Patents by Inventor Stephen T Lim
Stephen T Lim 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).
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Patent number: 8672102Abstract: An improved brake system is provided for a motor vehicle. The system includes a rotor attached to a rim of a wheel and a caliper assembly mounted to a hub of the wheel. The caliper is arranged to retain a friction element and operatively engage the friction element against the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2003Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Chrysler Group LLCInventors: Mark Walters, Stephen T Lim, Kirt M Bennett
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Patent number: 7866926Abstract: A retainer for a vehicle cargo area that is bounded in part by a floor and a door moveable between open and closed positions includes a retaining member spanning at least a portion of the cargo area, a pivot feature operably associated with the retaining member, and a retaining feature that yieldably retains the retaining member in its second position to facilitate retaining cargo within the cargo area. The retaining member pivots about the pivot feature relative to the cargo area between a first position and a second position wherein the retaining member is inclined relative to the floor of the cargo area. When the door is open the retainer is normally in its second position to facilitate retaining cargo within the cargo area.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Chrysler Group LLCInventor: Stephen T Lim
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Patent number: 7708327Abstract: The technology described herein provides a slidable, retractable, and foldable cargo floor organizer with a rotatable and extensible retention net frame and associated cargo retention net for the rear cargo floor area of a vehicle. The system additionally provides an interior cargo tray having multiple partitions. The system includes a cargo retention net frame disposed about the interior cargo tray, wherein the cargo retention net frame is extensible, and a cargo retention net, the cargo retention net being disposed about the retention net frame, and wherein the cargo retention net is extensible and extends as the cargo retention net frame extends. The system provides for the secure containment of cargo in the rear cargo floor area of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Chrysler Group LLCInventors: Stephen T. Lim, Brett Ladetto, Aaron Schnepp, Louis A. Rhodes, Paresh Rana
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Patent number: 7644972Abstract: This invention provides a retractable, pivotable, slidable, and removable horizontal bar device designed for containing a cover to shield the rear compartment of an automobile from view. The bar also provides for securely holding in place conventional plastic bags when such bags, filled with groceries or other items, are being transported in a vehicle, maintaining the bags in an upright, suspended position on or above the floor of the interior trunk or cargo compartment of an automobile. A pair of the bars and holding systems may be used to further provide a detachable and removable cross support bar and dual covers to cover the entire rear compartment of an automobile.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2008Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: Chrysler Group LLCInventor: Stephen T. Lim
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Publication number: 20090195006Abstract: This invention provides a retractable, pivotable, slidable, and removable horizontal bar device designed for containing a cover to shield the rear compartment of an automobile from view. The bar also provides for securely holding in place conventional plastic bags when such bags, filled with groceries or other items, are being transported in a vehicle, maintaining the bags in an upright, suspended position on or above the floor of the interior trunk or cargo compartment of an automobile. A pair of the bars and holding systems may be used to further provide a detachable and removable cross support bar and dual covers to cover the entire rear compartment of an automobile.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2008Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventor: Stephen T. Lim
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Publication number: 20080284192Abstract: The technology described herein provides a slidable, retractable, and foldable cargo floor organizer with a rotatable and extensible retention net frame and associated cargo retention net for the rear cargo floor area of a vehicle. The system additionally provides an interior cargo tray having multiple partitions. The system includes a cargo retention net frame disposed about the interior cargo tray, wherein the cargo retention net frame is extensible, and a cargo retention net, the cargo retention net being disposed about the retention net frame, and wherein the cargo retention net is extensible and extends as the cargo retention net frame extends. The system provides for the secure containment of cargo in the rear cargo floor area of a vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2007Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventors: Stephen T. Lim, Brett Ladetto, Aaron Schnepp, Louis A. Rhodes, Paresh Rana
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Publication number: 20080142560Abstract: This invention provides a retractable, pivotable, slidable, and removable horizontal bar device designed for securely holding in place conventional plastic grocery bags when such grocery bags, filled with groceries or other items, are being transported in a vehicle, maintaining the bags in an upright, suspended position on or above the floor of the interior trunk or cargo compartment of an automobile. A pair of the grocery bag bars and holding systems may be used to further provide a detachable and removable cross support bar.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2006Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventor: Stephen T. Lim
