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Dennis, MI

Brian P. Dennis, Kalamazoo, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080296103Caliper brake - A hydraulic caliper brake includes a housing formed by two halves. A pair of bores are provided in each housing half, and a piston is positioned in each bore. An end cap closes off each bore and is sealed by an O-ring positioned around the periphery of each end cap. A ring retains each end cap within each bore. Each housing half has a pair of holes aligned with the holes of the other half. A pair of recessed areas are located on opposing ends of the housing, one of the recessed areas being positioned adjacent to one housing half and the other being positioned adjacent to the other housing half. A pair of stator plates each have a first ear with an outer shape having a flattened area positioned within one of said recessed areas in said housing, and a second ear with a continuously curved outer shape. Each ear has a hole therethrough aligned with the holes of the housing halves, and a pin is positioned in the aligned holes. An easily bleedable fluid network supplies fluid to the pistons.12-04-2008
20090026024Caliper brake system - A caliper brake system includes a housing, a bore within the housing, and a piston slidably positioned within the bore. The brake system also includes a spring assembly, a fluid chamber defined by the bore and the piston, and a hydraulic fluid supply network. The spring assembly provides a biasing force to maintain the piston in an actuated position engaging a stator which engages the rotor of a vehicle. The hydraulic fluid supply network provides pressurized fluid to the fluid chamber to selectively overcome the biasing force of the spring assembly and move the piston to an unactuated position to release the rotor. Thus, the caliper brake is spring actuated and hydraulically released.01-29-2009
20090095581Floating disc brake - A floating disc brake assembly including a housing, a pair of diametrically opposed cylindrical cavities within the housing, and an end cover positioned over the opening and having an aperture therethrough. A shaft with an axis of rotation is positioned within the aperture with an end of the shaft positioned within the housing. The shaft includes a splined surface that mates with the splined surface on the interior of a bore of a disc shaped rotor mounted on the shaft. A pair of diametrically opposed stationary liners are attached to the end cover and positioned between the end cover and the rotor. A piston is positioned within each cylindrical cavity in the housing opposed to the stationary stators, and an axially slidable piston side liner is positioned between the rotor and each of the pistons, with the rotor being axially slidable over the shaft and the pistons being biased to cause the piston side liners to force the rotor against the stationary liners to create a braking force.04-16-2009
20090211855Ball ramp brake - A ball ramp brake including a housing, a disc assembly within the housing, and an annular rotatable actuator to actuate the brake by compressing the disc assembly. The rotatable actuator includes a plurality of depressions oriented circumferentially therein which become progressively shallower in a first circumferential direction. A plurality of depressions are circumferentially oriented in a surface of the housing and become progressively shallower in a second circumferential direction. The depressions in the actuator and the depressions in the housing each have a first angle of depression that is steeper than a second angle of depression. A boot seal may be provided between the fluid chamber of an actuating cylinder and the inner area within the housing to prevent fluid leakage. In addition, a cooling chamber may be provided in the housing to improve the brakes efficiency.08-27-2009
20100175954Two-stage slave cylinder - A two-stage slave cylinder including a housing and a bore extending within the housing. An outer piston is slidably positioned within the bore in the housing, and an outer piston chamber is defined by the bore and the outer piston. The outer piston chamber is connected to a hydraulic fluid source by a fluid passageway. A biasing mechanism acts to bias the outer piston in an unactuated position unless a force is exerted on the outer piston that is greater than the biasing force. A bore is provided in the outer piston, and an inner piston is slidably positioned therein. An inner piston chamber is defined by the bore and the inner piston, and an opening is provided in the outer piston to connect the outer piston chamber to the inner piston chamber. A valve assembly is provided within the opening in the outer piston to control the flow of fluid between the outer piston chamber and the inner piston chamber.07-15-2010

Patent applications by Brian P. Dennis, Kalamazoo, MI US

Dean Dennis, Lapeer, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100325983DECORATIVE TRIM ASSEMBLIES - An exterior trim assembly for use with a window or door surround in a building structure comprises at least one mantle for affixing above the window or door, and first and second pilaster assemblies for affixing on the sides of the window or door. The mantle comprises a mantle base and a corresponding mantle cover to affix to and cover the mantle base. Each pilaster assembly comprises a base and a cover element affixed to the base wherein each of the bases has a plurality of regularly repeating reinforced structural sections. At least two pilaster cover plates are provided, each pilaster cover plate is affixed to and covering one of the first and second pilaster bases.12-30-2010
20110000145DECORATIVE MOLDING - The invention includes an end cover (01-06-2011

