Methode Electronics, Incorporated

United Technologies Automotive Inc.

Eaton Corporation

Marquardt Gmbh

Vladimir Karasik

Michael Shahan

Thomas Joseph Wand

Joseph Elias Khoury

Joseph E Khoury

Roland Ruegenberg

George L Justus

Richard Graham, Jr

Richard Alsobrooks

Rajkumar Ramamurthy

Boris Karasik

Sheldon J Allen

Boris G Karasik

Anthony J Verduci

Mark Muscat

Alin Bota

Dan Botez

Norbert G Swidersky

Joseph c/o Methode Electronics Europe Ltd Khoury

A locking bracket for a vehicle accessory that has a main portion and a secondary portion, the main portion is configured to position the vehicle accessory in an operating position and includes opposite first and second faces extending between opposite ends, a spring leaf extending from the first face, first and second ribs extending from the second face, the first and second ribs being spaced from one another and having cooperating geometry to provide force to the spring leaf, at least first and second hinges separated by a distance, the first rib being located between the first and second hinges, and a locking mechanism provided on at least one of the ends, the locking mechanism being configured to maintain the vehicle accessory in the operating position.

Locking bracket for vehicle accessory

A washing device for a vehicle accessory that includes a washer housing with a ring portion and a fluid source attachment. The ring portion has a main opening for receiving a portion of the vehicle accessory, an attachment side configured for mounting the washer housing, a washing side configured to frame the vehicle accessory, and a transition portion between the ring portion and the fluid source attachment. A nozzle end of the fluid source attachment has at least one fluid channel defined by a nozzle protrusion on the nozzle end. The fluid channel is configured to discharge the fluid to the washing side for cleaning the vehicle accessory by creating a plurality of fluid flow pathways of the fluid between the nozzle end and the transition portion, wherein the plurality fluid flow pathways interact with one another to form at least one vortex in the flow of the fluid.

Enhanced washing device for vehicle accessory

A compact camera lens washing device received in a shroud for mounting to a vehicle. The device includes a washer housing disposed in the shroud. The washer housing includes a ring portion and a fluid source attachment. The ring portion has a main opening that is generally aligned with a lens opening of the shroud for receiving the camera lens, an attachment side that is configured to mount the washer housing to the shroud, and a washing side that is configured to frame the camera lens. The washing side is in fluid communication with the fluid source attachment. Nozzles are disposed in a transition portion of the washer housing between the ring portion and the fluid source attachment of the washer housing. The nozzles are configured to discharge fluid from the washer side and radially inwardly towards the main opening that receives the camera lens.

Camera lens washing device

A sensor washing device that includes a washer housing that has a ring portion and a fluid source attachment. The fluid source attachment is configured to receive fluid. The ring portion has a main opening for receiving a detecting head of the sensor, an attachment side configured for mounting the washer housing, and a washing side configured to frame the detecting head of the sensor. The washing side is in fluid communication with the fluid source attachment. A plurality of nozzles are disposed in a transition portion of the washer housing between the ring portion and the fluid source attachment of the washer housing. The plurality of nozzles are configured to discharge fluid to the washer side radially inwardly towards the main opening for cleaning the detecting head of the sensor.

Sensor washing device

A camera lens washing device that includes an outer housing that has a main opening for receiving a camera lens, an attachment end configured to mount to a camera housing of the camera lens, and an exposed end remote from the attachment end. The exposed end includes an end face that has a recessed area extending inwardly therefrom. An inner ring is received in the recessed area of the outer housing. The inner ring is configured to frame the camera lens. A plurality of nozzles are defined between the outer housing and the inner ring. The plurality of nozzles are configured to discharge fluid radially inwardly towards the camera lens. The inner ring may be substantially stationary with respect to the outer housing. The nozzles may be disposed at or near a top side of the main opening of the outer housing.

A self-locking switch including a button sub-assembly and a housing sub-assembly. The button sub-assembly includes at least one button with a tab extending from a lower surface at a first end and at least one shaft engagement point on the lower surface at a second end, and a bracket comprising a first end and a second end with a rotation shaft at the second end. The bracket is rotatably connected to the button. The housing sub-assembly includes a switch housing having engagement points, and a switching mechanism in the housing. The button sub-assembly and the housing sub-assembly are joined together by engaging the tab of the button and the first and second ends of the bracket to corresponding engagement points on the switch housing and the engagement points are not accessible from outside the self-locking switch after the button sub-assembly and the housing sub-assembly are assembled together.

Self-locking switch

The present invention is directed towards an electrical contact assembly in a steering wheel that allows the contacts of a primary circuit board to move relative to the corresponding contacts of a secondary circuit board without disengaging the electrical connection. Thus, any minor deviation in the positioning of the primary or secondary circuit board may be compensated for without the loss of electrical contact. The primary circuit board is located in the center of the steering wheel around the steering column. The primary circuit board includes left and right arms which engage and cooperate with left and right button assemblies on the steering wheel to actuate various vehicle controls, such as radio volume and tuning control, in the vehicle. The arms include leaf-spring contacts which resiliently and non-fixedly engage the secondary circuit board which is connected to control buttons on the steering wheel.

