Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Brinck

Stephen J. Brinck 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: 11001127
    Abstract: A vehicle door assembly includes a door module and a door panel. The door module has a back plate with a periphery bearing attachment orifices defining a base plane. At least one guide rail extends in a rail direction in a rail plane offset from the base plane and has a connected edge and a free edge. The connected edge is attached to the back plate, and the free edge is shaped for slidably attaching a carrier plate for a window. The guide rail vertically protrudes beyond the periphery of the back platen. A void in the rail plane intersects a trajectory of the connected edge. The void provides access through the rail plane to the periphery of the back plate, wherein an attachment orifice is disposed in the void. The door panel has a central hole and attachment openings aligned with the attachment orifices of the door module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Hi-Lex Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Beau Cook, Stephen J. Brinck, Tuan Tony Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20200164726
    Abstract: A vehicle door assembly includes a door module and a door panel. The door module has a back plate with a periphery bearing attachment orifices defining a base plane. At least one guide rail extends in a rail direction in a rail plane offset from the base plane and has a connected edge and a free edge. The connected edge is attached to the back plate, and the free edge is shaped for slidably attaching a carrier plate for a window. The guide rail vertically protrudes beyond the periphery of the back platen. A void in the rail plane intersects a trajectory of the connected edge. The void provides access through the rail plane to the periphery of the back plate, wherein an attachment orifice is disposed in the void. The door panel has a central hole and attachment openings aligned with the attachment orifices of the door module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Beau Cook, Stephen J. Brinck, Tuan Tony Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9822574
    Abstract: An actuator for opening and closing a hinged device is provided. In particular, the actuator is a power tailgate actuator. The actuator comprises a motor with a rotor, and an output shaft that rotates on an axis which is substantially parallel to the axis on which lies the rotor of the motor. The actuator has a rotary position sensor such as a rotary potentiometer which positively identifies the position of the tailgate. The tailgate also comprises a clutch which can engage and disengage depending on the mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: HI-LEX CONTROLS INC.
    Inventors: John M. Heiberger, Kevin Koneval, Fred Eberle, Eric Thomas, Stephen J. Brinck
  • Publication number: 20170089116
    Abstract: An actuator for opening and closing a hinged device is provided. In particular, the actuator is a power tailgate actuator. The actuator comprises a motor with a rotor, and an output shaft that rotates on an axis which is substantially parallel to the axis on which lies the rotor of the motor. The actuator has a rotary position sensor such as a rotary potentiometer which positively identifies the position of the tailgate. The tailgate also comprises a clutch which can engage and disengage depending on the mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: John M. Heiberger, Kevin Koneval, Fred Eberle, Eric Thomas, Stephen J. Brinck