Patents by Inventor William J. Fluharty

William J. Fluharty 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: 9739618
    Abstract: An in-vehicle control system for communicating data between at least one of an office control system and a residential control system including a transceiver configured to be in communication with the office control system and the residential control system. The in-vehicle control system further including a memory device in communication with the transceiver. The memory device is configured to store a data file transmitted and/or received from the office control system and the residential control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodger W. Eich, Michael Crowe, John Sibson, William J. Fluharty
  • Patent number: 9205724
    Abstract: A wire frame visor includes a generally U-shaped wire frame having inwardly extending spaced-apart opposed ends. An envelope of sun-blocking material is fastened over the generally rectangular wire frame. A mounting structure pivotally receives the opposed ends of the wire frame and is adapted to be secured to a location in a vehicle for use of the visor. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting structure includes at least one adjustable torque clip which receives an inwardly projecting end of the wire frame to control the pivotal motion of the visor. In one embodiment the torque clip includes a loop which surrounds the end of the wire frame and an adjustment screw for tightening the loop around the wire end. Straps can be employed to attach the mounting structure to a side tubular member of a vehicle when so equipped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Marcus Automotive, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Marcus, William J. Fluharty, Kirk William Edwards, Craig William Brekke
  • Publication number: 20150328966
    Abstract: A visor has a curvilinear extruded panel with end caps and is pivotally mounted to the header rail of a vehicle and, when in a stored position, conforms closely to the geometry of the header rail. It is mounted to allow the visor to pivot away from the windshield toward the driver or passenger, lowering the visor to provide sun-blocking protection. The curvilinear visor body may also include a glare shield which can be extended from the lower edge of the visor to provide additional sun-blocking protection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Konrad H. Marcus, William J. Fluharty
  • Publication number: 20130313853
    Abstract: A wire frame visor includes a generally U-shaped wire frame having inwardly extending spaced-apart opposed ends. An envelope of sun-blocking material is fastened over the generally rectangular wire frame. A mounting structure pivotally receives the opposed ends of the wire frame and is adapted to be secured to a location in a vehicle for use of the visor. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting structure includes at least one adjustable torque clip which receives an inwardly projecting end of the wire frame to control the pivotal motion of the visor. In one embodiment the torque clip includes a loop which surrounds the end of the wire frame and an adjustment screw for tightening the loop around the wire end. Straps can be employed to attach the mounting structure to a side tubular member of a vehicle when so equipped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Marcus Automotive, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Marcus, William J. Fluharty, Kirk William Edwards, Craig William Brekke
  • Publication number: 20130033060
    Abstract: A visor system is mounted to a vehicle such that it pivots from a pocket in a vehicle headliner adjacent the windshield downwardly away from the windshield from a stored position to a use position. The system includes a primary visor which remains in the front windshield position and an auxiliary visor panel pivotally mounted to the vehicle for pivoting downwardly and then upwardly to a side window position without encroaching in a user's space. The primary visor includes a pivoted extendable glare shield which can be deployed from an edge of the primary visor to increase sun blocking or filtering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Marcus Automotive, LLC
    Inventors: Konrad H. Marcus, William J. Fluharty, Christopher L. Hogg
  • Publication number: 20120123908
    Abstract: An in-vehicle control system for communicating data between at least one of an office control system and a residential control system including a transceiver configured to be in communication with the office control system and the residential control system. The in-vehicle control system further including a memory device in communication with the transceiver. The memory device is configured to store a data file transmitted and/or received from the office control system and the residential control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Rodger W. Eich, Monica Levy, Michael Crowe, John Sibson, William J. Fluharty
  • Patent number: 6199948
    Abstract: A seat assembly of a vehicle capable of receiving and retaining an interchangeable module. The seat assembly includes a seat bottom, a seat back, and a module receiver. The module receiver is secured to either the seat bottom or the seat back and includes a coupling device to retain the module which is received in the module receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Neil J. Bush, Daniel J. Koester, William J. Fluharty
  • Patent number: 6154148
    Abstract: A docking station is incorporated within a vehicle accessory, such as a visor, and includes sockets for receiving paging receivers which include rechargeable batteries for charging the clip-on paging receivers to the visor when not in use. The visor includes a paging transmitter with a control switch associated with each of the plurality of paging receivers for transmitting an individual code associated with each of the receivers. Receivers comprise clip-on modules which attach to the visor for storage and recharging of their rechargeable battery. The paging receiver includes an alarm, such as a beeper, so that when a paging signal is received, the beeper sounds notifying the individual that the transportation is awaiting. The docking station visor may also include a trainable garage door opening transmitter and the paging transmitter can be integrated with the trainable garage door opening transmitter to provide multiple functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Fluharty, Mark L. Zeinstra
  • Patent number: 5926087
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitor is incorporated in a module mounted within a vehicle visor for ready accessibility and visibility by the vehicle operator. The monitor includes a light display extending on a first side of the visor which faces the vehicle operator when the visor is in a raised stored position against the vehicle headliner. A more detailed display is located on the opposite side of the visor for providing an indication to the vehicle operator as to which tire is low in pressure and the pressure of each of the tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: David B. Busch, Mark L. Zeinstra, James P. Robillard, William J. Fluharty
  • Patent number: 5085481
    Abstract: An open framework is designed with parallel curvilinear rails which form windows for receiving multiple inserts such that various console storage components to define different console arrangements can be easily constructed. Such construction allows users to select a console configuration for their use even on an individual trip basis. Also such flexibility allows dealers to provide aftermarket options for the basic console after the original vehicle purchase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Fluharty, Thomas E. Arbisi
  • Patent number: 4934802
    Abstract: A relatively small convex mirror is retractably mounted to a housing, located at the roof-line of a vehicle at the center windshield area for movement between a use position extended from the housing to permit a front seat occupant to view the face of a rear seat occupant and a stored position retracted within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Prince
    Inventors: William J. Fluharty, Ronald A. Dykstra, Pat Binish
  • Patent number: 4858982
    Abstract: A multiplex visor includes a plurality of nested panels which can be moved with respect to one another to provide sun blocking and other functions of a multiple visor installation using a single visor. In one embodiment, a duplex visor is longitudinally split on a center curvilinear plane extending between the front and rear of the visor to provide a single visor having independently movable halves or panels for providing front and side window sun blocking protection. In another embodiment of the invention, a triplex visor includes three separately movable nested panels with a first panel being pivoted from a nested position within a second panel and including a vanity mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald A. Dykstra, William J. Fluharty
  • Patent number: 4824159
    Abstract: A vanity mirror can be extended from the vehicle headliner and upon extension, can be pivoted about a generally vertical axis such that a single vanity mirror can be used by any of the rear seat passengers. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the vehicle roof includes a recess for receiving an illuminated vanity mirror assembly which is pivotally mounted at one edge to the recess for movement between a stored position substantially flush with a vehicle roofline to a lowered use position substantially orthogonal to the vehicle roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Fluharty, Ronald A. Dykstra, Mark W. Hawks
  • Patent number: 4733900
    Abstract: A console housing is adapted to cooperate with and be secured to an existing engine cover and includes a bifold table which can be extended from the housing to a use position or retracted within a recess in the housing for storage. The table of the preferred embodiment includes a pair of panels pivotally joined to one another with one of the panels defining a cover and having one edge pivotally coupled to the lower portion of the housing and the remaining panel defining the table and having an end which is latchably and releasably supported by an upper portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Fluharty
  • Patent number: D309978
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Fluharty
  • Patent number: D762539
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Marcus Automotive, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Marcus, William J. Fluharty