Patents by Inventor Richard Scott Bigham
Richard Scott Bigham 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).
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Patent number: 6810765Abstract: An adjustable control pedal for a motor vehicle includes a lower arm which moves relative to an upper arm to adjust the position of a pedal. A control system includes a sensor and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller determines a position of lower arm based on signals from the sensor and automatically stops movement when the lower arm reaches a stored position or an end of travel without engaging mechanical stops, when sensors indicate that there is a failure in the drive system, and when sensors indicate that a predetermined fore/aft offset between two pedals is not maintained. The controller automatically moves the lower arm to a predetermined position when signals indicate the driver may egress the vehicle. A lock-out switch prevents movement of the lower arm so that the lower arm is not accidentally moved.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2001Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Rongjun Zhang, Steven Allen Toelke, Gordon Lloyd Smith, Richard Scott Bigham, Michael William DePotter
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Patent number: 6609438Abstract: An adjustable control pedal for a motor vehicle includes an upper arm having first and second substantially parallel and spaced-apart members. The first and second members are rigidly connected together to prevent relative movement therebetween and each have first and second slots formed therein. A lower arm has a lower end carrying a pedal and an upper end extending between the first and second members. A first guide pin is secured to the lower arm and extends into the first slot of the first member and the first slot of the second member. A second guide pin is secured to the lower arm and extends into the second slot of the first member and the second slot of the second member he slots and the guide pins form a sliding two-pin four-slot connection between the upper and lower pedal arms. The guide pins preferably have flat or planar upper and lower engagement surfaces located within the slots.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2000Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, IncInventors: Richard Scott Bigham, James Robert Allen, Todd Alan Fewins
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Patent number: 6510761Abstract: A method of operating a control pedal assembly includes the steps providing a pair of adjustable control pedals. Each control pedal includes a first support and a second support having a lower arm and moveable relative to the first support to adjust the fore-aft position of the lower arm upon operation of a motor. A predetermined fore-aft relationship is provided between the lower arms of each of the pair of control pedals. The predetermined fore-aft relationship is maintained during operation of the motor to move the second supports relative to the first supports while adjusting the fore-aft position of the lower arms. The motor is stopped during operation if the predetermined fore-aft relationship between the lower arms is not maintained.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2001Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: Dura Global TechnologiesInventors: Rongjun Zhang, Steven Allen Toelke, Gordon Lloyd Smith, Richard Scott Bigham, Michael William DePotter
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Publication number: 20020078785Abstract: An adjustable control pedal for a motor vehicle includes an upper arm and a lower arm carrying a pedal. The lower arm is selectively moveable relative to the upper arm to adjust the position of the pedal relative to the upper arm. A drive screw is secured to the upper arm. A drive nut threadably engages the drive screw and is adapted to move axially along the drive screw upon rotation of the drive screw. A motor is operatively connected to the drive screw to selectively rotate the drive screw. The lower arm is operatively connected to the drive nut for fore-aft movement of the lower arm relative to the upper arm upon axial movement of the drive nut along the drive screw. A control system includes a sensor located at the drive screw and adapted to directly sense rotation of the drive screw and a controller in communication with the sensor to receive electrical signals from the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2001Publication date: June 27, 2002Inventors: Rongjun Zhang, Steven Allen Toelke, Gordon Lloyd Smith, Richard Scott Bigham, Michael William DePotter
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Publication number: 20020078786Abstract: An adjustable control pedal for a motor vehicle includes an upper arm and a lower arm carrying a pedal. The lower arm is selectively moveable relative to the upper arm to adjust the position of the pedal relative to the upper arm. A drive screw is secured to the upper arm. A drive nut threadably engages the drive screw and is adapted to move axially along the drive screw upon rotation of the drive screw. A motor is operatively connected to the drive screw to selectively rotate the drive screw. The lower arm is operatively connected to the drive nut for fore-aft movement of the lower arm relative to the upper arm upon axial movement of the drive nut along the drive screw. A control system includes a sensor located at the drive screw and adapted to directly sense rotation of the drive screw and a controller in communication with the sensor to receive electrical signals from the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2001Publication date: June 27, 2002Inventors: Rongjun Zhang, Steven Allen Toelke, Gordon Lloyd Smith, Richard Scott Bigham, Michael William DePotter
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Patent number: 6352007Abstract: An adjustable control pedal for a motor vehicle includes an upper arm and a lower arm carrying a pedal. The lower arm is selectively moveable relative to the upper arm to adjust the position of the pedal relative to the upper arm. A drive screw is secured to the upper arm. A drive nut threadably engages the drive screw and is adapted to move axially along the drive screw upon rotation of the drive screw. A motor is operatively connected to the drive screw to selectively rotate the drive screw. The lower arm is operatively connected to the drive nut for fore-aft movement of the lower arm relative to the upper arm upon axial movement of the drive nut along the drive screw. A control system includes a sensor located at the drive screw and adapted to directly sense rotation of the drive screw and a controller in communication with the sensor to receive electrical signals from the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2000Date of Patent: March 5, 2002Assignee: Dura Global TechnologiesInventors: Rongjun Zhang, Steven Allen Toelke, Gordon Lloyd Smith, Richard Scott Bigham, Michael William DePotter
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Patent number: 6247381Abstract: An adjustable control pedal for a motor vehicle includes an upper arm and a lower arm carrying a pedal and selectively movable relative the upper arm to adjust the position of the pedal. The upper arm has a vertically extending flat or planar portion and a substantially horizontal slot formed at the planar portion. A drive screw is secured to the upper arm and is laterally spaced apart from the planar portion generally parallel to the slot. A drive nut threadably engages the drive screw and moves axially along the drive screw upon rotation of the drive screw. A motor is connected to the drive screw to selectively rotate the drive screw in one direction or the other. The lower arm has a guide extending into the slot which is connected to the drive nut for linear fore-aft sliding movement of the guide along the slot upon rotation of the drive screw and resulting linear fore-aft movement of the pedal.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2000Date of Patent: June 19, 2001Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steven Allen Toelke, Gordon Lloyd Smith, Richard Scott Bigham, Michael William DePotter