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).

  • Patent number: 10343644
    Abstract: A seat includes a seatback, two armrest portions, and two airbags. Each armrest portion is rotatably coupled to the seatback about a generally vertical axis from a stowed position elongated in a forward direction to a deployed position extending in front of the seatback. Each airbag is fixed to one of the armrest portions and inflatable to an inflated position in which one of the airbags is disposed in front of the other of the airbags relative to the seatback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, Marcos Silva Kondrad, S. M. Akbar Berry
  • Patent number: 10336284
    Abstract: An airbag system includes an airbag. The airbag system includes a base defining a track extending from a first end to a second end. The airbag system includes a carrier releasably fixed to the base and removable from the base at the second end. The airbag system includes a tether extending from the carrier and secured to the airbag. The airbag system includes a spring disposed at the first end. The spring is disposed between the carrier and the base. Upon application of a force to the carrier, e.g., via the tether when the airbag is inflated, the carrier is released from the base and compresses the spring. Upon removal of the force, the spring urges the carrier toward the second end where the carrier is ejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin Wayne Preuss
  • Patent number: 10328863
    Abstract: A deployable storage system is provided for a truck. That deployable storage system includes a truck bed wall and a storage cabinet that is integrated into the truck bed wall. The storage cabinet is configured to be displaceable between a stowed position held within the truck bed wall and a deployed position extending above the truck bed wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Robert Spahn, Pattrick Loew
  • Publication number: 20190160937
    Abstract: A wheel assembly includes an attachment module, a motor module, a battery module, and a wheel. The wheel is rotatably coupled to the attachment module about a rotational axis of the wheel. The attachment module has a plurality of coupling elements, and the motor module and the battery module each releasably couple to one of the coupling elements. The wheel extends around the attachment, motor, and battery modules. The motor and battery modules are identically shaped in a direction along the rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin YILMA, Travis Justin RAINES, Pattrick LOEW, Brian Robert SPAHN
  • Publication number: 20190118754
    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: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, S. M. Akbar Berry
  • Publication number: 20190118755
    Abstract: A method for operating an airbag carrier is provided herein. The method includes the steps of moving carrier containing an airbag along a guide-channel of a seating assembly from a stowed position to a use position, and deploying the airbag into an occupant space of the seating assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, S. M. Akbar Berry
  • Publication number: 20190111877
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat, an arm connected to the seat, a carrier supported by the arm, and an airbag supported by the carrier. The arm is moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The carrier is spaceable from the seat when the arm is in the deployed position. The airbag is inflatable to an inflated position in a direction toward the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Alan George Dry, Daniel Ferretti, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma
  • Publication number: 20190106077
    Abstract: A seat includes a seatback, two armrest portions, and two airbags. Each armrest portion is rotatably coupled to the seatback about a generally vertical axis from a stowed position elongated in a forward direction to a deployed position extending in front of the seatback. Each airbag is fixed to one of the armrest portions and inflatable to an inflated position in which one of the airbags is disposed in front of the other of the airbags relative to the seatback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, Marcos Silva Kondrad, S.M. Akbar Berry
  • Publication number: 20190092275
    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: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Tien Vo, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma
  • Patent number: 10239470
    Abstract: An apparatus for a vehicle including a vehicle bed having a wall with a recess formed therein. The apparatus comprises a sawhorse adapted for positioning in the recess of the vehicle bed in a stowed position and removed for use apart from the vehicle. A vehicle with an integrated sawhorse may thus be provided. Related methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pattrick Loew, Brian Robert Spahn
  • Patent number: 10232815
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a first bolster and a second bolster spaced from each other. The seat assembly includes a seat bottom between the first and second bolster. The seat assembly includes a bridge deployable to a deployed position. The bridge in the deployed position is spaced from the seat bottom. The bridge in the deployed position is supported on the first and second bolsters and extends from the first bolster to the second bolster. The seat assembly includes an inflatable device supported by the bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma
  • Patent number: 10232817
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a frame, a cover, and a seat side airbag assembly. The seat side airbag assembly includes a chute mounted to the frame and extending to the cover. An airbag is fixed to the chute, with the chute extending between the airbag and the cover. The chute is attached to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric D. Veggian, Brian Robert Spahn
  • Publication number: 20190077356
    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: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Deepak Patel, Zhibing Deng, Brian Robert Spahn
  • Publication number: 20190071046
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seatback including a left lateral panel and a right lateral panel opposite the left lateral panel, a left airbag inflatable from the left lateral panel to an inflated position, a right airbag inflatable from the right lateral panel to an inflated position, and a tether extending from the left lateral panel to the right lateral panel. The tether is connected to the airbags.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Brian Robert Spahn, Johnathan Andrew Line, Benjamin Yilma, S.M. Akbar Berry
  • Publication number: 20190061587
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided herein. The seat assembly includes a seat member having a support surface. A pair of seat member bolsters is disposed on opposing sides of the seat member. A seat base supports the seat member and has a wraparound sidewall that extends above a bottom portion of each seat member bolster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, Johnathan Andrew Line, Kevin Wayne Preuss, S. M. Akbar Berry, Benjamin Yilma, Brian Robert Spahn
  • Publication number: 20190061665
    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: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Srinivasan Sundararajan, Derek Board, James Chih Cheng, Kevin Wayne Preuss
  • Publication number: 20190054884
    Abstract: A seat includes a seatback including a top portion, a seat bottom coupled to the seatback, an airbag, a tether fixed to the seatback below the top portion and attached to the airbag, and an airbag extension. The airbag is inflatable from an undeployed position in the top portion to a deployed position attached to the top portion and extending in front of a front panel of the seatback. The airbag extension is inflatable from the airbag in the deployed position in front of the seat bottom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Brian Robert Spahn, Johnathan Andrew Line, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin Wayne Preuss
  • Publication number: 20190054893
    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: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Tien Vo, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma
  • Publication number: 20190031132
    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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Johnathan Andrew Line, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Brian Robert Spahn
  • Publication number: 20190031133
    Abstract: An airbag system includes an airbag. The airbag system includes a base defining a track extending from a first end to a second end. The airbag system includes a carrier releasably fixed to the base and removable from the base at the second end. The airbag system includes a tether extending from the carrier and secured to the airbag. The airbag system includes a spring disposed at the first end. The spring is disposed between the carrier and the base. Upon application of a force to the carrier, e.g., via the tether when the airbag is inflated, the carrier is released from the base and compresses the spring. Upon removal of the force, the spring urges the carrier toward the second end where the carrier is ejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin Wayne Preuss