Patents by Inventor Robert W. Donaldson

Robert W. Donaldson 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: 9004552
    Abstract: A heavy vehicle door or ramp is opened and closed using an intuitive control system. The door includes a latch assembly, a lock assembly, and a power unit to assist in opening and closing the door. The door includes an interior joy stick handle and an exterior lever handle. From outside the vehicle, the door is opened and closed by pivoting the lever handle downwardly and upwardly, respectively. From the interior of the vehicle, the joy stick handle is pulled inwardly to close the door and pushed outwardly to open the door. Pivoting the joystick handle forwardly engages the blast locks, while pivoting the joystick handle rearwardly unlatches the latch assembly and disengages the blast locks. The power assist unit is actuated by pivotal movement of the outside door handle and lateral pivotal movement of the interior joystick handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Trimark Corporation
    Inventors: Tom F. Sonnek, Brandon L. Hemann, Robert W. Donaldson
  • Patent number: 8998275
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for opening a heavy weight door, such as on a military vehicle, by an occupant in the vehicle. The assembly includes a latch module with a catch and rotor adapted to engage and disengage the striker on the door frame, a blast lock module including a pawl adapted to engage and disengage the door frame, and a release handle module with a single interior handle for controlling the engagement and disengagement of the latch and blast lock modules. The three modules are pre-assembled on a carrier plate so as to form a rigid, unitary assembly for mounting on the inside of the door. When a person chooses to exit the vehicle, the handle is actuated so as to retract the blast lock and then release the latch. When the door is closed, a person inside the vehicle can actuate the handle so as to engage the blast lock for safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Trimark Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Donaldson, Brandon L. Hemann
  • Patent number: 8506002
    Abstract: A heavy vehicle door or ramp is opened and closed using an intuitive control system. The door includes a latch assembly, a lock assembly, and a power unit to assist in opening and closing the door. The door includes an interior joy stick handle and an exterior lever handle. From outside the vehicle, the door is opened and closed by pivoting the lever handle downwardly and upwardly, respectively. From the interior of the vehicle, the joy stick handle is pulled inwardly to close the door and pushed outwardly to open the door. Pivoting the joystick handle forwardly engages the blast locks, while pivoting the joystick handle rearwardly unlatches the latch assembly and disengages the blast locks. The power assist unit is actuated by pivotal movement of the outside door handle and lateral pivotal movement of the interior joystick handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Trimark Corporation
    Inventors: Tom F. Sonnek, Brandon L. Hemann, Robert W. Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20120175893
    Abstract: A heavy vehicle door or ramp is opened and closed using an intuitive control system. The door includes a latch assembly, a lock assembly, and a power unit to assist in opening and closing the door. The door includes an interior joy stick handle and an exterior lever handle. From outside the vehicle, the door is opened and closed by pivoting the lever handle downwardly and upwardly, respectively. From the interior of the vehicle, the joy stick handle is pulled inwardly to close the door and pushed outwardly to open the door. Pivoting the joystick handle forwardly engages the blast locks, while pivoting the joystick handle rearwardly unlatches the latch assembly and disengages the blast locks. The power assist unit is actuated by pivotal movement of the outside door handle and lateral pivotal movement of the interior joystick handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: TRIMARK CORPORATION
    Inventors: TOM F. SONNEK, BRANDON L. HEMANN, ROBERT W. DONALDSON
  • Publication number: 20120174489
    Abstract: A heavy vehicle door or ramp is opened and closed using an intuitive control system. The door includes a latch assembly, a lock assembly, and a power unit to assist in opening and closing the door. The door includes an interior joy stick handle and an exterior lever handle. From outside the vehicle, the door is opened and closed by pivoting the lever handle downwardly and upwardly, respectively. From the interior of the vehicle, the joy stick handle is pulled inwardly to close the door and pushed outwardly to open the door. Pivoting the joystick handle forwardly engages the blast locks, while pivoting the joystick handle rearwardly unlatches the latch assembly and disengages the blast locks. The power assist unit is actuated by pivotal movement of the outside door handle and lateral pivotal movement of the interior joystick handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: TRIMARK CORPORATION
    Inventors: TOM F. SONNEK, BRANDON L. HEMANN, ROBERT W. DONALDSON
  • Patent number: 8132844
    Abstract: A heavy vehicle door or ramp is opened and closed using an intuitive control system. The door includes a latch assembly, a lock assembly, and a power unit to assist in opening and closing the door. The door includes an interior joy stick handle and an exterior lever handle. From outside the vehicle, the door is opened and closed by pivoting the lever handle downwardly and upwardly, respectively. From the interior of the vehicle, the joy stick handle is pulled inwardly to close the door and push outwardly to open the door. Pivoting the joystick handle forwardly engages the blast locks, while pivoting the joystick handle rearwardly unlatches the latch assembly and disengages the blast locks. The power assist unit is actuated by pivotal movement of the outside door handle and lateral pivotal movement of the interior joystick handle. Perimeter bump strips offer safety functions to prevent injuries when remote function is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Trimark Corporation
