Patents by Inventor Charles Berry Hopson

Charles Berry Hopson 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: 7069696
    Abstract: An assembly including a door panel, a window regulator housing component, and a window regulator drive system component. The door panel is secured to the window regulator housing component by a deformed portion to provide a subassembly. The deformed portion is utilized to releaseably secure the window regulator drive system component to the subassembly via a fourth component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems-France
    Inventors: Mark Graham Lawrie, Yann Le Gallo, Pascal de Vries, Klaus B. Wilhelm Blume, Charles Berry Hopson, Herve Laurandel, Simon Blair Dobson, Damien Cabanne
  • Patent number: 6848215
    Abstract: An assembly includes a first, second and third components having respective first, second and third holes. The assembly further includes a locating feature assembled into the holes having a small portion and a large portion that provide a shoulder therebetween. The locating feature further includes a fixing portion near the small portion to secure the second component relative to the assembly and a fixing portion near the large portion to secure the third component relative to the assembly. The small portion is located in the second hole to align the locating feature relative to the second component, and the large portion is located in the third hole to align the locating feature relative to the third component. The second component is aligned relative to the third component, and the first component is situated between the second and third components and between the shoulder and the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems - France
    Inventors: Mark Graham Lawrie, Yann Le Gallo, Pascal De Vries, Klaus B. Wilhelm Blume, Charles Berry Hopson, Herve Laurandel, Simon Blair Dobson, Damien Cabanne
  • Patent number: 6817804
    Abstract: An assembly including a first, second and third component and a first and second fixing member, the first, second and third component having respective first, second and third holes, the first hole being a threaded hole, in which the first fixing member cooperates with the second hole and a first threaded portion of the first fixing member engaging the first hole to secure the first component to the second component, the first and second fixing member cooperating with the third hole with the first fixing member engaging the second fixing member to secure the third component to the first component, in which the first component is situated between the second and third component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems-France
    Inventors: Yann Le Gallo, Pascal De Vries, Klaus Bruno Wilhelm Blume, Charles Berry Hopson, Herve Laurandel, Simon Blair Dobson, Damien Cabanne, Mark Graham Lawrie
  • Patent number: 6792719
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes a window regulator motor and an inner panel. The window regulator motor further includes a connector housing which houses electrical connector terminals. The connector housing is sealed against the inner panel of the vehicle door via a diaphragm seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems-France
    Inventors: Mark Graham Lawrie, Yann Le Gallo, Pascal de Vries, Klaus B. Wilhelm Blume, Charles Berry Hopson, Herve Laurandel, Simon Blair Dobson, Damien Cabanne
  • Patent number: 6547298
    Abstract: A reconfigurable intermediate panel provides the capability of reconfiguring the interior space of a vehicle. A first panel portion is moveable in the vehicle between various locations. A second panel portion is supported for movement with the first panel portion and for movement relative to the first panel portion. By selectively extending the second panel portion relative to the first panel portion, the vehicle interior space may be selectively divided and provides isolated vehicle compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLC
    Inventors: John Andrew Sotiroff, Roch Joseph Tolinski, Charles Berry Hopson, George Rene Chene, Simon Blair Dobson, Enrico Fin
  • Patent number: 6516983
    Abstract: A cargo supporting device supports cargo within a vehicle compartment in more than one position. The cargo supporting device includes at least one moveable panel having a cargo supporting surface. The moveable panel moves from a first position that is relatively distant from a cargo access point to a second position that is closer to the cargo access point. The moveable panel effectively brings one or more cargo items closer to an individual to make them more readily accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLC
    Inventors: John Andrew Sotiroff, Roch Joseph Tolinski, Charles Berry Hopson, George Rene Chene, Simon Blair Dobson, Enrico Fin
  • Patent number: 6474725
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reconfigurable intermediate panel (RIP) arranged between the cab and the cargo bed of a vehicle. The vehicle has a vehicle body structure that separates the cab and the cargo bed. The RIP is arranged within an opening in the vehicle body structure for providing access to the cab from the cargo bed. The RIP includes a door structure having first and second opposing portions adjacent to opposing sides of the opening when the RIP is in a closed position. A plurality of cable spans the first and second portions for strengthening the door structure and barring the entry of cargo from the cargo bed into the cab when the structure is in the closed position. In one embodiment, the cables extend from opposing portions of a door frame. In another embodiment, the cables are embedded in a plastic panel, which is secured to a door frame. Accordingly, the above invention provides an RIP that provides an improved structural barrier between the cargo bed and the cab from heavy cargo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLC
    Inventors: John Andrew Sotiroff, Roch Joseph Tolinski, Charles Berry Hopson, George Rene Chene, Simon Blair Dobson, Enrico Fin
  • Publication number: 20020134025
    Abstract: A door panel assembly including a door panel having a dry side and a wet side, a drive mechanism being secured to the door panel via at least a first mounting feature and a cable drum being secured to the door panel via at least a second mounting feature, in which the at least one first and at least one second mounting features are located on the same side of the door panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Mark Graham Lawrie, Yann Le Gallo, Pascal De Vries, Klaus Bruno Wilhelm Blume, Charles Berry Hopson, Herve Laurandel, Simon Blair Dobson, Damien Cabanne
  • Publication number: 20020110412
    Abstract: An assembly including a first, second and third component and a first and second fixing member, the first, second and third component having respective first, second and third holes, the first hole being a threaded hole, in which the first fixing member cooperates with the second hole and a first threaded portion of the first fixing member engaging the first hole to secure the first component to the second component, the first and second fixing member cooperating with the third hole with the first fixing member engaging the second fixing member to secure the third component to the first component, in which the first component is situated between the second and third component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Yann Le Gallo, Pascal De Vries, Klaus Bruno Wilhelm Blume, Charles Berry Hopson, Herve Laurandel, Simon Blair Dobson, Damien Cabanne, Mark Graham Lawrie
