Patents by Inventor Todd A. Smith

Todd A. Smith 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: 6739064
    Abstract: An apparatus designed to set up gear testers and lappers for both above and below center engaged hypoid gear sets. The set-up gage includes a pinion stem and a gage body. The gage body has at least two sets of surfaces to properly position a simulated ring gear within the gear tester for each of the above and below center engaged hypoid gear set arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Torque-Traction Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd A. Smith
  • Patent number: 6736849
    Abstract: A spinal implant is provided to integrate with and support vertebrae in a vertebral column. The spinal implant includes a body and a mineralized, bioactive surface coating chemically bonded to a portion of the body. The coating includes a non-hydroxyl containing carbonated calcium phosphate bone mineral nano-crystalline apatite with chemically adsorbed water having a crystal size less than about 1 &mgr;m. The body of the spinal implant is ring-shaped and defines a central passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: DePuy Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Panjian Li, Todd Smith
  • Patent number: 6692679
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming a plastic prosthesis bearing, net-shape bearing, near net-shape bearing or plastic stock from which such a bearing can be formed. The method includes the steps of providing plastic resin in powdered form, subjecting the powdered resin to irradiation to cross-link the resin, and molding the irradiated powder. The irradiated powder is molded by applying heat and pressure to form the powder into a desired solid plastic shape, the heating being sufficient to melt the powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. McNulty, Todd Smith
  • Publication number: 20040016497
    Abstract: A strip of tire ply stock is reinforced with steel cords wherein the steel cords are constructed of high strength wire filament having at least a tensile strength of −2000×D+4400 MPa where D is the filament diameter in mm. Tires are constructed with the ply stock in the belt and/or carcass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: John Gomer Morgan, Kenneth Joseph Palmer, Amit Prakash, Michael Edward Putinski, Italo Marziale Sinopoli, Charles Elmer Hamiel, Dong Kwang Kim, Kenneth Michael Kot, Jeffrey Todd Smith
  • Patent number: 6634835
    Abstract: A hob type cutter blade for use in a hobbing process. The cutter blade is formed with at least one cooling passage that permits the flow of coolant through the cutter blade to the contact surface reducing the heat generation as well as dissipating any heat already produced during the hobbing operation. During manufacturing, the cooling passage is sintered into the carbide cutter blade without the addition of separate operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Torque-Traction Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Todd A Smith
  • Patent number: 6627141
    Abstract: A method for forming a plastic prosthesis bearing, net-shape bearing or near net-shape bearing is provided. The method includes providing a cross-linked plastic resin preform in a volume sufficient to accommodate the bearing and molding the cross-linked preform. The molding is accomplished by applying heat and pressure to form the preform into a desired solid plastic shape. The heating and pressure is sufficient to melt the plastic resin so that the plastic resin flows under pressure and quench remaining free-radicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. McNulty, Todd Smith
  • Publication number: 20030154775
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to independently measure the bearing pre-load of a pinion gear and differential case an assembled axle assembly. The ring gear and pinion gear are positioned within a backlash so that there is no engagement therebetween. The pinion shaft and differential case are rotated in synchronization maintaining the relative positions and the torque to rotate the pinion shaft and differential case are independently measured. Once the independent pre-loads are measured, the ring gear is allowed to freely rotate being driven by the pinion gear and the overall torque to rotate the entire axle assembly can be measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: SPICER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ben J. Passino, Michael J. Catalano, Ken E. Cooper, Todd A. Smith
  • Patent number: 6548793
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to inductively heat beveled gear teeth. An inductor has an annular body with a plurality of projections for meshingly engaging beveled of the gear. An inductor coil or loop is associated with each of the projections and is at least partially disposed between successive gear teeth to induce a magnetic flux directly there through when engaging the beveled gear. By simply rotating the inductor relative to the beveled gear while simultaneously sending a current through the coil, successive gear teeth are treated. Preferably, the number of gear teeth differs from the number of projections, and the beveled gear is rotated sufficiently to ensure that each of the projections and associated coil engages each of the beveled gear teeth to facilitate a more uniform treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Torque-Traction Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030009230
    Abstract: A joint prosthesis (10) including a first component (12)for cooperation with a first long bone (14) and a second component (16) for cooperation with a second long bone (20) is provided. The joint prosthesis (10) also includes a bearing component (222) positionable between the first component (12) and the second component (16) and cooperable with the first (12) and second (16) components. The bearing component (222) has a reinforcing component (236) having a first end (286) and a second end (294) and a polymeric material (207). The polymeric material (207) surrounds at least 99% of the surface area of the reinforcing component (236) and is molded to the reinforcing component (236) so that the material may be sterilized by a predominately surface sterilizing technology. The bearing component (222) defines a first peripheral region (271) and a second peripheral region (282).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Rama Rao V. Gundlapalli, Mark Heldreth, Todd Smith, Albert Burstein
  • Publication number: 20020156529
    Abstract: A spinal implant is provided to integrate with and support vertebrae in a vertebral column. The spinal implant includes a body and a mineralized, bioactive surface coating chemically bonded to a portion of the body. The coating includes a non-hydroxyl containing carbonated calcium phosphate bone mineral nano-crystalline apatite with chemically adsorbed water having a crystal size less than about 1 &mgr;m The body of the spinal implant is ring-shaped and defines a central passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Panjian Li, Todd Smith
  • Publication number: 20020104518
    Abstract: A compact and efficient rotary pressure swing adsorption (PSA) apparatus with laminated sheet adsorbers is used to supply enriched oxygen and/or nitrogen streams to an internal combustion engine, allowing for reduced noxious emissions and enhanced engine performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Daniel K. Mather, David E. Foster, Denis J. Connor, Carl F. Hunter, Todd Smith
  • Publication number: 20010026033
