Patents by Inventor Colleen Marie Hoffman
Colleen Marie Hoffman 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: 10160396Abstract: A vehicle tailgate includes an internal panel, upper panel, lower panel, pair of side panels, and pair of tie-down brackets. The internal panel extends from the upper panel to the lower panel and between the pair of side panels. The side panels are rotatably secured to a cargo bed proximate to the lower panel. The pair of tie-down brackets is secured to an exterior of the internal panel between the upper and lower panels. The tie-down brackets define C-channels that extend in a direction that is substantially parallel with the side panels.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2017Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Jack Marchlewski, Joshua Robert Hemphill, Stephen William Gallagher, Colleen Marie Hoffman
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Publication number: 20180281659Abstract: A vehicle roof structure including a plurality of roof support pillars that include a plurality of receptacles on an outer surface of the pillars. The receptacles are adapted to receive a connector for securing an article to a vehicle either directly or by means of a tie down strap. A spider roof structure or conventional roof structure are disclosed that may include either X-shaped receptacle openings or a T-track slot. Articles may be directly secured to the receptacles or slots on the outer surface of the pillars or may be connected to the roof or side outer walls of the pillar by tie down straps.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Dragan B. STOJKOVIC, Colleen Marie HOFFMAN, Stephen Thomas KOZAK
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Patent number: 10081292Abstract: A vehicle is provided herein. The vehicle includes a tailgate adapted to pivotally latch to a vehicle cargo box. A tie-down member having a base portion is coupled to a lateral side of the tailgate assembly. The tie-down member further includes a retaining portion extending from the base portion. The retaining portion may include first and second substantially parallel channels.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLCInventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Stephen Thomas Kozak, Jack Marchlewski, Joshua R. Hemphill, Colleen Marie Hoffman
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Publication number: 20180229667Abstract: A vehicle tailgate includes an internal panel, upper panel, lower panel, pair of side panels, and pair of tie-down brackets. The internal panel extends from the upper panel to the lower panel and between the pair of side panels. The side panels are rotatably secured to a cargo bed proximate to the lower panel. The pair of tie-down brackets is secured to an exterior of the internal panel between the upper and lower panels. The tie-down brackets define C-channels that extend in a direction that is substantially parallel with the side panels.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2017Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Dragan B. STOJKOVIC, Jack MARCHLEWSKI, Joshua Robert HEMPHILL, Stephen William GALLAGHER, Colleen Marie HOFFMAN
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Publication number: 20180222531Abstract: A roof structure is disclosed for a vehicle that comprises a roof bow including a wall forming part of an exterior roof surface of the vehicle. The wall defines a keyhole opening that is adapted to receive a retainer. A channel is provided on the wall below the keyhole opening that forms a water drain below the keyhole opening with a lower surface of the wall extending over the water drain. A retainer including an anchor portion and an accessory attachment portion extends upwardly from the anchor portion through the slot and is retained in the channel by the flanges.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2017Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: Dragan B. STOJKOVIC, Stephen Thomas KOZAK, Colleen Marie HOFFMAN
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Patent number: 10040485Abstract: A roof structure is disclosed for a vehicle that comprises a roof bow including a wall forming part of an exterior roof surface of the vehicle. The wall defines a keyhole opening that is adapted to receive a retainer. A channel is provided on the wall below the keyhole opening that forms a water drain below the keyhole opening with a lower surface of the wall extending over the water drain. A retainer including an anchor portion and an accessory attachment portion extends upwardly from the anchor portion through the slot and is retained in the channel by the flanges.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2017Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Stephen Thomas Kozak, Colleen Marie Hoffman
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Publication number: 20180208252Abstract: A tailgate cover assembly may include a first panel having a beaded side and a flat side, and a first ledge extending from one end of the first panel, and a second panel having a beaded side and a flat side, and a second ledge extending from an end proximate to the first panel, the second ledge configured to overlap the first ledge to attach the first panel to the second panel wherein the flat side of the first panel aligns with the flat side of the second panel to form a tailgate cover having a beaded side and a flat side.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2017Publication date: July 26, 2018Inventors: Joshua Robert HEMPHILL, Jack MARCHLEWSKI, Robert REINERS, Dragan B. STOJKOVIC, Colleen Marie HOFFMAN
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Patent number: 10023096Abstract: A vehicle roof structure including a plurality of roof support pillars that include a plurality of receptacles on an outer surface of the pillars. The receptacles are adapted to receive a connector for securing an article to a vehicle either directly or by means of a tie down strap. A spider roof structure or conventional roof structure are disclosed that may include either X-shaped receptacle openings or a T-track slot. Articles may be directly secured to the receptacles or slots on the outer surface of the pillars or may be connected to the roof or side outer walls of the pillar by tie down straps.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2016Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, Stephen Thomas Kozak
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Publication number: 20180147976Abstract: A vehicle is provided herein. The vehicle includes a tailgate adapted to pivotally latch to a vehicle cargo box. A tie-down member having a base portion is coupled to a lateral side of the tailgate assembly. The tie-down member further includes a retaining portion extending from the base portion. The retaining portion may include first and second substantially parallel channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2016Publication date: May 31, 2018Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Stephen Thomas Kozak, Jack Marchlewski, Joshua R. Hemphill, Colleen Marie Hoffman
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Publication number: 20180118086Abstract: A vehicle roof structure including a plurality of roof support pillars that include a plurality of receptacles on an outer surface of the pillars. The receptacles are adapted to receive a connector for securing an article to a vehicle either directly or by means of a tie down strap. A spider roof structure or conventional roof structure are disclosed that may include either X-shaped receptacle openings or a T-track slot. Articles may be directly secured to the receptacles or slots on the outer surface of the pillars or may be connected to the roof or side outer walls of the pillar by tie down straps.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2016Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Dragan B. STOJKOVIC, Colleen Marie HOFFMAN, Stephen Thomas KOZAK
