Patents by Inventor Connor G. Cervone

Connor G. Cervone 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: 12258797
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base portion disposed at a handle region of a vehicle door, a handle, and an actuator. The actuator includes an electrically-operable motor, an output element mechanically coupled to the handle, and a variable drive element coupled to the output element. When the motor is operated, the actuator causes the drive element to move the output element and move the handle from a recessed position to a deployed position. When moving the handle from the recessed position, the drive element moves the output element at a first speed to move the handle. When the motor is operated to further move the handle, the drive element moves the output element at a second speed to more rapidly move the handle from a partially deployed position toward a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Connor G. Cervone
  • Patent number: 12196012
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base, a handle movable relative to the base between recessed and deployed positions, an actuator that is operable to move the handle between the positions, and a connection mechanism that pivots relative to the base to move the handle between the positions. The actuator operates to pull and release a cable to pivot the connection mechanism to move the handle. The connection mechanism, when the actuator is operated to pull the cable, pivots in a first direction to move the handle from the recessed toward the deployed position. A biasing element of the connection mechanism biases the connection mechanism in a second direction to move the handle toward the recessed position when the actuator releases the cable. Responsive to cable tension being reduced by a threshold amount, the connection mechanism adjusts to increase tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Connor G. Cervone
  • Publication number: 20240360717
    Abstract: A vehicular charge port closure system includes a cover panel disposed at a vehicle and an actuator. The actuator includes an electrically operable motor that, when electrically operated to move the cover panel between a closed position and an opened position, drives gears to impart movement of an output element. The output element is connected to the cover panel. A clutch is disposed between one of the gears and the output element. When the motor is operated to drive the gears, the clutch is engaged to move the cover panel, and when the cover panel is manually moved, the clutch is disengaged. The clutch includes a magnetic biasing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Connor G. Cervone, Bryce A. Hilborn
  • Publication number: 20240328229
    Abstract: A vehicular closure system includes a cover panel disposed at a charge port of a vehicle and movable between a closed position, where the cover panel conceals the charge port, and an opened position. An actuator is operable to move the cover panel between the closed and opened positions. A motor of the actuator rotates an output gear about an axis of rotation. An output element is connected to the cover panel and rotates about the axis of rotation as the cover panel moves. When the motor of the actuator is operated to move the cover panel, the output element rotates in tandem with the output gear. When the cover panel is manually moved, the output element rotates about the axis of rotation relative to the output gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Connor G. Cervone, Justin E. Sobecki, Bryce A. Hilborn, Rudy A. Morey
  • Publication number: 20240246513
    Abstract: A vehicular camera module includes a housing assembly that includes an inner housing element that accommodates a transparent cover element and that is pivotable relative to an outer housing element that mounts at a vehicle. A camera is accommodated by the housing assembly and mounted to the outer housing element. The camera views exterior of the vehicle via the cover element. An outer surface of the cover element is exposed exterior of the vehicle and, when the inner housing element and the cover element pivot relative to the outer housing element, a wiper of the outer housing element engages the outer surface of the cover element to remove moisture and/or debris from the outer surface of the cover element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Anthony J. LaCross, Connor G. Cervone, Austen C. Peterson, Kenneth C. Peterson, Bryce A. Hilborn, Rudy A. Morey
  • Publication number: 20240246409
    Abstract: A vehicular charge port closure system includes a cover panel and an actuator that is electrically operable to move the cover panel between a closed position and an opened position. The actuator includes a motor operable to drive an input gear of a gear train, an output element coupled to the cover panel and a clutch element coupled to the output element and to an output gear of the gear train. The output element moves together and in tandem with the cover panel. The motor, when operated, drives the input gear to drive the output gear and drive the clutch element to impart movement of the output element and the cover panel. The clutch element, when the cover panel is manually moved, decouples the output element from the output gear and manual movement of the cover panel does not impart movement of the gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Marshall A. Zerbe, Andrew M. Neumann, Bryce A. Hilborn, Connor G. Cervone, Matthew V. Steffes
  • Publication number: 20240239267
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head that is movable relative to a mounting base and a powerfold actuator that is operable to move the mirror head relative to the mounting base between a folded position and an extended position. The powerfold actuator includes a base portion attached at the mounting base and a pivot tube that extends from the base portion through an output gear and a housing. The output gear includes a plurality of detents that engage a corresponding plurality of detents of the housing. With the detents engaged, a biasing element biases through the housing and the output gear to the base portion to releasably retain the powerfold actuator in the at least one detent state of the powerfold actuator. With the detents disengaged, the biasing element does not bias through the housing and the output gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2024
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Anthony J. LaCross, Connor G. Cervone, Timothy W. Condron, Kenneth C. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20240239272
    Abstract: A vehicular overhead console includes a housing and a pair of cover panels. Each cover panel is disposed at a respective opening of a pair of openings of the housing and includes a compartment configured to accommodate an item. Each cover panel is adjustable between a closed position and an opened position. A mechanical actuator is accommodated by the housing and coupled to each cover panel. The mechanical actuator is configured to move the cover panels together and in tandem between the closed and opened positions. The mechanical actuator includes a latch mechanism that releasably retains the cover panels in the closed positions. Responsive to at least one of the cover panels being manually moved from the closed position further away from the opened position, the latch mechanism releases the cover panels to allow the cover panels to move toward the opened positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2024
