Patents by Inventor Lawrence P. Johnson

Lawrence P. Johnson 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: 4337873
    Abstract: A fuel cap has a pair of poppet type valves which control the pressure level within the fuel tank. Each valve member has a seat portion and a valve stem guide portion formed integral with the threaded closure member of the cap. A conical valve member having a longitudinally extending stem is positioned on the valve seat and in the stem guide by a spring member. The valve which controls the maximum pressure within the fuel tank is operable to permit very high gas flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence P. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4252246
    Abstract: A fuel tank cap assembly has a closure, a cover and a skirt. Each of these is an injection-molded component with the cover and skirt having interlocking portions which cooperate to maintain the cap assembled with a portion of the closure secured between the cover and skirt. Also secured between the cover and closure member is a pressure and vacuum valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1981
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence P. Johnson, Oscar G. Kitchin
  • Patent number: 4228915
    Abstract: A snap together fuel cap wherein a closure member is maintained between a cover portion and a skirt portion. The cover and skirt portions are secured together through cooperating axially facing surfaces formed on locking tab members. The tabs on the skirt have a predetermined width which is slightly less than the distance between adjacent protruding surfaces formed on the cover such that after assembly, the end walls on the skirt tabs will engage the edges of the protruding surfaces to limit relative rotation between the cover portion and the skirt portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1980
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Hooper, Lawrence P. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4142648
    Abstract: A cap assembly for a fuel tank filler tube having a low profile housing. The outer shell of the cap is a dome-shaped sheet metal member backed by a dome-shaped impact resistant cap support member secured between the outer shell and the threaded closure portion of the cap assembly and urged into abutment with the outer shell by resilient fingers formed integrally with the cap support member. The assembly also includes valve means which are communicated with the interior of the tank and atmosphere through passages formed in the threaded closure member and the cap support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1979
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence P. Johnson, William C. Vogel
  • Patent number: 4054192
    Abstract: An overrunning clutch cage consists of a plurality of short, molded plastic segments which snap together end-to-end to form an annulus. The manner in which the segments are connected facilitates assembly and permits adjustments for conformity between the clutch races. The adjustments in conjunction with the accurate radial dimensions of the segments improves centering of the races. The segments are designed for being molded in a two part mold and the resulting cage forms a subassembly with the clutch rollers and roller biasing springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1977
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence P. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4040181
    Abstract: The knife of the invention comprises a handle including a pair of side scales held in spaced parallel relation by a pair of end pins and a center pin, to provide a narrow elongate channel, a single folding blade pivoted on the forward end pin and a rigid locking rocker arm pivoted on the center pin for rocking movement in the channel. The blade has a key notch in the back of the tang and the forward end of the rocker arm has a key to engage the notch and lock the blade in extended position. An aperture through the aft portion of the rocker arm cooperates with the side scales to form a totally enclosed pocket through which the aft end pin passes, and a spring totally enclosed within the pocket engages the pin and the wall of the aperture to urge the arm into locking position. A recess in the back of the handle facilitates pressing the aft portion of the arm inward to release the blade for retraction. The totally enclosed pocket excludes dirt and ensures positive operation of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1977
    Assignee: Western Cutlery Co.
    Inventor: Lawrence P. Johnson