Patents by Inventor Richard D. Janke

Richard D. Janke 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: 8641122
    Abstract: A decklid assembly for a vehicle includes a first panel and a second panel spaced apart from the first panel to define a void therebetween. The decklid assembly also includes a deployable handle assembly at least partially disposed within the void and including a mounting element and a handle. The mounting element defines a cavity therein and is configured for attaching to at least one of the first panel and the second panel, wherein the mounting element extends into the void and abuts the first panel and the second panel. The handle is pivotably attached to the mounting element and is configured for transitioning between a stowed position wherein the handle covers the cavity, and a deployed position wherein the handle does not cover the cavity. A vehicle including the decklid assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Scott W. Thorpe, Scott D. Stacherski, Richard D. Janke
  • Patent number: 8628141
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body and a closure panel moveably attached to the body. When the closure panel is in a closed position, a closure restraint system interconnects the body and the closure panel and restricts lateral movement of the closure panel relative to the body. The closure restraint system includes a fixed wedge block attached to one of the body and the closure panel, and a rotatable wedge block attached to the other of the body and the closure panel. The rotatable wedge block includes a curved cam surface, and is rotatable about a rotation axis relative to the fixed wedge block when engaged by the fixed wedge block to move the contact between the fixed wedge block and the rotatable wedge block along the curved cam surface to maintain a consistent closing force for closing the closure panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Scott W. Thorpe, Richard D. Janke, Altaf S. Imam, Shawn G. Quinn, Michael E. McGuire
  • Publication number: 20130229026
    Abstract: A decklid assembly for a vehicle includes a first panel and a second panel spaced apart from the first panel to define a void therebetween. The decklid assembly also includes a deployable handle assembly at least partially disposed within the void and including a mounting element and a handle. The mounting element defines a cavity therein and is configured for attaching to at least one of the first panel and the second panel, wherein the mounting element extends into the void and abuts the first panel and the second panel. The handle is pivotably attached to the mounting element and is configured for transitioning between a stowed position wherein the handle covers the cavity, and a deployed position wherein the handle does not cover the cavity. A vehicle including the decklid assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scott W. Thorpe, Scott D. Stacherski, Richard D. Janke
  • Patent number: 7546765
    Abstract: A road surface scanning device and method for scanning a section of road in order to acquire road surface data, which in turn can be used to create a mathematical model of the road. In one embodiment, the road surface scanning device includes a frame, a carriage movably mounted to the frame, a scanner movably mounted to the carriage, and a pair of electric actuators that can move the scanner across the road surface. Information from adjacent scanner passes are electronically stitched together and, in a similar manner, information from adjacent surface segments are electronically joined to form a mathematical model of the road. Various techniques can then be used to process the road surface data and prepare it for use by other software applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Janke, Mine Tasci, John D. Davis, James C. Tebbe, Herbert R. Butterfield, Timothy D. Roberts, David A. Ruiz, Kyle M. Smith, Donald E. Martini