Patents by Inventor Gary Baker

Gary Baker 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: 5979596
    Abstract: An automatic compression brake muffler is provided including a muffler pipe. An auxiliary pipe is connected to the muffler pipe and defines passages which are offset from the muffler pipe. Next provided is a mechanical valve having an open orientation for allowing the passage of air through the entire muffler pipe and a closed orientation for precluding the passage of air through the entire muffler pipe and further forcing air through the auxiliary pipe. Finally, a mechanism is included for transferring the mechanical valve to the closed orientation only when a compression brake is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventor: Gary A. Baker
  • Patent number: 5736701
    Abstract: An electric switch system (10) for use with a motor vehicle transmission has a movable contact assembly (22) mounted on the detent lever (12) linked to the manual valve assembly and a stationary contact assembly (18) mounted in an open housing (16) disposed over one face surface of the detent lever and in facing relation therewith. The housing has a plurality of L-shaped attachment projections (24a, 24b, 24c) each with a leg (24d, 24e, 24f) which, when the switch system is assembled, extends over the opposite face surface (12c) of the detent lever. A locking projection (24g) of the housing is received in a cut-out (12g) of the detent lever when the attachment projections are out of alignment with the detent lever and has a leg (24h) which extends over the opposite face surface (12c) of the detent lever when the housing (16) is rotated relative to the detent lever so that the attachment projections are in alignment with the detent lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward F. O'Brien, Gary A. Baker, Carleton M. Cobb, III
  • Patent number: 5525768
    Abstract: A switch system (10) is shown having housing members (12, 13) forming a cavity (14) in which an actuator arm (32) is pivotably mounted. Spring electrical contact members (36, 38) are mounted on the actuator arm and slide into and out of engagement with electrical contact segments (26a, 24a) respectively mounted on respective circuit boards (26, 24) as the actuator arm pivots. The actuator arm is formed with a hub portion (32a) received in bores (12b, 13b) of the housing. The hub in turn has a bore (32b) which is received on and keyed to the manual shaft of a vehicle transmission by opposing flat surfaces (32c). First and second annular spring seal elements (34) are received between respective sealing surfaces (12a, 32a) and (13a, 32a) to prevent ingress of debris into cavity (14). Housing member (12) is formed with a connector portion (16) having a generally cylindrical connector shroud (16a) which receives terminal pins (28) which are electrically connected to contact segments (26a, 24a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Carleton M. Cobb, III, Gary A. Baker, Peter J. Bloznalis
  • Patent number: 5409527
    Abstract: An aqueous water repellent composition comprising the reaction product of one or more of a carboxylic acid or anhydride containing from 3 to 22 carbon atoms and a polyfunctional aromatic or aliphatic amine or substituted amine containing from 2 to 25 carbon atoms and a water soluble metal complex crosslinking agent containing one or more metals selected from Groups Ia, IIa, IIla, IVa and the first and second rows of transition metals from the Periodic Table of Elements. The composition may contain wax and is dispersed in water to form a water repellent system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Manchem Limited
    Inventors: Gary Baker, John W. Prince
  • Patent number: 5338907
    Abstract: A vehicular transmission sensor having an electrical output responsive to gear selection is shown having a plurality of sealed electrical switches mounted within the transmission housing. In a first embodiment a cam plate is disposed on a face of the detent lever and is movable therewith relative to the switches. The switches are each provided with a follower which moves between switch contacts engaged and switch contacts disengaged positions in dependence on the angular position of the cam plate. In a second embodiment a switch arm mounting a plurality of first switch contacts is movable with the detent lever into and out of engagement with respective second switch contacts mounted in a sealed stationary housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary A. Baker, Dale R. Sogge
  • Patent number: 5338908
    Abstract: A bracket 14 for mounting a lead frame 12 having pressure responsive electrical switches 20 is provided with a pair of bores 88 through the bracket at each switch station in alignment with recessed portions 78 and 86 in the bottom surface of the switch housing. A layer 92 of filter material is disposed between the bores and the recessed portions so that fluid flowing through the bores into the recessed portions will be forced to flow through the filter material to exclude particles of contamination larger than a selected size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Aziz Rahman, Gary A. Baker
  • Patent number: 5308940
    Abstract: A switch having first and second housing members 12, 14 sandwiching a combination terminal and disc seat member 30 has a tortuous vent path 64, 66 and 68 formed through first and second, annular bearing surfaces 60, 62 in the top surface of the second housing member. The terminal and disc seat member 30 and top surface 42 of the second housing member are configured such that an interference fit is formed between the terminal and the disc seat member 30 and the second, annular bearing surface 62.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward F. O'Brien, Gary A. Baker
  • Patent number: 5231254
    Abstract: A switch is shown mounted inside the housing of an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle with a sliding movable electrical contact coupled to the manual valve of the transmission to provide an indication of the position of the manual gear selector. An electrical resistive network is interconnected with stationary contact segments to provide electronic signals to a powertrain electronic controller of the automobile corresponding to the linear position of the manual valve. Pressure switches are coupled to selected hydraulic circuits and electrically interconnected to the resistive network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary A. Baker, Amedeo Salvatore
  • Patent number: 5191178
    Abstract: A vehicular transmission sensor having an electrical output responsive to gear selection is shown having a plurality of sealed electrical switches mounted within the transmission housing. A cam plate is disposed on a face of detent lever and is movable therewith relative to the switches. The switches are each provided with a follower which moves between switch contacts engaged and switch contacts disengaged positions in dependence on the angular position of the cam plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Gary A. Baker
  • Patent number: 5060108
    Abstract: A pressure transducer having a capactive pressure sensing moudle disposed in a housing is biased against a sealing ring disposed in a chamber circumscribing a fluid pressure inlet by a retainer ring mounted in the housing. A selected back-up washer may be used to accommodate various size pressure sensing modules. The housing is sealed from the environs by means of a hermetic glass-to-metal header which mounts terminals to provide electrical coupling to electronics mounted in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary A. Baker, Peter G. Berg
  • Patent number: 5049708
    Abstract: A normally closed pressure responsive switch has upper and lower housings attached to one another with an electrically conductive snap acting disc placed therebetween. The lower housing includes a base having a recessed area in which a stationary electrical contact is mounted. The snap acting disc is placed on top of the base with a side having a convex configuration facing the stationary contact. An electrically conductive member is placed over the disc with a plurality of contact tabs engageable with the outer peripheral portion of the disc. The upper housing includes a retainer having a bore in which a pressure converter slides. Ribs formed on the bottom of the pressure converter are adapted to engage the outer peripheral portions of the disc between the contact tabs and are captured in grooves of the retainer to restrict angular movement of the pressure converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Inventor: Gary A. Baker
  • Patent number: 5015808
    Abstract: A normally open pressure responsive switch having upper and lower housings with a snap acting member and an electrically conductive member sandwiched therebetween. The housings each include a body with a hollow center portion and the lower housing has a contact in the center portion extending externally of the member. The snap acting member is in constant engagement with the sandwiched conductive member and normally out of engagement with the contact. When pressure is applied which is sufficient to cause the snap acting member to snap connection is made with the electrically conductive member in the lower assembly. An elastomeric sealing member is mounted in the upper housing and has a neck portion received in the hollow center portion, an integrally attached flange biased against the electrically conductive member and lower housing and an integrally attached lobe extending above the upper housing to seal off the hollow center portion when the switch is mounted at a switch receiving seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: David A. Czarn, Aziz Rahman, Alan M. Sadler, Gary A. Baker