Patents by Inventor Victor LaPorta

Victor LaPorta 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: 9758898
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for plating parts like lug nuts or other metal parts that have both an easily plated outside surface as well as a recessed cavity. The invention works in combination with a standard multi-station plating process. The present invention drains and plates a part containing a cavity by moving the part from a position where the cavity is facing around 45 degrees down to a position where the cavity is facing around 45 degrees up and then back down at various times during the process. The moving is generally initiated when the rack moving along a track above the fluid tanks encounters a roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Century Plating Company
    Inventors: George Koltse, Victor LaPorta
  • Publication number: 20170067180
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for plating parts like lug nuts or other metal parts that have both an easily plated outside surface as well as a recessed cavity. The invention works in combination with a standard multi-station plating process. The present invention drains and plates a part containing a cavity by moving the part from a position where the cavity is facing around 45 degrees down to a position where the cavity is facing around 45 degrees up and then back down at various times during the process. The moving is generally initiated when the rack moving along a track above the fluid tanks encounters a roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: George Koltse, Victor LaPorta
  • Publication number: 20130284603
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for plating parts like lug nuts or other metal parts that have both an easily plated outside surface as well as a recessed cavity. The invention works in combination with a standard multi-station plating process. The present invention drains and plates a part containing a cavity by moving the part from a position where the cavity is facing around 45 degrees down to a position where the cavity is facing around 45 degrees up and then back down at various times during the process. The moving is generally initiated when the rack moving along a track above the fluid tanks encounters a roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: George Koltse, Victor LaPorta
  • Patent number: 8298384
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for plating parts like lug nuts or other metal parts that have both an easily plated outside surface as well as a recessed cavity. The invention works in combination with a standard multi-station plating process. Also, a method and apparatus for preventing areas of electrode contact on a part from being non-plated. The present invention drains and plates a part containing a cavity by moving the part from a position where the cavity is facing around 45 degrees down to a position where the cavity is facing around 45 degrees up and then back down at various times during the process. The moving is generally initiated when the rack moving along a track above the fluid tanks encounters a roller. The roller causes a depression bar to activate a mechanical mechanism that shifts the position of the part. Other embodiments of the present invention can also rotate the part on an electrode finger as a roller on the track is encountered by the rack to avoid non-plated regions on the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Century Plating Co.
    Inventors: George Koltse, Victor LaPorta
  • Publication number: 20090194422
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for plating parts like lug nuts or other metal parts that have both an easily plated outside surface as well as a recessed cavity. The invention works in combination with a standard multi-station plating process. Also, a method and apparatus for preventing areas of electrode contact on a part from being non-plated. The present invention drains and plates a part containing a cavity by moving the part from a position where the cavity is facing around 45 degrees down to a position where the cavity is facing around 45 degrees up and then back down at various times during the process. The moving is generally initiated when the rack moving along a track above the fluid tanks encounters a roller. The roller causes a depression bar to activate a mechanical mechanism that shifts the position of the part. Other embodiments of the present invention can also rotate the part on an electrode finger as a roller on the track is encountered by the rack to avoid non-plated regions on the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: George Koltse, Victor LaPorta