United Technologies Automotive Inc.

Thetford Corporation

Lear Corporation

Lear Automotive Dearborn, Inc.

Ut Automotive Dearborn, Inc.

Other

Eric J Krupp

H Winston Maue

Jason Smith

George Grech

Steve W Meyer

Brian Kelly

Michael Harris

Robin Mihekun Miller

John E McConnell

Michael B Fritz

James Wayne Gibson

William Carl Zimmer

Craig Karagitz

John S Nantz

Ernesto E Blanco

Samir A Nayfeh

Monte L Falcoff

Steven R Settles

Michael Maass

John R Sims

Daniel D Kilker

Frank Buccinna

Thomas P Benzie

Mario Montoya

Pablo Tribin

Justin W Raade

Dave Tinder

Amy W Cai

Jeehan S Faiz

Erick Rios

A flush toilet includes a base and a bowl assembly defining a bowl. The bowl assembly is mounted to the base and defines a discharge opening at a lower end of the bowl. A waste ball valve assembly is mounted to the flush toilet for selectively opening and closing the discharge opening of the bowl assembly. A common sealing member operates to seal the bowl to the base and to wipe a ball of the waste ball valve assembly as the waste ball valve assembly is selectively opened and closed. The common sealing member has a generally horizontal portion for wiping the ball of the ball valve assembly and a compressible cylindrical portion upwardly extending from the generally horizontal portion. The cylindrical portion is compressed between the base and the bowl to define a seal therebetween.

Sealing member for a flush toilet

A flush toilet includes a bowl assembly defining a bowl. The bowl assembly has a discharge outlet at a lower end and a ledge circumferentially extending about a substantial portion of the bowl. The bowl has a rear surface that is generally flat and vertical. The rear surface transitions to the ledge as the bowl continues clockwise and counter clockwise from the rear surface. A horizontal dimension of the ledge increases as the ledge continues from the rear surface to a front of the bowl. An angle of the ledge increases as the ledge continues from the rear surface to the front. A maximum slope of the ledge is located proximate the front. A nozzle is mounted to the bowl assembly for pressurizing a source of flush water and delivering the source of flush water to the bowl for rinsing and flushing of the bowl. The nozzle is positioned at a rear portion of the bowl and produces a first flow of water in a first circumferential direction about the bowl and a second flow of water in a second circumferential direction about the bowl. The second circumferential direction is opposite to the first circumferential direction. The ledge cascades the first and second flows of flush water down the bowl as the first and second flows of water move in the first and second circumferential directions, respectively.

Flush toilet with improved flow pattern

A reduced water consumption flush toilet for a motor vehicle includes a bowl assembly, a waste ball valve assembly and a water valve assembly. The bowl assembly defines a bowl and a discharge opening at a lower end of the bowl. The waste ball valve assembly is mounted to the flush toilet for selectively opening and closing the discharge opening of the bowl assembly. The water valve assembly delivers a source of flush water to the bowl. The water valve assembly includes a water valve operable in a water valve open condition and a water valve closed condition. The flush toilet further includes a common actuator for controlling both the waste ball valve assembly and the water valve assembly. The common actuator is movable from a first position to an intermediate position and from the intermediate position to a second position such that in the first position the waste ball valve assembly closes the discharge opening and the water valve assembly is in the closed condition, in the intermediate position the waste ball valve assembly closes the discharge opening and the water valve assembly is in the open position for adding water to the bowl, and in the second position the waste ball valve assembly opens the discharge opening and the water valve assembly is in the open position for flushing the bowl.

Reduced water consumption flush toilet

A vehicle seat assembly includes a motor coupled to an output shaft. At least two driven shafts are each operable between three operating modes. The three operating modes are a stationary mode, a first rotational direction, and a second rotational direction. A transmission assembly connects the driven shafts to the output shaft. The transmission assembly is operable to control each of the driven shafts in any one of the three operating modes when the output shaft rotates in the first rotational direction.

Single motor module for a vehicle seat

Remote entry transmitters are formed to have a housing element made by a two-shot molding technique. A plateable and a non-plateable plastic are molded in the two-shot molding technique. Circuit trace material is then plated onto the plateable material. This results in a reduction in the number of separate parts for the transmitter. In addition, the antenna is positioned to be non-parallel to the main circuit board. This results in packaging efficiencies and improvements. Preferably, the antenna may be plated onto an inner side wall of the housing when the two-shot molding technique occurs. Alternatively, the antenna may be provided as a separate board.

