Patents by Inventor John R. Gietzen

John R. Gietzen 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: 9785183
    Abstract: A vehicle pedal comprising a housing for a pedal arm with a drum, a rotor coupled to the drum and including a contractor that slides against a strip of resistive material in the housing, and an assembly for setting and locking the index position of the rotor. In one embodiment, the rotor extends through a window that is defined in the housing and limits the movement of the rotor during the index setting operation. In one embodiment, a plastic pin that is either separate from or unitary with the rotor is fitted into a slot defined in the drum. In another embodiment, a potting material is deposited and cured in the slot in the drum for locking the pin in the slot. In another embodiment, the pin is unitary with the drum of the pedal arm and is press-fitted into a slot in the rotor. In a further embodiment, the drum and rotor include respective plates and the pin is a clip that locks the plates together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Murray Kaijala, Daniel Wertman, John R. Gietzen
  • Publication number: 20160357214
    Abstract: A vehicle pedal comprising a housing for a pedal arm with a drum, a rotor coupled to the drum and including a contractor that slides against a strip of resistive material in the housing, and an assembly for setting and locking the index position of the rotor. In one embodiment, the rotor extends through a window that is defined in the housing and limits the movement of the rotor during the index setting operation. In one embodiment, a plastic pin that is either separate from or unitary with the rotor is fitted into a slot defined in the drum. In another embodiment, a potting material is deposited and cured in the slot in the drum for locking the pin in the slot. In another embodiment, the pin is unitary with the drum of the pedal arm and is press-fitted into a slot in the rotor. In a further embodiment, the drum and rotor include respective plates and the pin is a clip that locks the plates together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Murray Kaijala, Daniel Wertman, John R. Gietzen
  • Patent number: 9360882
    Abstract: A vehicle pedal comprising a housing for a pedal arm with a drum, a rotor coupled to the drum and including a contactor that slides against a strip of resistive material in the housing, and an assembly for setting and locking the index position of the rotor. In one embodiment, the rotor extends through a window that is defined in the housing and limits the movement of the rotor during the index setting operation. In one embodiment, a plastic pin that is either separate from or unitary with the rotor is fitted into a slot defined in the drum. In another embodiment, a potting material is deposited and cured in the slot in the drum for locking the pin in the slot. In another embodiment, the pin is unitary with the drum of the pedal arm and is press-fitted into a slot in the rotor. In a further embodiment, the drum and rotor include respective plates and the pin is a clip that locks the plates together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: CTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Murray Kaijala, Daniel Wertman, John R Gietzen
  • Publication number: 20140090512
    Abstract: A vehicle pedal comprising a housing for a pedal arm with a drum, a rotor coupled to the drum and including a contactor that slides against a strip of resistive material in the housing, and an assembly for setting and locking the index position of the rotor. In one embodiment, the rotor extends through a window that is defined in the housing and limits the movement of the rotor during the index setting operation. In one embodiment, a plastic pin that is either separate from or unitary with the rotor is fitted into a slot defined in the drum. In another embodiment, a potting material is deposited and cured in the slot in the drum for locking the pin in the slot. In another embodiment, the pin is unitary with the drum of the pedal arm and is press-fitted into a slot in the rotor. In a further embodiment, the drum and rotor include respective plates and the pin is a clip that locks the plates together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: CTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Murray Kaijala, Daniel Wertman, John R Gietzen
  • Patent number: 5998892
    Abstract: A motor stator 400 is integrated with a position sensor 200 through a novel attachment ring 600. Electrical connection to the integrated device is through terminals 202, 210 that pass through the position sensor housing 250. The stator 400 is preferably overmolded, though other suitable forms of encapsulation are contemplated. The attachment ring 600 is preferably ultrasonically bonded to the sensor 200 during manufacture, prior to insertion of the motor armature 430. Other methods of attachment arc contemplated, and various types of motors and sensors are also contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Scott D. Smith, John Pillow, III, Murray Kaijala, John R. Gietzen, Stephen V. Stepke, Steve E. Villaire, Jeffrey A. Fritz, Michael J. Smith
  • Patent number: 5963124
    Abstract: A position sensor for sensing the position of an attached device. There is a housing having terminals and a cover attached to the housing. Resistors, conductors and conductive traces are located on the cover and electrically connected to the terminals. A rotor is positioned between the housing and the cover, and has a contactor mounted thereon for contacting the resistor and the conductor such that as the rotor rotates a resistance value indicative of the sensor position is varied. The cover has a terminal insert which connect between the conductive traces and the terminals. A leaf spring rotates the rotor back to a starting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Gary L. Buss, John R. Gietzen, James E. Haugh, Murray Kaijala, William G. Osmer, John Zdanys, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4105988
    Abstract: A tandem electrical control comprises a plurality of variable resistance sections. Each resistance section comprises a resistance element and a collector member that are carried by a base, and a contactor member that is carried by a driver, the contactor member is rotatably supported within the respective housing and wipingly engages the respective resistance element and collector member. A tubular shaft controls the forward resistance section and is rotatably supported within a bore of a mounting bushing. An inner shaft controls the rearward variable resistance section and a switch and is rotatably supported within the tubular shaft. The bore of the mounting bushing, the outside diameter of the tubular shaft, the bore of the tubular shaft, and the inner shaft are each provided with a narrowing diameter shoulder in abutting engagement with the proximate one of the shoulders for preventing impact damage to the resistance assemblies from external forces axially applied to the shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1978
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: John D. VanBenthuysen, Thomas W. Flanders, John R. Gietzen