Curriculum Vitae
John
D. Pratt, Ph.D., P.E.
44 Argos •
Laguna Niguel, CA. 92677
Office (949) 363-8205 •
Cell (949) 705-7860
E-mail: john.pratt@argos-engineering.com
Through Argos Engineering, John
D. Pratt provides new product development consulting for the
Aerospace Fastener and Aircraft Interiors industries, as well
as litigation consulting in the areas of mechanisms, latches
and fasteners.
Before retiring as an aerospace industry
executive in 2005, Dr. Pratt co-invented and led the development
of the post-9/11 secure (terrorist-proof) cockpit door decompression
latches now installed on half the world's fleet of aircraft.
Previously Dr. Pratt invented and commercialized the first
viable blind fastening system for laminated composites. After
24 years, that system (Monogram Aerospace Fasteners' Composi-Lok©)
remains the one of the most-used structural blind fasteners
for composite airframe assembly. Recent litigation consulting
projects have included aircraft engine cylinder head bolt failure
analysis, aircraft hanger wind-induced anchorage loss, and
motor home retractable bunk mechanism analysis.
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- Fasteners
- Latching
Mechanisms
- Accident Reconstruction
- Aircraft Rapid Decompression
- Engineering, Structural
- Failure Analysis
- Kinematics Analysis
- Mechanisms
- Products Liability
- Wind Load Analysis
| 2001 |
University
of California,
Irvine, CA |
Ph.D. – Civil
Engineering — Structural Mechanics (Airframe
Joint Behavior) |
| 1998 |
California
State University, Fullerton, CA |
M.S.M.E. |
| 1996 |
California
State University, Fullerton, CA |
B.S.M.E. |
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| Type
of Matter: |
Personal
Injury / Defective product (Motor Home Overhead
Bunk Mechanism) |
| Law
Firm: |
Adorno
Yoss Alvarado & Smith, Brea, CA |
| Case
Name: |
Cline
v. Winnebago et al. |
| Services
Provided: |
Litigation
Consulting, Expert Witness |
| Disposition: |
Pending |
| Date: |
2006 |
|
| Type
of Matter: |
Wrongful
Death (Loss of Airplane Hangar Anchorage in High Winds) |
| Law
Firm: |
Clayson,
Mann, Yaeger & Hansen, Corona, CA |
| Case
Name: |
Cornelison
v. Wilmer |
| Services
Provided: |
Litigation
Consulting, Expert Witness |
| Disposition: |
Pending |
| Date: |
2006 |
|
| Type
of Matter: |
Property
Loss (Water Intrusion into Residence during High Winds) |
| Law
Firm: |
Tharpe
& Howell, Sherman Oaks, CA |
| Case
Name: |
Ostrewich
v. Fire Insurance Exchange et al. |
| Services
Provided: |
Litigation
Consulting, Expert Witness |
| Disposition: |
Pending |
| Date: |
2006 |
|
| Type
of Matter: |
Patent
Infringement |
| Law
Firm: |
Barnes
and Thornburg, Chicago, IL |
| Case
Name: |
Hartwell
Corp. v. Adams-Rite |
| Services
Provided: |
Litigation
Consulting |
| Disposition: |
Pending |
| Date: |
2005 |
|
| Type
of Matter: |
Patent
Infringement |
| Law
Firm: |
Barnes
and Thornburg, Chicago, IL |
| Case
Name: |
Hartwell
Corp. v. Harper Engineering |
| Services
Provided: |
Litigation
Consulting, Settlement Discussions |
| Disposition: |
Settled |
| Date: |
2005 |
|
| Type
of Matter: |
Airplane
Crash — Wrongful Death (Engine Cylinder Bolt Failure) |
| Law
Firm: |
Maloney
Horn Bean & Hull, Irving, TX |
| Case
Name: |
Moyer
v. Superior Air Parts |
| Services
Provided: |
Litigation
Consulting |
| Disposition: |
Pending |
| Date: |
2005 |
|
| Type
of Matter: |
Patent
Infringement |
| Law
Firm: |
Barnes
and Thornburg, Chicago, IL |
| Case
Name: |
Hartwell
Corp. v. Avibank Div. of SPS Inc. |
| Services
Provided: |
In-House
Expert (PMK) |
| Disposition: |
Settled |
| Date: |
2003-2004 |
|
| Type
of Matter: |
Helicopter
Crash — Personal Injury (Cargo Door Latch Failure) |
| Law
Firm: |
Kaplan
von Ohlen, Chicago, IL |
| Case
Name: |
Dart
Aero v. Hartwell Corporation |
| Services
Provided: |
In-House
Expert (PMK), Testing |
| Disposition: |
Settled |
| Date: |
2003-2005 |
|
| Type
of Matter: |
Helicopter
Accident — Wrongful Death (Tail Boom Loss, Riveted
Repairs) |
| Law
Firm: |
Jones
Hirsch Connors & Bull, New York, NY |
| Case
Name: |
Tate
v. Textron |
| Services
Provided: |
