Patents by Inventor Paul Alexander Crawford

Paul Alexander Crawford 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: 5950492
    Abstract: A shifter assembly for use within an associated vehicle transmission includes a shift shaft fixedly attached to the housing of the transmission, a drive shaft rotatively attached to the housing of the transmission and, first and second shift forks operatively connected to the shift shaft and operatively connected to the drive shaft. The shift forks have arms with slots for receiving a shift lever. To shift the associated vehicle transmission, a shift lever is shifted, moving the first shift fork along the shift shaft, sliding a first clutch collar along the drive shaft. Next, a second shift fork is moved along the shift shaft, sliding a second clutch collar along the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc
    Inventor: Paul Alexander Crawford
  • Patent number: 5937709
    Abstract: A shaft alignment apparatus includes a first bearing block having a first opening for receiving a first associated shaft, a first housing member having a first slot for receiving the first bearing block, a second housing member and fastening means for fastening the first housing member to the second housing member. The first housing member has a junction surface lying on a junction plane and an internal base surface lying on a base plane. The first associated shaft is positioned between the base plane and junction plane of the first housing member. To align a first associated shaft, its first end is mounted into an opening in a first bearing block. The second end of the first associated shaft is then mounted into an opening in a second bearing block. Both the first and second bearing blocks are then slid simultaneously into first and second slots, respectively, in the first housing member. Finally, a second housing member is fastened to the first housing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc
    Inventors: Paul Alexander Crawford, Douglas Frederick Edwards
  • Patent number: 5839556
    Abstract: A connecting mechanism for selectively connecting transmission components has a gear with teeth and a clutch collar mechanism. The clutch collar mechanism has a clutch collar, pins, springs used to bias the pins, and spring plates. To connect the clutch collar to the gear, the clutch collar is sliden along its shaft until its pins contact the teeth of the gear. The pins are then pushed back against the springs located within the clutch collar. The clutch collar is then rotated until the pins line up with gaps between the teeth of the gear. The pins are then automatically inserted into the gaps by the springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc
    Inventors: Paul Alexander Crawford, Douglas Frederick Edwards