Patents by Inventor John A. Ruvang

John A. Ruvang 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: 8302333
    Abstract: A fastening method and adapter configuration for mounting an excavation tooth to an excavation implement lip. A fastening system for the adapter can include a retainer which is receivable in an opening formed through the implement lip. The retainer cannot be removed from the opening while the adapter remains fully engaged with the lip. A method of fastening an adapter to an excavation implement lip can include: installing a retainer in an opening formed through the lip; then engaging the adapter with the retainer and the lip; and then securing the adapter to the lip by biasing the retainer forward. Another fastening system can include a retainer which is receivable in an opening formed through an excavation implement lip, with the retainer including one or more movable teeth and one or more stationary serrations. A wedge biases the retainer forward when the retainer teeth displace relative to the retainer serrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Black Cat Blades Ltd.
    Inventor: John A. Ruvang
  • Patent number: 8261472
    Abstract: An excavator implement attachment system can include a tooth having a pocket formed therein, an insert received in a recess formed in an adaptor nose and a threaded fastener which releasably secures the tooth on the nose, the fastener having a helical thread formed thereon which is eccentric relative to a fastener body. A tooth can include a pocket with at least one side wall which has an insert-receiving recess and generally planar insert-engaging interface surfaces formed therein, with one interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth about a longitudinal axis in one direction, and another interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth about the longitudinal axis in an opposite direction. An excavator tooth can include a pocket bounded by opposing side walls, with at least one of the side walls having an insert-receiving recess internally formed thereon, whereby the recess receives an insert installed in an adaptor nose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Black Cat Blades Ltd.
    Inventor: John A. Ruvang
  • Publication number: 20120102790
    Abstract: An excavator implement attachment system can include a tooth having a pocket formed therein, an insert received in a recess formed in an adaptor nose and a threaded fastener which releasably secures the tooth on the nose, the fastener having a helical thread formed thereon which is eccentric relative to a fastener body. A tooth can include a pocket with at least one side wall which has an insert-receiving recess and generally planar insert-engaging interface surfaces formed therein, with one interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth about a longitudinal axis in one direction, and another interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth about the longitudinal axis in an opposite direction. An excavator tooth can include a pocket bounded by opposing side walls, with at least one of the side walls having an insert-receiving recess internally formed thereon, whereby the recess receives an insert installed in an adaptor nose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventor: John A. RUVANG
  • Publication number: 20110258891
    Abstract: A fastening method and adapter configuration for mounting an excavation tooth to an excavation implement lip. A fastening system for the adapter can include a retainer which is receivable in an opening formed through the implement lip. The retainer cannot be removed from the opening while the adapter remains fully engaged with the lip. A method of fastening an adapter to an excavation implement lip can include: installing a retainer in an opening formed through the lip; then engaging the adapter with the retainer and the lip; and then securing the adapter to the lip by biasing the retainer forward. Another fastening system can include a retainer which is receivable in an opening formed through an excavation implement lip, with the retainer including one or more movable teeth and one or more stationary serrations. A wedge biases the retainer forward when the retainer teeth displace relative to the retainer serrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Black Cat Blades Ltd.
    Inventor: John A. RUVANG
  • Patent number: 7980011
    Abstract: A fully stabilized excavator tooth attachment. An excavator tooth includes a nose-receiving pocket bounded by an inner end, upper and lower, and opposing side walls, the end wall having a nose-engaging interface surface formed orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the tooth, at least one of the side walls having a fastener opening formed therethrough, and each of the upper and lower walls having two spaced apart nose-engaging interface surfaces formed thereon substantially parallel to each other. Another excavator tooth includes side walls having generally planar nose-engaging interface surfaces formed therein, one surface resisting rotation of the tooth about the longitudinal axis in one direction, and another interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth in an opposite direction. An attachment system includes a fastener configured for releasably securing the tooth on the nose, the fastener having a thread which is eccentric relative to a body of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Black Cat Blades Ltd.
