Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Alan Firzlaff
Jeffrey Alan Firzlaff 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: 10300777Abstract: A vehicle includes a truck bed, tailgate, and cover. The tailgate is rotatably secured to the bed. The tailgate has internal and external panels secured to each other via a sidewall extending therebetween. The external panel defines an outer periphery. The sidewall and internal panel collectively form a first radius extending adjacent and internal to a corner of the periphery. The cover is secured to the tailgate and over the first radius.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2017Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jack Marchlewski, Joshua Robert Hemphill, Jeffrey Gray, Robert Reiners, Jeffrey Alan Firzlaff, Casey Ray Tanner, Sara E. Veyo
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Publication number: 20180290527Abstract: A vehicle includes a truck bed, tailgate, and cover. The tailgate is rotatably secured to the bed. The tailgate has internal and external panels secured to each other via a sidewall extending therebetween. The external panel defines an outer periphery. The sidewall and internal panel collectively form a first radius extending adjacent and internal to a corner of the periphery. The cover is secured to the tailgate and over the first radius.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2017Publication date: October 11, 2018Inventors: Jack MARCHLEWSKI, Joshua Robert HEMPHILL, Jeffrey GRAY, Robert REINERS, Jeffrey Alan FIRZLAFF, Casey Ray TANNER, Sara E. VEYO
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Patent number: 9757825Abstract: An aluminum pickup bed is assembled from a stamped headboard, a stamped floorpan, and a roll formed front sill. The headboard, a floorpan flange extending downwardly from the floorpan, and a front wall of the front sill form a three piece sandwich structure. Flow drilled screws are installed into the sandwich structure from the headboard side. The front sill includes a closed front flange and an open rear flange, each of which is welded to the floorpan.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2014Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark Joseph Courtright, Vince Chimento, Jack Marchlewski, John Comiez, Jeffrey Alan Firzlaff
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Patent number: 9573630Abstract: A pick-up truck tailgate is disclosed that is constructed of components made of aluminum alloys. A hinge reinforcement and hinge plate reinforce a lower corner of the tailgate. A transversely extending reinforcement, including a U-shaped body, is provided within the tailgate that reinforces the central portion of the tailgate. An access panel is provided on the inner panel of the tailgate and includes a hem and fasteners that are assembled to the inner panel through holes formed inboard of the hem.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Gray, Jeffrey Alan Firzlaff, Vince Chimento, Joshua Hemphill, Robert Reiners, Kevin Laws, Gerald E. McLaughlin
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Patent number: 9487246Abstract: A cargo bed assembly for a pickup truck includes an aluminum truck bed above a pair of frame rails. A plurality of roll-formed 6000-series aluminum cross-members extend along a width of the truck bed and contact the underside of the truck bed. The cross-members include longitudinal channels. Each cross-member contacts a pair of extruded 6000-series aluminum spacers underneath the cross-member at spaced locations to align with the frame rails. The spacers contact the frame rails and at least partially surround a portion of the outer surface of the cross-members to separate the cross-members from the frame rails.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2015Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark Joseph Courtright, Vince Chimento, Joshua Hemphill, Jack Marchlewski, Jeffrey Alan Firzlaff, Lawrence J. Dupuis
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Publication number: 20150375804Abstract: A pick-up truck tailgate is disclosed that is constructed of components made of aluminum alloys. A hinge reinforcement and hinge plate reinforce a lower corner of the tailgate. A transversely extending reinforcement, including a U-shaped body, is provided within the tailgate that reinforces the central portion of the tailgate. An access panel is provided on the inner panel of the tailgate and includes a hem and fasteners that are assembled to the inner panel through holes formed inboard of the hem.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2014Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Jeffrey Gray, Jeffrey Alan Firzlaff, Vince Chimento, Joshua Hemphill, Robert Reiners, Kevin Laws, Gerald E. McLaughlin
