Patents by Inventor William O. Brown

William O. Brown 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: 10578184
    Abstract: A damper valve with an adjustable effective stiffness of a shim. The damper valve includes a piston. The piston has a fluid path formed therethrough. A shim is disposed proximate the fluid path formed through the piston. A stiffness adjustment feature is coupled to the shim, and the shim is disposed between the piston and the stiffness adjustment feature. The stiffness adjustment feature is configured to adjust the effective stiffness of the shim without affecting a preload applied to the shim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Damon Gilbert, William O. Brown, IV
  • Publication number: 20190154100
    Abstract: A fluid damper having a damper housing with a first and a second fluid volume, and a damping piston located within the damper and separating the first and second fluid volume. The damper piston has a piston fluid pathway formed therethrough and between the first and second fluid volume. The fluid damper includes a fluid accumulator having an accumulator fluid volume. The fluid damper has a first fluid pathway extending between the first fluid volume and the accumulator fluid volume, and the fluid damper has a second fluid pathway extending between the second fluid volume and the accumulator fluid volume. A flow control valve is located in at least one of the first and the second fluid pathways, and the flow control valve has a non-zero threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua COAPLEN, William O. BROWN, IV
  • Publication number: 20180334006
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vehicle suspension assembly is described having a spring tube with a spring component disposed within the spring tube. A damper tube is slidably coupled to an interior of the spring tube, and a through shaft is disposed within the spring tube and also the damper tube. A damper piston is disposed within the damper tube and the damper piston is coupled to the through shaft. A damper valve assembly including an adjustable valve is also coupled to the through shaft. The vehicle suspension assembly further includes a pressure compensation feature coupled to the damper valve assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Wesley ANDERSON, William O. BROWN, IV, Mario GALASSO
  • Publication number: 20180216692
    Abstract: A fluid damper having a damper housing with a first and a second fluid volume, and a damping piston located within the damper and separating the first and second fluid volume. The damper piston has a piston fluid pathway formed therethrough and between the first and second fluid volume. The fluid damper includes a fluid accumulator having a pressurizable gas volume and an accumulator fluid volume isolated from one another by a separation member. The fluid damper has a first fluid pathway extending solely between the first fluid volume and the accumulator fluid volume, and the fluid damper has a second fluid pathway extending solely between the second fluid volume and the accumulator fluid volume. A flow control valve is located in at least one of the first and the second fluid pathways, and the flow control valve has a non-zero threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua COAPLEN, William O. BROWN, IV
  • Publication number: 20160332691
    Abstract: A fork for a vehicle, the fork including: a set of first tubes; and a set of second tubes telescopically positioned within the set of first tubes, wherein at least one first tube of the set of first tubes comprises a recess configured for receiving at least a portion of a disc brake assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Becker, William O. Brown, IV, Daniel McCormick
  • Patent number: 9286742
    Abstract: A user authentication system and method are disclosed. The user authentication system includes an authentication device which can be donned and doffed by the user, a sensor to determine whether the authentication device is donned or doffed by the user, and an authentication server to receive information from the sensor and to authenticate the user based on whether the authentication device is donned by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas K Rosener, William O Brown, Edward L Reuss
  • Patent number: 8831242
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for headset wearing mode based operation are presented. A headset system includes a first earbud and a second earbud. One or both earbuds have a detector which indicates whether the earbud is donned or doffed. Operation of the headset is modified based on the donned or doffed status of the earbuds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: William O Brown, Timothy P Johnston
  • Publication number: 20140169582
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a mobile communication device are disclosed. A communications headset including a voice prompt unit for outputting an audio prompt through a headset speaker. A user interface is disposed on the headset housing and capable of receiving a user action associated with a next command, previous command, select command, cancel command, and home command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventor: William O. Brown
  • Publication number: 20130020778
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a shock body with an upper portion and a lower portion and an eyelet attached to each upper and lower portion for connecting to a vehicle. At least one eyelet includes a bushing assembly including a center shaft positioned within a bore and a first and second bushing positioned between an outer cylindrical wall of the center shaft and the bore of the eyelet. A first flexible ring is positioned between the first bushing and the center shaft, the first flexible ring compressed therebetween, and a second flexible ring is positioned between the second bushing and the center shaft, the second flexible ring compressed therebetween. A first and second end ring surrounding the center shaft outer cylindrical wall, with the first end ring adjacent the second end of the first bushing, and the second end ring adjacent the second end of the second bushing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventor: William O. Brown, IV
  • Publication number: 20120189136
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for headset wearing mode based operation are presented. A headset system includes a first earbud and a second earbud. One or both earbuds have a detector which indicates whether the earbud is donned or doffed. Operation of the headset is modified based on the donned or doffed status of the earbuds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: William O. Brown, Timothy P. Johnston
