Patents Represented by Attorney Miller Canfield
  • Patent number: 8341955
    Abstract: A pumping system is provided which is a mobile, vehicle-mounted pumping system, such as for water or fuels, which mounts on a vehicle and may be used for various applications. The pumping system operates a drive system and control system for liquid pumps almost exclusively by hydraulic fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel R. Brantley, Ivars R. Bergs, Jeffrey J. Sietsema, Michael J. Brennan
  • Patent number: 8342551
    Abstract: A running board assembly is provided for a motor vehicle having a passenger cab and a box. The running board assembly includes a housing assembly, a gear assembly disposed within the housing assembly, a running board operably coupled to the gear assembly and movable relative to the housing assembly between a stowed position tucked underneath the motor vehicle, a cab entry position generally outwardly from the motor vehicle to support a user entering or exiting the passenger cab, and a box side step disposed generally outwardly from the motor vehicle and rearward of the cab entry position to provide a user with side access to the box, and a motor operably coupled to the gear assembly for driving the gear assembly in opposing first and second directions to move the running board between the stowed position, the cab entry position, and the box side step position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventor: Bradley Eugene Watson
  • Patent number: 8336961
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided for supporting an occupant above a floor in a vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion extending between front and rear ends. The front end is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the floor for pivoting the seat cushion between a seating position and a kneeling position. A seat back is pivotally coupled to the rear end of the seat cushion and is adapted to be releasably secured to the floor. A drive link is pivotally coupled between the floor and the seat back. The drive link urges the seat back to pivot relative to the seat cushion as the seat cushion pivots between the seating and kneeling positions thereby maintaining the seat back in a generally vertical orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc
    Inventors: Peter Paul Zeimis, III, Robert J. Szybisty, Jeffrey P. Carroll, Matthew J. McLaughlin, Nelson E. Hurst, III
  • Patent number: 8328057
    Abstract: A roof rack assembly is provided for a motor vehicle roof. The roof rack assembly includes a support member adapted to be fixedly secured to the roof. The support member includes first and second flanges extending out therefrom. A crossrail is releasably coupled to the support member for movement between a stowed position and a deployed position. The crossrail is engageable with the first flange when in the stowed position and engageable with the second flange when in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Johnson, Desmond P. Jamieson, Alexander C. Laursen
  • Patent number: 8328975
    Abstract: A fixed window assembly is adapted to be fixedly secured to a door of a motor vehicle having a retractable window pane. The fixed window assembly includes a fixed window pane having an outer periphery. A division post extends along a portion of the outer periphery of the fixed window pane. A glass run is fixedly secured to the division post opposite of the fixed window pane for receiving the retractable window pane. The glass run is formed from a first moldable material. An encapsulation is molded to the fixed window pane to secure the division post thereto. The encapsulation is formed from a second moldable material that is different from the first moldable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Decoma International Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Y. Ruppert, Peter J. Ellis, Steven C. Dubay
  • Patent number: 8313144
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat back and seat cushion. A forward link pivotally extends between the seat cushion and base. A control bracket has a pair of pivotal links forming a four bar connection with the base. A control link pivotally extends between the seat cushion and control bracket. A seat back operatively coupled to the control bracket has a recliner mechanism for selectively pivoting the seat back between a forwardly folded position and a plurality of reclined seating positions. A guide link pivotally extends between the seat back and control link. Forward rotational movement of the seat cushion urges the seat back to rotate relative to the seat cushion moving the seat assembly to a stand-up position. Pivoting the seat back to the forwardly folded position urges the seat cushion to move forwardly and lower relative to the base moving the seat assembly to a kneeling position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc
    Inventor: Carl J. Holdampf
  • Patent number: 8313813
    Abstract: A process for treating a surface of an aluminium component and an aluminium component of this kind are described. The process described is characterized in that a silicon oxide layer is applied to the surface of the aluminium component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Decoma (Germany) GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Seufferlein
  • Patent number: 8308242
