Patents by Inventor Robert B. Franklin

Robert B. Franklin 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: 8887642
    Abstract: A cart is movably engaged with a flow control track by a pair of different height cam followers. An end track segment between parallel side leg track segments of the track contains inner and outer end channels. An intermediate wall in the end track segment forms the outer and inner end channels and cooperates with the height of the cam followers to direct one cam follower on each cart into one of the inner and outer end tracks and the other cam follower on the cart into the other of the inner and outer end channels to smoothly control the movement of the cart around the end segment between the ends of the first and second side leg track segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley T. Simpson, Christopher M. Briggs, Robert B. Franklin
  • Publication number: 20140033940
    Abstract: A cart is movably engaged with a flow control track by a pair of different height cam followers. An end track segment between parallel side leg track segments of the track contains inner and outer end channels. An intermediate wall in the end track segment forms the outer and inner end channels and cooperates with the height of the cam followers to direct one cam follower on each cart into one of the inner and outer end tracks and the other cam follower on the cart into the other of the inner and outer end channels to smoothly control the movement of the cart around the end segment between the ends of the first and second side leg track segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley T. Simpson, Christopher M. Briggs, Robert B. Franklin
  • Patent number: 4752520
    Abstract: A concrete tile is disclosed having a preformed substrate member backing comprising a substantially rigid, polymeric material. The lower surface of the substrate member defines the shape of the lower surface of the tile. A concrete layer is disposed on and secured to the upper surface of the substrate member and defines the shape of the upper surface of the tile. In manufacturing the tile, a plurality of through openings in the substrate member are filled with the concrete when the concrete is applied to the substrate member. The concrete is cured on the substrate member and the hardened concrete in the openings of the substrate member forms studs securing the substrate member and concrete layer together. The use of a polymeric substrate member backing provides a tile which uses less concrete and is therefore substantially lighter in weight than other tiles of corresponding strength. The method of manufacturing the tiles utilizes the substrate member as a support for the concrete applied to its upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Assignee: Builder's Research and Development Corporation
    Inventor: Robert B. Franklin