Patents by Inventor Douglas R. Hilliard

Douglas R. Hilliard 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: 6055877
    Abstract: A power seat track motor assembly controls motion of a seat in a vehicle. The power seat track motor assembly has a motor that has a first axis of rotation, a gear box having gears that turn in response to rotation of the motor, and a threaded screw that turns in response to turning of the gears in the gear box. The threaded screw has a second axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the first axis of rotation of the motor so that forces imposed on the screw substantially by-pass the motor and gear box. The assembly also has a threaded structure including a threaded hole through which the threaded screw is threadably inserted. Either the threaded screw or the threaded structure is integral with or mechanically linked to the seat, so that rotation of the threaded screw relative to the threaded hole causes the seat to move. The threaded screw is in compression during normal operation so as to bear the forces that are imposed on the screw to substantially by-pass the motor and gear box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Buehler Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond E. Welterlin, Douglas R. Hilliard, Thomas K. Peterreins