Patents by Inventor Alan Richard

Alan Richard 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).

  • Head restraint for a convertible motor vehicle
    Patent number: 7637553
    Abstract: A motor vehicle is disclosed having one or more seat assemblies each of which has an automatically stowable head restraint associated with it. Each head restraint is pivotally supported by a stowable rear roof panel and is biased into a stowed position in which it lies adjacent to the rear roof panel by a spring. A latch mechanism is used to hold the head restraint in a lowered position in which it depends downwardly from the roof panel for use by an occupant of the motor vehicle. The latch mechanism is automatically released by the process of stowing the rear roof panel or a front roof panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Richard Condon, Torsten Gerhardt, John K Harding, Steve David Fleming
  • Systems for providing an automobile electronic transmission control monitoring unit with a latchdown mechanism
    Patent number: 7620486
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems for microprocessors to control a transmission power relay output with a latchdown mechanism in the event that either microprocessor decides it is appropriate to de-energize the relay. Advantageously, the present disclosure allows, for example, the transmission control to be performed by an existing dual microprocessor configuration instead of a custom-designed application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The microprocessor-based software is more easily updated or changed to add functionality. Further, the present disclosure minimizes unique development with respect to electronic transmission control with a less complex design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Alan Richard Ward, Roger Thomas Douglas, Michael Ray Lindsay, Jesse Mitchell Saier
  • Wheel assembly for vehicle having drive plates in which forces exceeding a level are not transferred to the axle
    Patent number: 7607740
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for a vehicle such as a tractor is disclosed. The assembly comprises a wheel rim (10) for supporting a tire, a nave plate (11) mounted to the rim, and a drive plate (21) mounted to an axle flange (26). A torque ring (18) has first key ways (16, 17) for cooperating with first keys (14, 15) on nave plate (11), and second key ways (19, 20) for cooperating with second keys (22, 23) on drive plate (21). In this way, torque and radial and axial forces are transferred between the drive plate (21) and nave plate (11), but radial or axial forces, tending to remove the assembly from the axle, and exceeding respective predetermined levels, are prevented from being transferred from the nave plate (11) to the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Pearson Engineering Limited
    Inventor: Alan Richard Reese
  • Method and system for authorizing a restricted callable status in an instant messaging system
    Patent number: 7606862
    Abstract: A method, an apparatus, a system, and a computer program product are presented for managing availability status values in an instant messaging application. A user of the instant messaging application is able to select a “do not disturb” status that is to be associated with the user, thereby preventing most users from being able to initiate an instant messaging session with the user. In addition, the user of the instant messaging application can selectively authorize a subset of users to have the privilege of being able to start instant messaging sessions with the user while maintaining an indication to all other users that the user is in a “do not disturb” status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Ardner Swearingen, Alan Richard Tannenbaum
  • STEAM TURBINE BUCKET WITH EROSION DURABILITY
    Publication number: 20090193656
    Abstract: A method for forming a bucket for a steam turbine includes forming a leading edge on at least one airfoil. The leading edge is comprised of an erosion resistant material and is bonded to the airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lyle B. Spiegel, Alan Richard DeMania, Qingxuan Michael Zhang
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS TO PRESENT RECIPE PROGRESS STATUS INFORMATION
    Publication number: 20090164933
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to present recipe progress status information are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves displaying a user interface screen associated with a recipe being executed in a process control system. The recipe includes a plurality of process phases. A plurality of process stage progress indicator are displayed in the user interface screen in an arrangement representative of the process flow of the recipe. Each of the process stage progress indicators is representative of at least one of the process phases of the recipe. A first one of the process stage progress indicators is indicative of a progress of at least one of the process phases. The first process stage progress indicator is updated in substantially real-time based on information received from the process control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Alan Richard Pederson, Bryan Michael Jones, Dawn Marie Marruchella
  • Vehicle wheel
    Patent number: D596101
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Sean William Tant, Patrick J. Schiavone, George Bucher, Bradley Alan Richards
  • Vehicle front upper bumper
    Patent number: D597000
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Edward R. Golden, Bradley Alan Richards, William K. Moore
  • Vehicle rear fender
    Patent number: D597005
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Edward R. Golden, Bradley Alan Richards, Steven P. Gilmore
  • Vehicle rear fender
    Patent number: D597006
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Edward R. Golden, Bradley Alan Richards, Steven P. Gilmore
  • Ring for sealing
    Patent number: D600329
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: IBP Conex Limited
    Inventors: Alan Richard Glaze, Steven Paul Webb
  • Vehicle hood
    Patent number: D600608
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Edward R. Golden, Bradley Alan Richards, William K. Moore
  • Vehicle taillight
    Patent number: D601730
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Bradley Alan Richards, Steven Gilmore, Patrick J. Schiavone
  • Vehicle front fender
    Patent number: D603772
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Edward R. Golden, Bradley Alan Richards, Steven P. Gilmore, William K. Moore
  • Vehicle headlight
    Patent number: D604874
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Edward R. Golden, Bradley Alan Richards, William K. Moore
  • Vehicle fog light bezel
    Patent number: D604892
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Edward R. Golden, Bradley Alan Richards, William K. Moore
  • Vehicle upper grille
    Patent number: D606460
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Bradley Alan Richards, Steven Gilmore, Patrick J. Schiavone
  • Vehicle lower grille
    Patent number: D606461
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Bradley Alan Richards, Steven Gilmore, Patrick J. Schiavone
  • Vehicle grille
    Patent number: D607786
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Edward R. Golden, Bradley Alan Richards, William K. Moore
  • Vehicle grille
    Patent number: D607787
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Edward R. Golden, Bradley Alan Richards, William K. Moore