Patents by Inventor Donald R. Pinkal

Donald R. Pinkal 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: 8998323
    Abstract: A track-mounted aircraft seat has seat track locking pins that are capable of moving independently to remain engaged with the seat track assembly in a warped-floor condition. The seat track locking pins are actuated by means of a pair of torque tubes that rotate independently about a common pilot shaft. A control link, which is operated by the user, acts on a pair of bell cranks each of which acts on one of the torque tubes. The control link is attached to the bell cranks by means of a spherical joint. Because the torque tubes rotate independently and because the spherical joint allows the bell cranks also to move independently, in the event of a warped-floor condition, rotation of one torque tube caused by the skewed seat track will not cause the other torque tube to release its track locking pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: AMI Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin S. Day, Chad R. Pacheco, Donald R. Pinkal
  • Publication number: 20140042273
    Abstract: A track-mounted aircraft seat has seat track locking pins that are capable of moving independently to remain engaged with the seat track assembly in a warped-floor condition. The seat track locking pins are actuated by means of a pair of torque tubes that rotate independently about a common pilot shaft. A control link, which is operated by the user, acts on a pair of bell cranks each of which acts on one of the torque tubes. The control link is attached to the bell cranks by means of a spherical joint. Because the torque tubes rotate independently and because the spherical joint allows the bell cranks also to move independently, in the event of a warped-floor condition, rotation of one torque tube caused by the skewed seat track will not cause the other torque tube to release its track locking pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Martin S. DAY, Chad R. Pacheco, Donald R. Pinkal
  • Patent number: 8231097
    Abstract: An equipment support for attaching equipment to an aircraft comprises a gripper foot having a T-shaped slot that engages a track mounted to the aircraft floor. The gripper foot is mounted to a trunnion mount that enables the gripper foot to rotate freely about a vertical axis so that the gripper foot can negotiate curves along a non-linear track. The trunnion mount is mounted to the equipment support frame by means of a horizontal pivot. The horizontal pivot is held against rotation below a predetermined load by a torque-resisting element. If the floor track is warped, for example during a crash, the twisting loads transmitted from the floor track to the gripper foot overcome the torque-resisting element, which allows the trunnion mount and gripper foot to rotate with the floor track thereby allowing the gripper foot to remain attached to the track without imparting excessive loads on the track, gripper foot, or equipment support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: AMI Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald R. Pinkal
  • Patent number: 8146999
    Abstract: An aircraft seat has an adjustable armrest in which the armrest platform is supported by a hinged attachment to an armrest support member. The hinged attachment between the armrest platform and the arm support member is located at the wrist-end of the arm support member near the aircraft control stick. The armrest platform and the armrest support are locked into position by means of telescoping struts that are controlled at the wrist-end of the arm platform member. The telescoping struts can be selectively locked to create triangular and/or quadrilateral trusses that lock the armrest firmly into position and may include springs or other elements to bias the armrest platform up and forward so that the armrest “floats” when the telescoping struts re released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: AMI Industries. Inc
    Inventors: Keith Michael Ferguson, Donald R. Pinkal
  • Publication number: 20110062286
    Abstract: An equipment support for attaching equipment to an aircraft comprises a gripper foot having a T-shaped slot that engages a track mounted to the aircraft floor. The gripper foot is mounted to a trunnion mount that enables the gripper foot to rotate freely about a vertical axis so that the gripper foot can negotiate curves along a non-linear track. The trunnion mount is mounted to the equipment support frame by means of a horizontal pivot. The horizontal pivot is held against rotation below a predetermined load by a torque-resisting element. If the floor track is warped, for example during a crash, the twisting loads transmitted from the floor track to the gripper foot overcome the torque-resisting element, which allows the trunnion mount and gripper foot to rotate with the floor track thereby allowing the gripper foot to remain attached to the track without imparting excessive loads on the track, gripper foot, or equipment support frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: AMI Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald R. PINKAL
  • Publication number: 20110049960
    Abstract: An aircraft seat has an adjustable armrest in which the armrest platform is supported by a hinged attachment to an armrest support member. The hinged attachment between the armrest platform and the arm support member is located at the wrist-end of the arm support member near the aircraft control stick. The armrest platform and the armrest support are locked into position by means of telescoping struts that are controlled at the wrist-end of the arm platform member. The telescoping struts can be selectively locked to create triangular and/or quadrilateral trusses that lock the armrest firmly into position and may include springs or other elements to bias the armrest platform up and forward so that the armrest “floats” when the telescoping struts re released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: AMI Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Michael FERGUSON, Donald R. Pinkal