Patents by Inventor Robert Sharples

Robert Sharples 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: 20050106911
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly has a housing and two slide assist members that are slideably supported by the housing. The slide assist members each include at least one mating slot adapted to receive a mating portion of a mating connector. A U-shaped slide assist lever having first and second spaced apart arms is pivotally interconnected with the housing and the slide assist members to move the slide assist members and facilitate mating with the mating connector. Each slide assist member includes a notch and each lever arm includes a protrusion that mates with the corresponding notch when the slide assist member is in an engaged location and the lever is in an engaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Sharples, John Wicks
  • Patent number: 5794591
    Abstract: A throttle valve for an internal combustion engine includes a body having a throttle bore defining an axis. A throttle plate for controlling air flow through the throttle valve is molded within the throttle bore, thereby providing a relatively exact throttle plate to throttle bore positional relationship The throttle plate may be integrally molded within the throttle bore and attached to the throttle body. The throttle plate is subsequently detached from the throttle body for relative rotation within the throttle bore. To facilitate detaching of the throttle plate, the plate may be weakened about is periphery. The throttle plate may be also formed with a bend for reducing throttle plate sticking upon rotation from an idle position and for controlling air leakage when the throttle plate is in the idle position. Further, the throttle plate may include a wedge to control air flow through the throttle bore and reinforcing ribs to further control the deflection of the throttle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Christopher Joseph Kalebjian, Catherine Ann Kerrigan, Robert Sharples, Wade Coots, Thomas Daniel Wernholm