Patents Assigned to Control Products Inc.
  • Patent number: 6662913
    Abstract: A motor vehicle shock absorber (12) that has an additional or further spring biased fluid control valve (96) that disposed between the blow-off valve (46) and the compression chamber (34) of the shock absorber (12) and that provides enhanced damping performance characteristics during relatively low velocity movements of the piston assembly (24) in the recoil stroke direction, that is, at velocities lower than those which cause the blow-off valve (46) of the shock absorber (12) to open. The further spring biased fluid control valve (96) affords the shock absorber (12) a firmness vis-a-vis roll stability to the vehicle steering yet provides the consumer a desired “boulevard” or soft cushioned ride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Gabriel Ride Control Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Srinath Nandyal
  • Patent number: 6662491
    Abstract: An insecticide dispenser for use in eliminating insect larvae in a container of water includes a pouch defining a closed chamber. There is a predetermined amount of a water releasable granule carried insecticide within the chamber. The pouch has a filter portion with openings of a size to permit the passage of water into the chamber and to permit the passage of water-released insecticide out of the chamber into a surrounding container of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Clarke Mosquito Control Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Roderick A. Flinn, William C. Jany, Joseph A. Naro
  • Patent number: 6621668
    Abstract: A solid state arc suppression circuitry is defined for placement in parallel extending over the mechanical contacts of a conventional coil and contact mechanical relay mechanism for the purpose of eliminating arcing between the relay contacts which usually occurs immediately prior to closing thereof or immediately after opening thereof. This arc suppression circuitry includes a first circuitry section positioned in parallel with respect to the coil energizing circuit which is activated simultaneously with activating the coil and which is operable through an optical coupling device to activate a second solid state circuit which is positioned extending in parallel with respect to the relay contact to eliminate the transient arching currents thereover during opening and closing of the contacts. The sensing circuit preferably includes a light emitting diode photocoupled to an optotriac for linking operation of the first and second solid state circuits with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Zytron Control Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge Sare
  • Patent number: 6528781
    Abstract: A detection apparatus comprising a device adapted for transmitting a transmitted serial data stream and receiving a received serial data stream, and further comprising a sensor adapted for receiving the transmitted serial data stream from the device, returning the received serial data stream to the device when a transmission medium is in a Data Pass Through State, and not returning the received serial data stream to the device when the transmission medium is in a No Data Pass Through State. The transmission medium is influenced by an external event. The device verifies the received serial data stream against the transmitted serial data stream to verify the transmission medium is in the Data Pass Through State and to determine whether the external event has influenced the transmission medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Control Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R L Olson, Eardley L. Ham, Andrew J. Pichotta
  • Patent number: 6411082
    Abstract: A multi-turn non-contacting rotary shaft position sensor that determines a positional parameter of a rotating shaft. The sensor converts the rotational movement of an input shaft to a linear translational movement of a magnetic element. A magnetically sensitive sensor is provided in a fixed location in close proximity to the magnetic element within the flux field of that magnetic element. As the input shaft rotates, the magnetic element moves along that linear path toward or away from the magnetically sensitive sensor so that the sensor detects the change in the magnetic flux imposed by the magnetic element. That change in magnetic flux is used to determining a positional parameter of the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Control Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Glasson
  • Patent number: 6347692
    Abstract: A shock absorber cartridge for use in a shock absorber assembly. The shock absorber cartridge includes a cartridge containment member having an inner cavity, an opening, and a lip about the opening. The shock absorber cartridge also includes an inner shock assembly disposed substantially in the inner cavity of the cartridge containment member. The inner shock assembly includes an inner shock cylinder. The lip of the cartridge containment member engages-the outer surface of the inner shock assembly, preferably at the outer surface of the inner shock cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Gabriel Ride Control Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Hoyte, Stephen H. Bell
  • Patent number: 6343677
    Abstract: The motor vehicle shock absorber selectively enables the selective realtime adjustments to the shock absorber damping based on driving conditions and desired driving characteristics. The adjustments are achieved by using a solenoid assembly to exert a valve closing force, which is selectively adjustable, on the compression valve and so as to control the damping characterization of a shock absorber. The design and construction of the compression head assembly and end cap assembly of the shock absorber permit these assemblies to be manufactured as subassemblies and then brought together and expeditiously assembled so as to minimize the cost of manufacturing the shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Gabriel Ride Control Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen H. Bell
  • Patent number: 6341678
    Abstract: A vehicular suspension strut or shock absorber of the type which is connected to a wheel spindle by means of a mounting bracket and which operates in conjunction with a helical coil spring is disclosed. The suspension strut includes a strut body that has upper and lower increased diameter portions or dimples which form lands for receiving the spring seat assembly and the lower mounting bracket, respectively. The spring seat assembly is adapted to be mounted on and held in place by the upper increased diameter portion or dimples, and the lower mounting bracket is adapted to be mounted on the lower increased diameter portion or dimples, which advantageously avoids having to separately weld the spring seat assembly and mounting bracket to the strut body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Gabriel Ride Control Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Hoyte, Stephen H. Bell
  • Patent number: 6265709
    Abstract: A proximity detection apparatus for detecting objects within a predetermined space. The apparatus comprises a transmitter, a receiver, a processor, and a power supply that provides electrical potential to the transmitter, the receiver, and the processor. The processor produces transmitted data bursts to the transmitter, the transmitter emits optical data bursts toward the predetermined space where, if the object is present, the optical data bursts reflect off of the object as return optical bursts. The receiver detects the return optical bursts and transmits received data bursts to the processor. The processor compares the received data bursts against the transmitted data bursts to verify that the object is present in the predetermined space. The processor produces an output signal to control equipment based the object being present or absent from the predetermined space. A dispensing system embodiment may include a portion control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Control Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R L Olson, Eardley L. Ham, Andrew J. Pichotta
