Patents by Inventor Michael D. J. Smith

Michael D. J. Smith 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).

  • Hinge with a viscous rotary damper
    Patent number: 8020918
    Abstract: An assembly to pivotally connect an external vehicle closure panel to a vehicle body includes a first hinge member that is constructed to be mounted to one of the external vehicle closure panel and the vehicle body, a second hinge member that is constructed to be mounted to the other of the external vehicle closure panel and the vehicle body, a shaft that is constructed to pivotally connect the first hinge member to the second hinge member, and a viscous rotary damper. The damper includes a cover, a rotor, and a viscous material. The shaft connects to the rotor such that rotation of the external vehicle closure panel between a closing position and an opening position causes relative motion between the rotor and the cover of the viscous damper to provide a resistance for controlling the velocity of the external vehicle closure member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ventra Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad F. Patzer, Michael D. J. Smith, Stanislav Magovski, David W. Shaw, Joaquin Hung
  • HINGE WITH A VISCOUS ROTARY DAMPER
    Publication number: 20100180399
    Abstract: An assembly to pivotally connect an external vehicle closure panel to a vehicle body includes a first hinge member that is constructed to be mounted to one of the external vehicle closure panel and the vehicle body, a second hinge member that is constructed to be mounted to the other of the external vehicle closure panel and the vehicle body, a shaft that is constructed to pivotally connect the first hinge member to the second hinge member, and a viscous rotary damper. The damper includes a cover, a rotor, and a viscous material. The shaft connects to the rotor such that rotation of the external vehicle closure panel between a closing position and an opening position causes relative motion between the rotor and the cover of the viscous damper to provide a resistance for controlling the velocity of the external vehicle closure member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Ventra Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad F. PATZER, Michael D. J. SMITH, Stanislav MAGOVSKI, David W. SHAW, Joaquin HUNG
  • Motion assist mechanism for a vehicle tailgate
    Patent number: 7699378
    Abstract: A motion assist hinge mechanism includes a first and second hinge part mounted to the tailgate and vehicle body, respectively. The first hinge part includes a first cam having a sloped engagement surface engaged with a sloped engagement surface of a second cam of the second hinge part, under the bias of a resilient member, for moving axially along a pivot axis. The second cam is fixed to the vehicle body against pivotal movement relative to the pivot axis. When the tailgate is moved from a lowered, open position towards a raised, closed position, the resilient member translates a torque assisting force to the tailgate. The surface of the second cam may also include a detent that mates with the surface of the first cam to lock the tailgate at an angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Ventra Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. J. Smith, Bradley F. Patzer, Stanislav Magovski
  • Hinge with a viscous rotary damper
    Patent number: 7673929
    Abstract: An assembly to pivotally connect an external vehicle closure panel to a vehicle body includes a first hinge member that is constructed to be mounted to one of the external vehicle closure panel and the vehicle body, a second hinge member that is constructed to be mounted to the other of the external vehicle closure panel and the vehicle body, a shaft that is constructed to pivotally connect the first hinge member to the second hinge member, and a viscous rotary damper. The damper includes a cover, a rotor, and a viscous material. The shaft connects to the rotor such that rotation of the external vehicle closure panel between a closing position and an opening position causes relative motion between the rotor and the cover of the viscous damper to provide a resistance for controlling the velocity of the external vehicle closure member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ventra Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad F. Patzer, Michael D. J. Smith, Stanislav Magovski, David W. Shaw, Joaquin Hung
  • MOTION ASSIST MECHANISM FOR A VEHICLE TAILGATE
    Publication number: 20090058131
    Abstract: A motion assist hinge mechanism includes a first and second hinge part mounted to the tailgate and vehicle body, respectively. The first hinge part includes a first cam having a sloped engagement surface engaged with a sloped engagement surface of a second cam of the second hinge part, under the bias of a resilient member, for moving axially along a pivot axis. The second cam is fixed to the vehicle body against pivotal movement relative to the pivot axis. When the tailgate is moved from a lowered, open position towards a raised, closed position, the resilient member translates a torque assisting force to the tailgate. The surface of the second cam may also include a detent that mates with the surface of the first cam to lock the tailgate at an angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Ventra Group Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. J. SMITH, Bradley F. PATZER, Stanislav MAGOVSKI