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Rudy A. Morey, Connor G. Cervone
  • Publication number: 20240076915
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base, a handle, and a deployment mechanism operable to move the handle between a recessed position and a deployed position. The deployment mechanism includes a return cam biased in a first direction relative to the base. The deployment mechanism, with the handle in the recessed position, secures the return cam relative to the base. The handle is manually movable beyond the recessed position away from the deployed position to actuate the deployment mechanism. The deployment mechanism, responsive to being actuated, releases the return cam and the return cam moves in the first direction to move the handle toward the deployed position. The handle is manually movable beyond the deployed position away from the recessed position to actuate a latch of the door. The deployment mechanism, responsive to the handle actuating the latch, moves the handle toward the recessed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Anthony J. LaCross, Connor G. Cervone, Justin E. Sobecki, Nathan C. Shipaila
  • Publication number: 20240035318
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base portion configured to mount at a door of a vehicle, and a handle portion. The base portion has a longitudinal axis that extends along a length dimension of the base portion and a lateral axis that extends laterally across the vehicle. The handle portion is movable along the lateral axis relative to the base portion between a recessed position and a deployed position. An actuator, when operated, imparts translational movement of a sliding element along the longitudinal axis relative to the base portion. As the sliding element moves along the longitudinal axis relative to the base portion, the sliding element imparts movement of the handle portion along the lateral axis between the recessed position and the deployed position according to movement of the sliding element along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Connor G. Cervone
  • Patent number: 11746575
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base portion and a handle portion. A bellcrank link pivotally connects the swing end of the handle portion to a bellcrank. An actuator engages a portion of a crank to impart pivotal movement of the crank to cause the crank to pivot relative to the base portion and move the handle portion from a recessed position toward a deployed position. When the handle portion is at the recessed position, the base end of the handle portion is manually movable inward to cause the swing end of the handle portion to move outward from the base portion to move the handle portion towards a manually deployed position without operation of the motor. A crank locking mechanism that limits pivotal movement of the crank when the handle portion is in the manually deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Connor G. Cervone, Justin E. Sobecki
  • Publication number: 20230124910
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a bracket configured to mount at a vehicular door, a handle portion mounted at the bracket, and a switch mechanism disposed at the handle portion that includes a trigger element movably disposed within a housing. The housing includes an inner portion and an outer portion. When a force is applied at the outer portion, the outer portion moves toward the inner portion. The outer portion of the housing is configured to engage the trigger element as the outer portion moves toward the inner portion. As the outer portion moves toward the inner portion and the outer portion engages the trigger element, the trigger element moves within the housing in a second direction at an angle relative to the first direction and engages a microswitch disposed within the housing to actuate the switch mechanism to operate to release a latch mechanism of the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Connor G. Cervone, Justin E. Sobecki
  • Publication number: 20230027125
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base, a handle movable relative to the base between recessed and deployed positions, an actuator that is operable to move the handle between the positions, and a connection mechanism that pivots relative to the base to move the handle between the positions. The actuator operates to pull and release a cable to pivot the connection mechanism to move the handle. The connection mechanism, when the actuator is operated to pull the cable, pivots in a first direction to move the handle from the recessed toward the deployed position. A biasing element of the connection mechanism biases the connection mechanism in a second direction to move the handle toward the recessed position when the actuator releases the cable. Responsive to cable tension being reduced by a threshold amount, the connection mechanism adjusts to increase tension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventor: Connor G. Cervone
  • Publication number: 20220341226
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base portion disposed at a handle region of a vehicle door, a handle, and an actuator. The actuator includes an electrically-operable motor, an output element mechanically coupled to the handle, and a variable drive element coupled to the output element. When the motor is operated, the actuator causes the drive element to move the output element and move the handle from a recessed position to a deployed position. When moving the handle from the recessed position, the drive element moves the output element at a first speed to move the handle. When the motor is operated to further move the handle, the drive element moves the output element at a second speed to more rapidly move the handle from a partially deployed position toward a deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Justin E. Sobecki, Connor G. Cervone
  • Publication number: 20220018168
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base portion and a handle portion. A bellcrank link pivotally connects the swing end of the handle portion to a bellcrank. An actuator engages a portion of a crank to impart pivotal movement of the crank to cause the crank to pivot relative to the base portion and move the handle portion from a recessed position toward a deployed position. When the handle portion is at the recessed position, the base end of the handle portion is manually movable inward to cause the swing end of the handle portion to move outward from the base portion to move the handle portion towards a manually deployed position without operation of the motor. A crank locking mechanism that limits pivotal movement of the crank when the handle portion is in the manually deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Connor G. Cervone, Justin E. Sobecki