Patents by Inventor Carl Thomas Seamon

Carl Thomas Seamon 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: 6435555
    Abstract: The collapsible vehicle steering column has a jacket slideably supported by a jacket support bracket and by at least one severable steering column support capsule. A steering wheel is journaled in a housing on the upper end of the jacket assembly. A bearing is supported by the jacket support bracket. A collapsible upper shaft is connected to the steering wheel and is slideably supported by the bearing. A collapsible intermediate shaft is connected to the upper shaft by a universal joint. Force on the steering wheel initially severs the support capsule from the jacket assembly, moves the upper steering shaft and the jacket rearward collapsing the intermediate shaft. After a stop surface on the upper shaft contacts the bearing, the upper shaft starts to collapse and the jacket housing envelopes the universal joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Thomas Seamon, Melvin L. Tinnin
  • Publication number: 20020024209
    Abstract: The collapsible vehicle steering column has a jacket slideably supported by a jacket support bracket and by at least one severable steering column support capsule. A steering wheel is journaled in a housing on the upper end of the jacket assembly. A bearing is supported by the jacket support bracket. A collapsible upper shaft is connected to the steering wheel and is slideably supported by the bearing. A collapsible intermediate shaft is connected to the upper shaft by a universal joint. Force on the steering wheel initially severs the support capsule from the jacket assembly, moves the upper steering shaft and the jacket rearward collapsing the intermediate shaft. After a stop surface on the upper shaft contacts the bearing, the upper shaft starts to collapse and the jacket housing envelopes the universal joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Carl Thomas Seamon, Melvin L. Tinnin