Patents by Inventor William Keith Comer

William Keith Comer 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).

  • Light weight tubular twist beam
    Patent number: 9156329
    Abstract: A tubular twist beam comprises a tubular body 20 including a U-shaped groove 22, tubular end sections 28, and transition sections 26 therebetween. The width w of the U-shaped groove 22 decreases continuously from each transition section 26 to a center point C of the tubular body 20 and is narrowest at the center point C to shift stress from the transition sections 26 to an area around the center point C. The tubular body 20 also includes depressions 24 along side walls 38 of each transition section 26 to direct stress to the underside of the U-shaped groove 22 and further balance the stress levels along the length of the tubular body 20. Thus, the tubular body 20 can be formed with a reduced thickness t and thus a reduced weight without sacrificing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Erik Peters, William Keith Comer
  • LIGHT WEIGHT TUBULAR TWIST BEAM
    Publication number: 20150115564
    Abstract: A tubular twist beam comprises a tubular body 20 including a U-shaped groove 22, tubular end sections 28, and transition sections 26 therebetween. The width w of the U-shaped groove 22 decreases continuously from each transition section 26 to a center point C of the tubular body 20 and is narrowest at the center point C to shift stress from the transition sections 26 to an area around the center point C. The tubular body 20 also includes depressions 24 along side walls 38 of each transition section 26 to direct stress to the underside of the U-shaped groove 22 and further balance the stress levels along the length of the tubular body 20. Thus, the tubular body 20 can be formed with a reduced thickness t and thus a reduced weight without sacrificing performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher Erik Peters, William Keith Comer