Patents by Inventor William E. Nagengast

William E. Nagengast 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: 9494297
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of a solar-powered lighting fixture includes a solar panel electrically connected to a control circuit, a rechargeable battery to store electrical energy generated by the solar panel, and a LED module with a lens, wherein the lens has a plurality of integral optical elements comprising an inner refracting surface and an outer refracting surface, and the control circuit is capable of charging the battery by adjusting the charge current from the solar panel to the battery, automatically powering the at least one light-emitting diode on and off, and automatically adjusting the level and duration of electrical current provided to the at least one light-emitting diode. In at least one embodiment, the control circuit includes a microprocessor to calculate an operational profile based on the charge stored in the battery and an anticipated power requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: William E. Nagengast, Judy Nagengast, Steven F. Tregilgas, Jerry D. Heiniger
  • Patent number: 9206964
    Abstract: A convertible lighting fixture includes a first housing defining a first compartment and a second housing defining a second compartment and movably attached to the first housing. The lighting fixture further includes a mounting plate attached to the second housing, a light source attached to the mounting plate and electrically connected to a power source disposed within the first compartment, and a cover substantially surrounding the light source. In at least one embodiment, the lighting fixture includes a wire harness configured to electrically connect the power source with the light source, wherein the wire harness includes a plurality of wires, a harness jacket surrounding the plurality of wires, and a sealant disposed within the harness jacket, wherein the sealant at least partially fills voids within the harness jacket and prevents liquids from translating through the wire harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: ECO Lighting Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Joe R. Marsh, David J. Packard, William E. Nagengast, James S. Mellinger, Judy Nagengast
  • Publication number: 20150131287
    Abstract: A convertible lighting fixture includes a first housing defining a first compartment and a second housing defining a second compartment and movably attached to the first housing. The lighting fixture further includes a mounting plate attached to the second housing, a light source attached to the mounting plate and electrically connected to a power source disposed within the first compartment, and a cover substantially surrounding the light source. In at least one embodiment, the lighting fixture includes a wire harness configured to electrically connect the power source with the light source, wherein the wire harness includes a plurality of wires, a harness jacket surrounding the plurality of wires, and a sealant disposed within the harness jacket, wherein the sealant at least partially fills voids within the harness jacket and prevents liquids from translating through the wire harness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Joe R. Marsh, David J. Packard, William E. Nagengast, James S. Mellinger, Judy Nagengast
  • Patent number: 8950907
    Abstract: A convertible lighting fixture includes a first housing defining a first compartment, a second housing defining a second compartment and movably attached to the first housing, the second housing having a surface adjacent the first compartment. The lighting fixture further includes a mounting plate attached to the second housing and at least partially separating the second compartment from a third compartment, a light source mechanically attached to the mounting plate and electrically connected to a power source disposed within the first compartment, and a cover defining the third compartment and substantially surrounding the light source, the cover reversibly attached to the second housing opposite the first housing, where the first, second, and third compartments are arranged to thermally insulate the power source from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventors: David J. Packard, William E. Nagengast, James S. Mellinger, Judy Nagengast
  • Publication number: 20130329434
    Abstract: A convertible lighting fixture includes a first housing defining a first compartment, a second housing defining a second compartment and movably attached to the first housing, the second housing having a surface adjacent the first compartment. The lighting fixture further includes a mounting plate attached to the second housing and at least partially separating the second compartment from a third compartment, a light source mechanically attached to the mounting plate and electrically connected to a power source disposed within the first compartment, and a cover defining the third compartment and substantially surrounding the light source, the cover reversibly attached to the second housing opposite the first housing, where the first, second, and third compartments are arranged to thermally insulate the power source from the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: David J. Packard, William E. Nagengast, James S. Mellinger, Judy Nagengast
  • Patent number: 5539625
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp adjuster for aiming a headlamp unit is provided including a housing for connection with a generally fixed portion of the vehicle, the housing having first and second ends; a drive screw mounted by and projecting through the housing, the drive screw having a first end for connection with the headlamp unit and a second end extending from the second end of the housing; a drive train mounted by the housing to translate the drive screw to adjust the headlamp unit; a transparent end cap connected to the second end of the housing and encircling the second end of the drive screw; and a slider having a first end slidably mounted on the housing and a second end slidably mounted on the end cap. The slider is translationally frictionally held in position and is adjacent to the second end having indication markings to determine the position of the drive screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Richard E. Turley, Jr., Michael E. O'Shaughnessey, William E. Nagengast, Steven V. Horsman
  • Patent number: 5424923
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly is provided which includes a bulb; a reflector housing mounting the bulb; at least one rod pivotally connected to the housing; an adjuster body encircling the rod and threadably engaged therewith, the adjuster body having an insertion end generally opposite the reflector housing and a slot on the insertion end; a vehicle panel with an aperture for receipt of the adjuster body insertion end; and a slider mounted for relative movement with respect to the panel. The slider has an aperture with a first dimension for receipt of the insertion end of the adjuster body, and the slider aperture has a second end with a smaller dimension for encircling the adjuster body adjacent the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Young, Randall J. Smith, William E. Nagengast, Brian E. Witte
  • Patent number: 5402325
