Patents by Inventor Steven Blair

Steven Blair 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: 11786971
    Abstract: A high precision Interface Node is disclosed. The Interface Node includes an integrated structure including one or more complex or sophisticated features and functions. The Interface Node may connect with another component or a Linking Node. The Interface Node is manufactured to achieve high precision functionality while enabling volume production. Current additive manufacturing technologies allow for the printing of high precision features to be manufactured, but generally this is performed at a slower rate. Consequently, in one aspect, the size of the Interface Nodes is reduced in order to overcome at least part of the slower production volume caused by creating the high precision Interface Nodes. The components and Linking Nodes to which the Interface Node is connected may only have basic features and functions. Accordingly, this latter category of components may use a high print rate and thus high production volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Robert Czinger, Broc William TenHouten, Antonio Bernerd Martinez, Steven Blair Massey, Jr., Narender Shankar Lakshman, William David Kreig, Jon Paul Gunner, David Brian TenHouten, Eahab Nagi El Naga, Muhammad Faizan Zafar
  • Publication number: 20230241861
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to custom additively manufactured core structures and the manufacture thereof In one aspect, a panel for use in a transport structure includes first and second face sheets, and an additively manufactured (AM) core affixed between the first and second face sheets. The AM core is foldable such that at least one portion of the AM core is movable between a folded position and an unfolded position. In another aspect of the disclosure, a method for producing a panel for use in a transport structure includes additively manufacturing a core is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventor: Steven Blair MASSEY, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230060789
    Abstract: An example welding-type power supply includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power; a user interface configured to receive two or more inputs associated with corresponding qualitative characteristics of a welding arc created by the welding-type power, wherein the two or more inputs are defined within corresponding ranges of the respective qualitative characteristics; and control circuitry configured to: in response to a change in a first one of the two or more inputs, determine a corresponding change in a second one of the two or more inputs based on a relationship between the first and second ones of the two or more inputs; determine two or more welding-type parameters based on the two or more inputs; and control the power conversion circuitry based on the determined welding-type parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Justin Durik, Steven Blair Massey, JR., Craig Steven Knoener
  • Patent number: 11590727
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to custom additively manufactured core structures and the manufacture thereof. In one aspect, a panel for use in a transport structure includes first and second face sheets, and an additively manufactured (AM) core affixed between the first and second face sheets. The AM core is foldable such that at least one portion of the AM core is movable between a folded position and an unfolded position. In another aspect of the disclosure, a method for producing a panel for use in a transport structure includes additively manufacturing a core is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Steven Blair Massey, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220177090
    Abstract: A buoyancy-adjustable swim training vest for a user has a polymer-neoprene fabric formed garment member designed to substantially circumscribe the user's torso from neck to waist. A lower front of the vest has a front cover coupled to the vest and is vertically liftable. A back portion has a right side and a left side elastic wing members extending from a lower back portion designed to wrap frontward around the user's torso and detachably couple by respective hook and loop assemblies to each other, the vest, and the front cover, all coupled beneath the cover. An at least one polymer strap may be coupled detachably and adjustably by a latch to a buckle disposed on a lower edge of the front of the vest. At least one substantially sealable back pocket is disposed on an outer surface of the lower back portion of the vest designed to hold removable buoyant pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventor: STEVEN BLAIR FOUNTAIN
  • Patent number: 11269311
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and method for manufacturing a structure are disclosed. The structure includes a first portion, a second portion, and a structural joint. The apparatus is configured to receive instructions for printing the structural joint. The instructions are based on a data model of the structural joint. The apparatus is also configured to receive the first portion and the second portion, the first portion having a first conical tip and the second portion having a second conical tip. The apparatus is further configured to receive material. Additionally, the apparatus is configured to print the structural joint based on the instructions. The printing may include spray forming the material to produce the structural joint. The structural joint connects the first portion to the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Pai-chung Teng, Eahab Nagi El Naga, Steven Blair Massey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11020800
