Patents by Inventor Brian D. Alfing

Brian D. Alfing 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).

  • Patent number: 8324563
    Abstract: A container includes a housing and a cover which may be wholly or partially removed to open the container. A foil seal is used to seal the joint between the housing and the cover. The foil seal is internal to the container. The foil seal separates during opening of the cover, respective parts of the foil seal remaining with the housing and the cover. The foil seal may be a metal or metal-containing foil, for example being an aluminum, steel, or titanium foil, or a metalized plastic foil. A cutter, such as a serrated edge, may be positioned to facilitate cutting of the foil seal during cover opening. The container may be part of a seeker assembly with the housing being a seeker housing, and the cover being a removable or hinged cover that protects an optical seeker during some portions of flight, such as during launch of a spacecraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Broyles, Terry M. Sanderson, Douglas M. Beard, Brian D. Alfing
  • Publication number: 20110240647
    Abstract: A container includes a housing and a cover which may be wholly or partially removed to open the container. A foil seal is used to seal the joint between the housing and the cover. The foil seal is internal to the container. The foil seal separates during opening of the cover, respective parts of the foil seal remaining with the housing and the cover. The foil seal may be a metal or metal-containing foil, for example being an aluminum, steel, or titanium foil, or a metalized plastic foil. A cutter, such as a serrated edge, may be positioned to facilitate cutting of the foil seal during cover opening. The container may be part of a seeker assembly with the housing being a seeker housing, and the cover being a removable or hinged cover that protects an optical seeker during some portions of flight, such as during launch of a spacecraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Michael J Broyles, Terry M. Sanderson, Douglas M. Beard, Brian D. Alfing