Patents by Inventor Donald R. Rempinski

Donald R. Rempinski 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: 6817262
    Abstract: An interlock device includes a housing and a toggle interlock mechanism with an extendable interlock pin. The interlock device also includes a preassembled switch, an electromechanical device, and a lead frame interconnecting the switch and electromechanical device. The lead frame conductors are formed as one piece, but are separated after assembly into the housing. The conductors and mating components include mating non-releasable contacts that telescope together in a manner that forms a robust assembly and that facilitates automation of the assembly process. A method related to the above is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Grand Haven Stamped Products, division of JSJ Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Lewis, Donald R. Rempinski
  • Publication number: 20040083843
    Abstract: An interlock device includes a housing and a toggle interlock mechanism with an extendable interlock pin. The interlock device also includes a preassembled switch, an electromechanical device, and a lead frame interconnecting the switch and electromechanical device. The lead frame conductors are formed as one piece, but are separated after assembly into the housing. The conductors and mating components include mating non-releasable contacts that telescope together in a manner that forms a robust assembly and that facilitates automation of the assembly process. A method related to the above is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: John T. Lewis, Donald R. Rempinski
  • Patent number: 6142034
    Abstract: A shifter for shifting a vehicle transmission includes a base adapted for attachment to a vehicle including a pivot-defining mount, and a shift lever having an elongated bottom section pivoted to the mount, and a top section slidably engaging the bottom section for movement between a normal operating position for shifting between gears and a depressed-position for shifting into reverse gear. A reverse lockout device including a stationary locking member is attached to the base and a movable lockout member is slidably mounted on the shift lever. A linkage connects a bottom of the top section of the shift lever to the movable lockout member, the linkage being elongated and extending closely adjacent the elongated bottom section for compact operation next to the elongated bottom section when the top section is depressed. In one form, the linkage comprises a pair of parallel links on opposing sides of the elongated bottom section of the shift lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Grand Haven Stamped Products
    Inventor: Donald R. Rempinski
  • Patent number: 5791197
    Abstract: A shifter for an automatic transmission includes a base, a detent member attached to the base, and a shift lever pivotally attached to the base by a ball and socket pivot for multi-axial movement along a configured shift pattern. The shift pattern includes a first shift path segment for shifting the transmission in an automatic mode, a second shift path segment for shifting the transmission in a manual mode, and a transverse path segment for moving between the first and second path segments. In one form the shift pattern is H-shaped, and the shifter includes a pair of switches connected to a vehicle shift control circuit for upshifting and downshifting as the shift lever is selectively moved along the second shift path segment. In the shifter with the H-shaped pattern, an upper and lower leg are pivoted to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Grand Haven Stamped Products
    Inventors: Donald R. Rempinski, Phong T. Tran, Ronald Bazany, Anil Mandala
  • Patent number: 5415377
    Abstract: A two-piece sheave assembly is provided for a tire lift/carrier winch. The sheave assembly includes a molded plastic, one-piece sheave component that is molded to include a first sheave side plate, an integral sheave center hub with a cable-wrapping track thereon and optionally an integral annular toothed driven ring gear for mating with a toothed drive gear of the winch. The molded plastic sheave component is attached to a second sheave side plate, which may be metal, to form the two-piece sheave assembly. Apertures for the winch drive shaft and the pivotable cable end fitting are integrally molded in the first sheave component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Sparton Corporation
    Inventors: Donald R. Britt, Donald R. Rempinski, Mikhail Livshits, David M. Sovis
  • Patent number: 5277288
    Abstract: A clutch for a tire lift/carrier winch includes a drive plate and a driven plate having a plurality of elongate springs thereon. The driven plate includes circumferentially spaced driven end portions which are positioned in driving engagement with circumferentially spaced drive portions of the drive plate to permit rotation of the driven plate upon rotation of the drive plate when the load on the cable winding spool is within a prescribed limit. However, when the load on the cable winding spool exceeds the prescribed limit, the elongate springs on the driven plate function as cantilevered spring segments deflectable about respective fulcrums in such a manner as to prevent rotation of the driven plate upon rotation of the drive plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Sparton Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Barnum, Donald R. Rempinski, Donald R. Britt
  • Patent number: 5265708
    Abstract: A clutch for a tire lift/carrier winch includes a drive plate and a driven plate having a plurality of elongate springs thereon. The driven plate includes circumferentially spaced driven end portions which are positioned in driving engagement with circumferentially spaced drive portions of the drive plate to permit rotation of the driven plate upon rotation of the drive plate when the load on the cable winding spool is within a prescribed limit. However, when the load on the cable winding spool exceeds the prescribed limit, the elongate springs on the driven plate function as cantilevered spring segments deflectable about respective fulcrums in such a manner as to prevent rotation of the driven plate upon rotation of the drive plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Sparton Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Barnum, Donald R. Rempinski, Donald R. Britt
