Patents by Inventor Mark J. Kromer
Mark J. Kromer 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).
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Patent number: 11724682Abstract: An interface module for a vehicle comprises a circuit board having a light emitting device and at least one stationary light pipe for conveying the light emitted from the light emitting device. The interface module also includes at least one electromechanical switch having a moveable actuation member and a feedback device associated with moveable actuation member. The feedback device aligns with the at least one stationary light pipe when the at least one electromechanical switch is assembled in the interface module, wherein the light emitted from the light emitting device is visible through the feedback device.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Inventors: Daniel P Zula, Madhur A Khadabadi, Mark J Kromer, Christopher H Hutchins, Kian Sheikh-Bahaie, Daniel J Cellura, Linda J Burns
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Publication number: 20230012521Abstract: An interface module for a vehicle comprises a circuit board having a light emitting device and at least one stationary light pipe for conveying the light emitted from the light emitting device. The interface module also includes at least one electromechanical switch having a moveable actuation member and a feedback device associated with moveable actuation member. The feedback device aligns with the at least one stationary light pipe when the at least one electromechanical switch is assembled in the interface module, wherein the light emitted from the light emitting device is visible through the feedback device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Daniel P. Zula, Madhur A. Khadabadi, Mark J. Kromer, Christopher H Hutchins, Kian Sheikh-Bahaie, Daniel J. Cellura, Linda J. Burns
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Patent number: 11161484Abstract: Various examples of park brake interface modules which are utilized as human machine interfaces (HMI) in vehicles are provided. In one example, a park brake interface module for a vehicle includes an actuation member mounted to an electromechanical switch to actuate the park brake. The actuation member includes a finger pad opposite the front surface and the actuation member is movable between a brake apply position and a brake release position to actuate the vehicle park brake. In another example, the actuation member is pivotally mounted to the electromechanical switch device and the actuation member is pivotable between the brake apply position and the brake release positions to actuate the park brake.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2017Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventors: Daniel P. Zula, Madhur A. Khadabadi, Mark J. Kromer, Christopher H. Hutchins, Kian Sheikh-Bahaie, Daniel J. Cellura, Linda Burns
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Publication number: 20180086321Abstract: Various examples of park brake interface modules which are utilized as human machine interfaces (HMI) in vehicles are provided. In one example, a park brake interface module for a vehicle includes a park brake switch device to actuate the park brake. The park brake switch device is capable of actuating the vehicle park brake in a brake apply mode upon receipt of a pinch signal. In another example, the park brake interface module includes a park brake switch device which is capable of actuating the vehicle park brake in a brake release mode upon receipt of a reach signal. In operation, the electronic interface module and park brake switch devices allow the operator to apply or release the vehicle park brakes according to memorable mnemonics, for example. “pinch to park” and “reach to release.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Daniel P. Zula, Madhur A. Khadabadi, Mark J. Kromer, Christopher H. Hutchins, Kian Sheikh-Bahaie
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Publication number: 20180086322Abstract: Various examples of park brake interface modules which are utilized as human machine interfaces (HMI) in vehicles are provided. In one example, a park brake interface module for a vehicle includes an actuation member mounted to an electromechanical switch to actuate the park brake. The actuation member includes a finger pad opposite the front surface and the actuation member is movable between a brake apply position and a brake release position to actuate the vehicle park brake. In another example, the actuation member is pivotally mounted to the electromechanical switch device and the actuation member is pivotable between the brake apply position and the brake release positions to actuate the park brake.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Daniel P. Zula, Madhur A. Khadabadi, Mark J. Kromer, Christopher H. Hutchins, Kian Sheikh-Bahaie, Daniel J. Cellura, Linda Burns
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Patent number: 8714318Abstract: A spring-type brake actuator for a pneumatically-operated vehicle brake is provided, in which the portion of the brake actuator containing the parking brake actuation power spring is arranged to be vented to atmosphere but not to permit entry of outside environmental air into the power spring chamber, the spring-type brake actuator being provided with an internal breather valve which permits clean dry air from the parking brake release chamber to enter the power spring chamber which the pressure difference between the chambers falls to within a predetermined pressure range.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake, LLCInventors: Brett S. Darner, Ronald S. Plantan, Mark J. Kromer, Randy J. Salvatora
