Patents by Inventor Donald L. Sauer

Donald L. Sauer 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: 6874667
    Abstract: A cargo management system of this invention includes a deep well storage area beneath a cargo floor, which well may be horizontally and/or vertically divided and which preferably includes a plurality of doors to access the well. In the illustrated embodiment, the management system also includes a panel which may be placed into three positions: a first storage position in which the panel is flush against the back of the rear seat; a second shelf position in which the panel is horizontal and spaced from the cargo floor by a first distance; and a third privacy shield position in which the panel is also horizontal but is spaced from the cargo floor a second distance, the second distance exceeding the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Dykstra, Darren C. McIntire, Leif A. Norland, Donald L. Sauer, David B. Fry, Adam W. Callif, Chris Hogg, Mike Burns, John Brett
  • Publication number: 20030090120
    Abstract: A cargo management system of this invention includes a deep well storage area beneath a cargo floor, which well may be horizontally and/or vertically divided and which preferably includes a plurality of doors to access the well. In the illustrated embodiment, the management system also includes a panel which may be placed into three positions: a first storage position in which the panel is flush against the back of the rear seat; a second shelf position in which the panel is horizontal and spaced from the cargo floor by a first distance; and a third privacy shield position in which the panel is also horizontal but is spaced from the cargo floor a second distance, the second distance exceeding the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Barber, Jonathan A. Dykstra, Darren C. McIntire, Leif A. Norland, Donald L. Sauer, David B. Fry
  • Patent number: 5967584
    Abstract: A storage system includes an elongated, generally rectangular housing which has a forward-facing surface in the vehicle defining the rear seat backs of a vehicle and which has an open opposite end for extending into the trunk of a vehicle. The housing is slidably mounted to move from a retracted position substantially within the vehicle trunk in which the forward-facing surface defines the rear seat back rests of the rear passenger area of a vehicle and an extended position in which the generally rectangular housing is moved forwardly to expand the available storage space within the trunk. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the generally rectangular storage housing includes at least one pivoted access door such that access can be obtained to the rectangular storage housing from within the rear seat passenger area of the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the access means includes a pivoted top lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: David J. McCarthy, Russell P. Shafer, Jonathan A. Dykstra, Donald L. Sauer, Chester R. Wisniewski, Christopher R. Fusco, Rick A. Anderson, Mark E. Adomeit
  • Patent number: 5765899
    Abstract: A visor includes a visor body receiving a longitudinally extending pivot rod to which there is fixedly mounted a generally U-shaped resilient clamp surrounding the pivot rod. A cam is coupled to the clamp and includes an actuating lever for selectively operating the clamp for releasing the pivot rod from the clamp allowing the visor body to slide longitudinally with respect to the pivot rod. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clamp is made of a resilient polymeric material having a cylindrical aperture adjacent its closed end for lockably receiving the pivot rod therein. Extending between the legs of the generally U-shaped clamp is an L-shaped cam rod having a flat extending between the legs such that they remain in a fully closed, clamped position while locking the visor body with respect to the pivot rod. The cam rod can be rotated by the actuation of a lever coupled thereto for spreading the legs of the U-shaped clamp apart for releasing the visor rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Sheldon J. Watjer, Donald L. Sauer