Patents by Inventor William E. Nagengast
William E. Nagengast 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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Patent number: 9494297Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of a solar-powered lighting fixture includes a solar panel electrically connected to a control circuit, a rechargeable battery to store electrical energy generated by the solar panel, and a LED module with a lens, wherein the lens has a plurality of integral optical elements comprising an inner refracting surface and an outer refracting surface, and the control circuit is capable of charging the battery by adjusting the charge current from the solar panel to the battery, automatically powering the at least one light-emitting diode on and off, and automatically adjusting the level and duration of electrical current provided to the at least one light-emitting diode. In at least one embodiment, the control circuit includes a microprocessor to calculate an operational profile based on the charge stored in the battery and an anticipated power requirement.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2011Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Continental Manufacturing, LLCInventors: William E. Nagengast, Judy Nagengast, Steven F. Tregilgas, Jerry D. Heiniger
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Patent number: 9206964Abstract: A convertible lighting fixture includes a first housing defining a first compartment and a second housing defining a second compartment and movably attached to the first housing. The lighting fixture further includes a mounting plate attached to the second housing, a light source attached to the mounting plate and electrically connected to a power source disposed within the first compartment, and a cover substantially surrounding the light source. In at least one embodiment, the lighting fixture includes a wire harness configured to electrically connect the power source with the light source, wherein the wire harness includes a plurality of wires, a harness jacket surrounding the plurality of wires, and a sealant disposed within the harness jacket, wherein the sealant at least partially fills voids within the harness jacket and prevents liquids from translating through the wire harness.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2015Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: ECO Lighting Solutions, LLCInventors: Joe R. Marsh, David J. Packard, William E. Nagengast, James S. Mellinger, Judy Nagengast
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Publication number: 20150131287Abstract: A convertible lighting fixture includes a first housing defining a first compartment and a second housing defining a second compartment and movably attached to the first housing. The lighting fixture further includes a mounting plate attached to the second housing, a light source attached to the mounting plate and electrically connected to a power source disposed within the first compartment, and a cover substantially surrounding the light source. In at least one embodiment, the lighting fixture includes a wire harness configured to electrically connect the power source with the light source, wherein the wire harness includes a plurality of wires, a harness jacket surrounding the plurality of wires, and a sealant disposed within the harness jacket, wherein the sealant at least partially fills voids within the harness jacket and prevents liquids from translating through the wire harness.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2015Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: Joe R. Marsh, David J. Packard, William E. Nagengast, James S. Mellinger, Judy Nagengast
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Patent number: 8950907Abstract: A convertible lighting fixture includes a first housing defining a first compartment, a second housing defining a second compartment and movably attached to the first housing, the second housing having a surface adjacent the first compartment. The lighting fixture further includes a mounting plate attached to the second housing and at least partially separating the second compartment from a third compartment, a light source mechanically attached to the mounting plate and electrically connected to a power source disposed within the first compartment, and a cover defining the third compartment and substantially surrounding the light source, the cover reversibly attached to the second housing opposite the first housing, where the first, second, and third compartments are arranged to thermally insulate the power source from the light source.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2013Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Inventors: David J. Packard, William E. Nagengast, James S. Mellinger, Judy Nagengast
