Patents by Inventor Stephen W. Skillman

Stephen W. Skillman 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).

  • Steering column for a vehicle
    Patent number: 6761376
    Abstract: A vehicle steering column has a rake adjustment mechanism which includes a rake bracket having a rake slot provided with rake slot teeth. A tooth lock is supported in the rake slot with teeth opposing the rake slot teeth. A rake bolt is rotatable to a first rotative position to move the tooth lock to a retracted position with the teeth of the tooth lock out of engagement with the rake slot teeth. The bolt is axially rotatable to a second rotative position permitting the tooth lock to be moved to a locking position by a spring in which the teeth of the tooth lock engage the rake slot teeth. The bolt, when in the second rotative position, is movable, in response to an application of an impact force on the steering column to collapse the steering column, into bearing engagement with the tooth lock to positively retain the tooth lock in the locking position. The steering column is also provided with a release mechanism having shear pins and an energy absorption mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Kremer Riefe, Marvin V. Manwaring, Ray Garnet Armstrong, Ravindra Jwalapathy, Stephen W. Skillman
  • Steering column for a vehicle
    Patent number: 6659504
    Abstract: A vehicle steering column has a rake adjustment mechanism which includes a rake bracket having a rake slot provided with rake slot teeth. A tooth lock is supported in the rake slot with teeth opposing the rake slot teeth. A rake bolt is rotatable to a first rotative position to move the tooth lock to a retracted position with the teeth of the tooth lock out of engagement with the rake slot teeth. The bolt is axially rotatable to a second rotative position permitting the tooth lock to be moved to a locking position by a spring in which the teeth of the tooth lock engage the rake slot teeth. The bolt, when in the second rotative position, is movable, in response to an application of an impact force on the steering column to collapse the steering column, into bearing engagement with the tooth lock to positively retain the tooth lock in the locking position. The steering column is also provided with a release mechanism having shear pins and an energy absorption mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Kremer Riefe, Marvin V. Manwaring, Ray Garnet Armstrong, Ravindra Jwalapathy, Stephen W. Skillman
  • Steering column for a vehicle
    Publication number: 20030193180
    Abstract: A vehicle steering column has a rake adjustment mechanism which includes a rake bracket having a rake slot provided with rake slot teeth. A tooth lock is supported in the rake slot with teeth opposing the rake slot teeth. A rake bolt is rotatable to a first rotative position to move the tooth lock to a retracted position with the teeth of the tooth lock out of engagement with the rake slot teeth. The bolt is axially rotatable to a second rotative position permitting the tooth lock to be moved to a locking position by a spring in which the teeth of the tooth lock engage the rake slot teeth. The bolt, when in the second rotative position, is movable, in response to an application of an impact force on the steering column to collapse the steering column, into bearing engagement with the tooth lock to positively retain the tooth lock in the locking position. The steering column is also provided with a release mechanism having shear pins and an energy absorption mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Richard Kremer Riefe, Marvin V. Manwaring, Ray Garnet Armstrong, Ravindra Jwalapathy, Stephen W. Skillman
  • Steering column for a vehicle
    Publication number: 20020171235
    Abstract: A vehicle steering column has a rake adjustment mechanism which includes a rake bracket having a rake slot provided with rake slot teeth. A tooth lock is supported in the rake slot with teeth opposing the rake slot teeth. A rake bolt is rotatable to a first rotative position to move the tooth lock to a retracted position with the teeth of the tooth lock out of engagement with the rake slot teeth. The bolt is axially rotatable to a second rotative position permitting the tooth lock to be moved to a locking position by a spring in which the teeth of the tooth lock engage the rake slot teeth. The bolt, when in the second rotative position, is movable, in response to an application of an impact force on the steering column to collapse the steering column, into bearing engagement with the tooth lock to positively retain the tooth lock in the locking position. The steering column is also provided with a release mechanism having shear pins and an energy absorption mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Applicant: Delphi Technologies, Inc. .
    Inventors: Richard Kremer Riefe, Marvin V. Manwaring, Ray Garnet Armstrong, Ravindra Jwalapathy, Stephen W. Skillman