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Patent number: 8672101Abstract: An improved self-adjusting automatic slack adjuster for reducing slack in the brake of a vehicle is provided, in which an easily accessible external operating feature permits the automatic slack adjuster's one-way clutch assembly to be readily disengaged to allow smooth release and retraction of the brake shoes of a vehicle brake without damage to the one-way teeth of the clutch assembly. When the external feature is operated in a brake release direction, the motion of the feature is translated into a motion which axially displaces an output part of the one-way clutch away from an input part of the clutch a distance sufficient to disengage the parts' one-way teeth, thereby disengaging the one-way clutch to permit brake shoe retraction without resistance from the one-way clutch.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2008Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLCInventors: John R. Louis, Zoltan Tormasi, Mark J. Kromer
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Patent number: 8453556Abstract: A brake actuator having a plurality of actuator housing portions includes a diaphragm seal partially delimiting a parking brake de-actuation chamber and retained between adjacent portions of the housing. To produce brake actuation upon depressurization of the parking brake de-actuation chamber, a push rod extends into and out of a service brake actuation chamber upon release of fluid pressure from and supply of fluid pressure to the chamber. A clip or similar element receivable over the end section of the push rod is securable on the end section to compress the diaphragm seal axially relative to the push rod against a seat carried by the push rod while permitting a radial inner edge of the diaphragm seal to remain spaced from an outer surface of the end section.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLCInventors: Ronald S. Plantan, Mark J. Kromer, Brett S. Darner, Kevin Carlson
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Publication number: 20130075212Abstract: A spring-type brake actuator for a pneumatically-operated vehicle brake is provided, in which the portion of the brake actuator containing the parking brake actuation power spring is arranged to be vented to atmosphere but not to permit entry of outside environmental air into the power spring chamber, the spring-type brake actuator being provided with an internal breather valve which permits clean dry air from the parking brake release chamber to enter the power spring chamber which the pressure difference between the chambers falls to within a predetermined pressure range.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLCInventors: Brett S. DARNER, Ronald S. Plantan, Mark J. Kromer, Randy J. Salvatora
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Publication number: 20110219946Abstract: A brake actuator having a plurality of actuator housing portions includes a diaphragm seal partially delimiting a parking brake de-actuation chamber and retained between adjacent portions of the housing. To produce brake actuation upon depressurization of the parking brake de-actuation chamber, a push rod extends into and out of a service brake actuation chamber upon release of fluid pressure from and supply of fluid pressure to the chamber. A clip or similar element receivable over the end section of the push rod is securable on the end section to compress the diaphragm seal axially relative to the push rod against a seat carried by the push rod while permitting a radial inner edge of the diaphragm seal to remain spaced from an outer surface of the end section.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2010Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLCInventors: Ronald S. PLANTAN, Mark J. Kromer, Brett S. Darner, Kevin Carlson
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Publication number: 20100122879Abstract: An improved self-adjusting automatic slack adjuster for reducing slack in the brake of a vehicle is provided, in which an easily accessible external operating feature permits the automatic slack adjuster's one-way clutch assembly to be readily disengaged to allow smooth release and retraction of the brake shoes of a vehicle brake without damage to the one-way teeth of the clutch assembly. When the external feature is operated in a brake release direction, the motion of the feature is translated into a motion which axially displaces an output part of the one-way clutch away from an input part of the clutch a distance sufficient to disengage the parts' one-way teeth, thereby disengaging the one-way clutch to permit brake shoe retraction without resistance from the one-way clutch.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2008Publication date: May 20, 2010Applicant: Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLCInventors: John Louis, Zoltan Tormasi, Mark J. Kromer
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Publication number: 20080110707Abstract: A pad shield is mountable over an access opening provided in a disc brake caliper and includes a pair of shell sections, a bridge extending between and interconnecting the shell sections, and a resiliently deformable spring also extending between and interconnecting the shell sections. By way of such a construction, upon mounting the pad shield in position over the access opening, the pad shield can be resiliently retained in place by counterbalanced forces acting on the shell sections, the bridge, and the spring. These forces cooperate to retain the pad shield on the caliper, in an essentially vibration-free and noiseless manner, by way of a component that already exists on the brake and without any need for additional parts protruding beyond a current caliper profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2006Publication date: May 15, 2008Applicant: Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLCInventor: Mark J. Kromer
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Patent number: D607794Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLCInventors: Eric A. Bridge, Brett S. Darner, Mark J. Kromer
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Patent number: D615467Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLCInventors: Eric A. Bridge, Brett S. Darner, Mark J. Kromer