Patents by Inventor John S. Wallace

John S. Wallace 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: 6474919
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying coatings to a portion of the internal bore or threads of a fastener or similar article having an opening on at least one end is provided. A 360° coating with material is provided using centrifugal force to assist in direction the material to a desired surface, which does not require use of a pressurized air stream in order to propell the coating material toward the walls of the article desired to be coated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: ND Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Wallace, James P. DeFillipi, Joseph A. Lopetrone, Charles M. Stempien
  • Patent number: 6322628
    Abstract: A powder coating apparatus and method feeds fine powdered coating material such as thermoplastic type material to a succession of discrete articles passing by the apparatus which includes a vibratory feeder bowl and a spiral track for delivering a substantially constant supply of powder coating material to the articles. A sensor is also used to regulate an amount of powdered coating material supplied to an auger to the vibratory feeder. The invention also provides a powder feed system that deposits an excess of powdered coating material than that required to form the coating and provides for recirculation of the powder not ultimately used to form the coating back to the powder feeding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: ND Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Wallace
  • Patent number: 6309693
    Abstract: A method for applying coatings to a portion of the internal bore or threads of a fastener or similar article having an opening on at least one end is provided. A 360° coating with material is provided using centrifugal force to assist in direction the material to a desired surface, which does not require use of a pressurized air stream in order to propel the coating material toward the walls of the article desired to be coated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventors: John S. Wallace, James P. DeFillipi, Joseph A. Lopetrone, Charles M. Stempien
  • Publication number: 20010028834
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying coatings to a portion of the internal bore or threads of a fastener or similar article having an opening on at least one end is provided. A 360° coating with material is provided using centrifugal force to assist in direction the material to a desired surface, which does not require use of a pressurized air stream in order to propell the coating material toward the walls of the article desired to be coated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: John S. Wallace, James P. DeFillipi, Joseph A. Lopetrone, Charles M. Stempien
  • Patent number: 6270838
    Abstract: A method for making a self locking internally threaded fastener and an apparatus for making such fasteners, in which the self locking characteristic is derived from a patch of thermoplastic material having a circumferential extent of less than 360° adhered selectively to at least a portion of the thread defining surface of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: ND Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Wallace, Mahmoud Arslanouk
  • Publication number: 20010010788
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying coatings to a portion of the internal bore or threads of a fastener or similar article having an opening on at least one end is provided. A 360° coating with material is provided using centrifugal force to assist in direction the material to a desired surface, which does not require use of a pressurized air stream in order to propell the coating material toward the walls of the article desired to be coated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: John S. Wallace, James P. DeFillipi, Joseph A. Lopetrone, Charles M. Stempien
  • Patent number: 6228169
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying coatings to a portion of the internal bore or threads of a fastener or similar article having an opening on at least one end is provided. A 360° coating with material is provided using centrifugal force to assist in direction the material to a desired surface, which does not require use of a pressurized air stream in order to propell the coating material toward the walls of the article desired to be coated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: ND Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Wallace
  • Patent number: 6063437
    Abstract: A self locking internally threaded fastener and an apparatus and process for making such fasteners, in which the self locking characteristic is derived from a patch of thermoplastic material having a circumferential extent of less than 360.degree. adhered selectively to at least a portion of the thread defining surface of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: ND Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Wallace, Mahmoud Arslanouk
  • Patent number: 6027568
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a masking, insulating and/or lubricating barrier coating on a portion of the threads and/or other surfaces of discrete objects such as fasteners utilizing a liquid coating material as provided. The present invention can selectively coat threaded and/or unthreaded surfaces of fasteners having odd shapes, deep threads and extended hubs. The fasteners are subsequently elevated and inverted onto a conveying system that moves them away from the area where the coating material is applied directly into a heat treatment device such as an oven in a continuous on-line process that does not require manual handling of the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: ND Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Wallace, Charles M. Stempien, Joseph A. Lopetrone
  • Patent number: 5964551
    Abstract: A powder coating apparatus and method feeds fine powdered coating material such as thermoplastic type material to a succession of discrete articles passing by the apparatus which includes a vibratory feeder bowl and a spiral track for delivering a substantially constant supply of powder coating material to the articles, wherein the powdered coating material is mixed with a pressurized airstream that delivers the powdered coating material to the articles. A sensor is also used to regulate an amount of powdered coating material supplied to the auger to the vibratory feeder. The invention also provides a powder feed system that deposits an excess of powdered coating material than that required to form the coating and provides for recirculation of the powder not ultimately used to form the coating back to the powder feeding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: ND Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Wallace
  • Patent number: 5928711
