Patents by Inventor Joe B. Sutherland

Joe B. Sutherland 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).

  • Method of constructing a shell for a room air conditioner/heat pump with lateral strength
    Patent number: 8959771
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a shell from sheet metal for a room air conditioner/heat pump is shown. The sheet metal is stamped and formed to a U-shaped rectangular shell with open ends and a shell brace. Flanges on the outer edge of the U-shaped rectangular shell overlap at corners with (a) adjacent flanges or (b) the shell brace. Both the U-shaped rectangular shell and shell brace are inserted into an assembly machine where the corners are clinched and punched. The outermost flange at each corner is punched to a fixed diameter, but the innermost flange or the shell brace is only punched to a conical shape. Screws are inserted at each corner that pass through the fixed diameter to threadably engage only the conical shape of the innermost flange or shell brace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: Joe B. Sutherland
  • METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A SHELL FOR A ROOM AIR CONDITIONER/HEAT PUMP WITH LATERAL STRENGTH
    Publication number: 20130047689
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a shell from sheet metal for a room air conditioner/heat pump is shown. The sheet metal is stamped and formed to a U-shaped rectangular shell with open ends and a shell brace. Flanges on the outer edge of the U-shaped rectangular shell overlap at corners with (a) adjacent flanges or (b) the shell brace. Both the U-shaped rectangular shell and shell brace are inserted into an assembly machine where the corners are clinched and punched. The outermost flange at each corner is punched to a fixed diameter, but the innermost flange or the shell brace is only punched to a conical shape. Screws are inserted at each corner that pass through the fixed diameter to threadably engage only the conical shape of the innermost flange or shell brace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Friedrich Air Conditioning Co., a division of U.S. Natural Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: Joe B. Sutherland