Patents by Inventor James A. Wright

James A. Wright 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: 20250120343
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle comprising a frame and a suspension. The suspension has a platform, a spring assembly, and an adjustment. The platform has a front rotatably engaged to the frame and a rear. The spring assembly has a top engaged to the platform rear and a bottom engaged to the adjustment. The adjustment has a lever having a fulcrum, a lever output rotatably engaged to the spring assembly bottom, a lever input fixed in orientation with respect to the lever output, the lever input having a locking feature to hold the lever input fixed with respect to the fulcrum, and a platen, the platen defining a plurality of sites adapted to interface with the locking feature to lock the lever input with respect to the fulcrum; and wherein each site corresponds to a different pre-load on the spring assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventors: Hunter A. Veith, James A. Wright
  • Patent number: 11780003
    Abstract: Provided herein are titanium alloys that can achieve a combination of high strength and high toughness or elongation, and a method to produce the alloys. By tolerating iron, oxygen, and other incidental elements and impurities, the alloys enable the use of lower quality scrap as raw materials. The alloys are castable and can form ?-phase laths in a basketweave morphology by a commercially feasible heat treatment that does not require hot-working or rapid cooling rates. The alloys comprise, by weight, about 3.0% to about 6.0% aluminum, 0% to about 1.5% tin, about 2.0% to about 4.0% vanadium, about 0.5% to about 4.5% molybdenum, about 1.0% to about 2.5% chromium, about 0.20% to about 0.55% iron, 0% to about 0.35% oxygen, 0% to about 0.007% boron, and 0% to about 0.60% other incidental elements and impurities, the balance of weight percent comprising titanium. There exists an unmet need to produce titanium alloys for use in aerospace applications which have a refined equiaxed grain structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: QuesTek Innovations LLC
    Inventors: James A. Wright, Jason Sebastian, Herng-Jeng Jou, Thomas S. Kozmel, II, Clay A. Houser
  • Patent number: 11724658
    Abstract: Aspects hereof relate to a control system for a terrain working vehicle having an operator protection apparatus. In some aspects, the control system instructs and ceases an actuation of the operator protection apparatus to and between a raised position and a lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Harlan J. Bartel, Eric M. Biggs, Brian R. Funk, Ronald E. Lefevre, Royce A. Steinert, James A. Wright, Brian L. Nebel
  • Publication number: 20220295702
    Abstract: A steering lever pivot assembly may have a two-axis polymer housing pivotally coupled to a terrain working vehicle at opposing bosses and comprising a pair of reciprocal housing portions, a steering lever pivotally coupled to the two-axis polymer housing, the steering lever having a connecting portion for coupling to a first system of the terrain working vehicle, a clasp coupled to the steering lever and the two-axis polymer housing and having a mounting portion for coupling to a first system of the terrain working vehicle, and a pair of bushings that receive one of the opposing bosses therein. In some aspects, the two-axis polymer housing provides a first axis of rotation at the pivotal coupling between the steering lever and the two-axis polymer housing and a second axis of rotation through the opposing bushings, which may be axially aligned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Brian R. Funk, James A. Wright, Tyler A. Yost
  • Patent number: 11357170
    Abstract: A steering lever pivot assembly may have a two-axis polymer housing pivotally coupled to a terrain working vehicle at opposing bosses and comprising a pair of reciprocal housing portions, a steering lever pivotally coupled to the two-axis polymer housing, the steering lever having a connecting portion for coupling to a first system of the terrain working vehicle, a clasp coupled to the steering lever and the two-axis polymer housing and having a mounting portion for coupling to a first system of the terrain working vehicle, and a pair of bushings that receive one of the opposing bosses therein. In some aspects, the two-axis polymer housing provides a first axis of rotation at the pivotal coupling between the steering lever and the two-axis polymer housing and a second axis of rotation through the opposing bushings, which may be axially aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: EXCEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Brian R. Funk, James A. Wright, Tyler A. Yost