Integrally molded remote entry transmitter

An integrated, flexible interrogator-coil circuit provides security for the type of lock opened by a key that transmits a coded signal to an interrogator circuit associated with the lock. When the key is inserted into the lock, a coil in the key is brought into proximity with an energized coil associated with the lock. The resulting current induced in the key's coil causes the key to transmit the coded signal. If the coded signal is recognized by the lock's interrogator circuit, the key opens the lock. The lock coil is an etched metallic spiral on a loop portion of the circuit board and the interrogator circuit components are mounted on a base portion of the circuit board on which is etched a metallic circuit pattern. The integrated interrogator-coil circuit is faster and more economical to manufacture. Because the circuit is on a flexible circuit board, it can be made a part of the lock assembly itself, thus facilitating use of this type of security system. The invention is particularly useful in securing the ignition systems of vehicles, although it can be used for other applications.

Integral interrogator-coil circuit

A multi-functional apparatus employs an electromagnetic device. The electromagnetic device selectively causes movement of an intermittent motion mechanism thereby moving a mechanical device coupled thereto. In another aspect of the present invention, a single electric motor selectively actuates three intermittent motion mechanisms thereby causing three mechanical devices coupled thereto to operate. In a further aspect of the present invention, a clutch mechanism selectively drives a window wiper. A method for operating the multi-functional apparatus of the present invention is also provided.

Multi-functional apparatus employing an electro-magnetic device and an

A multi-functional automotive vehicle apparatus comprising: a rotatable member; an electromagnetic device operable to selectively rotate said rotatable member; a first motion transmitting member selectively moved in response to rotation of said rotatable member; and a second motion transmitting member selectively moved in response to rotation of said rotatable member.

Multi-functional vehicle apparatus

A multi-functional apparatus employs an electromagnetic device. The electromagnetic device selectively causes movement of an intermittent motion mechanism thereby moving a mechanical device coupled thereto. A main driving gear is rotated from the wiper positional range in either direction to access one or another adjacent release positional range, but not necessarily both at the same time.

Multi-functional apparatus employing an electromagnetic device

A multi-functional apparatus employs a power transmission mechanism for generating intermittent motion having a specific range of motion and angular velocity profile for selectively actuating a mechanical device operably coupled to the power transmission mechanism. An electromagnetic device selectively causes movement of the power transmission mechanism. In another aspect of the present invention, a single electric motor selectively actuates a plurality of intermittent rotary motion mechanisms thereby causing separate mechanical devices coupled thereto to operate within an automotive vehicle.

Multi-functional apparatus employing an intermittent motion mechanism

Multi-functional apparatus employing an electromagnetic device and an

The present invention relates to a molded housing having an integral acoustic chamber and a plurality of post members which engage the printed circuit board contained therein to preclude rattling. As sound waves are generated within the acoustic chamber the sound waves travel along a directed path thereby enhancing the audible level of the sound waves allowed to escape the housing.

Molded housing with integral acoustic chamber and anti-rattle printed

A power switch control module for a power window control circuit of a motor vehicle. The control module incorporates a printed circuit board, a plurality of switch contacts secured to the printed circuit board, a plurality of connector terminals also secured to the printed circuit board, a plurality of high current traces formed on an upper surface of the printed circuit board for coupling selected pairs of the switch contacts and connector terminals electrically together, and a switch control. The switch control is mounted in a frame member for pivotal movement relative to the printed circuit board and is movable between up and down positions. When in the up position the switch control electrically couples a first selected pair of switch contacts and when in the down position the switch control electrically couples a second selected pair of the switch contacts. The high current traces are capable of handling about 20-80 amps of current. Since the high current traces are formed on the upper surface of the printed circuit board, no injection molding, tooling or techniques are required for construction of the module as typically required with prior art control modules. Also, the undersurface of the printed circuit board can advantageously be used to mount other electronic components of the control circuit.

Power window switch control apparatus

A support block has slots in the top and rear faces receiving bent terminal strips. Protrusions on the strips abut a forward or downwardly facing surface at the front of the top slot. Protrusions at the other end of the strips abut a downwardly facing surface at the bottom of the rear slot. A terminal tip extends forwardly, and a tang for soldering into a circuit board extends downwardly. Terminal strips without protrusions fit within slots in the bottom face of the support block.

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Eric J Krupp