Patents by Inventor TODD C. TROMBLEY

TODD C. TROMBLEY 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: 10174831
    Abstract: A vibration isolation system reduces rattling in a reverse lockout mechanism for a manual shifter. A shaft retained in a shifter housing has an upper end for a shift knob and an enlarged barrel section proximate the housing. A lockout skirt slides on the shaft between upper and lower positions. The lockout skirt has a shoulder extending radially outward, and the housing includes a stop block such that the shaft is prevented from pivoting to a reverse gear position when the lockout skirt is in the lower position and is free to move to the reverse gear position when the lockout skirt is in the upper position. A spring retained on the shaft biases the lockout skirt toward the lower position. A plurality of lubricated O-rings are disposed on the shaft to define sliding interfaces between the lockout skirt and the shaft and between the lockout skirt and the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Athanasios K. Teknos, Chin L. Vong, Jeffrey M. Albers, Stephen M. Duane, Todd C. Trombley, James R. Backus
  • Publication number: 20170097089
    Abstract: A vibration isolation system reduces rattling in a reverse lockout mechanism for a manual shifter. A shaft retained in a shifter housing has an upper end for a shift knob and an enlarged barrel section proximate the housing. A lockout skirt slides on the shaft between upper and lower positions. The lockout skirt has a shoulder extending radially outward, and the housing includes a stop block such that the shaft is prevented from pivoting to a reverse gear position when the lockout skirt is in the lower position and is free to move to the reverse gear position when the lockout skirt is in the upper position. A spring retained on the shaft biases the lockout skirt toward the lower position. A plurality of lubricated O-rings are disposed on the shaft to define sliding interfaces between the lockout skirt and the shaft and between the lockout skirt and the barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: ATHANASIOS K. TEKNOS, CHIN L. VONG, JEFFREY M. ALBERS, STEPHEN M. DUANE, TODD C. TROMBLEY, JAMES R. BACKUS