Patents by Inventor Bhavani Thota

Bhavani Thota has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11458887
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a lift gate that is operable between a closed position and an open position, and a lamp assembly. The lamp assembly includes a housing coupled to the lift gate and having a backing with a reflective surface, a light source that is coupled to the housing and configured to emit light, and a lid that is operably coupled to the housing. The lid includes a reflective interior surface and reflective exterior surface that is opposite the reflective interior surface. The lid is operable between an open position, wherein the reflective surface of the backing is exposed, and a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati, Juergen Koehler, Michael Shawn Watterworth, Bhavani Thota, Linh Ngoc Doan
  • Publication number: 20220097612
    Abstract: A storage box includes a door that is coupled to the base. A pivot pin is coupled to the door and is operable between an engaged position, wherein the pivot pin is rotatably engaged with the base, and a disengaged position. The pivot pin is configured to move door-inboard due to contact with the base as the pivot pin moves from the disengaged position to the engaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati, Juergen Koehler, Linh Ngoc Doan, Brent Clifford Dalton, Bhavani Thota
  • Patent number: 11285900
    Abstract: An airbag assembly includes a housing having a base, a first wall, a second wall, and a pair of end walls defining a cavity. The first wall and the second wall are spaced from each other, each of the first wall and the second wall extending from the base to a distal edge. The pair of end walls are spaced from each other and extending from the first wall to the second wall. The distal edge of the first wall extends from the end walls toward the second wall. The airbag assembly includes an airbag disposed in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bhavani Thota, Chuck R. Reese, Angela Zaetta, Eric Axel Smitterberg, Linh Ngoc Doan, Murali Maddali
  • Publication number: 20220048428
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a lift gate that is operable between a closed position and an open position, and a lamp assembly. The lamp assembly includes a housing coupled to the lift gate and having a backing with a reflective surface, a light source that is coupled to the housing and configured to emit light, and a lid that is operably coupled to the housing. The lid includes a reflective interior surface and reflective exterior surface that is opposite the reflective interior surface. The lid is operable between an open position, wherein the reflective surface of the backing is exposed, and a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati, Juergen Koehler, Michael Shawn Watterworth, Bhavani Thota, Linh Ngoc Doan
  • Patent number: 11247540
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes a first interlock coupled to an inner frame panel. A second interlock coupled to an inner trim panel. The first and second interlocks are separated to define a ready state. During an impact condition, the first and second interlocks selectively engage one another to define an impact state that resists deflection of the inner trim panel away from the inner frame panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary Mullen, Bhavani Thota, Daniel Morin, Juergen Koehler, Linh Doan
  • Patent number: 11117525
    Abstract: A apparatus includes a trim panel and a displaceable face pane. The trim panel includes a storage compartment and a guideway having a latching slot and a positioning rack. The displaceable face panel has a trunnion received for sliding movement along the guideway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Juergen Koehler, Bhavani Thota, Steven Nicholas Fidh, Gary D. Mullen, Linh Ngoc Doan
  • Patent number: 11007853
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle having variable opacity windows that includes customer convenience functions such as transitioning a window to transparent when the vehicle is in use as a ride-sharing vehicle and detects picking up a new passenger; or transitioning the window to transparent when a signal is received from an emergency vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul K. Dellock, Bhavani Thota, Chester S. Walawender, Linh Doan
  • Patent number: 10850671
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for holding an article in a motor vehicle. That apparatus includes a motor vehicle storage compartment having a receiver and a reversible insert held in the receiver. A storage system is also disclosed including a left-hand storage compartment including a first receiver, a right-hand storage compartment including a second receiver and a reversible insert configured for receipt in the first receiver and the second receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Juergen Koehler, Linh Ngoc Doan, Bhavani Thota
  • Publication number: 20200238917
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for holding an article in a motor vehicle. That apparatus includes a motor vehicle storage compartment having a receiver and a reversible insert held in the receiver. A storage system is also disclosed including a left-hand storage compartment including a first receiver, a right-hand storage compartment including a second receiver and a reversible insert configured for receipt in the first receiver and the second receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Juergen Koehler, Linh Ngoc Doan, Bhavani Thota
  • Publication number: 20200223368
    Abstract: A apparatus includes a trim panel and a displaceable face pane. The trim panel includes a storage compartment and a guideway having a latching slot and a positioning rack. The displaceable face panel has a trunnion received for sliding movement along the guideway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Juergen Koehler, Bhavani Thota, Steven Nicholas Fidh, Gary D. Mullen, Linh Ngoc Doan
