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).

  • Patent number: 12226050
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Premier Specialty Brands, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Mercer, Caitlin McNulty, William A. Hardy, John Darin McLemore
  • Publication number: 20220079383
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: Masterbuilt Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Mercer, Caitlin McNulty, William A. Hardy, John Darin McLemore
  • Patent number: 11034219
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20200238801
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20200238802
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: 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
  • Patent number: 10717349
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 9315167
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Hardy, Tyler E. Schnug, Kuo Sun
  • Publication number: 20160096496
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Hardy, Tyler E. Schnug, Kuo Sun
  • Patent number: 9157466
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Hardy, Edgar C. Herrera
  • Publication number: 20140082899
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Hardy, Edgar C. Herrera