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Publication number: 20130329434Abstract: A convertible lighting fixture includes a first housing defining a first compartment, a second housing defining a second compartment and movably attached to the first housing, the second housing having a surface adjacent the first compartment. The lighting fixture further includes a mounting plate attached to the second housing and at least partially separating the second compartment from a third compartment, a light source mechanically attached to the mounting plate and electrically connected to a power source disposed within the first compartment, and a cover defining the third compartment and substantially surrounding the light source, the cover reversibly attached to the second housing opposite the first housing, where the first, second, and third compartments are arranged to thermally insulate the power source from the light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2013Publication date: December 12, 2013Inventors: David J. Packard, William E. Nagengast, James S. Mellinger, Judy Nagengast
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Patent number: 5539625Abstract: A vehicle headlamp adjuster for aiming a headlamp unit is provided including a housing for connection with a generally fixed portion of the vehicle, the housing having first and second ends; a drive screw mounted by and projecting through the housing, the drive screw having a first end for connection with the headlamp unit and a second end extending from the second end of the housing; a drive train mounted by the housing to translate the drive screw to adjust the headlamp unit; a transparent end cap connected to the second end of the housing and encircling the second end of the drive screw; and a slider having a first end slidably mounted on the housing and a second end slidably mounted on the end cap. The slider is translationally frictionally held in position and is adjacent to the second end having indication markings to determine the position of the drive screw.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1995Date of Patent: July 23, 1996Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Richard E. Turley, Jr., Michael E. O'Shaughnessey, William E. Nagengast, Steven V. Horsman
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Patent number: 5424923Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly is provided which includes a bulb; a reflector housing mounting the bulb; at least one rod pivotally connected to the housing; an adjuster body encircling the rod and threadably engaged therewith, the adjuster body having an insertion end generally opposite the reflector housing and a slot on the insertion end; a vehicle panel with an aperture for receipt of the adjuster body insertion end; and a slider mounted for relative movement with respect to the panel. The slider has an aperture with a first dimension for receipt of the insertion end of the adjuster body, and the slider aperture has a second end with a smaller dimension for encircling the adjuster body adjacent the slot.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1994Date of Patent: June 13, 1995Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Paul Young, Randall J. Smith, William E. Nagengast, Brian E. Witte
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Patent number: 5402325Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly is provided including a reflector housing having a forward face and a rearward face intersected by a bore, the rearward face having a generally annular flat with a series of depressions; a bulb providing a source of illumination positioned generally adjacent the reflector housing forward face; a bulb housing providing an electrical connection for the bulb and for mounting the bulb, the bulb housing having a first portion inserted within the housing bore and a second portion positioned generally adjacent to the reflector housing rear face annular flat contacting the same; a generally annular retainer having a first portion extending through the reflector housing bore and a second portion contacting the rear face of the reflector housing within the depressions of the rear face, the retainer also having an interlocking flange spaced from the second portion with biasing tabs for retaining the bulb housing within the reflector housing bore and urging the bulb housing against the reflectType: GrantFiled: December 28, 1993Date of Patent: March 28, 1995Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Jan A. Wisler, Chad E. Spencer, David R. McMahan, William E. Nagengast
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Patent number: 5360282Abstract: A ball and socket joint arrangement for mounting a vehicle headlamp assembly to a vehicle is provided which in a preferred embodiment includes a body connected with the headlamp assembly and having an interior spheroid aperture intersected by first and second apertures with a plug in the second aperture, a portion of the plug forming the spheroid aperture; a ball for pivotally mounting within the body spheroid aperture having pivotal motion on at least two axes, the ball having a bore generally aligned with the first aperture and a circumferential groove, the circumferential groove forming a slot with the bore in two geometrically spaced locations; a rod connected with the vehicle for insertion into the bore of the ball and having a circumferential groove aligned with the circumferential groove of the ball; and an omega spring mounted within the circumferential groove of the ball retaining the rod to the ball after insertion of the rod into the bore of the ball by projecting into the slot of the ball and locaType: GrantFiled: January 13, 1994Date of Patent: November 1, 1994Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: William E. Nagengast, Leslie H. Hallgarth, Brian E. Witte, Paul E. Young, Jr.
