Patents by Inventor William R. Valance

William R. Valance 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: 20140044476
    Abstract: A connector and a method of anchoring the connector to a first object that includes providing the connector having a sleeve element and a piston element with a shaft portion, providing a through hole in the first object, and inserting the connector through the through hole and until a distal portion of one of the sleeve and/or the piston element rests against the second object. Mechanical oscillations are coupled into the piston element while the piston element is pressed towards the distal side, and thereby liquefying portions a thermoplastic material at an interface portion between the sleeve element and the piston element while a periphery of the interface portion is adjacent the circumferential wall, and causing the liquefied thermoplastic material to flow radially outward from the periphery and into structures of the first object and/or along an inner surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: WOODWELDING AG
    Inventors: Peter L. Cove, William R. Valance, Mario Lehmann, Laurent Torriani
  • Patent number: 8528299
    Abstract: A method of anchoring a connector in a lightweight building element is provided. The connector includes a sleeve element and a piston element with a shaft portion, wherein the shaft portion is guided by the sleeve element. The piston element and/or the sleeve element includes a thermoplastic material at least at an interface portion between the head portion and the sleeve portion. The method includes the steps of providing the connector, of providing a through hole in the first building layer of the lightweight building element, of inserting the connector through the through hole and until a distal portion rests against the second building layer. Therein, it may be the sleeve element or the piston element or both, the sleeve element and the piston element that rest(s) against the second building layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Woodwelding AG
    Inventors: Peter L. Cove, William R. Valance, Mario Lehmann, Laurent Torriani
  • Publication number: 20110296788
    Abstract: A method of anchoring a connector in a lightweight building element is provided. The connector includes a sleeve element and a piston element with a shaft portion, wherein the shaft portion is guided by the sleeve element. The piston element and/or the sleeve element includes a thermoplastic material at least at an interface portion between the head portion and the sleeve portion. The method includes the steps of providing the connector, of providing a through hole in the first building layer of the lightweight building element, of inserting the connector through the through hole and until a distal portion rests against the second building layer. Therein, it may be the sleeve element or the piston element or both, the sleeve element and the piston element that rest(s) against the second building layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: WOODWELDING AG
    Inventors: Peter L. Cove, William R. Valance, Mario Lehmann, Laurent Torriani