Patents by Inventor Joachim LACROIX

Joachim LACROIX 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: 10281107
    Abstract: A vent cap has a cap wall extending an inner surface of a cap base. First and second sealing lips extend starting from the cap base. Each sealing lip has at least one cutaway such that two adjacent cutaways are offset with respect to each other. A vent body has a plate with an opening formed therethrough. Inner and outer guide walls extend vent body plate and at least partially encircle the ventilation opening. The cap base lies flush against an outer wall of the vent body such that the first and second sealing lips lie flush against the outer wall of the vent body to form a flow path with a first labyrinthine course in a radial direction and a second labyrinthine course in a vertical direction between the vent body plate and the base body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Joachim Lacroix
  • Patent number: 9482261
    Abstract: A fastening element is provided for a motor vehicle having a nut and a housing accommodating the nut, by which the fastening element can be fastened to a support part, in particular body panel, body attachment part or similar vehicle part of vehicle attachment part. It is provided that the housing is a plastic part with fixing device molded thereon for the clamping and/or positively joined fixing of the fastening element on the support part. A support part is further provided for a motor vehicle, on which a fastening element is fixed. A wiper motor is provided having such a support part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Lacroix, Joerg Schneider
  • Patent number: 9309905
    Abstract: A clamping element, a fastening arrangement with clamping element, and a method for use of the clamping element are provided. In one example, the clamping element has a first leg and a second leg. The first and the second leg are arranged lying opposite one another. The first and the second leg are connected mechanically via a base region. The base region braces in the first leg in a spring-elastic manner with respect to the second leg on the parts arranged and clamped between the legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Joachim Lacroix
  • Patent number: 9139231
    Abstract: A drainage device is provided for a motor vehicle, which serves for discharging liquid out of the water box of a motor vehicle. The drainage device includes, but is not limited to a line portion, which is at least partially incorporated in an insulating structure for the front wall of the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle is also provided with a water box and a drainage device that is fluidically connected to the water box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Joachim Lacroix
  • Publication number: 20150219132
    Abstract: A retaining clip for at least one elongate element for encompassing the at least one elongate element is disclosed. The retaining clip includes an outer component and an inner component. The inner component is arranged on an inner side of the outer component and connected thereto in a firmly bonded fashion. The outer component features a retraction space for the inner component on its inner side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventor: Joachim LACROIX
  • Patent number: 8991910
    Abstract: A water drain valve is provided for a water box drain channel of a motor vehicle, which includes, but is not limited to a support that can be attached to the water box drain channel, on which an elastically bent sealing lip supports itself in its middle region, which extends on both sides of the support in downstream direction and sealingly presses at least one part of a downstream sealing lip edge against a sealing surface that can be connected to the water box drain channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Joachim Lacroix
  • Patent number: 8864217
    Abstract: A panel element is provided for arrangement on a water box of a front wall of a motor vehicle body, with a fastening edge for forming a fastening of the panel element arranged upstream of the water box in travelling direction of the motor vehicle and adjoining the water box and with at least one water-conducting depression for the controlled discharge of accumulating water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joerg Schneider, Joachim Lacroix
  • Patent number: 8801071
    Abstract: A fastening device is provided for the releasable fastening of a panel element to the front wall structure of a motor vehicle body, with a brace, which on one end can be fastened with a fastening structure of the panel element and on the other end can be fastened with a fastening structure of the front wall structure. The brace is releasable and positively fastened to at least one of the fastening structures with at least one end section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Lacroix, Joerg Schneider
  • Publication number: 20140117722
    Abstract: A drainage device is provided for a motor vehicle, which serves for discharging liquid out of the water box of a motor vehicle. The drainage device includes, but is not limited to a line portion, which is at least partially incorporated in an insulating structure for the front wall of the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle is also provided with a water box and a drainage device that is fluidically connected to the water box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Joachim LACROIX
  • Publication number: 20140086701
    Abstract: A fastening element is provided for a motor vehicle having a nut and a housing accommodating the nut, by which the fastening element can be fastened to a support part, in particular body panel, body attachment part or similar vehicle part of vehicle attachment part. It is provided that the housing is a plastic part with fixing device molded thereon for the clamping and/or positively joined fixing of the fastening element on the support part. A support part is further provided for a motor vehicle, on which a fastening element is fixed. A wiper motor is provided having such a support part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joachim LACROIX, Joerg SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20140013534
    Abstract: A sealing bush of elastic material is provided for a windshield wiping device of a vehicle, for sealing a wiper drive shaft that is guided through an opening in a vehicle wall. This has a cylindrical wall sealing section with an internal diameter, which is greater with respect to the wiper drive shaft, on which two circumferential sealing lips, extending radially with respect to a center axis, are formed surrounding the vehicle wall on both sides. The wall sealing section has a smaller external diameter with respect to the opening edge for forming a radial gap, and a thin-walled shaft sealing section adjoins the wall sealing section on an outer side of the vehicle, which shaft sealing section tapers conically towards the outer side of the vehicle and towards the wiper drive shaft and terminates in an annular seal region for the wiper drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Joachim LACROIX, Joerg SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20140015286
    Abstract: A water drain valve is provided for a water box drain channel of a motor vehicle, which includes, but is not limited to a support that can be attached to the water box drain channel, on which an elastically bent sealing lip supports itself in its middle region, which extends on both sides of the support in downstream direction and sealingly presses at least one part of a downstream sealing lip edge against a sealing surface that can be connected to the water box drain channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventor: Joachim Lacroix
  • Publication number: 20130330583
    Abstract: A protective cap for a terminal connection of a battery, a motor vehicle battery, and a battery cable are provided. The protective cap includes a first layer of a non-conductive layer material and a second layer superimposed on the first layer. The first layer and the second layer surround an interior space configured to receive the terminal connection in a shell-shaped manner. The first layer faces the terminal connection and consists of a material with a first modulus of elasticity E1, and the second layer faces away from the terminal connection and consists of a material with a second modulus of elasticity E2, wherein E1<E2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Joachim LACROIX
  • Patent number: 8567852
    Abstract: An arrangement of a water box and a drain is provided for draining off water from a region between a windshield and an engine hood in a motor vehicle. The water box can include a depression with an upwardly directed water-directing region. The drain can include a drain valve housing with a drain valve. The drain valve of the drain is arranged above the water-directing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Lacroix, Joerg Schneider
  • Publication number: 20120292944
    Abstract: A fastening device is provided for the releasable fastening of a panel element to the front wall structure of a motor vehicle body, with a brace, which on one end can be fastened with a fastening structure of the panel element and on the other end can be fastened with a fastening structure of the front wall structure. The brace is releasable and positively fastened to at least one of the fastening structures with at least one end section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC.
    Inventors: Joachim LACROIX, Joerg SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20120292949
    Abstract: A panel element is provided for arrangement on a water box of a front wall of a motor vehicle body, with a fastening edge for forming a fastening of the panel element arranged upstream of the water box in travelling direction of the motor vehicle and adjoining the water box and with at least one water-conducting depression for the controlled discharge of accumulating water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joerg SCHNEIDER, Joachim LACROIX