Patents by Inventor Robert P. Wheeler

Robert P. Wheeler 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: 6852181
    Abstract: A method for cold forming a flattened, end-threaded rod into a U-bolt answers the need for high-strength steel rods that can be bent into flattened U-bolts by spring and suspension repair facilities or the like. By controlling the amount of work put into the end-threaded flattened rod during bending, it is possible to manufacture a flattened, end-threaded rod from a high-strength steel that can be successfully cold bent into a U-bolt. The amount or degree of flattening and the radius of the U-bolt are variables which applicant controls to successfully cold bend a high-strength steel flattened rod into a U-bolt. Therefore, the spring and suspension repair facility avoids the need to heat the flattened rods for warm forming and, instead, can maintain an inventory of end-threaded and flattened rods for cold forming into flattened U-bolt comply with OEM designs when modifying or repairing vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Consolidated Metal Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Wheeler, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20030111143
    Abstract: A method for cold forming a flattened, end-threaded rod into a U-bolt answers the need for high-strength steel rods that can be bent into flattened U-bolts by spring and suspension repair facilities or the like. By controlling the amount of work put into the end-threaded flattened rod during bending, it is possible to manufacture a flattened, end-threaded rod from a high-strength steel that can be successfully cold bent into a U-bolt. The amount or degree of flattening and the radius of the U-bolt are variables which applicant controls to successfully cold bend a high-strength steel flattened rod into a U-bolt. Therefore, the spring and suspension repair facility avoids the need to heat the flattened rods for warm forming and, instead, can maintain an inventory of end-threaded and flattened rods for cold forming into flattened U-bolt comply with OEM designs when modifying or repairing vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: Consolidated Metal Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 6325874
    Abstract: A method of making high-strength steel structural members is disclosed by providing a flat-rolled blank of high-strength steel having a ferrite-pearlite microstructure and high-strength mechanical properties and cold forming the blank by rolling or the like to provide a structural member having a desired geometric cross-section while the mechanical strength of the structural member remains substantially the same or greater than the flat-rolled blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Consolidated Metal Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Wheeler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4596773
    Abstract: A sterilization indicator for testing the effectiveness of a sterilization process and a sterilization process using such an indicator are described. The indicator includes a container for holding a number of viable microorganisms and a quantity of nutrient medium; a separation member that prevents the nutrient medium from contacting the microorganisms; a penetration member that penetrates the separation member to allow the nutrient medium to contact the microorganisms and a cap, coupled to the penetration member, to seal the microorganisms and nutrient medium within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: Concord Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Wheeler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4439184
    Abstract: A syringe for delivering two separated bodies of fluid comprising: a first piston for separating the two bodies of fluid; a second piston for pushing the two bodies of fluid out of the syringe; and a fluid chamber having a no-pass zone in which the pistons can slide and which has a cross section that each of the pistons substantially fills, preventing the passing of fluid around the pistons when they are in the no-pass zone, an output zone to direct fluid pushed out of the syringe by the pistons, and a bypass zone, for receiving the first piston, which connects the no-pass and output zones and which has a cross section that the first piston is unable to fill, so that when the first piston enters the bypass zone the fluid between the first and second pistons can pass around the first piston to the output zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: Concord Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 4416984
    Abstract: A sterilization indicator for testing the effectiveness of a sterilization process and a sterilization process using such an indicator are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1983
    Assignee: Concord Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Wheeler, Jr.