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Patent number: 5351170Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly provided with an adjustment device for adjusting the position of a lamp unit and wherein the adjustment device is combined with a rotatable recalibration arrangement that includes a position indicator in the form of a disk member provided with teeth at its periphery and in which the teeth of the disk member are shielded by a wall so as to prevent accidental movement of the disk member when the latter is positioned to indicate the aimed position of the lamp unit in the horizontal plane.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1993Date of Patent: September 27, 1994Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: William E. Nagengast, David R. McMahan, Jan A. Wisler, Luis A. Mateos, Michael W. Ballentine
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Patent number: 5253154Abstract: A leveling arrangement for a vehicle headlamp that includes a support portion formed in the upper portion of the reflector member that has a spirit level member mounted thereon which is characterized in that it includes a living hinge serving as a pivotal connection for a depending member fastened to a substantially vertically oriented surface of the support portion so that rotation of screw means carried by the spirit level results in pivotal movement and calibration of the spirit level relative to the optical axis of the reflector member.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1992Date of Patent: October 12, 1993Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: David R. McMahan, William E. Nagengast, Terry L. Coombs, Bradley A. Merrill, Ronald A. Wheat, Jan A. Wisler
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Patent number: 5251111Abstract: A ventilation system for a composite head lamp that utilizes a one-way valve arrangement for permitting ventilating air to flow into and out of the headlamp but prevents splash water from entering the interior of the headlamp.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1992Date of Patent: October 5, 1993Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: William E. Nagengast, David R. Mc Mahan
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Patent number: 5151849Abstract: A leveling arrangement for a vehicle headlamp that includes a slot formed in the upper portion of the reflector member in which a spirit level member is located and combined with a spring clip which is fastened to the reflector member and to one end of the spirit level member and includes a leaf spring which continuously biases the other end of the spirit level member in one direction so that an adjustment screw threadably received by the spirit level member permits the aforementioned other end of the spirit level member to be raised or lowered for providing calibration of the spirit level member relative to the optical axis of the reflector member.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1991Date of Patent: September 29, 1992Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: William E. Nagengast, Philip C. Filosa
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Patent number: 5113331Abstract: A vehicle headlamp having a reflector housing member closed by a lens member which is locked to the reflector housing member by concealed fastener means and serves to maintain the two members in a fixed relationship with each other during the curing of an adhesive location between the outer edges of the two members.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 1991Date of Patent: May 12, 1992Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventor: William E. Nagengast
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Patent number: 5095410Abstract: A retainer arrangement for a replaceable lamp bulb assembly that cooperates with a vent formed in the reflector body of a headlamp for establishing a labyrinth type flow path for air to enter and exit the interior of the headlamp.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1991Date of Patent: March 10, 1992Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: William E. Nagengast, David R. McMahan, Philip C. Filosa, Harry L. Kirchenbauer
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Patent number: 5010455Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly having a retainer of a replaceable light bulb assembly that includes three circumferentially spaced sections each independently attached to the rear of the reflector and located around the opening which receives the light bulb of the light bulb assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1990Date of Patent: April 23, 1991Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: John M. Luallin, William E. Nagengast, Robert G. Roeske
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Patent number: 5003446Abstract: A headlamp having a mounting hole formed in the curved outer surface of a reflector housing along an axis which is generally parallel to the optical axis of the housing and which is adapted to receive a push-in type vent device formed with a skirt having a configuration that provides a good sealing relationship with the curved outer surface of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1990Date of Patent: March 26, 1991Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: William E. Nagengast, James S. Mellinger, David R. McMahan
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Patent number: 4991067Abstract: A headlamp assembly having a retainer for a replaceable light bulb that can be positioned on the reflector housing from either side of the retainer and in various rotational positions thereof and still serve to receive and maintain the light bulb in the proper position relative to the reflector housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 1989Date of Patent: February 5, 1991Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventor: William E. Nagengast
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Patent number: 4974123Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly having a lamp unit supported by three ball pivots each of which is connected to the reflector member of the lamp unit through a pair of socket portions which encapsulate the ball portion of the associated ball pivot and are connected together by a fastener accessible from above the headlamp assembly and which, when removed, allows the lamp unit to be released from the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 1989Date of Patent: November 27, 1990Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: John M. Luallin, William E. Nagengast
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Patent number: D698991Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2013Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Continental Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Steven F. Tregilgas, William E. Nagengast