Laird E Johnston

US Patent:

20020104932, Aug 8, 2002

Filed:

Dec 8, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/733810

Inventors:

Laird Johnston - Birmingham MI, US

International Classification:

A63B055/04
B65B067/04

US Classification:

248/097000, 248/099000

Abstract:

A refuse bag holder comprising a pair of relatively moveable bag-supporting members that expand to spread the open end of a refuse bag and hold it open and taut, and retract toward each other to release the filled bag. The bag holder a frame has a pair of tubular members of inverted U-shape in the upright position of the frame. The bight portions of the U-shaped frame members can be moved toward and away from each other, and serve as bag-top supporting members for the material surrounding the open end of a plastic refuse bag. The open end of an empty refuse bag is pulled upwardly between the bight portions, and then draped loosely over them while they are close enough together so that the plastic bag material is slack. The bight portions can then be expanded to spread the bag top and hold it open for receiving refuse. In the case of paper bags, the bag-supporting members also include removable tension members, in the form of flat, elongated blades of resilient material, that project from the bight portions. The tension members engage the inner surface of the material at the open top of the bag, and spread it wide open and taut. When the bag top is held wide open and taut, the space between the bight portions (and the tension members, in the case of paper bags) is determined by the size of the bag. The U-shaped frame members are pivotally connected together to move scissor-like with respect to each other. When the bight portions, (or the tension members, in the case of paper bags) expand to reach a bag-top-open position corresponding to the size of the plastic or paper bag, respectively, they are locked against retraction by a positioning device. The positioning device locks the frame members against movement until it is selectively actuated to release the frame members and permit the bight portions to retract and release the bag. The positioning device is operable to lock the frame members in one of a plurality of discrete positions relative to each other that corresponds to the size of the bag.

US Patent:

40646521, Dec 27, 1977

Filed:

May 27, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/690527

Inventors:

Laird E. Johnston - Birmingham MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F05B 6506
E05C 1700

US Classification:

49394

Abstract:

A door hold-open mechanism operatively connected to an upper door hinge member and including a combination latch wheel and detent plate, a detent plunger operable with the detent plate and a latch segment operable with the latch wheel, the arrangement adapted to provide a conventional two-position opening operation upon partial actuation of a door handle, or a predetermined number more than two hold-open positions upon full actuation of the door handle.

US Patent:

41598342, Jul 3, 1979

Filed:

Apr 25, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/899717

Inventors:

Larry D. Miller - Warren MI
Laird E. Johnston - Birmingham MI
John T. Valus - Troy MI
Thomas M. Powell - Rochester MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 2102

US Classification:

280802

Abstract:

A passive three-point lap and shoulder belt system has the outboard ends of the lap and shoulder belts mounted on the vehicle body door respectively adjacent the hip and shoulder of the occupant. A retractor mounted on the body generally adjacent the inboard hip of the occupant winds a control belt which is connected with the lap and shoulder belts at the juncture of their inboard ends to establish the lap and shoulder belts in their occupant restraining positions when the door is closed. A door mounted belt stiffener is encased within the lap belt and includes a plurality of stacked abutting elements normally hingedly movable relative one another to allow the lap belt to fall limp across the occupant lap. The elements are connected by one or more tension cables which are tensioned upon opening movement of the door to compress and erect the abutting elements into a stiff column which lifts the lap belt as well as the shoulder and control belts further upwardly and forwardly of their respective stowed positions normally obtained by the swing geometry of the open door. Mechanism for tensioning the tension cables includes a door mounted pulley or like rotary member having the tension cables attached at a point eccentric from the axis of rotation.

US Patent:

43299628, May 18, 1982

Filed:

Sep 29, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/192109

Inventors:

Laird E. Johnston - Birmingham MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F02M 5920

US Classification:

123502

Abstract:

An engine driven fuel injection pump of the type having a cam ring and an advance timing control mechanism to adjust the angular position of the cam ring has an eccentric cam pin effecting an operative interconnection between the cam ring and the advance piston of the timing control mechanism. An externally accessible adjusting means is used to rotate the eccentric cam pin so as to shift the position of the cam ring relative to the advance piston, as necessary, to effect correct static timing of the pump to the engine.

US Patent:

39346447, Jan 27, 1976

Filed:

Dec 12, 1973

Appl. No.:

5/423882

Inventors:

Laird E. Johnston - Birmingham MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F01P 500

US Classification:

165 51

Abstract:

A vehicle cooling system utilizing a remotely located radiator and cooling fan permitting the vehicle engine to be enclosed by insulating material for reducing noise. The radiator in the preferred embodiment illustrated is mounted horizontally in an air passage formed partially by the passenger compartment roof. A fan is located below the radiator for drawing air therethrough when the vehicle is idling. The fan is powered by a hydraulic motor which receives pressurized coolant from the engine water pump.

US Patent:

43299610, May 18, 1982

Filed:

Sep 29, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/192108

Inventors:

Laird E. Johnston - Birmingham MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F02M 5920

US Classification:

123502

Abstract:

An engine driven fuel injection pump has a cam and pump plungers movable relative to the cam to translate the contour of the cam into a sequence of pumping strokes. A timing control mechanism, used to vary the rotative position of the cam as a function of engine operation, includes a control piston mounted in a cylinder and connected to the cam to control the position thereof whereby to advance and retard the relative timing of the pumping strokes. Movement of the control piston is controlled by hydraulic fluid supplied from a source of fluid under a pressure correlated with the operating speed of the associated engine. The control piston is slidable between a power piston biased by a resilient means in one direction and actuated in the opposite direction by hydraulic fluid from the source of fluid under pressure. A landed valve has its stem fixed to the spring biased means and its body portion is axially slidable in the control piston to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to either one end of the control piston for actuation thereof or to the opposite end of said control piston which is in fluid communication with fuel in the pump housing maintained at a predetermined reduced pressure. The axial position of this landed valve relative to the resilient means being controlled by means of an electric actuator as a function of engine operation whereby to trim movement of the control piston.