Patents by Inventor James H. Dodd
James H. Dodd 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).
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Patent number: 11660950Abstract: A battery support structure for a vehicle includes a first peripheral member configured to be supported by a longitudinal section of a vehicle frame. A second peripheral member has an end surface that selectively attaches at an inside surface of the first peripheral member to enclose a corner section of a battery containment area. Prior to fixed attachment of the first and second peripheral members, a slip plane is defined between the end surface and the inside surface to adjust the second peripheral member along the first peripheral member to a predefined dimension of the battery containment area.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2022Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Shape Corp.Inventors: Joseph R. Matecki, Dennis V. Rupar, James H. Dodd
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Publication number: 20220194201Abstract: A battery support structure for a vehicle includes a first peripheral member configured to be supported by a longitudinal section of a vehicle frame. A second peripheral member has an end surface that selectively attaches at an inside surface of the first peripheral member to enclose a corner section of a battery containment area. Prior to fixed attachment of the first and second peripheral members, a slip plane is defined between the end surface and the inside surface to adjust the second peripheral member along the first peripheral member to a predefined dimension of the battery containment area.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2022Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Joseph R. Matecki, Dennis V. Rupar, James H. Dodd
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Patent number: 11273697Abstract: A battery support structure for a vehicle includes a first peripheral member configured to be supported by a longitudinal section of a vehicle frame. A second peripheral member has an end surface that selectively attaches at an inside surface of the first peripheral member to enclose a corner section of a battery containment area. Prior to fixed attachment of the first and second peripheral members, a slip plane is defined between the end surface and the inside surface to adjust the second peripheral member along the first peripheral member to a predefined dimension of the battery containment area.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2020Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Shape Corp.Inventors: Joseph R. Matecki, Dennis V. Rupar, James H. Dodd
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Publication number: 20200207221Abstract: A battery support structure for a vehicle includes a first peripheral member configured to be supported by a longitudinal section of a vehicle frame. A second peripheral member has an end surface that selectively attaches at an inside surface of the first peripheral member to enclose a corner section of a battery containment area. Prior to fixed attachment of the first and second peripheral members, a slip plane is defined between the end surface and the inside surface to adjust the second peripheral member along the first peripheral member to a predefined dimension of the battery containment area.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventors: Joseph R. Matecki, Dennis V. Rupar, James H. Dodd
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Patent number: 10632857Abstract: A battery support structure for a vehicle includes a first peripheral member configured to be supported by a longitudinal section of a vehicle frame. A second peripheral member has an end surface that selectively attaches at an inside surface of the first peripheral member to enclose a corner section of a battery containment area. Prior to fixed attachment of the first and second peripheral members, a slip plane is defined between the end surface and the inside surface to adjust the second peripheral member along the first peripheral member to a predefined dimension of the battery containment area.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Shape Corp.Inventors: Joseph R. Matecki, Dennis V. Rupar, James H. Dodd
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Publication number: 20180050607Abstract: A battery support structure for a vehicle includes a first peripheral member configured to be supported by a longitudinal section of a vehicle frame. A second peripheral member has an end surface that selectively attaches at an inside surface of the first peripheral member to enclose a corner section of a battery containment area. Prior to fixed attachment of the first and second peripheral members, a slip plane is defined between the end surface and the inside surface to adjust the second peripheral member along the first peripheral member to a predefined dimension of the battery containment area.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2017Publication date: February 22, 2018Inventors: Joseph R. Matecki, Dennis V. Rupar, James H. Dodd
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Patent number: 8151614Abstract: A cutoff unit for cutting a variably swept continuous beam extending from a roll forming mill includes a pickup subassembly for tracking a shape of the continuous beam, and a cutoff subassembly that engages and supports sides of the continuous beam while a blade slices transversely through the continuous beam. A controller connected to the roll forming mill and to the cutoff unit controls the cutoff unit to allow pass through of the continuous beam, and is configured to actuate the pickup and then actuate the blade to cut the continuous beam into longitudinally symmetrical beam segments, each having a center section (swept or not) and with mirror-image equally-swept end sections.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Shape Corp.Inventors: Richard D. Heinz, James H. Dodd, Wayne L. Ferris