Expert
Witness, Litigation Consulting, Deposition |
| Disposition: |
Settled |
| Date: |
1999-2001 |
|
| Type
of Matter: |
Trademark
Infringement |
| Law
Firm: |
Textron
in-house Counsel, Providence, RI |
| Case
Name: |
Cherry
Div. of Textron Inc. v. Allfast Inc. |
| Services
Provided: |
In-House
Expert (PMK) |
| Disposition: |
Settled |
| Date: |
1995 |
|
| Type
of Matter: |
Patent
Infringement |
| Law
Firm: |
Knobbe,
Martin, Olsen & Bear, Newport Beach, CA |
| Case
Name: |
Huck
International v. Cherry Div. of Textron Inc. |
| Services
Provided: |
In-House
Expert (PMK), Deposition |
| Disposition: |
Settled |
| Date: |
~ 1995 |
|
| Type
of Matter: |
Products
Liability (Leaking Roof) |
| Law
Firm: |
Textron
in-house Counsel, Providence, RI |
| Case
Name: |
1988
Olympics Skating Oval Roof Leakage |
| Services
Provided: |
In-House
Expert (PMK), Arbitration Proceedings |
| Disposition: |
Settled |
| Date: |
Mid-1990s |
|
| Type
of Matter: |
Federal
Anti-Trust |
| Law
Firm: |
Williams
and Connelly, Washington, DC |
| Case
Name: |
Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) action against Textron (Docket #
9226) |
| Services
Provided: |
Deposition,
FTC Testimony before Administrative Law Judge (Twice) |
| Disposition: |
Settled |
| Date: |
1992 |
|
| Type
of Matter: |
Patent
Infringement |
| Law
Firm: |
Monogram
Industries in-house Counsel, Gardenia, CA |
| Case
Name: |
Olympic
Fastening Systems v. Monogram Aerospace Fasteners |
| Services
Provided: |
In-House
Expert (PMK), Deposition |
| Disposition: |
Settled |
| Date: |
1979 |
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| From: |
June
2005 |
| To: |
Present |
| Organization: |
Argos
Engineering, Laguna Niguel, CA |
| Title: |
Principal |
| Summary: |
Argos
Engineering provides litigation consulting, deposition
and trial testimony, expert reports and failure analysis.
Argos engineering has relationships with local laboratories
for in-depth mechanical testing and metallurgical analysis.
Argos Engineering offers litigation consulting and expert
witness services in the following areas:
- Fasteners and mechanically-fastened joint failures.
- Latching mechanisms and latched joint failures, particularly
aircraft structural latches.
- Wind-induced building damage.
- Aircraft rapid decompression.
- Mechanism kinematics and failure analysis.
- Metal forming (hot and cold forging) and processing
(heat treatment, finishing).
|
|
| From: |
August
2000 |
| To: |
June
2005 |
| Organization: |
Hartwell
Corporation, Placentia, CA |
| Title: |
Vice
President, Engineering |
| Summary |
Oversaw
all new product development and engineering, including
development of engine nacelle latches for the Airbus A380,
A318, A400M, B787 and RJ700/900 Series aircraft. Also
co-invented and led the development of the post-9/11 secure
cockpit door decompression mechanisms presently in use
on half of the world's fleet of commercial transport aircraft. |
|
| From: |
March
1988 |
| To: |
August
2000 |
| Organization: |
Textron
Aerospace Fasteners, Santa Ana, CA |
| Title: |
Vice
President, Research and Development
(Started as Director
R&D) |
| Summary |
Led the
development of various solid shank and blind fastener systems.
Founded Textron Sports Technology operation within TAF
in 1995 and led that group until its relocation to a commercial
Textron division in 1999. |
|
| From: |
February
1979 |
| To: |
March
1988 |
| Organization: |
Monogram
Aerospace Fasteners, Los Angeles, CA |
| Title: |
Engineering
Manager |
| Summary: |
Led the
product development and standardization efforts. Invented
Composi-Lok (I & II), Visu-Lok II and other product lines,
accounting for sales in excess of $250 million since 1983.
Represented company at MIL-HDBK-5, NASC and other standardization
activities. |
|
| From: |
August
1969 |
| To: |
February
1979 |
| Organization: |
Olympic
Fastening Systems, Downey, CA |
| Title: |
Sr. Project
Engineer, R&D (Started as Drafter Trainee) |
| Summary: |
Product
development and manufacturing engineering activities, including
fastener installation tooling and progressive header tooling.
