Patents by Inventor Donald M. Perkins
Donald M. Perkins 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).
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Publication number: 20150204114Abstract: A latch is provided. The latch having: a housing; an intermittent lever pivotally mounted to the housing for movement between a latched position and an unlatched position; and an elastomeric feature configured to contact the intermittent lever when it is in the latched position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2015Publication date: July 23, 2015Inventors: Kurt E. Nurmi, Julia Rabago, Rogelio Terrazas, Donald M. Perkins, Carlos Tostado
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Publication number: 20150204115Abstract: A housing for a latch is provided, the housing having a strengthening feature. A vehicle door latch is provided. The vehicle door latch having: a housing having an integrally formed strengthening feature located in an exterior wall of the housing; a bumper located adjacent to an interior surface of the wall having the strengthening feature; a fork bolt rotabably mounted to the housing for movement into a closed position wherein a portion of the fork bolt contacts the bumper and applies a load to the strengthening feature of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2015Publication date: July 23, 2015Inventors: Kurt E. Nurmi, Carlos Tostado, Rogelio Terrazas, Donald M. Perkins
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Publication number: 20140292000Abstract: A latch is disclosed herein. The latch having: a fork bolt movably mounted to the latch for movement between an open position and a closed position; a detent lever movably mounted to the latch for movement between a latched position and a released position, wherein the detent lever prevents the fork bolt from moving from the closed position to the open position when the detent lever is in the latched position; a hold open lever configured to engage and retain the detent lever when it moves from the latched position to the released position; and wherein the fork bolt is configured to disengage the hold open lever from the detent lever when the fork bolt travels away from the closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Inventors: Francisco Javier Vazquez, Alfredo Martinez, Donald M. Perkins
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Publication number: 20140174215Abstract: An actuator for a shift by wire system is provided. The actuator having: a motor; a rack; a gear train configured to cause linear movement of the rack in response to rotational movement of the motor; a clutch mechanism for coupling and decoupling the rack to the motor; and a manual override for operating the clutch mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2014Publication date: June 26, 2014Inventors: Ian J. Dow, John R. Rice, Donald M. Perkins
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Patent number: 8752869Abstract: A glove box actuator is disclosed herein, the glove box actuator having: a motor; a worm gear driven by the motor, the worm gear having a spur gear configured to engage a drive gear pivotally secured to the actuator for movement between a first position and a second position; and an actuation plunger configured to engage a helical cam of the drive gear such that rotational movement of the worm gear is translated into liner movement of the actuation plunger and movement of the drive gear between the first position and the second position causes linear movement of the actuation plunger from a first position to a second position.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Inteva Products LLCInventors: Donald M. Perkins, Maxwell W. Hamilton
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Publication number: 20130270840Abstract: A latch is provided including a claw configured to rotate between an open position and a closed position. A pawl is rotatable in and out of engagement with the claw. The latch includes a first release mechanism, a second release mechanism, and a third release mechanism. The first release mechanism applies a rotational force to a first portion of the pawl to rotate the pawl out of engagement with the claw. The second release mechanism applies a rotational force to a second portion of the pawl to rotate the pawl out of engagement with the claw. The third release mechanism applies a rotational force to a first portion of the pawl to rotate the pawl out of engagement with the claw.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2013Publication date: October 17, 2013Inventors: Francisco Javier Lujan, Ian J. Dow, Fernando Burciaga, Rodrigo Alonso Galindo, Donald M. Perkins, John R. Rice
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Publication number: 20130015670Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly is disclosed herein, having: a fork bolt movably secured to the latch assembly; a detent lever movably secured to the latch assembly, the detent lever being capable of movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the detent lever retains the fork bolt in a latched position when the detent lever is in the engaged position and an engagement surface of the detent lever contacts an engagement surface of the fork bolt; an inertia block out assembly for preventing the detent lever from moving into the disengaged position when the inertia block out assembly is in a blocking position; and a manual override mechanism for the inertia block out assembly, wherein the manual override mechanism requires at least three independent actions to be performed to move the inertia block out assembly from the blocking position to an unblocking position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2012Publication date: January 17, 2013Inventor: Donald M. Perkins
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Patent number: 8282432Abstract: A terminal and electrical contact for a pair of leads of an electrical component is provided, the terminal having a pair of terminals each comprising a planar member comprising a conductive material that surrounds an opening in the planar member; and wherein one of the pair of leads is welded to one of the pair of terminals such that the lead traverses the opening and is welded to the terminal at a portion of the terminal adjacent to the opening and the other one of the pair of leads is welded to the other one of the pair of terminals such that the lead traverses the opening and is welded to the terminal at a portion of the other one of the pair of terminals adjacent to the opening, wherein the opening and the planar member are configured such that a high resistance zone is created at the portion of the terminal adjacent to the opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2011Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Inteva Products LLCInventors: Mark L. VanSlembrouck, Donald M. Perkins, David A. Vandeberghe
