Patents by Inventor Tom Byrnes

Tom Byrnes 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: 10309449
    Abstract: A ball joint assembly includes a ball stud, a cylindrical bearing, a housing and a retainer. The bearing has an upper end, a lower end, a exterior sidewall, an upper flange located between the upper end and a ring groove formed in the exterior sidewall, a lower flange proximate the lower end and extending outwardly and a socket cavity that opens toward the lower end. A ball portion of the ball stud is retained within the socket cavity. The bearing is secured within a bore within the housing by virtue of the working of the lower flange and the upper flange and retainer located in the ring groove. The ball joint assembly is able to resist a pull-out force of up to 1200 lbs. It may also be sealed by incorporation of a dust boot which extends between the housing and a stud portion of the ball stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC
    Inventors: George R. Schmidt, Tom Byrnes, Glen Parker
  • Publication number: 20170102028
    Abstract: A ball joint assembly includes a ball stud, a generally cylindrical bearing, a housing and a retainer which retains the bearing in the housing, The generally cylindrical bearing has an upper end, a lower end, a generally cylindrical exterior sidewall, an upper flange located between the upper end and a ring groove formed in the exterior sidewall, a lower flange proximate the lower end and extending outwardly from the exterior sidewall and a socket cavity that opens toward the lower end. The ball portion of the ball stud is engaged in and retained within the socket cavity. The bearing is secured within the housing in a bore within the housing by virtue of the working of the lower flange which is located within a counterbore of the housing and the upper flange and retainer located in the ring groove. Ball joints of the type described are able to resist a pull-out force of greater than 650 lbs and up to about 1200 lbs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: GEORGE R. SCHMIDT, TOM BYRNES, GLEN PARKER
  • Patent number: 9476447
    Abstract: A ball joint assembly includes a ball stud, a generally cylindrical bearing, a housing and a retainer which retains the bearing in the housing. The generally cylindrical bearing has an upper end, a lower end, a generally cylindrical exterior sidewall, an upper flange located between the upper end and a ring groove formed in the exterior sidewall, a lower flange proximate the lower end and extending outwardly from the exterior sidewall and a socket cavity that opens toward the lower end. The ball portion of the ball stud is engaged in and retained within the socket cavity. The bearing is secured within the housing in a bore within the housing by virtue of the working of the lower flange which is located within a counterbore of the housing and the upper flange and retainer located in the ring groove. Ball joints of the type described are able to resist a pull-out force of greater than 650 lbs and up to about 1200 lbs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Powertrain, Inc.
    Inventors: George R. Schmidt, Tom Byrnes, Glen Parker
  • Publication number: 20090288297
    Abstract: A ball joint assembly includes a ball stud, a generally cylindrical bearing, a housing and a retainer which retains the bearing in the housing. The generally cylindrical bearing has an upper end, a lower end, a generally cylindrical exterior sidewall, an upper flange located between the upper end and a ring groove formed in the exterior sidewall, a lower flange proximate the lower end and extending outwardly from the exterior sidewall and a socket cavity that opens toward the lower end. The ball portion of the ball stud is engaged in and retained within the socket cavity. The bearing is secured within the housing in a bore within the housing by virtue of the working of the lower flange which is located within a counterbore of the housing and the upper flange and retainer located in the ring groove. Ball joints of the type described are able to resist a pull-out force of greater than 650 lbs and up to about 1200 lbs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: George R. Schmidt, Tom Byrnes, Glen Parker
  • Patent number: D537821
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Planar Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Byrnes, John T. Jedrzejewski, Roy I. Siegel, Toren Phillip Ben Orzeck, Mark Edward Schoening