  • Patent number: 5251877
    Abstract: A sheave plate and cable assembly for a tire lift/carrier winch comprises a sheave plate having spaced apart side faces defining a plate thickness therebetween and having an outer peripheral edge interconnecting the side faces and including an arcuate cable-wrapping track thereon. The end of a cable extends into the sheave plate between the side faces and is captured therein by the sheave plate which is die cast therearound. A portion of the cable end extends into the sheave plate in arcuate manner about the axis of rotation of the sheave plate and terminates in a flattened head portion. The thickness of the captured cable end is less than the plate thickness whereby the cable end is confined between the side faces of the sheave plate and does not extend beyond the side faces into adjacent side plates of the sheave assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Sparton Corporation
    Inventors: Donald R. Rempinski, Donald R. Britt
  • Patent number: 5125628
    Abstract: The sheave and cable assembly includes a center sheave plate having an arcuate, cable-wrapping track and an exterior shoulder truncating the cable-wrapping track to accommodate a cable end fitting that is supported between adjacent sheave side plates for rotation relative to the sheave. The end fitting includes an outer, arcuate cable-wrapping shoulder which is generally contiguous with the cable-wrapping track on the center sheave plate when the end fitting is in a "cable wrap/unwrap" position in cooperative relation to the sheave center plate. This position of the cable end fitting permits wrapping of the cable on the track by rotation of the sheave in one direction and paying off (unwrapping) of the cable by rotation of the sheave in the opposite direction. When the cable is payed off the track and the sheave is rotated in a "wrong" direction (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Sparton Corporation
    Inventors: Donald R. Rempinski, Donald R. Britt
  • Patent number: 5110093
    Abstract: A sheave plate and cable assembly for a tire lift/carrier winch comprises a sheave plate having spaced apart side faces defining a plate thickness therebetween and having an outer peripheral edge interconnecting the side faces and including an arcuate cable-wrapping track thereon. The end of a cable extends into the sheave plate between the side faces and is captured therein by the sheave plate which is die cast therearound. A portion of the cable end extends into the sheave plate in arcuate manner about the axis of rotation of the sheave plate and terminates in a flattened head portion. The thickness of the captured cable end is less than the plate thickness whereby the cable end is confined between the side faces of the sheave plate and does not extend beyond the side faces into adjacent side plates of the sheave assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Sparton Corporation
    Inventors: Donald R. Rempinski, Donald R. Britt
  • Patent number: 5027933
    Abstract: A clutch for a tire lift/carrier winch includes a drive plate and a driven plate having a plurality of elongate springs thereon. The driven plate includes circumferentially spaced driven end portions which are positioned in driving engagement with circumferentially spaced drive portions of the drive plate to permit rotation of the driven plate upon rotation of the drive plate when the load on the cable winding spool is within a prescribed limit. However, when the load on the cable winding spool exceeds the prescribed limit, the elongate springs on the driven plate function as cantilevered spring segments deflectable about respective fulcrums in such a manner as to prevent rotation of the driven plate upon rotation of the drive plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Sparton Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Barnum, Donald R. Rempinski, Donald R. Britt
  • Patent number: 4986143
    Abstract: The pivot axis of a locking lever is used as the main gage or reference point relative to which the dimensions of components of the shift control mechanism are taken and, together with the geometry of the bellcrank, provide a transmission shift control mechanism that has no need for adjustment of the components involved upon assembly of the shift control mechanism with the ignition lock mechanism in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Sparton Corporation
    Inventors: Mikhail Livshits, Gerald J. Lafferty, Jr., Donald R. Rempinski
  • Patent number: 4936158
    Abstract: The transmission shift control mechanism includes a shift lever with a pushbutton mechanism for releasing a detent mechanism so that the shift lever can be moved from the "Park" position to other operative positions. A shift lever locking mechanism prevents movement of the shift lever from the "Park" position when the ignition lock mechanism is actuated to the "Lock" position and also prevents actuation of the ignition lock mechanism to the "Lock" position when the shift lever is in other than the "Park" position. The locking mechanism includes a pivotal locking lever, such as a bellcrank, having one arm operably connected to the push-pull cable of the vehicle ignition lock mechanism and a locking arm movable to block release of the detent mechanism upon actuation of the ignition lock mechanism to the "Lock" position with the shift lever in "Park".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Sparton Corporation
    Inventors: Mikhail Livshits, Gerald J. Lafferty, Jr., Donald R. Rempinski