Patents by Inventor Dan Scott Colvin

Dan Scott Colvin 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).

  • Method and system for automatic wheel positioning
    Patent number: 8849518
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically angularly positioning wheels of an automotive vehicle after parking. The system disclosed here includes a power-assisted steering system coupled to the wheels. Further, the system includes a controller, coupled to the steering system, which is configured to automatically position the wheels in a desired direction, based on a determination that the vehicle is parked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Barney D. Nefcy, Marvin Paul Kraska, Walt Joseph Ortmann, Brian ‘Ninja’ Soo, Dan Scott Colvin, David Tourner
  • Trailer connection assist system
    Patent number: 8308182
    Abstract: A trailer connection assist system includes a towing vehicle having a hitch receiver, a trailer having a trailer hitch, a system controller, a position sensor provided on the hitch receiver and the trailer hitch and communicating with the system controller, a vehicle motor of the towing vehicle interfacing with the system controller, vehicle wheels of the towing vehicle interfacing with the vehicle motor and a steering system connected to the system controller and the vehicle wheels and adapted to steer the vehicle wheels. The system controller is adapted to operate the vehicle motor and the steering system responsive to input from the position sensor. A method of aligning a hitch with a hitch receiver provided on a towing vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Walt Joseph Ortmann, Marvin Paul Kraska, Dan Scott Colvin, Brandon R. Masterson
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC WHEEL POSITIONING
    Publication number: 20110276225
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically angularly positioning wheels of an automotive vehicle after parking. The system disclosed here includes a power-assisted steering system coupled to the wheels. Further, the system includes a controller, coupled to the steering system, which is configured to automatically position the wheels in a desired direction, based on a determination that the vehicle is parked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Barney D. Nefcy, Marvin Paul Kraska, Walt Joseph Ortmann, Brian Ninja Soo, Dan Scott Colvin, David Tourner
  • Trailer Connection Assist System
    Publication number: 20100013188
    Abstract: A trailer connection assist system includes a towing vehicle having a hitch receiver, a trailer having a trailer hitch, a system controller, a position sensor provided on the hitch receiver and the trailer hitch and communicating with the system controller, a vehicle motor of the towing vehicle interfacing with the system controller, vehicle wheels of the towing vehicle interfacing with the vehicle motor and a steering system connected to the system controller and the vehicle wheels and adapted to steer the vehicle wheels. The system controller is adapted to operate the vehicle motor and the steering system responsive to input from the position sensor. A method of aligning a hitch with a hitch receiver provided on a towing vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Walt Joseph Ortmann, Marvin Paul Kraska, Dan Scott Colvin, Brandon R. Masterson