Patents by Inventor David M Ford

David M Ford 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: 6877371
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of characterizing for tire pressure imbalances in a set of tires of vehicle, the vehicle having four wheels, and each wheel having a sensor generating a pulse for a predetermined amount of distance traveled by the wheel including entering a first characterization mode, accumulating a number of pulses from each sensor and adding the number of pulses from each sensor to generate a first record total pulse count in the characterization mode, generating a second record total pulse count in the characterization mode, determining if the first record is similar to the second record, and discarding at least one of the first and second records if the first and second records do not meet a criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Allen J. Walenty, Onno R. Van Eikema Hommes, David M Ford, J. David Rosa
  • Patent number: 5786815
    Abstract: A method facilitating modification of an application's graphical user interface (GUI), particularly by application end-users. In particular, the method permits modification of the application GUI, without having to specify widgets required for the modified GUI, and without having to modify or add callback routines. Thus, users can tailor the application GUI to suit their needs without having experience in GUI development (and, in particular, with the cumbersome and error-prone tasks of widget-specification and callback programming). Elimination of the need to modify/expand the set of callback routines permits end-users to realize application GUI changes without having to form a new application executable. Thus, user-driven application GUI changes can be achieved without user access to the application source code and without the application developer's involvement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Ford
  • Patent number: 4784378
    Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for mounting a vibrating body to a support structure, being particularly adapted for use as an engine mount system for a motor vehicle. The assembly comprises a mount having a chamber which, in use, is fluid-filled, and further comprises a vacuum accumulator in fluid communication with the mount chamber. More specifically, the mount comprises (a) a housing comprising a substantially rigid wall with a first opening therethrough and a first elasticly deformable body sealingly bonded to the wall to form a fluid-tight closure of such first opening, the housing defining an elasticly expandable fluid-tight chamber with a first port, such chamber being in fluid communication with the vacuum accumulator through such first port via a fluid conduit; (b) a rigid attachment of the housing wall to either the vibrating body or the support structure; and (c) an attachment of the mount to the other of the vibrating body and support structure, which attachment is to the elastomeric body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: David M. Ford
  • Patent number: 4679759
    Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for mounting a vibrating body to a support structure, being particularly adapted for use as an engine mount system for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: David M. Ford
  • Patent number: 4582714
    Abstract: An ungelled processed food product, especially an emulsion such as ice cream, whipping cream, cheese spread, cheese slices, a flavored milk drink, or a meringue, which has been stabilized and/or thickened by the incorporation therein of at least one glucomannan, preferably a glucomannan derived from Amorphophallus species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Mars G.B. Limited
    Inventors: David M. Ford, Peter A. Cheney
  • Patent number: 4298361
    Abstract: A nozzle mounting for the stripper nozzle employed for cleaning the filter media of rotary drum filters. The improved mounting is formed by a stripper duct having a stationary portion and a traversing portion telescoping with respect to said stationary portion, and mounted adjacent the drum filter along a line parallel to the axis of the drum filter. The traversing portion of the duct is coupled to and supports a plurality of equally spaced nozzles, and this traversing duct portion is mounted for reciprocation a distance equal to the spacing between the nozzles so that upon reciprocation of the traversing duct portion, each nozzle will be moved across the media surface rotating with the drum to strip waste therefrom, so that all areas of the media will be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1981
    Assignee: Pneumafil Corporation
    Inventors: Hovan Hocutt, David M. Ford
  • Patent number: 4283814
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for eliminating or minimizing air borne dust, fly, lint and the like particulate matter, and static accumulations thereof generated by the movement of sliver into the coiler trumpet of a sliver coiler. Coiler head cleaning is accomplished by confining an air flow path over the head of the coiler and establishing an air flow stream along said path to entrain dust, fly, lint and the like particulate matter released by the sliver moving into the coiler trumpet. Apparatus is provided comprising an enclosure confining a volume of air over the coiler head, with an opening leading into the enclosure through which air flowing across the trumpet is admitted. A suction connection is formed in the enclosure remote from the air inlet with air flow established in a path through the enclosure between the air inlet and the suction connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Pneumafil Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Ford, Gary Setzer