Patents by Inventor Thomas Ralph Osborn

Thomas Ralph Osborn 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: 6539670
    Abstract: A manual release mechanism of a power actuated sliding door used typically for van applications, includes a bullet assembly interconnected between the ends of a pull member, or cable, of a powered pulley system. The bullet assembly engages and disengages within a passage of a hinge roller assembly which rides within a track of the vehicle. When disengaged, the door is free to slide without causing movement of the bullet assembly or powered pulley system. When engaged, the hinge roller assembly supports a pin which projects into the passage when in a rest position. If the bullet assembly is in the passage, the pin also projects into a groove of the bullet assembly, thereby, locking the bullet assembly within the passage and causing the hinge rolling assembly, which is pivotally connected to the door to move via operation of the powered pulley system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Helmut Haag, Lloyd Walker Rogers, Jr., Ronald James Wilde, Thomas Ralph Osborn
  • Publication number: 20030005635
    Abstract: A manual release mechanism of a power actuated sliding door used typically for van applications, includes a bullet assembly interconnected between the ends of a pull member, or cable, of a powered pulley system. The bullet assembly engages and disengages within a passage of a hinge roller assembly which rides within a track of the vehicle. When disengaged, the door is free to slide without causing movement of the bullet assembly or powered pulley system. When engaged, the hinge roller assembly supports a pin which projects into the passage when in a rest position. If the bullet assembly is in the passage, the pin also projects into a groove of the bullet assembly, thereby, locking the bullet assembly within the passage and causing the hinge rolling assembly, which is pivotally connected to the door to move via operation of the powered pulley system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Ronald Helmut Haag, Lloyd Walker Rogers, Ronald James Wilde, Thomas Ralph Osborn
  • Patent number: 6142551
    Abstract: A power operating system for opening and closing a vehicle liftgate has a pair of drive units supported on the vehicle frame and connected to the liftgate for opening and closing the liftgate. Each drive unit includes a bracket that is secured to the vehicle body for supporting several parts including a reversible electric motor, a gear train, a rack and a cradle that are mounted on the bracket. The electric motor drives the rack via an the output gear of the gear train that has an axis. The rack slides in the cradle which is pivotally mounted on bracket so that cradle pivots about the axis of the output gear to hold the teeth of the rack in engagement with the teeth of the output gear to accommodate rocking movement of rack as it moves from a retracted position to an extended position. An arcuate track that is fixed to the vehicle body, and an arcuate link slides in the arcuate track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Antonio Ciavaglia, Joseph Michael Johnson, Lloyd Walker Rogers, Jr., Thomas Ralph Osborn
  • Patent number: 6061963
    Abstract: A window regulator mechanism for raising and lowering a window that slides up and down in a hollow closure. The window regulator mechanism includes a base plate that supports a tape drive that pulls the window up and pulls the window down. The tape wraps around upper and lower rollers that rotate on axes that are substantially parallel to the length of the closure. Two slack take-up devices for the tape are disclosed. An alternate window regulator mechanism drives the tape with conformation and does not need any slack take-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Ralph Osborn, David A. Sedlak, Lloyd Walker Rogers, Jr., Joseph Michael Johnson
  • Patent number: 6010047
    Abstract: A container holder for vehicles includes a foldable assembly slidably received in a housing defined trough including a bottom and side members with an optional top wall. The assembly is stored in a folded position and is slidable out through a front end of the housing to an unfolded operative position ready to receive a container. The assembly includes a support member with a base and a pair of side walls pivotally mounted on the support member. Dual guide arms are pivotably mounted along upper edges of the side walls and are pivoted downward between the side walls in the stored position of the assembly. The arms have inner ends linked for simultaneous movement with the side walls. A resilient element, such as a spring, urges the side walls in an outwardly pivoting direction. Upon sliding of the base outward from the stored position to the operative position, the side walls are pivoted to angle outward and the guide arms are pivoted upward toward horizontal positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Ralph Osborn