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Publication number: 20120061976Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly is provided, the latch assembly having: a forkbolt movably secured to the latch assembly, the forkbolt being capable of movement between a latched position and an unlatched position; a detent lever movably secured to the latch assembly, the detent lever being capable of movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the detent lever retains the forkbolt in the latched position when the detent lever is in the engaged position and a engagement surface of the detent lever contacts an engagement surface of the forkbolt; an intermittent lever for providing actuation forces to the detent lever to move it from the engaged position to the disengaged position; and a means for coupling and uncoupling the intermittent lever to the detent lever.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Inventors: Carlos I. Tostado, Donald M. Perkins, Francisco J. Lujan
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Publication number: 20110265586Abstract: A glove box actuator is disclosed herein, the glove box actuator having: a motor; a worm gear driven by the motor, the worm gear having a spur gear configured to engage a drive gear pivotally secured to the actuator for movement between a first position and a second position; and an actuation plunger configured to engage a helical cam of the drive gear such that rotational movement of the worm gear is translated into liner movement of the actuation plunger and movement of the drive gear between the first position and the second position causes linear movement of the actuation plunger from a first position to a second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2011Publication date: November 3, 2011Inventors: Donald M. Perkins, Maxwell W. Hamilton
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Publication number: 20110189904Abstract: A terminal and electrical contact for a pair of leads of an electrical component is provided, the terminal having a pair of terminals each comprising a planar member comprising a conductive material that surrounds an opening in the planar member; and wherein one of the pair of leads is welded to one of the pair of terminals such that the lead traverses the opening and is welded to the terminal at a portion of the terminal adjacent to the opening and the other one of the pair of leads is welded to the other one of the pair of terminals such that the lead traverses the opening and is welded to the terminal at a portion of the other one of the pair of terminals adjacent to the opening, wherein the opening and the planar member are configured such that a high resistance zone is created at the portion of the terminal adjacent to the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2011Publication date: August 4, 2011Inventors: Mark L. VanSlembrouck, Donald M. Perkins, David A. Vandeberghe
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Publication number: 20110133493Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly is provided, the latch assembly having: a fork bolt movably secured to the latch assembly, the fork bolt being capable of movement between a latched position and an unlatched position; a detent lever movably secured to the latch assembly, the detent lever being capable of movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the detent lever retains the fork bolt in the latched position when the detent lever is in the engaged position and a engagement surface of the detent lever contacts an engagement surface of the fork bolt; and a spring member integrally formed with the detent lever, the spring member being deflected by a bumper secured to the latch assembly when the detent lever is moved to the engaged position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2009Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventors: Donald M. Perkins, Francisco J. Lujan, Carlos I. Tostado
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Publication number: 20110133491Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly is disclosed herein, the vehicle door latch having: a forkbolt movably secured to the latch assembly, the forkbolt being capable of movement between a latched position and an unlatched position; a detent lever movably secured to the latch assembly, the detent lever being capable of movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the detent lever retains the forkbolt in the latched position when the detent lever is in the engaged position and a engagement surface of the detent lever contacts an engagement surface of the forkbolt; and an anti-bypass member secured to the latch assembly, the anti-bypass member being configured to prevent the engagement surface of the detent lever from being deflected away from the engagement surface of the forkbolt when the detent lever is in the engaged position and the forkbolt is in the latched position such that the forkbolt would be able to move to the unlatched position when the detent lever is in the engaged position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2009Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventors: Donald M. Perkins, Francisco J. Lujan, Carlos I. Tostado
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Publication number: 20110133492Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly is provided, the latch assembly having: a release lever rotatably secured to the latch assembly, the release lever being capable of being moved between a latched position and an unlatched position; an actuating link rotatably secured to the latch assembly; a bypass member rotatably secured to the latch assembly; and wherein the actuating link is capable of linear movement such that a center of rotation of the actuating link is movable between a first position and a second position and wherein the actuating link couples the release lever to the bypass member when the center of rotation of the actuating link is in the first position and the actuating link does not couple the release lever to the bypass member when the center of rotation of the actuating link is in the second position. A method for coupling a release lever of a latch assembly to a bypass lever of the latch assembly is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2009Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventors: Donald M. Perkins, Francisco J. Lujan, Carlos I. Tostado
