Patents by Inventor Darren L. Harmon
Darren L. Harmon 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).
-
Patent number: 9496639Abstract: An electrical connection adapted for providing an electro-mechanical connection through a hole in a wall of a wheeled vehicle is disclosed. It includes an interior cable that meets SAE standard J560 and which includes an interior plug portion that has a 6-around-1 female electrical connector array. The electrical connection also includes a socket that meets SAE standard J560 and is adapted via a male interior 6-around-1 electrical connector array to provide an electrical connection to the interior cable. A gasket member is separately formed from the interior plug portion and includes a central opening sized and shaped to receive through it a connection of the interior cable plug and the socket. The gasket forms an uninterrupted water seal with the exterior side of the wall of the wheeled vehicle. One or more guide members are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darren L. Harmon, Alfredo Haros Hernandez, Leoncio Trejo Aguilar, Gumaro Carrizales Espinosa
-
Publication number: 20160268721Abstract: An electrical connection adapted for providing an electro-mechanical connection through a hole in a wall of a wheeled vehicle is disclosed. It includes an interior cable that meets SAE standard J560 and which includes an interior plug portion that has a 6-around-1 female electrical connector array. The electrical connection also includes a socket that meets SAE standard J560 and is adapted via a male interior 6-around-1 electrical connector array to provide an electrical connection to the interior cable. A gasket member is separately formed from the interior plug portion and includes a central opening sized and shaped to receive through it a connection of the interior cable plug and the socket. The gasket forms an uninterrupted water seal with the exterior side of the wall of the wheeled vehicle. One or more guide members are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2015Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Darren L. Harmon, Alfredo Haros Hernandez, Leoncio Trejo Aguilar, Gumaro Carrizales Espinosa
-
Patent number: 9045093Abstract: An electrical power supply device for a trailer lighting system behind a truck is disclosed. The trailer lighting system including at least two FMVSS 108 compliant LED stop-tail-turn lamps. The electrical power supply device has an outer casing including a terminal to be electrically attached to and become part of the trailer lighting system. There are a plurality of electrically conductive wires within the casing. At least one of the wires is selected from one or more of the group consisting of low copper usage wire. The device has an over-current protection device along at least one which breaks current flow through the one wire below at an amperage threshold less than 25 amperes.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.Inventors: Robert H. Dobrow, Timothy W. Brooks, Darren L. Harmon, Alfredo H. Hernandez, Shelly Ong, Eric Thorstensen
-
Patent number: 8912721Abstract: A lamp and lamp driver are disclosed, in which single intensity marker lamps that are desired to be flashed can be connected to a lamp driver employing an exclusive OR (XOR) logic circuit. In one application, this lamp driver is coupled to a vehicle turn function wire and marker function wire, and a plurality of marker lamps in a row can be of the same style, but one lamp can be flashed in the row of marker lamps. In some embodiments, if all of the marker lamps are on, the lamp being driven by the XOR driver circuit will flash out of sequence with the turn signal flash. If all of the marker lamps are off, the lamp being driven by the XOR driver circuit will flash in sequence with the turn signal flash. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2011Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.Inventors: Timothy W. Brooks, Peter H. Thompson, Darren L. Harmon
-
Publication number: 20140265837Abstract: An electrical power supply device for a trailer lighting system behind a truck is disclosed. The trailer lighting system including at least two FMVSS 108 compliant LED stop-tail-turn lamps. The electrical power supply device has an outer casing including a terminal to be electrically attached to and become part of the trailer lighting system. There are a plurality of electrically conductive wires within the casing. At least one of the wires is selected from one or more of the group consisting of low copper usage wire. The device has an over-current protection device along at least one which breaks current flow through the one wire below at an amperage threshold less than 25 amperes.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventors: Robert H. Dobrow, Timothy W. Brooks, Darren L. Harmon, Alfredo H. Hernandez, Shelly Ong, Eric Thorstensen
-
Patent number: 8740628Abstract: Lamp plugs are disclosed, in which single intensity marker lamps that are desired to be flashed can be connected to a lamp driver employing an exclusive OR (XOR) logic circuit. In one embodiment, the lamp plug is an overmolded subsystem that is installed between the lamp and the lamp driver and allows the installer to use existing wire harnesses. In some embodiments, the overmolded subsystem is installed under a standard lamp where a plug is typically plugged in; therefore staying on the vehicle and not needing to be replaced with the lamp. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.Inventors: Timothy W. Brooks, Charles D. Polley, Darren L. Harmon, Eric Thorstensen
