Patents by Inventor Richard T Stuedemann
Richard T Stuedemann 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).
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Publication number: 20240166133Abstract: In at least some implementations, a movable step for a vehicle includes a base having an upper surface and a mount adapted to be coupled to a vehicle and defining an axis of rotation of the base that is perpendicular to the upper surface of the base. The base rotates about the axis of rotation between an extended position and a retracted position. A retainer has a first position in which the retainer overlaps the base in a path of rotation of the base to prevent rotation of the base from the retracted position to the extended position, and the retainer has a second position in which the retainer does not overlap the base in the path of rotation of the base so that the base is rotatable from the retracted position to the extended position wherein the upper surface is exposed for use as a step.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2022Publication date: May 23, 2024Inventors: Travis D Bechtel, Richard T Stuedemann, Stacey L Berger
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Patent number: 11648831Abstract: A modular, multi-component hard top assembly for a vehicle having an interior with front passenger seating, rear passenger seating, and a rear cargo area is provided. In one example implementation, the hard top assembly includes a base frame configured to removably couple to a body of the vehicle, and a plurality of removable roof panels selectively coupleable to the base frame to create a substantially contiguous roof over the vehicle interior. Each removable roof panel of the plurality of removable roof panels is separately removable from the base frame to provide an open air configuration at that specific location of the hard top assembly while enabling a user to detach, remove, and transport a smaller portion of the hard top assembly without assistance or specialized equipment.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Michael S Boyle, Mikil L Sockow, David C Fischer, Richard T Stuedemann
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Patent number: 11104249Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle seat includes a seat track including a mount, a lead screw carried by the mount, a drive nut rotatable relative to the lead screw to move axially along the lead screw when the drive nut is rotated relative to the lead screw, a slide coupled to the drive nut for movement with the drive nut, and a retainer. The retainer has a lock member that is movable relative to the lead screw, the lock member has a first position in which the lock member engages and prevents axial movement of at least part of the lead screw and a second position in which the lock member permits axial movement of at least part of the lead screw.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: FCA US LLCInventor: Richard T Stuedemann
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Publication number: 20210178874Abstract: A modular, multi-component hard top assembly for a vehicle having an interior with front passenger seating, rear passenger seating, and a rear cargo area is provided. In one example implementation, the hard top assembly includes a base frame configured to removably couple to a body of the vehicle, and a plurality of removable roof panels selectively coupleable to the base frame to create a substantially contiguous roof over the vehicle interior. Each removable roof panel of the plurality of removable roof panels is separately removable from the base frame to provide an open air configuration at that specific location of the hard top assembly while enabling a user to detach, remove, and transport a smaller portion of the hard top assembly without assistance or specialized equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2020Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Michael S Boyle, Mikil L Sockow, David C Fischer, Richard T Stuedemann
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Publication number: 20200369181Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle seat includes a seat track including a mount, a lead screw carried by the mount, a drive nut rotatable relative to the lead screw to move axially along the lead screw when the drive nut is rotated relative to the lead screw, a slide coupled to the drive nut for movement with the drive nut, and a retainer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2019Publication date: November 26, 2020Inventor: Richard T Stuedemann
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Patent number: 7393014Abstract: A vehicle steering assembly includes a mounting plate having a slot and a raised contact surface adjacent to at least part of the slot and a bracket coupled to the mounting plate, adapted to support at least a portion of a steering column. A coupler extends through the slot, and has a head overlying at least a portion of the contact surface, and engages with the bracket to retain the position of the steering column mount relative to the bracket. The combined thickness of all members between the head and the connecting portion is greater when the head overlies the contact surface than when the head is not overlying the contact surface. A greater clamping force is applied by the coupler to all members between the head and the connecting portion when the head overlies the contact surface than when the head is not overlying the contact surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2005Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: Chrysler LLCInventors: Travis D Bechtel, Sean A Bannon, William A Jolley, William J Elliot, Richard T Stuedemann
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Patent number: 5481938Abstract: A position control apparatus for a raked steering column including a stationary bracket having a pair of vertical legs on opposite sides of the steering column, a spacer on the steering column between the legs of the stationary bracket, and a clamp on the steering column for squeezing the legs of the stationary bracket against the spacer. The clamp includes a long bolt spanning the legs of the stationary bracket, a nut on the bolt, a one-way clutch between a head of the bolt and the stationary bracket permitting rotation of the bolt in only a tension-increasing direction, and a snap-on operating lever rotatable as a unit with the nut. After assembly on a vehicle, the clamp afforded by the bolt can be adjusted without changing the terminal positions of the lever by rotating the head of the bolt in a tension increasing direction while the operating lever is maintained in a clamped terminal position corresponding to maximum bolt tension between the vertical legs of the stationary bracket.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 1994Date of Patent: January 9, 1996Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Richard T. Stuedemann, Russell L. Herlache, Ray G. Armstrong
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Patent number: 5423572Abstract: A steering column position control apparatus including a stationary bracket having vertical legs on opposite sides of the steering column, a spacer on the steering column between the legs of the bracket, a non-rotatable thrust plate outside of the stationary bracket bearing on one side thereof, a long bolt mounted on the spacer and projecting through the thrust plate, the spacer and a substantially vertical slot in each leg of the bracket, a non-ratable nut outboard of the opposite side of the bracket threaded on the bolt, and a lever outboard of the thrust plate rotatable as a unit with the bolt. A flex plate is attached to the thrust plate between the latter and the lever and includes a flex arm having a detent feature at a distal end thereof. In a closed position of the lever, the detent feature overlaps an edge of the lever for retention thereof in the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 1994Date of Patent: June 13, 1995Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Richard T. Stuedemann, Michael F. Slasinski, Indulis H. Piziks
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Patent number: 4991458Abstract: An anti-theft steering shaft lock includes a longitudinally split elastomeric clutch sleeve, a non-cylindrical cam section on the steering shaft, and a transverse lock bolt bodily shiftable between extended and retracted positions. The sleeve has a right cylindrical outside surface and a non-cylindrical inside surface matching the cam section on the steering shaft. The sleeve fits on the cam section and within a cylindrical bore in a stationary housing on which the shaft is rotatably supported, the bore having a greater diameter than the sleeve so that the steering shaft and sleeve are normally freely rotatable relative to the housing. In its extended position, the lock bolt projects into the slot in the split sleeve to prevent rotation of the sleeve with the steering shaft. The cam section expands and wedges the sleeve against the bore in the housing when the steering shaft is rotated relative to the sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1990Date of Patent: February 12, 1991Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventor: Richard T. Stuedemann