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Publication number: 20150375802Abstract: A cargo bed assembly for a pickup truck includes an aluminum truck bed above a pair of frame rails. A plurality of roll-formed 6000-series aluminum cross-members extend along a width of the truck bed and contact the underside of the truck bed. The cross-members include longitudinal channels. Each cross-member contacts a pair of extruded 6000-series aluminum spacers underneath the cross-member at spaced locations to align with the frame rails. The spacers contact the frame rails and at least partially surround a portion of the outer surface of the cross-members to separate the cross-members from the frame rails.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Mark Joseph Courtright, Vince Chimento, Joshua Hemphill, Jack Marchlewski, Jeffrey Alan Firzlaff, Lawrence J. Dupuis
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Publication number: 20150375818Abstract: An aluminum pickup bed is assembled from a stamped headboard, a stamped floorpan, and a roll formed front sill. The headboard, a floorpan flange extending downwardly from the floorpan, and a front wall of the front sill form a three piece sandwich structure. Flow drilled screws are installed into the sandwich structure from the headboard side. The front sill includes a closed front flange and an open rear flange, each of which is welded to the floorpan.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2014Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Mark Joseph COURTRIGHT, Vince CHIMENTO, Jack MARCHLEWSKI, John COMIEZ, Jeffrey Alan FIRZLAFF
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Patent number: 9145176Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame having a pair of longitudinal rails and a box. The box includes a bed supported by the rails and a pair of opposing sidewalls connected to the bed outboard of the rails. A pair of braces provide additional support between the bed and the frame rails. Each may be attached between respective rails and a bottom portion of the bed outboard the rails.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2014Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Philip Van Wyk, Jeffrey Alan Firzlaff, Vincent Chimento, Jack Marchlewski
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Patent number: 9090293Abstract: A cargo bed assembly for a pickup truck includes an aluminum truck bed above a pair of frame rails. A plurality of roll-formed 6000-series aluminum cross-members extend along a width of the truck bed and contact the underside of the truck bed. The cross-members include longitudinal channels. Each cross-member contacts a pair of extruded 6000-series aluminum spacers underneath the cross-member at spaced locations to align with the frame rails. The spacers contact the frame rails and at least partially surround a portion of the outer surface of the cross-members to separate the cross-members from the frame rails.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2014Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark Joseph Courtright, Vince Chimento, Joshua Hemphill, Jack Marchlewski, Jeffrey Alan Firzlaff, Lawrence J. Dupuis
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Patent number: 6793263Abstract: An automotive vehicle, such as a pickup truck, has a tailgate including a door adapted to pivot about a generally horizontal pivot axis, with the door including a shell defining a space surrounded by the shell. The door is pivoted upon bearings mounted upon bearing retainers located at each end of the door. A full floating torsion bar is provided and includes a first end rotationally grounded within the interior space of the door shell and a second end engaged with and rotationally locked with one of the bearing inserts so that the torsion bar will be subjected to torsional loading as the door is pivoted. Because of the full floating feature, the hinge function of the tailgate will not be impaired in the event that the torsion bar becomes fractured.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2003Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stephen Lewis Bruford, Jeffrey Alan Firzlaff, Duane A. Koehler, Scott G. Miller, Ed Rybarczyk, Glenn VanGelderen
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Patent number: 6769729Abstract: An automotive tailgate includes a door adapted to pivot about a generally horizontal pivot axis, with the door including a shell defining an interior space. The door is pivoted upon bearings mounted upon bearing retainers located at each end of the door. A full floating torsion bar is provided and includes a first end rotationally grounded within the interior of the door shell and a second end engaged with and rotationally locked with one of the bearing inserts so that the torsion bar will be subjected to torsional loading as the door is pivoted. Because the torsion bar is full floating, the operation of the tailgate hinges will not be impaired even if the torsion bar were to become fractured.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2003Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stephen Lewis Bruford, Jeffrey Alan Firzlaff, Scott G. Miller, Ed Rybarczyk, Duane A. Koehler, Glenn VanGelderen