Patents by Inventor Steven R. Thiele

Steven R. Thiele 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: 20130047516
    Abstract: An automotive sliding door supported by an upper rail that eliminates the need for a middle rail opening in a vehicle body. The sliding door hangs from an upper guide member or members that support the door along its length in both an open and closed position. The upper guide members support the full weight of the door without a middle rail for support thereby eliminating rail gash in rear quarter panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Steven R. Thiele
  • Patent number: 8312675
    Abstract: A pressure-activated sensor assembly may include a switch component that actuates upon pressure contact with an obstructing object; a flexible component that substantially surrounds and encases the switch component; an engagement component that engages a projection of an associated closure component; an extended portion disposed substantially on a side of the engagement component that contacts a side surface of the associated closure component; and at least one fastener that secures the extended portion to the side surface of the closure component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Steven R. Thiele
  • Publication number: 20120267914
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly comprises a motorized door movable between an open position and a closed position and a pressure-activated sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a switch component, a flexible component and an engagement component. The switch component actuates upon pressure contact with an associated obstructing object. The flexible component substantially surrounds the switch component. The engagement component is connected with the door and extends from the flexible component towards the door. An exterior garnish member is connected to the door and laterally offset from the flexible component. The garnish member is configured to at least partially inhibit contact of the flexible component by an occupant during occupant ingress and egress of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Steven R. Thiele, Kozo Kusumoto, Jeremy B. Josefovsky
  • Patent number: 8282156
    Abstract: A stop device is provided for a vehicle slide door for an opening of a vehicle side body structure. The slide door is guided in a front-to-rear direction by a sliding door mechanism which moves the slide door on a rail fixed to the side body structure. The stop device comprises a bracket for securing to the side body structure near a rear end of the lower rail. The bracket includes a base having a forward end portion and a rear end portion. A full stopper is mounted to the rear end portion of the bracket, and a mid-stopper is mounted to the forward end portion of the bracket. A strengthening member is connected to and extends at least partially outwardly from the base. The strengthening member is provided at least partially below the full stopper. The strengthening member has a generally stepped configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven R. Thiele, Myriam Lepire
  • Publication number: 20120186159
    Abstract: A cover for an automatic vehicle door latch. The cover comprises a first wall having a free top and bottom edge, and a second edge intersecting an edge of a second wall. The second wall also includes top, free and bottom edges, wherein the bottom and top edge of the first and second walls are contiguous. The first and second walls are angled relative to one another at the intersecting edges. A top ridge protrudes from the walls adjacent the top edges, and a second ridge protrudes from the wall between the top and bottom ridges such that the top ridge and the second ridge define a channel therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Steven R. Thiele, Aaron R. Kerestan, Andrew Philip Dean
  • Patent number: 7963587
    Abstract: A sliding door comprises a door structure and a guide rail. The door structure comprises a first surface, a second surface and at least one attachment assembly and defines at least one door aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface. The at least one attachment assembly comprises a first attachment member and a second attachment member. The second attachment member engages the first attachment member and extends through the at least one door aperture having at least a portion of the second attachment member extending beyond the second surface. The guide rail comprises a first contact surface and a second contact surface and defines at least one rail aperture configured to align with the at least one door aperture of the door structure. The second attachment member abuts the second contact surface of the guide rail. Methods of attaching a guide rail to a door structure are also provided herein. Vehicles are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven R. Thiele, James Allen Hull, Jr., Matthew W. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 7866739
    Abstract: A sunroof system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The sunroof system includes a draintube for expelling fluid that enters the sunroof system from an exterior of the motor vehicle. A section of the draintube may have a one-piece configuration that includes a first portion and a second portion with different cross-sectional shapes. In some configurations, the second portion may have a lesser thickness than the first portion, and the second portion may be located within a pillar of the motor vehicle. In further configurations, the second portion may be located within a pillar of the motor vehicle and adjacent to an airbag component of the motor vehicle. In manufacturing the draintube, a portion of the tube may be heated and compressed to convert a circular cross-section to a non-circular cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Steven R. Thiele
  • Publication number: 20100289298
    Abstract: A sliding door comprises a door structure and a guide rail. The door structure comprises a first surface, a second surface and at least one attachment assembly and defines at least one door aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface. The at least one attachment assembly comprises a first attachment member and a second attachment member. The second attachment member engages the first attachment member and extends through the at least one door aperture having at least a portion of the second attachment member extending beyond the second surface. The guide rail comprises a first contact surface and a second contact surface and defines at least one rail aperture configured to align with the at least one door aperture of the door structure. The second attachment member abuts the second contact surface of the guide rail. Methods of attaching a guide rail to a door structure are also provided herein. Vehicles are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Steven R. Thiele, James Allen Hull, JR., Matthew W. Schmitt
  • Publication number: 20090289469
    Abstract: A pressure-activated sensor assembly may include a switch component that actuates upon pressure contact with an obstructing object; a flexible component that substantially surrounds and encases the switch component; an engagement component that engages a projection of an associated closure component; an extended portion disposed substantially on a side of the engagement component that contacts a side surface of the associated closure component; and at least one fastener that secures the extended portion to the side surface of the closure component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventor: Steven R Thiele
  • Patent number: 7312698
    Abstract: A vehicle tire pressure monitoring system and method is provided, the system including a tire pressure transducer affixed to either the tire or wheel of a vehicle. An electromagnet system is in electrical communication with the tire pressure transducer, the electromagnet system configured to generate pulses and transfer a single bit of data to a sensor system on the vehicle body upon each revolution of the tire or wheel. The sensor system in turn transfers the received bits to an electronic control unit wherein the code is converted into a read out for the vehicle operator. One or more bits within the code may be redundant checking bits or bits representing the status of the pressure transducer or electromagnet system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Steven R. Thiele
  • Publication number: 20040069205
    Abstract: A fluid storage container provides a visual display of a fluid level therein. The container has a plurality of capillary tubes attached thereto, correlating to predetermined fluid levels within the container, and which may be visually observed upon inspection of the capillary tubes. Each of the capillary tubes has an inlet at a lower end thereof, and the inlets are located at different vertical levels from one another. When fluid in the container is at a level above an inlet of a given capillary tube, the capillary tube automatically fills with fluid, providing a visual signal of the fluid level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Lin L. Lee, Yan Beaudoin, Steven R. Thiele, Michael Binfet
  • Patent number: 6299245
    Abstract: A wind deflector and sunshade stopper system for use with a vehicle having a sliding roof panel and a sliding sunshade disposed below the sliding roof panel. The stopper system includes a wind deflector in combination with a sunshade stopper. The wind deflector portion of the system, when installed on a vehicle, is movable between an operative position projecting above a sliding roof opening defined in a fixed roof of the vehicle, and a closed position disposed below the opening. The sunshade stopper portion of the system is adapted to be fixed to a vehicle body. One portion of the sunshade stopper contacts the wind deflector in the closed position thereof to inhibit movement of the deflector; and another portion of the sunshade stopper contacts the sliding sunshade in a closed position thereof to inhibit movement of the sunshade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Steven R. Thiele, Akihiko Kuribayashi