Patents by Inventor William A. Keller

William A. Keller 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).

  • Publication number: 20240116133
    Abstract: Systems and methods determine alignment between a wire and a laser beam in laser joining. A system for checking alignment of a wire relative to a beam of a laser includes a controller configured to align, by tooling, the beam with a sensor system. A laser generates the beam across the wire, with the beam directed to the sensor system. The sensor system measures light intensity of the beam. A processor computes a feature parameter representative of an alignment between the wire and the beam. The processor determines whether the feature parameter is within the process specifications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Junjie Ma, John Forrest, William A. Keller, Baixuan Yang, Michael G. Poss, Blair E. Carlson
  • Patent number: 6857836
    Abstract: An all-direction transport includes a triangular wheeled platform for stable movement over a surface such as a factory, business or gymnasium floor, pathway or roadway. A load support is pivotally attached to the wheeled platform, and can pivot from a horizontal position parallel to the platform to a vertical position perpendicular to the platform. An extensible brace extends from the platform to load support when in an operative position. A pin passes through one part of the brace, which allows the load support to pick up a load from vertical position, while preventing the load support from moving beyond a predetermined limit towards horizontal. The brace is additionally removably pinned on one end to either the platform in an operative position or to the load support in a storage position, to allow the transport to be folded relatively flat. The load support additionally may be extensible in either horizontal direction, vertical direction or both. Other alternative embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Inventor: William A. Keller
  • Publication number: 20020044853
    Abstract: An all-direction transport includes a triangular wheeled platform for stable movement over a surface such as a factory, business or gymnasium floor, pathway or roadway. A load support is pivotally attached to the wheeled platform, and can pivot from a horizontal position parallel to the platform to a vertical position perpendicular to the platform. An extensible brace extends from the platform to load support when in an operative position. A pin passes through one part of the brace, which allows the load support to pick up a load from vertical position, while preventing the load support from moving beyond a predetermined limit towards horizontal. The brace is additionally removably pinned on one end to either the platform in an operative position or to the load support in a storage position, to allow the transport to be folded relatively flat. The load support additionally may be extensible in either horizontal direction, vertical direction or both. Other alternative embodiments are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventor: William A. Keller
  • Patent number: 6059515
    Abstract: A hand truck has a pivoting wedge that initiates a fracture within a bale of hay, straw and similar materials and assists in retaining the material onto the truck. The wedge pivots out of the way when not in use. A toe consists of long slender tines which may serve the dual purpose of sliding under and/or piercing baled material. The toe is removable from the hand truck for shipping and storage purposes. A guard rack is also provided to provide enhanced support for loose material carried by the truck and to prevent the material from getting caught up in the tires or being dragged inadvertently. According to a method of the invention, the hand truck is engaged with the bale, the wedge used to separate a flake, and then the flake is transported on the hand truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventors: William A. Keller, Sharon L. Keller
  • Patent number: 4275540
    Abstract: A plastic simulated brick wall free standing section adapted to be connected to other sections to form a brick wall.The plastic sections are of a open box-like structure having a simulated brick wall front. The sections are comprised of an even number of staggered tiers in which the tiers alternate in length to provide overlapping or overhanging bricks staggered between adjacent tiers one-half brick. In this fashion the sections may be inverted with respect to one another and interlocked and connected together by a pin passing through the overhanging end sections to lock the intertwined and interlocked sections together. A cap stone is provided at both the top and the bottom and extends forwardly from the front brick simulated wall a short distance so that when the sections are placed on the ground they provide a greater degree of stability while providing a pleasing appearance through the top cap stone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1981
    Assignee: Keller Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: William A. Keller
  • Patent number: 4060135
    Abstract: A sheet metal tool such as a garden rake or garden cultivator of special one piece metal construction. The garden tool such as a rake or the like is comprised of a flat body of steel which is pressed in a manufacturing operation to provide a body portion having reinforced rib strengthening structure including a continuous flange along each side thereof and a head portion bent over at right angles to the body portion and having particularly strong tines made possible by a generally U-shaped cross section at the rear but with the side walls being pressed solidly together at the tines ends to provide strength and rigidity and avoid accumulation of debris and thereby minimize rust contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1977
    Assignee: Keller Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: William A. Keller
  • Patent number: D440727
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventors: William A. Keller, Sharon L. Keller