Patents by Inventor Benjamin NIAS

Benjamin NIAS 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).

  • Publication number: 20190080711
    Abstract: A tolerance ring can be disposed between an inner component and an outer component, the inner and outer components defining stepped sidewalls. In an embodiment, a preassembly can include an outer component defining a bore having a stepped inner sidewall, an inner component having a stepped outer sidewall, and a tolerance ring adapted to be disposed between the inner component and the bore. In an embodiment, an assembly can include an outer component defining a bore having a stepped inner sidewall, an inner component having a stepped outer sidewall, and a tolerance ring disposed between the inner component and the bore. In an embodiment, a hard disk drive preassembly can include an actuator arm defining a bore having a stepped inner sidewall, a pivot having a stepped outer sidewall, and a tolerance ring adapted to be disposed between the pivot and the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin NIAS, Andrew R. SLAYNE, Simon A. HUGHES, Robert WINTER
  • Patent number: 10157635
    Abstract: A tolerance ring can be disposed between an inner component and an outer component, the inner and outer components defining stepped sidewalls. In an embodiment, a preassembly can include an outer component defining a bore having a stepped inner sidewall, an inner component having a stepped outer sidewall, and a tolerance ring adapted to be disposed between the inner component and the bore. In an embodiment, an assembly can include an outer component defining a bore having a stepped inner sidewall, an inner component having a stepped outer sidewall, and a tolerance ring disposed between the inner component and the bore. In an embodiment, a hard disk drive preassembly can include an actuator arm defining a bore having a stepped inner sidewall, a pivot having a stepped outer sidewall, and a tolerance ring adapted to be disposed between the pivot and the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS RENCOL LIMITED
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Andrew R. Slayne, Simon A. Hughes, Robert Winter
  • Publication number: 20160012836
    Abstract: A tolerance ring can be disposed between an inner component and an outer component, the inner and outer components defining stepped sidewalls. In an embodiment, a preassembly can include an outer component defining a bore having a stepped inner sidewall, an inner component having a stepped outer sidewall, and a tolerance ring adapted to be disposed between the inner component and the bore. In an embodiment, an assembly can include an outer component defining a bore having a stepped inner sidewall, an inner component having a stepped outer sidewall, and a tolerance ring disposed between the inner component and the bore. In an embodiment, a hard disk drive preassembly can include an actuator arm defining a bore having a stepped inner sidewall, a pivot having a stepped outer sidewall, and a tolerance ring adapted to be disposed between the pivot and the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Andrew R. Slayne, Simon A. Hughes, Robert Winter
  • Patent number: 9222521
    Abstract: A torque limiting tolerance ring that is configured to be installed between an inner component and an outer component is disclosed. The torque limiting tolerance ring can include a generally cylindrical body that can have a sidewall. The sidewall can include an unformed section and a plurality of projections can extend from the unformed section of the sidewall. The projections can be configured to engage the inner component or the outer component. During use, the torque limiting tolerance ring can move from an engaged configuration, in which the inner component is statically coupled to the outer component, to a disengaged configuration, in which the inner component is disengaged from the outer component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS RENCOL LIMITED
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Andrew Robert Slayne, James Pennsiriwongse, Paul Haines, Llewelyn Pickering, Stuart Kelly, Simon Alan Hughes
  • Patent number: 9224409
    Abstract: A tolerance ring can include a generally cylindrical body having a sidewall. The sidewall can include a first unformed section and a gap in the first unformed section. The gap can extend along an entire length of the body to establish a split in the body. The sidewall can also include a second unformed section opposite the first unformed section, a first wave bank flanking the first unformed section with the gap, and a second wave bank flanking the first unformed section with the gap. The wave banks can be equally spaced around a circumference of the body of the tolerance ring and the body of the tolerance ring can be symmetrical about a center axis that extends from a center of the tolerance ring and bisects the gap in the first unformed section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS RENCOL LIMITED
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Simon Alan Hughes, Andrew Robert Slayne
  • Patent number: 9028165
    Abstract: A tolerance ring can include a generally cylindrical body that can include a side wall. The sidewall can define a top and a bottom. Further, the sidewall can include a plurality of wave structures that can extend from the sidewall, a plurality of unformed sections, and a gap that can extend along the entire length of the body. Each unformed section can be located between a pair of adjacent wave structures. Further, the gap can establish a split in the body. The tolerance ring can also include at least one hole intersecting at least one of the wave structures to establish a perforated wave structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Andrew Robert Slayne, Simon Alan Hughes, Neil James
  • Patent number: 9022683
