Patents by Inventor Jeffrey W. Heston

Jeffrey W. Heston 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: 5342126
    Abstract: A twist lock for attaching a plastic shell of a thermal probe to a structural member such as a plastic intake manifold of an internal combustion engine in a socket in the structural member. The twist lock includes hooks on the plastic shell which traverse an annular shoulder at the bottom of the socket through notches in the shoulder when the shell is inserted in the socket and which are captured by the shoulder when the shell is rotated in the socket from an unlocked position to a locked position. The twist lock further includes a lug on the shell cooperating with a cam edge on a resilient lip around an open end of the socket to afford tactile representation of the progress of the shell toward and achievement of the locked position and to prevent reverse rotation of the shell from the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Heston, Marc D. Polanka, Jeffrey A. Rock, Scott A. Geiger
  • Patent number: 5026298
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprising matable electrical plug and socket connectors includes a primary lock for locking the electrical connectors in a fully mated position and a connector position assurance device for assuring that the electrical connectors are fully mated. The connector position assurance device is slideably mounted on the electrical socket connector and includes a resilient lock arm that cooperates with a lock projection of the electrical plug connector to provide a redundant primary lock if the electrical connectors are fully mated. When the electrical connectors are partially mated the connector position assurance device will either fully mate the electrical connectors and lock them together or push them apart depending upon the degree of partial mating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Stacy A. Brussalis, Jeffrey W. Heston, Stewart L. Yang