Patents by Inventor Bruce Preston Williams

Bruce Preston Williams 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).

  • Publication number: 20160348869
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight includes a headlight housing including an external lens and an outer wall that define a headlight interior and a lighting element including a light-emitting diode lamp and an internal heatsink coupled to at least a portion of the lamp. The lamp is in thermal communication with the internal heatsink. The lighting element is disposed within the headlight interior and coupled to an element receptacle defined by the outer wall. The internal heatsink of the lighting element is in thermal communication with the external lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Preston Williams, Arun Kumar, Junmo Park, Eric Stoddard
  • Patent number: 9476557
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp module is provided that includes a lens having a plurality of near-field lens elements, a canted input surface, an exit surface and a cavity between the surfaces. The headlamp module also includes an LED lighting module that directs incident light through the input and exit surfaces. The lens elements are configured to transmit from the exit surface a collimated light pattern containing at least 60% of the incident light. In some embodiments, the exit surface includes a step-wise pattern of optical elements. In other implementations, a headlamp assembly is provided that includes a plurality of vehicle headlamp modules. Each headlamp module includes: a lens with a canted input surface and an exit surface, a bezel surrounding the lens, and an LED light source that directs incident light through the input surface. The lens of each module includes a plurality of near-field lens elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Arun Kumar, Albert Ekladyous, Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake, Bruce Preston Williams, Junmo Park, Eric Stoddard
  • Patent number: 9429293
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight includes a headlight housing including an external lens and an outer wall that define a headlight interior and a lighting element including a light-emitting diode lamp and an internal heatsink coupled to at least a portion of the lamp. The lamp is in thermal communication with the internal heatsink. The lighting element is disposed within the headlight interior and coupled to an element receptacle defined by the outer wall. The internal heatsink of the lighting element is in thermal communication with the external lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Preston Williams, Arun Kumar
  • Patent number: 9381973
    Abstract: An e-bike center module includes a substantially straight first center module connecting surface that is releasably connectable to a substantially straight front module connecting surface. A substantially straight second center module connecting surface is releasably connectable to a substantially straight rear module connecting surface. the center module is part of a bicycle frame when the first center module connecting surface is connected to the front module connecting surface and the second center module connecting surface is connected to the rear module connecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Preston Williams
  • Publication number: 20160016625
    Abstract: An e-bike center module includes a substantially straight first center module connecting surface that is releasably connectable to a substantially straight front module connecting surface. A substantially straight second center module connecting surface is releasably connectable to a substantially straight rear module connecting surface. the center module is part of a bicycle frame when the first center module connecting surface is connected to the front module connecting surface and the second center module connecting surface is connected to the rear module connecting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Preston Williams
  • Publication number: 20150316226
    Abstract: A lighting module is provided that includes a single-piece lens having an input surface including a plurality of near-field lens elements, and an exit surface, each element having a different focal length. The lighting module also includes light-emitting diode (LED) source positioned to direct incident light through the input surface. Further, the elements are configured to shape the light from the input surface into a collimated light pattern emanating from the exit surface containing at least 60% of the incident light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Arun Kumar, Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake, Albert Ekladyous, Bruce Preston Williams
  • Patent number: 9156395
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting module is provided that includes a lens having a plurality of near-field lens elements, an input surface, and an exit surface. The lighting module also includes an LED light source that directs incident light through the input surface and out of the exit surface. The plurality of lens elements is configured to transmit from the exit surface a collimated light pattern containing at least 60% of the incident light. Further, a vehicle headlamp assembly is provided that includes a plurality of vehicle lighting modules, each module comprising a lens, and an LED light source that directs incident light through the lens. The assembly further includes a case for housing the lighting modules. The lens includes a plurality of lens elements configured to transmit at least 60% of the incident light in a collimated, vehicular light pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Arun Kumar, Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake, Albert Ekladyous, Bruce Preston Williams
  • Publication number: 20150241018
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight includes a headlight housing including an external lens and an outer wall that define a headlight interior and a lighting element including a light-emitting diode lamp and an internal heatsink coupled to at least a portion of the lamp. The lamp is in thermal communication with the internal heatsink. The lighting element is disposed within the headlight interior and coupled to an element receptacle defined by the outer wall. The internal heatsink of the lighting element is in thermal communication with the external lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Preston Williams, Arun Kumar
  • Publication number: 20150078029
