Patents by Inventor Steven J. Leathorn

Steven J. Leathorn 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: 20240017596
    Abstract: A vent assembly of a vehicle includes a bezel defining a vent opening through which an airflow is directed. A primary vane extends across the vent opening. The primary vane is selectably movable about a primary vane axis to adjust a direction of the airflow. A plurality of secondary vanes are arrayed across the vent opening. Each primary vane is selectably movable about a secondary vane axis nonparallel to the primary vane axis to adjust the direction of the airflow. An adjustment knob has a knob central axis. The adjustment knob is configured such that movement of the adjustment knob along the knob central axis moves the primary vane about the primary vane axis, and rotating the adjustment knob about the knob central axis moves the plurality of secondary vanes about their respective secondary vane axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Angel R. Munoz, Steven J. Leathorn
  • Patent number: 11338649
    Abstract: A vehicle air vent includes a volume control door pivotally mounted in a housing, a primary vane pivotally mounted in the housing to direct an air flow from an outlet of the vehicle air vent in an up/down direction, and a roller knob mounted on the primary vane and connected to the volume control door such that a rotation of the roller knob causes a rotation of the volume control door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Angel R. Munoz, Steven J. Leathorn, Olivier Poulet, Keunhyuk Choi, Harish Kumar, Colin L. Kuzniar, Roman Szocinski
  • Patent number: 11299015
    Abstract: A vehicle air vent includes a primary vane system pivotal about a horizontal axis to direct an airflow from an outlet of the vehicle air vent in an up/down direction, a secondary vane system pivotal about a vertical axis to direct an airflow from an outlet of the vehicle air vent in a side-to-side direction. A primary vane of the primary vane system is co-located along an airflow path through the vehicle air vent with a secondary vane of the secondary vane system. The vehicle air vent further includes an airflow volume control system adapted to adjust the volume of airflow through the vehicle air vent, and a joystick controller adapted to independently operate the primary vane system, the secondary vane system, and the airflow volume control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Angel R. Munoz, Steven J. Leathorn, Aldair Ramirez Nopaltitla
  • Publication number: 20210316599
    Abstract: A vehicle air vent includes a volume control door pivotally mounted in a housing, a primary vane pivotally mounted in the housing to direct an air flow from an outlet of the vehicle air vent in an up/down direction, and a roller knob mounted on the primary vane and connected to the volume control door such that a rotation of the roller knob causes a rotation of the volume control door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Angel R. Munoz, Steven J. Leathorn, Olivier Poulet, Keunhyuk Choi, Harish Kumar, Colin L. Kuzniar, Roman Szocinski
  • Publication number: 20210094392
    Abstract: A vehicle air vent includes a primary vane system pivotal about a horizontal axis to direct an airflow from an outlet of the vehicle air vent in an up/down direction, a secondary vane system pivotal about a vertical axis to direct an airflow from an outlet of the vehicle air vent in a side-to-side direction. A primary vane of the primary vane system is co-located along an airflow path through the vehicle air vent with a secondary vane of the secondary vane system. The vehicle air vent further includes an airflow volume control system adapted to adjust the volume of airflow through the vehicle air vent, and a joystick controller adapted to independently operate the primary vane system, the secondary vane system, and the airflow volume control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Angel R. Munoz, Steven J. Leathorn, Aldair Ramirez Nopaltitla