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly is provided including a reflector housing having a forward face and a rearward face intersected by a bore, the rearward face having a generally annular flat with a series of depressions; a bulb providing a source of illumination positioned generally adjacent the reflector housing forward face; a bulb housing providing an electrical connection for the bulb and for mounting the bulb, the bulb housing having a first portion inserted within the housing bore and a second portion positioned generally adjacent to the reflector housing rear face annular flat contacting the same; a generally annular retainer having a first portion extending through the reflector housing bore and a second portion contacting the rear face of the reflector housing within the depressions of the rear face, the retainer also having an interlocking flange spaced from the second portion with biasing tabs for retaining the bulb housing within the reflector housing bore and urging the bulb housing against the reflect
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jan A. Wisler, Chad E. Spencer, David R. McMahan, William E. Nagengast
  • Patent number: 5360282
    Abstract: A ball and socket joint arrangement for mounting a vehicle headlamp assembly to a vehicle is provided which in a preferred embodiment includes a body connected with the headlamp assembly and having an interior spheroid aperture intersected by first and second apertures with a plug in the second aperture, a portion of the plug forming the spheroid aperture; a ball for pivotally mounting within the body spheroid aperture having pivotal motion on at least two axes, the ball having a bore generally aligned with the first aperture and a circumferential groove, the circumferential groove forming a slot with the bore in two geometrically spaced locations; a rod connected with the vehicle for insertion into the bore of the ball and having a circumferential groove aligned with the circumferential groove of the ball; and an omega spring mounted within the circumferential groove of the ball retaining the rod to the ball after insertion of the rod into the bore of the ball by projecting into the slot of the ball and loca
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Nagengast, Leslie H. Hallgarth, Brian E. Witte, Paul E. Young, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5351170
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly provided with an adjustment device for adjusting the position of a lamp unit and wherein the adjustment device is combined with a rotatable recalibration arrangement that includes a position indicator in the form of a disk member provided with teeth at its periphery and in which the teeth of the disk member are shielded by a wall so as to prevent accidental movement of the disk member when the latter is positioned to indicate the aimed position of the lamp unit in the horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Nagengast, David R. McMahan, Jan A. Wisler, Luis A. Mateos, Michael W. Ballentine
  • Patent number: 5253154
    Abstract: A leveling arrangement for a vehicle headlamp that includes a support portion formed in the upper portion of the reflector member that has a spirit level member mounted thereon which is characterized in that it includes a living hinge serving as a pivotal connection for a depending member fastened to a substantially vertically oriented surface of the support portion so that rotation of screw means carried by the spirit level results in pivotal movement and calibration of the spirit level relative to the optical axis of the reflector member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David R. McMahan, William E. Nagengast, Terry L. Coombs, Bradley A. Merrill, Ronald A. Wheat, Jan A. Wisler
  • Patent number: 5251111
    Abstract: A ventilation system for a composite head lamp that utilizes a one-way valve arrangement for permitting ventilating air to flow into and out of the headlamp but prevents splash water from entering the interior of the headlamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Nagengast, David R. Mc Mahan
  • Patent number: 5151849
    Abstract: A leveling arrangement for a vehicle headlamp that includes a slot formed in the upper portion of the reflector member in which a spirit level member is located and combined with a spring clip which is fastened to the reflector member and to one end of the spirit level member and includes a leaf spring which continuously biases the other end of the spirit level member in one direction so that an adjustment screw threadably received by the spirit level member permits the aforementioned other end of the spirit level member to be raised or lowered for providing calibration of the spirit level member relative to the optical axis of the reflector member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Nagengast, Philip C. Filosa
  • Patent number: 5113331
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp having a reflector housing member closed by a lens member which is locked to the reflector housing member by concealed fastener means and serves to maintain the two members in a fixed relationship with each other during the curing of an adhesive location between the outer edges of the two members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Nagengast
  • Patent number: 5095410
    Abstract: A retainer arrangement for a replaceable lamp bulb assembly that cooperates with a vent formed in the reflector body of a headlamp for establishing a labyrinth type flow path for air to enter and exit the interior of the headlamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Nagengast, David R. McMahan, Philip C. Filosa, Harry L. Kirchenbauer
  • Patent number: 5010455
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly having a retainer of a replaceable light bulb assembly that includes three circumferentially spaced sections each independently attached to the rear of the reflector and located around the opening which receives the light bulb of the light bulb assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Luallin, William E. Nagengast, Robert G. Roeske
  • Patent number: 5003446
    Abstract: A headlamp having a mounting hole formed in the curved outer surface of a reflector housing along an axis which is generally parallel to the optical axis of the housing and which is adapted to receive a push-in type vent device formed with a skirt having a configuration that provides a good sealing relationship with the curved outer surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Nagengast, James S. Mellinger, David R. McMahan
  • Patent number: 4991067
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly having a retainer for a replaceable light bulb that can be positioned on the reflector housing from either side of the retainer and in various rotational positions thereof and still serve to receive and maintain the light bulb in the proper position relative to the reflector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Nagengast
  • Patent number: 4974123
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly having a lamp unit supported by three ball pivots each of which is connected to the reflector member of the lamp unit through a pair of socket portions which encapsulate the ball portion of the associated ball pivot and are connected together by a fastener accessible from above the headlamp assembly and which, when removed, allows the lamp unit to be released from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Luallin, William E. Nagengast
  • Patent number: D698991
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Steven F. Tregilgas, William E. Nagengast