Patents by Inventor James R. Barker
James R. Barker 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: 10436236Abstract: A fastener assembly includes a stud, a threaded sleeve, and a compression spring. The stud includes a shaft with a first head at one end and a second head at an opposite end of the shaft, both heads with opposing bearing surfaces. The threaded sleeve is disposed about the shaft. The threaded sleeve includes external threads and a tubular interior with an inwardly projected shoulder. The compression spring is disposed about the shaft inside the threaded sleeve, with a first end bearing against a shoulder of the threaded sleeve and a second end bearing against a bearing surface of the second head. The spring urges the sleeve against the bearing surface of the first head. The assembly can maintain a preload between two components while allowing the components to be separated, and can also be used as a pressure limiter.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Velcro BVBAInventors: Jerry G. Hodsdon, Christopher C. Libby, James R. Barker
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Publication number: 20190107139Abstract: A fastener assembly includes a stud, a threaded sleeve, and a compression spring. The stud includes a shaft with a first head at one end and a second head at an opposite end of the shaft, both heads with opposing bearing surfaces. The threaded sleeve is disposed about the shaft. The threaded sleeve includes external threads and a tubular interior with an inwardly projected shoulder. The compression spring is disposed about the shaft inside the threaded sleeve, with a first end bearing against a shoulder of the threaded sleeve and a second end bearing against a bearing surface of the second head. The spring urges the sleeve against the bearing surface of the first head. The assembly can maintain a preload between two components while allowing the components to be separated, and can also be used as a pressure limiter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2017Publication date: April 11, 2019Inventors: Jerry G. Hodsdon, Christopher C. Libby, James R. Barker
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Patent number: 9872542Abstract: A method of making a sheet-form loop-engageable fastener product includes placing a layer of staple fibers on a first side of a substrate, needling fibers of the layer through the substrate to form loops extending from a second side of the substrate, removing end regions from at least some of the loops to form stems, and forming loop-engageable heads at free ends of at least some of the stems.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2015Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Velcro BVBAInventors: James R. Barker, Christopher M. Gallant
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Patent number: 9790626Abstract: Methods for forming a touch fastening material are described as including: providing a lengthwise-incoherent layer of staple fibers supported directly on a bed of bristle tips of a brush; needling the layer of staple fibers by cycling needles through the layer of staple fibers and into the brush; then, while the needled layer of staple fibers remains supported on the brush, fusing portions of the staple fibers by at least partially melting resin of the fibers disposed outside the brush; and then pulling the layer of fibers from the brush as a lengthwise-coherent touch fastening material having exposed fastening loops pulled from between the brush bristles.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Velcro BVBAInventors: Christopher M. Gallant, James R. Barker, Gregory K. Kopanski, David Erick Fuller
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Publication number: 20160222559Abstract: Methods for forming a touch fastening material are described as including: providing a lengthwise-incoherent layer of staple fibers supported directly on a bed of bristle tips of a brush; needling the layer of staple fibers by cycling needles through the layer of staple fibers and into the brush; then, while the needled layer of staple fibers remains supported on the brush, fusing portions of the staple fibers by at least partially melting resin of the fibers disposed outside the brush; and then pulling the layer of fibers from the brush as a lengthwise-coherent touch fastening material having exposed fastening loops pulled from between the brush bristles.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2015Publication date: August 4, 2016Inventors: Christopher M. Gallant, James R. Barker, Gregory K. Kopanski, David Erick Fuller
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Patent number: 9388519Abstract: Methods for forming a touch fastening material are described as including: providing a lengthwise-incoherent layer of staple fibers supported directly on a bed of bristle tips of a brush; needling the layer of staple fibers by cycling needles through the layer of staple fibers and into the brush; then, while the needled layer of staple fibers remains supported on the brush, fusing portions of the staple fibers by at least partially melting resin of the fibers disposed outside the brush; and then pulling the layer of fibers from the brush as a lengthwise-coherent touch fastening material having exposed fastening loops pulled from between the brush bristles.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2015Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Velcro BVBAInventors: Christopher M. Gallant, James R. Barker, Gregory R. Kopanski, David Erick Fuller
