Patents by Inventor Brian Robert Spahn

Brian Robert Spahn 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).

  • SEAT AIRBAG
    Publication number: 20190389420
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seatback. The assembly includes a first airbag and a second airbag, each inflatable to an inflated position spaced from each other at the seatback and abutting each other in front of and spaced from the seatback. The assembly includes a sheet extending from the first airbag to the second airbag in front of where the first airbag abuts the second airbag in the inflated positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: ALAN GEORGE DRY, SRINIVASAN SUNDARARAJAN, JOHNATHAN ANDREW LINE, BRIAN ROBERT SPAHN, BENJAMIN YILMA, DEREK BOARD, S. M. AKBAR BERRY
  • ADJUSTABLE ARMREST ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20190389350
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seat and an armrest moveable relative to the seat. A first arm and a second arm each include a first hinge and a second hinge. The first hinges are spaced from each other and fixed relative to the seat. The second hinges are spaced from each other and fixed relative to the armrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: ALAN GEORGE DRY, JOHNATHAN ANDREW LINE, BRIAN ROBERT SPAHN, SRINIVASAN SUNDARARAJAN, DEREK BOARD, BENJAMIN YILMA, S.M. AKBAR BERRY
  • LINCHPIN VERIFICATION
    Publication number: 20190389413
    Abstract: An assembly includes a base. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the base. The assembly includes an airbag guide supported by the base. The assembly includes a linchpin securing the airbag guide to the base. The linchpin includes a first marking and one of the base or the airbag guide includes a second marking, the first marking and the second marking align to collectively be a readable indicium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Tien Vo, Brian Robert Spahn, Timothy Owen Hamlin
  • Vehicle seating assembly with airbag carrier
    Patent number: 10479310
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided herein. The vehicle includes a seat-base coupled to a seatback. A guide-channel and an armrest are coupled to at least one of the seatback and the seat-base. A carrier having an airbag is slidably coupled to the guide-channel, wherein the carrier is operable between a stowed position and a use position. The carrier is disposed vehicle downward of the armrest while in the stowed position. An airbag deployment side of the carrier is generally directed seating assembly rearward while the carrier is in the use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, S. M. Akbar Berry
  • Vehicle seating arrangement
    Patent number: 10479231
    Abstract: A vehicle seating arrangement includes a rail system that has a plurality of lateral and longitudinal rails. The vehicle seating arrangement also includes at least one seating assembly coupled to the rail system. The seating assembly includes one or more armrests coupled to a seat-base. The armrests are configured for articulation in a vertical direction relative to the seat-base. The armrests enable the seating assembly to transition between captains' chair, loveseat, and bed configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, S. M. Akbar Berry, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Daniel Ferretti
  • Restraint bar for vehicle seating assembly
    Patent number: 10479306
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat pan operably coupled to a seatback. The vehicle seating assembly further includes a restraint bar coupled to the seatback and operable between a first position and a second position. The restraint bar is equipped with at least one deployable occupant restraint and the restraint bar is generally U-shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Srinivasan Sundararajan, Derek Board, James Chih Cheng, Kevin Wayne Preuss
  • Seat with airbag
    Patent number: 10471920
    Abstract: A seat includes a seat bottom and a seatback coupled to the seat bottom. The seatback includes a headrest and a front face facing the seat bottom. The seat includes an airbag inflatable from an undeployed position to a deployed position. The airbag in the undeployed position is supported by the front face above the headrest. The seat includes a tether extending from the seatback to the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Jonathan Andrew Line, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Brian Robert Spahn
  • VEHICLE AIRBAG
    Publication number: 20190337479
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a roof. The vehicle includes a first row and a second row of airbags supported by the roof and elongated along a vehicle-longitudinal axis. The vehicle includes a third row and a fourth row of airbags supported by the roof, elongated along a vehicle-lateral axis, and intersecting the first row and the second row of airbags.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: ANNA MILLER HILL, BRIAN ROBERT SPAHN, PAUL ALAN FORGETTE, JEFFREY CHARLES PADDOCK, BENJAMIN YILMA, ROBERT RALPH ARMITAGE
  • Truck bed extender formed by a retractable tailgate step and handles
    Patent number: 10464618
    Abstract: An apparatus for extending a vehicle bed includes a tailgate for raising and lowering relative to the vehicle bed. The tailgate includes a retractable member adapted for extending vertically from the tailgate when lowered, and also for extending horizontally from the tailgate to form a handle. A ladder supported by the tailgate is adapted for moving from a lowered position for use in stepping into the vehicle bed using the handle to a raised position for connecting with the retractable member when oriented vertically from the tailgate, thus extending the effective length of the vehicle bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pattrick Loew, Brian Robert Spahn
  • Vehicle airbag system
    Patent number: 10464518
    Abstract: A seat includes a seatback having an exterior panel. The seat includes a first member and a second member each being inflatable to an inflated position and defining an inflation chamber, the inflation chambers spaced from each other. The exterior panel extends between and is secured to the first member and the second member external to the inflation chambers in the inflated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Deepak Patel, Zhibing Deng, Brian Robert Spahn
  • Load-limiting seatbelt assembly
    Patent number: 10427640
