Patents by Inventor Stephen E. Koehr

Stephen E. Koehr 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: 7635149
    Abstract: A steering column assembly of a vehicle has a rocker-arm lock device for locking an adjustable steering housing and co-extending steering shaft to a stationary bracket or chassis. For driver convenience and comfort, the steering housing and shaft are together adjustable with respect to the bracket. The rocker-arm lock device has a slot in at least one of the housing and bracket and a carrier for longitudinal movement through the slot that is substantially perpendicular to a rotation axis of the steering shaft. An indexing apparatus of the device has first and second indexing rails carried by at least one of the housing and the bracket having the first slot and a carriage engaged rigidly to the carrier. A rocker arm of the apparatus is supported pivotally to the carriage about a rocker axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Damir Menjak, Allan L. Dickinson, Melvin L. Tinnin, Troy Daenzer, William D. Cymbal, Stephen E. Koehr, Michael P. Anspaugh, Neal R. Roller
  • Patent number: 7533594
    Abstract: A position control apparatus for a motor vehicle steering column includes an outer bracket, an inner bracket moveable relative to the outer bracket, and a jacket mounted to the inner bracket for telescoping movement along a longitudinal axis and for tilting movement. A first rack is mounted to the inner bracket and extends along the longitudinal axis. A first pinion is rotatable along the first rack during telescoping movement. A second rack is mounted to the outer bracket and extends angularly relative to the longitudinal axis. A second pinion is rotatable along the second rack during tilting movement. The first pinion has a first locking surface and the second pinion has a second locking surface. The first locking surface and the second locking surface may be engaged with each other to prevent telescoping and tilting movement or may be disengaged from each other to allow telescoping and tilting movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Damir Menjak, Allan L. Dickinson, Melvin L. Tinnin, Troy Daenzer, Richard P. Nash, Stephen E. Koehr
  • Publication number: 20080231030
    Abstract: A steering column assembly of a vehicle has a rocker-arm lock device for locking an adjustable steering housing and co-extending steering shaft to a stationary bracket or chassis. For driver convenience and comfort, the steering housing and shaft are together adjustable with respect to the bracket. The rocker-arm lock device has a slot in at least one of the housing and bracket and a carrier for longitudinal movement through the slot that is substantially perpendicular to a rotation axis of the steering shaft. An indexing apparatus of the device has first and second indexing rails carried by at least one of the housing and the bracket having the first slot and a carriage engaged rigidly to the carrier. A rocker arm of the apparatus is supported pivotally to the carriage about a rocker axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Damir Menjak, Allan L. Dickinson, Melvin L. Tinnin, Troy Daenzer, William D. Cymbal, Stephen E. Koehr, Michael P. Anspaugh, Neal R. Roller
  • Publication number: 20080143092
    Abstract: A position control apparatus for a motor vehicle steering column includes an outer bracket, an inner bracket moveable relative to the outer bracket, and a jacket mounted to the inner bracket for telescoping movement along a longitudinal axis and for tilting movement. A first rack is mounted to the inner bracket and extends along the longitudinal axis. A first pinion is rotatable along the first rack during telescoping movement. A second rack is mounted to the outer bracket and extends angularly relative to the longitudinal axis. A second pinion is rotatable along the second rack during tilting movement. The first pinion has a first locking surface and the second pinion has a second locking surface. The first locking surface and the second locking surface may be engaged with each other to prevent telescoping and tilting movement or may be disengaged from each other to allow telescoping and tilting movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Damir Menjak, Allan L. Dickinson, Melvin L. Tinnin, Troy Daenzer, Richard P. Nash, Stephen E. Koehr