  • Patent number: 11345121
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an aluminized composite including a base material. The aluminized composite may also include a diffusion layer disposed over the base material. The aluminized composite may further include an aluminum material disposed over the diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Yokoyama, Naoto Matsuyuki, James A. Wright, Brian M. Gable, William A. Counts, Eric W. Hamann
  • Publication number: 20220080914
    Abstract: Aspects hereof relate to a control system for a terrain working vehicle having an operator protection apparatus. In some aspects, the control system instructs and ceases an actuation of the operator protection apparatus to and between a raised position and a lowered position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Harlan J. BARTEL, ERIC M. BIGGS, BRIAN R. FUNK, RONALD E. LEFEVRE, ROYCE A. STEINERT, JAMES A. WRIGHT, BRIAN L. NEBEL
  • Patent number: 11207795
    Abstract: A mold apparatus to form a ceramic (or glass) includes a first mold portion having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second mold portion having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. In some embodiments, the first mold portion and/or the second mold portion are substantially immiscible with the ceramic material, such as silicon oxide, at a temperature greater than 600° C. In some embodiments, the first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second coefficient of thermal expansion are substantially similar to that of the glass or ceramic material. In some embodiments, the first coefficient of thermal expansion is different from the second coefficient of thermal expansion. In some embodiments, the first mold portion and the second mold portion contain a surface coating and a passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Mattlin, Abhijeet Misra, Herng-Jeng Jou, James A. Wright, James A. Yurko, Lei Gao, Weiming Huang, William A. Counts
  • Patent number: 11198408
    Abstract: Aspects hereof relate to a control system for a terrain working vehicle having an operator protection apparatus. In some aspects, the control system instructs and ceases an actuation of the operator protection apparatus to and between a raised position and a lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: EXCEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Harlan J. Bartel, Eric M. Biggs, Brian R. Funk, Ronald E. Lefevre, Royce A. Steinert, James A. Wright, Brian L. Nebel
  • Patent number: 11071248
    Abstract: A mower may have a frame, a floor pan affixed to the frame, and a cutting deck suspended from the floor pan. A height of the cutting deck over a terrain surface may be adjustable with a lift system. The lift system may couple the cutting deck to the floor pan and move the cutting deck between a minimum height and a maximum height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: EXCEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Brian R. Funk, James A. Wright, Tyler A. Yost
  • Patent number: 11021782
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods of making iron-based alloys, as well as resulting alloys. An iron-based alloy containing a small amount of nickel (e.g., 0.5 to 2.0 wt %) is annealed and machined. The alloy is sufficiently ductile to reduce the likelihood of cracking, while not sufficiently high to result in a hardened alloy. After the alloy is shaped, the alloy is hardened by nitriding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hoishun Li, Ethan E. Currens, Weiming Huang, James A. Wright
  • Publication number: 20200239990
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an aluminum alloy including having varying ranges of alloying elements. In various aspects, the alloy has a wt % ratio of Zn to Mg ranging from 4:1 to 7:1. The disclosure further includes methods for producing an aluminum alloy and articles comprising the aluminum alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Brian M. Gable, James A. Wright, Charles J. Kuehmann, Brian Demers, Chune-Ching Young, Chun-Hsien Chiang
  • Patent number: 10711329
    Abstract: A beryllium-free high-strength copper alloy includes, about 10-30 vol % of L12-(Ni,Cu)3(Al,Sn), and substantially excludes cellular discontinuous precipitation around grain boundaries. The alloy may include at least one component selected from the group consisting of: Ag, Cr, Mn, Nb, Ti, and V, and the balance Cu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: QuesTek Innovations LLC
    Inventors: James A. Wright, Abhijeet Misra
  • Publication number: 20200181746