    Abstract: A seatbelt assembly includes a seatbelt retractor, a support spaced from the seatbelt retractor, and a webbing retractably engaged with the seatbelt retractor. The webbing is moveable relative to the support. The seatbelt assembly includes a magnet and a conductive material adjacent the magnet. One of the magnet and the conductive material is fixed to the support, and the other of the magnet and the conductive material is moveable by the webbing relative to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Tien Vo, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma
  • Load-limiting seatbelt retractor
    Patent number: 10421429
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor includes a housing and a spool rotatably supported by the housing. A torsion bar has a first end and a second end. The first end of the torsion bar is fixed to the spool, and the second end of the torsion bar is fixable relative to the housing. The seatbelt retractor includes a magnet and a rotor disposed adjacent the magnet. One of the magnet and the rotor being fixed relative to the spool and the other of the magnet and the rotor being rotatable relative to the spool. The rotor includes a conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Tien Vo, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma
  • VEHICLE SEATING ARRANGEMENT
    Publication number: 20190263296
    Abstract: A vehicle seating arrangement includes a rail system that has a plurality of lateral and longitudinal rails. The vehicle seating arrangement also includes at least one seating assembly coupled to the rail system. The seating assembly includes one or more armrests coupled to a seat-base. The armrests are configured for articulation in a vertical direction relative to the seat-base. The armrests enable the seating assembly to transition between captains' chair, loveseat, and bed configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, S.M. Akbar Berry, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Daniel Ferretti
  • Tubular seat belt system having air delivery
    Patent number: 10391965
    Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system is provided. The vehicle seat belt system includes a seat belt comprising a tubular seat belt webbing defining a passageway and a plurality of pressure control valves and a seat belt buckle for connecting to the seat belt. The seat belt buckle has an air delivery port for delivering air to the passenger, and an air delivery device supplies air to the seat belt, wherein the valves allow the supplied air to exit the seat belt at a first air pressure and block air from exiting at a second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, Jeffrey Tien Vo, Edward Joseph DeSmet, Jr., Travis Justin Raines
  • VEHICLE SEATING ASSEMBLY WITH ANCHORED AIRBAG TETHERS
    Publication number: 20190217803
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided herein. The vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback coupled to a seat-base. An airbag assembly is coupled to the seatback and configured to deploy therefrom. A tether is coupled to the airbag assembly and at least one of the seatback and the seat-base. An anchoring feature is coupled to at least one of the seatback and the seat-base and is configured to restrain seating-assembly-upward movement of the tether.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, S. M. Akbar Berry, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Daniel Ferretti
  • VEHICLE SEATING ASSEMBLY WITH AIRBAG TETHERS
    Publication number: 20190217805
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided herein. The vehicle includes a seat-base. A seatback is coupled to the seat-base. An airbag assembly is coupled to the seatback and configured to deploy therefrom. A tether is coupled to the airbag assembly and at least one of the seatback and the seat-base. The tether is configured to bias the airbag assembly seating-assembly-downward when the airbag assembly is in a deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, S. M. Akbar Berry, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Daniel Ferretti
  • VEHICLE SEATING ARRANGEMENT
    Publication number: 20190217760
    Abstract: A vehicle seating arrangement includes at least one seating assembly. The at least one seating assembly includes a seat-base and an armrest. The armrest is operably coupled to the seat-base and configured for articulation in at least one of a forward, rearward, upward, and downward direction relative to the seat-base. The armrest enables the seating assembly to transition between captains' chair, loveseat, and bed configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, S.M. Akbar Berry, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Daniel Ferretti
  • RAIL SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20190217747
    Abstract: A vehicle seating arrangement includes a rail system that has a plurality of lateral and longitudinal rails. The vehicle seating arrangement also includes at least one seating assembly coupled to the rail system. The seating assembly includes one or more armrests coupled to a seat-base. The armrests are configured for articulation in a vertical direction relative to the seat-base. The armrests enable the seating assembly to transition between captains' chair, loveseat, and bed configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, S.M. Akbar Berry, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Daniel Ferretti
  • Rail system for a vehicle
    Patent number: 10351022
    Abstract: A vehicle seating arrangement includes a rail system that has a plurality of lateral and longitudinal rails. The vehicle seating arrangement also includes at least one seating assembly coupled to the rail system. The seating assembly includes one or more armrests coupled to a seat-base. The armrests are configured for articulation in a vertical direction relative to the seat-base. The armrests enable the seating assembly to transition between captains' chair, loveseat, and bed configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, S. M. Akbar Berry, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Daniel Ferretti
  • VEHICLE SEAT SIDE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20190210551
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a base. The seat assembly includes an air bag supported by the base. The seat assembly includes a cover adjacent the base. The seat assembly includes a first plurality of ribs extending transversely from the cover and toward the base. The seat assembly includes a second plurality of ribs extending transversely from the base and toward the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric D. Veggian, Brian Robert Spahn