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Publication number: 20110101707Abstract: A latch assembly is disclosed herein, the latch assembly having: a motor for moving a gear of the latch assembly between a lock position, an unlock position; and a release position, the lock position locking the latch assembly, the unlock position unlocking the latch assembly and the release position allows a fork bolt of the latch assembly to be moved into an unlatched position; a first block out lever, the first block out lever being capable of movement between a first position and a second position, the first position preventing the gear from moving from a lock or unlock position to the release position; a second block lever, the second block out lever being capable of movement between a first position and a second position, the first position preventing the gear from moving from the release position to the unlock position; and a fork bolt detent, the fork bolt detent being capable of movement between a fork bolt blocking position wherein movement of the fork bolt to an unlatched position is blocked and aType: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2010Publication date: May 5, 2011Inventors: Donald M. Perkins, Gavriel Shafry
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Patent number: 7878871Abstract: A terminal and electrical contact for a pair of leads of an electrical component is provided, the terminal having a pair of terminals each comprising a planar member comprising a conductive material that surrounds an opening in the planar member; and wherein one of the pair of leads is welded to one of the pair of terminals such that the lead traverses the opening and is welded to the terminal at a portion of the terminal adjacent to the opening and the other one of the pair of leads is welded to the other one of the pair of terminals such that the lead traverses the opening and is welded to the terminal at a portion of the other one of the pair of terminals adjacent to the opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2009Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Inteva Products, LLC.Inventors: Mark L. VanSlembrouck, Donald M. Perkins, David A. Vandeberghe
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Publication number: 20100227515Abstract: A terminal and electrical contact for a pair of leads of an electrical component is provided, the terminal having a pair of terminals each comprising a planar member comprising a conductive material that surrounds an opening in the planar member; and wherein one of the pair of leads is welded to one of the pair of terminals such that the lead traverses the opening and is welded to the terminal at a portion of the terminal adjacent to the opening and the other one of the pair of leads is welded to the other one of the pair of terminals such that the lead traverses the opening and is welded to the terminal at a portion of the other one of the pair of terminals adjacent to the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2009Publication date: September 9, 2010Inventors: Mark L. VanSlembrouck, Donald M. Perkins, David A. Vandeberghe
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Publication number: 20040232708Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a forkbolt that moves between a latched position and an unlatch position and a detent that moves between a detent position where the detent holds the forkbolt in the latched position and a release position where the detent releases the forkbolt for movement to the unlatch position. The vehicle door latch includes a detent spring that biases the detent toward the detent position and a release mechanism that moves the detent against the bias of the detent spring to the release position to release the forkbolt. The vehicle door latch also includes an auxiliary detent spring that decelerates the movement of the detent to the detent position under the bias of the detent spring to reduce noise when the detent strikes the fork bolt. An auxiliary counter spring and an alternative auxiliary helper spring are shown.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2004Publication date: November 25, 2004Inventors: Frank J. Arabia, Donald M. Perkins
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Patent number: 6811193Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a forkbolt that moves between a latched position and an unlatch position and a detent that moves between a detent position where the detent holds the forkbolt in the latched position and a release position where the detent releases the forkbolt for movement to the unlatch position. The vehicle door latch includes a detent spring that biases the detent toward the detent position and a release mechanism that moves the detent against the bias of the detent spring to the release position to release the forkbolt. The vehicle door latch also includes an auxiliary detent spring that decelerates the movement of the detent to the detent position under the bias of the detent spring to reduce noise when the detent strikes the fork bolt. An auxiliary counter spring and an alternative auxiliary helper spring are shown.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2003Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Frank J. Arabia, Jr., Donald M. Perkins
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Publication number: 20040007882Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a forkbolt that moves between a latched position and an unlatch position and a detent that moves between a detent position where the detent holds the forkbolt in the latched position and a release position where the detent releases the forkbolt for movement to the unlatch position. The vehicle door latch includes a detent spring that biases the detent toward the detent position and a release mechanism that moves the detent against the bias of the detent spring to the release position to release the forkbolt. The vehicle door latch also includes an auxiliary detent spring that decelerates the movement of the detent to the detent position under the bias of the detent spring to reduce noise when the detent strikes the fork bolt. An auxiliary counter spring and an alternative auxiliary helper spring are shown.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2003Publication date: January 15, 2004Inventors: Frank J. Arabia, Donald M. Perkins