Patents by Inventor Zachary A. Connaughton

Zachary A. Connaughton 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: 10733917
    Abstract: In an example, a system includes a bracket and a fastener. The bracket includes a distal bracket portion defining an aperture. The aperture includes a first aperture section of a first width and a second aperture section of a second width. The second width is less than the first width. The bracket includes a proximal bracket portion extending from the distal bracket portion, a cavity defined by the distal bracket portion and the proximal bracket portion, and a magnet in the cavity and coupled to the proximal bracket portion. The fastener includes a stem extending from a first end to a second end. The first end is configured to couple to an object. The fastener includes a ferromagnetic retainer at the second end of the stem. The ferromagnetic retainer has a third width that is less than the first width and greater than the second width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Carl A. Davison, Zachary A. Connaughton, Nikolas R. Campanello
  • Publication number: 20200126456
    Abstract: In an example, a system includes a bracket and a fastener. The bracket includes a distal bracket portion defining an aperture. The aperture includes a first aperture section of a first width and a second aperture section of a second width. The second width is less than the first width. The bracket includes a proximal bracket portion extending from the distal bracket portion, a cavity defined by the distal bracket portion and the proximal bracket portion, and a magnet in the cavity and coupled to the proximal bracket portion. The fastener includes a stem extending from a first end to a second end. The first end is configured to couple to an object. The fastener includes a ferromagnetic retainer at the second end of the stem. The ferromagnetic retainer has a third width that is less than the first width and greater than the second width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Carl A. Davison, Zachary A. Connaughton, Nikolas R. Campanello
  • Patent number: 10364965
    Abstract: In an example, a fastener for coupling a light-emitting device to a composite panel assembly is described. The fastener includes a fastener head including an anchor portion and a retainer portion. The fastener also includes a plug extending from the anchor portion of the fastener head. The plug includes an axial retention structure configured to axially retain the plug in a bore of a composite panel assembly. The retainer portion extends as a cantilever structure from the anchor portion. The retainer portion is configured to press a light-emitting device toward a light-transmission channel of the composite panel assembly when the plug is axially inserted in the bore of the composite panel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Wentland, Zachary A. Connaughton, Kenneth M. Reynolds