  • Publication number: 20020100220
    Abstract: An assembly including a first, second and third component having respectives first, second and third holes, the assembly further including a locating means assembled into the first, second and third holes, the locating means having at least a small diameter cylindrical portion which is concentric relative to a large diameter cylindrical portion to provide a shoulder, the locating means further including a fixing portion proximate the small diameter portion for securing the second component relative to the assembly and a fixing portion proximate the large diameter portion for securing the third component relative to the assembly, in which the small diameter cylindrical portion is located in the second hole in order to align the locating means relative to the second component, and a large diameter portion is located in the third hole in order to align the locating means relative to the third component, thereby aligning the second component relative to the third component, in which the first component is situate
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Mark Graham Lawrie, Yann Le Gallo, Pascal De Vries, Klaus B. Wilhelm Blume, Charles Berry Hopson, Herve Laurandel, Simon Blair Dobson, Damien Cabanne
  • Publication number: 20020100217
    Abstract: A door panel assembly including a door panel having a first and second side, a drive mechanism being mounted on the first side of the door panel and having an output shaft on which is mounted a window regulator cable drum, and a window regulator cable drum housing being mounted on the second side of the door panel and being made of metal and having at least one integral cable support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Mark Graham Lawrie, Yann Le Gallo, Pascal de Vries, Klaus B. Wilhelm Blume, Charles Berry Hopson, Herve Laurandel, Simon Blair Dobson, Damien Cahanne
  • Publication number: 20020095899
    Abstract: An assembly including a first, second, and third component, the first component being secured to the second component by a deformed portion to provide a subassembly, in which the deformed portion is utilized to releaseably secure the third component to the sub assembly via a fourth component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Mark Graham Lawrie, Yann Le Gallo, Pascal de Vries, Klaus B. Wihelm Blume, Charles Berry Hopson, Herve Laurandel, Simon Blair Dobson, Damien Cabanne
  • Publication number: 20020095869
    Abstract: A vehicle door including a window regulator motor and an inner panel, the window regulator motor including a connector housing, the connector housing including connector terminals, in which the connector housing is sealed against the inner panel via sealing means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Mark Graham Lawrie, Yann Le Gallo, Pascal De Vries, Klaus B. Wllhelm Blume, Charles Berry Hopson, Herve Laurandel, Simon Blair Dobson, Damien Cabanne
  • Publication number: 20020074831
    Abstract: A vehicle roof assembly includes a stationary panel and at least one moveable panel. The stationary panel includes at least one cut away recess adjacent an access passage to a vehicle, such as above a moveable door. The moveable roof panel preferably is normally received within the recess to form a completed roof panel. The moveable panel preferably is automatically retracted responsive to movement of the door handle to provide a larger access passage into the vehicle. Moveable panels may be provided on the driver and passenger side of the vehicle, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: John Andrew Sotiroff, Roch Joseph Tolinski, Charles Berry Hopson, George Rene Chene, Simon Blair Dobson, Enrico Fin
  • Publication number: 20020043811
    Abstract: A reconfigurable intermediate panel provides the capability of reconfiguring the interior space of a vehicle. A first panel portion is moveable in the vehicle between various locations. A second panel portion is supported for movement with the first panel portion and for movement relative to the first panel portion. By selectively extending the second panel portion relative to the first panel portion, the vehicle interior space may be selectively divided and provides isolated vehicle compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: John Andrew Sotiroff, Rock Joseph Tolinski, Charles Berry Hopson, George Rene Chene, Simon Blair Dobson, Enrico Fin
  • Publication number: 20020034430
    Abstract: A cargo supporting device supports cargo within a vehicle compartment in more than one position. The cargo supporting device includes at least one moveable panel having a cargo supporting surface. The moveable panel moves from a first position that is relatively distant from a cargo access point to a second position that is closer to the cargo access point. The moveable panel effectively brings one or more cargo items closer to an individual to make them more readily accessible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventors: John Andrew Sotiroff, Roch Joseph Tolinski, Charles Berry Hopson, George Rene Chene, Simon Blair Dobson, Enrico Fin
  • Publication number: 20020014785
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reconfigurable intermediate panel (RIP) arranged between the cab and the cargo bed of a vehicle. The vehicle has a vehicle body structure that separates the cab and the cargo bed. The RIP is arranged within an opening in the vehicle body structure for providing access to the cab from the cargo bed. The RIP includes a door structure having first and second opposing portions adjacent to opposing sides of the opening when the RIP is in a closed position. A plurality of cable spans the first and second portions for strengthening the door structure and barring the entry of cargo from the cargo bed into the cab when the structure is in the closed position. In one embodiment, the cables extend from opposing portions of a door frame. In another embodiment, the cables are embedded in a plastic panel, which is secured to a door frame. Accordingly, the above invention provides an RIP that provides an improved structural barrier between the cargo bed and the cab from heavy cargo.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: John Andrew Sotiroff, Roch Joseph Tolinski, Charles Berry Hopson, George Rene Chene, Simon Blair Dobson, Enrico Fin
  • Publication number: 20020011029
    Abstract: A door inner panel assembly including a door inner panel and a window regulator drive means, the window regulator drive means having a drive portion and an output shaft projecting from the drive portion, the inner panel having an abutment portion for co-operation with the drive portion and a shaft support portion for co-operation with a portion of the shaft remote from the drive portion, the abutment portion and shaft support portion being integrally formed from the same material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: Mark Graham Lawrie, Yann Le Gallo, Pascal de Vries, Klaus B. Wilhelm Blume, Charles Berry Hopson, Herve Laurandel, Simon Blair Dobson, Damlen Cabanne