Patents by Inventor Altaf S. Imam
Altaf S. Imam 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).
-
Patent number: 9168894Abstract: Apparatus are provided for notifying a driver of an open vehicle access. The apparatus includes an electronic control module for informing a vehicle driver that a vehicle access is not secured, the electronic control module configured to determine if a transmission of the vehicle is in either a park status or a neutral status, determine if all keys for the vehicle are located outside a predetermined distance from the vehicle and determine if a displacement sensor indicates that a vehicle access is not closed. When the vehicle is in the park or neutral status, the key is located at a distance greater than the predetermined distance from the vehicle, and at least one vehicle access is indicated as being not closed, then an access open message is generated and sent to the driver.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2013Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jay H. Ovenshire, John D. Blanchard, II, Thomas W. Jozwiak, Altaf S. Imam, Carl B. Corman
-
Publication number: 20150145658Abstract: Apparatus are provided for notifying a driver of an open vehicle access. The apparatus includes an electronic control module for informing a vehicle driver that a vehicle access is not secured, the electronic control module configured to determine if a transmission of the vehicle is in either a park status or a neutral status, determine if all keys for the vehicle are located outside a predetermined distance from the vehicle and determine if a displacement sensor indicates that a vehicle access is not closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2013Publication date: May 28, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: JAY H. OVENSHIRE, JOHN D. BLANCHARD, II, THOMAS W. JOZWIAK, ALTAF S. IMAM, CARL B. CORMAN
-
Patent number: 8628141Abstract: A vehicle includes a body and a closure panel moveably attached to the body. When the closure panel is in a closed position, a closure restraint system interconnects the body and the closure panel and restricts lateral movement of the closure panel relative to the body. The closure restraint system includes a fixed wedge block attached to one of the body and the closure panel, and a rotatable wedge block attached to the other of the body and the closure panel. The rotatable wedge block includes a curved cam surface, and is rotatable about a rotation axis relative to the fixed wedge block when engaged by the fixed wedge block to move the contact between the fixed wedge block and the rotatable wedge block along the curved cam surface to maintain a consistent closing force for closing the closure panel.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2012Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Scott W. Thorpe, Richard D. Janke, Altaf S. Imam, Shawn G. Quinn, Michael E. McGuire
-
Patent number: 8616612Abstract: A closure assembly for securing a moveable panel relative to a body of a vehicle includes a striker assembly and a latch mechanism. The striker assembly includes a biasing mechanism that, when engaged by the latch mechanism, simultaneously biases the latch mechanism in a lateral direction and an axial direction to dampen movement of the latch mechanism relative to the striker assembly. The biasing mechanism provides dual damping rates.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2011Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Shawn G. Quinn, Michael E. McGuire, Scott W. Thorpe, Altaf S. Imam
-
Patent number: 8596706Abstract: A closure assembly includes a striker assembly and a latch mechanism moveable along a longitudinal path relative to each other. One of the striker assembly and the latch mechanism includes a plate defining a first surface, and the other of the striker assembly and the latch mechanism includes an articulating member defining a second surface moveable into abutting engagement with the first surface of the plate. The articulating member moves into abutting engagement with the plate after the latch mechanism and the striker assembly have moved into a closed position relative to each other to restrict lateral movement between the striker assembly and the latch mechanism relative to the longitudinal path.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2012Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Michael E. McGuire, Charles C. Weddle, Shawn G. Quinn, Scott W. Thorpe, Altaf S. Imam
-
Publication number: 20130247473Abstract: A closure assembly for securing a moveable panel relative to a body of a vehicle includes a striker assembly and a latch mechanism. A biasing mechanism includes a bumper fixedly attached to the striker assembly, and an arm fixedly attached to the latch mechanism. The arm is flexible about an axis in one of an inward direction or an outward direction. The arm engages the bumper and is biased inward in response to movement of the latch mechanism toward the striker assembly for simultaneously biasing the latch mechanism in a lateral direction and an axial direction to dampen movement of the latch mechanism relative to the striker assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2012Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Shawn G. Quinn, Michael E. McGuire, Scott W. Thorpe, Altaf S. Imam
-
Patent number: 8534745Abstract: A closure assembly for securing a moveable panel relative to a body of a vehicle includes a striker assembly and a latch mechanism. A biasing mechanism includes a bumper fixedly attached to the striker assembly, and an arm fixedly attached to the latch mechanism. The arm is flexible about an axis in one of an inward direction or an outward direction. The arm engages the bumper and is biased inward in response to movement of the latch mechanism toward the striker assembly for simultaneously biasing the latch mechanism in a lateral direction and an axial direction to dampen movement of the latch mechanism relative to the striker assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2012Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Shawn G. Quinn, Michael E. McGuire, Scott W. Thorpe, Altaf S. Imam
