Patents by Inventor Richard P. Ward
Richard P. Ward 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: 7975522Abstract: The present invention is an assembly and method for continuously manufacturing fasteners. A die press actuated at a first speed receives the contoured wire into a die having a piercing element for piercing an aperture and a cutting element for cutting a fastener from the wire. A guide receives the fasteners from the die press and a drive unit engages the fasteners oriented by the guide and conveys the fastener to an elevated height relative to a tapping device. The guide redirects the fasteners by a first router. The fasteners are gravity fed into the first router and redirected to one of the tapping devices. Each tapping device has a tapping element for forming internal ribs in the aperture of the fastener. The tapping devices each actuates at a second speed that in aggregate is generally equal to the first speed of the die press.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2008Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Whitesell International CorporationInventors: Richard P. Ward, Jorge E. Gonzalez, Richard Gregory Bahlow
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Patent number: 7744475Abstract: An assembly line for continuously manufacturing fasteners from a rod with a groove for receiving a wire for retaining the fasteners in a strip includes a receiver for receiving the rod. A die press is arranged to receive the rod from the receiver and includes a piercing member for piercing an aperture in each fastener and a cutting member for cutting each fastener from the rod. A tapping member provides ribs to an inner wall of the aperture formed in the fastener by the piercing member. An inspector inspects the internal rib formed into the inner wall of the aperture disposed in the fastener verifying exactness of the aperture and the rib. A wire inserter inserts the wire into the groove forming a strip of connected fasteners. The inserter receives the fasteners sequentially from the inspector after verification of the exactness of the aperture disposed in each fastener.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2008Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Whitesell International CorporationInventors: John J. Vrana, Harold A. Ladouceur, Richard P. Ward, Jorge Gonzales
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Patent number: 7597515Abstract: A self-attaching nut having a central pilot projecting from an end face of the body portion, an annular groove surrounding the pilot and an annular panel support face surrounding the groove, wherein the outer side wall includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches, each having an outer wall which extends from the bottom wall of the annular groove to the panel support face and the bottom wall of the groove includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial ribs integral with either the outer or inner side walls of the annular groove having a radial end spaced from the opposed side wall and a top face inclined toward the bottom wall of the annular groove providing improved torque resistance and push-off strength. Alternating circumferentially overlapping radial ribs integral with the pilot and the outer groove wall and ribs which extend below the bottom wall of the groove are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2007Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Whitesell International CorporationInventors: Richard P. Ward, Harold T. Woods, John J. Vrana, John M. Parker, Kerry V. Boggs
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Publication number: 20080232923Abstract: A self-attaching nut having a central pilot projecting from an end face of the body portion, an annular groove surrounding the pilot and an annular panel support face surrounding the groove, wherein the outer side wall includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches, each having an outer wall which extends from the bottom wall of the annular groove to the panel support face and the bottom wall of the groove includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial ribs integral with either the outer or inner side walls of the annular groove having a radial end spaced from the opposed side wall and a top face inclined toward the bottom wall of the annular groove providing improved torque resistance and push-off strength. Alternating circumferentially overlapping radial ribs integral with the pilot and the outer groove wall and ribs which extend below the bottom wall of the groove are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2008Publication date: September 25, 2008Applicant: WHITESELL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Richard P. Ward, Harold T. Woods, John J. Vrana, John M. Parker, Kerry V. Boggs
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Patent number: 7419344Abstract: A self-attaching nut having a central pilot projecting from an end face of the body portion, an annular groove surrounding the pilot and an annular panel support face surrounding the groove, wherein the outer side wall includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches, each having an outer wall which extends from the bottom wall of the annular groove to the panel support face and the bottom wall of the groove includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial ribs integral with either the outer or inner side walls of the annular groove having a radial end spaced from the opposed side wall and a top face inclined toward the bottom wall of the annular groove providing improved torque resistance and push-off strength. Alternating circumferentially overlapping radial ribs integral with the pilot and the outer groove wall and ribs which extend below the bottom wall of the groove are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2007Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: Whitesell International CorporationInventors: Richard P. Ward, Harold T. Woods, John J. Vrana, John M. Parker, Kerry V. Boggs
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Publication number: 20080201934Abstract: The present invention is an assembly and method for continuously manufacturing fasteners. A die press actuated at a first speed receives the contoured wire into a die having a piercing element for piercing an aperture and a cutting element for cutting a fastener from the wire. A guide receives the fasteners from the die press and a drive unit engages the fasteners oriented by the guide and conveys the fastener to an elevated height relative to a tapping device. The guide redirects the fasteners by a first router. The fasteners are gravity fed into the first router and redirected to one of the tapping devices. Each tapping device has a tapping element for forming internal ribs in the aperture of the fastener. The tapping devices each actuates at a second speed that in aggregate is generally equal to the first speed of the die press.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2008Publication date: August 28, 2008Inventors: Richard P. Ward, Jorge Gonzales, Richard Gregory Bahlow