Floating contact assembly for a steering wheel

A position sensor for determining the angular position of a steering wheel. The shaft of the steering wheel is connected to a code disk and turn ring of the sensor so that when steering wheel is rotated, the coded disk and turn ring are also rotated. The code disk is a flat circular disk having a series of cut-outs or bits around its perimeter. A light emitting diode shines a light through the cut-outs and is read by a photo detector which determines the angular position of the code disk. The turn ring is fitted on the outside of the code disk and rotates in a hypocycloidic circle so that for every full revolution of the code disk, the turn ring rotates through a smaller angle. The turn ring is placed over a series of Hall sensors to determine the number of revolutions of the code disk.

Rapid high resolution position sensor for auto steering

A combined windshield front and rear washing and wiping stalk switch having a single contact substrate that is adapted to engage a front wiper carrier, a front wash carrier and a rear wipe/wash carrier. To this end, the multifunctional steering column stalk switch comprises: (i) a housing; (ii) a substrate fixed inside the housing having a first leg and a second leg defining a predetermined angle between the first leg and the second leg; (iii) a conductive trace on one surface of each leg; (iv) a first carrier moveably engaged with the first leg having an electrical contact adapted to engage the conductive trace on the first leg; (v) a second carrier moveably engaged with the second leg having an electrical contact adapted to engage the conductive trace on the second leg; (vi) a first manual input device adapted to move the first carrier with respect to the first leg; and (vii) a second manual input device adapted to move the second carrier with respect to the second leg.

Multifunctional windshield wiper stalk switch

A sliding contact mechanism includes a sliding door contact, a spring having one end connected to the sliding door contact and another end connected to the sliding door of a mini-van, and a pillar contact attached to the stationary pillar of the mini-van. The pillar contact has a shape complementary to a shape of the sliding door contact. When the sliding door is in a closed position, the sliding door is adjacent the pillar and the sliding door contact engages and is in a closed electrical connection with the pillar contact. When the sliding door is in an open position, the sliding door is not adjacent the pillar and the sliding door contact is an open electrical connection with the sliding door contact.

Sliding contact mechanism

A remote key interlock system includes a locking device mounted on a steering column and a key actuated ignition switch located remote from the locking device, where a cable connects the locking device to the key actuated ignition switch. The locking device being engageable with a recess of a steering shaft housed within the steering column. The cable being either electrically insulated from one of the key actuated ignition switch and the locking device, or load bearing, or moveable.

Remote key interlock system

A connector receptacle for simultaneously converting a plurality of individual wire leads in bayonet plug-in connection with a mating multiple pin wire harness connector. A conductive insert stamped from flat sheet stock has individual crimp-type wire lead terminals formed integrally therewith and extending outwardly from the margins of the insert. A plurality of barbed pin-receiving apertures are formed in the insert. Slots formed in the sheet stock form frangible webs interconnecting the material surrounding each of the barbed apertures. The insert is encapsulated with dielectric material preferably by molding and access openings in the dielectric material permit subsequent removal of the frangible webs to form individual electrically isolated connectors about each of barbed apertures. In one embodiment, individual wire leads are crimped onto each of the wire lead terminals after overmolding; and, in another embodiment the wire leads are crimped on before overmolding and the overmolding extends over the wire lead terminals to provide insulation and strain relief.

Multiple wire connector

A multi-function single lever switch (10) with an axial type contact system design. A first radially moveable contact ring (20) is interposed on a lever base (12) between a stationary contact ring (24). The stationary contact ring (24) includes a projecting portion (28) adapted to receive a second radially moveable contact ring (30) thereon and is surrounded by a cover (34). Cover (34) has an actuatable push button (36) assembly at one end. A plurality of axially disposed stationary electrical blade contacts (16, 26) on the lever base (12) and stationary contact ring (24) interconnect with electrical contacts (22, 32) on the first and second radially moveable contact rings (20, 30) as well as an electrical contact (40) on the push button (36) assembly.

Single stalk steering column switch

A multi-position, multi-directional switch mechanism that provides switch actuation in multiple directions using opposing detent mechanisms. The multi-position, multi-directional switch mechanism has a sleeve that pivots within a base and an operator that pivots within the sleeve. Each of the pivoting members has a detent mechanism to maintain the pivotal members in a selected position. The spring loaded detents of the detent mechanisms are linearly opposing. The resulting multi-position, multi-directional switch mechanism achieves better functionality with fewer parts.

Growing community of inventors

Walled Lake, MI, United States of America

Vladimir Karasik