Patents by Inventor Bryan J. Kudela

Bryan J. Kudela 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: 7140601
    Abstract: A compact air-bump stop (jounceshock) provides improved motor vehicle suspension system accommodation of jounce and rebound than is provided than by a conventional shock absorber, bump cushion and/or air-bump stop. In an independent jounceshock, a primary shell and a secondary shell are reversibly collapsible into each other, and a valved piston demarcates a primary chamber within the primary shell and a secondary chamber within the secondary shell, both of which being filled with a mixture of pressurized gas, preferably nitrogen, and oil. The valving of the valved piston allows for selectively unidirectional, metered movement of the oil therethrough in concert with the direction of movement of the secondary shell with respect to the primary shell. In an integrated jounceshock, a compact air-bump stop is integrated with a shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, Niwot Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Nesbitt, Bryan J. Kudela
  • Patent number: 6059487
    Abstract: A barrier vehicle system for an amusement race track is formed from a chain of pivotally coupled barrier modules. Each barrier module has a top and a bottom link separated by a spacer structurally joined with the top and bottom links to create a rigid structure when assembled. A pin extends through the top and bottom links, to one side of the spacer. An resilient, deformable barrel is journalled on the pin. To assist in attenuating high energy impacts, an extendable, energy-absorbing mechanism is attached to one end of the barrier, and the other end of the barrier is anchored to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Malibu Entertainment Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles T. Haga, Bryan J. Kudela