Patents by Inventor Donald W. Hoffman

Donald W. Hoffman 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).

  • MULTI-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
    Publication number: 20130324349
    Abstract: A power transmission includes an input; an output; a first gearset including an output having a lower speed than a speed of the input; a second gearset having first, second, and third rotating elements; a second gearset having fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh rotating elements; four clutches; and two brakes. The brakes and clutches are engaged in combinations of three to produce up to eleven forward speed ratios and two reverse speed ratios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Donald W. Hoffman, Reid A. Baldwin
  • Transmission Producing Continuously Speed Ratios
    Publication number: 20110165986
    Abstract: A transmission includes an input, a variator including an output and a race connected to the input for producing a variable speed ratio between the output and the race, a gearset including a component connected to the output, and second and third components, a first clutch opening and closing a connection between the input and the second component, and a second clutch opening and closing a connection between the output and the third component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Donald W. Hoffman, David A. Janson
  • Collapsible gun rack
    Patent number: 5755342
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a collapsible outdoor gun rack wherein in one configuration, that of a gun rack, a plurality of guns can vertically rest against the gun rack, and in a second collapsible or compact configuration the present invention is reduced in size and is easy to carry when, for example, trapshooting, target shooting and/or hunting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Donald W. Hoffman