Patents by Inventor Ron Rufener

Ron Rufener 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).

  • Process of inverting an article or air bag
    Patent number: 5589113
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for inverting and flattening an air bag including an inverter for inverting the air bag and an actuator for actuating the air bag to cause it to flatten. The inverter includes a plunger moveable in a vertical direction through an aperture in a conveyor table to cause a face panel of the air bag to pass through an aperture formed in a main panel of the air bag. The actuator includes a spin disk for causing an inertial force to be applied to the air bag whereby outer portions of the air bag are caused to move radially outwardly relative to a central gripped portion. After the air bag is flattened, it is dropped down onto belts running along the conveyor table and the belts are actuated to convey the bag out of the apparatus. In addition, a load table is provided for automatically moving air bags into alignment with the inverter in preparation for an inversion and flattening cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: MIM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricky J. Frye, Jon T. Mitts, Ron Rufener