Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Walbridge

Thomas C. Walbridge 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).

  • Vehicle joint design utilizing bipode element
    Patent number: 7993207
    Abstract: A vehicle joint assembly is provided comprising an outer race having an outer surface and an inner surface. A pair of opposed slot tracks are formed in the inner cup surface and each comprise a track top wall and two track sidewalls. A barshaft is in communication with a bipod element comprised of a body portion and two opposed peg portions. Each of the two opposed peg portions comprises two opposed curved engagement surfaces engaging one of the track sidewalls. The bipod element is positioned within the outer race such that each of the opposed peg portions resides in one of the opposed slot tracks. The bipod element is capable of being positioned in a variety of angles within the slot tracks and is capable of plunging within the slot tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: GKN Driveline North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony N. Arden, Samuel J. Oram, Steven L. Leffingwell, Noel W. Sutton, Thomas C. Walbridge
  • VEHICLE JOINT DESIGN UTILIZING BIPODE ELEMENT
    Publication number: 20100029394
    Abstract: A vehicle joint assembly is provided comprising an outer race having an outer surface and an inner surface. A pair of opposed slot tracks are formed in the inner cup surface and each comprise a track top wall and two track sidewalls. A barshaft is in communication with a bipod element comprised of a body portion and two opposed peg portions. Each of the two opposed peg portions comprises two opposed curved engagement surfaces engaging one of the track sidewalls. The bipod element is positioned within the outer race such that each of the opposed peg portions resides in one of the opposed slot tracks. The bipod element is capable of being positioned in a variety of angles within the slot tracks and is capable of plunging within the slot tracks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Tony N. Arden, Samuel J. Oram, Steven L. Leffingwell, Noel W. Sutton, Thomas C. Walbridge