Patents by Inventor William Ethan A. McClure
William Ethan A. McClure 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).
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Patent number: 7537256Abstract: A module in the form of a carrier with an optional decorative body is mountable on an exterior surface of a vehicle lift gate and provides a mounting platform for a plurality of components. The components include at least two of light sources in the form of LEDs or incandescent bulbs, an actuatable switch, a camera, a key lock cylinder and a movable handle. The carrier is affixed to the body and is alignable with apertures in the body for transmission of light from the light sources exteriorly of the body as well as to provide a field of view for the camera. The electric switch is actuatable through a resilient membrane.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2004Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Terence M. Gates, Philippe Gougeon, Leonida S. Vaitus, William Ethan A. McClure
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Patent number: 7246840Abstract: A liftgate component module mountable on a pivotal liftgate window provides a unitary mounting platform for a plurality of components including a window wiper drive motor and a window latch. A unitary bracket carries the wiper drive apparatus and the window latch apparatus. A handle, which may include an electrical switch, is also mounted on the window. The electrical connections between the handle switch and a controller carried on the window as part of the motor enables instantaneous response of the latch to activation of the handle switch. The same controller can also control a liftgate latch and a liftgate electrical switch handle.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2004Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Terence M. Gates, Philippe Gougeon, Leonida S. Vaitus, William Ethan A. McClure
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Patent number: 7144065Abstract: A unitary vehicle liftgate component module carries a plurality of pre-mounted vehicle liftgate components for one-step mounting on the liftgate when the module is attached to the liftgate. At least two of a liftgate wiper motor, a liftgate window latch, and liftgate window defrost terminal connectors are carried on the module or interact with portions carried on the module. In one aspect, the liftgate window latch striker and an optional electrical contact are carried on a support which is laterally adjustable with respect to a base fixed to the liftgate window for automatic centering of the striker and the optional contact as the liftgate window is moved to a closed position with respect to an opening in the liftgate.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2002Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.Inventors: William Ethan A. McClure, Philippe Gougeon, William C. Romesburg, Leonida S. Vaitus
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Patent number: 6908142Abstract: A module includes a frame having opposed first and second ends. First and second mounts are associated with each of the first and second frame ends for mounting at least one of a plurality of components to the frame. In one aspect, the frame is formed of a flexible material allowing offset of the first and second ends relative to each other during mounting of the frame to a vehicle liftgate. In another aspect, the frame is formed as a rigid member. In one aspect, the mounts are separate mounting brackets or mounting flanges carried on the components, which are separably attachable to the frame. In the rigid frame aspect, the mounts are end portions of the frame.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2003Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Philippe Gougeon, William Ethan A. McClure, William C. Romesburg, Leonida S. Vaitus
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Patent number: 6834906Abstract: A module in the form of an applique is mountable on an exterior surface of a vehicle liftgate and provides a mounting platform for a plurality of components mountable on the liftgate in a single assembly operation. The components include at least two of light sources in the form of LEDs or incandescent bulbs, an actuatable switch, a camera and a wash fluid dispensing nozzle. The components are mounted on a substrate in the form of a printed circuit board or a lead frame attached to a substrate for mounting in a carrier. The carrier is affixed to the module and is alignable with apertures in the applique for transmission of light from the light sources exteriorly of the applique as well as to enable the camera to view a field of view through the lens. The electric switch is actuatable by a resilient membrane mounted on the carrier and actuatable exteriorly of the applique.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2002Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Leonida S. Vaitus, Philippe Gougeon, William Ethan A. McClure, William C. Romesburg
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Publication number: 20040245801Abstract: A liftgate component module mountable on a pivotal liftgate window provides a unitary mounting platform for a plurality of components including a window wiper drive motor and a window latch. A unitary bracket carries the wiper drive apparatus and the window latch apparatus. A handle, which may include an electrical switch, is also mounted on the window. The electrical connections between the handle switch and a controller carried on the window as part of the motor enables instantaneous response of the latch to activation of the handle switch. The same controller can also control a liftgate latch and a liftgate electrical switch handle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2004Publication date: December 9, 2004Applicant: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Terence M. Gates, Philippe Gougeon, Leonida S. Vaitus, William Ethan A. McClure
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Publication number: 20040150250Abstract: A module includes a frame having opposed first and second ends. First and second mounts are associated with each of the first and second frame ends for mounting at least one of a plurality of components to the frame. In one aspect, the frame is formed of a flexible material allowing offset of the first and second ends relative to each other during mounting of the frame to a vehicle liftgate. In another aspect, the frame is formed as a rigid member. In one aspect, the mounts are separate mounting brackets or mounting flanges carried on the components, which are separably attachable to the frame. In the rigid frame aspect, the mounts are end portions of the frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2003Publication date: August 5, 2004Inventors: Philippe Gougeon, William Ethan A. McClure, William C. Romesburg, Leonida S. Vaitus
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Publication number: 20040124659Abstract: A module in the form of an applique is mountable on an exterior surface of a vehicle liftgate and provides a mounting platform for a plurality of components mountable on the liftgate in a single assembly operation. The components include at least two of light sources in the form of LEDs or incandescent bulbs, an actuatable switch, a camera and a wash fluid dispensing nozzle. The components are mounted on a substrate in the form of a printed circuit board or a lead frame attached to a substrate for mounting in a carrier. The carrier is affixed to the module and is alignable with apertures in the applique for transmission of light from the light sources exteriorly of the applique as well as to enable the camera to view a field of view through the lens. The electric switch is actuatable by a resilient membrane mounted on the carrier and actuatable exteriorly of the applique.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2002Publication date: July 1, 2004Inventors: Leonida S. Vaitus, Philippe Gougeon, William Ethan A. McClure, William C. Romesburg
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Publication number: 20040124664Abstract: A unitary vehicle liftgate component module carries a plurality of pre-mounted vehicle liftgate components for one-step mounting on the liftgate when the module is attached to the liftgate. At least two of a liftgate wiper motor, a liftgate window latch, and liftgate window defrost terminal connectors are carried on the module or interact with portions carried on the module. In one aspect, the liftgate window latch striker and an optional electrical contact are carried on a support which is laterally adjustable with respect to a base fixed to the liftgate window for automatic centering of the striker and the optional contact as the liftgate window is moved to a closed position with respect to an opening in the liftgate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2002Publication date: July 1, 2004Inventors: William Ethan A. McClure, Philippe Gougeon, William C. Romesburg, Leonida S. Vaitus
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Patent number: 6746072Abstract: A liftgate component module mountable on a pivotal liftgate window provides a unitary mounting platform for a plurality of components including a window wiper drive apparatus and a window latch apparatus. A unitary bracket carries the wiper drive apparatus and the window latch apparatus. The bracket may be an integral extension of the wiper motor apparatus housing. Connections on the bracket mate with connectors carried on the liftgate window for securing the bracket to the liftgate window in a single assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2003Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.Inventors: William C. Romesburg, Philippe Gougeon, William Ethan A. McClure, Leonida S. Vaitus