    Abstract: A tolerance ring can include a generally cylindrical body having a sidewall. The sidewall can include a plurality of wave structures extending from the sidewall at regular intervals around the body, a first unformed section between a first pair of adjacent wave structures, and a second unformed section between a second pair of adjacent wave structures. The gap can extend along an entire length, L, of the body to establish a split in the body. The second unformed section can include a slot therein. The slot can have a length, LS, and LS?80% L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Andrew Robert Slayne, Simon Alan Hughes
  • Patent number: 9013834
    Abstract: A tolerance ring for a hard disc drive assembly is disclosed and can include a plurality of discrete tolerance ring panels. Each tolerance ring panel can include an arcuate sidewall that can include an unformed portion and at least one projection extending from the arcuate sidewall. The projection can be surrounded by the unformed portion of the arcuate sidewall and the tolerance ring can be configured to be deployed in an interference fit between an inner component and an outer component to provide torque coupling between an inner component and an outer component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Nik S. Woodhead, Thomas B. Francis
  • Publication number: 20140205374
    Abstract: A torque limiting tolerance ring is disclosed and can include a generally cylindrical body having a sidewall. The sidewall can include an unformed section. A plurality of projections can extend from the unformed section of the sidewall and the plurality of projections can be arranged in a first circumferential row and a second circumferential row. The torque limiting tolerance ring can include a frangible portion that can extend circumferentially around the tolerance ring between the first and second rows of projections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Stephen Jefferies
  • Publication number: 20140185164
    Abstract: A tolerance ring for a hard disc drive assembly is disclosed and can include a plurality of discrete tolerance ring panels. Each tolerance ring panel can include an arcuate sidewall that can include an unformed portion and at least one projection extending from the arcuate sidewall. The projection can be surrounded by the unformed portion of the arcuate sidewall and the tolerance ring can be configured to be deployed in an interference fit between an inner component and an outer component to provide torque coupling between an inner component and an outer component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Nik S. Woodhead, Thomas B. Francis
  • Publication number: 20140166423
    Abstract: A torque limiting tolerance ring that is configured to be installed between an inner component and an outer component is disclosed. The torque limiting tolerance ring can include a generally cylindrical body that can have a sidewall. The sidewall can include an unformed section and a plurality of projections can extend from the unformed section of the sidewall. The projections can be configured to engage the inner component or the outer component. During use, the torque limiting tolerance ring can move from an engaged configuration, in which the inner component is statically coupled to the outer component, to a disengaged configuration, in which the inner component is disengaged from the outer component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Nias, Andrew Robert Slayne, James Pennsiriwongse, Paul Haines, Llewelyn Pickering, Stuart Kelly, Simon Alan Hughes
  • Publication number: 20130315655
    Abstract: A tolerance ring is disclosed and can include a generally cylindrical body having a sidewall. The sidewall can include a plurality of wave structures extending from the sidewall at regular intervals around the body, a first unformed section between a first pair of adjacent wave structures, and a second unformed section between a second pair of adjacent wave structures. The gap can extend along an entire length, L, of the body to establish a split in the body. The second unformed section can include a slot therein. The slot can have a length, LS, and LS?80% L.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Benjamin NIAS, Andrew Robert SLAYNE, Simon Alan HUGHES
  • Publication number: 20130315654
    Abstract: A tolerance ring is disclosed and can include a generally cylindrical body that can include a side wall. The sidewall can define a top and a bottom. Further, the sidewall can include a plurality of wave structures that can extend from the sidewall, a plurality of unformed sections, and a gap that can extend along the entire length of the body. Each unformed section can be located between a pair of adjacent wave structures. Further, the gap can establish a split in the body. The tolerance ring can also include at least one hole intersecting at least one of the wave structures to establish a perforated wave structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Benjamin NIAS, Andrew Robert SLAYNE, Simon Alan HUGHES, Neil JAMES
  • Publication number: 20130315664
    Abstract: A tolerance ring is disclosed and can include a generally cylindrical body having a sidewall. The sidewall can include a first unformed section and a gap in the first unformed section. The gap can extend along an entire length of the body to establish a split in the body. The sidewall can also include a second unformed section opposite the first unformed section, a first wave bank flanking the first unformed section with the gap, and a second wave bank flanking the first unformed section with the gap. The wave banks can be equally spaced around a circumference of the body of the tolerance ring and the body of the tolerance ring can be symmetrical about a center axis that extends from a center of the tolerance ring and bisects the gap in the first unformed section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Benjamin NIAS, Simon Alan HUGHES, Andrew Robert SLAYNE