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for sealing powder holes in additively manufactured parts are presented herein. Powder holes are co-printed to facilitate post processing sealing. Embodiments include co-printed caps, friction welded caps, rivets, silicone plugs, co-printed tangs, multiple micro holes, layup, and spin forming. By using one or more of the above techniques, powder holes can be sealed on additively manufactured parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Divergent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eahab Nagi El Naga, Ross Harrison Byers, Keith Allen Fleming, Steven Blair Massey, Jr., Narender Shankar Lakshman, Antonio Bernerd Martinez
  • Patent number: 11014185
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and/or methods for weld wire preheating are disclosed. Some examples of the present disclosure relate to welding-type systems that use one or more preheaters to heat welding wire prior to an arc and/or deposition on a weldment. The welding wire may have one or more characteristics. A preheating control may determine a governing characteristic of the one or more welding wire characteristics and establish a threshold temperature and/or target temperature based on the governing characteristic. The preheating control may further control the one or more preheaters based on the threshold temperature and/or target temperature, in order to avoid a deformation and/or degradation of the welding wire that would impact column strength, wire feeding, weld process stability, and/or welding consumable longevity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: James Lee Uecker, Todd Earl Holverson, Steven Blair Massey, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210114149
    Abstract: An example welding-type system, includes: a processor; and memory comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to: collect a plurality of average instantaneous power measurements from a plurality of welding-type power sources associated with a single welding-type process; and determine a total power input to the welding-type process by summing the average instantaneous power measurements for each of the welding-type power sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Steven Blair Massey, JR., James Lee Uecker, Robert Raimund Davidson
  • Publication number: 20200101555
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and/or methods for weld wire preheating are disclosed. Some examples of the present disclosure relate to welding-type systems that use one or more preheaters to heat welding wire prior to an arc and/or deposition on a weldment. The welding wire may have one or more characteristics. A preheating control may determine a governing characteristic of the one or more welding wire characteristics and establish a threshold temperature and/or target temperature based on the governing characteristic. The preheating control may further control the one or more preheaters based on the threshold temperature and/or target temperature, in order to avoid a deformation and/or degradation of the welding wire that would impact column strength, wire feeding, weld process stability, and/or welding consumable longevity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: James Lee Uecker, Todd Earl Holverson, Steven Blair Massey, JR.
  • Publication number: 20200033833
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and method for manufacturing a structure are disclosed. The structure includes a first portion, a second portion, and a structural joint. The apparatus is configured to receive instructions for printing the structural joint. The instructions are based on a data model of the structural joint. The apparatus is also configured to receive the first portion and the second portion, the first portion having a first conical tip and the second portion having a second conical tip. The apparatus is further configured to receive material. Additionally, the apparatus is configured to print the structural joint based on the instructions. The printing may include spray forming the material to produce the structural joint. The structural joint connects the first portion to the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Alexander Pai-chung Teng, Eahab Nagi El Naga, Steven Blair Massey, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190351641
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to custom additively manufactured core structures and the manufacture thereof. In one aspect, a panel for use in a transport structure includes first and second face sheets, and an additively manufactured (AM) core affixed between the first and second face sheets. The AM core is foldable such that at least one portion of the AM core is movable between a folded position and an unfolded position. In another aspect of the disclosure, a method for producing a panel for use in a transport structure includes additively manufacturing a core is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventor: Steven Blair Massey, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190337056