Designed hydraulic-pneumatic installation tools for Olympic's
and competitor's product lines. |
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- Professional Engineering License (Mechanical
Engineering), CA, 1979
- National Academy of Forensic Engineers
(NAFE)
- National Society of Professional Engineers
(NSPE/CSPE)
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers
(ASME)
- American Society of Civil Engineers
(ASCE)
- American Society of Metals (ASM)
- Society of Forensic Engineers and Scientists
(SFES-Candidate)
- American Academy of Forensic Sciences
(AAFS-Candidate)
- Current Chairman of the finite element
analysis working group (FEAWG) of FAA/DoD MMPDS — the
handbook used by aircraft designers for allowable materials
and joint properties.
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| Patent |
Date |
Description |
| 6,866,227 |
03/15/2005 |
Pressure responsive blowout latch with reservoir |
| 6,866,226 |
03/15/2005 |
Pressure responsive blowout latch |
| 6,261,042 |
07/17/2001 |
Quick-release fastener system |
| 6,171,038 |
01/09/2001 |
Tapered shank rivet |
| 5,957,642 |
09/28/1999 |
Cleat system |
| 5,941,539 |
08/24/1999 |
Fastener system with expandable nut body |
| 5,938,384 |
08/17/1999 |
Fastener system |
| 5,884,923 |
03/23/1999 |
Fastener system with expandable nut body |
| 5,692,865 |
12/02/1997 |
Quick release fastener system |
| 5,620,287 |
04/15/1997 |
Fastener system with controlled clamping load |
| 5,378,098 |
01/03/1995 |
Hole filling blind rivet |
| 5,354,160 |
10/11/1994 |
Composite fastener |
| 5,333,980 |
08/02/1994 |
Buckling semi-solid rivet |
| 5,152,648 |
08/06/2002 |
Blind fastener for composite materials |
| 5,131,107 |
07/21/1992 |
Method of making a blind fastener |
| 5,066,179 |
11/19/1991 |
Blind fastener |
| 5,056,973 |
10/15/1991 |
Bulb fastener |
| 5,052,870 |
10/01/1991 |
Bulb fastener |
| 5,046,348 |
09/10/1991 |
Blind fastener for composite materials |
| 4,967,463 |
11/06/1990 |
Method of fastening panels using drive nut blind fasteners |
| 4,767,248 |
08/30/1988 |
Fastener for securing panels of composite materials |
| 4,752,169 |
06/21/1988 |
Flush break blind bolt |
| 4,747,204 |
05/31/1988 |
Method of installing drive nut blind fasteners with cap
nuts |
| 4,681,494 |
07/21/1987 |
Drive nut blend fastener with cap nut |
| 4,659,272 |
04/21/1987 |
Blind fastener with torque lock |
| 4,659,271 |
04/21/1987 |
Flush break blind fastener |
| 4,548,533 |
10/22/1985 |
Wedge-type fastener |
| 4,537,542 |
08/27/1985 |
Wedge-type low profile fastener |
| 4,457,652 |
07/03/1984 |
Composite buckling blind fastener |
| 4,451,189 |
05/19/1984 |
Bulb rivet |
| 4,376,604 |
03/15/1983 |
Blind fastener for composite materials |
- "Fastening of Advanced Composites,"
NASA conference, 1983, Seattle, WA
- "Testing and Analysis of Mechanically-Fastened
Lap Joints," Ph.D. Dissertation, John D. Pratt (2001)
- "Analytical Modeling of Bolted Lap
Joint Load-Elongation Behavior," Journal
of Aerospace Engineering,
January 2002 (ASCE)
- "Comparative Load-Elongation Behavior
of Single-Bolted and Dual-Bolted Lap Joints," Journal
of Aerospace Engineering, April 2002 (ASCE)
- "The Influence of Conical Head
Geometry on the Slip Resistance of Bolted Joints," Journal
of Aerospace Engineering, October 2002 (ASCE)
- "Rapid Decompression of Pressurized
Aircraft," Journal of Failure Analysis
and Prevention, December
2006 (ASM)
July 10-11, 2005: NAFE, Chicago, IL
October 15-16, 2005: SFES, Concord, CA
January 21-23, 2006: NAFE, Washington, DC
January 28-29, 2006: SFES, Santa Monica,
CA
February 20-24, 2006: AAFS, Seattle, WA
March 25-26, 2006: SFES, Yosemite, CA
October 7-8, 2006: SFES, Incline Village,
NV
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