Patents by Inventor Donald R. Van Uum

Donald R. Van Uum 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: 5527198
    Abstract: A spark plug is provided which is suitable for use in a spark ignition system for an internal combustion engine. The spark plug is equipped with a specially configured firing tip on each of its electrodes for the purpose of minimizing the demand voltage of the spark plug, as well as extending the life of the spark plug by maximizing the time over which the demand voltage will remain within an acceptable level. For this purpose, the firing tips are configured such that their firing surfaces include at least three edges and three corners which serve as arc initiation sites of a relatively low resistance arc path between the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Randolph K.-K. Chiu, Keith A. Penney, Donald R. Van Uum, William T. Phillips, Jr.