Patents by Inventor John Henry Bakker

John Henry Bakker 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: 5928011
    Abstract: The present invention includes an electrical connector system utilizing a single piece slide lever system which is lockable in a pre-staged and in a final fully seated position. The slide lever is used to provide assurance of proper mating position of connector halves and to mechanically assist the mating of male and female connectors. The slide lever may also be received inside of a flexible grommet to provide a mechanical assist in making a seal between the grommet and a panel. The locking features and the slide lever may be selectively released to move the slide lever from a pre-staged position (open position) to a final seated position (closed position) locking the two connector pieces together. Likewise, the locking features on the slide lever may be released to move the slide lever from a final fully seated (closed) position back to a pre-staged (open) position to disconnect the connector pieces all while the slide lever is contained within the flexible grommet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William George Flask, Jay Harold Garretson, Greg S. Reese, John Henry Bakker
  • Patent number: 5904584
    Abstract: The present invention includes an electrical connector system utilizing a single piece slide lever system which is lockable in a pre-staged and in a final fully seated position. The slide lever is used to mechanically assist the mating of male and female connectors. The slide lever may also be received inside of a flexible grommet to provide a mechanical assist in making a seal between the grommet and a panel. The locking features and the slide lever may be selectively released to move the slide lever from a pre-staged position (open position) to a final seated position (closed position) locking the two connector pieces together. Likewise, the locking features on the slide lever may be released to move the slide lever from a final fully seated (closed) position back to a pre-staged (open) position to disconnect the connector pieces all while the slide lever is contained within the flexible grommet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William George Flask, Jay Harold Garretson, Greg S. Reese, John Henry Bakker
  • Patent number: 5879174
    Abstract: The present invention includes a first component having a dimensional variance spring for connection to a second component where alignment is critical and dimensional variances between the components may be present. Preferably, the invention includes a male blade stabilizer having a dimensional variance spring. The stabilizer includes first and second plates separated by a plurality of slots. Edges of the first and second plates are connected together by an angular web. Each plate has a plurality of apertures formed therein, each for receiving the male blade of a terminal carried by a male connector part. The angular web acts as a spring allowing movement of the plates in a direction perpendicular to the slots to assure proper fit of the stabilizer inside the connector shroud and insertion of each male blade through an associated aperture in the stabilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John George Kountz, John Henry Bakker
  • Patent number: 5834694
    Abstract: A capillary action preventor (CAP) for separating water and other liquids from a bundle of wires has a body and a cover of plastic construction that are attached to each other by a flexible plastic hinge. The body is generally bulb shaped and has an open channel at each longitudinal end that is reduced in height and width in comparison to a midsection of the body. Each channel has a pair of flexible cantilevered fingers at the top for holding a portion of a bundle of electrical wires that passes through the CAP. The body includes a comb-like structure comprising a plurality of laterally spaced, relatively stiff, vertical fingers at its midsection for separating the electrical wires. The electrical wires are supported on a plurality of narrow transverse baffles that define a sump area between the channels for the collection of water and other liquids dripping from the electrical wires. The sump area includes a drain tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John Henry Bakker, John George Kountz, Vickey Elisa Reed
  • Patent number: 5810612
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprising: a connector housing having first and second opposing sides; on each of the first and second sides, a flex arm having a first end, a second end and a central portion between the first and second ends wherein a flexible member connects the central portion of the flex arm to the side; a cam lock lever comprising first and second lever arms and a handle connecting the first and second lever arms wherein the first lever arm is pivotably mounted to the first side and the second lever arm is pivotably mounted to the second side, wherein the cam lock lever is pivotable between a first state in which it is open and a second state in which it is closed; on each of the first and second arms, first and second cam lock seats; and on each of the first ends of the first and second flex arms, first and second locks wherein when the cam lock lever is in the first state, each first lock engages one of the first seats and when the cam lock lever is in the second state, each second lock engage
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William George Flask, John Henry Bakker, William Keith Clupper, Donald John Mizner
  • Patent number: 5779186
    Abstract: A multi-part reel of molded plastic construction has two parts that are identical. Each part has a flange and an inner hub portion and an outer hub portion that are integrally connected to the flange so as to project in an axial direction; a plurality of circumferentially spaced hooks that interconnect with the hooks of the other to hold the parts together when the parts are mated and indexed in the circumferential direction; and a tangential lock arm that interlocks with the lock arm of the other to hold the parts in the indexed position. The lock arms has flexible arrow shaped heads that are aligned with access ports to visually assist in the assembly and disassembly of the reel parts and to permit disengagement of the lock arms for disassembly of the reel parts. The reel parts have axial fingers for centering the reel parts, slots for anchoring material to the reel for a winding operation and drive holes for rotating the reel in winding or feeding operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John Henry Bakker, Edward Joseph Miller, Scott Duncan Welsh
  • Patent number: 5775944
    Abstract: A sealed connector-to-body interface comprising: a substantially planar body surface; an electrical connector including a housing having a shoulder proximate to one end thereof, wherein the electrical connector is affixed to the planar body surface and the shoulder is aligned substantially parallel to the planar body surface and spaced apart therefrom, wherein the shoulder includes a first shoulder surface facing the planar body surface; and a grommet mounted to the connector extending away from the planar body surface, wherein the grommet includes an annular radially extending wall abutting the first shoulder surface and an annular lip seal compressed between the shoulder and a first side of the planar body surface facing the shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William George Flask, John Henry Bakker