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for sealing powder holes in additively manufactured parts are presented herein. Powder holes are co-printed to facilitate post processing sealing. Embodiments include co-printed caps, friction welded caps, rivets, silicone plugs, co-printed tangs, multiple micro holes, layup, and spin forming. By using one or more of the above techniques, powder holes can be sealed on additively manufactured parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Eahab Nagi EL NAGA, Ross Harrison Byers, Keith Allen Fleming, Steven Blair Massey, JR., Narender Shankar Lakshman, Antonio Bernerd Martinez
  • Publication number: 20190277402
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for additively manufactured O-ring grooves are presented herein. An O-ring groove is additively manufactured to have a vertical face, bottom face, and an opposite face. By additively manufacturing the opposite face to be outwardly facing with an obtuse angle, the O-ring groove can be built without the need for support structures, thereby reducing post processing steps and manufacturing cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: William David KREIG, Eahab Nagi EL NAGA, Chukwubulkem Marcel OKOLI, David Brian TenHOUTEN, Steven Blair MASSEY, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190146456
    Abstract: A high precision Interface Node is disclosed. The Interface Node includes an integrated structure including one or more complex or sophisticated features and functions. The Interface Node may connect with another component or a Linking Node. The Interface Node is manufactured to achieve high precision functionality while enabling volume production. Current additive manufacturing technologies allow for the printing of high precision features to be manufactured, but generally this is performed at a slower rate. Consequently, in one aspect, the size of the Interface Nodes is reduced in order to overcome at least part of the slower production volume caused by creating the high precision Interface Nodes. The components and Linking Nodes to which the Interface Node is connected may only have basic features and functions. Accordingly, this latter category of components may use a high print rate and thus high production volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin Robert Czinger, Broc William TenHOUTEN, Antonio Bernerd Martinez, Steven Blair Massey, Narender Shankar Lakshman, Bill David Kreig, Jon Paul Gunner, David Brian TenHOUTEN, Eahab Nagi El Naga, Muhammad Faizan Zafar
  • Publication number: 20160070034
    Abstract: A plasmonic nanostructure for enhanced light excitation is disclosed. The plasmonic nanostructure includes a substrate, an adhesion layer disposed on top of the substrate, a surface plasmon resonance layer, and a cavity that extends into the surface plasmon resonance layer. The surface plasmon resonance layer is configured to concentrate an applied plasmon field to a bottom portion of the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Mark F. Oldham, Steven Blair, Xiaojin Jiao
  • Publication number: 20130046148
    Abstract: A hybrid optical-electrical neural interface is disclosed and described. The neural interface can include an array (100) having a plurality of micro-optrodes (HO). The micro-optrodes (110) are capable of optical and optionally electrical stimulation and recording, allowing bidirectional, multi-modal communication with neural tissue. At least a portion of the plurality of micro-optrodes (110) are independently optically addressable and include an optical waveguide along each micro-optrode (HO). Combining optical stimulation with electrical recording can allow artifact-free recording from nearby electrodes and in some cases even the same electrode, which is difficult to achieve with combined electrical recording and stimulation. The optical waveguide is configured to direct light towards a distal end (125) of the micro-optrode, allowing focal stimulation and recording. Penetrating micro-optrodes (110) can allow access to deep tissue, while non-penetrating micro-optrodes can be used for extraneural stimulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: Prashant Tathireddy, Loren Rieth, Gregory Arthur Clark, Richard A. Normann, Florian Solzbacher, Steven Blair
  • Publication number: 20110250402
    Abstract: A plasmonic nanostructure for enhanced light excitation is disclosed. The plasmonic nanostructure includes a substrate, an adhesion layer disposed on top of the substrate, a surface plasmon resonance layer, and a cavity that extends into the surface plasmon resonance layer. The surface plasmon resonance layer is configured to concentrate an applied plasmon field to a bottom portion of the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Oldham, Steven Blair, Xiaojin Jiao
  • Patent number: 7507732
    Abstract: 6,7-Dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridine and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoline compounds of Formula (I), including salts, hydrates and solvates thereof, that act as 5-HT2 receptor ligands and their uses in the treatment of diseases linked to the activation of 5-HT2c receptors are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Pfizer Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Lefker, Kevin K. -C. Liu, Hou Chen, Steven Blair Coffey
  • Patent number: D859223
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventor: Steven Blair Weichers