Patents by Inventor Joshua James Hicks
Joshua James Hicks 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: 10996142Abstract: A pneumatic tire pre-conditioning system includes a conveyor system, a belt assembly, a friction device and a drive system. The conveyor system includes a tire engaging surface, a first side, and a second side. The belt assembly is adjacent to the first side of the tire engaging surface. The friction device is adjacent to the second side of the tire engaging surface. The drive system is configured to move a tire along the tire engaging surface in a path between the belt assembly and the friction device.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2018Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Donald Graham Straitiff, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua James Hicks, Christopher Michael Bulliner, Anthony Willard Pierce, Kerry Verran, Andrew Douglas Schmidt
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Patent number: 10994494Abstract: A method for installing a sensor onto an inner surface of a tire is generally disclosed. The method includes robotically deglazing at least a portion of the inner surface of the tire, defining a preconditioned surface. The sensor is robotically selected and a target surface of the sensor is cleaned. An adhesive is applied to at least a portion of the target surface of the sensor. In some embodiments, the adhesive is applied to a portion of the preconditioned surface. The sensor is robotically positioned, wherein the target surface of the sensor abuts the preconditioned surface. A wet-out operation is performed, wherein a predetermined pressure is applied to the sensor for a predetermined period of time to affix the sensor to the preconditioned surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Barry A. Clark, Donald Graham Straitiff, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua James Hicks, Christopher Michael Bulliner, Anthony Willard Pierce
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Patent number: 10675927Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system includes a processing station for processing at least one of a tire and a wheel prior to joining the tire and the wheel for forming a tire-wheel assembly. The processing station includes one of a tire lubricating sub-station and a wheel lubricating sub-station. A lubrication conditioning system is fluidly-coupled to the processing station. The lubrication conditioning system includes: a lubricant reservoir, a lubricant temperature modifier arranged at least proximate to the lubricant reservoir, a lubricant temperature sensor arranged within a cavity formed by the lubricant reservoir and a controller communicatively-coupled to both of the lubricant temperature modifier and the lubricant temperature sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Donald Graham Straitiff, Barry Allan Clark, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua James Hicks, Robert Reece, David Henry Larson
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Patent number: 10632801Abstract: A tire characteristic determination system is disclosed. The tire characteristic determination system includes a memory device that stores tire-engaging data related to one or more tire-engaging value to be utilized for spatially manipulating a tire about a wheel for forming a tire-wheel assembly. The tire characteristic determination device includes a tire-engaging test probe that is urged adjacent the tire at one or more tire displacement distances or is urged against the tire with one or more amounts of urging forces. The tire characteristic determination device is communicatively-coupled to the memory device for communicating the one or more tire displacement distances or the one or more amounts of urging forces to the memory device.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2016Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventor: Joshua James Hicks
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Publication number: 20190255782Abstract: A method for installing a sensor onto an inner surface of a tire is generally disclosed. The method includes robotically deglazing at least a portion of the inner surface of the tire, defining a preconditioned surface. The sensor is robotically selected and a target surface of the sensor is cleaned. An adhesive is applied to at least a portion of the target surface of the sensor. In some embodiments, the adhesive is applied to a portion of the preconditioned surface. The sensor is robotically positioned, wherein the target surface of the sensor abuts the preconditioned surface. A wet-out operation is performed, wherein a predetermined pressure is applied to the sensor for a predetermined period of time to affix the sensor to the preconditioned surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventors: Barry A. Clark, Donald Graham Straitiff, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua James Hicks, Christopher Michael Bulliner, Anthony Willard Pierce
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Publication number: 20190187028Abstract: A pneumatic tire pre-conditioning system includes a conveyor system, a belt assembly, a friction device and a drive system. The conveyor system includes a tire engaging surface, a first side, and a second side. The belt assembly is adjacent to the first side of the tire engaging surface. The friction device is adjacent to the second side of the tire engaging surface. The drive system is configured to move a tire along the tire engaging surface in a path between the belt assembly and the friction device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2018Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Donald Graham Straitiff, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua James Hicks, Christopher Michael Bulliner, Anthony Willard Pierce, Kerry Verran, Andrew Douglas Schmidt
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Patent number: 10143983Abstract: A system includes a processing station and a lubricant supply system in fluid communication with the processing station. The processing station is operable to process at least one of a tire and a wheel prior to joining the tire and the wheel to form a tire-wheel assembly. The processing station includes at least one of a tire lubricating sub-station or a wheel lubricating sub-station. The lubricant supply system includes a storage container configured to store a lubricant and a whipping device received by the lubricant container and operable to whip or blend the lubricant from a semi-solid state to a whipped state. The lubricant supply system also includes a pump operable to pump the lubricant in the whipped state out of the storage container.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2016Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Donald Graham Straitiff, Barry Allan Clark, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua James Hicks, Robert Reece, David Henry Larson
