage member moves in the rolling direction; a first rub member disposed on the first side of the carriage; a second rub member disposed on the second side of the carriage; and at least one biasing element disposed on the carriage member for resiliently biasing the first rub member and the second rub member in opposite lateral directions so as to contact a respective first track surface and a second track surface in a manner to dampen lateral vibration of a door connected to the roller mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Nick Pravanh, Michael E. Rinehart, Bart Shafer, Clegg Smith, Jeffrey M. Williams
  • Roller track assembly for a tiltrotor proprotor door
    Patent number: 10533603
    Abstract: A door track assembly for cooperation with a door roller mechanism, including a housing having a longitudinal channel along a length of the housing, wherein the channel descends at an end of the housing to form a stowage recess for the door roller mechanism, and a first track and a second track that are disposed on the housing along a length of the channel and that descend into the stowage recess and along which the door roller mechanism traverses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Nick Pravanh, Michael E. Rinehart, Bart Shafer, Clegg Smith, Bruce B. Bacon
  • BOGIE MECHANISM FOR A TILTROTOR PROPROTOR DOOR
    Publication number: 20180252264
    Abstract: A door roller mechanism for cooperation with a roller track including a carriage member having a door attachment feature; at least one roller disposed for rotation on a first side of the carriage member when the carriage member moves in the rolling direction; at least one roller disposed for rotation on an opposite second side of the carriage member when the carriage member moves in the rolling direction; a first rub member disposed on the first side of the carriage; a second rub member disposed on the second side of the carriage; and at least one biasing element disposed on the carriage member for resiliently biasing the first rub member and the second rub member in opposite lateral directions so as to contact a respective first track surface and a second track surface in a manner to dampen lateral vibration of a door connected to the roller mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Nick Pravanh, Michael E. Rinehart, Bart Shafer, Clegg Smith, Jeffrey M. Williams
  • ROLLER TRACK ASSEMBLY FOR A TILTROTOR PROPROTOR DOOR
    Publication number: 20180252263
    Abstract: A door track assembly for cooperation with a door roller mechanism, including a housing having a longitudinal channel along a length of the housing, wherein the channel descends at an end of the housing to form a stowage recess for the door roller mechanism, and a first track and a second track that are disposed on the housing along a length of the channel and that descend into the stowage recess and along which the door roller mechanism traverses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Nick Pravanh, Michael E. Rinehart, Bart Shafer, Clegg Smith, Bruce B. Bacon