    Abstract: A method for forming a plastic prosthesis bearing, net-shape bearing or near net-shape bearing is provided. The method includes providing a cross-linked plastic resin preform in a volume sufficient to accommodate the bearing and molding the cross-linked preform. The molding is accomplished by applying heat and pressure to form the preform into a desired solid plastic shape. The heating and pressure is sufficient to melt the plastic resin so that the plastic resin flows under pressure and quench remaining free-radicals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Donald E. McNulty, Todd Smith
  • Publication number: 20010023730
    Abstract: A strip of tire ply stock is reinforced with steel cords wherein the steel cords are constructed of high strength wire filament having at least a tensile strength of −2000×D+4400 MPa where D is the filament diameter in mm. Tires are constructed with the ply stock in the belt and/or carcass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Applicant: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Italo Marziale Sinopoli, Charles Elmer Hamiel, Dong Kwang Kim, Kenneth Michael Kot, John Gomer Morgan, Kenneth Joseph Palmer, Amit Prakash, Michael Edward Putinski, Jeffrey Todd Smith
  • Publication number: 20010010716
    Abstract: A premises gateway is provided with respect to a subscriber's premises and a plurality of different transmission media for connecting to network devices and host systems on a network. The premises gateway has interchangeable network interface cards and cards for communicating with different nodes on a subscriber's premises using different transmission media and protocols. The nodes are provided with premises network interfaces which operate in conjunction with the premises gateway to allow, for example, devices connected to the same telephone line, but to different telephone wall jacks, to be addressed separately. The premises gateway can communicate analog signals and broadband signals on a twisted pair to the same node. The premises gateway can also be provided at a central office to operate as an Internet protocol gateway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Todd Smith, Michael Pelster, Benjamin Isaac, Debashis Bagchi
  • Patent number: 6245276
    Abstract: A method for forming a plastic prosthesis bearing, net-shape bearing or near net-shape bearing is provided. The method includes providing a cross-linked plastic resin preform in a volume sufficient to accommodate the bearing and molding the cross-linked preform. The molding is accomplished by applying heat and pressure to form the preform into a desired solid plastic shape. The heating and pressure is sufficient to melt the plastic resin so that the plastic resin flows under pressure and quench remaining free-radicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. McNulty, Todd Smith
  • Patent number: 6219409
    Abstract: A premises gateway is provided with respect to a subscriber's premises and a plurality of different transmission media for connecting to network devices and host systems on a network. The premises gateway has interchangeable network interface cards and cards for communicating with different nodes on a subscriber's premises using different transmission media and protocols. The nodes are provided with premises network interfaces which operate in conjunction with the premises gateway to allow, for example, devices connected to the same telephone line, but to different telephone wall jacks, to be addressed separately. The premises gateway can communicate analog signals and broadband signals on a twisted pair to the same node. The premises gateway can also be provided at a central office to operate as an Internet protocol gateway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: ShareGate, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Smith, Michael Pelster, Benjamin Isaac, Debashis Bagchi
  • Patent number: 5704461
    Abstract: Rotational control apparatus (A) in the preferred forms of fan clutches is disclosed including shoulder bolts (78) extending through axially extending voids (146) formed in axially extending portion (66) and flange (76) of first and second shell housings (62, 68). The shoulder bolts (78) secure the shell housings (62, 68) together to prevent relative movement therebetween. The apparatus (A) further includes a piston (80) having tabs (144) extending from the outer periphery thereof into the voids (146) and including openings having bushings (134) therein for slideable receipt on the shoulder bolts (78). Springs (138) are mounted on standoffs (210) extending in the voids (146) and abutting with the shoulder of the shoulder bolts (78).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Horton, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Vatsaas, Virgil Schieffer, Tom Bydalek, Todd Smith
  • Patent number: 5561762
    Abstract: A method for selecting and responding to a malicious fault in a reconfigurable electronic apparatus that can perform multiple tasks, and that has fault processing for counteracting a class of faults which can generally cause the apparatus to fail during the execution of a preselected task if the fault processor is unavailable and to which class the malicious fault can belong. The reconfigurable electronic apparatus can be a fault processing system, which can be an interlocking control circuit, or a combinational circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Union Switch & Signal Inc.
    Inventors: D. Todd Smith, Barry W. Johnson, Joseph A. Profeta, Theo C. Giras
  • Patent number: 5560008
    Abstract: The system and method of this invention authorizes a process running at a client data processing system to have access to a service at a server data processing system. The data processing systems are connected by a communication link in a distributed processing environment. A set of credentials for the process are created at the server in response to a message from the client requesting a service. The server returns a credentials id identifying the created set of credentials to the client process. The client uses this returned id in subsequent requests and is authorized access as controlled by the set of credentials identified by the returned id in the subsequent request. The server can deny access to the service by the process if the id returned in a subsequent request is determined by the server not to identify the set of credentials. The server denies the access if the server requires an authentication of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Donavon W. Johnson, Todd A. Smith
  • Patent number: 5537645
    Abstract: A distributed data processing system and method in which locks on a file are supported by a data structure that resides on either a client machine or on the file's server. When only a single client's processes are locking a file, the data structure can reside on that client. Whenever a plurality of client machines attempt to place locks on a file, the data structure is moved to the server; this forces the clients locking the file to communicate with the server when performing lock operations. When a client requests a lock from the server that cannot be granted because of an existing blocking lock, the client is informed that it should put the requesting process asleep awaiting a retry notification. When there is a change in the locks on the file that might allow such a client's now sleeping process to acquire the lock, the server sends a retry notice to the client. This awakens the sleeping process at the client, and the process then reattempts the lock operation by sending a message to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Larry W. Henson, Donavon W. Johnson, Stephen P. Morgan, Todd A. Smith