Patents by Inventor William Jolley

William Jolley 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).

  • Publication number: 20100011588
    Abstract: The invention discloses a novel geometry for a lubricating body, strip or cap, composed of shaving aids, taking into consideration their shape, materials and placement along with their interaction with multiple blades for improved shaving attributes in a wet shaving system. A strip exposure and a strip angle is disclosed where generally a maximum height of the lubricating strip is greater than or equal to the maximum height of the blade plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Xiandong Wang, Neville Sonnenberg, Joseph Depuydt, Michael J. Kwiecien, William Jolley
  • Patent number: 7631898
    Abstract: A steering column is provided column including a bracket adapted to enable the steering column to move as desired by an operator and a clamping system adjacent to the bracket. The clamping system includes a threaded member. A threaded clamping stud extends through the bracket. The threaded clamping stud is selectively coupled to the threaded member of the clamping device. A transmission is coupled to the threaded member. A motor is coupled to the transmission. The motor is operable to drive the transmission to rotate the threaded member in a first position to unclamp the bracket to enable the steering column to move based on receipt of an input from the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Travis D Bechtel, William J Elliot, William A Jolley
  • Patent number: 7393014
    Abstract: A vehicle steering assembly includes a mounting plate having a slot and a raised contact surface adjacent to at least part of the slot and a bracket coupled to the mounting plate, adapted to support at least a portion of a steering column. A coupler extends through the slot, and has a head overlying at least a portion of the contact surface, and engages with the bracket to retain the position of the steering column mount relative to the bracket. The combined thickness of all members between the head and the connecting portion is greater when the head overlies the contact surface than when the head is not overlying the contact surface. A greater clamping force is applied by the coupler to all members between the head and the connecting portion when the head overlies the contact surface than when the head is not overlying the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Travis D Bechtel, Sean A Bannon, William A Jolley, William J Elliot, Richard T Stuedemann
  • Patent number: 7367589
    Abstract: A vehicle steering assembly includes a steering column having a forward section and a rearward section movable relative to the forward section, a mounting plate adapted to be carried by the vehicle and a bracket releasably coupled to the mounting plate, and operably coupled to the rearward section of the steering column for movement therewith. The assembly also includes a stationary reaction surface disposed adjacent to the rearward section of the steering column and adapted to be engaged by the steering column during at least some events wherein the rearward section is displaced relative to the forward section. This maintains the position of a reaction force on the steering column during movement of the rearward section of the steering column, which provides a decreasing reaction force on the steering column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Richard Stuedemann, William J Elliot, Keith Jensen, Leonid Smorgonsky, William A Jolley, Travis D Bechtel
  • Patent number: 7344157
    Abstract: A vehicle steering assembly with a movable steering column includes a mounting plate carried by the vehicle, a bracket supporting a portion of the steering column, movable with the steering column, and coupled to the mounting plate, a bend mandrel, and a bend strap operably associated with the bracket for movement with the bracket. The bend strap has a pair of legs on opposed sides of the bend mandrel and a bight interconnecting the legs and arranged so that upon movement of the bracket relative to the mounting plate the bend strap engages the bend mandrel and one leg is progressively deformed about the mandrel to absorb energy from the moving bracket and steering column. A portion of the leg progressively deformed about the mandrel upon movement of the bracket engages a reaction surface defined by at least one of the mounting plate or the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Keith Jensen, Richard Stuedemann, William J Elliot, William A Jolley, Travis D Bechtel
  • Publication number: 20070170711
    Abstract: A steering column is provided column including a bracket adapted to enable the steering column to move as desired by an operator and a clamping system adjacent to the bracket. The clamping system includes a threaded member. A threaded clamping stud extends through the bracket. The threaded clamping stud is selectively coupled to the threaded member of the clamping device. A transmission is coupled to the threaded member. A motor is coupled to the transmission. The motor is operable to drive the transmission to rotate the threaded member in a first position to unclamp the bracket to enable the steering column to move based on receipt of an input from the operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Travis Bechtel, William Elliot, William Jolley
