The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 05, 2014
Filed:
Dec. 26, 2013
Little Engine Llc, Gastonia, NC (US);
Franz W. Kellar, Gastonia, NC (US);
Harold Lloyd Crowder, Jr., Concord, NC (US);
Scott M. Duquette, Clemmons, NC (US);
Little Engine, LLC, Gastonia, NC (US);
Abstract
A bearing apparatus includes: (a) an inner member comprising rigid material with a first contact surface; (b) an outer member comprising rigid material with a second contact surface; (c) an annular intermediate member between the inner and outer members, and having: (i) a third contact surface including first bearing elements contacting the first contact surface to define a first bearing interface, each first bearing element including a raised central portion flanked beam portions; and (ii) a fourth contact surface including second bearing elements contacting the second contact surface to define a second bearing interface, each second bearing element including a raised central portion flanked by a pair of beam portions; (d) wherein the contact surfaces of each bearing interface are wear-resistant; and (e) wherein the bearing elements are shaped and sized so as to conform in an irregular shape to the at least one contact surface.