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Publication number: 20080207341Abstract: An assembly line for continuously manufacturing fasteners from a rod with a groove for receiving a wire for retaining the fasteners in a strip includes a receiver for receiving the rod. A die press is arranged to receive the rod from the receiver and includes a piercing member for piercing an aperture in each fastener and a cutting member for cutting each fastener from the rod. A tapping member provides ribs to an inner wall of the aperture formed in the fastener by the piercing member. An inspector inspects the internal rib formed into the inner wall of the aperture disposed in the fastener verifying exactness of the aperture and the rib. A wire inserter inserts the wire into the groove forming a strip of connected fasteners. The inserter receives the fasteners sequentially from the inspector after verification of the exactness of the aperture disposed in each fastener.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2008Publication date: August 28, 2008Applicant: WHITESELL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: John J. Vrana, Harold A. Ladouceur, Richard P. Ward, Jorge Gonzales
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Patent number: 7367893Abstract: An assembly line for continuously manufacturing fasteners from a rod with a groove for receiving a wire for retaining the fasteners in a strip includes a receiver for receiving the rod. A die press is arranged to receive the rod from the receiver and includes a piercing member for piercing an aperture in each fastener and a cutting member for cutting each fastener from the rod. A tapping member provides ribs to an inner wall of the aperture formed in the fastener by the piercing member. An inspector inspects the internal rib formed into the inner wall of the aperture disposed in the fastener verifying exactness of the aperture and the rib. A wire inserter inserts the wire into the groove forming a strip of connected fasteners. The inserter receives the fasteners sequentially from the inspector after verification of the exactness of the aperture disposed in each fastener.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2005Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Whitesell International CorporationInventors: John J Vrana, Harold A Ladouceur, Richard P Ward, Jorge Gonzales
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Patent number: 7258518Abstract: A self-attaching nut having a central pilot projecting from an end face of the body portion, an annular groove surrounding the pilot and an annular panel support face surrounding the groove, wherein the outer side wall includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches, each having an outer wall which extends from the bottom wall of the annular groove to the panel support face and the bottom wall of the groove includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial ribs integral with either the outer or inner side walls of the annular groove having a radial end spaced from the opposed side wall and a top face inclined toward the bottom wall of the annular groove providing improved torque resistance and push-off strength. Alternating circumferentially overlapping radial ribs integral with the pilot and the outer groove wall and ribs which extend below the bottom wall of the groove are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2005Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: Whitesell International CorporationInventors: Richard P. Ward, Harold T. Woods, John J. Vrana, John M. Parker, Kerry V. Boggs
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Patent number: 7112024Abstract: A self-attaching nut having a central pilot projecting from an end face of the body portion, an annular groove surrounding the pilot and an annular panel support face surrounding the groove, wherein the outer side wall includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches, each having an outer wall which extends from the bottom wall of the annular groove to the panel support face and the bottom wall of the groove includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial ribs integral with either the outer or inner side walls of the annular groove having a radial end spaced from the opposed side wall and a top face inclined toward the bottom wall of the annular groove providing improved torque resistance and push-off strength. Alternating circumferentially overlapping radial ribs integral with the pilot and the outer groove wall and ribs which extend below the bottom wall of the groove are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2005Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: Whitesell International CorporationInventors: Richard P. Ward, Harold T. Woods, John J. Vrana, John M. Parker, Kerry V. Boggs
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Patent number: 7112025Abstract: A self-attaching nut including a central pilot portion, a flange portion surrounding the pilot portion having an end face including an annular groove in the end face having inclined inner and outer side walls and a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial ribs integral with the outer side wall extending beyond a midportion of the bottom wall, but spaced from the inner side wall. In one embodiment, the top faces of the radial ribs is inclined to adjacent the inner side wall of the annular groove and in another embodiment, the radial inner ends of the ribs are spaced above the plane of the bottom wall and include an inwardly inclined face.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2005Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: Whitesell International CorporationInventors: Richard P. Ward, Harold T. Woods, John J. Vrana, John M. Parker, Kerry V. Boggs
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Patent number: 7066700Abstract: A self-attaching fastener including a central pilot, an annular flange surrounding the pilot including an annular groove having bottom, inner and outer side walls, wherein the bottom wall includes a first plurality of spaced anti-rotation elements each having a radial top face inclined above the bottom wall and a second plurality of circumferentially spaced anti-rotation elements each having a radial top face oppositely inclined below the bottom wall and a method of attachment which avoids distortion of the thread cylinder of a female fastener.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2004Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Whitesell International CorporationInventors: Richard P. Ward, Harold T. Woods, John J. Vrana, John M. Parker, Kerry V. Boggs
