Patents by Inventor Michael J. Wightman

Michael J. Wightman 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).

  • Alignment and retention system for laterally slideably engageable mating components
    Patent number: 9428046
    Abstract: An elastically averaged alignment system includes a first component having first and second alignment features, and a second component having third and fourth elastically deformable alignment elements. The first and second components are laterally slidably engageable with each other. The third elastically deformable alignment element is configured and disposed to interferingly, deformably and matingly engage with the first alignment feature. The fourth elastically deformable alignment element is configured and disposed to interferingly, deformably and matingly engage with the second alignment feature. Portions of the third and fourth elastically deformable alignment elements when engaged with respective ones of the first and second alignment features elastically deform to an elastically averaged final configuration that aligns the first component relative to the second component in six orthogonal directions by averaging the elastic deformation of the respective elastically deformable alignment elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Morris, Michael J. Wightman, Jennifer P. Lawall, Gordan N. Noll
  • Alignment and Retention System for Laterally Slideably Engageable Mating Components
    Publication number: 20150283898
    Abstract: An elastically averaged alignment system includes a first component having first and second alignment features, and a second component having third and fourth elastically deformable alignment elements. The first and second components are laterally slidably engageable with each other. The third elastically deformable alignment element is configured and disposed to interferingly, deformably and matingly engage with the first alignment feature. The fourth elastically deformable alignment element is configured and disposed to interferingly, deformably and matingly engage with the second alignment feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Steven E. Morris, Michael J. Wightman, Jennifer P. Lawall, Gordon N. Noll
  • Inertia balanced vehicle outside door handle
    Patent number: 8333415
    Abstract: A door handle assembly for use with a vehicle door comprising a door paddle including an actuation arm, supported to pivot about a first axis such that lateral acceleration of the paddle and actuation arm relative to the door produces a first moment about the first axis, and masses engaged with the actuation arm and supported to pivot about a second axis, the masses being arranged such that lateral acceleration of the masses relative to the door produces a second moment about the first axis that is substantially equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the first moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Houng Yue Chang, Ching-Hui Chiang, Ian S. Buckley, Chu M. Tai, Michael J. Wightman, Carolyn J. Thor
  • Inertia Balanced Vehicle Outside Door Handle
    Publication number: 20100276949
    Abstract: A door handle assembly for use with a vehicle door comprising a door paddle including an actuation arm, supported to pivot about a first axis such that lateral acceleration of the paddle and actuation arm relative to the door produces a first moment about the first axis, and masses engaged with the actuation arm and supported to pivot about a second axis, the masses being arranged such that lateral acceleration of the masses relative to the door produces a second moment about the first axis that is substantially equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the first moment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Houng Yue Chang, Ching-Hui Chiang, Ian S. Buckley, Chu M. Tai, Michael J. Wightman, Carolyn J. Thor