Patent applications by Dean Dennis, Lapeer, MI US

Nate Dennis, Grand Blanc, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110079988PASSIVE AIRBAG VENTING - An occupant protection apparatus comprises an inflatable airbag with a panel, the panel including a first vent opening that permits inflation fluid to escape out of the airbag; and a valve sheet including a second vent opening movable relative to the first vent opening, the valve sheet having opposite ends that are each fixed to a surface of the airbag. One end of the valve sheet moves with the panel during inflation of the airbag to move the second vent opening relative to the first vent opening. The apparatus also includes a valve guide or envelope to guide movement of the valve sheet relative to the panel, the valve sheet is capable of sliding between the valve guide and the panel. Both ends of the valve sheet remain fixed to the panel during and after inflation of the airbag. The valve sheet includes a tear tab to temporarily retain the valve sheet to the panel.04-07-2011

Nathaniel J. Dennis, Grand Blanc, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100019473Airbag system - An airbag module for a vehicle includes an airbag cushion, an inflator to inflate the airbag cushion, a sleeve connected to the airbag cushion and a tether configured to pass through the sleeve. A first end of the tether is anchored to a portion of the airbag cushion, module, or a structure of the vehicle and a second, opposite end of the tether is capable of passing through at least a portion of the sleeve during deployment of the airbag. The tether and sleeve are configured to initially restrain the deployment of the airbag cushion to provide a knee bolster, after which the tether is configured to unlace within the sleeve to release the restraint on the airbag cushion.01-28-2010
20100308567Airbag system - An airbag module for a vehicle includes an airbag cushion, an inflator to inflate the airbag cushion, a sleeve connected to the airbag cushion and a tether configured to pass through the sleeve. A first end of the tether is anchored to a portion of the airbag cushion, module, or a structure of the vehicle and a second, opposite end of the tether is capable of passing through at least a portion of the sleeve during deployment of the airbag. The tether and sleeve are configured to initially restrain the deployment of the airbag cushion to provide a knee bolster, after which the tether is configured to unlace within the sleeve to release the restraint on the airbag cushion.12-09-2010

Patent applications by Nathaniel J. Dennis, Grand Blanc, MI US

Nathaniel James Dennis, Grand Blanc, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100244541Seat belt tongue - A seat belt system for use in a vehicle, which includes a seat belt webbing for restraining an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the webbing includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the webbing is attached to a retractor for either retracting the webbing or permitting withdrawal of the webbing, and wherein the second end of the webbing is connected to an anchor; a tongue mechanism connected to the webbing and positioned to separate the webbing into a lap portion and a shoulder portion; and a buckle mechanism configured to detachably couple with the tongue mechanism. The tongue mechanism is configured so that the tongue mechanism is slideably coupled to the webbing when the tension in the webbing is less than a cinching load, and when the tension in the webbing is equal to or greater than the cinching load the tongue mechanism applies a cinching force on the webbing to prevent the webbing from changing position relative to the tongue mechanism. The tongue mechanism is further configured so that when the tension in the webbing is less than the cinching load there is no cinching force applied to the webbing.09-30-2010

Patrick Dennis, Northville, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110222704AUDIO BROADCAST PROCESSING METHOD - An audio broadcast processing method includes a plurality of steps. One step involves processing an audio broadcast having at least one occurrence of signal degradation that adversely affects audio quality of a corresponding segment of the audio performance. Another step involves modifying the segment of the audio performance with a plurality of differing signal degradation compensation factors to selectively compensate for the at least one occurrence of signal degradation to produce a plurality of compensated audio performances. Another step involves evaluating the compensated audio performances. Still another step involves determining at least one preferred signal degradation compensation factor based on data from the evaluating of the compensated audio performances. Yet another step includes configuring an audio device with the at least one preferred processing factor.09-15-2011

Robert G. Dennis, Ann Arbor, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080199953SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FORMING A CONNECTIVE TISSUE CONSTRUCT - A system and method are provided for forming a connective tissue construct, such as a tendon construct, in vitro. A substrate is provided with at least two anchors secured thereto in spaced relationship. Fibroblast cells are provided on the substrate in the absence of a synthetic matrix, where at least some of the cells are in contact with the anchors. The cells are cultured in vitro under conditions to allow the cells to self-organize and become confluent between the anchors, where the anchors are receptive to the cells and allow the cells to attach thereto while permitting the cells to detach from the substrate to form a three-dimensional connective tissue construct.08-21-2008

Robert P. Dennis, Royal Oak, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080197643Adjustable Striker Assembly - A striker assembly, and method of forming, for use with a closure for a vehicle compartment is disclosed. The striker may have a main shaft with a hoop extending from a first end, threads extending around the main shaft, and a rotational retention feature adjacent to the threads. A bracket may have a pair of mounting flanges, a first wall including a threaded hole therethrough that engages the threads, a second wall, spaced from the first wall, having a hole therethrough that engages the main shaft, and a flexible arm having a catch engageable with the rotational retention feature.08-21-2008

Patent applications by Robert P. Dennis, Royal Oak, MI US