Patents by Inventor Gerald Hamers

Gerald Hamers 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).

  • Low-mounted powered opening system and control mechanism
    Publication number: 20060181108
    Abstract: A power-operated system for actuating the rear doors or liftgates of motor vehicles is disclosed. The system includes an articulating strut mounted between a vehicle frame and the rear door. A motor assembly is operatively coupled between the articulating strut and the vehicle frame for changing the angular orientation and, in turn, mechanical advantage provided by the articulating strut. The articulating strut is moved into angular orientations of greater mechanical advantage in order to effect opening of the rear door and lesser mechanical advantage to effect closing of the rear door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Terry Cleland, Gerald Hamers, Gary Spicer, John Miller, Zbyslaw Staniewicz
  • Powered opening mechanism and control system
    Patent number: 7070226
    Abstract: A power-operated system for actuating the liftgates of motor vehicles is disclosed. The system includes a controllable strut with internal locking structure that includes a driver and a valve assembly. The controllable strut is typically mounted on one side of the liftgate between the liftgate and the vehicle's frame. Conventional strut may be mounted on the other side of the liftgate. One end of each strut is connected to a powered articulating arm. To move the liftgate between open and closed positions, the articulating arms move the controllable strut and the other strut between positions of greater and lesser mechanical advantage. During the movements, the locking structure in the controllable strut may be activated and deactivated either cyclically or continuously to momentarily to retain the controllable strut as particular lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Litens Automotive
    Inventors: Terry P. Cleland, Larry J. Ferriman, Klaus Kurt Bytzek, Gary J. Spicer, Z. (Stan) Staniewicz, Gerald Hamers
  • Powered opening mechanism and control system
    Publication number: 20050168010
    Abstract: A power-operated system for actuating the liftgates of motor vehicles is disclosed. The system includes a controllable strut with internal locking structure that includes a driver and a valve assembly. The controllable strut is typically mounted on one side of the liftgate between the liftgate and the vehicle's frame. Conventional strut may be mounted on the other side of the liftgate. One end of each strut is connected to a powered articulating arm. To move the liftgate between open and closed positions, the articulating arms move the controllable strut and the other strut between positions of greater and lesser mechanical advantage. During the movements, the locking structure in the controllable strut may be activated and deactivated either cyclically or continuously to momentarily to retain the controllable strut as particular lengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Applicant: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE
    Inventors: Terry Cleland, Larry Ferriman, Klaus Bytzek, Gary Spicer, Z. Staniewicz, Gerald Hamers