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).

  • Patent number: 7537256
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence M. Gates, Philippe Gougeon, Leonida S. Vaitus, William Ethan A. McClure
  • Patent number: 7246840
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence M. Gates, Philippe Gougeon, Leonida S. Vaitus, William Ethan A. McClure
  • Patent number: 7144065
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ethan A. McClure, Philippe Gougeon, William C. Romesburg, Leonida S. Vaitus
  • Patent number: 6908142
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Gougeon, William Ethan A. McClure, William C. Romesburg, Leonida S. Vaitus
  • Patent number: 6834906
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonida S. Vaitus, Philippe Gougeon, William Ethan A. McClure, William C. Romesburg
  • Publication number: 20040245801
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence M. Gates, Philippe Gougeon, Leonida S. Vaitus, William Ethan A. McClure
  • Publication number: 20040150250
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Philippe Gougeon, William Ethan A. McClure, William C. Romesburg, Leonida S. Vaitus
  • Publication number: 20040124659
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Leonida S. Vaitus, Philippe Gougeon, William Ethan A. McClure, William C. Romesburg
  • Publication number: 20040124664
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: William Ethan A. McClure, Philippe Gougeon, William C. Romesburg, Leonida S. Vaitus
  • Patent number: 6746072
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Romesburg, Philippe Gougeon, William Ethan A. McClure, Leonida S. Vaitus