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Publication number: 20150327633Abstract: A method of making a sheet-form loop-engageable fastener product includes placing a layer of staple fibers on a first side of a substrate, needling fibers of the layer through the substrate to form loops extending from a second side of the substrate, removing end regions from at least some of the loops to form stems, and forming loop-engageable heads at free ends of at least some of the stems.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2015Publication date: November 19, 2015Inventors: James R. Barker, Christopher M. Gallant
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Patent number: 9119443Abstract: A method of making a sheet-form loop-engageable fastener product includes placing a layer of staple fibers on a first side of a substrate, needling fibers of the layer through the substrate to form loops extending from a second side of the substrate, removing end regions from at least some of the loops to form stems, and forming loop-engageable heads at free ends of at least some of the stems.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2012Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: James R. Barker, Christopher M. Gallant
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Patent number: 9078793Abstract: A method of making a sheet-form loop product can include placing a layer of staple fibers on a first side of a substrate, the layer of staple fibers including first staple fibers and second staple fibers that are intermingled with one another, where a diameter of the smallest circle capable of circumscribing one of the second staple fibers is greater than a diameter of the smallest circle capable of circumscribing one of the first staple fibers; needling substantially only the first fibers of the layer through the substrate by penetrating the substrate with needles that drag portions of the first fibers through the substrate during needling, leaving exposed loops of the first fibers extending from a second side of the substrate; and anchoring the loops of the first fibers by fusing the second fibers to each other on the first side of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventor: James R. Barker
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Patent number: 8753459Abstract: Methods of making a sheet-form loop product are provided. One method includes placing a layer of staple fibers against a first side of a substrate comprising a nonwoven web; needling fibers of the layer through the substrate by penetrating the substrate with needles that drag portions of the fibers through the substrate, leaving exposed loops of the fibers extending from a second side of the substrate; and anchoring fibers forming the loops by fusing the fibers to each other and to filaments of the nonwoven web on the first side of the substrate, while substantially preventing fusion of the fibers on the second side of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2008Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: George A. Provost, James R. Barker
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Patent number: 8673097Abstract: Methods of forming a loop product are provided. Methods include needling polymeric fibers through a substrate to form hook-engageable loop structures of the fibers extending from one surface of the substrate and then using heat and pressure to soften and bond polymer of the fibers directly to the substrate and adjacent fibers, thereby anchoring the loop structures to resist fiber pullout under fastening loads. Loop products are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2008Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: James R. Barker, George A. Provost
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Publication number: 20130052399Abstract: A method of making a sheet-form loop product can include placing a layer of staple fibers on a first side of a substrate, the layer of staple fibers including first staple fibers and second staple fibers that are intermingled with one another, where a diameter of the smallest circle capable of circumscribing one of the second staple fibers is greater than a diameter of the smallest circle capable of circumscribing one of the first staple fibers; needling substantially only the first fibers of the layer through the substrate by penetrating the substrate with needles that drag portions of the first fibers through the substrate during needling, leaving exposed loops of the first fibers extending from a second side of the substrate; and anchoring the loops of the first fibers by fusing the second fibers to each other on the first side of the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2012Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: VELCRO INDUSTRIES B.V.Inventor: James R. Barker
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Publication number: 20130052403Abstract: A method of making a sheet-form loop-engageable fastener product includes placing a layer of staple fibers on a first side of a substrate, needling fibers of the layer through the substrate to form loops extending from a second side of the substrate, removing end regions from at least some of the loops to form stems, and forming loop-engageable heads at free ends of at least some of the stems.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2012Publication date: February 28, 2013Inventors: James R. Barker, Christopher M. Gallant
