Patents by Inventor Kenneth E. Keck, II

Kenneth E. Keck, II 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: 11577658
    Abstract: A crossmember assembly is provided for a motor vehicle having a roof with first and second rails. Each rail has a width within a range of widths, with the first and second rails being spaced from one another by distance within a range of distances. The assembly includes a crossbar having first and second ends and movable along the rails. The assembly further includes a first clamp mechanism engaged with the first end for securing the crossbar to the first rail and a second clamp mechanism engaged with the second end for securing the crossbar to the first rail. Each of the first and second clamp mechanisms includes a stanchion attached to the crossbar and having a first rail gripping surface. Each of the first and second clamp mechanisms further includes a scotch yoke, which has a second rail gripping surface and is movable between clamped and unclamped states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: PLASMAN US Holdco LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Keck, II
  • Publication number: 20220161732
    Abstract: A crossmember assembly is provided for a motor vehicle having a roof with first and second rails. Each rail has a width within a range of widths, with the first and second rails being spaced from one another by distance within a range of distances. The assembly includes a crossbar having first and second ends and movable along the rails. The assembly further includes a first clamp mechanism engaged with the first end for securing the crossbar to the first rail and a second clamp mechanism engaged with the second end for securing the crossbar to the first rail. Each of the first and second clamp mechanisms includes a stanchion attached to the crossbar and having a first rail gripping surface. Each of the first and second clamp mechanisms further includes a scotch yoke, which has a second rail gripping surface and is movable between clamped and unclamped states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Keck, II
  • Patent number: 11299104
    Abstract: A universal crossmember assembly is provided for a motor vehicle having a roof and first and second rails attached to the roof. The assembly includes a crossbar having first and second ends along an axis. The assembly further includes a first clamp mechanism engaged with the first end for securing the crossbar to the first rail. The assembly further includes a second clamp mechanism engaged with the second end for securing the crossbar to the second rail. Each clamp mechanism includes at least first and second jaws having an associated one of first and second rail gripping surfaces for gripping one of the rails when an actuator is moved to an actuated position. Each clamp mechanism further includes a biasing mechanism capable of urging the first jaw away from the second jaw when the actuator is moved to a non-actuated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: DUS Operating Inc.
    Inventors: Imtiaz Syed, Kenneth E. Keck, II, Nadine Pilsner
  • Publication number: 20200062189
    Abstract: An adjustment mechanism includes a first pin connectable to a crossbar, a second pin connectable to a roof rail, a housing assembly disposed on the second pin, the housing assembly including a bearing and a first biasing member both disposed within the housing assembly, the bearing translatable within the housing assembly, the biasing member disposed between the bearing and the housing assembly to bias the bearing member, the first pin disposed through the bearing, and a second biasing member disposed on the second pin between the roof rail and the housing assembly to bias the housing assembly. The first pin is rotatable within the bearing to rotate the crossbar, the first pin is translatable with the bearing to move the crossbar in a first direction and a second direction, and the housing assembly is translatable along the second pin to move the crossbar in a third direction and a fourth direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Keck, II
  • Patent number: 10556548
    Abstract: An adjustment mechanism includes a first pin connectable to a crossbar, a second pin connectable to a roof rail, a housing assembly disposed on the second pin, the housing assembly including a bearing and a first biasing member both disposed within the housing assembly, the bearing translatable within the housing assembly, the biasing member disposed between the bearing and the housing assembly to bias the bearing member, the first pin disposed through the bearing, and a second biasing member disposed on the second pin between the roof rail and the housing assembly to bias the housing assembly. The first pin is rotatable within the bearing to rotate the crossbar, the first pin is translatable with the bearing to move the crossbar in a first direction and a second direction, and the housing assembly is translatable along the second pin to move the crossbar in a third direction and a fourth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: DURA OPERATING, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Keck, II
  • Patent number: 9920560
