Celebrity Inventors
Comic actor Danny Kaye received patent D166,807 for the co-design of "Blowout Toy or the Like". It's similar to one of those toys that unravels when you blow into at a birthday party except Kaye's has three blowouts going in different directions, not just one.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6829961 | Intermediate steering column An intermediate steering column (10) for a vehicle with a firewall (14) includes a first shaft (30) pivotally attached to a first U-joint (54) and rotatable about a longitudinal axis (32) of the first shaft upon rotation of the fir... | 12/14/2004 |
| 6829962 | Steering column A steering column (10) includes a steering column member (12). A mounting bracket (66) connects the steering column (10) to a vehicle frame. The mounting bracket (66) has a surface defining an aperture (77). A support (24... | 12/14/2004 |
| 6829357 | Communication system having a transmitter and a receiver that engage in reduced size encrypted data communication A communication system (10) has a portion (28) of a transmitter controller (14) that provides a message package. An encryption portion (36) of the controller (14) encrypts a first fraction of the message package (e.g., a first port... | 12/07/2004 |
| 6810313 | Combined occupant characteristic and acoustic crash sensor arrangement An arrangement (14) is used in a vehicle (10), and contains an occupant characteristic sensor (36), a filter (62) and a controller (24). The sensor (36) senses an occupant characteristic and outputs a signal indicative there... | 10/26/2004 |
| 6809638 | Apparatus with receiver having selectable threshold time constant An apparatus (10) comprises a controller (82) for receiving a control parameter. At least one tire condition sensor (26-32) senses a tire condition and transmits a tire condition signal (34) indicative of the sensed tire condition. A rece... | 10/26/2004 |
| 6810133 | Occupant sensing system and method via imaging An occupant sensing system (12) and an associated method provide for the sensing of an occupant (14). An illuminating element (46) of the system (12)selectively illuminates the interior of a vehicle (8). An image sensor (50)... | 10/26/2004 |
| 6802533 | Gas generating material for vehicle occupant protection device An apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (20) and a gas generating material (16) that, when ignited, produces gas to inflate the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (20). The gas generating ma... | 10/12/2004 |
| 6801134 | System and method for automatic function operation with controlled distance communication having vehicle-based frequency selection A system (10) for remotely controlling a function includes a portable transceiver (34) that outputs a request signal (30) at one of a plurality of frequencies. A base unit (24) receives the request signal (30) and performs the requ... | 10/05/2004 |
| 6789641 | Method and apparatus for controlling an electric assist motor using a modified blending filter A method for controlling an electric assist motor (50) for providing steering assist in response to a sensed torque signal (τs) includes the step of filtering the sensed torque signal to provide a low frequency torque signal (τsL) and ... | 09/14/2004 |
| 6782966 | Power-assisted steering apparatus with a one-piece, monolithic component A power-assisted steering apparatus (10) for turning steerable wheels of a vehicle is provided. The apparatus (10) comprises a one-piece monolithic component (16). The one-piece monolithic component (16) includes a pinion gear portion ( | 08/31/2004 |
| 6783157 | Rack housing for steering gear An apparatus for attachment to the body (240) of a vehicle (12) which has a front, rear and opposite sides and which has steerable wheels. The apparatus comprises a lower part (22) having structure (40, 48) for fixed attachment at each of... | 08/31/2004 |
| 6781676 | Structured lighting detection of vehicle occupant type and position An apparatus (12) for determining the location of a vehicle occupant (20) in a vehicle interior includes a light source (40) for projecting at least one structured light beam (42) onto an area of interest (44) to form a light patte... | 08/24/2004 |
| 6776435 | Method and apparatus for controlling an actuatable restraining device using switched thresholds based on crush zone sensors The present invention is directed to controlling a vehicle multistage actuatable occupant restraining system (14, 18). A crash sensor (32, 36) senses crash acceleration and provides a crash acceleration signal (110, 160) indicative thereof. Cras... | 08/17/2004 |
| 6774330 | Multi-stage push button switch apparatus The apparatus (10) includes a depressible member (20), a first membrane (30), and a second membrane (40). The depressible member (20) has an unactuated condition and an actuated condition. The first membrane (30) is connecte... | 08/10/2004 |
| 6773197 | Ball joint An apparatus (12) includes a housing (142), a ball stud (170), a first bearing layer (110), and a second vibration dampening layer (120 or 130). The housing (142) defines a chamber (160) and has an opening (... | 08/10/2004 |
| 6769480 | Torque balancing apparatus and method for an automotive temperature control system An apparatus (100) controls the temperature of air flow from a temperature control system (10) The apparatus (100) includes a blend door (150), an output gear (140), and a biasing mechanism (124) The biasing mechanism (12... | 08/03/2004 |
| 6766712 | Steering column A steering column (10) includes a mounting bracket (66) connecting the steering column (10) to a vehicle frame. A support (24), through which a steering column member (12) extends, is connected with the mounting bracket (66)... | 07/27/2004 |
| 6760653 | Electric power assisted steering system having a single integrated circuit with two processors An electric power assisted steering system (10) for a vehicle comprises a steering gear (12) having a rack bar (26) and a housing (24). The rack bar (26) is movable linearly relative to the housing (24) for turning steerable... | 07/06/2004 |
| 6752955 | Method of manufacturing a boot seal In a process and an apparatus for making a plastic sleeve (56), plastic is fed into an extruder die (216). The plastic is extruded from the extruder die (216) as a molten plastic stream into a mold cavity (272) having an inner wall (27... | 06/22/2004 |
