Patents by Inventor David J. Fulbright

David J. Fulbright 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: 8256104
    Abstract: A blind fastener installation tool comprises a structural housing which features a mechanism for securing a fastener installation assembly in position relative to the structural housing during the blind installation of a fastener; and a mechanism for reciprocating the fastener installation assembly relative to the structural housing at the conclusion of blind installation. The blind fastener installation tool also comprises a fastener installation assembly. This assembly comprises (1) a pull rod assembly comprising a mechanism for pulling a first portion of a fastener; (2) an annular, piston-actuated, piston-decoupled pull rod actuation assembly to translate the pull rod assembly; and (3) a nose assembly comprising a fastener receptacle for securing the position of a fastener; and one or more optional pull rod translation dampening assemblies to smoothly and effectually dampen the sudden translation of said pull rod assembly after pintail break.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventor: David J. Fulbright
  • Patent number: 8015699
    Abstract: The blind fastener installation tool also comprises an optional fastener delivery assembly, said optional fastener delivery assembly constituting: (1) a clip-fed fastener delivery system; or (2) a blowline-fed fastener delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventor: David J. Fulbright
  • Patent number: 6766575
    Abstract: A fastener system for multi-piece swage type fasteners, including a pin and a collar, and providing a stump type fastener constructed to be set as a pull type fastener with the fastener pin having a threaded gripping portion and including a compact installation tool having a swage anvil and a rotary threaded member adapted to be threaded onto the threaded pull portion of the pin whereby a relative axial force is applied between the pin and the collar via the rotary threaded member and swage anvil to cause the anvil to radially overengage the collar to swage it into locking grooves on the pin and the pull portion remaining on the pin after installation and with the swage anvil being connected to a piston rod of a piston for axially reciprocating movement for swaging the collar with the rotary threaded member being axially fixed and with the swage anvil and rotary threaded member being offset from the remainder of the tool whereby the tool can be used to install such fasteners in applications of limited clearan
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Huck International, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Fulbright
  • Publication number: 20030115743
    Abstract: A fastener system for multi-piece swage type fasteners, including a pin and a collar, and providing a stump type fastener constructed to be set as a pull type fastener with the fastener pin having a threaded gripping portion and including a compact installation tool having a swage anvil and a rotary threaded member adapted to be threaded onto the threaded pull portion of the pin whereby a relative axial force is applied between the pin and the collar via the rotary threaded member and swage anvil to cause the anvil to radially overengage the collar to swage it into locking grooves on the pin and the pull portion remaining on the pin after installation and with the swage anvil being connected to a piston rod of a piston for axially reciprocating movement for swaging the collar with the rotary threaded member being axially fixed and with the swage anvil and rotary threaded member being offset from the remainder of the tool whereby the tool can be used to install such fasteners in applications of limited clearan
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: David J. Fulbright
  • Patent number: 6551040
    Abstract: A two piece blind fastener for securing a plurality of workpieces including a hollow sleeve having an enlarged sleeve head at one end and a pin having an enlarged shear ring at the end opposite the sleeve head followed by an elongated retention portion of reduced diameter. The shear ring is adapted to engage and move inside the sleeve to form a tuliped shaped blind head in response to a relative axial force applied between the pin and sleeve and to shear off proximate to the inner or blind sheet line of the workpieces. The retention portion is then moved with the pin shank into the shear ring and with the shear ring finally located at a position on the retention portion depending upon the overall thickness of the workpieces. This provides a clamp and lock section between the pin and sleeve at the inner or blind side of the workpieces. The pin and sleeve have a lock structure actuated after final formation of the clamp and lock section to provide a lock between the pin and sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Huck International, Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Terry, David J. Fulbright, Donald C. Busby
  • Patent number: 6516510
    Abstract: A fastener system for multi-piece swage type fasteners, including a pin and a collar, and providing a stump type fastener constructed to be set as a pull type fastener with the fastener pin having a threaded gripping portion and including a compact installation tool having a swage anvil and a rotary threaded member adapted to be threaded onto the threaded pull portion of the pin whereby a relative axial force is applied between the pin and the collar via the rotary threaded member and swage anvil to cause the anvil to radially overengage the collar to swage it into locking grooves on the pin and the pull portion remaining on the pin after installation and with the swage anvil being connected to a piston rod of a piston for axially reciprocating movement for swaging the collar with the rotary threaded member being axially fixed and with the swage anvil and rotary threaded member being offset from the remainder of the tool whereby the tool can be used to install such fasteners in applications of limited clearan
