Patents by Inventor Robert D. Granny

Robert D. Granny 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: 11814883
    Abstract: A door for an entryway includes an exterior-facing surface, an inner structure, and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is connected to the inner structure and configured to be fastened or released for controlling access to the entryway. The door also includes a key-cylinder accessible from the exterior-facing surface and configured to selectively lock and unlock the latch mechanism. The door additionally includes a pawl configured to be rotated by the key-cylinder about a pivot axis, connected to the latch mechanism, and defining a pass-through aperture distal from the pivot axis. The door also includes a shield defining a shield attachment aperture and connected to the inner structure. The door further includes a security fastener to fix the shield relative to the key-cylinder at the shield attachment aperture and extending through the pass-through aperture without impeding the pawl's rotation or contacting the pawl as the pawl operates the latch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eric S. Nielsen, Steve J. Briggs, Robert D. Granny, Phillip C. Storck, III, Gavin J. Brownlie, Jr., Mark T. McKiernan, Jeffrey Kenneth Hansen, Yong Sang Cho, Gunghun Jang, Suat Kaya
  • Publication number: 20220298836
    Abstract: A door for an entryway includes an exterior-facing surface, an inner structure, and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is connected to the inner structure and configured to be fastened or released for controlling access to the entryway. The door also includes a key-cylinder accessible from the exterior-facing surface and configured to selectively lock and unlock the latch mechanism. The door additionally includes a pawl configured to be rotated by the key-cylinder about a pivot axis, connected to the latch mechanism, and defining a pass-through aperture distal from the pivot axis. The door also includes a shield defining a shield attachment aperture and connected to the inner structure. The door further includes a security fastener to fix the shield relative to the key-cylinder at the shield attachment aperture and extending through the pass-through aperture without impeding the pawl's rotation or contacting the pawl as the pawl operates the latch mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eric S. Nielsen, Steve J. Briggs, Robert D. Granny, Phillip C. Storck, III, Gavin J. Brownlie, Jr., Mark T. McKiernan, Jeffrey Kenneth Hansen, Yong Sang Cho, Gunghun Jang, Suat Kaya
  • Patent number: 9382732
    Abstract: A door assembly having an anti-theft device is provided. The assembly includes a door component defining an internally protruding cavity. A locating tab extends from the anti-theft device and is insertable in the cavity in the door component, thereby locating the anti-theft device relative to the door component. The door component includes a locking tab attached or integrally formed on the door component and adapted to snap into an opening in the anti-theft device, thereby securing the anti-theft device relative to the door component. The anti-theft device may be a shield and the door component may be a latch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Frank J. Arabia, Jr., Robert D. Granny, Ian S. Buckley
  • Patent number: 8925361
    Abstract: A door having a latch mechanism is provided. The door also includes a bracket, and a pawl having a first aperture. The pawl is rotatably attached to the bracket and is operatively connected to the latch. The door additionally includes a key-cylinder adapted to selectively lock and unlock the latch by rotating the pawl, and a shield having a second aperture. Furthermore, the door includes a component connected to the key-cylinder. The component is aligned with and extends through the first and second apertures without contact with the pawl or with the shield, and is configured to not impede the rotation of the pawl by the key-cylinder when the component is aligned with the first and second apertures. The component is also configured to detach the pawl from the bracket and limit the key-cylinder extraction, when the key-cylinder is forcibly manipulated thereby causing the component to contact the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert D. Granny, David M. Trush, John M. Dobish, Glenn L. Traister, Graham J. Spence, Ian S. Buckley, Grant W. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8915524
    Abstract: An auxiliary latch release assembly, and method of operation, for use with a vehicle having a body defining a cargo area, a door, and a door latch mounted in the door and including an auxiliary latch release. The assembly may comprise a handle that is accessible in the cargo area, a release cable having a first end engaging the handle and a second end extending in the body adjacent to the door having the door latch, and an e-latch override assembly mounted in the body that engages the second end of the release cable and includes a latch release member. The latch release member can be actuated by the e-latch override assembly to engage the auxiliary latch release to release the door latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Scott P. Charnesky, Robert D. Granny, Jeffrey D. Rodgers
  • Publication number: 20120187715
    Abstract: A door assembly having an anti-theft device is provided. The assembly includes a door component defining an internally protruding cavity. A locating tab extends from the anti-theft device and is insertable in the cavity in the door component, thereby locating the anti-theft device relative to the door component. The door component includes a locking tab attached or integrally formed on the door component and adapted to snap into an opening in the anti-theft device, thereby securing the anti-theft device relative to the door component. The anti-theft device may be a shield and the door component may be a latch mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank J. Arabia, JR., Robert D. Granny, Ian S. Buckley
  • Publication number: 20110187156
    Abstract: A door having a latch mechanism is provided. The door also includes a bracket, and a pawl having a first aperture. The pawl is rotatably attached to the bracket and is operatively connected to the latch. The door additionally includes a key-cylinder adapted to selectively lock and unlock the latch by rotating the pawl, and a shield having a second aperture. Furthermore, the door includes a component connected to the key-cylinder. The component is aligned with and extends through the first and second apertures without contact with the pawl or with the shield, and is configured to not impede the rotation of the pawl by the key-cylinder when the component is aligned with the first and second apertures. The component is also configured to detach the pawl from the bracket and limit the key-cylinder extraction, when the key-cylinder is forcibly manipulated thereby causing the component to contact the shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert D. Granny, David M. Trush, John M. Dobish, Glenn L. Traister, Graham J. Spence, Ian S. Buckley, Grant W. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20080217955
    Abstract: An auxiliary latch release assembly, and method of operation, for use with a vehicle having a body defining a cargo area, a door, and a door latch mounted in the door and including an auxiliary latch release is disclosed. The assembly may comprise a handle that is accessible in the cargo area, a release cable having a first end engaging the handle and a second end extending in the body adjacent to the door having the door latch, and an e-latch override assembly mounted in the body that engages the second end of the release cable and includes a latch release member. The latch release member can be actuated by the e-latch override assembly to engage the auxiliary latch release to release the door latch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Scott P. Charnesky, Robert D. Granny, Jeffrey D. Rodgers