Patents by Inventor Clark A. Roberts

Clark A. Roberts 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: 8337217
    Abstract: In an example, an apparatus, such as a header pin, includes an insulator and a first pin disposed at least partially within the insulator. The first pin includes a first portion configured to electrically couple to a circuit board. A second portion is configured to releasably engage a pin of a surface mount module. The second portion includes a retention feature configured to selectively retain the second portion in engagement with the pin of the surface mount module. The second portion is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the second portion is biased toward the first position. The second portion is movable to the second position to allow the pin of the surface mount module to pass by the retention feature. The second portion is configured to move back toward the first position to engage the pin of the surface mount module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Digi International Inc.
    Inventor: John Clark Roberts
  • Publication number: 20120256434
    Abstract: A transfer ring suitable for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires including a skeletal cylindrical cage which houses an oscillatable circular drive member. The drive member includes a plurality of cam followers disposed about the outer perimeter thereof and which operatively engage respective camming grooves defined in each of a plurality of hinged driven links which are individually hingedly mounted internally of the cage about the outer perimeter of the cage. Each driven link includes an inboard end hinged within the cage and an outboard end having an articulating shoe mounted thereon. The shoes are interconnected to provide like simultaneous substantially equal articulative and rotational movement of the shoes radially inwardly or radially outwardly of the cage upon rotational movement of the drive member and resultant rotational movement of the hinged driven links effected through the cam followers and camming grooves of the driven links.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Davian Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Clark A. Roberts, Sean E. Howley
  • Publication number: 20120252235
    Abstract: In an example, an apparatus, such as a header pin, includes an insulator and a first pin disposed at least partially within the insulator. The first pin includes a first portion configured to electrically couple to a circuit board. A second portion is configured to releasably engage a pin of a surface mount module. The second portion includes a retention feature configured to selectively retain the second portion in engagement with the pin of the surface mount module. The second portion is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the second portion is biased toward the first position. The second portion is movable to the second position to allow the pin of the surface mount module to pass by the retention feature. The second portion is configured to move back toward the first position to engage the pin of the surface mount module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Digi International Inc.
    Inventor: John Clark Roberts
  • Publication number: 20120197565
    Abstract: A system for detecting and locating a leak through a membrane that includes a detector array, a signal generator, a flexible sheet over-membrane, a conductive felt, and a computer. The detector array includes a boundary wire loop and sensors. The signal generator applies voltage to the boundary wire loop. The conductive felt is applied on top of the detector array. The flexible sheet over-membrane is applied on top of the conductive felt. At least the downward, detector array-facing side of the over-membrane is non-conductive. The computer is in electrical communication with the boundary wire loop, the sensors, and the signal generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Clark Robert Gunness
  • Publication number: 20120039178
    Abstract: A wireless mesh network test system comprises a plurality of mesh network nodes, each comprising an antenna connection. An antenna network couples the antenna connections of the plurality of nodes, and a plurality of attenuators are distributed in the antenna network such that the attenuators simulate distance between the wireless mesh network nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Digi International Inc.
    Inventors: Travis S. Holman, Steven L. Minch, John P. Filoso, John Clark Roberts, Paul A. Dahl, Michael L. Zarns
  • Patent number: 8091602
    Abstract: A transfer ring especially suitable for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires including a skeletal cylindrical cage which houses an oscillatable circular drive member therewithin. The drive member includes a plurality of cam followers disposed about the outer perimeter thereof and which operatively engage respective camming grooves defined in each of a plurality of hinged driven links which are individually hingedly mounted internally of the cage about the outer perimeter of the cage. Each driven link includes an inboard end hinged within the cage and an outboard end having an articulating shoe mounted thereon. The shoes on the several driven links are interconnected to provide like simultaneous substantially equal articulative and rotational movement of the shoes radially inwardly or radially outwardly of the cage upon rotational movement of the drive member and resultant rotational movement of the hinged driven links effected through the cam followers and camming grooves of the driven links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Davian Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Clark A. Roberts, Sean E. Howley
  • Publication number: 20110215975
    Abstract: An example satellite assembly includes a cover and an antenna attached to the cover. The satellite assembly further includes a base and a satellite module attached to the base such that the antenna is connected to the satellite module when the cover is secured to the base to form a sealed enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Digi International Inc.
