Patents by Inventor Jean-Claude Le Du

Jean-Claude Le Du 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: 6179430
    Abstract: A motor vehicle heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning installation has a control panel comprising a light box which consists of a housing comprising a housing member with an open side closed by a front wall of the control panel, and a light source within the housing. The front wall is of translucent material made opaque on its front face except in lighting zones which define illuminated indicia. Some of the lighting zones have a first thickness, while others are of different thicknesses, so that the luminance of the lighting zones at the front face of the front wall is modified locally. In this way, imperfections in the light box arising from differences in luminance in the illuminated indicia can be compensated for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Valeo Electronique
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Le Du
  • Patent number: 4492361
    Abstract: A flap (11) for controlling the flow of air in a duct, in particular in a heater or air conditioner installation for the cabin of a motor vehicle, comprises an assembly of two half-flaps (12) applied against each other and each having projecting hollow stiffener ribs (13) disposed substantially opposite to one another, to constitute a hollow box structure. A sealing ring (17) is moulded over touching peripheral rims (16) of the half-flaps. For given stiffness, this structure may four or five times lighter than a conventional sheet metal flap, thereby reducing the force needed to actuate the flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventors: Maurice Jacquet, Jean-Claude Le Du