Patents by Inventor Cary D. Branstetter

Cary D. Branstetter 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: 9285110
    Abstract: A lamp assembly for attachment to a vehicle, comprising a lamp which includes a housing having an axially extending member, the axially extending member extendable through an opening in a vehicle mounting panel and below the vehicle mounting panel. An anti-theft collar is included around at least a portion of the axially extending member, the collar being securable to said axially extending member. The collar has a first set of projections to snap fit attach to the vehicle mounting panel at a first depth and a second set of projections to snap fit attach to the vehicle mounting panel at a second depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Cary D. Branstetter
  • Publication number: 20030035300
    Abstract: A theft resistant lamp assembly for a vehicle includes a lamp unit and a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket supports the lamp unit. An outer flange extends from the mounting bracket and an inner flange extends inwardly from the mounting bracket so as to form a lens opening. The inner flange supports the lamp unit. One or more lock tabs are adapted to resiliently deform to secure the mounting bracket to the vehicle. One or more lamp unit legs are adapted to resiliently deform to secure the lamp unit to the mounting bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventor: Cary D. Branstetter
  • Patent number: 6518524
    Abstract: A multi-function stalk switch that incorporates a pushbutton switch, a first rotary switch and a second rotary switch onto the end of a stalk, wherein further switching functions may be executed by moving the entire stalk in either of two orthogonal planes. The stalk switch incorporates many design features that enable it to be assembled at low cost from a small number of parts. One such feature is the use of plastic-on-plastic detents to control positioning of the rotary switches so that they wipe across predetermined portions of a flexible printed circuit board. Another feature is the inclusion of a springloaded plunger detent riding in a concave centering mechanism that is operable to automatically return the stalk switch to its central (neutral) position after removal of external biasing forces. A further feature is the inclusion of magnets on the stalk switch and Hall effect sensors fixedly mounted nearby in order to sense movement of the magnets (and therefore the stalk) in two orthogonal planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce B. Brandt, James R. Risk, Jr., Bruce S. Rigsby, Curtis L. Lidikay, Cary D. Branstetter
  • Patent number: 6502975
    Abstract: A theft resistant lamp assembly for a vehicle includes a lamp unit and a lens. The lamp unit is adapted to generate light and is enclosed in the lens. The lens has a body portion adapted to transmit light from the lamp and one or more lock tabs. A flange extends from the body portion. Each lock tab is constructed and arranged to resiliently deflect in order to secure the lens to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Cary D. Branstetter
  • Patent number: 6020563
    Abstract: A multi-function stalk switch that incorporates a pushbutton switch, a first rotary switch and a second rotary switch onto the end of a stalk, wherein further switching functions may be executed by moving the entire stalk in either of two orthogonal planes. The stalk switch incorporates many design features that enable it to be assembled at low cost from a small number of parts. One such feature is the use of plastic-on-plastic detents to control positioning of the rotary switches so that they wipe across predetermined portions of a flexible printed circuit board. Another feature is the inclusion of a spring-loaded plunger detent riding in a concave centering mechanism that is operable to automatically return the stalk switch to its central (neutral) position after removal of external biasing forces. A further feature is the inclusion of magnets on the stalk switch and Hall effect sensors fixedly mounted nearby in order to sense movement of the magnets (and therefore the stalk) in two orthogonal planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Grok Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Risk, Jr., Bruce Scott Rigsby, Curtis L. Lidikay, Cary D. Branstetter
  • Patent number: D524463
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Cary D. Branstetter, Newel Lloyd Stephens
  • Patent number: D524464
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Cary D. Branstetter, Newel Lloyd Stephens
  • Patent number: D524467
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Cary D. Branstetter, Newel Lloyd Stephens
  • Patent number: D532125
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Cary D. Branstetter, Newel Lloyd Stephens
  • Patent number: D535044
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Cary D. Branstetter, Newel Lloyd Stephens
  • Patent number: D573273
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Grote Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Cary D. Branstetter, Newel Lloyd Stephens