Patents by Inventor Darren WOMACKS
Darren WOMACKS 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).
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Publication number: 20240120875Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Nathan Schuit, Jason Mayfield, December Cowen, Darren Womacks
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Patent number: 11942892Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: UNIRAC INC.Inventors: Nathan Schuit, Jason Mayfield, December Cowen, Darren Womacks
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Publication number: 20230253913Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2022Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventors: Nathan Schuit, Jason Mayfield, December Cowen, Darren Womacks
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Patent number: 11489481Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Unirac Inc.Inventors: Nathan Schuit, Jason Mayfield, December Cowen, Darren Womacks
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Patent number: 11471925Abstract: A multi-opening oven assembly for simultaneously heating a plurality of blanks, for example aluminum blanks, before forming the heated blanks in a production line is provided. The oven assembly includes vertically aligned shelves to present a plurality of chambers for heating the blanks. A table including an entry side platform and an exit side platform moves vertically along the oven assembly. A rail system extends along the platforms and the shelves to convey the blanks in and out of the chambers. Once one set of heated blanks is removed from a first chamber, the table moves vertically to a second chamber and is ready to receive the next set of heated blanks. A continuous supply of heated blanks is provided for high throughput. The oven assembly is preferably disposed in a press adjacent a forming station of an existing production line and thus, no additional floor space is required.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2016Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Venugopal Garimella, Darren Womack, Erryn Ashmore, Tom Sanor, Edward Schleichert, Tarlok Singh Kainth, Tracy Arnold Grant Taylor, James Arminski, Kevin VanDenBrouck
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Publication number: 20220242486Abstract: A cradle for being used in automotive vehicles for supporting various automotive components includes a structure with variable thickness, defining a variable gauge cradle. The variable gauge cradle has a minimum thickness and maximum thickness, with various other thicknesses therebetween. The minimum thickness is less than an original thickness of a reference cradle in which the thickness is the same. The variable gauge cradle allows specific locations to be locally increased in thickness to achieve the desired stiffness at the areas requiring the increased stiffness, while leaving areas requiring a lower stiffness at a lesser thickness. The variable gauge cradle therefore may have a lower mass than the reference cradle. The thickness may be increased relative to the minimum thickness using patches that are bonded to a base layer or panel of the cradle. The patches may be distributed at different locations to create different thicknesses.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2020Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: Darren WOMACK, Nikhil Kripasagar BOLAR
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Publication number: 20220032747Abstract: The vehicle door assembly includes an outer panel which has a rocker sill area and a beltline area. A reinforcement member, which is made of one or more pieces, is attached with the outer panel along at least a portion of an outer periphery of the outer panel. The door assembly further includes a module which is made as a single integral piece and is fixedly attached with the reinforcement member. The module has an inner beltline reinforcement and supports a pair of window channels and a window regulator for controllably raising and lowering a window between an open position and a closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: David N. PLENTIS, Darren A. WOMACK, Warren E. YOUNG
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Patent number: 11148511Abstract: The vehicle door assembly includes an outer panel which has a rocker sill area and a beltline area. A reinforcement member, which is made of one or more pieces, is attached with the outer panel along at least a portion of an outer periphery of the outer panel. The door assembly further includes a module which is made as a single integral piece and is fixedly attached with the reinforcement member. The module has an inner beltline reinforcement and supports a pair of window channels and a window regulator for controllably raising and lowering a window between an open position and a closed position.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2016Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: David N. Plentis, Darren A. Womack, Warren E. Young
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Patent number: 10823505Abstract: A multi-window platen oven for simultaneously heating a plurality of blanks, for example aluminum blanks, before forming the heated blanks in a production line is provided. The oven includes a plurality of vertically aligned shelves disposed in an existing press assembly so that no additional floor space is required. The shelves are attachable to an upper press bed and one another. The upper press bed lifts the attached shelves to present an open window for receiving an unheated blank and/or removing a heated blank from the oven. The remaining windows remain closed and continue heating while the blanks are transferred to and from the oven. After closing the one open window, another window opens to receive another unheated blank and/or remove another heated blank. Thus, the multi-window platen oven continuously provides blanks which are ready for warm or hot forming.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2015Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Darren Womack, Mujadded Qureshi, Tom Sanor, Sten Burris
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Publication number: 20200259448Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2020Publication date: August 13, 2020Inventors: Nathan Schuit, Jason Mayfield, December Cowen, Darren Womacks
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Patent number: 10594250Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2016Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Unirac Inc.Inventors: Nathan Schuit, Jason Mayfield, December Cowen, Darren Womacks
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Publication number: 20200079191Abstract: The vehicle door assembly includes an outer panel which has a rocker sill area and a beltline area. A reinforcement member, which is made of one or more pieces, is attached with the outer panel along at least a portion of an outer periphery of the outer panel. The door assembly further includes a module which is made as a single integral piece and is fixedly attached with the reinforcement member. The module has an inner beltline reinforcement and supports a pair of window channels and a window regulator for controllably raising and lowering a window between an open position and a closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2016Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: David N. PLENTIS, Darren A. WOMACK, Warren E. YOUNG