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Publication number: 20180050572Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system includes a processing station for processing at least one of a tire and a wheel prior to joining the tire and the wheel for forming a tire-wheel assembly. The processing station includes one of a tire lubricating sub-station and a wheel lubricating sub-station. A lubrication conditioning system is fluidly-coupled to the processing station. The lubrication conditioning system includes: a lubricant reservoir, a lubricant temperature modifier arranged at least proximate to the lubricant reservoir, a lubricant temperature sensor arranged within a cavity formed by the lubricant reservoir and a controller communicatively-coupled to both of the lubricant temperature modifier and the lubricant temperature sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2017Publication date: February 22, 2018Inventors: Donald Graham Straitiff, Barry Allan Clark, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua James Hicks, Robert Reece, David Henry Larson
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Publication number: 20170096038Abstract: A tire characteristic determination system is disclosed. The tire characteristic determination system includes a memory device that stores tire-engaging data related to one or more tire-engaging value to be utilized for spatially manipulating a tire about a wheel for forming a tire-wheel assembly. The tire characteristic determination device includes a tire-engaging test probe that is urged adjacent the tire at one or more tire displacement distances or is urged against the tire with one or more amounts of urging forces. The tire characteristic determination device is communicatively-coupled to the memory device for communicating the one or more tire displacement distances or the one or more amounts of urging forces to the memory device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2016Publication date: April 6, 2017Inventor: Joshua James Hicks
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Publication number: 20160158718Abstract: A system includes a processing station and a lubricant supply system in fluid communication with the processing station. The processing station is operable to process at least one of a tire and a wheel prior to joining the tire and the wheel to form a tire-wheel assembly. The processing station includes at least one of a tire lubricating sub-station or a wheel lubricating sub-station. The lubricant supply system includes a storage container configured to store a lubricant and a whipping device received by the lubricant container and operable to whip or blend the lubricant from a semi-solid state to a whipped state. The lubricant supply system also includes a pump operable to pump the lubricant in the whipped state out of the storage container.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2016Publication date: June 9, 2016Inventors: Donald Graham Straitiff, Barry Allan Clark, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua James Hicks, Robert Reece, David Henry Larson
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Patent number: 8910733Abstract: A chassis front assembly, a chassis rear assembly and a chassis intermediate assembly are disclosed. The chassis front assembly and the chassis rear assembly are connected to the chassis intermediate assembly for forming a chassis. A kit is also disclosed. A method is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2012Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Keith Masserang, Joshua James Hicks, Lawrence J. Lawson, Barry Allan Clark
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Patent number: 8567453Abstract: An apparatus for processing an un-inflated tire-wheel assembly for forming an inflated tire-wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least a first robotic arm and a second robotic arm forming a pair of robotic arms; an assembling end effecter attached to the first robotic arm; and an inflating end effecter attached to the second robotic arm, wherein the assembling end effecter is indirectly interfaceable with the inflating end effecter by way of the un-inflated tire-wheel assembly. One or more methods are also disclosed. One or more components are also disclosed. One or more systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2010Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: John Donnay, Gregory J. Masserang, James Thomas-Charles Krom, Patrick W. Zoller, Joshua James Hicks, David Henry Larson
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Patent number: 8408272Abstract: A system for mounting a tire and a wheel is disclosed. The system includes a robotic arm pivotably-connected to an end effector. The system also includes a tire-supporting portion including a support surface and a pair of wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portions disposed upon the support surface. The pair of wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portions includes a first wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portion fixedly-disposed relative the support surface and a second wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portion movably-disposed relative the support surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Lawrence J. Lawson, Robert Reece, Joshua James Hicks
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Patent number: 8191600Abstract: A system for mounting a tire and a wheel is disclosed. The system includes a robotic arm pivotably-connected to an end effector. The system also includes a tire-supporting portion including a support surface and a pair of wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portions disposed upon the support surface. The pair of wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portions includes a first wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portion fixedly-disposed relative the support surface and a second wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portion movably-disposed relative the support surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2009Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Android Industries LLCInventors: Lawrence J. Lawson, Robert Reece, Joshua James Hicks