ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 26 -- United States Patent no. 12,258,052, issued on March 25, was assigned to A. Stucki Co. (Moon Township, Pa.).
"Universal backing ring" was invented by Joseph Michael Shoup (Imperial, Pa.), Ryan Douglas Abel (Moon Township, Pa.) and Mark John Hiszem (Tallmadge, Ohio).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Disclosed is a one-piece, integrally formed universal backing ring having an integrally formed, one piece annular structure with a center opening configured to be translated over a journal of a railcar axle and engage a dust guard and a dust guard fillet of the railcar axle. The annular structure includes an inner contoured surface having a profile that is contoured for a t...