-
Publication number: 20130232882Abstract: A closure assembly includes a striker assembly and a latch mechanism moveable along a longitudinal path relative to each other. One of the striker assembly and the latch mechanism includes a plate defining a first surface, and the other of the striker assembly and the latch mechanism includes an articulating member defining a second surface moveable into abutting engagement with the first surface of the plate. The articulating member moves into abutting engagement with the plate after the latch mechanism and the striker assembly have moved into a closed position relative to each other to restrict lateral movement between the striker assembly and the latch mechanism relative to the longitudinal path.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2012Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, LLC.Inventors: Michael E. McGuire, Charles C. Weddle, Shawn G. Quinn, Scott W. Thorpe, Altaf S. Imam
-
Patent number: 8469440Abstract: A closure assembly includes a striker assembly and a latch mechanism. The striker assembly includes a first wedge block and a second wedge block disposed opposite each other across a path. The first wedge block rotates about a first axis and includes a first cam surface defining a continuously variable distance to the first axis for engaging the latch mechanism. The second wedge block rotates about a second axis and includes a second cam surface defining a continuously variable distance from to the second axis for engaging the latch mechanism. Abutting engagement between the latch mechanism and the first cam surface limits lateral movement of the latch mechanism relative to the path in a first direction, and abutting engagement between the latch mechanism and the second cam surface limits lateral movement of the latch mechanism relative to the path in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2011Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Scott W. Thorpe, Matthew J. Nelson, David P. Zink, Altaf S. Imam, Shawn G. Quinn, Michael E. McGuire
-
Patent number: 8441346Abstract: A vehicle user is notified of a rear gate ajar condition so that the user can take corrective action by opening and then re-closing the rear gate. The method includes the steps of determining that the rear gate latch has engaged a latch striker but has not reached a fully latched position; operating a vehicle mounted signaling device that is cognizable by a user while still standing at the rear gate so that the user will receive immediate notification that the rear gate latch has not reached the fully latched position, thereby enabling the user to take immediate corrective action by opening and then re-closing the gate to attempt a fully latched position of the rear gate latch; and then, if the vehicle is started without the lift gate operator having taken corrective action to obtain full latching of the rear gate latch, energizing a lift gate ajar light on the instrument panel so that the vehicle driver is notified to take corrective action before driving away.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2011Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Altaf S. Imam
-
Publication number: 20130031843Abstract: A closure assembly includes a striker assembly and a latch mechanism. The striker assembly includes a first wedge block and a second wedge block disposed opposite each other across a path. The first wedge block rotates about a first axis and includes a first cam surface defining a continuously variable distance to the first axis for engaging the latch mechanism. The second wedge block rotates about a second axis and includes a second cam surface defining a continuously variable distance from to the second axis for engaging the latch mechanism. Abutting engagement between the latch mechanism and the first cam surface limits lateral movement of the latch mechanism relative to the path in a first direction, and abutting engagement between the latch mechanism and the second cam surface limits lateral movement of the latch mechanism relative to the path in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2011Publication date: February 7, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Scott W. Thorpe, Matthew J. Nelson, David P. Zink, Altaf S. Imam, Shawn G. Quinn, Michael E. McGuire
-
Publication number: 20130031844Abstract: A closure assembly for securing a moveable panel relative to a body of a vehicle includes a striker assembly and a latch mechanism. The striker assembly includes a biasing mechanism that, when engaged by the latch mechanism, simultaneously biases the latch mechanism in a lateral direction and an axial direction to dampen movement of the latch mechanism relative to the striker assembly. The biasing mechanism provides dual damping rates.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2011Publication date: February 7, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Shawn G. Quinn, Michael E. McGuire, Scott W. Thorpe, Altaf S. Imam
-
Publication number: 20120262287Abstract: A vehicle user is notified of a rear gate ajar condition so that the user can take corrective action by opening and then re-closing the rear gate. The method includes the steps of determining that the rear gate latch has engaged a latch striker but has not reached a fully latched position; operating a vehicle mounted signaling device that is cognizable by a user while still standing at the rear gate so that the user will receive immediate notification that the rear gate latch has not reached the fully latched position, thereby enabling the user to take immediate corrective action by opening and then re-closing the gate to attempt a fully latched position of the rear gate latch; and then, if the vehicle is started without the lift gate operator having taken corrective action to obtain full latching of the rear gate latch, energizing a lift gate ajar light on the instrument panel so that the vehicle driver is notified to take corrective action before driving away.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2011Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Altaf S. Imam