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Patent number: 9884654Abstract: A roof structure includes a roof support longitudinally extending over a compartment area at a lateral centerline of a vehicle. A plurality of pillars support the roof support and include a transverse leg extending laterally outward from the roof support to a curved section, and a vertical leg extending downward from the curved section to a vehicle beltline. Windows are assembled to a openings that are defined by two pillars, the roof support and the vehicle beltline.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, Stephen Thomas Kozak, Jon A. Wilcox
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Patent number: 9840288Abstract: A joint for a motor vehicle body comprises a first structural member fabricated from aluminum attached to a second structural member fabricated from steel. The second structural member has an adjoining portion that is in substantially juxtaposed abutting relation with the first structural member when the second structural member is attached to the first structural member. The second structural member has a ramp portion terminating in a bare exposed edge on the second structural member and upon which the bare exposed edge is disposed. The bare exposed edge is displaced from the first structural member to form a gap between the first structural member and the bare exposed edge to prevent corrosion of the bare exposed edge without the use of adhesives and sealants.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2016Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, Kimberly Ann Lazarz, Jack Lashbrook, Chris Verschaeve
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Patent number: 9809256Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame and a body supported above the frame. The body includes a pair of hinge pillars disposed on opposite sides of the body and a bulkhead extending between the hinge pillars. A pair of one-piece hydroformed front-support tubes is each attached to one of the hinge pillars at a back end of the tube. Each of the tubes includes a forwardly extending portion, and a transversely extending portion attached to the frame and terminating at a front end. The front ends are attached to each other by an overlapping joint located behind a front fascia of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2016Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman
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Patent number: 9796429Abstract: A tailgate cover assembly may include a first panel having a beaded side and a flat side, and a first ledge extending from one end of the first panel, and a second panel having a beaded side and a flat side, and a second ledge extending from an end proximate to the first panel, the second ledge configured to overlap the first ledge to attach the first panel to the second panel wherein the flat side of the first panel aligns with the flat side of the second panel to form a tailgate cover having a beaded side and a flat side.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2017Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Joshua Robert Hemphill, Jack Marchlewski, Robert Reiners, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman
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Patent number: 9789912Abstract: A vehicle tailgate includes an upper panel, lower panel, internal panel, external panel and brace. The upper and lower panels are spaced apart relative to each other. The internal and external panels are each secured to the upper and lower panels. A cavity is defined between the upper, lower, internal, and external panels. The brace is disposed within the cavity. The brace includes first and second flanges extending outward from a central plate. The first and second flanges are secured to the internal panel while the central plate is secured to the external panel.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2016Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jack Marchlewski, Jeffrey Gray, Michael William Danyo, David Alan Hamilton, Joshua R. Hemphill, John Comiez, Colleen Marie Hoffman, Scott Huneau, Bradley Brandt
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Publication number: 20170253279Abstract: An outer panel is provided for a motor vehicle. That outer panel includes an outer panel body made from a non-ferromagnetic material and a ferromagnetic element connected to an inner surface of the outer panel body. The ferromagnetic element serves as a magnetic attachment point through the outer panel body for a magnetic accessory on the outer panel body of the motor vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2016Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: Joshua R. Hemphill, Vincent Anthony Chimento, Azazhusen V. Khatri, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Steve William Gallagher, Colleen Marie Hoffman
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Patent number: 9578932Abstract: A support assembly for an assembly comprised of an extruded member that defines a cavity, the member including an opening having a plurality of sides, and a crush tube inserted into the cavity of the member and mechanically retained in the member at or near a desired location by flanging the sides of the opening into an open end of the crush tube.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, Vince Chimento, Matthew Forsyth
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Publication number: 20160361753Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a plurality of material stacks for joining with common self-piercing rivets. The method includes tuning the panels for self-piercing rivet joint commonality and manufacturing simplicity by providing each of the multiple material stacks with a common self-piercing rivet mating surface thickness. This may be done by striking a metal panel of an individual material stack at a self-piercing rivet mating surface to reduce the thickness thereof in a tuned area and thereby provide the common self-piercing rivet mating surface thickness to the individual material stack independent of the original total metal thickness of the individual material stack.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2015Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman
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Publication number: 20160339964Abstract: A joint for a motor vehicle body comprises a first structural member fabricated from aluminum attached to a second structural member fabricated from steel. The second structural member has an adjoining portion that is in substantially juxtaposed abutting relation with the first structural member when the second structural member is attached to the first structural member. The second structural member has a ramp portion terminating in a bare exposed edge on the second structural member and upon which the bare exposed edge is disposed. The bare exposed edge is displaced from the first structural member to form a gap between the first structural member and the bare exposed edge to prevent corrosion of the bare exposed edge without the use of adhesives and sealants.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, Kimberly Ann Lazarz, Jack Lashbrook, Chris Verschaeve
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Patent number: 9434422Abstract: A joint for a motor vehicle body comprises a first structural member fabricated from aluminum attached to a second structural member fabricated from steel. The second structural member has an adjoining portion that is in substantially juxtaposed abutting relation with the first structural member when the second structural member is attached to the first structural member. The second structural member has a ramp portion terminating in a bare exposed edge on the second structural member and upon which the bare exposed edge is disposed. The bare exposed edge is displaced from the first structural member to form a gap between the first structural member and the bare exposed edge to prevent corrosion of the bare exposed edge without the use of adhesives and sealants.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, Kimberly Ann Lazarz, Jack Lashbrook, Chris Verschaeve