Patents by Inventor Eric Jay MacLean

Eric Jay MacLean 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).

  • AUTOMATIC VENTILATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PURGING AN INTERIOR SPACE OF A VEHICLE DURING SHIPPING
    Publication number: 20230322046
    Abstract: A ventilation system and method of purging volatile organic compounds from an interior space of the vehicle. The ventilation space including an air extractor connected to a vehicle wall and having an interior side within the interior space defined by the vehicle wall, a fan attached to the interior side, and a controller configured to operate in a shipping mode to activate the fan to generate ventilation flow through the air extractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Christopher Sterbenz, Eric Jay MacLean, Daniel Ferretti, Timothy James Hallifax, Gary D. Mullen
  • Valve assembly controlled by electromagnet
    Patent number: 11248716
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a valve assembly for a motor vehicle, such as a pressure relief valve (i.e., an “air extractor”), and a method of using the same. In an example, the valve assembly includes a flap moveable to between an open position and a closed position, a slider moveable along an axis and including an integrally formed arm in contact with the flap, and an electromagnet configured to be selectively activated to move the slider along the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Christopher Sterbenz, Eric Jay MacLean
  • VEHICLE AIR EXTRACTOR AND PRESSURE RELEASE METHOD
    Publication number: 20200376931
    Abstract: An air extractor assembly includes, among other things, a housing, a first valve, and a second valve. The first valve is coupled to the housing and configured to transition from a sealed position to a pressure releasing position in response to a first pressure differential. The second valve is coupled to the housing and configured to transition between a sealed position and a pressure releasing position in response to a second pressure differential that is different than the first pressure differential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Scott Christopher Sterbenz, Eric Jay MacLean
  • VALVE ASSEMBLY CONTROLLED BY ELECTROMAGNET
    Publication number: 20200263801
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a valve assembly for a motor vehicle, such as a pressure relief valve (i.e., an “air extractor”), and a method of using the same. In an example, the valve assembly includes a flap moveable to between an open position and a closed position, a slider moveable along an axis and including an integrally formed arm in contact with the flap, and an electromagnet configured to be selectively activated to move the slider along the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Scott Christopher Sterbenz, Eric Jay MacLean
  • Shape-memory material providing soft open and closure assistance for tailgate
    Patent number: 10577029
    Abstract: A motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cargo box, a tailgate moveable relative to the cargo box between an open position and a closed position, and a cable affixed to the cargo box and the tailgate. At least a portion of the cable includes a shape-memory material. Additionally, the motor vehicle includes a controller configured to activate the shape-memory material when the tailgate moves between the open and closed positions. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Jay MacLean, Scott Christopher Sterbenz
  • SHAPE-MEMORY MATERIAL PROVIDING SOFT OPEN AND CLOSURE ASSISTANCE FOR TAILGATE
    Publication number: 20190136602
    Abstract: A motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cargo box, a tailgate moveable relative to the cargo box between an open position and a closed position, and a cable affixed to the cargo box and the tailgate. At least a portion of the cable includes a shape-memory material. Additionally, the motor vehicle includes a controller configured to activate the shape-memory material when the tailgate moves between the open and closed positions. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Eric Jay MacLean, Scott Christopher Sterbenz