Patents by Inventor James Steelman

James Steelman 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).

  • Publication number: 20070024082
    Abstract: A trim panel (10) includes at least one integrally-formed first member (12) and at least one integrally-formed second member (14) extend from an outboard surface (16) of the trim panel (10). The at least one integrally-formed first member (12) engages an inboard surface (42) of a barrier (36) to push the barrier (36) in an outboard direction. The at least one integrally-formed second member (14) extends through an opening or perforation (40) of the barrier (36) to retain the barrier (36) to the trim panel (10). The barrier (36) may be a water/acoustic ingression barrier (36). The at least one integrally-formed first member (12) causes an adhesive bead (44) arranged on an outboard surface (46) of the barrier (36) to positively engage an inboard surface (48) of an inner door panel (38). The at least one integrally-formed second member (14) extends through an opening or perforation (40) of the barrier (36) to retain the barrier (36) with the interior door trim panel (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventor: James Steelman
  • Publication number: 20070024085
    Abstract: An armrest assembly secured to a substrate comprising an armrest having a cavity and at least one tee lock, a grab handle having a least one side wing, and wherein the grab handle is secured to the cavity of the armrest by operatively engaging the at least tee lock with the at least one side wing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventor: James Steelman
  • Publication number: 20070024067
    Abstract: A door assembly comprising a door substrate having an aperture, a bell crank including a first arm having a pivot axis, a second arm, and a base therebetween, wherein the second arm extends through the aperture of the door substrate, a door handle that operatively engages the second arm of the bell crank past the aperture of the door substrate, and a back plate secured to the bell crank. A further invention is a bell crank for a door handle comprising a first arm being capable of pivoting about an axis, a second arm, and a base connecting the first arm to the second arm, wherein the first arm and the base rotate about the axis in a planar direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventor: James Steelman
  • Patent number: 6101256
    Abstract: A self-contained helmet communication system is arranged to support oral communication by sending sound waves to and receiving sound waves from an unequipped person positioned near a helmet wearer. The helmet communication system includes a protective helmet having an external microphone and speaker mounted on the helmet. The external microphone, responsive to sound waves external to the helmet, provides signals that are coupled to an internal speaker or earphone to provide a representation of the external sound waves to the wearer. An internal microphone, which is responsive to speech of the helmet wearer, provides signals representative of the helmet wearer's speech that are coupled to an external speaker. Additionally included is a signal coupler with dual audio amplifier channels to couple signals representative of external sound waves from the external microphone to the internal speaker, and to couple signals representative of speech of the wearer from the internal microphone to the external speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Inventor: James A. Steelman