| 6746044 | Actuatable fastener for air bag module vent A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable protection device (14) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source (18) is actuatable to provide ... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6744820 | Communication system and method utilizing message frames having multiple thresholds for a multi-device vehicle occupant protection system A communication system (10) includes a communication bus (16) through which a power/voltage transmitter (44) conveys electrical energy and messages to a plurality of units (18, 20). The power/voltage transmitter (44) includes compo... | 06/01/2004 |
| 6741170 | Apparatus for monitoring rotation of an object about an axis A sensor (36) for monitoring rotation of an object (16) about an axis (20) comprises a switch member (40) that is urged into a neutral position and is movable relative to the object (16). A direction of movement of the switch membe... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6739881 | High integration electronic assembly and method An assembly (20) comprises a circuit board (30), a first component (40), and a second component (50). The circuit board (30) has a planar first surface (32) and a planar second surface (34) opposite the first surface ... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6739622 | Method of folding air bag A method of folding an air bag (10) includes locating the air bag in a first configuration with front and back parts (140, 142) overlying each other and with a side part (70) folded and extending outwardly from the front and back parts. First an... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6736423 | Apparatus and method for damping vibration of a vehicle part An apparatus and method for damping vibration of a vehicle part, such as a steering wheel or an electric motor. According to one embodiment, an apparatus (26) for damping vibration of a vehicle part (12) includes at least one container (50) havi... | 05/18/2004 |
| 6736421 | Inflatable curtain assembly An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) having a side structure (16) and a roof (18) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ... | 05/18/2004 |
| 6736021 | Rack and pinion steering gear with low friction roller yoke design A rack and pinion steering gear (10) comprises a housing (12) having an axially extending passage (14) and a yoke bore (18) that intersects the axially extending passage (14) within the housing (12). A pinion gear (26... | 05/18/2004 |
| 6734799 | Apparatus and method for responding to the health and fitness of a driver of a vehicle An apparatus (10) helps protect an occupant (1) of a vehicle (100). The apparatus (10) includes first means (11) for non-intrusively sensing at least one health condition of the vehicle occupant (1) and for producing a first... | 05/11/2004 |
| 6731085 | Method and apparatus for determining motor faults in an electric assist steering system A method and apparatus for determining a motor fault in an electric motor (50) determines a calculated rotor position (θcalc) of the electric motor. The calculated rotor position (θcalc) is compared to a measured rotor position (θ | 05/04/2004 |
| 6726392 | Ball joint with dual studs A ball joint (10) connects a first vehicle part (12) to a second vehicle part (14) and enables relative movement between the first and second vehicle parts. The ball joint (10) includes a housing (30) that defines a chamber (40 | 04/27/2004 |
| 6719312 | Steering linkage and ball joint An apparatus for use in a vehicle comprises a first steering link (30) having a first socket (54), a second steering link (34) having a second socket (70), and a steering knuckle (20) having a through hole (44). A stud (9... | 04/13/2004 |
| 6709291 | Apparatus and method for shielding a circuit from electromagnetic interference A housing (10) for shielding a circuit (12) from electromagnetic interference comprises a shielding component (20) having at least one aperture (40). A plastic material (50) is molded over the shielding component (20). A por... | 03/23/2004 |
| 6711510 | Over-current protection method and device A method and device to protect a drive circuit of a power assist motor from an over-current condition. A sensor takes instantaneous measurements of the current provided to the motor. A charge accumulation determining function determines charge accumulation from the ... | 03/23/2004 |
| 6702323 | Air bag module with pressure regulator A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable device (12) and an inflator (14) having a housing (20). The inflator (14) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable device (14). The housing (20) has a fluid ... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6702403 | Integrated coil assembly with built-in connector and method thereof An assembly (20) is used with an anti-lock braking system (10) and an associated method. The assembly (20) includes a circuit board (30), a motor (40), a hydromechanical block (50), a lead frame (60), and a plurality of solenoid coils (70). The circuit bo... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6701849 | Dual stage air bag inflator with secondary propellant cap An inflator (10) for inflating an inflatable device includes a housing (20). A primary propellant (240) in a primary chamber (200) in the housing (20) is ignitable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device. A secondary propellant (250) i... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6695091 | Electric steering motor with internal circuit board A vehicle steering system (10) includes a pinion (30) and a steering member (14) movable axially to turn steerable wheels. The steering member (14) has a rack portion (34) in engagement with the pinion (30) and a screw portion (38). An electric motor (130... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6684727 | Rack and pinion steering apparatus A method for forming a helical pinion gear (12) for a rack and pinion steering apparatus (10) comprises the steps of: providing a cylindrical first blank (60) made of a deformable material and having an outer surface (68); providing a cylindrical second b... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6681885 | Rack and pinion steering gear with powdered metal bushing A rack and pinion steering apparatus (10) comprises a housing (12). Helical teeth (60) of a pinion gear (54) meshingly engage teeth of a rack bar (42) and, during rotation of the pinion gear (54), result in an axial force. A shaft (86) connects with the p... | 01/27/2004 |
| 6666478 | Steering column A steering column (10) includes a support (24) through which a steering column member (12) extends. An over-center locking mechanism (130) locks the support (24) in any one of a plurality of positions relative to a mounting bracket (66). The locking mecha... | 12/23/2003 |
