Patents by Inventor Gregory D. Brzezinski
Gregory D. Brzezinski 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).
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Patent number: 11421728Abstract: A method of manufacturing a steering shaft assembly includes inserting an inner shaft into an outer shaft along a longitudinal axis. The method further includes placing the inner shaft and the outer shaft into a tool having a staking tool provided with a staking feature; aligning a stake with a base of a tooth of the plurality of fine teeth of the outer shaft; and pressing the stake axially into an outer shaft first end to a predetermined depth using the staking feature.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding CorporationInventors: Gregory D. Brzezinski, Benjamin J. Kolhagen, Harold J. Nelson
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Patent number: 10882070Abstract: A method of manufacturing a steering shaft assembly includes heating an inner shaft and heating an outer shaft. The method also includes applying a plastic coating to at least a portion of the inner shaft. The method further includes cooling the plastic coating and pressing the outer shaft and the inner shaft together.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2017Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding CorporationInventors: Gregory D. Brzezinski, Terry E. Burkhard, Chase A. Szostak, Harold J. Nelson
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Publication number: 20200224712Abstract: A method of manufacturing a steering shaft assembly includes inserting an inner shaft into an outer shaft along a longitudinal axis. The method further includes placing the inner shaft and the outer shaft into a tool having a staking tool provided with a staking feature; aligning a stake with a base of a tooth of the plurality of fine teeth of the outer shaft; and pressing the stake axially into an outer shaft first end to a predetermined depth using the staking feature.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventors: Gregory D. Brzezinski, Benjamin J. Kolhagen, Harold J. Nelson
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Patent number: 10641315Abstract: A method of manufacturing a steering shaft assembly includes inserting an inner shaft into an outer shaft along a longitudinal axis. The method further includes placing the inner shaft and the outer shaft into a tool having a staking tool provided with a staking feature; aligning a stake with a base of a tooth of the plurality of fine teeth of the outer shaft; and pressing the stake axially into an outer shaft first end to a predetermined depth using the staking feature.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding CorporationInventors: Gregory D. Brzezinski, Benjamin J. Kolhagen, Harold J. Nelson
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Publication number: 20180283442Abstract: A method of manufacturing a steering shaft assembly includes inserting an inner shaft into an outer shaft along a longitudinal axis. The method further includes placing the inner shaft and the outer shaft into a tool having a staking tool provided with a staking feature; aligning a stake with a base of a tooth of the plurality of fine teeth of the outer shaft; and pressing the stake axially into an outer shaft first end to a predetermined depth using the staking feature.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Gregory D. Brzezinski, Benjamin J. Kolhagen, Harold J. Nelson
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Publication number: 20180281129Abstract: A method of manufacturing a steering shaft assembly includes heating an inner shaft and heating an outer shaft. The method also includes applying a plastic coating to at least a portion of the inner shaft. The method further includes cooling the plastic coating and pressing the outer shaft and the inner shaft together.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Gregory D. Brzezinski, Terry E. Burkhard, Chase A. Szostak, Harold J. Nelson
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Patent number: 9956985Abstract: A steering shaft assembly is disclosed with an outer shaft operatively connected to a one of a steered member or a steering control. The outer shaft has an open end and a receiving chamber associated with the open end. The steering shaft assembly also includes an inner shaft operatively connected to another of the steered member or the steering control. The inner shaft has an engaging portion axially slideably received in the outer shaft receiving chamber. The inner shaft engaging portion also includes a polymer coating disposed on an outer surface of the inner shaft engaging portion. The coating has an outer surface that slideably engages with a surface of the outer shaft receiving chamber, and which has comprises projections and recesses along the coating outer surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2017Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATIONInventors: Gregory D. Brzezinski, Terry E. Burkhard
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Publication number: 20170232995Abstract: A steering shaft assembly is disclosed with an outer shaft operatively connected to a one of a steered member or a steering control. The outer shaft has an open end and a receiving chamber associated with the open end. The steering shaft assembly also includes an inner shaft operatively connected to another of the steered member or the steering control. The inner shaft has an engaging portion axially slideably received in the outer shaft receiving chamber. The inner shaft engaging portion also includes a polymer coating disposed on an outer surface of the inner shaft engaging portion. The coating has an outer surface that slideably engages with a surface of the outer shaft receiving chamber, and which has comprises projections and recesses along the coating outer surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Gregory D. Brzezinski, Terry E. Burkhard
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Patent number: 9664237Abstract: A universal joint assembly includes a hollow upper shaft, a lower shaft extending at least partially within the upper shaft, and a cage having a plurality of bearing apertures. Each bearing aperture includes a pair of opposed loading pads having a distinct inner wall surface sector extending radially inward into the at least one bearing aperture. The cage receives at least a portion of the lower shaft and is positioned within the hollow upper shaft. The assembly further includes at least one upper tilt pin extending through the upper shaft and a bearing aperture of the plurality of bearing apertures, and a lower tilt pin extending through the lower shaft and a bearing aperture of the plurality of bearing apertures.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATIONInventors: Joen C. Bodtker, Gregory D. Brzezinski
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Patent number: 9618053Abstract: A universal joint assembly includes a hollow upper shaft having an inner surface, a lower shaft extending at least partially within the upper shaft, and a cage receiving at least a portion of the lower shaft, the cage positioned within the hollow upper shaft. The assembly further includes at least one upper tilt pin extending through the upper shaft and the cage, at least one groove formed in the inner surface of the upper shaft, and a lower tilt pin extending through the cage and the lower shaft. The lower tilt pin extends into the at least one groove.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATIONInventors: Joen C. Bodtker, Gregory D. Brzezinski
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Publication number: 20160123404Abstract: In another aspect of the invention, a universal joint assembly is provided. The assembly includes a hollow upper shaft, a lower shaft extending at least partially within the upper shaft, and a cage having a plurality of bearing apertures. Each bearing aperture includes a pair of opposed loading pads having a distinct inner wall surface sector extending radially inward into the at least one bearing aperture. The cage receives at least a portion of the lower shaft and is positioned within the hollow upper shaft. The assembly further includes at least one upper tilt pin extending through the upper shaft and a bearing aperture of the plurality of bearing apertures, and a lower tilt pin extending through the lower shaft and a bearing aperture of the plurality of bearing apertures.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2014Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Joen C. Bodtker, Gregory D. Brzezinski
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Publication number: 20150330456Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a universal joint assembly is provided. The assembly includes a hollow upper shaft having an inner surface, a lower shaft extending at least partially within the upper shaft, and a cage receiving at least a portion of the lower shaft, the cage positioned within the hollow upper shaft. The assembly further includes at least one upper tilt pin extending through the upper shaft and the cage, at least one groove formed in the inner surface of the upper shaft, and a lower tilt pin extending through the cage and the lower shaft. The lower tilt pin extends into the at least one groove.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2014Publication date: November 19, 2015Applicant: Steering Solutions IP Holding CorporationInventors: Joen C. Bodtker, Gregory D. Brzezinski