Patents by Inventor William Harrop

William Harrop 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: 9394991
    Abstract: A default-to-park mechanism for a transmission includes an output member, a rotatable plate, a latching mechanism, and a biasing member. The output member is rotatable to park, reverse, neutral, and drive positions. The rotatable plate is coaxial with the output member. The plate and the output member interfere with one another such that the plate is moved in a first direction of rotation by the output member and the output member is moved in a second direction of rotation by the plate. The plate is releasably held by the latching mechanism to prevent rotation in the second direction of rotation when the output member is in the reverse, neutral, and drive positions. The biasing member biases the plate to rotate in the second direction of rotation to return the output member to the park position when the plate is released by the latching mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Swaita, David A. Provenza, Brian Ganter, Robert DiTommaso, Karthik Kayyer, William Harrop
  • Patent number: 9045083
    Abstract: An integrated assembly for a vehicle includes a release switch and at least one secondary electrical module positioned in the assembly such that, when the assembly is mounted to a vehicle, a centerline of the secondary electrical module is positioned substantially on a centerline of the vehicle and a portion of the release switch is positioned substantially on the vehicle centerline. An assembly consistent with the present disclosure may include a single switch providing multiple functions or multiple switches each providing a separate function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: William Harrop, Rey Farne
  • Publication number: 20150143938
    Abstract: A default-to-park mechanism for a transmission includes an output member, a rotatable plate, a latching mechanism, and a biasing member. The output member is rotatable to park, reverse, neutral, and drive positions. The rotatable plate is coaxial with the output member. The plate and the output member interfere with one another such that the plate is moved in a first direction of rotation by the output member and the output member is moved in a second direction of rotation by the plate. The plate is releasably held by the latching mechanism to prevent rotation in the second direction of rotation when the output member is in the reverse, neutral, and drive positions. The biasing member biases the plate to rotate in the second direction of rotation to return the output member to the park position when the plate is released by the latching mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Swaita, David A. Provenza, Brian Ganter, Robert DiTommaso, Karthik Kayyer, William Harrop
  • Patent number: 8333495
    Abstract: A device for illuminating a target surface of a vehicle. The device includes a base and a top cover coupled to the base. The top cover includes a perimeter wall portion and an actuator portion coupled to the perimeter wall portion. The actuator portion extends generally downward between walls of the perimeter wall portion toward the base and is movable toward the base for changing the state of a switch upon application of an external force to the actuator portion. A light source is coupled to the base and positioned for illuminating the target surface through the actuator portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Shamitz, William Harrop
  • Publication number: 20120118719
    Abstract: An integrated assembly for a vehicle includes a release switch and at least one secondary electrical module positioned in the assembly such that, when the assembly is mounted to a vehicle, a centerline of the secondary electrical module is positioned substantially on a centerline of the vehicle and a portion of the release switch is positioned substantially on the vehicle centerline. An assembly consistent with the present disclosure may include a single switch providing multiple functions or multiple switches each providing a separate function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: STONERIDGE CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: William Harrop, Rey Farne
  • Publication number: 20120113661
    Abstract: A device for illuminating a target surface of a vehicle. The device includes a base and a top cover coupled to the base. The top cover includes a perimeter wall portion and an actuator portion coupled to the perimeter wall portion. The actuator portion extends generally downward between walls of the perimeter wall portion toward the base and is movable toward the base for changing the state of a switch upon application of an external force to the actuator portion. A light source is coupled to the base and positioned for illuminating the target surface through the actuator portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: STONERIDGE CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Shamitz, William Harrop
  • Patent number: 8128265
    Abstract: A device for illuminating a target surface of a vehicle. The device includes a base and a top cover coupled to the base. The top cover includes a perimeter wall portion and an actuator portion coupled to the perimeter wall portion. The actuator portion extends generally downward between walls of the perimeter wall portion toward the base and is movable toward the base for changing the state of a switch upon application of an external force to the actuator portion. A light source is coupled to the base and positioned for illuminating the target surface through the actuator portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Shamitz, William Harrop
  • Patent number: 7714241
    Abstract: A switch assembly may include a housing having a body and an over-molded feature. The over-molded feature may include a flexible membrane sealingly engaged with the body and defining an actuation portion. The housing may be configured to sealingly engage a finish panel. A back cover may sealingly engage the housing, and a rocker may be included between the actuation portion and the back cover to transmit a force applied to the actuation portion to actuate a switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary M. Searle, Art Stephen, William Harrop
  • Publication number: 20090129112
    Abstract: A device for illuminating a target surface of a vehicle. The device includes a base and a top cover coupled to the base. The top cover includes a perimeter wall portion and an actuator portion coupled to the perimeter wall portion. The actuator portion extends generally downward between walls of the perimeter wall portion toward the base and is movable toward the base for changing the state of a switch upon application of an external force to the actuator portion. A light source is coupled to the base and positioned for illuminating the target surface through the actuator portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: STONERIDGE CONTROL DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Shamitz, William Harrop
  • Publication number: 20060163048
    Abstract: A switch assembly may include a housing having a body and an over-molded feature. The over-molded feature may include a flexible membrane sealingly engaged with the body and defining an actuation portion. The housing may be configured to sealingly engage a finish panel. A back cover may sealingly engage the housing, and a rocker may be included between the actuation portion and the back cover to transmit a force applied to the actuation portion to actuate a switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Gary Searle, Art Stephen, William Harrop