  • Publication number: 20070013182
    Abstract: A vehicle steering assembly includes a mounting plate having a slot and a raised contact surface adjacent to at least part of the slot and a bracket coupled to the mounting plate, adapted to support at least a portion of a steering column. A coupler extends through the slot, and has a head overlying at least a portion of the contact surface, and engages with the bracket to retain the position of the steering column mount relative to the bracket. The combined thickness of all members between the head and the connecting portion is greater when the head overlies the contact surface than when the head is not overlying the contact surface. A greater clamping force is applied by the coupler to all members between the head and the connecting portion when the head overlies the contact surface than when the head is not overlying the contact surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Inventors: Travis Bechtel, Sean Bannon, William Jolley, William Elliot, Richard Stuedemann
  • Publication number: 20070013180
    Abstract: A vehicle steering assembly includes a steering column having a forward section and a rearward section movable relative to the forward section, a mounting plate adapted to be carried by the vehicle and a bracket releasably coupled to the mounting plate, and operably coupled to the rearward section of the steering column for movement therewith. The assembly also includes a stationary reaction surface disposed adjacent to the rearward section of the steering column and adapted to be engaged by the steering column during at least some events wherein the rearward section is displaced relative to the forward section. This maintains the position of a reaction force on the steering column during movement of the rearward section of the steering column, which provides a decreasing reaction force on the steering column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Inventors: Richard Stuedemann, William Elliot, Keith Jensen, Leonid Smorgonsky, William Jolley, Travis Bechtel
  • Publication number: 20070013183
    Abstract: A vehicle steering assembly with a movable steering column includes a mounting plate carried by the vehicle, a bracket supporting a portion of the steering column, movable with the steering column, and coupled to the mounting plate, a bend mandrel, and a bend strap operably associated with the bracket for movement with the bracket. The bend strap has a pair of legs on opposed sides of the bend mandrel and a bight interconnecting the legs and arranged so that upon movement of the bracket relative to the mounting plate the bend strap engages the bend mandrel and one leg is progressively deformed about the mandrel to absorb energy from the moving bracket and steering column. A portion of the leg progressively deformed about the mandrel upon movement of the bracket engages a reaction surface defined by at least one of the mounting plate or the bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Inventors: Keith Jensen, Richard Stuedemann, William Elliot, William Jolley, Travis Bechtel
  • Patent number: 6863306
    Abstract: The present invention is a steering column for a motor vehicle. The steering column comprises a guide bracket, a pivot bracket movably attached to the guide bracket, and a tilt cartridge attached to the pivot bracket. A steering shaft is pivotably attached to the pivot bracket and pivotably attached to the tilt cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Travis D Bechtel, Ronald Klanke, William A Jolley
  • Patent number: 6851332
    Abstract: A cam lock tilt cartridge for a steering column enables the steering column to tilt with respect to an instrument panel. The cam lock tilt cartridge has a housing connected to the steering column. A pawl is rotatably coupled to the housing. A rack is slideably coupled to the housing and connected to the instrument panel. A cam is coupled to both the pawl and rack to move the pawl with respect to the rack to enable movement of the steering column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Travis D Bechtel, William J Elliott, William A Jolley
  • Patent number: 6792824
    Abstract: A steering column has a jacket including relatively axially slidable, telescoping, upper and lower jacket members. An anchorage pivotally supports the lower jacket member for vertical tilt movement of the steering column. Locking mechanism locks the steering column in vertically adjusted position and locks the upper jacket member in axially adjusted position relative to the lower jacket member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: William A Jolley, Kenneth D Kossak, Richard T Chauvin, Kurt H Rinker
  • Patent number: 6758494
    Abstract: An articulated, tiltable steering column and method for installing the same is provided. The steering column includes a locking mechanism for retaining upper and lower column members in selected positions of adjustment. The locking mechanism includes a rod received by and slidable along a longitudinal axis within a sleeve. A collar is journalled around the sleeve and includes diametrically opposed bores for receiving the shaft. A biasing member is secured on a first end to a mounting portion extending from the sleeve and is secured on a second end by the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Sean A Bannon, William A Jolley, Benjamin S Basa, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040090057
