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).

  • Publication number: 20240166133
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Travis D Bechtel, Richard T Stuedemann, Stacey L Berger
  • Patent number: 11648831
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Michael S Boyle, Mikil L Sockow, David C Fischer, Richard T Stuedemann
  • Patent number: 11104249
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Richard T Stuedemann
  • Publication number: 20210178874
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Michael S Boyle, Mikil L Sockow, David C Fischer, Richard T Stuedemann
  • Publication number: 20200369181
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventor: Richard T Stuedemann
  • Patent number: 7393014
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Travis D Bechtel, Sean A Bannon, William A Jolley, William J Elliot, Richard T Stuedemann
  • Patent number: 5481938
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Richard T. Stuedemann, Russell L. Herlache, Ray G. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 5423572
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Richard T. Stuedemann, Michael F. Slasinski, Indulis H. Piziks
  • Patent number: 4991458
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Richard T. Stuedemann