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Huck International, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Fulbright
  • Patent number: 6497024
    Abstract: A fastening system including a two piece swage type fastener with a pin and collar with pin having a shank with relatively wide lock grooves having a generally smooth root contour with the collar having a shank with a wall thickness of excess volume of material before swage greater than the volume of the lock grooves and with the clearance between the inside diameter of the collar shank and diameter of lock groove crests being a minimum to reduce the compressive force for swaging the collar shank into the lock grooves with the excess volume providing partial fill of the lock grooves upon swage and with pin shank having a pull portion being a bore with helical grooves and an installation tool having a threaded mandrel to engage the pull grooves while moving into the collar shank to facilitate larger gap pull up between workpieces being secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Inventor: David J. Fulbright
  • Publication number: 20010029651
    Abstract: A fastening system including a two piece swage type fastener with a pin and collar with pin having a shank with relatively wide lock grooves having a generally smooth root contour with the collar having a shank with a wall thickness of excess volume of material before swage greater than the volume of the lock grooves and with the clearance between the inside diameter of the collar shank and diameter of lock groove crests being a minimum to reduce the compressive force for swaging the collar shank into the lock grooves with the excess volume providing partial fill of the lock grooves upon swage and with pin shank having a pull portion being a bore with helical grooves and an installation tool having a threaded mandrel to engage the pull grooves while moving into the collar shank to facilitate larger gap pull up between workpieces being secured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventor: David J. Fulbright
  • Patent number: 6233802
    Abstract: A fastening system including a two piece swage type fastener including a pin and a collar in which the pin has relatively wide lock grooves and in which the lock grooves have a generally smooth root contour with the collar having a shank portion with a wall thickness defining an excess volume of material prior to swage greater than the volume of the confronting lock grooves and with the clearance between the inside diameter of the collar shank portion and the diameter of crests of the lock grooves being a minimum to reduce the compressive force required to swage the collar shank into the lock grooves and with the excess volume of collar shank material providing only a partial fill of the lock grooves upon swage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Huck International, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Fulbright
  • Patent number: 5604968
    Abstract: A fastener system for multi-piece swage type fasteners, including a pin and a collar, and providing a stump type fastener constructed to be set as a pull type fastener with the fastener pin having a threaded gripping portion and including an installation tool having a swage anvil and a rotary nut member adapted to be threaded onto the threaded pull portion of the pin whereby a relative axial force is applied between the pin and the collar via the nut member and swage anvil to cause the anvil to radially overengage the collar to swage it into locking grooves on the pin and the pull portion remaining on the pin after installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Huck Patents, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Fulbright, Walter J. Smith
  • Patent number: 5548889
    Abstract: A fastener system for multi-piece swage type fasteners, including a pin and a collar, and providing a stump type fastener constructed to be set as a pull type fastener with the fastener pin having a threaded gripping portion and including an installation tool having a swage anvil and a rotary nut member adapted to be threaded onto the threaded pull portion of the pin whereby a relative axial force is applied between the pin and the collar via the nut member and swage anvil to cause the anvil to radially overengage the collar to swage it into locking grooves on the pin and the pull portion remaining on the pin after installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Huck Patents, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Smith, David J. Fulbright
  • Patent number: 5315755
    Abstract: A fastener system for multi-piece swage type fasteners, including a pin and a collar, and providing a stump type fastener constructed to be set as a pull type fastener with the fastener pin having a threaded gripping portion and including an installation tool having a swage anvil and a rotary nut member adapted to be threaded onto the threaded pull portion of the pin whereby a relative axial force is applied between the pin and the collar via the nut member and swage anvil to cause the anvil to radially overengage the collar to swage it into locking grooves on the pin and the pull portion remaining on the pin after installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Huck Patents, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Fulbright, Walter J. Smith