-
Patent number: 8272896Abstract: A plug assembly comprises a molded plug first and second ends, front and back surfaces, and extending along a longitudinal axis. The plug includes a socket extending from the front surface at least partially through the plug along a width axis. The socket defines at least one hole extending at least partially therethrough. The plug assembly also includes a retainer at least partially molded within the plug, with a first end adjacent the first end of the plug and a second end adjacent the second end of the plug. Additionally, the plug assembly includes a first wire set connected to the socket within the plug. The plug assembly further includes a first securing member securing the first wire set to the retainer within the plug, adjacent the first end of the retainer, to hold the first wire set in a fixed position within the plug during the overmolding process.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2011Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darren L. Harmon, Thomas J. Schulz, William E. Marvell
-
Publication number: 20120153827Abstract: A lamp and lamp driver are disclosed, in which single intensity marker lamps that are desired to be flashed can be connected to a lamp driver employing an exclusive OR (XOR) logic circuit. In one application, this lamp driver is coupled to a vehicle turn function wire and marker function wire, and a plurality of marker lamps in a row can be of the same style, but one lamp can be flashed in the row of marker lamps. In some embodiments, if all of the marker lamps are on, the lamp being driven by the XOR driver circuit will flash out of sequence with the turn signal flash. If all of the marker lamps are off, the lamp being driven by the XOR driver circuit will flash in sequence with the turn signal flash. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2011Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventors: Timothy W. Brooks, Peter H. Thompson, Darren L. Harmon
-
Publication number: 20120156897Abstract: Lamp plugs are disclosed, in which single intensity marker lamps that are desired to be flashed can be connected to a lamp driver employing an exclusive OR (XOR) logic circuit. In one embodiment, the lamp plug is an overmolded subsystem that is installed between the lamp and the lamp driver and allows the installer to use existing wire harnesses. In some embodiments, the overmolded subsystem is installed under a standard lamp where a plug is typically plugged in; therefore staying on the vehicle and not needing to be replaced with the lamp. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2011Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventors: TIMOTHY W. BROOKS, CHARLES D. POLLEY, DARREN L. HARMON, ERIC THORSTENSEN
-
Publication number: 20110223797Abstract: A plug assembly comprises a molded plug first and second ends, front and back surfaces, and extending along a longitudinal axis. The plug includes a socket extending from the front surface at least partially through the plug along a width axis. The socket defines at least one hole extending at least partially therethrough. The plug assembly also includes a retainer at least partially molded within the plug, with a first end adjacent the first end of the plug and a second end adjacent the second end of the plug. Additionally, the plug assembly includes a first wire set connected to the socket within the plug. The plug assembly further includes a first securing member securing the first wire set to the retainer within the plug, adjacent the first end of the retainer, to hold the first wire set in a fixed position within the plug during the overmolding process.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Inventors: Darren L. Harmon, Thomas J. Schulz, William E. Marvell
-
Patent number: 7963006Abstract: A device configured to maintain an electric circuit in a fixed position during an overmolding process comprises a wire retainer configured to hold the electric circuit taut and in a fixed position while being molded within a molded item. The retainer has a first end and an opposite second end, and includes a first bushing defining a mounting hole for the molded item extending along a width axis. The built-in bushing includes front and back surfaces configured to be aligned and substantially co-planar with the front and back surfaces of the molded item. The device also includes a first securing member configured to secure a portion of the electric circuit to the retainer within the molded item, to hold the electric circuit in a fixed position within the molded item during the overmolding process.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2007Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darren L. Harmon, Thomas J. Schulz, William E. Marvell
-
Publication number: 20090049661Abstract: A device configured to maintain an electric circuit in a fixed position during an overmolding process comprises a wire retainer configured to hold the electric circuit taut an in a fixed position while being molded within a molded item. The retainer has a first end and an opposite second end, and includes a first bushing defining a mounting hole for the molded item extending along a width axis. The built-in bushing includes front and back surfaces configured to be aligned and substantially co-planar with the front and back surfaces of the molded item. The device also includes a first securing member configured to secure a portion of the electric circuit to the retainer within the molded item, to hold the electric circuit in a fixed position within the molded item during the overmolding process.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2007Publication date: February 26, 2009Inventors: Darren L. Harmon, Thomas J. Schulz, William E. Marvell
