Patents by Inventor William E. Launius, Jr.

William E. Launius, Jr. 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: 8713812
    Abstract: The axle guide has a generally rectangular base having a thickness, a top surface, and an opposite bottom surface, a first end and an opposite second end, and a right side and an opposite left side. The top surface has a lengthwise spine with less height than the thickness of the base. The first end has a threaded aperture receiving a screw which secures a planar gauge. The gauge has its own thickness, generally that of the desired gap between a wheel hub and the car body. The gauge has a generally slotted shape secured by the screw to the first end. The gauge is preferably H shaped or alternately C shaped. The slot of the gauge receives the shaft of an axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: William E. Launius, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130247397
    Abstract: The axle guide has a generally rectangular base having a thickness, a top surface, and an opposite bottom surface, a first end and an opposite second end, and a right side and an opposite left side. The top surface has a lengthwise spine with less height than the thickness of the base. The first end has a threaded aperture receiving a screw which secures a planar gauge. The gauge has its own thickness, generally that of the desired gap between a wheel hub and the car body. The gauge has a generally slotted shape secured by the screw to the first end. The gauge is preferably H shaped or alternately C shaped. The slot of the gauge receives the shaft of an axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventor: WILLIAM E. LAUNIUS, JR.
  • Patent number: 7836740
    Abstract: The axle straightening press has a female jaw and a male jaw each with a rectangular shape, a mating surface, and a transverse half channel. The dowels of the male jaw fit into holes in the female jaw upon a diagonal line on the mating surface. Preferably, the press has two identical jaws, inverted, and closed upon each other. Each jaw has a generally rectangular shape with a mating surface, a dowel, a transverse half channel, and a hole. The half channel is less than one tenth the thickness of said jaw and has flared ends for shaping the head of an axle into a cone. A Cub Scout places an axle in the channel between the jaws and strikes the press with a hammer. Removing the axle from the press, the Cub Scout places a wheel on the axle, and installs the axle upon a model car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventor: William E. Launius, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6969312
    Abstract: The hub conditioning and alignment tool for a wooden car has a cylindrical handle with two opposed faces. A first shaft extends perpendicular to the first face and a second shaft extends perpendicular to the second face. The shafts terminate in tips with depressions. In use, a child squares the hub on the first face and cones the hub on the second face with sandpaper. A child twists the first tip into the axle hole of the wheel for reaming. The steel tool reduces friction between a hub and a car and aligns a wheel with the track to increase the speed of a car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Derby Worx, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Launius, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6904694
    Abstract: The body tool has a rectangular shape with two projections and a central passage for a Pinewood Derby® car body. The holes in one projection align with the other projection. A child places a car body into the passage so the kerf for an axle aligns with the holes in the projections. Alternately, the body alignment tool has two jaws upon a threaded rod closed by a wing nut that grasp a car body. The child then drills through the holes and the car body to straighten the kerf to accept an axle. The child then removes the car body from the body tool and inserts an axle into the new kerf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Derby Worx, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Launius, Jr.
  • Patent number: D640298
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventor: William E. Launius, Jr.
  • Patent number: D675238
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventor: William E. Launius, Jr.