Patents by Inventor Stephen John Fox

Stephen John Fox 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: 10370083
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of a wing fold system may include a latch assembly rotating an unfixed portion of a wing, with respect to a fixed portion of the wing, between a flight position of the wing and a folded position of the wing. A first portion of the wing may hold a rotating portion of the latch assembly. A second portion of the wing may hold a secured portion of the latch assembly. The rotating portion of the latch assembly may rotate between an open position and a closed position. A slot in the rotating portion may receive the secured portion of the latch assembly. A securing portion of the rotating portion may secure a secured portion of the latch assembly. The latch assembly may prevent rotation of the second portion when the wing may be in the flight position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Stephen John Fox, Jan A. Kordel, Keith Townsend, Matthew August Lassen, Mark John Gardner, Mark Steven Good
  • Publication number: 20170066521
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of a wing fold system may include a latch assembly rotating an unfixed portion of a wing, with respect to a fixed portion of the wing, between a flight position of the wing and a folded position of the wing. A first portion of the wing may hold a rotating portion of the latch assembly. A second portion of the wing may hold a secured portion of the latch assembly. The rotating portion of the latch assembly may rotate between an open position and a closed position. A slot in the rotating portion may receive the secured portion of the latch assembly. A securing portion of the rotating portion may secure a secured portion of the latch assembly. The latch assembly may prevent rotation of the second portion when the wing may be in the flight position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen John Fox, Jan A. Kordel, Keith Townsend, Matthew August Lassen, Mark John Gardner, Mark Steven Good
  • Patent number: 9469392
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of a wing fold system may include a latch assembly rotating an unfixed portion of a wing, with respect to a fixed portion of the wing, between a flight position of the wing and a folded position of the wing. A first portion of the wing may hold a rotating portion of the latch assembly. A second portion of the wing may hold a secured portion of the latch assembly. The rotating portion of the latch assembly may rotate between an open position and a closed position. A slot in the rotating portion may receive the secured portion of the latch assembly. A securing portion of the rotating portion may secure a secured portion of the latch assembly. The latch assembly may prevent rotation of the second portion when the wing may be in the flight position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen John Fox, Jan A. Kordel, Keith Townsend, Matthew August Lassen, Mark John Gardner, Mark Steven Good
  • Patent number: 9415857
    Abstract: A wing fold system may move a second portion of a wing with respect to a first portion of the wing between flight position 301 and folded position 303. A first link may rotate in response to actuating an actuator. A second link may move in response to rotating of the first link. The second portion of the wing may move in response to moving the second link and the second portion may move with respect to the first portion of the wing. One of the first portion and the second portion may be a fixed portion of the wing and the other of the first portion and the second portion may be a wingtip of the wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen John Fox, Seiya Sakurai, Victor A. Munsen, Jack S. Noble, John Tony Skomorowski
  • Publication number: 20150298793
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of a wing fold system may include a latch assembly rotating an unfixed portion of a wing, with respect to a fixed portion of the wing, between a flight position of the wing and a folded position of the wing. A first portion of the wing may hold a rotating portion of the latch assembly. A second portion of the wing may hold a secured portion of the latch assembly. The rotating portion of the latch assembly may rotate between an open position and a closed position. A slot in the rotating portion may receive the secured portion of the latch assembly. A securing portion of the rotating portion may secure a secured portion of the latch assembly. The latch assembly may prevent rotation of the second portion when the wing may be in the flight position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Stephen John Fox, Jan A. Kordel, Keith Townsend, Matthew August Lassen, Mark John Gardner
  • Publication number: 20140117151
    Abstract: A wing fold system may move a second portion of a wing with respect to a first portion of the wing between flight position 301 and folded position 303. A first link may rotate in response to actuating an actuator. A second link may move in response to rotating of the first link. The second portion of the wing may move in response to moving the second link and the second portion may move with respect to the first portion of the wing. One of the first portion and the second portion may be a fixed portion of the wing and the other of the first portion and the second portion may be a wingtip of the wing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Stephen John Fox, Seiya Sakurai, Victor A. Munsen, Jack S. Noble, John Tony Skomorowski
  • Patent number: 6375126
    Abstract: A leading edge assembly for an airfoil. The assembly includes a Variable Camber Kreuger (VCK) panel which is hingedly attached at a forward end to a bullnose. Forward and aft suspension links serve to suspend the leading edge assembly within a recessed area in a lower surface of an airfoil in a cruise position. A linkage assembly operably associated with the forward and aft suspension links causes the VCK panel to be rotated from its cruise position into a take-off or a landing position in a manner which prevents scooping of air into the recessed area of the airfoil during this extending movement. A forwardmost edge of the panel overlaps a portion of the bullnose, to thus eliminate the need for a seal at this interface when the assembly is in the landing or the take-off positions. When in the take-off position, a trailing edge of the VCK panel overlaps an upper, forward edge of the airfoil to eliminate the need for a seal at this interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Seiya Sakurai, Stephen John Fox