Patents by Inventor Gary D. Mullen

Gary D. Mullen 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).

  • 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
  • Patent number: 11660932
    Abstract: A vehicle air purging system includes a vehicle body that defines an interior. A support member is coupled to the vehicle body. The support member defines a receiving cavity. The support member defines an aperture proximate the receiving cavity. A one-way valve is coupled to the support member and is disposed within the aperture. A fan is coupled to the support member. The fan includes an outlet aligned with the aperture. A controller is operably coupled to the fan. The controller is configured to activate the fan to blow air from the interior to an area external to the vehicle body through the one-way valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary D. Mullen, Daniel Ferretti, Tim Rush, Wojciech Mariusz Wyrwa, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • Publication number: 20220258572
    Abstract: An air flow control system includes a plenum having an air inlet, a first air outlet, a second air outlet and a third air outlet, a vent door, an air guide, carried on the vent door, and an actuator. The actuator displaces the vent door between a first position closing the first air outlet and a second position opening the first air outlet. A climate control method for an autonomous vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Ligi, JR., Gary D. Mullen, Francis Raymond Gillis, Steven Nicholas Fidh
  • Patent number: 11285787
    Abstract: An air flow control system includes a plenum having an air inlet, a first air outlet, a second air outlet and a third air outlet, a vent door, an air guide, carried on the vent door, and an actuator. The actuator displaces the vent door between a first position closing the first air outlet and a second position opening the first air outlet. A climate control method for an autonomous vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Ligi, Jr., Gary D. Mullen, Francis Raymond Gillis, Steven Nicholas Fidh
  • Patent number: 11254037
    Abstract: A method of forming a cross-car beam is provided. A composite is melted to form a viscous polymer. The polymer is injected into a mold. Pressurized fluid is injected into the mold to evacuate a portion of the viscous polymer from the mold and to form a channel therethrough. The remaining viscous polymer is cooled within the mold to form a cross-car beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dan Busuioc, Bernard Gerard Marchetti, Gary D. Mullen, Nicholas Andrew Mazzocchi
  • Patent number: 11117525
    Abstract: A apparatus includes a trim panel and a displaceable face pane. The trim panel includes a storage compartment and a guideway having a latching slot and a positioning rack. The displaceable face panel has a trunnion received for sliding movement along the guideway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Juergen Koehler, Bhavani Thota, Steven Nicholas Fidh, Gary D. Mullen, Linh Ngoc Doan
  • Patent number: 11084437
    Abstract: An apparatus for an interior vehicle compartment includes a seat adapted for moving in a travel direction and a movable console. The movable console includes a holder for removably receiving and holding a mobile computer having a display. The holder may be displaced between a stowed position and a deployed position. The display is presented for viewing by a vehicle passenger seated in the seat in both of those positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shivraj Karthik Ranganathan, Manjil M Kale, Robert Michael Coury, Gary D. Mullen, Anthony Ligi, Jr., Glenn Biddinger
  • Publication number: 20210229527
    Abstract: A vehicle air purging system includes a vehicle body that defines an interior. A support member is coupled to the vehicle body. The support member defines a receiving cavity. The support member defines an aperture proximate the receiving cavity. A one-way valve is coupled to the support member and is disposed within the aperture. A fan is coupled to the support member. The fan includes an outlet aligned with the aperture. A controller is operably coupled to the fan. The controller is configured to activate the fan to blow air from the interior to an area external to the vehicle body through the one-way valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary D. Mullen, Daniel Ferretti, Tim Rush, Wojciech Mariusz Wyrwa, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • Patent number: 11052875
    Abstract: A unitary defroster system for a motor vehicle windshield comprises an instrument panel substrate, an HVAC supply source, and an air supply plenum in fluid communication with the HVAC supply source and terminating in a plurality of individually configured defroster nozzle ducts conjoined with the instrument panel substrate and aligned in a substantially linear row parallel to and proximate an interior surface of the windshield. The unitary defroster system is formed by an additive manufacturing process and at least two of the ducts are configured and arranged to deliver a different air flow to the interior surface of the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gary D. Mullen, Nicholas A. Mazzocchi, Mitali Chakrabarti, Anthony Ligi, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210107332
    Abstract: An air duct includes an inlet and an outlet that are interconnected with one another by a curved intermediate portion. A plurality of chambers are disposed within the curved intermediate portion. Each chamber of the plurality of chambers includes a first end opening into the inlet and a second end opening into the outlet. An enclosed body portion interconnects the first and second ends of each chamber. The curved intermediate portion further includes a first cross-sectional configuration disposed at a first portion of the curved intermediate portion, and a second cross-sectional configuration that is different from the first cross-sectional configuration disposed at a second portion of the curved intermediate portion. The second portion of the curved intermediate is disposed downstream from the first portion of the curved intermediate portion. The air duct directs airflow in a demisting sequence and is further contemplated to be formed using an additive manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary D. Mullen, Mitali Chakrabarti, John A. Shinska, Daniel D. Mitchell, Martin Alfred Lindell, III