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Publication number: 20180044799Abstract: A non-metallic coating for a steel substrate or for a coated steel substrate includes a first layer fabricated from at least one of a silicon oxide, a silicon nitride, and a silicon oxynitride, as well as a second layer fabricated from chromium nitride. The second layer has a thickness between 3 nm and 30 nm, and the first layer and the second layer together form a stacked-layer structure having a total thickness of not more than 300 nm.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2016Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Mathias BELZNER, Ralph DOMNICK, Edward SCHLEICHERT, Darren WOMACK
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Publication number: 20170045297Abstract: A multi-window platen oven for simultaneously heating a plurality of blanks, for example aluminum blanks, before forming the heated blanks in a production line is provided. The oven includes a plurality of vertically aligned shelves disposed in an existing press assembly so that no additional floor space is required. The shelves are attachable to an upper press bed and one another. The upper press bed lifts the attached shelves to present an open window for receiving an unheated blank and/or removing a heated blank from the oven. The remaining windows remain closed and continue heating while the blanks are transferred to and from the oven. After closing the one open window, another window opens to receive another unheated blank and/or remove another heated blank. Thus, the multi-window platen oven continuously provides blanks which are ready for warm or hot forming.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2015Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Darren Womack, Mujadded Qureshi, Tom Sanor, Sten Burris
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Publication number: 20170040928Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2016Publication date: February 9, 2017Applicant: Unirac, Inc.Inventors: Nathan SCHUIT, Jason MAYFIELD, December COWEN, Darren WOMACKS
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Publication number: 20170008060Abstract: A multi-opening oven assembly for simultaneously heating a plurality of blanks, for example aluminum blanks, before forming the heated blanks in a production line is provided. The oven assembly includes vertically aligned shelves to present a plurality of chambers for heating the blanks. A table including an entry side platform and an exit side platform moves vertically along the oven assembly. A rail system extends along the platforms and the shelves to convey the blanks in and out of the chambers. Once one set of heated blanks is removed from a first chamber, the table moves vertically to a second chamber and is ready to receive the next set of heated blanks. A continuous supply of heated blanks is provided for high throughput. The oven assembly is preferably disposed in a press adjacent a forming station of an existing production line and thus, no additional floor space is required.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2016Publication date: January 12, 2017Inventors: VENUGOPAL GARIMELLA, DARREN WOMACK, ERRYN ASHMORE, TOM SANOR, EDWARD SCHLEICHERT, TARLOK SINGH KAINTH, TRACY ARNOLD GRANT TAYLOR, JAMES ARMINSKI, KEVIN VanDenBROUCK
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Patent number: 9145906Abstract: A positioner used to fasten a pair of structural members together includes side walls, lateral flanges extending from the side walls, and an interior web interconnecting the side walls. Each side wall is interconnected at vertices to one of the lateral flanges and to the interior web, and the interior web includes web sections interconnected at a vertex to each other. Each vertex interconnecting one of the side walls with the interior web terminates at a void extending between adjacent portions of the one of the side walls and the interior web, and the vertex interconnecting the web sections is displaced from the lateral flange surfaces so as to avoid contact with a positioner supporting surface. A support frame and a fastening process utilizing such a positioner are also discussed. The positioner is particularly suitable for use in constructing photovoltaic panel supports.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2012Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Unitrac, Inc.Inventors: Nathan Schuit, Darren Womacks
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Publication number: 20140101940Abstract: A positioner used to fasten a pair of structural members together includes side walls, lateral flanges extending from the side walls, and an interior web interconnecting the side walls. Each side wall is interconnected at vertices to one of the lateral flanges and to the interior web, and the interior web includes web sections interconnected at a vertex to each other. Each vertex interconnecting one of the side walls with the interior web terminates at a void extending between adjacent portions of the one of the side walls and the interior web, and the vertex interconnecting the web sections is displaced from the lateral flange surfaces so as to avoid contact with a positioner supporting surface. A support frame and a fastening process utilizing such a positioner are also discussed. The positioner is particularly suitable for use in constructing photovoltaic panel supports.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2012Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: UNIRAC, INC.Inventors: Nathan SCHUIT, Darren WOMACKS
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Patent number: 8408853Abstract: A fastener assembly secures loads to a track in a truck bed and is retainable within a track slot of the track. The fastener assembly may include a retainer adapted to fit at least partly within a track slot and a handle operating on the retainer, the handle being moveable between at least an engagement position and a release position. A pressure applicator is positioned between the track and the handle, the pressure applicator having a bottom surface for applying a pressure on a top surface of the track in response to the position of the handle. The pressure applicator includes at least one projection projecting from the bottom surface and adapted to engage a positioning cutout of the track.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2011Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.Inventors: Darren Womack, William G. Bowes
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Patent number: 7976256Abstract: A fastener assembly secures loads to a track in a truck bed and is retainable within a track slot of the track. The fastener assembly may include a retainer adapted to fit at least partly within a track slot and a rotatable handle operating on the retainer, the rotatable handle being rotatable between at least an engagement position and a release position. A pressure applicator is positioned between the track and the rotatable handle, the pressure applicator having a bottom surface for applying a pressure on a top surface of the track in response to the position of the rotatable handle. The pressure applicator includes at least one projection projecting from an interior region of the bottom surface and adapted to engage a positioning scallop of the track.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2008Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.Inventors: Darren Womack, William G. Bowes