Patents by Inventor William N. Vaughan
William N. Vaughan 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).
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Patent number: 7481172Abstract: A tufting needle assembly for use with a tufting machine is disclosed that comprises at least one gauge block or needle bar having a row of back gauge elements disposed thereon. The respective back gauge elements are spaced from one another a first distance along a back longitudinal axis. The tufting needle assembly further comprises a row of front gauge elements disposed on the at least one gauge block or needle bar and extending along a front longitudinal axis spaced parallel to the back longitudinal axis. At least one gauge element being spaced from one respective adjacent front gauge element at a distance greater than the first distance.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2006Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Columbia Insurance CompanyInventor: William N. Vaughan
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Publication number: 20070289512Abstract: A tufting needle assembly for use with a tufting machine is disclosed that comprises at least one gauge block or needle bar having a row of back gauge elements disposed thereon. The respective back gauge elements are spaced from one another a first distance along a back longitudinal axis. The tufting needle assembly further comprises a row of front gauge elements disposed on the at least one gauge block or needle bar and extending along a front longitudinal axis spaced parallel to the back longitudinal axis. At least one gauge element being spaced from one respective adjacent front gauge element at a distance greater than the first distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2006Publication date: December 20, 2007Inventor: William N. Vaughan
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Patent number: 7162964Abstract: A tufting needle assembly for use with a tufting machine is disclosed that comprises a first gauge block or needle bar having a first series of tufting needles disposed thereon. The respective tufting needles are spaced from one another along a first longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the gauge block. At least one tufting needle is offset with respect to the first longitudinal axis and the adjacent ones of the tufting needles in the series of tufting needles in the range of from 0.005 to 0.100 inches. The tufting needle assembly further comprises a second series of spaced tufting needles extending along a second longitudinal axis spaced parallel to the first longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2004Date of Patent: January 16, 2007Assignee: Columbia Insurance CompanyInventors: William N. Vaughan, Barrett Morton, James E. Jarrett
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Patent number: 6886477Abstract: A tufting needle assembly for use with a tufting machine is disclosed that comprises a first gauge block or needle bar having a first series of tufting needles disposed thereon. The respective tufting needles are spaced from one another along a first longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the gauge block. The tufting needle assembly further comprises a second series of spaced tufting needles extending along a second longitudinal axis spaced parallel to the first longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2002Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: Columbia Insurance CompanyInventors: William N. Vaughan, Barrett Morton, James E. Jarrett
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Publication number: 20040173134Abstract: A bow and skew reduction control system and method is disclosed. In a tufting machine, an elongate bow roll is positioned intermediate a supply of a backing material to be tufted and a cloth feed roll positioned upstream of a needle bar. The backing material is passed at least partially about the bow roll and is passed over the cloth feed roll and into a tufting zone positioned with respect to the needle bar. The bow roll is provided with an actuator operably coupled to a controller. The roll of backing material is supported at its respective ends by a pair of jack assemblies, the jack assemblies being constructed and arranged for independent operation, and for raising and lowering, respectively, the ends of the roll of backing material as instructed by the controller. At least one, or a plurality, of spaced weft yarn markers are formed or otherwise disposed on the backing material and are parallel with the weft yarns thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2004Publication date: September 9, 2004Inventors: Jeffery W. Segars, William N. Vaughan
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Patent number: 6782838Abstract: A bow and skew reduction control system and method is disclosed. In a tufting machine, an elongate bow roll is positioned intermediate a supply of a backing material to be tufted and a cloth feed roll positioned upstream of a needle bar. The backing material is passed at least partially about the bow roll and is passed over the cloth feed roll and into a tufting zone positioned with respect to the needle bar. The bow roll is provided with an actuator operably coupled to a controller. The roll of backing material is supported at its respective ends by a pair of jack assemblies, the jack assemblies being constructed and arranged for independent operation, and for raising and lowering, respectively, the ends of the roll of backing material as instructed by the controller. At least one, or a plurality, of spaced weft yarn markers are formed or otherwise disposed on the backing material and are parallel with the weft yarns thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2004Date of Patent: August 31, 2004Assignee: Columbia Insurance CompanyInventors: Jeffrey W. Segars, William N. Vaughan
