Patents by Inventor Éric Ménard

Éric Ménard 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).

  • Publication number: 20110242303
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatically unlocking an opening member of a motor vehicle using a hands-free access system (4), comprising a central processing unit (5) intended to be installed inside the vehicle, a portable identification member (17), said central processing unit (5) being capable of communicating remotely by radiofrequency with the identification member (17) in order to authenticate it and, in response to the authentication of the identification member (17), of controlling the locking or unlocking of the opening member of the vehicle. The method comprises the following steps: the step of detecting the presence of an identification member (17) in a predefined perimeter around the vehicle; the step of authenticating that the identification member (17) is associated with the vehicle; and, in the case of positive authentication, the step of placing the access system in a “ready to unlock” state for all the opening members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: VALEO SECURITE HABITACLE
    Inventors: Frederic Giraud, Eric Menard, Joel Senpauroca
  • Publication number: 20090243896
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system which can give a vehicle user an indication related to a direction to take to find back his vehicle. The said system comprises a hand-held object (1) to be taken by the user and a module (2) to be installed on the vehicle. The module (2) is equipped with a first emitting device (3) of a first radio signal (5). The latter (5) is a directed radio signal which is emitted within an angular sector of an angle A less than 90°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Ciprian MUSAT, Eric MENARD
  • Patent number: 7227448
    Abstract: A system for controlling locking/unlocking of at least one openable panel of a vehicle is provided. The system is especially designed to prevent unauthorized persons from intercepting and copying signals transmitted between the vehicle and a transmission/reception device held by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Electronique
    Inventors: Eric Menard, Colin Smith
  • Patent number: 6688929
    Abstract: A personal watercraft with an exhaust system including a first and second mufflers each disposed in opposite sides of the hull. A manifold pipe communicates the engine with the first muffler. A transfer pipe communicates the first muffler with the second muffler. An outlet pipe communicates the second muffler to the atmosphere at an exhaust point located at an opposite side of the hull. The outlet pipe has a raised portion between the second muffler and the exhaust point so that only rotation of the watercraft in a first rotational direction will cause entrant water in the outlet pipe to flow into the second muffler. The transfer pipe has a raised portion between the first and second mufflers so that only rotation of the watercraft in second rotational direction about the longitudinal axis opposite the first rotational direction will cause water that has flowed into the second muffler to flow into the first muffler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Bombardier Inc.
    Inventors: Gaétan Lecours, Éric Ménard, Robert Lachance, Thomas Perron, Jeff Oler
  • Publication number: 20030153219
    Abstract: A closed coolant circulating system for a watercraft, for traveling along a surface of a body of water, containing a supply of coolant that is caused to flow through the coolant circulating system. The watercraft comprises a hull and an engine. The watercraft also comprises a heat exchanger formed from heat conductive material and having a fluid path defined therein with an inlet port and an outlet port. The heat exchanger has a heat exchanging exterior surface and is mounted to the hull such that the heat exchanging exterior surface constitutes a portion of the exterior surface of the hull that is normally disposed below the surface of the body of water. The heat conductive material of the heat exchanger allows the heat absorbed by the coolant to dissipate from the coolant to the body of water via the heat exchanging exterior surface as the coolant flows through the fluid path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Eric Menard, Michel Bourret, Gilbert Lefrancois
  • Publication number: 20030129892
    Abstract: A personal watercraft with an exhaust system including a first and second mufflers each disposed in opposite sides of the hull. A manifold pipe communicates the engine with the first muffler. A transfer pipe communicates the first muffler with the second muffler. An outlet pipe communicates the second muffler to the atmosphere at an exhaust point located at an opposite side of the hull. The outlet pipe has a raised portion between the second muffler and the exhaust point so that only rotation of the watercraft in a first rotational direction will cause entrant water in the outlet pipe to flow into the second muffler. The transfer pipe has a raised portion between the first and second mufflers so that only rotation of the watercraft in second rotational direction about the longitudinal axis opposite the first rotational direction will cause water that has flowed into the second muffler to flow into the first muffler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Gaetan Lecours, Eric Menard, Robert Lachance, Thomas Perron, Jeff Oler
  • Patent number: 6551155
    Abstract: A personal watercraft with an exhaust system including a first and second mufflers each disposed in opposite sides of the hull. A manifold pipe communicates the engine with the first muffler. A transfer pipe communicates the first muffler with the second muffler. An outlet pipe communicates the second muffler to the atmosphere at an exhaust point located at an opposite side of the hull. The outlet pipe has a raised portion between the second muffler and the exhaust point so that only rotation of the watercraft in a first rotational direction will cause entrant water in the outlet pipe to flow into the second muffler. The transfer pipe has a raised portion between the first and second mufflers so that only rotation of the watercraft in second rotational direction about the longitudinal axis opposite the first rotational direction will cause water that has flowed into the second muffler to flow into the first muffler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Bombardier Inc.
