Patents by Inventor Brian WESTGARTH
Brian WESTGARTH 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).
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Patent number: 11131129Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having a door check mechanism. An example motor vehicle a pivotable door, a door check mechanism including a bar, wherein the door check mechanism is configured to hold the door open in a fully open check position, and a retarder assembly configured to oppose opening of the door beyond the fully open check position by applying a force generated by a non-linear surface of the bar.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2019Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brian Westgarth, Jack Whitehurst, Rob Swann, Ian Patterson
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Patent number: 10954703Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having a door check mechanism. An example motor vehicle includes a door pivotable between fully open and fully closed positions, and a door check mechanism including a bar having a helical groove and at least one check hold recess along the helical groove.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brian Westgarth, Ian Patterson, Rob Swann, Jack Whitehurst
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Patent number: 10822832Abstract: A motor vehicle door anti-rattle mechanism includes male and female parts. The male part is fastened to a door of a motor vehicle and the female part is fastened to a door pillar of the motor vehicle. The male part includes an expandable member that is selectively engageable with a recess in the female part in order to inhibit relative movement between the male and female parts and, hence, rattling of the door.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2019Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brian Westgarth, Ian Patterson, Jack Whitehurst, Rob Swann
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Publication number: 20200115938Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having a door check mechanism. An example motor vehicle a pivotable door, a door check mechanism including a bar, wherein the door check mechanism is configured to hold the door open in a fully open check position, and a retarder assembly configured to oppose opening of the door beyond the fully open check position by applying a force generated by a non-linear surface of the bar.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Inventors: Brian Westgarth, Jack Whitehurst, Rob Swann, Ian Patterson
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Publication number: 20200080353Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having a door check mechanism. An example motor vehicle includes a door pivotable between fully open and fully closed positions, and a door check mechanism including a bar having a helical groove and at least one check hold recess along the helical groove.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Brian Westgarth, Ian Patterson, Rob Swann, Jack Whitehurst
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Patent number: 10519701Abstract: A vehicle door check mechanism includes a bellows to act as a pneumatic retarder to prevent a high load from being transferred from the door check mechanism to a structural part of a door of the motor vehicle if that door is opened to a fully open position at high speed.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ian Patterson, Brian Westgarth, Rob Swann, Jack Whitehurst, John Strudwick
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Patent number: 10391954Abstract: A vehicle trim portion connection bracket is provided. The bracket includes a first flange having a connecting portion configured to be coupled to a trim portion and a second flange configured to be coupled to a support member of the vehicle. The support member is configured to be coupled to a body of the vehicle. A relief slot is provided in the first flange and configured to reduce a load required to deform the connecting portion relative to a remaining portion of the first flange, such that the connecting portion may be deformed without disrupting the coupling between the bracket and the support member.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brian Westgarth, Ian Patterson, Jack Whitehurst, Rob Swann
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Publication number: 20190218820Abstract: A motor vehicle door anti-rattle mechanism includes male and female parts. The male part is fastened to a door of a motor vehicle and the female part is fastened to a door pillar of the motor vehicle. The male part includes an expandable member that is selectively engageable with a recess in the female part in order to inhibit relative movement between the male and female parts and, hence, rattling of the door.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Brian Westgarth, Ian Patterson, Jack Whitehurst, Rob Swann
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Publication number: 20190106917Abstract: A vehicle door check mechanism includes a bellows to act as a pneumatic retarder to prevent a high load from being transferred from the door check mechanism to a structural part of a door of the motor vehicle if that door is opened to a fully open position at high speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Inventors: Ian Patterson, Brian Westgarth, Rob Swann, Jack Whitehurst, John Strudwick
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Patent number: 10161174Abstract: A vehicle has a sliding door fitted with a rotatable brake member to apply a braking force to the sliding door when the vehicle is on a slope. The brake member is automatically rotated about a pivot axis X-X by a moveable member forming part of an actuator when the vehicle is resting on a slope into a position in which a braking force is applied to the sliding door by the interaction of the brake member with an elongate track in the form of a sliding door support track.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2017Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jack Whitehurst, Brian Westgarth, Rob Swann, Ian Patterson
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Patent number: 10132111Abstract: A bump stop assembly is provided for an access door. The assembly comprises a bump stop configured to couple to the access door or a door frame and a door closure gauge movably coupled to the bump stop. A closure pad couples the bump top to one of the door frame or the access door. The closure pad engages the other side of the access door and door frame when the door is closed. The thickness of a selected closure pad is determined based upon the extent that the door closure gauge protrudes relative to the bump stop.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2016Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert Swann, Brian Westgarth
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Patent number: 10119316Abstract: A vehicle sliding door brake assembly configured for attachment to a sliding door mechanism of a vehicle may include a brake member connectable to the sliding door mechanism and configured to rotate about a pivot point, the brake member comprising one or more brake portions for selectively engaging a track of the vehicle so as to provide a braking force. The brake portions may be configured to form an inertial counterweight that urges the brake member to move from a neutral position in which the brake portions are not engaged with the track to an engaged position in which one or more of the brake portions are engaged with the track when a sliding door of the vehicle is subjected to an acceleration exceeding a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2016Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brian Westgarth, Stuart Gordon, Gerard Vincent Ball, Stephen Edward Braybrook
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Publication number: 20180105121Abstract: A vehicle trim portion connection bracket is provided. The bracket includes a first flange having a connecting portion configured to be coupled to a trim portion and a second flange configured to be coupled to a support member of the vehicle. The support member is configured to be coupled to a body of the vehicle. A relief slot is provided in the first flange and configured to reduce a load required to deform the connecting portion relative to a remaining portion of the first flange, such that the connecting portion may be deformed without disrupting the coupling between the bracket and the support member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brian Westgarth, Ian Patterson, Jack Whitehurst, Rob Swann
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Publication number: 20170342755Abstract: A vehicle has a sliding door fitted with a rotatable brake member to apply a braking force to the sliding door when the vehicle is on a slope. The brake member is automatically rotated about a pivot axis X-X by a moveable member forming part of an actuator when the vehicle is resting on a slope into a position in which a braking force is applied to the sliding door by the interaction of the brake member with an elongate track in the form of a sliding door support track.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2017Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventors: Jack Whitehurst, Brian Westgarth, Rob Swann, Ian Patterson
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Publication number: 20170130504Abstract: A vehicle sliding door brake assembly configured for attachment to a sliding door mechanism of a vehicle may include a brake member connectable to the sliding door mechanism and configured to rotate about a pivot point, the brake member comprising one or more brake portions for selectively engaging a track of the vehicle so as to provide a braking force. The brake portions may be configured to form an inertial counterweight that urges the brake member to move from a neutral position in which the brake portions are not engaged with the track to an engaged position in which one or more of the brake portions are engaged with the track when a sliding door of the vehicle is subjected to an acceleration exceeding a threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2016Publication date: May 11, 2017Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brian WESTGARTH, Stuart GORDON, Gerard Vincent BALL, Stephen Edward BRAYBROOK
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Publication number: 20160305174Abstract: A bump stop assembly is provided for an access door. The assembly comprises a bump stop configured to couple to the access door or a door frame and a door closure gauge movably coupled to the bump stop. A closure pad couples the bump top to one of the door frame or the access door. The closure pad engages the other side of the access door and door frame when the door is closed. The thickness of a selected closure pad is determined based upon the extent that the door closure gauge protrudes relative to the bump stop.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Robert SWANN, Brian WESTGARTH