Patents by Inventor Thomas G. Lawton
Thomas G. Lawton 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).
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Patent number: 11702224Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an exterior surface protective layer for protecting a composite structure from environmental conditions including: at least one curable film; such as at least two curable films, and an electrically conductive material, wherein the electrically conductive material comprises a wire-free electrically conductive material, and/or an electrically conductive polymer weave, wherein the at least one curable film includes at least one of polyurethane, polyimide, polyester or epoxy upon curing, and wherein a weight of the exterior surface protective layer ranges from about 0.02 pounds per square foot to about 0.1 pounds per square foot. An exterior surface protected composite structure and methods of forming an exterior surface protected composite structure are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2019Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Mark R. Brei, Kevin D. Gordon, Thomas G. Lawton, Anthony M. Westren, Meredith P. Nix
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Patent number: 11208317Abstract: Systems and methods for a flexible container for transport and storage of a working material are described herein. The material can be a viscous or liquid material when dispensed. The flexible container can be configured to move between a first shape and a second shape. The first shape can allow for efficient transport of the flexible container while the second shape can allow for the flexible container to couple to a dispenser. In certain examples, the flexible container can be cooled for transport and heated for dispensing.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2019Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Caitlin E. Auffinger, Sean Auffinger, Katherine L. Frank, Kevin D. Gordon, Thomas G. Lawton, Chunxing She, Conor J. Van Camp
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Patent number: 11161334Abstract: Methods for placing an indicia on a composite structure generally include printing the indicia on a first film surface of a coating film, with the coating film being in a partially cured state at the time the printing the indicia is performed, and positioning the coating film on a partially cured composite structure such that a second film surface of the coating film faces and is positioned against a surface of the composite structure, with the second film surface being opposite the first film surface. Finally, the coating film and the composite structure may then be co-cured. Systems for printing an indicia on a composite structure generally include the coating film, a printer configured to print the indicia on the first film surface of the coating film, a securement configured to secure the coating film during printing, and a curing device for co-curing the coating film and the composite structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2020Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Anthony M. Westren, Mark Richard Brei, Thomas G. Lawton, Terrell D. Riley, Caitlin Elizabeth Kerr
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Patent number: 11059055Abstract: Systems and methods for a container for decreasing the thawing time for a liquid, gel or other fluid material is described herein. The systems can include a container with a body. The body can include a cavity with a dispensing nozzle and a plunger disposed within the cavity. The body can further include one or more channels separate from the cavity. The channel(s) increases the rate of heat transfer associated with the container and, thus, increases the cooling or heating rate of the material within the container.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Sean Auffinger, Caitlin E. Auffinger, Thomas G. Lawton, Chunxing She, Katherine L. Frank, Conor J. Van Camp, Kevin D. Gordon
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Publication number: 20210060584Abstract: Systems and methods for a container for decreasing the thawing time for a liquid, gel or other fluid material is described herein. The systems can include a container with a body. The body can include a cavity with a dispensing nozzle and a plunger disposed within the cavity. The body can further include one or more channels separate from the cavity. The channel(s) increases the rate of heat transfer associated with the container and, thus, increases the cooling or heating rate of the material within the container.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2019Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Sean AUFFINGER, Caitlin E. AUFFINGER, Thomas G. LAWTON, Chunxing SHE, Katherine L. FRANK, Conor J. VAN CAMP, Kevin D. GORDON
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Publication number: 20210039944Abstract: Systems and methods for a flexible container for transport and storage of a working material are described herein. The material can be a viscous or liquid material when dispensed. The flexible container can be configured to move between a first shape and a second shape. The first shape can allow for efficient transport of the flexible container while the second shape can allow for the flexible container to couple to a dispenser. In certain examples, the flexible container can be cooled for transport and heated for dispensing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2019Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Caitlin E. Auffinger, Sean Auffinger, Katherine L. Frank, Kevin D. Gordon, Thomas G. Lawton, Chunxing She, Conor J. Van Camp
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Publication number: 20210031942Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an exterior surface protective layer for protecting a composite structure from environmental conditions including: at least one curable film; such as at least two curable films, and an electrically conductive material, wherein the electrically conductive material comprises a wire-free electrically conductive material, and/or an electrically conductive polymer weave, wherein the at least one curable film includes at least one of polyurethane, polyimide, polyester or epoxy upon curing, and wherein a weight of the exterior surface protective layer ranges from about 0.02 pounds per square foot to about 0.1 pounds per square foot. An exterior surface protected composite structure and methods of forming an exterior surface protected composite structure are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2019Publication date: February 4, 2021Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Mark R. Brei, Kevin D. Gordon, Thomas G. Lawton, Anthony M. Westren, Meredith P. Nix
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Publication number: 20200269562Abstract: Methods for placing an indicia on a composite structure generally include printing the indicia on a first film surface of a coating film, with the coating film being in a partially cured state at the time the printing the indicia is performed, and positioning the coating film on a partially cured composite structure such that a second film surface of the coating film faces and is positioned against a surface of the composite structure, with the second film surface being opposite the first film surface. Finally, the coating film and the composite structure may then be co-cured. Systems for printing an indicia on a composite structure generally include the coating film, a printer configured to print the indicia on the first film surface of the coating film, a securement configured to secure the coating film during printing, and a curing device for co-curing the coating film and the composite structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Anthony M. Westren, Mark Richard Brei, Thomas G. Lawton, Terrell D. Riley, Caitlin Elizabeth Kerr
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Patent number: 10682840Abstract: Methods for placing an indicia on a composite structure generally include printing the indicia on a first film surface of a coating film, with the coating film being in a partially cured state at the time the printing the indicia is performed, and positioning the coating film on a partially cured composite structure such that a second film surface of the coating film faces and is positioned against a surface of the composite structure, with the second film surface being opposite the first film surface. Finally, the coating film and the composite structure may then be co-cured. Systems for printing an indicia on a composite structure generally include the coating film, a printer configured to print the indicia on the first film surface of the coating film, a securement configured to secure the coating film during printing, and a curing device for co-curing the coating film and the composite structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2017Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Anthony M. Westren, Mark Richard Brei, Thomas G. Lawton, Terrell D. Riley, Caitlin Elizabeth Kerr
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Publication number: 20180345646Abstract: Methods for placing an indicia on a composite structure generally include printing the indicia on a first film surface of a coating film, with the coating film being in a partially cured state at the time the printing the indicia is performed, and positioning the coating film on a partially cured composite structure such that a second film surface of the coating film faces and is positioned against a surface of the composite structure, with the second film surface being opposite the first film surface. Finally, the coating film and the composite structure may then be co-cured. Systems for printing an indicia on a composite structure generally include the coating film, a printer configured to print the indicia on the first film surface of the coating film, a securement configured to secure the coating film during printing, and a curing device for co-curing the coating film and the composite structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2017Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Anthony M. Westren, Mark Richard Brei, Thomas G. Lawton, Terrell D. Riley, Caitlin Elizabeth Kerr