Patents by Inventor David R. McMahan

David R. McMahan 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: 7192315
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to terminals that are utilized in bulb sockets for automotive lamp assemblies. The embodiments of the bulb sockets disclosed provide for superior alignment, electrical connection, and stabilization of the bulb in the bulb socket. Exemplary embodiments of the terminals contain a cover plate that can be sized to substantially cover a receiver slot and can be positioned in the bulb socket in order to prevent sealing material from entering the bulb accepting portion of the bulb socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Guide Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher R. Powers, Paul D. Van Duyn, Ismael Garcia, David R. McMahan, Carey D. Marks
  • Patent number: 7063575
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to terminals that are utilized in bulb sockets for automotive lamp assemblies. The embodiments of the bulb sockets disclosed provide for superior alignment and stabilization of the bulb in the bulb socket so that proper contact is made between the terminals and the bulb without damaging the bulb or the terminals during insertion. The terminal may comprise, among other things, at least one alignment feature, which may include partial spheres, that allows for easy insertion into the bulb socket and substantially ensures proper alignment and positioning within the bulb socket so that a proper connection can be maintained with the bulb and terminal Sealing material may be used to cover wire attachment portions of the terminals and plate portions of the terminals may be used to prevent the sealing material from entering a bulb accepting portion of the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Guide Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher R. Powers, Paul D. Van Duyn, Ismael Garcia, David R. McMahan, Carey D. Marks
  • Patent number: 7014510
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a bulb socket assembly. The bulb socket assembly comprises a bulb accepting body portion, a terminal accepting body portion connected to the bulb accepting body portion, at least one terminal positioned in the bulb socket with the terminal's blade end extending into the bulb accepting body portion and its lead end positioned in the terminal accepting body, at least one wire connected to the lead end of the at least one terminal, and a sealing material substantially covering the lead end and the connected wire of the at least one terminal. One embodiment of the bulb socket assembly further comprises a stabilizing feature that allows the socket assembly to firmly grasp bulbs of various sizes. Another embodiment of the bulb socket assembly further comprises a plurality of alignment features to help guide a bulb into proper alignment with a set of terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Guide Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher R. Powers, Paul D. Van Duyn, Carey D. Marks, David R. McMahan, Ismael Garcia
  • Publication number: 20040132336
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to terminals that are utilized in bulb sockets for automotive lamp assemblies. The embodiments of the bulb sockets disclosed provide for superior alignment and stabilization of the bulb in the bulb socket so that proper contact is made between the terminals and the bulb without damaging the bulb or the terminals during insertion. The terminal comprises, among other things, alignment features that allow for easy insertion into the bulb socket and ensure proper alignment and positioning within the bulb socket so that a proper connection can be maintained with the bulb and the terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: Guide Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher R. Powers, Paul D. Van Duyn, Ismael Garcia, David R. McMahan, Carey D. Marks
  • Publication number: 20030068929
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a bulb socket assembly. The bulb socket assembly comprises a bulb accepting body portion, a terminal accepting body portion connected to the bulb accepting body portion, at least one terminal positioned in the bulb socket with the terminal's blade end extending into the bulb accepting body portion and its lead end positioned in the terminal accepting body, at least one wire connected to the lead end of the at least one terminal, and a sealing material substantially covering the lead end and the connected wire of the at least one terminal. One embodiment of the bulb socket assembly further comprises a stabilizing feature that allows the socket assembly to firmly grasp bulbs of various sizes. Another embodiment of the bulb socket assembly further comprises a plurality of alignment features to help guide a bulb into proper alignment with a set of terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: Guide Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher R. Powers, Paul D. Van Duyn, Carey D. Marks, David R. McMahan, Ismael Garcia
  • Patent number: 5402325
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly is provided including a reflector housing having a forward face and a rearward face intersected by a bore, the rearward face having a generally annular flat with a series of depressions; a bulb providing a source of illumination positioned generally adjacent the reflector housing forward face; a bulb housing providing an electrical connection for the bulb and for mounting the bulb, the bulb housing having a first portion inserted within the housing bore and a second portion positioned generally adjacent to the reflector housing rear face annular flat contacting the same; a generally annular retainer having a first portion extending through the reflector housing bore and a second portion contacting the rear face of the reflector housing within the depressions of the rear face, the retainer also having an interlocking flange spaced from the second portion with biasing tabs for retaining the bulb housing within the reflector housing bore and urging the bulb housing against the reflect
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jan A. Wisler, Chad E. Spencer, David R. McMahan, William E. Nagengast
  • Patent number: 5386349
