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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7052077 | Crumple zone for body panels The body panels of the present invention are designed to crumple in a predisposed manner upon impact. The body panels are preferably made from a polymeric material. Further, the body panels can include a sheet of colored material attached to the polymeric material s... | 05/30/2006 |
| 6702301 | Active window seal An active window seal assembly is disclosed that operatively engages a movable window when the window is stationary and disengages the window when the window is in motion. The seal assembly comprises a stationary frame, a movable lip that is operatively c... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6648350 | Suspension system for a vehicle having a vehicle stabilizer bar with integral end links A suspension system includes a stabilizer bar having an integral ball link directly formed as each end of the stabilizer bar. Because the ball link is integral to the stabilizer bar, there are no bolts, nuts or other fasteners that limit the articulation ... | 11/18/2003 |
| 6575524 | One piece molded pick-up bed A vehicle pick-up bed is disclosed that can be folded into shape by hand. The pick-up bed includes a generally flat sheet of colored material molded together with a generally flat sheet of reinforced polymeric material. Preferably, the sheet of colored ma... | 06/10/2003 |
| 6530586 | Suspension torsion bar with variable rate adjustment arms A suspension system includes a damper assembly to provide an anti-roll capability to a vehicle torsion bar suspension system. The damper assembly is attached to each torsion bar. To selectively couple and decouple the rotational motion of the torsion bars... | 03/11/2003 |
| 6515441 | Glass edge object detection sensor An object detection system includes a sensor in communication with a controller which identifies contact with the sensor. In a preferred embodiment the sensor is a piezo film which generates a signal when an object applies a predetermined force to the edg... | 02/04/2003 |
| 6491291 | Suspension characteristic control using shape memory alloy materials A suspension system includes a SMA suspension component, an actuator and a controller. Altering the mechanical characteristic of the SMA suspension component alters the kinematic properties of the vehicle wheel relative to the vehicle body and the suspens... | 12/10/2002 |
| 6454341 | Lift gate for a motor vehicle A lift gate assembly for a vehicle includes a windowpane slidable between an open and a closed position within the lift gate along guide channels. A motor and drive cable move the windowpane between open and closed positions. Another embodiment the lift g... | 09/24/2002 |
| 6452351 | Method and system for detecting an object caught in the path of an automotive window using a piezoelectric torque sensing device A method and system for detecting the presence of an object caught between an automotive window and its respective frame includes a sensor mounted on a drive motor that drives a regulator to move the window upward and downward. The sensor senses a resisti... | 09/17/2002 |
| 6448729 | Method and system for detecting a resistive force applied against an automotive power window A method and system for detecting the presence of an object caught between an automotive window and its respective frame includes an electric drive motor for opening and closing the automotive window. The electric drive motor receives power from a power s... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6422642 | One piece molded pick-up bed A vehicle pick-up bed is disclosed that can be folded into shape by hand. The pick-up bed includes a generally flat sheet of colored material molded together with a generally flat sheet of reinforced polymeric material. Preferably, the sheet of colored ma... | 07/23/2002 |
| 6415550 | Integral linear motor A window lift mechanism including a rail, cursor and motor for moving a window. The rail provides a guide for the path of the window, when it is attached to the cursor, and houses a stator circuit associated with the motor. The motor also includes a movin... | 07/09/2002 |
| 6406090 | Self-powered solar sunroof A self-powered sunroof assembly can be mounted in the roof of a vehicle and includes a movable panel, preferably a window, a motor for controlling movement of the movable panel, and a self-contained power supply unit that supplies power to the motor. The ... | 06/18/2002 |
| 6386622 | One piece molded pick-up bed with fenders A vehicle pick-up bed with fenders is disclosed that can be folded into shape by hand. The component includes a generally flat sheet of colored material and a generally flat sheet of reinforced polymeric material. Preferably, the sheet of colored material... | 05/14/2002 |