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Publication number: 20080142559Abstract: The present invention is an integrated external bicycle rack that can be stored quickly and easily within the vehicle when not in use. The bicycle rack can hold up to two bicycles and other objects, and can be equipped on any type of vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, the bicycle rack includes two support bars which extend rearward of the vehicle from the vehicle's rear frame rail. In another exemplary embodiment, the bicycle rack includes two support bars within a rack frame which is mounted to the vehicle frame, and the two support bars selectively extend rearward of the vehicle. Once the support bars are extended, then one or more load floor panels are relocated from within the vehicle and mounted to the support bars. The load floor panels include attachment device which are used to secure bicycles and the like to the load floor panels.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2006Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventors: Stephen T. Lim, Aaron J. Schnepp, Louis A. Rhodes, Todd McKinzie
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Patent number: 7363131Abstract: A vehicle control assembly and a method and system for controlling a vehicle. The assembly includes a controller. A steer-by-wire component, a brake-by-wire component, and an accelerator-by-wire component are each operably attached to the controller. A track is operably attached to the vehicle. The controller is laterally re-positionable with respect to the track. The method includes the steps of providing a controller, and steering, braking, and accelerating the vehicle by-wire with the controller. The method further includes the step of re-positioning the controller between a first vehicle side to a second vehicle side. The system includes controller means, and means for steering, braking, and accelerating the vehicle by-wire with the controller means. The system further includes means for reversibly positioning the controller means from a first vehicle side to a second vehicle side.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2004Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Chrysler LLCInventors: Gregory Howell, Stephen T Lim, Stuart P Macey
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Patent number: 7294082Abstract: A powertrain arrangement for selectively operating a vehicle in a skid-steer configuration is provided. The arrangement includes an engine coupled to a differential. A first torque transfer mechanism is coupled to a coupling mechanism and arranged to drive a first set of wheels on a side of the vehicle orientated parallel to a wheelbase of the vehicle. A second torque transfer mechanism is coupled to the differential and arranged to drive a second set of wheels on an opposite side of the vehicle. The coupling mechanism is coupled to the differential and includes a rotation selector arranged to selectively engage an output of the differential to provide a torque input to the first torque transfer mechanism of a direction so as to drive the first set of wheels in one of a same and an opposite direction as the second set of wheels.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2004Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: Chrysler LLCInventors: Stephen T Lim, Douglas J Quigley, Robert Smyczynski
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Patent number: 7255194Abstract: A vehicle is provided having a steering system for selectively operating the vehicle in a zero-steer configuration. The system includes a forward steering assembly coupled to a steering wheel and a forward set of wheels. The forward steering assembly is arranged to receive an input from the steering wheel and includes a selectively actuateable forward motorized mechanism. A rear steering assembly is coupled to a rear set of wheels and includes a rearward motorized mechanism. Upon selective activation, the forward motorized mechanism is arranged to engage the forward steering assembly and rotate the forward set of wheels toward a centerline of the vehicle and the rearward motorized mechanism is arranged to engage the rearward steering assembly and rotate the rearward set of wheels toward the vehicle centerline such that the wheels are positioned to allow the vehicle to turn about a central point of the vehicle in a zero-steer configuration.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2004Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Stephen T Lim, Douglas J Quigley, Robert Smyczynski
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Patent number: 7241092Abstract: A retainer for a vehicle cargo area that is bounded in part by a floor and a door moveable between open and closed positions includes a retaining member spanning at least a portion of the cargo area, a pivot feature operably associated with the retaining member, and a retaining feature that yieldably retains the retaining member in its second position to facilitate retaining cargo within the cargo area. The retaining member pivots about the pivot feature relative to the cargo area between a first position and a second position wherein the retaining member is inclined relative to the floor of the cargo area. When the door is open the retainer is normally in its second position to facilitate retaining cargo within the cargo area.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2005Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventor: Stephen T Lim