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided for supporting an occupant above a floor in an automotive vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion that is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the floor. The seat assembly also includes a seatback that is operatively coupled to the seat cushion for movement between an upright position and a folded position overlying the seat cushion. A linkage system is operatively coupled between the seatback, seat cushion, and the floor. The linkage system automatically moves the seat cushion downwards and forward and translates the seatback downward and rearward in response to movement of the seatback between the upright position and the folded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Nelson E. Hurst, III, Robert J. Szybisty, Jeffrey P. Carroll, Matthew J. McLaughlin, Peter Paul Zeimis, III
  • Patent number: 8303034
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a front and a back and adapted to be attached to a floor comprises a seat base and a seat back attached to the seat base, a seat belt mechanism attached to the seat base and free of the floor, a blast mitigation device attached to the seat base and adapted to be secured to the floor, wherein the blast mitigation device has a crumple zone which absorbs energy in the event of a blast, and a front impact dislocation resistance device mounted on the blast mitigation device with a pair of brackets. The front impact dislocation resistance device acts to resist separation of the seat base from the blast mitigation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: USSC Group, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew C. Gross, Christian U. Hammarskjold, Vincent P. Galie
  • Patent number: 8276983
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat back pivotally coupled to a seat cushion for movement between a generally upright seating position and a folded position overlying the seat cushion. A head restraint is slidably coupled to an upper end of the seat back for vertical movement between a use position spaced apart from the upper end and a stowed position adjacent the upper end. A mechanism is operative for automatically moving the head restraint between the use and stowed positions in response to pivoting the seat back between the seating and folded positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc.
    Inventor: Omar D. Tame
  • Patent number: 8275305
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of overseeing and adjusting the instruction and evaluation of a student with respect to one or more topics of study within a classroom. The subject matter of an academic course is studied and broken down into a plurality of discretely defined behavioral performances designed to be readily and objectively recognized as being mastered or not by a student. One or more of the discretely defined behavioral performances are then selected, with the aid of a first computerized database system, as learning objectives for the week. At the end of the week, a student is subsequently evaluated on these objectives. Results of the evaluation are then transferred to a second computerized database system, which organizes the collected data into an interactive learning management report that can be configured by a reviewer in real time to display a variety of levels of detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Foundation for Behavioral Resources
    Inventors: Ronald R. Hutchinson, Tullio J. Proni, Joseph V. Brady, Grace S. Emley
  • Patent number: 8250757
    Abstract: A seal ring arrangement generally includes a pair of opposed seal rings which define a shaft seal to prevent leakage along the shaft of rotary equipment. A seal face treatment process has been developed using seal ring machining equipment which has a laser unit that forms micro-topography depth features in the seal face and then performs a material surface treatment process to selectively alter the conductivity of the seal face so as to virtually eliminate electro-corrosion in the seal rings. The seal rings preferably are provided in a conventional combination of a carbide seal ring material for one of the seal rings and a silicon carbide material for the other seal ring. The laser machining and the laser treatment processes are preferably applied to the silicon carbide material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventor: Lionel Young
  • Patent number: 8251451
    Abstract: A recliner assembly provides pivotal movement of a seat back relative to a seat cushion for a vehicle seat. The recliner assembly includes a rotatable rod extending between a first end and a second end. A first recliner is fixedly coupled to the first end of the rod and is operable between a locked condition wherein the seat back is fixed relative to the seat cushion and an unlocked condition wherein the seat back is selectively pivotally adjustable. A second recliner is operatively coupled to the second end of the rod and is operable between the locked condition and the unlocked condition. A bushing is disposed between the second recliner and the rod. The bushing biases the second recliner against the rod to synchronize the first and second recliners to unlock simultaneously. The bushing also provides a lost motion connection to allow the first and second recliners to lock independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Jerzy Dziedzic
  • Patent number: 8250674
