Patents by Inventor Richard W. LaFranchise

Richard W. LaFranchise 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).

  • Abrasive finish mask and method of polishing a component
    Patent number: 8967078
    Abstract: A method of masking a component includes installing a flexible gasket over a portion of a component masking area leaving an unmasked area exposed. A backer is installed over the flexible gasket to compress the flexible gasket between the backer and the portion. The flexible gasket and the backer are secured to the component to provide an assembly. The assembly is deposited into a slurry with an abrasive media to polish the unmasked area, in one example. The flexible gasket and backer prevent abrasive media from reaching the masked area. The flexible gasket and backer can be removed from the component and reused on other similarly shaped components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald R. Soucy, Richard W. LaFranchise
  • ABRASIVE FINISH MASK AND METHOD OF POLISHING A COMPONENT
    Publication number: 20110047777
    Abstract: A method of masking a component includes installing a flexible gasket over a portion of a component masking area leaving an unmasked area exposed. A backer is installed over the flexible gasket to compress the flexible gasket between the backer and the portion. The flexible gasket and the backer are secured to the component to provide an assembly. The assembly is deposited into a slurry with an abrasive media to polish the unmasked area, in one example. The flexible gasket and backer prevent abrasive media from reaching the masked area. The flexible gasket and backer can be removed from the component and reused on other similarly shaped components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Ronald R. Soucy, Richard W. LaFranchise