Patents by Inventor James Fuller Potter

James Fuller Potter 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: 7131452
    Abstract: A device that is adapted to be mounted to an interior surface of a polymeric fuel tank includes a body, a weld foot adapted to be inserted into the molten inner surface of the fuel tank and having a support surface adapted to control insertion of the weld foot into the molten inner surface of the fuel tank and to position the device relative to the inner surface, and a break zone positioned between and interconnecting the weld foot and the body and having a structural cross section that is weaker than the weld foot and the body such that under sufficient force, the break zone will fracture and allow the body to separate from the inner surface of the fuel tank, thereby leaving the weld foot embedded within the inner surface of the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fuller Potter, Kale Stephen Schulte
  • Patent number: 6860398
    Abstract: Low permeation fittings and low permeation plastic containers using same are constructed by molding an outer component into the wall of a plastic container while it is being formed. This causes the opening of a passageway in the outer component to be covered with wall forming material. The inner component is then inserted into the outer component through the wall forming material thereby trapping the wall material between the internal and external components. The barrier layer of the container wall is therefore continuous from the container to inside the fitting. A new fuel container, fuel neck fitting, and flange for mounting components on a fuel tank are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fuller Potter, Duane Allen Fish, Erich James Vorenkamp, John E. Thorn, Link E. Vaughn
  • Patent number: 6810913
    Abstract: A device that is adapted to be mounted to an interior surface of a polymeric fuel tank includes a body, a weld foot adapted to be inserted into the molten inner surface of the fuel tank and having a support surface adapted to control insertion of the weld foot into the molten inner surface of the fuel tank and to position the device relative to the inner surface, and a break zone positioned between and interconnecting the weld foot and the body and having a structural cross section that is weaker than the weld foot and the body such that under sufficient force, the break zone will fracture and allow the body to separate from the inner surface of the fuel tank, thereby leaving the weld foot embedded within the inner surface of the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fuller Potter, Kale Stephen Schulte
  • Patent number: 6722521
    Abstract: The present invention involves a low permeation pinchoff connection at a pinchoff region having a pinchoff end between first and second formed sheets of a fluid tank. The low permeation pinchoff connection comprises a continuous inner polymeric layer at a pinchoff region having a pinchoff end between the first and second formed sheets. The connection further comprises an outer polymeric layer in side-by-side relationship with the continuous inner polymeric layer. The outer polymeric layer tapers at the pinchoff region to first and second outer polymeric ends at the pinchoff end separating the first and second outer polymeric ends. The connection further comprises a low permeation barrier layer disposed between the continuous inner polymeric layer and the outer polymeric layer. The low permeation barrier layer tapers with the outer polymeric layer at the pinchoff region to first and second barrier ends separated at the pinchoff end to determine a pinchoff gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fuller Potter, Erich James Vorenkamp, Duane Allen Fish, Link Eugene Vaughn, Huan-Kun Chang
  • Publication number: 20030209550
    Abstract: The present invention involves a low permeation pinchoff connection at a pinchoff region having a pinchoff end between first and second formed sheets of a fluid tank. The low permeation pinchoff connection comprises a continuous inner polymeric layer at a pinchoff region having a pinchoff end between the first and second formed sheets. The connection further comprises an outer polymeric layer in side-by-side relationship with the continuous inner polymeric layer. The outer polymeric layer tapers at the pinchoff region to first and second outer polymeric ends at the pinchoff end separating the first and second outer polymeric ends. The connection further comprises a low permeation barrier layer disposed between the continuous inner polymeric layer and the outer polymeric layer. The low permeation barrier layer tapers with the outer polymeric layer at the pinchoff region to first and second barrier ends separated at the pinchoff end to determine a pinchoff gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fuller Potter, Erich James Vorenkamp, Duane Allen Fish, Lawrence Eugene Vaughn, Huan-Kun Chang
  • Publication number: 20030201021
    Abstract: A device that is adapted to be mounted to an interior surface of a polymeric fuel tank includes a body, a weld foot adapted to be inserted into the molten inner surface of the fuel tank and having a support surface adapted to control insertion of the weld foot into the molten inner surface of the fuel tank and to position the device relative to the inner surface, and a break zone positioned between and interconnecting the weld foot and the body and having a structural cross section that is weaker than the weld foot and the body such that under sufficient force, the break zone will fracture and allow the body to separate from the inner surface of the fuel tank, thereby leaving the weld foot embedded within the inner surface of the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fuller Potter, Kale Stephen Schulte
  • Patent number: 6591857
    Abstract: A venting system for venting a gaseous fluid from a tank having an aperture and a fuel delivery module cover. The tank is made of a predetermined material. The venting system comprises a venting valve disposed within the aperture. The venting valve includes a valve body having a top portion and a neck portion extending from the top portion. The top portion is disposed outside the tank and is engaged thereto. The venting system further includes a channel which connects to the valve body so that the venting valve is in fluid communication therewith and is attached to the fuel delivery module cover to allow the gaseous fluid in the tank to be vented therefrom. The venting system further includes a cover which is comprised of the same predetermined material and is welded to the tank to seal the valve between the cover and the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Allen Engle, James Fuller Potter, Harold Edward Cunningham
  • Publication number: 20030098062
    Abstract: The present invention involves a venting system for venting a gaseous fluid from a tank having an aperture and a fuel delivery module cover. The tank is made of a predetermined material. The venting system comprises a venting valve disposed within the aperture. The venting valve includes a valve body having a top portion and a neck portion extending from the top portion. The top portion is disposed outside the tank and is engaged thereto. The neck portion is disposed in the tank and has an index and a port extending from the neck portion. The port is formed below the index relative to the top portion. The port is in fluid communication with the valve when the valve vents the gaseous fluid. The venting system further includes a channel having first and second ends, wherein the first end connects to the port within the tank so that the venting valve is in fluid communication therewith when the valve vents the gaseous fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Brian Allen Engle, James Fuller Potter, Harold Edward Cunningham
  • Publication number: 20020063129
    Abstract: Low permeation fittings and low permeation plastic containers using same are constructed by molding an outer component into the wall of a plastic container while it is being formed. This causes the opening of a passageway in the outer component to be covered with wall forming material. The inner component is then inserted into the outer component through the wall forming material thereby trapping the wall material between the internal and external components. The barrier layer of the container wall is therefore continuous from the container to inside the fitting. A new fuel container, fuel neck fitting, and flange for mounting components on a fuel tank are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James Fuller Potter, Duane Allen Fish, Erich James Vorenkamp, John E. Thorn, Link E. Vaughn