  • Patent number: 6253888
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for controlling damping in a shock absorber based on the relative acceleration between the shock main body and the piston rod extended from the shock main body. The shock absorber has a reservoir compartment and a fluid-filled internal chamber divided into a compression compartment and a rebound compartment by a movable piston. A piston rod is connected to the piston and extends through a seal in the rebound end of the internal chamber. The shock absorber contains flow passages connecting, and normally allowing fluid to flow between, the reservoir compartment, the compression compartment and the rebound compartment. Fluid flow in the flow passages, which is directly related to the relative motion between the shock main body and the piston rod assembly, is allowed or inhibited based on the relative acceleration between shock absorber components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Gabriel Ride Control Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Bell, Robert P. Carlstedt
  • Patent number: 6234061
    Abstract: A sensor mountable within a hydraulic cylinder provides a precision signal indicative of the position of the piston utilizing a non-contacting electromechanical transducer. The sensor includes a flexible connector attached between the cylinder piston and a converting element for sensing the displacement of the cylinder piston. The converting element comprises a pick-up spool coupled to the other end of the connector and rotatable about an axis. The spool is under tension from a spring coupled to the spool. A lead screw engages threads on the interior of the spool, and translates along an axis when the spool rotates. A transducer is disposed to sense the position of the lead screw, and provides an output signal proportional to the motion or position of the movable element. The transducer may be an LVDT or other non-contacting transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Control Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Glasson
  • Patent number: 6231449
    Abstract: An apparatus for damping vibrations between the torque producing device and the transmission of torque has a member having a pair of generally parallel plates with a spacer bar disposed between the plates, and an output member disposed between the plates. The input and output members are angularly movable with each other about a common axis and relative to each other from neutral positions. A torsional damping member is disposed between the input and output members, the torsional damping members being in contact with the spacer bar and enclosed within an annular chamber formed between the input and output members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Torsional Control Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Youngerman, Donald D. Pippel
  • Patent number: 6213262
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for controlling and making real-time adjustments to damping in a shock absorber based on driving conditions and desired driving characteristics. The shock absorber has a reservoir compartment and a fluid-filled internal chamber divided into a compression compartment and a rebound compartment by a movable piston. A piston rod is connected to the piston and extends through a seal in the rebound end of the internal chamber. The shock absorber contains flow passages connecting, and normally allowing fluid to flow between, the reservoir compartment, the compression compartment and the rebound compartment. Fluid flow in the flow passages, which is directly related to the relative motion between the shock main body and the piston rod assembly, is controlled by providing a variable valve closing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Gabriel Ride Control Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen H. Bell
  • Patent number: 6202972
    Abstract: An improved seat suspension system including, in combination, an air spring and shock absorber, which comprise an air spring member and a shock absorber member, respectively. The air spring member and shock absorber member are longitudinally coupled to provide support and damping along a longitudinal axis. The air spring member and shock absorber member are coupled in a manner that enables them to be readily separated and independently serviced. A seat suspension also comprises a seat moveably coupled to a seat base that has a support structure. The combination air spring and shock absorber is interposed between the seat and the seat base to govern relative motion between the seat and the seat base. The combination air spring and shock absorber is rotationally coupled at each end to allow angular motion between the longitudinal axis of the combination air spring and shock absorber and the centerline of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Gabriel Ride Control Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Bob Manavi
  • Patent number: 6112868
    Abstract: An externally adjustable dampening control for a shock absorber provides the ability to adjust the hardness and softness of the ride near the normal curb/ride height, and still give strong resistance, and hence control, when the piston moves beyond the intermediate region. The adjustable dampening control includes a bypass for permitting fluid to bypass the piston when the piston is within an intermediate region of the cylinder corresponding to the normal curb/ride height of the shock. The bypass includes a valve body extending longitudinally along a portion of the hollow cylinder and defining a flow passage having first and second longitudinally spaced ports opening to cylinder and defining a flow passage having first and second longitudinally spaced ports opening to the internal chamber. Resistance to piston movement can be adjusted by rotating a knob to move a second piston into and out of the flow passage, thereby adjusting the amount of fluid that can flow through the bypass flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Gabriel Ride Control Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Graham, Srinath Nandyal
  • Patent number: 5996982
    Abstract: An annular nut cooperates with threaded sectors, which are formed on the reservoir tube of a shock absorber having a coil over spring preload, to provide for adjustment of the preload. The threaded sectors are equispaced angularly about the longitudinal axis of the reservoir tube of the shock absorber, and the threads of the threaded sectors are disposed in the planes that are substantially traverse to the longitudinal axis of the reservoir tube. The annular nut abuts the adjacent end of the coil over spring and the spring end is attached to the nut so that the spring and annular nut rotate together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Gabriel Ride Control Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen H. Bell
  • Patent number: D454464
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Thermal Control Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Mogler, Joseph B. Wilby
  • Patent number: D475641
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Control Products Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Glasson
  • Patent number: D476242
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Control Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Glasson
  • Patent number: D421929
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: International Traffic Control Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay Hernandez