    Abstract: The musical headwear includes headwear having a pocket that carries an electronic audio device. The pocket has an opening, sealable via fasteners disposed across fabric surrounding the top central portion of the opening. The electronic audio device is dropped into the open pocket and then sealed inside by fastening together the fasteners proximate the top central portion of the pocket opening. Gaps on either side of the seal are provided so that a user can touch the case of the electronic audio device, the case having a touch sensitive electronic pad that actuates the unit when momentarily touched by the user. When the unit is actuated, speakers embedded in the audio unit broadcast a song, chant, or other refrain that has been pre-stored in the unit's digital memory. The unit is factory programmed to play one or more different programs responsive to momentary user contact with the touch pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventors: Gregory L. Higgins, Bob J. Higgins
  • Patent number: 8251450
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat back pivotally coupled to a seat cushion. A front leg is pivotally coupled between the cushion and a floor for providing pivotal movement of the seat cushion between a seating position and a kneel position. A front link is pivotally coupled to the cushion and includes a hook for selectively engaging a striker mounted to the floor. A seat back bracket includes an upper portion operatively coupled to the seat back allowing pivotal movement of the seat back between upright and folded positions, and a lower portion releasably coupled to the floor. The hook is engaged with the striker in the seating position to secure the seat assembly to the floor and released from the striker in response to moving the seat cushion to the kneel position to allow pivotal movement of the seat cushion between the kneel position and a tumble position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Carroll, Peter Paul Zeimis, III, Matthew J. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 8240672
    Abstract: A mechanical seal typically includes gaskets as secondary seals therein. An improved gasket is provided which has a U cup design wherein the gasket is formed with a first spring-energized groove which opens radially and has a deflectable sealing wall which is deflectable axially, and includes a second spring-energized groove which is canted at an angle relative to the axial and radial directions wherein the groove defines a sealing leg which is deflectable at an angle relative to the axial and radial directions. A support ring supports the canted sealing leg along the major extent thereof wherein an end portion of the canted sealing leg is disposed for sealing contact with an axially-extending component surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Grace, Lionel A. Young
  • Patent number: 8226063
    Abstract: An adjustment mechanism is disclosed for moving a movable member relative to a fixed member. A threaded screw is fixedly secured to the fixed member. A gear is rotatably disposed about the threaded screw. A housing includes a bore and an opening in a lower surface. A rotatably driven worm is disposed within the bore and includes a threaded outer surface that protrudes through the opening in the lower surface of the housing and threadably engages the gear. A generally U-shaped retainer strap partially surrounds the gear and is adapted to couple the housing and gear together to align and preload the worm and gear. A generally U-shaped bracket is adapted to be fixedly secured to the movable member, wherein the gear, housing, worm, and retainer strap are disposed within the bracket and the threaded screw passes through a pair of openings in the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc
    Inventor: James L. Weber
  • Patent number: 8220968
    Abstract: A mount adjustable end cap clamp lock used with an adjustable light source with one or both ends collared by a barrel-type end, which is rotatable within an end cap. The end cap has a mounting surface that works in conjunction with a fastener to secure the lighting system to an object. The clamp pad, which may extend beyond the mounting surface, is slidable relative to the end cap. When the fastener is tightened, the clamp pad slides relative to the end cap to press against the barrel to lock the barrel in angular position and secure the light source from rotating when the fastener is tightened to secure the lighting system to an object. The end cap in conjunction with the clamp pad serves a dual purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: ITC Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Hartmann, Jr., Michael K VanDuinen
  • Patent number: 8205592
    Abstract: An engine cover and method of making the same with a textured surface with an in-mold coating. A noise abatement cover for top of an engine has a textured, in-mold coated, high quality outer appearance with a core of medium density polyurethane. The method of making the cover includes applying a mold release to grained aluminum tool and applying coating to at least one side of the grained aluminum tool to form an in-mold coating on the resulting engine cover, which is preferably a single piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Eagle Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Byer, Mark Arthurs, John Bull
  • Patent number: 8196975
    Abstract: A motion restriction device is provided for selectively preventing movement of a structural member. The motion restriction device includes a container abutting against the structural member. The container is at least partially filled with a velocity-dependent material that transitions between a fluid-like state when the structural member moves at a velocity below a predetermined threshold to permit movement thereof and a solid-like state when the structural member moves at a velocity above a predetermined threshold to block movement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc
    Inventors: Krystof Peter Jankowski, Ehab Kamal, Lynn Dadeppo