Patents by Inventor Bruce E. Clark

Bruce E. Clark 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: 20240429855
    Abstract: An A-Frame solar panel array system is configured to produce a high amount of electrical power for a given amount of ground space with a plurality of solar panels on both a forward beam and a plurality of solar panels on a trailing beam in an elevated position above the ground. This elevated positioning enables more solar panels to be configured over a given amount of ground area. The solar panels are spaced along the trailing and forward beams with a vertical offset between the trailing and forward beams to enable sunlight to pass therethrough to enable exposure to sunlight, through the forward beam array of solar panels onto the trailing beam array of solar panels. A solar panel actuator is configured to rotate the solar panels for increasing solar panel exposure throughout the year. The solar panels may only be configured to rotate trailing/forward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventor: Bruce E. Clark
  • Patent number: 11652440
    Abstract: An A-Frame solar panel array system is configured to produce a high amount of electrical power for a given amount of ground space with a plurality of solar panels on both a forward beam and a plurality of solar panels on a trailing beam in an elevated position above the ground. This elevated positioning enables more solar panels to be configured over a given amount of ground area. The solar panels are spaced along the trailing and forward beams with a vertical offset between the trailing and forward beams to enable sunlight to pass therethrough to enable exposure to sunlight, through the forward beam array of solar panels onto the trailing beam array of solar panels. A solar panel actuator is configured to rotate the solar panels for increasing solar panel exposure throughout the year. The solar panels may only be configured to rotate trailing/forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventor: Bruce E. Clark
  • Patent number: 8143506
    Abstract: A hammer assembly for a grand piano comprising: a hammer, a hammer shank, a tubular lever interface, and a moveable knuckle. A grand piano tubular lever interface comprises: a deep socket; a set of two hinge pin attachment holes; a void area; and a moveable knuckle visual location system. A moveable knuckle comprises: a spline; a resilient core; a synthetic buckskin wear surface, and a moveable knuckle visual location system. Novel hammer assembly allows for a direct lever relationship between hammer shank and knuckle without requirement of a forked end hammer shank with knuckle slot. Best mode spline comprises: an upright rectangular portion and a wide base portion, wherein wide base portion includes an intricate shape. Intricate shape comprises: at least one recess area and at least one protrusion area. The inverse of intricate shape is included on the bottom of the tubular lever interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventors: Bruce E. Clark, Kevin Burke, Kirk Burgett
  • Patent number: 7781652
    Abstract: A universal grand piano piano action that has adjustable connections between the repetition base, heel, and rest cushion bracket of the piano action to provide a piano action that can be adjusted to fit any grand piano. Other components of the grand piano piano action, such as the jack and flanges, may require specific design and manufacture for each brand of grand piano. Universal grand piano piano action also allows true simultaneous half stroke keyboard design for both the white and sharp keys of a piano and includes the methods for installing simultaneous half stroke keyboard design into a grand piano.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Wessell, Nickel & Gross
    Inventors: Bruce E. Clark, Kevin Burke, Kirk Burgett
  • Patent number: 7687692
    Abstract: A hammer shank and a separate shank butt component for a grand piano hammer assembly with increased rigidity, reduced inertia, and the collateral benefits of increased efficiency of manufacture and maintenance. Hammer shank comprises a long cylindrical member that is connected at one end to a traditional grand piano hammer and at the other end to a novel shank butt. Shank butt comprises: a hammer shank hole, a knuckle slot, a set of two flange attachment holes, and a void area. A traditional grand piano knuckle is attached to the knuckle slot. The shank butt is connected to the repetition flange of the piano. The invention provides the capability for a piano to be played with less touch weight on the keys and therefore provides a more responsive piano keyboard. The invention also allows for full “retrofitability” of hammer assembly into all existing grand piano brands. Embodiments include a composite shank butt that is a molded article and a composite hammer shank that is an extruded or molded article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Wessell, Nickel & Gross
    Inventors: Bruce E. Clark, Kevin Burke, Kirk Burgett
  • Patent number: 7687694
    Abstract: Composite or plastic molded articles used in a grand piano piano action. The articles make up a piano action with less dynamic mass which is, thus, more responsive to the piano player. In addition, the new action provides the extremely valuable collateral benefits of increased efficiency of manufacture and maintenance. Low inertia grand piano piano action comprises a repetition base with one or more of the following: an angled main beam, an angled balancier support beam, an integrated jack button stop, and a means to optionally connect a rest cushion assembly. Low inertia grand piano piano action may also comprise a heel with extremely low mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Wessell, Nickel & Gross
    Inventors: Bruce E. Clark, Kevin Burke, Kirk Burgett
  • Publication number: 20090235804
    Abstract: A hammer assembly for a grand piano comprising: a hammer, a hammer shank, a tubular lever interface, and a moveable knuckle. A grand piano tubular lever interface comprises: a deep socket; a set of two hinge pin attachment holes; a void area; and a moveable knuckle visual location system. A moveable knuckle comprises: a spline; a resilient core; a synthetic buckskin wear surface, and a moveable knuckle visual location system. Novel hammer assembly allows for a direct lever relationship between hammer shank and knuckle without requirement of a forked end hammer shank with knuckle slot. Best mode spline comprises: an upright rectangular portion and a wide base portion, wherein wide base portion includes an intricate shape. Intricate shape comprises: at least one recess area and at least one protrusion area. The inverse of intricate shape is included on the bottom of the tubular lever interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Bruce E. Clark, Kevin Burke, Kirk Burgett
  • Publication number: 20090178534
    Abstract: A hammer shank and shank butt for a grand piano with greatly improved rigidity and the collateral benefits of increased efficiency of manufacture and maintenance. Hammer shank comprises a long cylindrical member that is connected at one end to a traditional grand piano hammer and at the other end to a novel shank butt. Shank butt comprises: a hammer shank hole, a knuckle slot, a set of two flange attachment holes, and a void area. A traditional grand piano knuckle is attached to the knuckle slot. The shank butt is connected to the repetition flange of the piano. Thus, hammer shank is not directly connected to these members and thus can remain an integral cylindrical member without holes, notches, or voids, thereby allowing for a lighter, more rigid sub-member yielding hammer assembly with less mass. The invention provides the capability for a piano to be played with less touch weight on the keys and therefore provides a more responsive piano keyboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Bruce E. Clark, Kevin Burke, Kirk Burgett
  • Publication number: 20090007750
    Abstract: Composite or plastic molded articles used in a grand piano piano action. The articles make up a piano action with less dynamic mass which is, thus, more responsive to the piano player. In addition, the new action provides the extremely valuable collateral benefits of increased efficiency of manufacture and maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Bruce E. Clark, Kevin Burke, Kirk Burgett
  • Publication number: 20080307943
    Abstract: A universal grand piano piano action that has adjustable connections between the repetition base, heel, and rest cushion bracket of the piano action to provide a one-size-fits-all after-market replacement piano action for any grand piano. Other components of the grand piano piano action, such as the jack and flanges, may require specific design and manufacture for each brand of grand piano. This invention is the first piano action to allow for true simultaneous half stroke keyboard design for both the white and sharp keys of a piano and includes the method for installing such.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Bruce E. Clark, Kevin Burke, Kirk Burgett
  • Patent number: D636430
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Inventors: Bruce E. Clark, Kirk Burgett
  • Patent number: D641392
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventors: Bruce E. Clark, Kirk Burgett