Patents by Inventor Damir Menjak

Damir Menjak 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).

  • Publication number: 20060207378
    Abstract: The invention provides a mounting structure for engaging a vehicle with a steering column adjustable in raking movement. The mounting structure includes a compression bracket having first and second walls spaced from one another for frictionally engaging a rake bracket. A first aperture is formed in the first wall and a second aperture is formed in the second wall for receiving a rake bolt. The mounting structure also includes a first clamp cooperating with the compression bracket to define a third aperture extending along an axis to receive a steering column jacket. The first clamp is operable to reduce a size of the third aperture at a first position along the axis to selectively clamp the steering column jacket. The mounting structure also includes a second clamp cooperating with the compression bracket to define a fourth aperture centered on the axis to receive the steering column jacket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Paul Kramer, Michael Anspaugh, Damir Menjak, William Cymbal
  • Publication number: 20060202462
    Abstract: The invention provides a steering column assembly for a vehicle and a method for manufacturing the steering column assembly. The steering column assembly includes a steering column member having an aperture extending along an axis. The steering column assembly also includes a steering shaft rotatably disposed at least partially in the aperture. The steering shaft includes a steering wheel engaging end axially spaced from the aperture. The steering column assembly also includes a supporting member for supporting a vehicle accessory. The supporting member is cantilevered from the steering column member and cooperates with the steering column member to define a groove substantially surrounding the steering wheel engaging end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: Ratko Menjak, Timothy Kaufmann, Stephen Gillman, Brian Magnus, Michael Cole, Damir Menjak
  • Publication number: 20060076763
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus including a steering column movable between first and second positions along a path. The path defines tilting movement of at least a portion of the steering column, telescoping movement of at least a portion of the steering column, or both tilting and telescoping movement. The apparatus also includes a lock moveable between locked and unlocked positions. When the lock is in the locked position, the steering column is locked along the path. When the lock is in the unlocked position, the steering column is moveable along the path. The apparatus also includes a switch operable to emit an second signal. The apparatus also includes a controller communicating with the switch to receive the unlock signal. The controller controls the lock to move to the unlocked position in response to the unlock signal. The apparatus also includes a signal generator operable to emit a second signal to the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Applicant: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ridgway, Damir Menjak
  • Patent number: 6997076
    Abstract: The gear mechanism for minimizing backlash may include a convoluted spring positioned between an external spline of a gear or shaft and an internal spline of a gear. The gear mechanism may include a cam and cam follower arrangement upon two adjacent gears positioned on the same shaft. Two stacked gears may include a U-shaped backlash eliminating element passing through both gears. The gear mechanism may include rollers which may be conically shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ratko Menjak, Damir Menjak
  • Publication number: 20050288143
    Abstract: A vehicle steering device may include a rotatable input shaft, a motor in communication with an input augmentation shaft, the input augmentation shaft and the input shaft sharing a longitudinal axis, and the motor further having a stator stationary with respect to rotation of the input shaft. The vehicle steering device may further include a differential mechanism for providing variable ratio steering to the steering device. The differential mechanism may be a harmonic drive differential or a planetary gearing system. In one embodiment, an external wave generator may be used within the harmonic drive differential gearing mechanism. The vehicle steering device may include a sensorless synchronous machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Ratko Menjak, Steven Collier-Hallman, Karen Boswell, Damir Menjak
  • Publication number: 20040154422
    Abstract: The gear mechanism for minimizing backlash may include a convoluted spring positioned between an external spline of a gear or shaft and an internal spline of a gear. The gear mechanism may include a cam and cam follower arrangement upon two adjacent gears positioned on the same shaft. Two stacked gears may include a U-shaped backlash eliminating element passing through both gears. The gear mechanism may include rollers which may be conically shaped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Ratko Menjak, Damir Menjak
  • Patent number: 6691819
    Abstract: A steering actuator for adjusting an angle of a steerable wheel of a motor vehicle includes an electronic controller, a rack translatable in opposing directions, and a sleeve assembly translatable along a length of the rack and disposed in mechanical communication with the steerable wheel of the vehicle. The rack is drivable in response to an operator input and further drivable in response to an input signal from the electronic controller. A method of using the actuator includes receiving an input from the operator of the vehicle, receiving an input signal indicative of the behavior of the vehicle from a sensing device, calculating an output signal from the operator input and the motor vehicle behavior input signal, and adjusting an angle of the steerable wheel based on the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ratko Menjak, James Myrl Card, Damir Menjak
  • Publication number: 20030051938
    Abstract: A steering actuator for adjusting an angle of a steerable wheel of a motor vehicle includes an electronic controller, a rack translatable in opposing directions, and a sleeve assembly translatable along a length of the rack and disposed in mechanical communication with the steerable wheel of the vehicle. The rack is drivable in response to an operator input and further drivable in response to an input signal from the electronic controller. A method of using the actuator includes receiving an input from the operator of the vehicle, receiving an input signal indicative of the behavior of the vehicle from a sensing device, calculating an output signal from the operator input and the motor vehicle behavior input signal, and adjusting an angle of the steerable wheel based on the output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Ratko Menjak, James Myrl Card, Damir Menjak