  • Publication number: 20120020492
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for headset wearing mode based operation are presented. A headset system includes a first earbud and a second earbud. One or both earbuds have a detector which indicates whether the earbud is donned or doffed. Operation of the headset is modified based on the donned or doffed status of the earbuds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: William O. Brown, Timothy P. Johnston
  • Publication number: 20120020469
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing mute status reminders are presented. The system and method includes monitoring a mute status duration upon activation of a mute status at a communication device, outputting a periodic mute reminder having an output period responsive to activation of the mute status, and adjusting the output period responsive to the mute status duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: William O. Brown, Anthony Reese
  • Publication number: 20100260332
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing mute status reminders are presented. The system and method includes monitoring a mute status duration upon activation of a mute status at a communication device, outputting a periodic mute reminder having an output period responsive to activation of the mute status, and adjusting the output period responsive to the mute status duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: PLANTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: William O. Brown, Anthony Reese
  • Publication number: 20100159840
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining proximity of a mobile radio relative to its base radio. Antenna diversity is utilized to provide improved proximity detection, such as NEAR state or FAR state, of the mobile radio relative to its base radio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: PLANTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas K. Rosener, William O. Brown
  • Publication number: 20100066821
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for reporting user presence associated with orientation and proximity of a user to a display device are disclosed. In one example, image data associated with a head mounted device and one or more infrared light sources is captured and processed to identify the presence of infrared light source objects. A detection status is output based on the presence of infrared light source objects, and the detection status is translated to an associated user presence state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas K. Rosener, William O. Brown
  • Publication number: 20100020998
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for headset wearing mode based operation are presented. A headset system includes a first earbud and a second earbud. One or both earbuds have a detector which indicates whether the earbud is donned or doffed. Operation of the headset is modified based on the donned or doffed status of the earbuds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: PLANTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: William O. Brown, Timothy P. Johnston
  • Publication number: 20100020982
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for headset wearing mode based operation are presented. A headset system includes a first earbud and a second earbud. One or both earbuds have a detector which indicates whether the earbud is donned or doffed. Operation of the headset is modified based on the donned or doffed status of the earbuds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: PLANTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: William O. Brown, Timothy P. Johnston
  • Publication number: 20090249478
    Abstract: A user authentication system and method are disclosed. The user authentication system includes an authentication device which can be donned and doffed by the user, a sensor to determine whether the authentication device is donned or doffed by the user, and an authentication server to receive information from the sensor and to authenticate the user based on whether the authentication device is donned by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: PLANTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas K. Rosener, William O. Brown, Edward L. Reuss
  • Publication number: 20080075065
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a wireless VoIP headset. A wireless VoIP headset including a speaker, microphone, controller for processing a digital audio signal to generate IP packets, and an IEEE 802.11 transceiver. The wireless VoIP headset includes a computer readable memory storing instructions that when executed by the controller cause the wireless VoIP headset to perform a method for originating a call. The method includes receiving a spoken name or number from a user at the microphone, interpreting the spoken name or number using embedded or server based voice recognition, comparing the spoken name or number to a directory stored in the computer readable memory, and generating a call origination request message. The directory may also be stored on an adjunct computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Edward L. Reuss, William O. Brown, Cristian C. Filimon, Alan Altmann, Rick Giles
  • Patent number: 6152512
    Abstract: This invention offers advantages and alternatives over the prior art by providing a glove box including a door latch assembly which is self-contained and latches within itself eliminating the need for a striker and therefore reduces the stack-up disadvantages associated with the prior art. In an exemplary embodiment, the glove box according to the present invention generally includes a storage bin, a glove box door base portion, a glove box door outer cover, and a latch assembly. The latch assembly generally includes a handle, a connector plate, and a pair of latch arms, all of which cooperate with one another. Generally, the latch arms keep the glove box door latched by penetrating the storage bin through openings formed on side of the storage bin and openings formed in the glove box door base portion. The glove box door of the present invention has a number of integral molded features which guide the latch arms laterally, up and down, and forward and backward during operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William O. Brown, Nicholas Fanelli, Robert D. Toops