    Inventor: John Clark Roberts
  • Publication number: 20110178747
    Abstract: A system for detecting and locating a leak through a membrane that includes a detector array and computer. The detector array includes a boundary wire loop, sensors, and leads. The boundary wire loop surrounds the area to be tested and generates electrical tension on the surface of the membrane. The sensors are laid out in a sensor array and are placed on top of a membrane and within the boundary wire loop. The sensors are encased in a plastic covered cable or individual wires which have open ends for their terminations forming a cable so that the sensors made by the open terminations form a chain. Each sensor communicates individually with the computer and the signals from the sensors are used by the computer to perform vector mapping that detects and locates leaks through the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventor: Clark Robert Gunness
  • Publication number: 20100101732
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for establishing a range of diameters of the cylindrical working surface of a drum and like devices for grasping, handling, shaping, or other like function, of round or tubular objects, such as tire carcasses and belt and tread packages as employed in the manufacture of vehicle tires. The device includes a plurality of segmented modules adapted to be quickly and releasably manually affixed to a drum or like device in a manner which establishes the range of obtainable diameters of the cylindrical working surface of the existing device. No material structural and/or operational modifications in the basic elements and/or operation of the drum are required. Rather, the existing structural and operational aspects of the existing drum are employed in combination with the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Sean E. Howley, Clark A. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20100000658
    Abstract: A transfer ring especially suitable for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires including a skeletal cylindrical cage which houses an oscillatable circular drive member therewithin. The drive member includes a plurality of cam followers disposed about the outer perimeter thereof and which operatively engage respective camming grooves defined in each of a plurality of hinged driven links which are individually hingedly mounted internally of the cage about the outer perimeter of the cage. Each driven link includes an inboard end hinged within the cage and an outboard end having an articulating shoe mounted thereon. The shoes on the several driven links are interconnected to provide like simultaneous substantially equal articulative and rotational movement of the shoes radially inwardly or radially outwardly of the cage upon rotational movement of the drive member and resultant rotational movement of the hinged driven links effected through the cam followers and camming grooves of the driven links.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: WYKO Tire Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Clark A. Roberts, Sean E. Howley
  • Patent number: 6571682
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus and a method for converting circular motion to radial motion. In one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, a mandrel is provided which includes a generally circular tubular housing. Internally of the tubular housing there are disposed a plurality of partitions which are anchored at spaced apart locations about the toroidal dimension of the housing and which define fixed fluid-tight seals across the cross-sectional area of the housing. Within the chamber defined between adjacent ones of the partitions, there is provided a piston member, each piston member has operatively associated therewith the proximal end of a linkage adapted to convert circular motion of its piston member within the housing into radial movement of the distal end of the linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: WYKO, Inc.
    Inventors: Clark A. Roberts, Sean E. Howley, Mark S. Byerley
  • Publication number: 20030024383
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus and a method for converting circular motion to radial motion. The present invention is particularly useful in variable diameter mandrels (drums and/or transfer rings) employed in the manufacture of vehicle tires. In one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, a mandrel is provided which includes a generally circular tubular housing. Internally of the tubular housing there are disposed a plurality of partitions which are anchored at spaced apart locations about the toroidal dimension of the housing and which define fixed fluid-tight seals across the cross-sectional area of the housing. Adjacent ones of the partitions define therebetween a fluid-tight chamber whose outer wall is defined by the housing wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Clark A. Roberts, Sean E. Howley, Mark S. Byerley
  • Patent number: 6390166
    Abstract: A rotatable drum useful in the manufacture of vehicle tires. A plurality of segments collectively define the outer circumferential surface of the drum. These segments are divided into two sets, one set being disposed on each of the opposite sides of a transverse center plane of the drum, the center plane being oriented normal to the rotational axis of the drum. The two sets of segments are mounted for selective positioning thereof axially of the drum from a location external of the drum to adjust the overall working width of the drum. Further, the segments are selectively positionable between expanded positions radially of the rotational axis of the drum to provide a relatively continuous circumferential outer surface of the drum for the layup of a tire carcass thereon, and collapsed positions radially of the drum to permit the removal of a formed toroidal carcass from the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: WYKO, Inc.
    Inventors: Clark A. Roberts, Mark S. Byerley
  • Patent number: 6058999
    Abstract: A rotatable drum (10) for use in the manufacture of vehicle tires, the drum including a plurality of segments which collectively define an outer circumference (32) of the drum. The segments are divided into first and second end portions (15,17) which are individually mounted for axial and radial movement between expanded and retracted positions relative to the rotational axis (16) of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Wyko, Inc.
    Inventors: Clark A. Roberts, Mark S. Byerley
  • Patent number: 5746538
    Abstract: A concrete barrier having a plastic cladding that provides protection for the concrete against chemical deterioration. A cap assembly enables the barrier to be fitted with standard anchor sheets and made in standard jersey barrier forms. The cap assembly has a large radius so that anchor sheets can be easily bent and will fit snugly within the form to prevent wet concrete from leaking between the anchor sheet and the form. The invention can be used with all standard jersey barrier forms, both horizontal and upside-down type, for either full or half barriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: Clark Robert Gunness
  • Patent number: 5240315
    Abstract: A sewing machine cabinet for mounting a sewing machine and for housing and storing the machine when not being worked, which provides a drop platform interiorly of the cabinet below the top working surface thereof for lowering the machine into the interior of the cabinet maintaining the sewing machine in an upright position not tilting. The cabinet is well adapted to open-arm sewing machines. A hinged top cover when opened lifts the sewing machine up out of the interior of the cabinet by leverage action on a pivoting link attached to a guided sliding support arm which is attached to drop platform which supports the sewing machine and is guided by a rack. The rack is provided by one or a pair of guide columns. The hinged top cover when opened 180.degree. acts as a brake and lock for the moving drop shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Roberts Mfg., Inc.
    Inventors: Fredrick D. Roberts, E. Clark Roberts, Merrill K. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5046869
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a conveyor roller tube for a belt conveyor or the like about a fixed shaft includes a housing to which a roller tube is attached, an end cover positioned on the fixed shaft adjacent one side of the housing, and a bearing interposed between the housing and end cover permitting rotation of the housing relative to the end cover. The housing and end cover cooperate with the bearing in a manner facilitating the assembly of the bearing assembly and preventing axial shifting of the assembly components relative to one another when assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Wyko Incorporated
    Inventors: Clark A. Roberts, Ian Smith