Patents by Inventor William J. Knight

William J. Knight 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: 20240392839
    Abstract: A connection assembly includes a male component having a male connection end portion. The connection assembly also includes a female component having a female connection end portion for receiving the male connection end within a bore defined therein, wherein the male component and the female component each have a non-circular cross-section within a connection assembly thereof. The connection assembly further includes a first plurality of teeth formed on an outer surface of the male component. The connection assembly yet further includes a second plurality of teeth formed on an inner surface of the female component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Michael E. Partyka, William J. Knight, Marcus Braem
  • Patent number: 11891107
    Abstract: A flex coupling assembly for coupling a first shaft to a second shaft of a shaft assembly. The flex coupling assembly decouples axial and torsional stiffness from bending stiffness of the shaft assembly, thereby dampening the transmission of noise and vibration between the first and second shafts. The flex coupling assembly includes an inner housing subassembly and an outer housing subassembly. The inner housing subassembly includes an inner housing and a resilient flex coupling disposed in an outer housing cavity of an outer housing of the outer housing subassembly. A retention member is fixed to an outer housing to retain the inner housing subassembly in the outer housing cavity. The inner and outer housing subassemblies can rotate and translate relative to a common axis, while the inner and the outer housings restrict bending between the inner and outer housing subassemblies, thereby restricting bending between the first and second shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Partyka, Sergio R. Molinar, William J. Knight, Terry E. Burkhard
  • Patent number: 11668349
    Abstract: A flex coupling assembly for coupling a first shaft to a second shaft of a shaft assembly. The flex coupling assembly includes a lower housing having a housing wall bounding a cavity between a first end having an end face and an open second end. A first shaft is fixed to the end face and extends along an axis. An upper flange, spaced from the lower housing, has a second shaft fixed thereto extending along the axis. A retention member, disposed in the cavity, is operably fixed to the upper flange. A resilient flex coupling, disposed between the end face and the flange, is operably fixed to the upper flange and the retention member and to the lower housing. The lower housing and the flange are moveable axially toward and away from one another and rotatably about the axis via flexing of the resilient flex coupling which dampens noise and vibrations between the first and second shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Partyka, Sergio R. Molinar, William J. Knight
  • Publication number: 20220065304
    Abstract: A flex coupling assembly for coupling a first shaft to a second shaft of a shaft assembly is provided. The flex coupling assembly includes a lower housing having a housing wall bounding a cavity between a first end having an end face and an open second end. A first shaft is fixed to the end face and extends along an axis. An upper flange, spaced from the lower housing, has a second shaft fixed thereto extending along the axis. A retention member, disposed in the cavity, is operably fixed to the upper flange. A resilient flex coupling, disposed between the end face and the flange, is operably fixed to the upper flange and the retention member and to the lower housing. The lower housing and the flange are moveable axially toward and away from one another and rotatably about the axis via flexing of the resilient flex coupling which dampens noise and vibrations between the first and second shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Michael E. Partyka, Sergio R. Molinar, William J. Knight
  • Publication number: 20220063701
    Abstract: A flex coupling assembly for coupling a first shaft to a second shaft of a shaft assembly is provided. The flex coupling assembly decouples axial and torsional stiffness from bending stiffness of the shaft assembly, thereby dampening the transmission of noise and vibration between the first and second shafts. The flex coupling assembly includes an inner housing subassembly and an outer housing subassembly. The inner housing subassembly includes an inner housing and a resilient flex coupling disposed in an outer housing cavity of an outer housing of the outer housing subassembly. A retention member is fixed to an outer housing to retain the inner housing subassembly in the outer housing cavity. The inner and outer housing subassemblies can rotate and translate relative to a common axis, while the inner and the outer housings restrict bending between the inner and outer housing subassemblies, thereby restricting bending between the first and second shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Michael E. Partyka, Sergio R. Molinar, William J. Knight, Terry E. Burkhard
  • Patent number: 11226009
    Abstract: A shaft assembly includes a yoke having a yoke body having an exterior surface extending between a first end and a second end along a first axis. The yoke body defines a first bore and a second bore. The first bore extends along the first axis between the first end and the second end. The second bore extends partially across the yoke body along a second axis that is disposed transverse to the first axis. The second bore at least partially intersects the first bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Cymbal, Carl R. Castanier, Mike E. Partyka, William J. Knight
  • Publication number: 20200011381
    Abstract: A shaft assembly includes a yoke having a yoke body having an exterior surface extending between a first end and a second end along a first axis. The yoke body defines a first bore and a second bore. The first bore extends along the first axis between the first end and the second end. The second bore extends partially across the yoke body along a second axis that is disposed transverse to the first axis. The second bore at least partially intersects the first bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: William D. Cymbal, Carl R. Castanier, Mike E. Partyka, William J. Knight
  • Patent number: 3943414
    Abstract: An electronic system pallet having a girdered false deck for the installation of a plurality of electronic units or consoles thereon to form one or more electronic systems. The units or consoles are cabled together through the girdered false deck, and are connected to one or more connector junctions in the pallet edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1976
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Leo C. Timmermeyer, Samuel Davis, William J. Knight
  • Patent number: D313744
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Inventor: William J. Knight