Patents by Inventor Leonard J. Brohl, Jr.
Leonard J. Brohl, Jr. 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: 9783152Abstract: A vehicle structure comprising a body including a wheel house, a fender and an energy absorption member. The fender has an exposed A-side surface and an opposed B-side surface, with the fender including a laterally inner edge extending fore-and-aft that defines a portion of a hood opening, and the B-side surface adjacent to the laterally inner edge spaced from the wheel house in a vertical direction to define a crush gap. The energy absorption member is located in the crush gap between the wheel house and the fender, with the energy absorption member having a fender attachment flange secured to the B-side surface of the fender adjacent to the laterally inner edge, a body attachment flange secured to the wheel house, and an energy absorbing portion extending between the fender attachment flange and the body attachment flange, with the energy absorbing portion being curved in the vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2011Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Mark A. Voss, Leonard J. Brohl, Jr., Anil A. Masih, Carl B. Corman, William C. Bliss
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Patent number: 8485588Abstract: A vehicle hood or a panel covering an object includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface faces the object and is offset from the object by a basin depth. The outer surface is substantially opposite the inner surface. A local energy absorber is operatively attached to the inner surface or is disposed between the inner surface and the object. The local energy absorber has a singly-connected structure, which includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion. The first wall portion is operatively attached to the inner surface. The singly-connected structure also includes a curved connector portion joining the first wall portion and the second wall portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Mark A. Voss, Leonard J. Brohl, Jr., Paul E. Krajewski, Louis G. Hector, Jr., Keith S. Snavely, Matthew F. Pawlicki
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Publication number: 20130088042Abstract: A vehicle structure comprising a body including a wheel house, a fender and an energy absorption member. The fender has an exposed A-side surface and an opposed B-side surface, with the fender including a laterally inner edge extending fore-and-aft that defines a portion of a hood opening, and the B-side surface adjacent to the laterally inner edge spaced from the wheel house in a vertical direction to define a crush gap. The energy absorption member is located in the crush gap between the wheel house and the fender, with the energy absorption member having a fender attachment flange secured to the B-side surface of the fender adjacent to the laterally inner edge, a body attachment flange secured to the wheel house, and an energy absorbing portion extending between the fender attachment flange and the body attachment flange, with the energy absorbing portion being curved in the vertical direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2011Publication date: April 11, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Mark A. Voss, Leonard J. Brohl, JR., Anil A. Masih, Carl B. Corman, William C. Bliss
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Patent number: 7690710Abstract: An assembly for opening and closing a passageway into the body of a motor vehicle includes a post secured to the body at a lateral side of the passageway, an endgate for opening and closing the passageway, and a hinge secured to the endgate and the post. The hinge defines a lateral axis and supports the endgate for pivoting about the lateral axis relative to the post, and the hinge defines an upright axis and supports the endgate for pivoting about the upright axis relative to the post.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2008Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: James M. Townson, Leonard J. Brohl, Jr., Michael K. Zelek, Sarah Pearson, Patrick O. McGee, John B. Morley, Tanya J. Klain
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Publication number: 20090250960Abstract: An assembly for opening and closing a passageway into the body of a vehicle includes a post secured to the body at a lateral side of the passageway, an endgate for opening and closing the passageway and able to swing alternately about a lateral axis and an upright axis, a pivot support secured to the first post and aligned with the lateral axis, and a pivot secured to the endgate and aligned with the lateral axis, for alternately engaging and disengaging the pivot support, with the engagement supporting the endgate for pivoting about the lateral axis, and with the disengagement permitting the endgate to pivot about the upright axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2008Publication date: October 8, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: James M. Townson, Micahel K. Zelek, Leonard J. Brohl, JR., Tanya J. Klain, John B. Morely, Sarah Pearson, Patrick O. McGee
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Publication number: 20090250959Abstract: An assembly for opening and closing a passageway into the body of a motor vehicle includes a post secured to the body at a lateral side of the passageway, an endgate for opening and closing the passageway, and a hinge secured to the endgate and the post. The hinge defines a lateral axis and supports the endgate for pivoting about the lateral axis relative to the post, and the hinge defines an upright axis and supports the endgate for pivoting about the upright axis relative to the post.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2008Publication date: October 8, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: James M. Townson, Leonard J. Brohl, JR., Michael K. Zelek, Sarah Pearson, Patrick O. McGee, John B. Morley, Tanya J. Klain
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Patent number: 7597374Abstract: An assembly for opening and closing a passageway into the body of a vehicle includes a post secured to the body at a lateral side of the passageway, an endgate for opening and closing the passageway and able to swing alternately about a lateral axis and an upright axis, a pivot support secured to the first post and aligned with the lateral axis, and a pivot secured to the endgate and aligned with the lateral axis, for alternately engaging and disengaging the pivot support, with the engagement supporting the endgate for pivoting about the lateral axis, and with the disengagement permitting the endgate to pivot about the upright axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2008Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: James M. Townson, Michael K. Zelek, Leonard J. Brohl, Jr., Tanya J. Klain, John B. Morley, Sarah Pearson, Patrick O. McGee
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Patent number: 7481479Abstract: An assembly for opening and closing a passageway into a motor vehicle includes a post secured to the body at a lateral side of the passageway, an endgate for opening and closing the passageway, a hinge-striker that includes a first plate secured to the post and including mutually spaced first lugs, with each first lug being formed with a hole; a second plate including mutually spaced second lugs, with each second lug being formed with a hole, the holes of the first plate being aligned with the holes of the second plate; a hinge pin located in the holes and aligned with an upright axis; and a striker, secured to and extending from one of said plates, and a latch secured to the post for releasably engaging the hinge-striker, where the engagement secures the endgate in a position that closes the passageway and prevents pivoting about a lateral axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2008Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: James M. Townson, Michael K. Zelek, Leonard J. Brohl, Jr., Tanya J. Klain, John B. Morley, Sarah Pearson, Patrick O. McGee