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a motor vehicle window assembly includes a guide rail, a movable pane movable along the guide rail between open and closed positions and a defroster. First and second guide rail conductors are carried by the guide rail and adapted to be connected to a power source. First and second movable conductors are each electrically communicated with a respective one of the first and second guide rail conductors, each electrically coupled to the defroster and each movable with the movable pane relative to guide rail when the movable pane is moved between the open and closed positions. To provide power to the defroster, the movable conductors are in contact with the guide rail conductors when the movable pane is in the closed position and during movement of the movable pane between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Dura Operating, LLC
    Inventors: Ronnie G. Gipson, Kenneth E. Keck, II
  • Publication number: 20170268272
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a motor vehicle window assembly includes a guide rail, a movable pane movable along the guide rail between open and closed positions and a defroster. First and second guide rail conductors are carried by the guide rail and adapted to be connected to a power source. First and second movable conductors are each electrically communicated with a respective one of the first and second guide rail conductors, each electrically coupled to the defroster and each movable with the movable pane relative to guide rail when the movable pane is moved between the open and closed positions. To provide power to the defroster, the movable conductors are in contact with the guide rail conductors when the movable pane is in the closed position and during movement of the movable pane between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Ronnie G. Gipson, Kenneth E. Keck, II
  • Publication number: 20170253108
    Abstract: A motor vehicle window assembly. One implementation includes a wiper in electrical communication between a defrost grid of a movable window assembly and an elongate conductor of a guide rail assembly having a straight guide portion and an oblique guide portion, and in contact with the elongate conductor when the movable window assembly is in an open position. Another implementation includes an actuator cable including a core having a terminus coupled to a cable connector portion of a movable window assembly, wherein when the actuator cable is actuated, the movable window assembly moves in a direction extending away from an open position along a plane, toward a closed position out of the plane, and into the closed position in another plane such that the terminus of the core is carried out of the plane by the movable window assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Ronnie G. Gipson, Scott S. Sharron, Kenneth E. Keck, II, Walter J. Steiner, Ramakrishna Putumbaka
  • Patent number: 9688122
    Abstract: A motor vehicle window assembly, one implementation of which includes a wiper in electrical communication between a defrost grid of a movable window and an elongate conductor of a guide rail assembly having a straight guide portion and an oblique guide portion, and in contact with the elongate conductor when the movable window is in an open position. At least one implementation of the window assembly includes an actuator cable including a core having a terminus coupled to a cable connector portion of the movable window, wherein when the actuator cable is actuated, the movable window moves in a direction extending away from the open position along a plane, toward a closed position out of the plane, and into the closed position in another plane such that the terminus of the core is carried out of the plane by the movable window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Dura Operating, LLC
    Inventors: Ronnie G. Gipson, Scott S. Sharron, Kenneth E. Keck, II, Walter J. Steiner, Ramakrishna Putumbaka
  • Publication number: 20120291353
    Abstract: A motor vehicle window assembly. One implementation includes a wiper in electrical communication between a defrost grid of a movable window assembly and an elongate conductor of a guide rail assembly having a straight guide portion and an oblique guide portion, and in contact with the elongate conductor when the movable window assembly is in an open position. Another implementation includes an actuator cable including a core having a terminus coupled to a cable connector portion of a movable window assembly, wherein when the actuator cable is actuated, the movable window assembly moves in a direction extending away from an open position along a plane, toward a closed position out of the plane, and into the closed position in another plane such that the terminus of the core is carried out of the plane by the movable window assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: DURA GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ronnie G. Gipson, Scott S. Sharron, Kenneth E. Keck, II, Walter J. Steiner, Ramakrishna Putumbaka
  • Patent number: 8250812
    Abstract: A slider window assembly for a motor vehicle includes a fixed panel formed of a single pane encircling an opening formed therein, a slider panel movable along a horizontal axis between closed and open positions, an injection-molded plastic slider frame adhesively bonded to the fixed panel, and at least one seal member forming a seal between the slider frame and the slider panel. The slider frame includes a sealing frame extending entirely about the opening, an upper run located above the opening and receiving the slider panel, and a lower run located below the opening and receiving the slider panel. There is preferably a substantially continuous adhesive bond between the slider frame and the fixed panel that entirely encircles the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Emile Hebert, Robert John Cicala, Kenneth E. Keck, II