Patents by Inventor Stephen B. Provost

Stephen B. Provost 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).

  • Apparatus for reducing vibrations in a vehicle
    Patent number: 8991574
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for reducing vibrations in a frame of a vehicle. The apparatus may include a housing component and a mass damper coupled to the housing component by a first elastic member and a second elastic member. The mass damper is configured to oscillate in a substantially vertical direction and out of phase with the frame of the vehicle. Disposed within the mass damper is a plurality of steel shots capable of movement in a relatively delayed phase with respect to the mass damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen B. Provost, Kelly Michael Banks
  • Apparatus for Reducing Vibrations in a Vehicle
    Publication number: 20100320046
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for reducing vibrations in a frame of a vehicle. The apparatus may include a housing component and a mass damper coupled to the housing component by a first elastic member and a second elastic member. The mass damper is configured to oscillate in a substantially vertical direction and out of phase with the frame of the vehicle. Disposed within the mass damper is a plurality of steel shots capable of movement in a relatively delayed phase with respect to the mass damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen B. Provost, Kelly Michael Banks
  • Spare tire dynamic damper
    Patent number: 7837075
    Abstract: A spare tire dynamic damper for a vehicle comprises a mounting frame, at least one support plate, and a moveable spare tire attachment plate spaced between the at least one support plate and the mounting frame, wherein the spare tire attachment plate is configured to move in the space between the mounting frame and the at least one support plate. In this embodiment, the spare tire dynamic damper comprises a pair of coil springs, wherein each coil spring is extended from opposite faces of the spare tire attachment plate, and one or both of the coil springs is configured to oscillate upon the movement of the spare tire attachment plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen B. Provost, IV, Clete V. Zurcher, Tetsuya Kimura
  • SPARE TIRE DYNAMIC DAMPER
    Publication number: 20080245828
    Abstract: A spare tire dynamic damper for a vehicle comprises a mounting frame, at least one support plate, and a moveable spare tire attachment plate spaced between the at least one support plate and the mounting frame, wherein the spare tire attachment plate is configured to move in the space between the mounting frame and the at least one support plate. In this embodiment, the spare tire dynamic damper comprises a pair of coil springs, wherein each coil spring is extended from opposite faces of the spare tire attachment plate, and one or both of the coil springs is configured to oscillate upon the movement of the spare tire attachment plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Stephen B. Provost, Clete V. Zurcher, Tetsuya Kimura