Patents by Inventor William Fort

William Fort 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: 8561442
    Abstract: A steering shaft lock actuator may include a motor having an output shaft, a drive train, and a lost motion device. The drive train may be coupled to the output shaft and may linearly urge a locking member to an unlocked position when the motor is energized. The lost motion device may be configured to store energy when the locking member is in the unlocked position and utilize the stored energy to drive the locking member toward a locked position with a steering shaft when the motor is de-energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: William Farmer, Sumit Sharma, William Fort, Brian Ganter, Todd Meaney
  • Publication number: 20120048053
    Abstract: A steering shaft lock actuator may include a motor having an output shaft, a drive train, and a lost motion device. The drive train may be coupled to the output shaft and may linearly urge a locking member to an unlocked position when the motor is energized. The lost motion device may be configured to store energy when the locking member is in the unlocked position and utilize the stored energy to drive the locking member toward a locked position with a steering shaft when the motor is de-energized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: STONERIDGE CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: William Farmer, Sumit Sharma, William Fort, Brian Ganter, Todd Meaney
  • Patent number: 8047028
    Abstract: A steering shaft lock actuator may include a motor having an output shaft, a drive train, and a lost motion device. The drive train may be coupled to the output shaft and may linearly urge a locking member to an unlocked position when the motor is energized. The lost motion device may be configured to store energy when the locking member is in the unlocked position and utilize the stored energy to drive the locking member toward a locked position with a steering shaft when the motor is de-energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: William Farmer, Sumit Sharma, William Fort, Brian Ganter, Todd Meaney
  • Publication number: 20080028806
    Abstract: A steering shaft lock actuator including at least one motor having an output shaft; a drive train coupled to the output shaft, a locking pawl coupled to the drive train; and a housing for at least partially enclosing the motor, the drive train, the locking pawl and the locking pin. The drive train may be configured to linearly urge the locking pawl and a locking pin between a locked position wherein the locking pawl and the locking pin extend at least partially out of the housing and unlocked position wherein the locking pawl and the locking pin are retracted toward the housing relative to the locked position. The locking pawl may be positioned to prevent rotational movement of the steering shaft when in the locked position. The locking pin may be positioned to lock the actuator to a steering shaft interface when in the locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: William Fort, Knight Ko
  • Publication number: 20070175694
    Abstract: An actuator for selectively coupling first and second shafts for transmitting torque between the first and second shafts and a system incorporating the same. The actuator includes a sleeve movable between engaged and disengaged positions. An armature is configured to move the sleeve into an engaged position in response to energization of a coil. A latching mechanism may hold the sleeve in the engaged position when the coil is deenergized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: STONERIDGE CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: William Fort, William Farmer, Eric Beishline
  • Publication number: 20070152455
    Abstract: An actuator and door latch system incorporating the same. The actuator moves a door latch between locked and unlocked positions with rapidity using a gear train directly coupled to an actuator motor or energy stored in an energy storage element such as a spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: STONERIDGE CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Knight Ko, Brian Ganter, Thomas Schregardus, Eric Beishline, William Fort
  • Publication number: 20060144184
    Abstract: A steering shaft lock actuator may include a motor having an output shaft, a drive train, and a lost motion device. The drive train may be coupled to the output shaft and may linearly urge a locking member to an unlocked position when the motor is energized. The lost motion device may be configured to store energy when the locking member is in the unlocked position and utilize the stored energy to drive the locking member toward a locked position with a steering shaft when the motor is de-energized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: William Farmer, Sumit Sharma, William Fort, Brian Ganter, Todd Meaney
  • Publication number: 20050044979
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator for locking a detent bracket in an out of park position is provided. The actuator includes a latching lever that is moveable between a first position and a second position. When the latching lever is in the first position and the solenoid is in an extended position the plunger of the solenoid is positioned between a bearing surface of the latching lever and a bearing surface on a base plate, thereby preventing the latching lever from pivoting to the second position. A park pawl actuator including a rack coupled to park pawl and a motor for driving the rack is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: William Fort, Knight Ko, William Farmer