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a barrier coating on a portion of discrete objects such as fasteners utilizing a liquid coating material is provided. The present invention introduces either a plurality of loose or interconnected parts onto a magnetized conveyor system and optically senses when parts are present. When parts are sensed, the sensor triggers a discrete shot of liquid coating material such as a fluorocarbon to be deposited onto a predetermined portion of each part. These parts can then be transferred to a second magnetized conveyor system that supports an opposite surface of the parts than the first conveyor. The invention can also remove excess coating material and also be provided with dryers or heaters to fix the coating material to the parts if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: ND Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Wallace, Charles M. Stempien, Joseph A. Lopetrone
  • Patent number: 5918727
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a barrier coating on a portion of discrete objects such as fasteners utilizing a liquid coating material is provided. The present invention introduces either a plurality of loose or interconnected parts onto a magnetized conveyor system and optically senses when parts are present. When parts are sensed, the sensor triggers a discrete shot of liquid coating material such as a fluorocarbon to be deposited onto a predetermined portion of each part. These parts can then be transferred to a second magnetized conveyor system that supports an opposite surface of the parts than the first conveyor. The invention can also remove excess coating material and also be provided with dryers or heaters to fix the coating material to the parts if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: ND Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Wallace, Charles M. Stempien, Joseph A. Lopetrone
  • Patent number: 5836721
    Abstract: A powder coating apparatus feeds fine powdered coating material such as thermoplastic type material to a succession of discrete articles passing by the apparatus which includes a vibratory feeder bowl and a spiral track for delivering a substantially constant supply of powdered coating material to the articles. A sensor is also used to regulate an amount of powdered coating material supplied by an auger to the vibratory feeder. The invention also provides a powder feed system that deposits an excess of powdered coating material than that required to form the coating and provides for recirculation of the powder not ultimately used to form the coating back to the powder feeding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Inventor: John S. Wallace
  • Patent number: 5817177
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for application of liquid materials onto substrates is provided. The present invention allows high speed selective application of curable liquids to a continuous succession of discrete substrates and subsequent curing of those liquids in order to form a solid or foamed coating on at least a portion of the substrates. The present invention provides increased speed efficiency and adherence of the liquid cured onto the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Inventor: John S. Wallace
  • Patent number: 5679160
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a barrier coating on a portion of discrete objects such as fasteners utilizing a liquid coating material is provided. The present invention introduces either a plurality of loose or interconnected parts onto a magnetized conveyor system and optically senses when parts are present. When parts are sensed, the sensor triggers a discrete shot of liquid coating material such as a fluorocarbon to be deposited onto a predetermined portion of each part. These parts can then be transferred to a second magnetized conveyor system that supports an opposite surface of the parts than the first conveyor. The invention can also remove excess coating material and also be provided with dryers or heaters to fix the coating material to the parts if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: ND Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Wallace, Charles M. Stempien, Joseph A. Lopetrone
  • Patent number: 5672376
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for application of liquid materials onto substrates is provided. The present invention allows high speed selective application of curable liquids to a continuous succession of discrete substrates and subsequent curing of those liquids in order to form a solid or foamed coating on at least a portion of the substrates. The present invention provides increased speed efficiency and adherence of the liquid cured onto the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: ND Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Wallace
  • Patent number: 5656325
    Abstract: A powder coating apparatus and method are provided for feeding fine powdered coating material such as thermoplastic type material to a succession of discrete articles passing by the apparatus. The invention also provides a powder feed system that deposits an excess of powdered coating material than that required to form the coating and provides for recirculation of the powder not ultimately used to form the coating back to the powder feeding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: ND Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Wallace
  • Patent number: 5651824
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the application for one or more deposits of material to a succession of discrete articles such as fasteners as is provided. The method and apparatus of the present invention deposits a droplet or extended bead of thermoplastic or thermoset material onto the surface of a part that is urged into a postion once it solidifies to extends above the surface of the part to create assembly resistance when the part is assembled into or over another part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: ND Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Wallace, Charles Stempien
  • Patent number: 5607720
    Abstract: A self locking internally threaded fastener and an apparatus and process for making such fasteners, in which the self locking characteristic is derived from a patch of thermoplastic material having a circumferential extent of less than 360.degree. adhered selectively to at least a portion of the thread defining surface of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: ND Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Wallace, Mahmoud Arslanouk
  • Patent number: 5518768
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the application for one or more deposits of material to a succession of discrete articles such as fasteners as is provided. The method and apparatus of the present invention deposits a droplet or extended bead of thermoplastic or thermoset material onto the surface of a part that is urged into a postion once it solidifies to extends above the surface of the part to create assembly resistance when the part is assembled into or over another part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: ND Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Wallace, Charles Stempien