Patents by Inventor Thomas Von Minden

Thomas Von Minden 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).

  • Publication number: 20070036618
    Abstract: An apparatus having a single, elongated flexible rail with a plurality of attachment devices connected to the rail and spaced at intervals therealong for releasably affixing the rail to a surface of a work piece by vacuum. The rail bends and twists as needed to substantially follow the surface of the work piece. An X-axis carriage is coupled to the rail and adapted to traverse the rail along an X-axis, wherein the X-axis is parallel to a length of the rail. A Y-axis carriage is coupled to the X-axis and adapted to traverse the X-axis carriage along a Y-axis, wherein the Y-axis is perpendicular to the X-axis. A fastening device clamps the X-axis carriage to the Y-axis carriage. A laser associated with the X-axis carriage facilitates precise locating of a drill carried by the apparatus relative to a spot where a hole is to be drilled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David Fritsche, Thomas Von Minden