Patents by Inventor John A. Wilkins

John A. Wilkins 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: 7510053
    Abstract: A plug assembly for the oil gallery of an internal combustion engine. The engine has a cylindrical passage leading from the interior to the exterior thereof. There is a circumferential groove in the passage. The plug includes a seal piece and an outer skirt portion subdivided into a piece having an outer end portion with a radial flange for snugly engaging said engine block, and an axially extending free end portion with a radially extending locking tab porting engaging the circumferential groove. The locking tab can move into and out of registration with the circumferential groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: SKF USA Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Wilkins
  • Publication number: 20080128207
    Abstract: A drain bolt which includes a threaded shank portion, a driving head, and an enlarged primary flange and a pair of secondary circular flanges of reduced diameter with respect to said enlarged flange, said reduced diameter flanges holding a captive O-ring between them. The seal is between a cylindrical counterbore and the O-ring, and is completely independent of the force with which the drain bolt is installed. In other embodiments, there is a drain bolt with a captured washer, allowing limited movement of the washer, and in another embodiment, the drain bolt is coined just below the O-ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: SKF USA INC.
    Inventor: John A. Wilkins
  • Publication number: 20080128206
    Abstract: A drain bolt which includes a threaded shank portion, a driving head, and an enlarged primary flange and a pair of secondary circular flanges of reduced diameter with respect to said enlarged flange, said reduced diameter flanges holding a captive O-ring between them. The seal is between a cylindrical counterbore and the O-ring, and is completely independent of the force with which the drain bolt is installed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: SKF USA INC.
    Inventor: John A. Wilkins
  • Publication number: 20080074074
    Abstract: A device for conditioning power delivered to operate a motor is disclosed. The device includes a sealed housing having at least one input terminal extending through the housing and configured to receive an input power and at least one output terminal extending through the housing and configured to deliver an output power conditioned to power a motor coupled to the output terminal. The device also includes a filter inductor arranged in the housing and that has an input configured to receive the input power from the input terminal. The filter inductor output terminal has a tap that is extended through the housing to allow coupling of various external filter components, such as resistors capacitors and inductors. Accordingly, the filter inductor is configured to suppress voltage changes in the input power and deliver a filtered power to an output of the filter inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Gary L. Skibinski, John A. Wilkins, Rick Hoadley, Nick Guskov, Dennis Braun
  • Patent number: 6719298
    Abstract: A seal assembly which acts as a piston in a vehicle power steering unit. The seal includes a casing and an elastomeric seal body and is affixed to a movable rack at two attachment points. One point is the tail portion of an axial flange swaged into a groove in the rack, and a second part of the same axial flange has a groove for retaining a locking ring in a second groove in the rack. The rack moves within a housing having a first bore, a counterbore, and an enlarged bore. The seal comprises two oppositely facing lips and a lip body bonded to a radial flange of the seal assembly and engaging the enlarged bore which divides the space into two pressurizable fluid receiving cavities. An auxiliary seal is seated in the counterbore and seals the first bore. The seal assembly has a nose portion which engages the auxiliary seal to fully seat it in the counterbore. The nose portion, in one case, is a separate axially extending plastic piece that seats in a groove in the seal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: SKF USA Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Riedl, John A. Wilkins
  • Publication number: 20030132577
    Abstract: A seal assembly which acts as a piston in a vehicle power steering unit. The seal includes a casing and an elastomeric seal body and is affixed to a movable rack at two attachment points. One point is the tail portion of an axial flange swaged into a groove in the rack, and a second part of the same axial flange has a groove for retaining a locking ring in a second groove in the rack. The rack moves within a housing having a first bore, a counterbore, and an enlarged bore. The seal comprises two oppositely facing lips and a lip body bonded to a radial flange of the seal assembly and engaging the enlarged bore which divides the space into two pressurizable fluid receiving cavities. An auxiliary seal is seated in the counterbore and seals the first bore. The seal assembly has a nose portion which engages the auxiliary seal to fully seat it in the counterbore. The nose portion, in one case, is a separate axially extending plastic piece that seats in a groove in the seal body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Daniel L. Riedl, John A. Wilkins
  • Patent number: 5960582
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally a device for storing fishing lures such as spinning baits, or spinner baits as they are also known in the art. In more particular, the present invention is directed toward an improved spinning bait storage container wherein the unique configuration of this sort of lure is accommodated by a specially designed individual storage container which prevents the lure from becoming entangled with other lures. The instant invention consists of a generally rectangular box within which are erected barriers that support and restrain the lure when it is placed therein. This arrangements prevents the lure from becoming entangled with other lures, reduces compressive stress on the skirt, and reduces the risk of injury to the fisherman due to exposed fishhooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: John A. Wilkins