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an aluminum alloy including having varying ranges of alloying elements. In various aspects, the alloy has a wt % ratio of Zn to Mg ranging from 4:1 to 7:1. The disclosure further includes methods for producing an aluminum alloy and articles comprising the aluminum alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Brian M. Gable, James A. Wright, Charles J. Kuehmann, Brian Demers, Chune-Ching Young, Chun-Hsien Chiang
  • Publication number: 20200157669
    Abstract: The disclosure provides aluminum alloys having varying ranges of alloying elements and properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Abhijeet Misra, James A. Wright, Herng-Jeng Jou
  • Publication number: 20200101920
    Abstract: Aspects hereof relate to a control system for a terrain working vehicle having an operator protection apparatus. In some aspects, the control system instructs and ceases an actuation of the operator protection apparatus to and between a raised position and a lowered position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: HARLAN J. BARTEL, ERIC M. BIGGS, BRIAN R. FUNK, RONALD E. LEFEVRE, ROYCE A. STEINERT, JAMES A. WRIGHT, BRIAN L. NEBEL
  • Patent number: 10597757
    Abstract: Alloys, processes for preparing the alloys, and articles including the alloys are provided. The alloys can include, by weight, about 0.01% to about 1% vanadium, 0% to about 0.04% carbon, 0% to about 8% niobium, 0% to about 1% titanium, 0% to about 0.04% boron, 0% to about 1% tungsten, 0% to about 1% tantalum, 0% to about 1% hafnium, and 0% to about 1% ruthenium, the balance essentially molybdenum and incidental elements and impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: QUESTEK INNOVATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jiadong Gong, David R. Snyder, Jason T. Sebastian, William Arthur Counts, Abhijeet Misra, James A. Wright
  • Patent number: 10597762
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an aluminum alloy including having varying ranges of alloying elements. In various aspects, the alloy has a wt % ratio of Zn to Mg ranging from 4:1 to 7:1. The disclosure further includes methods for producing an aluminum alloy and articles comprising the aluminum alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Gable, James A. Wright, Charles J. Kuehmann, Brian Demers, Chune-Ching Young, Chun-Hsien Chiang
  • Patent number: 10590558
    Abstract: Techniques for forming an enclosure comprised of an aluminum alloy are disclosed. In some embodiments, aluminum ions and metal element ions can be dissolved in a non-aqueous ionic liquid in an electrolytic plating bath. A reverse pulsed electric current can facilitate in co-depositing the aluminum ions and the metal element ions onto a metal substrate. The resulting aluminum alloy layer can include nanocrystalline structures, which can impart the alloy layer with increased hardness and increased resistance to scratching, corrosion, and abrasion. In some embodiments, the metal element ion is chromium and the aluminum alloy layer includes a chromium oxide passivation layer formed via a passivation process. Subsequent to the passivation process, the formation of the chromium oxide layer does not impart a change in color to the aluminum alloy layer. In some embodiments, hafnium ions are co-deposited with aluminum ions to form an aluminum hafnium alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: XTALIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Evgeniya Freydina, Joshua Garth Abbott, Alan C. Lund, Robert Daniel Hilty, Shiyun Ruan, Jason Reese, Lisa J. Chan, James A. Wright, James A. Curran
  • Patent number: 10590514
    Abstract: Techniques for forming an enclosure comprised of aluminum zirconium alloy layer are disclosed. In some embodiments, aluminum ions and zirconium ions can be dissolved in a non-aqueous ionic liquid in an electrolytic plating bath. A reverse pulsed electric current can facilitate in co-depositing the aluminum ions and the zirconium ions onto a metal substrate. The resulting aluminum zirconium alloy layer can include nanocrystalline grain structures, which can impart the alloy layer with increased hardness and increased resistance to scratching, denting, and abrasion. In some embodiments, the aluminum zirconium alloy layer can be anodized to form an aluminum oxide layer. Subsequent to the anodization operation, the oxidized layer is able to retain its substantially neutral color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: XTALIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Evgeniya Freydina, Joshua Garth Abbott, Alan C. Lund, Robert Daniel Hilty, Shiyun Ruan, Jason Reese, Lisa J. Chan, James A. Wright, James A. Curran