Patents by Inventor Howard Kuhlman

Howard Kuhlman 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).

  • Publication number: 20230203869
    Abstract: A power closure actuator for powering a movable closure includes a shaft situated between an electric motor and an output member. A brake device along the shaft is actuable via an electric brake actuator to apply braking. An active brake clamp is movable by the electric brake actuator. An axially floating rotor is rotatable with the shaft and has a first axial side facing the active brake clamp a second axial side providing a second braking surface. A passive backing brake clamp is positioned adjacent the second braking surface. The axially floating rotor is biased away from the passive backing brake clamp by a first biasing member. Deflection of the first biasing member coupled with axial movement of the active brake clamp and the axially floating rotor enables braking by pinching action of the axially floating rotor between the active brake clamp and the passive backing brake clamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Gregory Sproule, Kimpon Ngem, Paul Crociata, Steven Buell, Howard Kuhlman
  • Patent number: 11421465
    Abstract: A power closure actuator for powering a movable closure includes an output member configured to drive movement of the movable closure, a motor coupled through a gear reduction to drive the output member, and an integrated brake-clutch unit having an input configured to receive drive power from the electric motor. The brake-clutch unit provides independent braking and clutching between the electric motor and the output member via an electric brake actuator and an electric clutch actuator, respectively. Brake and clutch portions of the brake-clutch unit act on a rotor, and brake force can be maintained on the rotor without powering the brake actuator. A clutch disc is biased disengaged from the rotor. The integrated brake-clutch unit provides a drive state between the electric motor and the output member when the brake portion is released concurrently with the clutch portion establishing a power coupling between the clutch disc and the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: STRATTEC POWER ACCESS LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Sproule, Howard Kuhlman, Frederick Eberle, William Champ, Steven Buell, Jacob Fritschle, Daniel Sand, Paul Crociata, David Wilcox, Brian Schymik, Michael Zientak, Kimpon Ngem
  • Publication number: 20200340282
    Abstract: A power closure actuator for powering a movable closure includes an output member configured to drive movement of the movable closure, a motor coupled through a gear reduction to drive the output member, and an integrated brake-clutch unit having an input configured to receive drive power from the electric motor. The brake-clutch unit provides independent braking and clutching between the electric motor and the output member via an electric brake actuator and an electric clutch actuator, respectively. Brake and clutch portions of the brake-clutch unit act on a rotor, and brake force can be maintained on the rotor without powering the brake actuator. A clutch disc is biased disengaged from the rotor. The integrated brake-clutch unit provides a drive state between the electric motor and the output member when the brake portion is released concurrently with the clutch portion establishing a power coupling between the clutch disc and the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory Sproule, Howard Kuhlman, Frederick Eberle, William Champ, Steven Buell, Jacob Fritschle, Daniel Sand, Paul Crociata, David Wilcox, Brian Schymik, Michael Zientak, Kimpon Ngem
  • Patent number: 10788108
    Abstract: An actuator for opening and closing a decklid or other closure on a motor vehicle is described and shown. The actuator can include a motor, a rod coupled to and driven by the motor, a first sleeve coupled to and driven by the rod, and a second sleeve coupled to and driven by the first sleeve. The first and second sleeves can be slidably coupled to one another, and/or can be rotatably locked relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: STRATTEC POWER ACCESS LLC
    Inventors: Mark E. Adams, Howard Kuhlman, Daniela Kowalski
  • Publication number: 20170328450
    Abstract: An actuator for opening and closing a decklid or other closure on a motor vehicle is described and shown. The actuator can include a motor, a rod coupled to and driven by the motor, a first sleeve coupled to and driven by the rod, and a second sleeve coupled to and driven by the first sleeve. The first and second sleeves can be slidably coupled to one another, and/or can be rotatably locked relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Mark E. Adams, Howard Kuhlman, Daniela Kowalski
  • Publication number: 20060071505
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle has a power operated lift-gate that is opened and closed by two drive units. The typical drive unit has a guide channel, an attachment assembly that is disposed in the guide channel, a flexible drive member that is attached to the attachment assembly and formed in a loop for moving the attachment assembly in the guide channel. The flexible drive member is trained solely around two pulleys at the respective opposite ends of the guide channel to form the flexible drive member in a narrow loop. One of the pulleys is an idler pulley that is part of an adjustable pulley assembly and the other pulley is driven by a power unit that is attached to the guide channel. The adjustable pulley assembly adjusts the distance between the pulleys to take up slack in the flexible drive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Ciavaglia, Joseph Johnson, Lloyd Rogers, Howard Kuhlman, Brian Orr, John Rice, Eric Hansen
  • Publication number: 20050160871
    Abstract: A two position spring biased lever system has a lever that pivots on a support between a first position and a second position, and a torsion spring. The torsion spring has a spring arm that is attached to a central coil at one end and that has an opposite distal end that is engaged in a notch of the lever. The torsion spring is stressed so that the spring arm biases the lever toward the second position while holding the lever in the first position when the distal end is in the notch. The spring arm moves the lever to the second position when the distal end is disengaged from the notch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventors: Douglas Dombrowski, Artur Ostrowski, Howard Kuhlman