Patents by Inventor Flint Thorne

Flint Thorne 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: 20120111360
    Abstract: An integrated cleaner for processing disks is provided. The integrated cleaner includes a pair of spaced apart scrubbers each having a plurality of spaced apart brushes disposed along a length of the scrubbers, the pair of spaced apart scrubbers oriented horizontally and configured to receive a vertically oriented disk therebetween. A track is disposed below a gap defined between the pair of spaced apart scrubbers. The track guides an edge of the disk as the disk travels between ends of the pair of spaced apart scrubbers. The plurality of spaced apart brushes includes a first and/or second pair of opposing brushes having a roughness that is greater than a second and/or third pair of brushes downstream from the first and/or second pair of brushes, respectively. The integrated cleaner includes an edge cleaner configured to exert a force along an edge of the vertically oriented disk during a portion of travel of the vertically oriented disk along the track. A method of cleaning a substrate is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Helmuth Treichel, Flint Thorne, Rito Ligutom
  • Publication number: 20120111361
    Abstract: A method for cleaning and polishing a disk is provided. The method includes planarizing the disk and transferring the planarized disk to a first station of a polishing module. At the first station opposing sides of the disk are simultaneously polished as the disk rotates around an axis of the disk. The polishing includes continuously advancing a first polishing member contacting a first surface of the disk and a second polishing member contacting a second surface of the disk, wherein the advancing of the first polishing member independent of the advancing of the second polishing member. The method includes transferring the disk to a second station of the polishing module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Helmuth Treichel, Flint Thorne, Rito Ligutom, Jim Swertel
  • Publication number: 20110186088
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a work piece is provided. The apparatus includes outer support rails having support slots for supporting the work piece, the outer support rails disposed on opposing sides of the apparatus between opposing end members of the apparatus. Inner support rails extend between the opposing end members of the apparatus. An inner surface of each of the inner support rails has vertically disposed extensions extending therefrom. The vertically disposed extensions are aligned in pairs along a length of the inner support rails. A moveable device is disposed between the pairs of vertically disposed extensions. The moveable device is buoyantly moveable so that as the work piece is lifted, the moveable device follows. A method for cleaning a work piece is also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Miller, Rito Ligutom, Helmuth Treichel, Flint Thorne
  • Patent number: 6009561
    Abstract: A helmet and method of making the same for allowing repeatably removable and adjustable attachment of helmet accessories, that includes an inner liner member for substantially covering a wearer's head, and an outer shell member that includes an upper shell surface, a lower shell surface which substantially covers an upper liner surface of the inner liner member, and at least one mounting hole formed therethrough. A grommet with a access hole formed therethrough is attached to the outer shell so that the access hole is aligned with the mounting hole. A helmet accessory has at least one mounting member insertable through the access hole. An engagement member is rotatably attached to the grommet with a predetermined amount of friction therebetween, and has means for removably engaging the helmet accessory mounting member inserted through the access hole for removably mounting the helmet accessory to the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Bell Sports Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Bullock, Michael Grim, Flint Thorne
  • Patent number: 6009562
    Abstract: A helmet and method of making the same for allowing repeatably removable attachment of helmet accessories, that includes an inner liner member for substantially covering a wearer's head, and an outer shell member that includes an upper shell surface, a lower shell surface which substantially covers an upper liner surface of the inner liner member, and at least one mounting hole formed therethrough. A grommet is disposed along the upper shell surface and aligned over the mounting hole. A receptacle housing is disposed along the lower shell surface and has a receptacle aligned to and facing the mounting hole. Engagement prongs secure the grommet to the receptacle housing with the shell member therebetween. The helmet accessory has at least one mounting member, such as a protrusion or screw. The receptacle includes a device for removably engaging the mounting member when the mounting member is inserted through the mounting hole in order to removably mount the helmet accessory to the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Bullock, Michael Grim, Flint Thorne