-
Patent number: 7435093Abstract: A nosebox assembly for making electrical connection between a tractor and a trailer comprises a nosebox housing with an interchangeable connector assembly and a terminal plate assembly, both configured to mountable within the nosebox housing. The interchangeable connector assembly includes a plurality of primary conducting pins extending therefrom and configured as a socket, each of the pins being adapted to receive connection to a circuit. The interchangeable connector assembly is detachably mounted inside the nosebox housing and is easily removable for repair or replacement. The terminal plate assembly includes a plurality of secondary conducting pins extending therefrom. Additionally, the terminal plate assembly includes a plurality of auxiliary pins extending therefrom to provide additional connection points to the circuits received from the primary conducting pins.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2008Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darren L. Harmon, Mark D. Noe
-
Patent number: 6855006Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid electrical connector for a lamp-to-harness interface, which comprises two connector halves. The first connector half includes an overmolded connector, preferably formed from injection molded PVC, which has terminals of a first sex at one end and wires at a second end. Each wire is electrically coupled to a respective one of the terminals. The overmolded connector has formed therearound a hard shell shroud which is substantially rigid and includes a first locking feature thereon. The second half of the connector comprises a hardshell connector having terminals of a second sex therein and a second locking feature thereon. By coupling the hardshell shroud to the hardshell connector and engaging the first and second locking features, the first terminals in the overmolded connector are caused to mate with the second terminals in the hardshell connector.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2001Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.Inventors: Timothy W. Brooks, Darren L. Harmon, Don L. Weidman, Robert E. Fisher, Jr.
-
Publication number: 20030224660Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid electrical connector for a lamp-to-harness interface, which comprises two connector halves. The first connector half includes an overmolded connector, preferably formed from injection molded PVC, which has terminals of a first sex at one end and wires at a second end. Each wire is electrically coupled to a respective one of the terminals. The overmolded connector has formed therearound a hard shell shroud which is substantially rigid and includes a first locking feature thereon. The second half of the connector comprises a hardshell connector having terminals of a second sex therein and a second locking feature thereon. By coupling the hardshell shroud to the hardshell connector and engaging the first and second locking features, the first terminals in the overmolded connector are caused to mate with the second terminals in the hardshell connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2001Publication date: December 4, 2003Inventors: Timothy W. Brooks, Darren L. Harmon, Don L. Weidman, Robert E. Fisher
-
Patent number: 6558167Abstract: The present invention provides a nosebox having an interchangeable connector assembly contained in a housing, for making electrical connection between a tractor and a trailer. The nosebox housing is sized to receive electrical conduits in excess of the size and/or number (seven) proscribed by the SAE J-560 standards and is adapted to securely attach to either the tractor or the trailer. The nosebox housing includes a cover member hingedly attached to a tray member. When closed, the cover member seals against the tray member, thus preventing water from entering the interior of the box. Additionally, the interior of the nosebox is contoured for directing electrical conduits without pinching them. The interchangeable connector assembly is detachably mounted inside the nosebox housing and is easily removable for repair or replacement. The interchangeable connector assembly also meets SAE-J560b standard.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2001Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darren L. Harmon, Merrill W. Nay, Mark D. Noe
-
Publication number: 20020098718Abstract: The present invention provides a nosebox having an interchangeable connector assembly contained in a housing, for making electrical connection between a tractor and a trailer. The nosebox housing is sized to receive electrical conduits in excess of the size and/or number (seven) proscribed by the SAE J-560 standards and is adapted to securely attach to either the tractor or the trailer. The nosebox housing includes a cover member hingedly attached to a tray member. When closed, the cover member seals against the tray member, thus preventing water from entering the interior of the box. Additionally, the interior of the nosebox is contoured for directing electrical conduits without pinching them.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2001Publication date: July 25, 2002Inventors: Darren L. Harmon, Merrill W. Nay, Mark D. Noe