Patents by Inventor Robert Schwalm

Robert Schwalm 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: 10328977
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a floor panel, a door frame, a cross-member, and a load transmittal bracket. The door frame and the cross-member are fixed relative to the floor panel. The door frame defines a door opening. The load transmittal bracket is disposed between the door opening and the cross-member. The load transmittal bracket includes a second segment welded to a first segment and to the floor panel. During a side impact of the vehicle, the load transmittal bracket transfers impact force from the door frame to the cross-member to dissipate the impact force and reduce deformation of the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Deepak Patel, Robert Schwalm, Stephen W. Siu, Greg B. Zinn, Djamal Eddine Midoun
  • Patent number: 10293862
    Abstract: A side sill assembly for a vehicle includes an inner shell connected to an outer shell and a reinforcement assembly. The reinforcement assembly includes a longitudinally extending tube and a plurality of reinforcement brackets provided at longitudinally spaced locations along the length of the tube. The reinforcement brackets each include a front wall and a back wall connected by an outer side wall. The reinforcement brackets define recesses for receiving the tube that is welded to the front walls and the back walls where the tube contacts an edge of the recesses. The reinforcement brackets may include a top flange on a top edge and a base flange on a bottom edge of each of the front walls and back walls. An inner flange is provided on an inner edge of each of the front walls and back walls that is welded to the inner shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Deepak Patel, Sushil Shastry, Robert Schwalm, Matthew B Makowski
  • Patent number: 10287813
    Abstract: An apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a hood inner panel having a rear edge and a front edge, a latch mounted to the hood inner panel at an offset location that is spaced from the front edge, and at least one bump stop mounted to the hood inner panel between the offset location and the front edge. The bump stop includes a lock feature to prevent removal of the bump stop from the hood inner panel. A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, mounting at least one resilient bump stop to the hood inner panel between the offset location and the front edge to absorb impact energy and to provide a seal force to stabilize the latch during closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ted Victor Kolar, Sushil Shastry, Robert Schwalm, Deepak Patel
  • Publication number: 20190017310
    Abstract: An apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a hood inner panel having a rear edge and a front edge, a latch mounted to the hood inner panel at an offset location that is spaced from the front edge, and at least one bump stop mounted to the hood inner panel between the offset location and the front edge. The bump stop includes a lock feature to prevent removal of the bump stop from the hood inner panel. A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, mounting at least one resilient bump stop to the hood inner panel between the offset location and the front edge to absorb impact energy and to provide a seal force to stabilize the latch during closure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Ted Victor Kolar, Sushil Shastry, Robert Schwalm, Deepak Patel
  • Patent number: 10150444
    Abstract: A support assembly includes a bump stop having a shaft. The support assembly includes an insert having a guide ring disposed around the shaft, a bump stop support supporting the bump stop, and a column connecting the guide ring to the bump stop support. The column is breakable relative to the guide ring and the bump stop support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Schwalm, John Joseph Nizienski, Deepak Patel
  • Publication number: 20170297626
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a floor panel, a door frame, a cross-member, and a load transmittal bracket. The door frame and the cross-member are fixed relative to the floor panel. The door frame defines a door opening. The load transmittal bracket is disposed between the door opening and the cross-member. The load transmittal bracket includes a second segment welded to a first segment and to the floor panel. During a side impact of the vehicle, the load transmittal bracket transfers impact force from the door frame to the cross-member to dissipate the impact force and reduce deformation of the floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Deepak Patel, Robert Schwalm, Stephen W. Siu, Greg B. Zinn, Djamal Eddine Midoun
  • Patent number: 9731769
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a floor panel, a door frame, a cross-member, and a load transmittal bracket. The door frame and the cross-member are fixed relative to the floor panel. The door frame defines a door opening. The load transmittal bracket is disposed between the door opening and the cross-member. The load transmittal bracket includes a second segment welded to a first segment and to the floor panel. During a side impact of the vehicle, the load transmittal bracket transfers impact force from the door frame to the cross-member to dissipate the impact force and reduce deformation of the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Deepak Patel, Robert Schwalm, Stephen W. Siu, Greg B. Zinn, Djamal Eddine Midoun
  • Publication number: 20170036700
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a floor panel, a door frame, a cross-member, and a load transmittal bracket. The door frame and the cross-member are fixed relative to the floor panel. The door frame defines a door opening. The load transmittal bracket is disposed between the door opening and the cross-member. The load transmittal bracket includes a second segment welded to a first segment and to the floor panel. During a side impact of the vehicle, the load transmittal bracket transfers impact force from the door frame to the cross-member to dissipate the impact force and reduce deformation of the floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Deepak Patel, Robert Schwalm, Stephen W. Siu, Greg B. Zinn, Djamal Eddine Midoun