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Patent number: 7011584Abstract: A method of forming a female fastener including rolling a body portion strip having a midportion and flange portions on opposed sides of the midportion, piercing spaced openings through the midportion, cutting the strip to length between the openings, cold forming a separate generally cylindrical pilot portion having a length greater than the width of the midportion and a diameter greater than the opening through the midportion, preferably including radial splines, and press fitting the pilot portion through the opening in the midportion. The self-attaching female fastener thus includes a rectangular body portion and a generally cylindrical pilot portion having an end face spaced above a plane of the midportion and may be formed of a harder metal than the body portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2003Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: Whitesell International CorporationInventors: Richard P. Ward, John J. Vrana
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Patent number: 6997659Abstract: The self-attaching female fastener of this invention includes a re-entrant groove having a V-shaped bottom wall including relatively inclined bottom faces of equal width having an arcuate apex centered beneath the restricted opening to the groove. A die drives a panel portion through the restricted groove opening against the bottom faces, driving the panel portion into the apex and inwardly beneath the inclined inner side wall and outwardly beneath the inclined outer side wall of the groove, resulting in a better installation and accommodating a wider range of panel thicknesses. The V-shaped bottom wall also centers and balances the rolls during the rolling process resulting in a more accurate cross-section of the fastener.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2004Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Whitesell International CorporationInventors: John J. Vrana, Richard P. Ward, Harold A. Ladouceur
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Patent number: 6994500Abstract: A self-attaching nut having a central pilot projecting from an end face of the body portion, an annular groove surrounding the pilot and an annular panel support face surrounding the groove, wherein the outer side wall includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches, each having an outer wall which extends from the bottom wall of the annular groove to the panel support face and the bottom wall of the groove includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial ribs integral with either the outer or inner side walls of the annular groove having a radial end spaced from the opposed side wall and a top face inclined toward the bottom wall of the annular groove providing improved torque resistance and push-off strength. Alternating circumferentially overlapping radial ribs integral with the pilot and the outer groove wall and ribs which extend below the bottom wall of the groove are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2003Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignee: Whitesell International CorporationInventors: Richard P. Ward, Harold T. Woods, John J. Vrana, John M. Parker, Kerry V. Boggs
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Publication number: 20040146375Abstract: A self-attaching nut including a central pilot portion, a flange portion surrounding the pilot portion having an end face including an annular groove in the end face having inclined inner and outer side walls and a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial ribs integral with the outer side wall extending beyond a midportion of the bottom wall, but spaced from the inner side wall. In one embodiment, the top faces of the radial ribs is inclined to adjacent the inner side wall of the annular groove and in another embodiment, the radial inner ends of the ribs are spaced above the plane of the bottom wall and include an inwardly inclined face.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2003Publication date: July 29, 2004Inventors: Richard P. Ward, Harold T. Woods, John J. Vrana, John M. Parker, Kerry V. Boggs
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Publication number: 20040146376Abstract: A self-attaching fastener including a central pilot, an annular flange surrounding the pilot including an annular groove having bottom, inner and outer side walls, wherein the bottom wall includes a first plurality of spaced anti-rotation elements each having a radial top face inclined above the bottom wall and a second plurality of circumferentially spaced anti-rotation elements each having a radial top face oppositely inclined below the bottom wall and a method of attachment which avoids distortion of the thread cylinder of a female fastener.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2004Publication date: July 29, 2004Inventors: Richard P. Ward, Harold T, Woods, John J, Vrana, John M. Parker, Kerry V. Boggs
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Publication number: 20040087381Abstract: A method of forming a female fastener including rolling a body portion strip having a midportion and flange portions on opposed sides of the midportion, piercing spaced openings through the midportion, cutting the strip to length between the openings, cold forming a separate generally cylindrical pilot portion having a length greater than the width of the midportion and a diameter greater than the opening through the midportion, preferably including radial splines, and press fitting the pilot portion through the opening in the midportion. The self-attaching female fastener thus includes a rectangular body portion and a generally cylindrical pilot portion having an end face spaced above a plane of the midportion and may be formed of a harder metal than the body portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventors: Richard P. Ward, John J. Vrana
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Publication number: 20040042872Abstract: A self-attaching nut having a central pilot projecting from an end face of the body portion, an annular groove surrounding the pilot and an annular panel support face surrounding the groove, wherein the outer side wall includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches, each having an outer wall which extends from the bottom wall of the annular groove to the panel support face and the bottom wall of the groove includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial ribs integral with either the outer or inner side walls of the annular groove having a radial end spaced from the opposed side wall and a top face inclined toward the bottom wall of the annular groove providing improved torque resistance and push-off strength. Alternating circumferentially overlapping radial ribs integral with the pilot and the outer groove wall and ribs which extend below the bottom wall of the groove are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2003Publication date: March 4, 2004Inventors: Richard P. Ward, Harold T. Woods, John J. Vrana, John M. Parker, Kerry V. Boggs
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Patent number: D335472Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 1990Date of Patent: May 11, 1993Inventor: Richard P. Ward