Patents by Inventor William A. Hardy
William A. Hardy 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: 12226050Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a temperature controlled charcoal grill and smoker that enables users to better control the cooking and smoking temperature relative to previous solutions. In some embodiments, for example, a user may place a divider in the interior of a fuel basket to coarsely adjust the amount and type of solid fuel used to heat a food-cooking enclosure of the temperature controlled charcoal grill and smoker. In addition, the user can also position a heat deflector tent above one or more heat transfer openings in a grease tray to further adjust the cooking and smoking temperature. Further still, the user can provide even finer control (including closed-loop control) over the cooking and smoking temperature using a controller that controls the speed of a fan that directs combustion air into the fuel basket.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2021Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Assignee: Premier Specialty Brands, LLCInventors: Daniel Mercer, Caitlin McNulty, William A. Hardy, John Darin McLemore
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Publication number: 20220079383Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a temperature controlled charcoal grill and smoker that enables users to better control the cooking and smoking temperature relative to previous solutions. In some embodiments, for example, a user may place a divider in the interior of a fuel basket to coarsely adjust the amount and type of solid fuel used to heat a food-cooking enclosure of the temperature controlled charcoal grill and smoker. In addition, the user can also position a heat deflector tent above one or more heat transfer openings in a grease tray to further adjust the cooking and smoking temperature. Further still, the user can provide even finer control (including closed-loop control) over the cooking and smoking temperature using a controller that controls the speed of a fan that directs combustion air into the fuel basket.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Applicant: Masterbuilt Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Daniel Mercer, Caitlin McNulty, William A. Hardy, John Darin McLemore
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Patent number: 11034219Abstract: A vehicle door includes an inner panel including an upper portion defining a window aperture, and a lower portion positioned opposite the upper portion in a vertical direction, and a support assembly coupled to the inner panel, the support assembly including a first torsion member extending along the upper portion of the inner panel in a lateral direction that is transverse to the vertical direction, the first torsion member defining holes extending through the first torsion member, a second torsion member extending along the upper portion of the inner panel toward the first torsion member, the second torsion member defining holes that are aligned with the holes of the first torsion member, and at least one fastener positioned in corresponding aligned holes of the first torsion member and the second torsion member, the at least one fastener coupling the first torsion member to the second torsion member.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William A. Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne, Johnny Rose, Wasim Ukra, Rajesh Chennagowni, Herb Meingast
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Publication number: 20200238801Abstract: A vehicle door includes an inner panel including an upper portion defining a window aperture, and a lower portion positioned opposite the upper portion in a vertical direction, and a support assembly coupled to the inner panel, the support assembly including a first torsion member extending along the upper portion of the inner panel in a lateral direction that is transverse to the vertical direction, the first torsion member defining holes extending through the first torsion member, a second torsion member extending along the upper portion of the inner panel toward the first torsion member, the second torsion member defining holes that are aligned with the holes of the first torsion member, and at least one fastener positioned in corresponding aligned holes of the first torsion member and the second torsion member, the at least one fastener coupling the first torsion member to the second torsion member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William A. Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne, Johnny Rose, Wasim Ukra, Rajesh Chennagowni, Herb Meingast
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Publication number: 20200238802Abstract: A vehicle door includes an inner panel formed from a resin and including an upper portion, and a lower portion positioned opposite the upper portion in a vertical direction, and a torsion bar assembly coupled to the inner panel, the torsion bar assembly including a lateral bar that extends across the upper portion of the inner panel in a lateral direction that is transverse to the vertical direction, a pair of vertical bars extending downward from the lateral bar, where the pair of vertical bars and the lateral bar define an inner cavity extending along the torsion bar assembly, and the lateral bar defines an access hole that provides access to the inner cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William A. Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne, Johnny Rose, Wasim Ukra, Rajesh Chennagowni, Herb Meingast
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Patent number: 10717349Abstract: A vehicle door includes an inner panel formed from a resin and including an upper portion, and a lower portion positioned opposite the upper portion in a vertical direction, and a torsion bar assembly coupled to the inner panel, the torsion bar assembly including a lateral bar that extends across the upper portion of the inner panel in a lateral direction that is transverse to the vertical direction, a pair of vertical bars extending downward from the lateral bar, where the pair of vertical bars and the lateral bar define an inner cavity extending along the torsion bar assembly, and the lateral bar defines an access hole that provides access to the inner cavity.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2019Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William A. Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne, Johnny Rose, Wasim Ukra, Rajesh Chennagowni, Herb Meingast
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Patent number: 9315167Abstract: Bumpers and vehicles that include bumpers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a bumper includes a bumper beam assembly, where the bumper beam assembly extends in a vehicle lateral direction, the bumper beam assembly including a front side that is oriented to face forward in a vehicle longitudinal direction that is transverse to the vehicle lateral direction, and a reinforcement bracket coupled to the front side of the bumper beam assembly, the reinforcement bracket including an inboard edge coupled to the front side of the bumper beam assembly, an outboard edge coupled to the front side of the bumper beam assembly and positioned outboard of the inboard edge, and a central portion that extends between the inboard edge and the outboard edge in the vehicle longitudinal direction, where at least a portion of the central portion extends in a direction that is transverse to the vehicle longitudinal direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2014Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: William A. Hardy, Tyler E. Schnug, Kuo Sun
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Publication number: 20160096496Abstract: Bumpers and vehicles that include bumpers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a bumper includes a bumper beam assembly, where the bumper beam assembly extends in a vehicle lateral direction, the bumper beam assembly including a front side that is oriented to face forward in a vehicle longitudinal direction that is transverse to the vehicle lateral direction, and a reinforcement bracket coupled to the front side of the bumper beam assembly, the reinforcement bracket including an inboard edge coupled to the front side of the bumper beam assembly, an outboard edge coupled to the front side of the bumper beam assembly and positioned outboard of the inboard edge, and a central portion that extends between the inboard edge and the outboard edge in the vehicle longitudinal direction, where at least a portion of the central portion extends in a direction that is transverse to the vehicle longitudinal direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2014Publication date: April 7, 2016Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: William A. Hardy, Tyler E. Schnug, Kuo Sun
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Patent number: 9157466Abstract: A retention clip assembly for connecting first and second components together. The retention clip assembly includes a male member configured to engage a female member. The male member includes a body portion with a tab extending therefrom. A terminal end of the tab includes a flange projecting laterally from a side surface. The female member includes body portion having sides defining an opening into which the tab of the male member is received. A rib of the female member is located adjacent to one of the sides defining the opening so as to form a slot being between the rib and adjacent side of the opening. The flange is constantly biased into contact with the rib when the male and female members are engaged.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: William A. Hardy, Edgar C. Herrera
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Publication number: 20140082899Abstract: A retention clip assembly for connecting first and second components together. The retention clip assembly includes a male member configured to engage a female member. The male member includes a body portion with a tab extending therefrom. A terminal end of the tab includes a flange projecting laterally from a side surface. The female member includes body portion having sides defining an opening into which the tab of the male member is received. A rib of the female member is located adjacent to one of the sides defining the opening so as to form a slot being between the rib and adjacent side of the opening. The flange is constantly biased into contact with the rib when the male and female members are engaged.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2012Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: William A. Hardy, Edgar C. Herrera