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Publication number: 20090203280Abstract: Methods of making a sheet-form loop product are provided. One method includes placing a layer of staple fibers against a first side of a substrate comprising a nonwoven web; needling fibers of the layer through the substrate by penetrating the substrate with needles that drag portions of the fibers through the substrate, leaving exposed loops of the fibers extending from a second side of the substrate; and anchoring fibers forming the loops by fusing the fibers to each other and to filaments of the nonwoven web on the first side of the substrate, while substantially preventing fusion of the fibers on the second side of the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2008Publication date: August 13, 2009Applicant: VELCRO INDUSTRIES B.V.Inventors: George A. Provost, James R. Barker
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Patent number: 7562426Abstract: Methods of forming a loop product are provided. Some methods include (a) introducing a sheet-form substrate and a layer of polymeric fibers into a needle loom, with the fibers disposed on a first surface of the substrate, and (b) needling the fibers through the substrate to form hook-engageable loop structures of the fibers extending from a second surface of the substrate through holes formed in the substrate by the needling. Needling the fibers includes piercing the substrate with a plurality of needles while advancing the substrate in a machine direction at a predetermined speed, while cyclically advancing the needles in the machine direction, during piercing of the substrate, in a manner that causes the needles to travel in a substantially elliptical path, such that while the needles extend through the substrate the needles are moving in the machine direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2005Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: James R. Barker, George A. Provost
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Patent number: 7547469Abstract: Loop materials are provided for touch fastening. Some loop materials include a flexible sheet-form substrate, and hook-engageable fibers secured individually and directly to the substrate, the fibers being disposed in discrete fastening regions of the substrate, leaving fiber-free substrate between adjacent fastening regions. Methods of making and using such loop materials are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2005Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.Inventors: George A. Provost, James R. Barker
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Patent number: 7465366Abstract: A sheet-form loop product includes a flexible paper substrate and a layer of staple fibers disposed on a first side of the substrate, exposed loops of the fibers extending from holes through the substrate to a second side of the substrate, with bases of the loops being anchored on the first side of the substrate. The loops can be fastening loops. The product is formed by needling the fibers through the paper and then bonding the fibers. Examples include loop fastener materials, towels, abrasive scrubbing pads and sanding materials.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2005Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Velero Industries B.V.Inventors: George A. Provost, James R. Barker, Howard A. Kingsford
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Publication number: 20080305297Abstract: Methods of forming a loop product are provided. Methods include needling polymeric fibers through a substrate to form hook-engageablc loop structures of the fibers extending from one surface of the substrate and then using heat and pressure to soften and bond polymer of the fibers directly to the substrate and adjacent fibers, thereby anchoring the loop structures to resist fiber pullout under fastening loads. Loop products are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2008Publication date: December 11, 2008Applicant: VELCRO INDUSTRIES B.V.Inventors: James R. Barker, George A. Provost
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Publication number: 20080305704Abstract: Methods of making a sheet-form loop product are provided. One method includes placing a layer of staple fibers against a first side of a substrate comprising a nonwoven web; needling fibers of the layer through the substrate by penetrating the substrate with needles that drag portions of the fibers through the substrate, leaving exposed loops of the fibers extending from a second side of the substrate; and anchoring fibers forming the loops by fusing the fibers to each other and to filaments of the nonwoven web on the first side of the substrate, while substantially preventing fusion of the fibers on the second side of the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2008Publication date: December 11, 2008Applicant: VELCRO INDUSTRIES B.V.Inventors: George A. Provost, James R. Barker
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Patent number: 6264528Abstract: The instant invention is directed toward a toy trash truck. More specifically, it relates to a remote-controlled toy trash truck capable of forward motion and realistic operation. The toy vehicle includes a propulsion system, including a plurality of tires, operably affixed to a frame member. There is also a trash-holding bin mounted on the frame member, and a load-lifting arm operably connected to the frame member and capable of lifting items (e.g., actual or simulated trash) for placement into the trash-holding bin. A signal receiver that receives and interprets signals from a remote-control device may be mounted on the frame member.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 1999Date of Patent: July 24, 2001Inventors: Steve D. Doan, James R. Barker