| 6357771 | Torsion bar with variable rate anchor arm for a vehicle suspension system A suspension system includes a torsion bar attached to a vehicle frame member by an adjuster assembly including a spring biasing anchor arm. The biasing member provides an elastic resistance to torsion bar rotation for suspension system vibrations below a... | 03/19/2002 |
| 6308461 | Method and system for detecting an object in the path of an automotive window utilizing a piezoelectric sensor A method and system for detecting the presence of an object caught between an automotive window and its respective frame is provided. The window opens and closes via a regulator driven by an electric drive motor. A force is sensed at an interface between ... | 10/30/2001 |
| 6305123 | Obstruction sensing a signal transmitted across window In a first embodiment, a vehicle window obstruction system incorporates a conductive coating placed on the window. Such coatings are known for use in defrost systems. A voltage source is connected to the conductive coating, such that an electrical charge ... | 10/23/2001 |
| 6304048 | Method and device for determining torque in an automotive power window system A method and device for determining torque applied to a motor of an automotive power window system includes a motor having a rotor mounted on a rotor shaft wherein the rotor and rotor shaft move linearly along an axial length of the rotor shaft in respons... | 10/16/2001 |
| 6291957 | Obstruction sensing utilizing lateral forces on a moving window A vehicle window obstruction detection system looks for lateral forces on the window. A lateral force is indicative of an obstruction in the path of the window, and is particularly indicative of a living obstruction. The presence of the lateral force is u... | 09/18/2001 |
| 6273501 | Simplified wind deflector for vehicle roof closure A vehicle roof closure assembly is movable between open and closed positions. A wind deflector is biased to an extended position at which it extends vertically upwardly of a forward portion of an aperture. The wind deflector serves to deflect wind away fr... | 08/14/2001 |
| 6246194 | Method and system for detecting an object in an automotive window A method and system for directly determining the presence of an object between a window and its respective frame during closing of the window is disclosed. A sensor is provided within the frame to determine a length of the frame being compressed when the ... | 06/12/2001 |
| 6154149 | Object detection by pattern recognition An object detection system includes a sensor in communication with a controller to identify an object within a field of view. Pattern recognition algorithms are incorporated into the controller, and particular objects are predefined to minimize false dete... | 11/28/2000 |
| 6145918 | Anti-pinch door lock A method and apparatus for preventing the capturing and pinching of a user within the path of a vehicle door includes a sensor for determining the presence of an obstruction when the door is being closed. When an obstruction is detected, a mechanism is ac... | 11/14/2000 |
| 5988581 | Single horizontal drive for a vehicle seat A power seat positioning device for automatically adjusting the horizontal fore and aft position of a seat within a vehicle using a single electric motor. A lower track assembly is attached to a vehicle floor and includes a first and second laterally spac... | 11/23/1999 |
| 5971473 | Adjustment apparatus for a sunroof An adjustment apparatus for a sunroof includes a cover support element (19), a guide element (13a, 13b), a carriage element (3), and means of control (4 through 7) for the adjustment of the cover piece. The cover support element (19), with the cover piece... | 10/26/1999 |
| 5945594 | Method and apparatus for the electrochemical inspection of galvanized cable and method and apparatus for predicting the corrosion life of galvanized cable undergoing mechanical fatigue A method and apparatus for examining the electrochemical kinetics occurring at the surface of a galvanized steel cable undergoing fatigue in the presence of a corrosive environment allows the prediction of the corrosion life of the cable. In one embodimen... | 08/31/1999 |
| 5780957 | Moving linear piezoelectric motor for vehicle applications A piezoelectric moving linear motor consists of three piezoelectric actuators which are controlled relative to each other. One piezoelectric actuators causes two blocks to move away from each other in opposition to a spring force. The other two piezoelect... | 07/14/1998 |
| 5780956 | Rotary piezoelectric motor for vehicle applications A piezoelectric drive to provide a rotary force to a rotating element includes a pair of circumferentially spaced fingers. The fingers are selectively moved towards and away from the rotating element with piezoelectric actuators that expand and contract. ... | 07/14/1998 |
