Patents by Inventor Kevin S. Ford

Kevin S. Ford 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: 11181189
    Abstract: A vehicle shifter mechanism comprises a shift control member configured with an outer threaded portion proximate an upper end, and an inwardly tapered bore proximate the upper end. A shift lever is configured with an outwardly extending annular shoulder proximate a lower end. The annular shoulder has a tapered lower portion configured to register with the tapered bore of the shift control member. A locking nut is configured to fit over the shift lever and to mate with the threaded portion of the shift control member to compress the tapered lower portion of the annular shoulder to the tapered bore to fix the shift control member to the shift lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Lokar, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin S. Ford, Van Walls
  • Publication number: 20190113134
    Abstract: A vehicle shifter mechanism comprises a shift control member configured with an outer threaded portion proximate an upper end, and an inwardly tapered bore proximate the upper end. A shift lever is configured with an outwardly extending annular shoulder proximate a lower end. The annular shoulder has a tapered lower portion configured to register with the tapered bore of the shift control member. A locking nut is configured to fit over the shift lever and to mate with the threaded portion of the shift control member to compress the tapered lower portion of the annular shoulder to the tapered bore to fix the shift control member to the shift lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin S. Ford, Van Walls
  • Publication number: 20080314186
    Abstract: A multi-component adapter, available in a kit, which permits the use of “non-button” knobs on existing shifter levers which are originally intended to be operative only in combination with a button-containing knob. In one embodiment, the present multi-part adapter comprises a generally hollow cylindrical body member adapted to be mounted on the outboard distal end of an existing shifter lever without modification of the shifter lever, a hollow internally threaded cylindrical sleeve threadably mounted on the outboard distal end of the shifter lever and slidably received with a bore in a first end of the body member functioning to affix the body member to the outboard distal end of the shifter while providing for limited linear movement of the body member relative to the shifter lever, and an externally threaded nipple adapted to be received within a bore in a second end of the body member and further adapted to mount a non-button type knob on the outboard end of the body member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Kevin S. Ford