Patents by Inventor William W. Froehner

William W. Froehner 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: 5622421
    Abstract: A headlamp aim adjuster is provided including a housing generally secured to a fixed portion of a vehicle and an aim pointer fixed to the housing. The headlamp aim adjuster further has a driven rod mounted by the housing and extendable therefrom to set a distance between the fixed portion of the vehicle and a lamp unit, a drive shaft rotatably mounted to the housing wherein rotation of the drive shaft determines the extension of the rod from the housing, and a position indicator being spring biased to a first position for adjustable movement relative to the housing. The position indicator has a zero ("0") marking so that upon establishing the desired aim position of the lamp unit by rotating the drive shaft, the position indicator is located with the zero ("0") marking in line with the aim pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Richard E. Turley, Jr., David R. Mc Mahan, William W. Froehner
  • Patent number: 5358301
    Abstract: According to the invention, a closure panel, such as a tailgate, is removably connected to a vehicle body for pivotal movement about a hinge axis. The panel may be removably lifted from the vehicle body when the panel is pivoted to a panel removal position. A torque rod counterbalance spring is carried by the panel and includes an elongated portion extending between a crank end anchored to the panel for pivotal movement therewith and a stationary end. A support device is anchored to the vehicle body and captures the stationary end of the torque rod to restrain its pivotal movement so that the torque rod is torsionally wound when the panel is pivoted away from the panel removal position to provide a counterbalance force for continuously urging the panel towards the panel removal position. The torque rod is completely unwound when the panel is pivoted to the panel removal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Konchan, William W. Froehner