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Patent number: 6776109Abstract: A bow and skew reduction control system and method is disclosed. In a tufting machine, an elongate bow roll is positioned intermediate a supply of a backing material to be tufted and a cloth feed roll positioned upstream of a needle bar. The backing material is passed at least partially about the bow roll and is passed over the cloth feed roll and into a tufting zone positioned with respect to the needle bar. The bow roll is provided with an actuator operably coupled to a controller. The roll of backing material is supported at its respective ends by a pair of jack assemblies, the jack assemblies being constructed and arranged for independent operation, and for raising and lowering, respectively, the ends of the roll of backing material as instructed by the controller. At least one, or a plurality, of spaced weft yarn markers are formed or otherwise disposed on the backing material and are parallel with the weft yarns thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2001Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: Columbia Insurance CompanyInventors: Jeffery W. Segars, William N. Vaughan
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Publication number: 20020170477Abstract: A tufting needle assembly for use with a tufting machine is disclosed. The tufting needle assembly comprises a first gauge block or needle bar having a first series of tufting needles disposed thereon. The respective tufting needles are spaced from one another along a first longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the gauge block. At least one tufting needle is offset with respect to the first longitudinal axis and the adjacent ones of the tufting needles in the series of tufting needles in the range of from 0.005 to 0.100 inches. A shank of the at least one tufting needle may be offset with respect to the first longitudinal axis and those of the adjacent tufting needles, or alternately the shank may be aligned with those of the adjacent tufting needles and a needle tip of the at least one tufting needle is offset with respect to the first longitudinal axis and the needle tips of the adjacent ones of the tufting needles in series.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2002Publication date: November 21, 2002Inventors: William N. Vaughan, Barrett Morton, James E. Jarrett
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Publication number: 20020108550Abstract: A bow and skew reduction control system and method is disclosed. In a tufting machine, an elongate bow roll is positioned intermediate a supply of a backing material to be tufted and a cloth feed roll positioned upstream of a needle bar. The backing material is passed at least partially about the bow roll and is passed over the cloth feed roll and into a tufting zone positioned with respect to the needle bar. The bow roll is provided with an actuator operably coupled to a controller. The roll of backing material is supported at its respective ends by a pair of jack assemblies, the jack assemblies being constructed and arranged for independent operation, and for raising and lowering, respectively, the ends of the roll of backing material as instructed by the controller. At least one, or a plurality, of spaced weft yarn markers are formed or otherwise disposed on the backing material and are parallel with the weft yarns thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2001Publication date: August 15, 2002Inventors: Jeffery W. Segars, William N. Vaughan
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Patent number: 6205940Abstract: A system and method for controlling the stopping point of a tufting machine in relation to a preset stitch pattern. The system includes a controller and an encoder to detect the current location of a tufting machine needle bar in the stitch pattern. Upon receipt of a stop signal, the controller insures that the needle bar is stopped at a preset stop step in the stitch pattern. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the controller first slows the main drive shaft of the tufting machine to a jogging speed prior to stopping the tufting machine, and stops the machine at the home position of the carpet pattern. Introducing a delay between receipt of the stop signal and deceleration of the main drive shaft minimizes the jogging time of the machine. The method is directed to stopping the tufting machine at a predetermined stop step and at a position relative to degrees of mainshaft rotation.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1998Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Shaw Industries, Inc.Inventors: William N. Vaughan, Douglas L. Morgan
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Patent number: 5769012Abstract: A system and method for controlling the stopping point of a tufting machine in relation to a preset stitch pattern. The system includes a controller and an encoder to detect the current location of a tufting machine needle bar in the stitch pattern. Upon receipt of a stop signal, the controller insures that the needle bar is stopped at a preset stop step in the stitch pattern. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the controller first slows the main drive shaft of the tufting machine to a jogging speed prior to stopping the tufting machine, and stops the machine at the home position of the carpet pattern. Introducing a delay between receipt of the stop signal and deceleration of the main drive shaft minimizes the jogging time of the machine. The method is directed to stopping the tufting machine at a predetermined stop step and at a position relative to degrees of mainshaft rotation.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 1997Date of Patent: June 23, 1998Assignee: Shaw Industries, Inc.Inventors: William N. Vaughan, Douglas L. Morgan