Patents by Inventor Richard A. Close

Richard A. Close 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: 8050420
    Abstract: An integrated seat speaker includes a cushion, a seat frame defining a first internal air volume, and a speaker enclosure defining a second internal air volume. The second internal air volume is acoustically coupled to the first internal air volume through an air passageway, thus producing a continuous acoustical air volume. An acoustic sealing member is disposed between the enclosure and the frame. The frame includes a closure feature at one end for isolating a portion of the first internal air volume. The cushion includes an outer surface, and the speaker enclosure is enclosed within the seat cushion and at least partially concealed by the outer surface. A method optimizes the acoustical performance of a speaker assembly by acoustically coupling an internal air volume defined by a speaker enclosure to another internal air volume defined by a seat frame to create a continuous acoustical air volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Close, Matthew R. Kirsch, Frank A. Mills, Rainer A. Glaser, James B. Milnar
  • Patent number: 8045744
    Abstract: A door speaker box includes an enclosure member and speaker operatively attached thereto, such that they define an acoustic volume, into which the speaker communicates. The enclosure member and speaker are configured to be installed as a speaker box unit in the vehicle door, such that speaker box unit seals the door against moisture passage into the vehicle interior. A flange integrally formed in the enclosure member extends substantially around a portion thereof and is configured to seal against such moisture passage. A hardware mounting surface may be integrally formed in the enclosure member, and configured to receive and support a door hardware component. The flange may further define and enclose the acoustic volume, and may be configured to seal multiple access holes in the inner panel, such that the door is characterized by an absence of rain paper or other dedicated water barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Richard A. Close
  • Publication number: 20090310812
    Abstract: A door speaker box includes an enclosure member and speaker operatively attached thereto, such that they define an acoustic volume, into which the speaker communicates. The enclosure member and speaker are configured to be installed as a speaker box unit in the vehicle door, such that speaker box unit seals the door against moisture passage into the vehicle interior. A flange integrally formed in the enclosure member extends substantially around a portion thereof and is configured to seal against such moisture passage. A hardware mounting surface may be integrally formed in the enclosure member, and configured to receive and support a door hardware component. The flange may further define and enclose the acoustic volume, and may be configured to seal multiple access holes in the inner panel, such that the door is characterized by an absence of rain paper or other dedicated water barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Richard A. Close
  • Patent number: 7596523
    Abstract: The invention comprises a risk model and data, and is provided on a secure Web-based, interactive platform, whereby a user can build customized risk analyses and reports, covering multiple asset classes and markets. The invention also organizes and categorizes assets along dimensions best reflecting a user's investment process, determines risk assumed, determines sources of risk, allows viewing of a portfolio's risk exposures, identifies and quantifies sources of volatility, provides streamlined risk reporting, and provides a trade scenario utility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Barra, Inc.
    Inventors: William Sobel, Alex Aleskovski, Peter Hand, Zheng Liu, Michael Bishopp, Anton Honikman, Loren Anderson, Richard Close
  • Publication number: 20090196432
    Abstract: An integrated seat speaker includes a cushion, a seat frame defining a first internal air volume, and a speaker enclosure defining a second internal air volume. The second internal air volume is acoustically coupled to the first internal air volume through an air passageway, thus producing a continuous acoustical air volume. An acoustic sealing member is disposed between the enclosure and the frame. The frame includes a closure feature at one end for isolating a portion of the first internal air volume. The cushion includes an outer surface, and the speaker enclosure is enclosed within the seat cushion and at least partially concealed by the outer surface. A method optimizes the acoustical performance of a speaker assembly by acoustically coupling an internal air volume defined by a speaker enclosure to another internal air volume defined by a seat frame to create a continuous acoustical air volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Richard A. Close, Matthew R. Kirsch, Frank A. Mills, Rainer A. Glaser, James B. Milnar
  • Publication number: 20040210500
    Abstract: The invention comprises a risk model and data, and is provided on a secure Web-based, interactive platform, whereby a user can build customized risk analyses and reports, covering multiple asset classes and markets. The invention also organizes and categorizes assets along dimensions best reflecting a user's investment process, determines risk assumed, determines sources of risk, allows viewing of a portfolio's risk exposures, identifies and quantifies sources of volatility, provides streamlined risk reporting, and provides a trade scenario utility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: William Sobel, Alex Aleskovski, Peter Hand, Zheng Liu, Michael Bishopp, Anton Honikman, Loren Anderson, Richard Close
  • Publication number: 20030167666
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel lighting display system for numerous uses. Consisting of the following members. An enclosure with a transparent front face, containing a channel along its length for locating and retaining an assembly of circuit boards with alphanumeric characters. The circuit boards have light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged to form alphanumeric characters. The circuit board characters are connected electrically in series or parallel and can be arranged to form an illuminated message, word, or series of numerals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventor: Richard A. Close
  • Patent number: 6588306
    Abstract: A deformable wrench for applying torque to a nut engaging a threaded fastener includes a wrench body having a center portion with at least one wing portion extending therefrom. The wrench body is formed from an elastic material and a socket aperture extends through the central portion between spaced upper and lower surfaces thereof. The socket aperture is configured to cooperate with the profile of the nut to permit rotation relative to the fastener by applying force to the wing portion of the wrench. At a predetermined torque value, the walls of the socket aperture deform to permit rotation of the wrench relative to the nut thereby preventing over-torquing the nut on the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Vitaly Grossman, Richard A. Close, Robert D Cross, Mark G. Laskowski
  • Publication number: 20030110902
    Abstract: A deformable wrench for applying torque to a nut engaging a threaded fastener includes a wrench body having a center portion with at least one wing portion extending therefrom. The wrench body is formed from an elastic material and a socket aperture extends through the central portion between spaced upper and lower surfaces thereof. The socket aperture is configured to cooperate with the profile of the nut to permit rotation relative to the fastener by applying force to the wing portion of the wrench. At a predetermined torque value, the walls of the socket aperture deform to permit rotation of the wrench relative to the nut thereby preventing over-torquing the nut on the fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Vitaly Grossman, Richard A. Close, Robert D. Cross, Mark G. Laskowski
  • Patent number: 6542127
    Abstract: A boot for an antenna assembly is disclosed. The antenna assembly includes an antenna mast having an antenna mast nut attached thereto, a tubular housing extending through an aperture in an automobile body, and a center conductor having a threaded stud attached at one end thereto received by the housing. The antenna mast nut is attached to the threaded stud, and an isolator is disposed between the housing and the center conductor. The boot includes a disk-shaped base member having a cylindrical recess and a first diameter formed from a lower surface thereof and a cylinder-shaped projection extending upwardly from an upper surface of the base member. The projection includes a bore having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter formed therethrough. The base member is operable to seal an upper surface of the isolator, a side surface of the isolator and an outer surface of the housing. The projection is operable to seal an outer surface of the center conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Vitaly Grossman, Robert D Cross, Richard A. Close
  • Patent number: 6377220
    Abstract: An antenna system for a vehicle includes a fastener assembly, antenna modules, a headliner and co-axial cables. The fastener assembly includes a fastener which secures the headliner and antenna system to the vehicle, a grounding strap which grounds the antenna system, and a coat hook. The antenna system, including the antenna modules and the co-axial cables, is mounted to the headliner. The fastener assembly simultaneously secures the headliner to the vehicle and grounds the antenna system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kristopher M. Cook, Lydia K. Gobis, Deyo D. Serrels, Richard A. Close