  • Patent number: 10913419
    Abstract: A footwell assembly for a vehicle is disposed herein. The footwell assembly includes at least one foot pedal disposed in the footwell and operable between a use position and a stowed position. A receiving member is positioned within the footwell and is defining a recess, wherein the at least one foot pedal is configured to nest within the recess while in the stowed position. A cover feature is operably coupled to the receiving member and is configured to cover the at least one foot pedal when the at least one foot pedal is nested within the recess of the receiving member in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary D. Mullen, John A. Shinska, Gregory Pfirman, Keith Brown
  • Publication number: 20200398725
    Abstract: A footwell assembly for a vehicle is disposed herein. The footwell assembly includes at least one foot pedal disposed in the footwell and operable between a use positon and a stowed position. A receiving member is positioned within the footwell and is defining a recess, wherein the at least one foot pedal is configured to nest within the recess while in the stowed position. A cover feature is operably coupled to the receiving member and is configured to cover the at least one foot pedal when the at least one foot pedal is nested within the recess of the receiving member in the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary D. Mullen, John A. Shinska, Gregory Pfirman, Keith Brown
  • Publication number: 20200338797
    Abstract: A method of forming a cross-car beam is provided. A composite is melted to form a viscous polymer. The polymer is injected into a mold. Pressurized fluid is injected into the mold to evacuate a portion of the viscous polymer from the mold and to form a channel therethrough. The remaining viscous polymer is cooled within the mold to form a cross-car beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dan Busuioc, Bernard Gerard Marchetti, Gary D. Mullen, Nicholas Andrew Mazzocchi
  • Patent number: 10793088
    Abstract: A handle device includes: a housing, a handle unit including a base portion and a handle portion. The base portion includes a first track and is pivotably connected to the housing. The handle portion includes a slider movable along the first track and a retractable first locking unit connected to a first side portion of the housing. The first locking unit is positioned at least partially within the first track in a locking position and positioned outside of the first track in an unlocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vic Kong, Peter Zhang, Gary D. Mullen, Yoyo Ma
  • Patent number: 10759099
    Abstract: A method of forming a cross-car beam is provided. A composite is melted to form a viscous polymer. The polymer is injected into a mold. Pressurized fluid is injected into the mold to evacuate a portion of the viscous polymer from the mold and to form a channel therethrough. The remaining viscous polymer is cooled within the mold to form a cross-car beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dan Busuioc, Bernard Gerard Marchetti, Gary D. Mullen, Nicholas Andrew Mazzocchi
  • Patent number: 10744918
    Abstract: A motor vehicle console comprises a mount and a pair of exposed parallel tubular members. Each of the tubular members has a forward section, an intermediate section extending rearwardly, and a rearward section, wherein at least one of the forward horizontal section, intermediate section, and rearward section is disposed at an elevation horizontally above the other of the forward section, intermediate section, and rearward section and each forward section is operatively coupled with the mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary D. Mullen, Dennis Sartorello, Anthony Ligi, Jr., Stephen Neal Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 10730557
    Abstract: A cross car beam assembly is provided herein. A composite beam structure extends transversely across a vehicle. A vehicle floor bracket is disposed below the composite beam. A composite reinforcement has a first portion fixedly engaged to the beam structure and a second portion engaged to the vehicle floor bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary D. Mullen, Anthony Ligi, Jr., Li Lu, Nicholas Andrew Mazzocchi
  • Publication number: 20200223368
    Abstract: A apparatus includes a trim panel and a displaceable face pane. The trim panel includes a storage compartment and a guideway having a latching slot and a positioning rack. The displaceable face panel has a trunnion received for sliding movement along the guideway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Juergen Koehler, Bhavani Thota, Steven Nicholas Fidh, Gary D. Mullen, Linh Ngoc Doan
  • Publication number: 20200148141
    Abstract: An apparatus for an interior vehicle compartment includes a seat adapted for moving in a travel direction and a movable console. The movable console includes a holder for removably receiving and holding a mobile computer having a display. The holder may be displaced between a stowed position and a deployed position. The display is presented for viewing by a vehicle passenger seated in the seat in both of those positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Shivraj Karthik Ranganathan, Manjil M Kale, Robert Michael Coury, Gary D. Mullen, Anthony Ligi, JR., Glenn Biddinger
  • Publication number: 20200139933
    Abstract: A unitary defroster system for a motor vehicle windshield comprises an instrument panel substrate, an HVAC supply source, and an air supply plenum in fluid communication with the HVAC supply source and terminating in a plurality of individually configured defroster nozzle ducts conjoined with the instrument panel substrate and aligned in a substantially linear row parallel to and proximate an interior surface of the windshield. The unitary defroster system is formed by an additive manufacturing process and at least two of the ducts are configured and arranged to deliver a different air flow to the interior surface of the windshield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gary D. Mullen, Nicholas A. Mazzochi, Mitali Chakrabarti, Anthony Ligi, JR.