Patents by Inventor Michael J. McClain

Michael J. McClain 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: 5606764
    Abstract: A windshield wiper system for automotive vehicles includes a mechanism for causing a wiper blade assembly to swing, relative to the wiper arm, between an extended position of the wiper blade assembly and a retracted position of the wiper blade assembly. More specifically, the mechanism causes a link, which is attached to the wiper blade assembly, to swing as the wiper arm moves into and out of the hidden park position. A first embodiment includes a "four-bar linkage" which transfers to oscillatory movement of a drive arm of a wiper system to pivotal movement of the link over a limited range of motion of the drive arm corresponding to movement of the wiper blade assembly into and out of the hidden park position. A second embodiment includes a cam element which selectively engages a fixed pin over a range of motion of the drive arm corresponding to movement of the wiper blade assembly into and out of the hidden park position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter S. Zhou, Harry C. Buchanan, Jr., Michael J. McClain
  • Patent number: 5502865
    Abstract: A windshield wiper system for automotive vehicles includes a power source and a driver for causing a wiper blade assembly to swing, relative to the wiper arm, between an extended position of the wiper blade assembly and a retracted position of the wiper blade assembly. The power source and driver, which are selectively connected to one another, cause a link, which is attached to the wiper blade assembly, to swing as the wiper arm moves into and out of the hidden park position. A first embodiment uses a pressure fluid source as the power source and a piston as the driver to cause pivotal movement of the link as the wiper blade assembly moves into and out of the hidden park position. A second embodiment uses an electrical source as the power source and an electrical motor as the driver to cause pivotal movement of the link as the wiper blade assembly moves into and out of the hidden park position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Inventors: Peter S. Zhou, Harry C. Buchanan, Jr., Michael J. McClain
  • Patent number: 5349717
    Abstract: An integral windshield wiper arm having a pivot, a crank, and a blade mount communicates fluid from a reservoir beneath a cowl to a windshield wiper blade above the cowl. The pivot has a sealed cavity running its length. The cavity in each of the crank and the blade mount fluidly connect with the cavity in the pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas D. Patterson, Harry C. Buchanan, Jr., Michael J. McClain
  • Patent number: 5062176
    Abstract: A wiper blade support is joined to a wiper arm by a yielding mechanism that maintains the two in a fixed angular relation during normal wipe, but which yields to allow the wiper blade to move more closely parallel to the windshield lower edge at park. The yielding mechanism includes a leaf spring indirectly joined between the wiper arm and blade support which buckles only when the wiper blade hits the lower edge of the windshield, allowing the compensating blade rotation, but remains flat during normal wipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph J. Unterborn, Michael J. McClain, Mark M. Benner
  • Patent number: 4934667
    Abstract: An air spring damper used in a vehicle suspension system with upper, intermediate and lower chambers and incorporating a reservoir tube which has an anti-friction rod guide and bearing assembly therein which lubricates the hollow rod of a piston as it strokes in their reservoir tube in jounce and rebound. An elastomeric air sleeve is featured which is connected to a top mount fastened to the vehicle body. An elastomeric isolator of this mount pivotally connects the piston rod to the body while sealing the upper end of the air sleeve. The air sleeve is supported full time by an outer elastomeric sleeve for improved air sleeve operation. A jounce bumper mounted internal of the reservoir tube is compressible to resist and cushion jounce strokes of the piston. This damper provides optimized vehicle body isolation and damping of both body and wheel axle at their natural frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Pees, Michael J. McClain
  • Patent number: 4893865
    Abstract: A unitized cowl and wiper arm assembly includes a blow molded plastic shell structure and two wiper arms of the integral type. At two locations, the shell is reformed so as to create an area of increased stiffness that includes a pair of spaced, overhanging interior flanges. This allows the journal portion of the arms to pass through the shell and be pivoted thereto between the spaced interior flanges. Thereafter, the arm is rigidly and securely supported. The leakproof interior of the shell may also be used for a fluid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. McClain, Harry C. Buchanan, Jr., Glenn R. Reed
  • Patent number: 4502847
    Abstract: A vacuum pump assembly which is driven by pulsating exhaust gases emanating from an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The pump assembly includes a staged pump means for pumping air from a vacuum source and having a reciprocable pumping member, an actuating means including a reciprocable actuating member drivingly connected to the pumping member and which is driven through first and second strokes to move the pumping member through first and second strokes, respectively, one side of the actuating member being in communication with the exhaust gases and with the actuating and pumping members being movable through their first strokes during the pressure increasing phase of each pressure pulsation and being moved through their second strokes by a nonlinear variable rate spring means during each pressure decreasing phase of each pressure pulsation whereby the pump assembly is operable to pump air from the vacuum source throughout a wide range of engine speeds and loads including high speeds and loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Pozniak, Gerald F. Robertson, Michael J. McClain
  • Patent number: 4479765
    Abstract: A vacuum pump assembly which is driven by pulsating exhaust gases emanating from an internal combustion engine is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald F. Robertson, Donald J. Pozniak, Michael J. McClain
  • Patent number: 4459088
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a vacuum pump assembly which is adapted to be operated by the pulsating exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine. The pump assembly includes a reciprocable pump means and an actuating means including a reciprocable actuating member in communication with the exhaust gases and drivingly connected to the pump means to reciprocate the same. The actuating means includes a first housing member and a second spring steel housing member which together with the reciprocable actuating member define an air spring for effecting movement of the actuating member through one of its strokes and which together serve to position and biasingly retain the pump means in assembled relation with the actuating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. McClain