Patents by Inventor Joseph G. Contos

Joseph G. Contos 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: 6236180
    Abstract: A windshield washer control system for use on a vehicle is herein disclosed. The windshield washer control system for use on a vehicle having an occupant compartment with a windshield and a windshield wiper device. The wiper device is movable across a predetermined area of the windshield and the windshield washer device includes a sprayer and a sprayer nozzle. The windshield washer device is comprised of a windshield transparency detection system and a controller unit. The controller unit includes three operating modes. The first operating mode is defined by the windshield washer device being manually operable. The second operating mode is defined by the windshield washer device operating by cycle, wherein the windshield washer device is controlled to spray after a predetermined number of wiper cycles. The third operating mode is defined by the windshield washer device being automatically operable by using the windshield transparency detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph G. Contos, Mohamed S. Meskouri, Jerald P. Roach
  • Patent number: 5979952
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle latch system is aligned in a single operation without trial-and-error manipulations of the striker. An alignment mechanism is mounted on the vehicle body to align the striker on the vehicle body with the latch on the vehicle door. The alignment mechanism includes an elongated latch sensor having one end attached to a loosely mounted striker and another end adapted to mate with the door latch when the door is moved to a partially closed position. After the latch sensor has been locked in a proper position for alignment of the striker and latch, the door can be opened to allow the striker to be fastened to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Dering, Joseph G. Contos, Dennis M. Steward