Patents by Inventor Victor C. Martinez

Victor C. Martinez 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: 9162702
    Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly comprising an inner tube operatively connectable with a steering wheel; a top bracket for mounting the steering column assembly; a column housing pivotally coupled with the top bracket and configured to telescopically receive the inner tube; a telescoping actuator device operatively attached to the column housing and the inner tube by one or more drive members; and an energy absorption device housed at least partially within or carried at least partially on the telescoping actuator device and fixed in place to the column housing; wherein the column housing remains generally fixed in place relative to the top bracket in an event of a secondary impact, and during the secondary impact, the inner tube telescopically translates into the column housing; and wherein, during the secondary impact, the energy absorption device undergoes plastic deformation to absorb energy from a load caused by the secondary impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Read, Victor C. Martinez
  • Publication number: 20150033901
    Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly comprising an inner tube operatively connectable with a steering wheel; a top bracket for mounting the steering column assembly; a column housing pivotally coupled with the top bracket and configured to telescopically receive the inner tube; a telescoping actuator device operatively attached to the column housing and the inner tube by one or more drive members; and an energy absorption device housed at least partially within or carried at least partially on the telescoping actuator device and fixed in place to the column housing; wherein the column housing remains generally fixed in place relative to the top bracket in an event of a secondary impact, and during the secondary impact, the inner tube telescopically translates into the column housing; and wherein, during the secondary impact, the energy absorption device undergoes plastic deformation to absorb energy from a load caused by the secondary impact
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Simon Read, Victor C. Martinez
  • Patent number: 8899622
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle that includes an inner column tube, a steering shaft supported at least in part by the inner column tube and having a longitudinal axis, a top bracket adapted for receiving a least a portion of the steering shaft and for mounting the steering column assembly within the automotive vehicle, and a telescoping motor subassembly adapted for selectively driving the steering shaft in a fore or aft direction. A telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is coupled during normal operation to a column housing, the telescoping motor subassembly and the inner column tube, wherein the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is adapted to detach from the column housing in the event of an impact exceeding a predetermined first impact load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: NSK Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Read, Victor C. Martinez
  • Publication number: 20130233117
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle that includes an inner column tube, a steering shaft supported at least in part by the inner column tube and having a longitudinal axis, a top bracket adapted for receiving a least a portion of the steering shaft and for mounting the steering column assembly within the automotive vehicle, and a telescoping motor subassembly adapted for selectively driving the steering shaft in a fore or aft direction. A telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is coupled during normal operation to a column housing, the telescoping motor subassembly and the inner column tube, wherein the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is adapted to detach from the column housing in the event of an impact exceeding a predetermined first impact load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: NSK AMERICAS, INC.
    Inventors: Simon Read, Victor C. Martinez