Patents by Inventor Richard C. Swanson

Richard C. Swanson 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).

  • Publication number: 20120263558
    Abstract: A wheel fastener comprises a nut including a central axis, an enlarged head, a cylindrical collar extending axially from the head, and an internal bore extending having internal threads, wherein the head includes an annular inner engagement surface that is a planar surface normal to the central axis. The wheel fastener further comprises a washer permanently mounted on the collar to be rotatable relative to the nut about the central axis but confined against axial movement along the collar. The washer includes an annular outer engagement surface arranged to face the inner engagement surface of the nut head for engagement therewith, wherein the outer engagement surface of the washer is a planar surface normal to the central axis. The length of the nut collar is adapted depending upon intended use in either a single-wheel or dual wheel assembly. Anti-theft embodiments include a torque-slipping cap around the head of the nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventor: Richard C. Swanson
  • Patent number: 6910355
    Abstract: A lockout device for restricting access to a nut through which a stud passes in threaded engagement with the nut comprises a cylindrical cap and a corresponding adapter. The cap includes first and second opposite ends and has a hollow portion opening through the first end of sufficient size for receiving most or all of the nut. A threaded hole sized for threaded engagement with the stud extends in an axial direction through the second end of the cap to communicate with the cap's hollow portion. The adapter includes a leading end and a trailing end, and has a hexagonal configuration adjacent its trailing end and an axially extending stud hole through its leading end sized to accommodate the stud. The second end of the cap and the leading end of the adapter are configured for end-to-end coupling with one another, such as by providing pin holes and corresponding pins, to enable torque to be transmitted from the adapter to the cap while the cap is in threaded engagement with the stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Inventor: Richard C. Swanson
  • Patent number: 6886258
    Abstract: A hand-held rotary trimmer comprises a removable multi-piece shroud for covering a drive shaft and rotary cutter of the trimmer. The shroud includes an opening for feeding vegetation to the rotary cutter and an expulsion duct extending in a direction generally tangential to a rotational direction of the rotary cutter. In the preferred embodiment, the shroud includes three pieces formed of molded plastic. A first piece of the shroud has a hood portion and a first half-collar portion integrally formed with the hood portion. A second piece of the shroud has a second half-collar portion removably attached to the first half-collar portion of the first piece for releasably clamping the shroud on the trimmer housing and a flange portion integrally formed with the second half-collar portion and arranged to be flush against the hood portion of the first piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Inventor: Richard C. Swanson
  • Patent number: 6823574
    Abstract: A puller tool for installing wheel studs in a wheel hub comprises an outer sleeve having an axially extending passage, a washer defining a radial detent shoulder about the passage at one end of the sleeve, an actuating bolt including a threaded shank axially insertable into the passage and an enlarged head that engages the detent shoulder to prevent further insertion of the actuating bolt into the passage, and a puller member insertable into the passage for axially directed travel relative to the sleeve. The puller member is axially slidable relative to the outer sleeve by rotation of the actuating bolt which mates with a threaded hole in the puller member, and the puller member is prevented from rotating relative to the outer sleeve as it travels through a range of axial positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventor: Richard C. Swanson
  • Publication number: 20040148749
    Abstract: A puller tool for installing wheel studs in a wheel hub comprises an outer sleeve having an axially extending passage, a washer defining a radial detent shoulder about the passage at one end of the sleeve, an actuating bolt including a threaded shank axially insertable into the passage and an enlarged head that engages the detent shoulder to prevent further insertion of the actuating bolt into the passage, and a puller member insertable into the passage for axially directed travel relative to the sleeve. The puller member is axially slidable relative to the outer sleeve by rotation of the actuating bolt which mates with a threaded hole in the puller member, and the puller member is prevented from rotating relative to the outer sleeve as it travels through a range of axial positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventor: Richard C. Swanson
  • Publication number: 20040148985
    Abstract: A lockout device for restricting access to a nut through which a stud passes in threaded engagement with the nut comprises a cylindrical cap and a corresponding adapter. The cap includes first and second opposite ends and has a hollow portion opening through the first end of sufficient size for receiving most or all of the nut. A threaded hole sized for threaded engagement with the stud extends in an axial direction through the second end of the cap to communicate with the cap's hollow portion. The adapter includes a leading end and a trailing end, and has a hexagonal configuration adjacent its trailing end and an axially extending stud hole through its leading end sized to accommodate the stud. The second end of the cap and the leading end of the adapter are configured for end-to-end coupling with one another, such as by providing pin holes and corresponding pins, to enable torque to be transmitted from the adapter to the cap while the cap is in threaded engagement with the stud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventor: Richard C. Swanson
  • Publication number: 20040093740
    Abstract: A hand-held rotary trimmer comprises a removable multi-piece shroud for covering a drive shaft and rotary cutter of the trimmer. The shroud includes an opening for feeding vegetation to the rotary cutter and an expulsion duct extending in a direction generally tangential to a rotational direction of the rotary cutter. In the preferred embodiment, the shroud includes three pieces formed of molded plastic. A first piece of the shroud has a hood portion and a first half-collar portion integrally formed with the hood portion. A second piece of the shroud has a second half-collar portion removably attached to the first half-collar portion of the first piece for releasably clamping the shroud on the trimmer housing and a flange portion integrally formed with the second half-collar portion and arranged to be flush against the hood portion of the first piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventor: Richard C. Swanson
  • Patent number: 6601277
    Abstract: A puller tool for separating a security pin from a mated female part comprises an outer sleeve having an axially extending passage, a radial detent shoulder about the passage at one end of the sleeve, an actuating bolt including a threaded shank axially insertable into the passage and an enlarged head that engages the detent shoulder to prevent further insertion of the actuating bolt into the passage, and a puller member insertable into the passage from an opposite end of the sleeve. The puller member is axially slidable relative to the outer sleeve by rotation of the actuating bolt which mates with a threaded hole in the puller member, and is prevented from rotating relative to the outer sleeve during travel relative to the sleeve. The puller member includes a cavity extending axially and radially through an end thereof to receive the security pin head or female part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Richard C. Swanson
  • Patent number: 6442817
    Abstract: A specialized tool for replacing brake camshaft bushings in suspension chassis is disclosed. The tool is modular in construction and comprises a universal handle, a detent limiting depth of tool insertion into a chassis bore, a push ring for engaging an end of the camshaft bushing, and a bushing carrier respectively connected in sequence by a threaded fastener extending through axially aligned through-holes in the bushing carrier, push ring, and detent for mating with a tapped hole in the handle. A plurality of interchangeable push rings of different sizes and a plurality of interchangeable bushing carriers of different sizes enable the tool to accommodate camshaft bushings of different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Inventor: Richard C. Swanson
  • Patent number: 6244142
    Abstract: A king pin cap tool kit comprises a pair of cap removal tools for removing MACK® truck king pin caps of different diameters and a pair of thread chasers for repairing internal threads in steering knuckle housing bores of corresponding diameters. Each cap removal tool comprises a cylindrical body having a cruciform protrusion extending from one end face and a polygon-shaped recess through the opposite end face to adapt the cap removal tool for driving connection to a conventional pneumatic impact gun. The cruciform protrusion is uniform in its height and includes a pair of intersecting legs that extend fully across the end face in diametrical fashion. A cap removal tool having three intersecting legs is also disclosed. Each thread chaser comprises a cylindrical body having opposite end faces, a threaded peripheral surface, and polygon-shaped axial through hole for receiving a breaker bar or ratchet with extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Richard C. Swanson
  • Patent number: D590221
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Darien Group Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Swanson