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly having a recalibration device for providing the correct aim of the headlamp in a horizontal plane and characterized in that the recalibration device includes a transparent member which allows a leveling device to be visible to an observer so as to indicate whether or not the headlamp is in a correct aimed position in a vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald A. Wheat, David R. McMahan, Paul D. Van Duyn
  • Patent number: 5351170
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly provided with an adjustment device for adjusting the position of a lamp unit and wherein the adjustment device is combined with a rotatable recalibration arrangement that includes a position indicator in the form of a disk member provided with teeth at its periphery and in which the teeth of the disk member are shielded by a wall so as to prevent accidental movement of the disk member when the latter is positioned to indicate the aimed position of the lamp unit in the horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Nagengast, David R. McMahan, Jan A. Wisler, Luis A. Mateos, Michael W. Ballentine
  • Patent number: 5253154
    Abstract: A leveling arrangement for a vehicle headlamp that includes a support portion formed in the upper portion of the reflector member that has a spirit level member mounted thereon which is characterized in that it includes a living hinge serving as a pivotal connection for a depending member fastened to a substantially vertically oriented surface of the support portion so that rotation of screw means carried by the spirit level results in pivotal movement and calibration of the spirit level relative to the optical axis of the reflector member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David R. McMahan, William E. Nagengast, Terry L. Coombs, Bradley A. Merrill, Ronald A. Wheat, Jan A. Wisler
  • Patent number: 5095410
    Abstract: A retainer arrangement for a replaceable lamp bulb assembly that cooperates with a vent formed in the reflector body of a headlamp for establishing a labyrinth type flow path for air to enter and exit the interior of the headlamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Nagengast, David R. McMahan, Philip C. Filosa, Harry L. Kirchenbauer
  • Patent number: 5063480
    Abstract: An adjustment device for a headlamp assembly that provides aiming adjustment of the headlamp unit in a horizontal plane, after which the adjustment device can be set to visually indicate that the headlamp unit is at a zero ("O") reference marking and also permit re-calibration of the lamp unit if the latter is re-aimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David R. McMahan, William E. Magengast, Luis A. Mateos
  • Patent number: 5003446
    Abstract: A headlamp having a mounting hole formed in the curved outer surface of a reflector housing along an axis which is generally parallel to the optical axis of the housing and which is adapted to receive a push-in type vent device formed with a skirt having a configuration that provides a good sealing relationship with the curved outer surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Nagengast, James S. Mellinger, David R. McMahan
  • Patent number: 4970629
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly having a retainer member supporting a rectangular lamp unit and provided with a level device that is capable of being adjusted relative to the retainer member by a screw located between one of the sections of the retainer member and the level device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: David R. McMahan
  • Patent number: 4926301
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp in which the rear of the reflector has fastened thereto a retainer assembly that receives a replaceable light bulb and includes a shield for blocking stray light rays emanating from the light bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Martin K. Liverance, David R. McMahan, Bartly A. Haydu
  • Patent number: 4882660
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp in which the rear of the reflector has fastened thereto a retainer assembly that receives a replaceable light bulb and includes a shield for blocking stray light rays emanating from the light bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Martin K. Liverance, David R. McMahan, Bartly A. Haydu
  • Patent number: 4851976
    Abstract: A retaining arrangement for a replaceable bulb mounted in a vehicle headlamp reflector that includes a grip member and a cooperating lock nut the former of which is adapted to be press fitted onto and retained by spring fingers on a cylindrical boss surrounding the socket formed in the headlamp reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David R. McMahan, William E. Nagengast, John D. Geddie
  • Patent number: 4794495
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly having a retainer ring for supporting a lamp unit and which includes a level device that allows the lamp unit to be readily aimed about a horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David R. McMahan, Richard W. Nicholas, Thomas E. Persing, John D. Geddie
  • Patent number: 4761717
    Abstract: A support shoe for pivotably supporting a portion of a lamp body within a support frame and allowing the lamp body to be adjustably aimed in vertical and horizontal planes, characterized in that the support shoe includes a stud which carries a resilient body received by a slot in the support frame in a manner that allows the support shoe to serve as a pivot assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David R. McMahan, Harry S. Murphy, William E. Nagengast, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4747029
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp in which the rear of the reflector has fastened thereto a retainer assembly that receives a replaceable light bulb and includes a shield for blocking stray light rays emanating from the light bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Martin K. Liverance, David R. McMahan, Bartly A. Haydu
  • Patent number: 4731707
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly includes a box-like support frame enclosing a lamp body mounted adjustably as by connectors which are connected to the support frame through resilient means to cushion any shock that the lamp body may experience during the travel of the vehicle along a roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David R. McMahan, Harry S. Murphy, Jr., John D. Geddie