Patents by Inventor William Champ

William Champ 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: 20230407692
    Abstract: A powered vehicle closure system includes a vehicle frame, a vehicle closure pivotally coupled to the vehicle frame, a torsion bar fixed to both the vehicle frame and the vehicle closure, and a torque device coupled to the torsion bar, wherein the torque device is configured to generate a non-linear torsion bar torque output as the vehicle closure pivots relative to the vehicle frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Jacob Fritschle, William Champ, Howard W. Kuhlman, Greg Sproule
  • Patent number: 11421465
    Abstract: A power closure actuator for powering a movable closure includes an output member configured to drive movement of the movable closure, a motor coupled through a gear reduction to drive the output member, and an integrated brake-clutch unit having an input configured to receive drive power from the electric motor. The brake-clutch unit provides independent braking and clutching between the electric motor and the output member via an electric brake actuator and an electric clutch actuator, respectively. Brake and clutch portions of the brake-clutch unit act on a rotor, and brake force can be maintained on the rotor without powering the brake actuator. A clutch disc is biased disengaged from the rotor. The integrated brake-clutch unit provides a drive state between the electric motor and the output member when the brake portion is released concurrently with the clutch portion establishing a power coupling between the clutch disc and the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: STRATTEC POWER ACCESS LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Sproule, Howard Kuhlman, Frederick Eberle, William Champ, Steven Buell, Jacob Fritschle, Daniel Sand, Paul Crociata, David Wilcox, Brian Schymik, Michael Zientak, Kimpon Ngem
  • Publication number: 20200340282
    Abstract: A power closure actuator for powering a movable closure includes an output member configured to drive movement of the movable closure, a motor coupled through a gear reduction to drive the output member, and an integrated brake-clutch unit having an input configured to receive drive power from the electric motor. The brake-clutch unit provides independent braking and clutching between the electric motor and the output member via an electric brake actuator and an electric clutch actuator, respectively. Brake and clutch portions of the brake-clutch unit act on a rotor, and brake force can be maintained on the rotor without powering the brake actuator. A clutch disc is biased disengaged from the rotor. The integrated brake-clutch unit provides a drive state between the electric motor and the output member when the brake portion is released concurrently with the clutch portion establishing a power coupling between the clutch disc and the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory Sproule, Howard Kuhlman, Frederick Eberle, William Champ, Steven Buell, Jacob Fritschle, Daniel Sand, Paul Crociata, David Wilcox, Brian Schymik, Michael Zientak, Kimpon Ngem
  • Patent number: 7374242
    Abstract: A vehicle latch assembly including a stanchion support and a pivotally secured seat supporting bracket. A batwing shape sector is slaved to rotate with the bracket between the bracket and stanchion support. A sector bottom surface is interrupted by a shoulder projection and an arcuate interior channel is offset from a slaved rotating connection of the sector to the bracket. A pin extends through another channel defined in the stanchion and seats within the sector channel to bias the sector during travel along the interior channel. A pendulum is secured in sandwiching fashion between the bracket and stanchion and includes an upper edge configuration proximate a selected location of the bottom surface of the rotatable sector, depending upon a rotatable position established between the first seat component and a second seat component. The pendulum responds to an inertial impact condition by engaging the shoulder projection to prevent rotation of the first seat component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William Champ, David Grable
  • Publication number: 20070273170
    Abstract: A vehicle latch assembly including a stanchion support and a pivotally secured seat supporting bracket. A batwing shape sector is slaved to rotate with the bracket between the bracket and stanchion support. A sector bottom surface is interrupted by a shoulder projection and an arcuate interior channel is offset from a slaved rotating connection of the sector to the bracket. A pin extends through another channel defined in the stanchion and seats within the sector channel to bias the sector during travel along the interior channel. A pendulum is secured in sandwiching fashion between the bracket and stanchion and includes an upper edge configuration proximate a selected location of the bottom surface of the rotatable sector, depending upon a rotatable position established between the first seat component and a second seat component. The pendulum responds to an inertial impact condition by engaging the shoulder projection to prevent rotation of the first seat component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: William Champ, David Grable