  • Patent number: 10703317
    Abstract: An armrest assembly includes a body outlining a crushable space. The body includes a first deformation initiating feature, a second deformation initiating feature, a deformation propagating feature and a fracture initiating feature provided at spaced locations around the crushable space. The features function to dissipate energy in the event of a side impact and therefore force or load that might be transmitted to a motor vehicle occupant as a result of a side impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yi Yang Tay, Linh Doan, Bhavani Thota, Li Lu, Michael Gerard Orlowsky, Brian Pietila
  • Publication number: 20200207191
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes a first interlock coupled to an inner frame panel. A second interlock coupled to an inner trim panel. The first and second interlocks are separated to define a ready state. During an impact condition, the first and second interlocks selectively engage one another to define an impact state that resists deflection of the inner trim panel away from the inner frame panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary Mullen, Bhavani Thota, Daniel Morin, Juergen Koehler, Linh Doan
  • Publication number: 20200130481
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle having variable opacity windows that includes customer convenience functions such as transitioning a window to transparent when the vehicle is in use as a ride-sharing vehicle and detects picking up a new passenger; or transitioning the window to transparent when a signal is received from an emergency vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul K. Dellock, Bhavani Thota, Chester S. Walawender, Linh Doan
  • Patent number: 10625582
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes a first interlock coupled to an inner frame panel. A second interlock coupled to an inner trim panel. The first and second interlocks are separated to define a ready state. During an impact condition, the first and second interlocks selectively engage one another to define an impact state that resists deflection of the inner trim panel away from the inner frame panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary Mullen, Bhavani Thota, Daniel Morin, Juergen Koehler, Linh Doan
  • Patent number: 10583760
    Abstract: A support for an armrest assembly includes a plurality of interconnected ribs. One or more of those ribs has (a) a first section, having a first proximal end and a first distal end, (b) a second end section, having a second proximal end and a second distal end, and (c) an intermediate section connecting the first distal end and the second distal end. The first end section and the second end section are offset. An armrest assembly includes a body, the support, a cushioning layer overlying the support and a cover layer overlying the cushioning layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati, Bhavani Thota, Deepak Patel, Zhibing Deng, Linh Doan
  • Publication number: 20200017053
    Abstract: An armrest assembly includes a body outlining a crushable space. The body includes a first deformation initiating feature, a second deformation initiating feature, a deformation propagating feature and a fracture initiating feature provided at spaced locations around the crushable space. The features function to dissipate energy in the event of a side impact and therefore force or load that might be transmitted to a motor vehicle occupant as a result of a side impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Yi Yang Tay, Linh Doan, Bhavani Thota, Li Lu, Michael Gerard Orlowsky, Brian Pietila
  • Publication number: 20190375323
    Abstract: A support for an armrest assembly includes a plurality of interconnected ribs. One or more of those ribs has (a) a first section, having a first proximal end and a first distal end, (b) a second end section, having a second proximal end and a second distal end, and (c) an intermediate section connecting the first distal end and the second distal end. The first end section and the second end section are offset. An armrest assembly includes a body, the support, a cushioning layer overlying the support and a cover layer overlying the cushioning layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati, Bhavani Thota, Deepak Patel, Zhibing Deng, Linh Doan
  • Publication number: 20190337434
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes an inner door liner having a substrate receptacle. An armrest substrate has a plurality of posts extending through the inner door liner at the substrate receptacle. The substrate receptacle has a plurality of one-way apertures that receive the plurality of posts. Integral retaining features positioned at an end of each post maintains engagement of each post within each respective one-way aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Linh Doan, Bhavani Thota, Amit Chakravarty, Nitesh Jadhav, Ryan Mowery, Daniel Morin
  • Publication number: 20190337364
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes a first interlock coupled to an inner frame panel. A second interlock coupled to an inner trim panel. The first and second interlocks are separated to define a ready state. During an impact condition, the first and second interlocks selectively engage one another to define an impact state that resists deflection of the inner trim panel away from the inner frame panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary Mullen, Bhavani Thota, Daniel Morin, Juergen Koehler, Linh Doan
  • Patent number: 10464493
    Abstract: A vehicle door assembly may include an interior door panel having an armrest, the armrest having a handle defining an opening therein and a receptacle arranged below the armrest and configured to be selectively arranged under the handle to create a repository within the opening to receive objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Holmes Dunham, Bhavani Thota, Stephen Dreher, Linh Doan