    Abstract: The present invention is a steering column for a motor vehicle. The steering column comprises a guide bracket, a pivot bracket movably attached to the guide bracket, and a tilt cartridge attached to the pivot bracket. A steering shaft is pivotably attached to the pivot bracket and pivotably attached to the tilt cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Travis D. Bechtel, Ronald Klanke, William A. Jolley
  • Publication number: 20040089091
    Abstract: A cam lock tilt cartridge is provided for a steering column. The cam lock tilt cartridge enables the steering column to tilt with respect to an instrument panel. The cam lock tilt cartridge has a housing connected to the steering column. A pawl is rotatably coupled to the housing. A rack is slideably coupled to the housing and connected to the instrument panel. A cam is coupled to both the pawl and rack to move the pawl with respect to the rack to enable movement of the steering column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Travis D. Bechtel, William J. Elliott, William A. Jolley
  • Patent number: 6725739
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a tiltable steering column includes a rod disposed within and selectively actuable along a longitudinal axis of a sleeve. A biasing member biased the rod into a locked position with the sleeve, the biasing member having a first end coupled to a mounting portion extending from the sleeve. A collar is arranged around a portion of the sleeve, the collar includes a dog tangentially extending from an outer wall of the collar and a groove portion formed between the outer wall and the dog for receiving the second end of the biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Sean A Bannon, William A Jolley, Benjamin S Basa, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040035238
    Abstract: A steering column has a jacket including relatively axially slidable, telescoping, upper and lower jacket members. An anchorage pivotally supports the lower jacket member for vertical tilt movement of the steering column. Locking mechanism locks the steering column in vertically adjusted position and locks the upper jacket member in axially adjusted position relative to the lower jacket member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: William A. Jolley, Kenneth D. Kossak, Richard T. Chauvin, Kurt H. Rinker
  • Patent number: 6637285
    Abstract: A steering column assembly is provided and includes a lower steering column member, an upper steering column member pivotally attached to the lower steering column member, and a locking mechanism operably interconnecting the upper and lower steering column members and selectively actuable for locking the upper steering column member in one of a plurality of pivot positions relative to the lower steering column member and a lever mechanism operably interconnected with the locking member for selectively actuation the locking member. The lever mechanism includes a release lever, a multiplying lever in operable communication with the locking mechanism, and a link interconnecting the release lever and the multiplying lever. The link transfers an input force applied to the release lever for multiplication through the multiplying lever for actuating the locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventor: William A Jolley
  • Publication number: 20030121352
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a tiltable steering column includes a rod disposed within and selectively actuable along a longitudinal axis of a sleeve. A biasing member biased the rod into a locked position with the sleeve, the biasing member having a first end coupled to a mounting portion extending from the sleeve. A collar is arranged around a portion of the sleeve, the collar includes a dog tangentially extending from an outer wall of the collar and a groove portion formed between the outer wall and the dog for receiving the second end of the biasing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Sean A. Bannon, William A. Jolley, Benjamin S. Basa
  • Publication number: 20030121353
    Abstract: A steering column assembly is provided and includes a lower steering column member, an upper steering column member pivotally attached to the lower steering column member, and a locking mechanism operably interconnecting the upper and lower steering column members and selectively actuable for locking the upper steering column member in one of a plurality of pivot positions relative to the lower steering column member and a lever mechanism operably interconnected with the locking member for selectively actuation the locking member. The lever mechanism includes a release lever, a multiplying lever in operable communication with the locking mechanism, and a link interconnecting the release lever and the multiplying lever. The link transfers an input force applied to the release lever for multiplication through the multiplying lever for actuating the locking mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: William A. Jolley