    Inventor: John A. Ruvang
  • Publication number: 20110030247
    Abstract: A fully stabilized excavator tooth attachment. An excavator tooth includes a nose-receiving pocket bounded by an inner end, upper and lower, and opposing side walls, the end wall having a nose-engaging interface surface formed orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the tooth, at least one of the side walls having a fastener opening formed therethrough, and each of the upper and lower walls having two spaced apart nose-engaging interface surfaces formed thereon substantially parallel to each other. Another excavator tooth includes side walls having generally planar nose-engaging interface surfaces formed therein, one surface resisting rotation of the tooth about the longitudinal axis in one direction, and another interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth in an opposite direction. An attachment system includes a fastener configured for releasably securing the tooth on the nose, the fastener having a thread which is eccentric relative to a body of the fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: BLACK CAT BLADES LTD.
    Inventor: John A. RUVANG
  • Publication number: 20100236108
    Abstract: A fully stabilized excavator tooth attachment. An excavator tooth includes a nose-receiving pocket bounded by an inner end, upper and lower, and opposing side walls, the end wall having a nose-engaging interface surface formed orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the tooth, at least one of the side walls having a fastener opening formed therethrough, and each of the upper and lower walls having two spaced apart nose-engaging interface surfaces formed thereon substantially parallel to each other. Another excavator tooth includes side walls having generally planar nose-engaging interface surfaces formed therein, one surface resisting rotation of the tooth about the longitudinal axis in one direction, and another interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth in an opposite direction. An attachment system includes a fastener configured for releasably securing the tooth on the nose, the fastener having a thread which is eccentric relative to a body of the fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: BLACK CAT BLADES LTD.
    Inventor: John A. RUVANG
  • Patent number: 7681341
    Abstract: A hammerless connector pin assembly is insertable in the aligned connector openings in telescoped ground engaging wear and support members and is releasably lockable therein. The inserted assembly has opposite end portions that block removal of the wear member from the support member. Each of the two end portions has a laterally projecting cam member disposed thereon which is positioned within opposite ones of the two opposed wear member connector openings. As the interior surface of the wear member becomes worn from use and is able to shift further rearwardly along the support member, the cam members may simultaneously be rotationally adjusted to maintain contact with the wear member to prevent forward movement thereof away from its rearward shifted position, and then locked in their rotationally adjusted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hensley Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Ruvang
  • Publication number: 20090205228
    Abstract: A hammerless connector pin assembly is insertable in the aligned connector openings in telescoped ground engaging wear and support members and is releasably lockable therein. The inserted assembly has opposite end portions that block removal of the wear member from the support member. Each of the two end portions has a laterally projecting cam member disposed thereon which is positioned within opposite ones of the two opposed wear member connector openings. As the interior surface of the wear member becomes worn from use and is able to shift further rearwardly along the support member, the cam members may simultaneously be rotationally adjusted to maintain contact with the wear member to prevent forward movement thereof away from its rearward shifted position, and then locked in their rotationally adjusted positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Hensley Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Ruvang
  • Patent number: 7516564
    Abstract: A ground-engaging wear member is releasably retained on an associated support structure by a specially designed hammerless C-clamp and wedge connector system extending through aligned openings in the wear member and support structure. Illustratively, the wear member is an adapter, and the support structure is a bucket lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hensley Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Ruvang
  • Publication number: 20080276500
    Abstract: A ground-engaging wear member is releasably retained on an associated support structure by a specially designed hammerless C-clamp and wedge connector system extending through aligned openings in the wear member and support structure. Illustratively, the wear member is an adapter, and the support structure is a bucket lip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: HENSLEY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: John A. Ruvang
  • Patent number: 7162818