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Patent number: 7097187Abstract: An independent suspension system is provided for coupling a set of wheels to a vehicle body structure. The system includes independently pivotable swing arms, a shock absorber assembly, a joining arm and tie rods. The swing arms are attached to the vehicle body structure and to a respective wheel and the shock absorber assembly is mounted to the vehicle structure. The shock absorber assembly includes a biasing element and a linkage coupled to the joining arm and the biasing element. The suspension system further includes a tie rod connecting each swing arm to the joining arm. The joining arm is arranged to move in a lengthwise vehicle direction under control of the biasing element in response to road input to both wheels, and rotate about an attachment point without lengthwise movement to allow the tie rods to translate in opposite lengthwise direction in response to leaning of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2003Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Mark Walters, Stephen T Lim, Kirt M Bennett
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Patent number: 7093871Abstract: An arrangement for expanding a cargo box of a pick-up truck vehicle is provided. The arrangement includes a wall that defines a cabin space on an internal side and a cargo box end on an external side, and the wall is arranged to be translateable from a first position to a second position. A latch mechanism is provided and attached to the wall. The latch mechanism is arranged to maintain the wall in the first position. A release mechanism is coupled to the latch mechanism and arranged to selectively release the wall from the first position such that the wall can translate into the cabin and towards a front of the vehicle to a second position and extend a length of the cargo box.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Stephen T Lim, Douglas J Quigley, Robert Smyczynski
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Patent number: 7080871Abstract: A seat arrangement for a cabin of a pick-up truck vehicle is provided. The seat arrangement includes a seat bottom member having a latch mechanism attached thereto. The latch mechanism is arranged to maintain the seat bottom member in a deployed seating position. A release mechanism is coupled to the latch mechanism and arranged to selectively release the seat bottom member from the deployed seating position. A track mechanism is attached to the seat bottom member and extends beyond a rear wall of the cabin into an adjoined cavity such that when the seat bottom member is selectively released, the seat bottom member can move along the track mechanism to a stowed position in the cavity adjoined to the cabin.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Stephen T Lim, Douglas J Quigley, Robert Smyczynski
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Patent number: 6899378Abstract: Optionally expandable passenger seating is provided in a second compartment of a vehicle body including a first compartment and a second compartment rearwardly adjacent the first compartment, through use of a passenger seating cushion attached to an interior surface of a rear wallgate, of the first compartment, optionally separating the first and second compartments from one another. The rear wallgate is attached at a lower edge thereof for pivoting movement from a vertical position, whereat the rear wallgate at least partially separates the first compartment from the second compartment with the interior surface of the wallgate facing into the first compartment, to a horizontal position, whereat the rear wall gate extends into the second compartment with the interior surface of the rear wallgate facing generally upward, thereby allowing a passenger to sit on the cushion when the rear wall gate is in the horizontal position.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2003Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Louis A Rhodes, Stephen T Lim, Todd E Olson
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Publication number: 20040159505Abstract: An improved brake system is provided for a motor vehicle. The system includes a rotor attached to a rim of a wheel and a caliper assembly mounted to a hub of the wheel. The caliper is arranged to retain a friction element and operatively engage the friction element against the rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2003Publication date: August 19, 2004Inventors: Mark Walters, Stephen T. Lim, Kirt M. Bennett
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Publication number: 20040160030Abstract: An improved independent suspension system is provided for coupling a set of wheels to a vehicle body structure. The system includes independently pivotable swing arms, a shock absorber assembly and tie rods. The swing arms are attached to the vehicle body structure and to a respective wheel and the shock absorber assembly is mounted to the vehicle structure. The shock absorber assembly includes a biasing element, a joining arm and a linkage coupled to the joining arm and the biasing element. The suspension system further includes a tie rod connecting each swing arm to the joining arm. The joining arm is arranged to move in a lengthwise vehicle direction under control of the biasing element in response to road input to both wheels, and rotate about an attachment point without lengthwise movement to allow the tie rods to translate in opposite lengthwise direction in response to leaning of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2003Publication date: August 19, 2004Inventors: Mark Walters, Stephen T. Lim, Kirt M. Bennett