    Inventors: Tom F. Sonnek, Brandon L. Hemann, Robert W. Donaldson
  • Patent number: 8091933
    Abstract: A heavy duty vehicle door latch assembly is provided with interconnected latch, release, and bell crank modules to form a single, pre-assembled unit for quick and easy installation on the inside of a vehicle door. The modular design allows for application to multiple door layouts and arrangements. The release module includes a locking mechanism using a lever rod to disallow latch component movement. A release lever interfaces with the lock lever to automatically unlock and release the latch in a single motion. A lockout feature is also provided to prevent accidental locking of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Trimark Corporation
    Inventors: Brandon L. Hemann, Robert W. Donaldson, Dennis J. Zweibohmer
  • Publication number: 20110204675
    Abstract: A heavy vehicle door or ramp is opened and closed using an intuitive control system. The door includes a latch assembly, a lock assembly, and a power unit to assist in opening and closing the door. The door includes an interior joy stick handle and an exterior lever handle. From outside the vehicle, the door is opened and closed by pivoting the lever handle downwardly and upwardly, respectively. From the interior of the vehicle, the joy stick handle is pulled inwardly to close the door and push outwardly to open the door. Pivoting the joystick handle forwardly engages the blast locks, while pivoting the joystick handle rearwardly unlatches the latch assembly and disengages the blast locks. The power assist unit is actuated by pivotal movement of the outside door handle and lateral pivotal movement of the interior joystick handle. Perimeter bump strips offer safety functions to prevent injuries when remote function is active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: TRIMARK CORPORATION
    Inventors: TOM F. SONNEK, BRANDON L. HEMANN, ROBERT W. DONALDSON
  • Publication number: 20090267354
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for opening a heavy weight door, such as on a military vehicle, by an occupant in the vehicle. The assembly includes a latch module with a catch and rotor adapted to engage and disengage the striker on the door frame, a blast lock module including a pawl adapted to engage and disengage the door frame, and a release handle module with a single interior handle for controlling the engagement and disengagement of the latch and blast lock modules. The three modules are pre-assembled on a carrier plate so as to form a rigid, unitary assembly for mounting on the inside of the door. When a person chooses to exit the vehicle, the handle is actuated so as to retract the blast lock and then release the latch. When the door is closed, a person inside the vehicle can actuate the handle so as to engage the blast lock for safety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: TRIMARK CORPORATION
    Inventors: ROBERT W. DONALDSON, BRANDON L. HEMANN
  • Patent number: 6189949
    Abstract: A sun visor is disclosed having a body with an aperture through which an extender blade selectively slides between fully retracted and fully extended positions. The visor body is a clamshell type having first and second shell halves. A guide rib is located on one shell half to align and guide the extender blade as it moves into and out of the visor body. The aperture is formed by a recessed portion in at least one of the shell halves. Fabric covers the visor body and also extends into the aperture and covers at least part of the guide rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Lear Donnelly Overhead Systems L.L.C.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Miller, Brian J. Rogalske, Michael S. Serbay, Robert W. Donaldson, Douglas A. Fischer
  • Patent number: 4835517
    Abstract: A modem which may operate as a transmitter or receiver, is provided for use on a line carrying an A.C. signal. The modem comprises a pseudorandom code generator which produces a pseudorandom code signal of a frequency an integral multiple of the A.C. signal frequency. Synchronization means synchronizes the code signal with the A.C. signal. Preferably a coherent system is provided in which a data signal involved has a bit rate an integral multiple of the A.C. signal frequency and in which a carrier generator is additionally provided to produce a carrier signal of a frequency an integral multiple of the A.C. signal frequency. In such case, the synchronization means also synchronizes the data bit and carrier signals with the A.C. signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Peter K. van der Gracht, Robert W. Donaldson
  • Patent number: D564855
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Trimark Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Lynn Hidding, Kevin P. Eschweiler, Robert W. Donaldson, Timothy J. Zweibohmer, Terry M. Birchler, Shawn Whetstone, Erik Turocy
  • Patent number: D596917
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Trimark Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Donaldson, Brandon L. Hemann
  • Patent number: D615383
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Trimark Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Donaldson, Brandon L. Hemann
  • Patent number: D615841
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Trimark Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Donaldson, Brandon L. Hemann