Patents by Inventor Darek G. Villeneuve

Darek G. Villeneuve 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: 9889892
    Abstract: An attachment for connecting a chassis structure to a hollow beam of a body structure includes a tube nut, a bulkhead, and a bolt. The bulkhead has a cavity surface configured to conform to a cylindrical outer surface of the tube nut. The bulkhead is disposed within the hollow beam and is attached to at least two walls of the hollow beam and to the tube nut. A first portion of the cylindrical outer surface of the tube nut is disposed in close proximity to the cavity surface of the bulkhead. A bottom surface of the tube nut contacts an inner surface of a bottom wall of the hollow beam. The bolt extends from the chassis structure, through a hole formed in the bottom wall of the hollow beam, and into the tube nut to connect the chassis structure to the body structure. The attachment may include a second bulkhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Travis W. Walker, Darek G. Villeneuve, Terry A. Swartzell, Daniel C. Dokter
  • Publication number: 20180015961
    Abstract: An attachment for connecting a chassis structure to a hollow beam of a body structure includes a tube nut, a bulkhead, and a bolt. The bulkhead has a cavity surface configured to conform to a cylindrical outer surface of the tube nut. The bulkhead is disposed within the hollow beam and is attached to at least two walls of the hollow beam and to the tube nut. A first portion of the cylindrical outer surface of the tube nut is disposed in close proximity to the cavity surface of the bulkhead. A bottom surface of the tube nut contacts an inner surface of a bottom wall of the hollow beam. The bolt extends from the chassis structure, through a hole formed in the bottom wall of the hollow beam, and into the tube nut to connect the chassis structure to the body structure. The attachment may include a second bulkhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Travis W. Walker, Darek G. Villeneuve, Terry A. Swartzell, Daniel C. Dokter
  • Patent number: 8936276
    Abstract: A body structure of a vehicle includes a bulkhead, and a frame rail extending forward from the bulkhead along a longitudinal centerline. A powertrain system is disposed laterally inboard of the frame rail relative to the longitudinal centerline. The frame rail includes a flared section, a splayed section, and a reinforcing member. The flared section curves laterally outboard, away from the longitudinal centerline. The splayed section includes a variable cross sectional area that increases with an increase in distance from the bulkhead. The reinforcing member is operable to increase lateral stiffness in the frame rail, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal centerline. The frame rail is operable to deform into contact with the powertrain system in response to a load applied to a forward end of the body structure and laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline, to generate a lateral force in the body structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rajan V. Vyas, Bhushan W. Dandekar, Darek G. Villeneuve, Marcel R. Cannon, Young Doe, Krishnarao V. Yalamanchili