Patents by Inventor Bill Shaffer

Bill Shaffer 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).

  • Tire balancing apparatus
    Patent number: 7448267
    Abstract: A machine and method for performing balancing measurements on a tire or tire/wheel assembly that includes a structure defining spaced apart tire centering and tire testing positions. A first conveyor moves a tire to a centering position where a shuttle assembly is operative to center the tire and, after it has been centered, engages the tire and effects the transfer of the tire from the centering station to a testing station. The shuttle assembly includes a pair of grippers that move towards and away from each other, in a lateral direction in order to engage the tire. The first conveyor permits movement of the tire in a lateral direction; whereas it substantially resists relative movement between the tire and conveyor in the longitudinal direction, i.e., the direction of movement of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Micro-Poise Measurement Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Williams, Steve Haydu, Ronald Jan Hall, Steve Watson, Bill Shaffer, Neal Nehrenz, James Beebe
  • Tire balancing apparatus
    Publication number: 20060016258
    Abstract: A machine and method for performing balancing measurements on a tire or tire/wheel assembly that includes a structure defining spaced apart tire centering and tire testing positions. A first conveyor moves a tire to a centering position where a shuttle assembly is operative to center the tire and, after it has been centered, engages the tire and effects the transfer of the tire from the centering station to a testing station. The shuttle assembly includes a pair of grippers that move towards and away from each other, in a lateral direction in order to engage the tire. The first conveyor permits movement of the tire in a lateral direction; whereas it substantially resists relative movement between the tire and conveyor in the longitudinal direction, i.e., the direction of movement of the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Williams, Steve Haydu, Ronald Hall, Steve Watson, Bill Shaffer, Neal Nehrenz, James Beebe