    Inventors: Gaétan Lecours, Robert Bourret, Eric Ménard, Robert Lachance, Thomas Perron, Jeff Oler
  • Patent number: 6544085
    Abstract: A closed coolant circulating system for a watercraft, for traveling along a surface of a body of water, containing a supply of coolant that is caused to flow through the coolant circulating system. The watercraft comprises a hull and an engine. The watercraft also comprises a heat exchanger formed from heat conductive material and having a fluid path defined therein with an inlet port and an outlet port. The heat exchanger has a heat exchanging exterior surface and is mounted to the hull such that the heat exchanging exterior surface constitutes a portion of the exterior surface of the hull that is normally disposed below the surface of the body of water. The heat conductive material of the heat exchanger allows the heat absorbed by the coolant to dissipate from the coolant to the body of water via the heat exchanging exterior surface as the coolant flows through the fluid path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Bombardier Inc.
    Inventors: Éric Ménard, Michel Bourret, Gilbert Lefrançois
  • Patent number: 6533623
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved nozzle assembly for waterjet-propelled watercraft such as a personal watercraft. In particular, the invention features an improved reverse gate assembly used to travel in a reverse direction. The reverse gate is linked to the steering-controlling waterjet outlet nozzle and pivots laterally with it to provide significantly enhanced steering response and control when the reverse gate is extended for reverse direction travel of the watercraft. The reverse gate actuation linkage assembly enables such linkage of the reverse gate and the steering-control nozzle member even when the nozzle is configured to pivot vertically (in addition to laterally) to “trim” the attitude of the watercraft in the water. Differential or laterally asymmetric design of the reverse gate compensates for vorticity or swirl in the waterjet to help ensure uniform watercraft performance when travelling in a reverse direction and turning either to the right or to the left.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Bombardier Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Simard, Éric Ménard, Normand Beauregard
  • Publication number: 20020163420
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system for controlling means for locking/unlocking at least a vehicle opening panel, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising transmission/reception means on-board the vehicle and transmission/reception means to be carried by the user and which, on receiving an interrogation signal transmitted by the vehicle transmitting/receiving means, are designed to transmit a reply signal capable of actuating the unlocking of the opening panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Eric Menard, Colin Smith
  • Publication number: 20020028615
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved nozzle assembly for waterjet-propelled watercraft such as a personal watercraft. In particular, the invention features an improved reverse gate assembly used to travel in a reverse direction. The reverse gate is linked to the steering-controlling waterjet outlet nozzle and pivots laterally with it to provide significantly enhanced steering response and control when the reverse gate is extended for reverse direction travel of the watercraft. The reverse gate actuation linkage assembly enables such linkage of the reverse gate and the steering-control nozzle member even when the nozzle is configured to pivot vertically (in addition to laterally) to “trim” the attitude of the watercraft in the water. Differential or laterally asymmetric design of the reverse gate compensates for vorticity or swirl in the waterjet to help ensure uniform watercraft performance when travelling in a reverse direction and turning either to the right or to the left.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: Richard Simard, Eric Menard, Normand Beauregard
  • Publication number: 20020028614
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved nozzle assembly for waterjet-propelled watercraft such as a personal watercraft. In particular, the invention features an improved reverse gate assembly used to travel in a reverse direction. The reverse gate is linked to the steering-controlling waterjet outlet nozzle and pivots laterally with it to provide significantly enhanced steering response and control when the reverse gate is extended for reverse direction travel of the watercraft. The reverse gate actuation linkage assembly enables such linkage of the reverse gate and the steering-control nozzle member even when the nozzle is configured to pivot vertically (in addition to laterally) to “trim” the attitude of the watercraft in the water. Differential or laterally asymmetric design of the reverse gate compensates for vorticity or swirl in the waterjet to help ensure uniform watercraft performance when travelling in a reverse direction and turning either to the right or to the left.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: Richard Simard, Eric Menard, Normand Beauregard
  • Publication number: 20020022416
    Abstract: A personal watercraft with an exhaust system including a first and second mufflers each disposed in opposite sides of the hull. A manifold pipe communicates the engine with the first muffler. A transfer pipe communicates the first muffler with the second muffler. An outlet pipe communicates the second muffler to the atmosphere at an exhaust point located at an opposite side of the hull. The outlet pipe has a raised portion between the second muffler and the exhaust point so that only rotation of the watercraft in a first rotational direction will cause entrant water in the outlet pipe to flow into the second muffler. The transfer pipe has a raised portion between the first and second mufflers so that only rotation of the watercraft in second rotational direction about the longitudinal axis opposite the first rotational direction will cause water that has flowed into the second muffler to flow into the first muffler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Gaetan Lecours, Robert Bourret, Eric Menard, Robert Lachance, Thomas Perron, Jeff Oler