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Patent number: 7882718Abstract: A computer controlled roll-forming apparatus is adapted to provide a repeating pattern of different longitudinal shapes to a continuous beam “on the fly” during the roll-forming process. A sweep station of the apparatus includes a primary bending roller tangentially engaging the continuous beam along the line level and an armature for biasing the continuous beam against the primary bending roller for a distance partially around a downstream side of the primary bending roller to form a sweep. Actuators adjustably move the armature partially around the downstream side of the primary bending roller between multiple positions for imparting a series of different longitudinal shapes. Internal and external mandrels control wall stability to allow even sharper sweeps. In one form, the apparatus also includes a coordinated cut-off, so that when separated into bumper beam segments, the ends of the individual beam segments have a greater sweep than their center sections.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2007Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Shape Corp.Inventors: Bruce W. Lyons, Bryan E. Gould, James H. Dodd, Richard D. Heinz
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Publication number: 20100147728Abstract: An energy-absorbing bulkhead apparatus includes high-strength roll formed tubular bars, and a bar-supporting sheet to distribute stress from product shifting in large shipping containers during transport. Parts are re-useable and can be quickly installed into the shipping container at selected locations such as near the container's doors. The bars can be swept and/or have deformed/configured ends shaped to engage channel features in side walls of the large shipping container. The bars may define spaced tubes and a tie rod for added strength. For example, the bars can be steel having 120 KSI to 220 KSI tensile strength, and have a cross-section 2-3 inches in depth and 4-6 inches in height, a length of 94 long, and a longitudinal sweep of 6 inches curvature. A flexitank can be positioned in the shipping container and supported by a combination of the bulkhead.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2009Publication date: June 17, 2010Inventors: Melvin Guiles, Todd Armstrong, Richard D. Heinz, James H. Dodd, Kenneth E. McKeller, David Michael Sims, Michael Shane Sims, Donald Patrick Reilly
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Patent number: 7530249Abstract: A computer controlled roll-forming apparatus is adapted to provide a repeating pattern of different longitudinal shapes to a continuous beam “on the fly” during the roll-forming process. A sweep station on the apparatus includes a primary bending roller tangentially engaging the continuous beam along the line level and an armature for biasing the continuous beam against the primary bending roller for a distance partially around a downstream side of the primary bending roller to form a sweep. Further, actuators adjustably move the armature at least partially around the downstream side of the primary bending roller between at least first and second positions for imparting multiple different longitudinal shapes into the continuous beam. In one form, the apparatus also includes a coordinated cut-off, so that when separated into bumper beam segments, the ends of the individual beam segments have a greater sweep than their center sections.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2007Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Shape Corp.Inventors: Bruce W. Lyons, Bryan E. Gould, James H. Dodd, Richard D. Heinz
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Publication number: 20090100889Abstract: A cutoff unit for cutting a variably swept continuous beam extending from a roll forming mill includes a pickup subassembly for tracking a shape of the continuous beam, and a cutoff subassembly that engages and supports sides of the continuous beam while a blade slices transversely through the continuous beam. A controller connected to the roll forming mill and to the cutoff unit controls the cutoff unit to allow pass through of the continuous beam, and is configured to actuate the pickup and then actuate the blade to cut the continuous beam into longitudinally symmetrical beam segments, each having a center section (swept or not) and with mirror-image equally-swept end sections.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2008Publication date: April 23, 2009Inventors: Richard D. Heinz, James H. Dodd, Wayne L. Ferris
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Patent number: 7337642Abstract: A computer controlled roll-forming apparatus is adapted to provide a repeating pattern of different longitudinal shapes to a continuous beam “on the fly” during the roll-forming process. A sweep station on the apparatus includes a primary bending roller tangentially engaging the continuous beam along the line level and an armature for biasing the continuous beam against the primary bending roller for a distance partially around a downstream side of the primary bending roller to form a sweep. Further, actuators adjustably move the armature at least partially around the downstream side of the primary bending roller between at least first and second positions for imparting multiple different longitudinal shapes into the continuous beam. In one form, the apparatus also includes a coordinated cut-off, so that when separated into bumper beam segments, the ends of the individual beam segments have a greater sweep than their center sections.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2005Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: Shape CorporationInventors: Bruce W. Lyons, Bryan E. Gould, James H. Dodd, Richard D. Heinz