    Abstract: Telescoped excavating support and wear members are releasably retained in their telescoped relationship by a connector pin assembly removably received in aligned connector openings in the members. A body portion of the pin assembly blocks removal of the wear member from the support member, and a lock member portion of the assembly is rotatable relative to the body, toward and away from a locking orientation, to releasably lock the body within the connector openings. A resilient detent member carried by the lock member slidingly and deformably engages a polygonally shaped interior side surface section of a body passage that rotatably receives the lock member, the detent member yieldingly resisting rotational movement of the lock member away from its locking orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Hensley Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Ruvang, Howard W. Robinson
  • Patent number: 6976325
    Abstract: A connector pin assembly is disposed within an opening in an adapter nose, with opposite ends of a rotatable pin portion of the assembly extending outwardly beyond opposite sides of the adapter nose in axially fixed orientations relative thereto, and is used to captively and releasably retain a replaceable excavating tooth point on the nose. The configuration of the opposite pin ends permits the overall pin assembly to remain in the adapter nose during removal of the point and replacement thereof, with the pin being rotatable between a release orientation in which its ends permit removal of a point from the nose, or installation of a point on the nose, and a locking orientation in which the opposite pin ends block removal of the point from the adapter nose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Hensley Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard W. Robinson, Wayne A. Shamblin, Bruce L. Hart, John A. Ruvang
  • Publication number: 20050028407
    Abstract: Telescoped excavating support and wear members are releasably retained in their telescoped relationship by a connector pin assembly removably received in aligned connector openings in the members. A body portion of the pin assembly blocks removal of the wear member from the support member, and a lock member portion of the assembly is rotatable relative to the body, toward and away from a locking orientation, to releasably lock the body within the connector openings. A resilient detent member carried by the lock member slidingly and deformably engages a polygonally shaped interior side surface section of a body passage that rotatably receives the lock member, the detent member yieldingly resisting rotational movement of the lock member away from its locking orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: John Ruvang, Howard Robinson
  • Patent number: 6826855
    Abstract: A replaceable excavating tooth point is telescoped onto an adapter nose and releasably retained thereon by an elongated, flat connector member having an untapered side periphery. The connector member longitudinally extends through aligned point and connector openings and blocks forward removal of the point from the adapter nose. A transverse point sidewall abutment surface facing one end of the installed connector member prevents it from moving outwardly through one of the point openings, and a rotatable lock member carried by the other end of the connector member and engageable with a groove in the other point opening releasably prevents the connector member from moving outwardly through the grooved point opening. A detent structure releasably holds the lock member in locking and unlocking orientations in which the lock member is prevented from moving parallel to the length of the connector member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Hensley Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Ruvang
  • Publication number: 20040139632
    Abstract: A connector pin assembly is disposed within an opening in an adapter nose, with opposite ends of a rotatable pin portion of the assembly extending outwardly beyond opposite sides of the adapter nose in axially fixed orientations relative thereto, and is used to captively and releasably retain a replaceable excavating tooth point on the nose. The configuration of the opposite pin ends permits the overall pin assembly to remain in the adapter nose during removal of the point and replacement thereof, with the pin being rotatable between a release orientation in which its ends permit removal of a point from the nose, or installation of a point on the nose, and a locking orientation in which the opposite pin ends block removal of the point from the adapter nose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Howard W. Robinson, Wayne A. Shamblin, Bruce L. Hart, John A. Ruvang
  • Patent number: D602505
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Hensley Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Ruvang
  • Patent number: D614206
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hensley Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Ruvang
  • Patent number: D614207
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hensley Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Ruvang
  • Patent number: RE41855
    Abstract: Telescoped excavating support and wear members are releasably retained in their telescoped relationship by a connector pin assembly removably received in aligned connector openings in the members. A body portion of the pin assembly blocks removal of the wear member from the support member, and a lock member portion of the assembly is rotatable relative to the body, toward and away from a locking orientation, to releasably lock the body within the connector openings. A resilient detent member carried by the lock member slidingly and deformably engages a polygonally shaped interior side surface section of a body passage that rotatably receives the lock member, the detent member yieldingly resisting rotational movement of the lock member away from its locking orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Hensley Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Ruvang, Howard W. Robinson