Patents by Inventor John Frank Schulz

John Frank Schulz 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).

  • Steering column telescope lock
    Patent number: 8783717
    Abstract: A telescope lock mechanism for a steering column includes a plurality of column teeth operably connected to the steering column and an adjustment lever operably connected to the steering column to allow user adjustment of a position of the steering column. A locking bolt extends from the adjustment lever, and a cam is located at the locking bolt and rotatable thereon. The cam includes one or more tab features interactive with the locking bolt such that rotation of the locking bolt engages the tab features with the locking bolt to drive rotation of the cam between a locked and unlocked position. The tab further includes a plurality of cam teeth meshable with the plurality of column teeth when the cam is in a locked position. A spring is operably connected to the cam to maintain the cam position in the locked and/or unlocked position when the cam is rotated thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Melvin Lee Tinnin, Kevin M Burns, John Frank Schulz, Richard K. Riefe
  • STEERING COLUMN TELESCOPE LOCK
    Publication number: 20120125139
    Abstract: A telescope lock mechanism for a steering column includes a plurality of column teeth operably connected to the steering column and an adjustment lever operably connected to the steering column to allow user adjustment of a position of the steering column. A locking bolt extends from the adjustment lever, and a cam is located at the locking bolt and rotatable thereon. The cam includes one or more tab features interactive with the locking bolt such that rotation of the locking bolt engages the tab features with the locking bolt to drive rotation of the cam between a locked and unlocked position. The tab further includes a plurality of cam teeth meshable with the plurality of column teeth when the cam is in a locked position. A spring is operably connected to the cam to maintain the cam position in the locked and/or unlocked position when the cam is rotated thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Melvin Lee Tinnin, Kevin M. Burns, John Frank Schulz, Richard K. Riefe