Patents by Inventor Joseph J. Gies, III

Joseph J. Gies, III 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: 6956468
    Abstract: The invention describes a sensor mechanism for measuring hitch articulation angle. A configuration of the contact face between hitch ball and receiver eliminates the effect of the unwanted trailer motions, such as roll and pitch while accurately registering trailer yaw motion. Also, there is no yaw slippage at the contact that was a major problem during the successive acceleration and brake maneuvers. With the freely rotating ball and shaft, the angle is measured using an angle sensor, such as an optical encoder, potentiometer, or other means. For the case of a relative angle sensor, automatic zero angle calibration can be used to allow an absolute angle measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yong H. Lee, Weiwen Deng, Willard A. Hall, Thomas R. Brown, Joseph J. Gies, III