Patents by Inventor Leland J. Key

Leland J. Key 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).

  • Powered actuator with manual override feature
    Patent number: 4895048
    Abstract: A powered actuator (1) for driving mechanisms that open and close convertible tops, sunroofs, windows and the like in motor vehicles; in which actuator (1) has a manual override feature allowing actuator (1) to be easily operated by hand should the electrical power system of the motor vehicle fail, yet the manual override feature does not require calibration or periodic adjustment.Actuator (1) includes actuator housing (2) having an attached motor having first gear (28) driven by the motor armature, output shaft (18) having driven gear (12) mounted thereon, insert cushion (10) being engaged with driven gear (12), and removable plate (6) being installed upon plate end (42) of output shaft (18). Actuator (1) is manually operated by removing removable plate (6) thereby disengaging driven gear (12) from output shaft (18) and then manually imparting rotation to plate end (42) of output shaft (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: United Technologies Electro Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Leland J. Key, Michael D. Harper