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp module is provided that includes a lens having a plurality of near-field lens elements, a canted input surface, an exit surface and a cavity between the surfaces. The headlamp module also includes an LED lighting module that directs incident light through the input and exit surfaces. The lens elements are configured to transmit from the exit surface a collimated light pattern containing at least 60% of the incident light. In some embodiments, the exit surface includes a step-wise pattern of optical elements. In other implementations, a headlamp assembly is provided that includes a plurality of vehicle headlamp modules. Each headlamp module includes: a lens with a canted input surface and an exit surface, a bezel surrounding the lens, and an LED light source that directs incident light through the input surface. The lens of each module includes a plurality of near-field lens elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Arun Kumar, Albert Ekladyous, Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake, Bruce Preston Williams, Junmo Park, Eric Stoddard
  • Publication number: 20140192547
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting module is provided that includes a lens having a plurality of near-field lens elements, an input surface, and an exit surface. The lighting module also includes an LED light source that directs incident light through the input surface and out of the exit surface. The plurality of lens elements is configured to transmit from the exit surface a collimated light pattern containing at least 60% of the incident light. Further, a vehicle headlamp assembly is provided that includes a plurality of vehicle lighting modules, each module comprising a lens, and an LED light source that directs incident light through the lens. The assembly further includes a case for housing the lighting modules. The lens includes a plurality of lens elements configured to transmit at least 60% of the incident light in a collimated, vehicular light pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Arun Kumar, Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake, Albert Ekladyous, Bruce Preston Williams
  • Patent number: 8746939
    Abstract: A light assembly for motor vehicles includes a body made of a light-transmitting material. The light-transmitting material preferably includes a front light-emitting surface, and a plurality of rear surface portions that provide for inward reflection of light from a plurality of LEDs or other light sources. The reflective surface portions may be in the form of truncated parabolas having flat upper, lower, and/or side surfaces to reduce the overall height and/or width of the light assembly. The reflective surfaces can be oriented at off-axis relative to a vehicle axis to provide a specific beam intensity and direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Preston Williams, Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake
  • Publication number: 20130114282
    Abstract: A light assembly for motor vehicles includes a body made of a light-transmitting material. The light-transmitting material preferably includes a front light-emitting surface, and a plurality of rear surface portions that provide for inward reflection of light from a plurality of LEDs or other light sources. The reflective surface portions may be in the form of truncated parabolas having flat upper, lower, and/or side surfaces to reduce the overall height and/or width of the light assembly. The reflective surfaces can be oriented at off-axis relative to a vehicle axis to provide a specific beam intensity and direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Preston Williams, Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake
  • Patent number: 7434825
    Abstract: A motor vehicle in accordance with the present invention includes a body having a front end, a rear end, a roof, and a rear structural member located at the rear end of the body. A motor vehicle further includes a plurality of wheels coupled to the body. A pair of brackets is coupled to the rear structural member. A rear bumper is configured to both cover the structural member and to allow for access to the brackets. A step is pivotally coupled to the brackets, and therefore to the structural member and motor vehicle. The step is operative to articulate about an axis between a first and second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Preston Williams
  • Patent number: 7011239
    Abstract: A telescoping roof basket assembly (10) for attachment to a roof (12) of a vehicle (14) is provided. The basket assembly (10) includes a pair of rails (18) fixedly coupled to the roof (12) of the vehicle (14). Each rail (18) defines a primary channel (22) and a secondary channel (24). Furthermore, each primary channel (22) has an extension bar (26) slidably positioned therein for telescopically fitting the extension bar (26) to the rail (18). The extension bars (26) are capable of extending rearwardly from the rails (18). Moreover, these extension bars (26) are pivotally coupled to a front end portion of a moveable basket member (30). This moveable basket member (30) has a rear end portion with a pair of tabs (44) extending therefrom. These tabs (44) are intended for insertion into the secondary channels (24) and securing the moveable basket member (30) to the rails (18). The telescoping roof basket assembly (10) is moveable between a roof mounted position and a back end mounted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Preston Williams
  • Publication number: 20040188478
    Abstract: A telescoping roof basket assembly (10) for attachment to a roof (12) of a vehicle (14) is provided. The basket assembly (10) includes a pair of rails (18) fixedly coupled to the roof (12) of the vehicle (14). Each rail (18) defines a primary channel (22) and a secondary channel (24). Furthermore, each primary channel (22) has an extension bar (26) slidably positioned therein for telescopically fitting the extension bar (26) to the rail (18). The extension bars (26) are capable of extending rearwardly from the rails (18). Moreover, these extension bars (26) are pivotally coupled to a front end portion of a moveable basket member (30). This moveable basket member (30) has a rear end portion with a pair of tabs (44) extending therefrom. These tabs (44) are intended for insertion into the secondary channels (24) and securing the moveable basket member (30) to the rails (11). The telescoping roof basket assembly (10) is moveable between a roof mounted position and a back end mounted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: Bruce Preston Williams
  • Patent number: 6530621
    Abstract: A convertible track system for an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of frame members each having a predetermined surface area, at least one of the frame members having a portion of exposed surface area adapted to receive a mounting mechanism thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Preston Williams, Brock Winger, Daniel George Young, John Olijnyk
  • Patent number: D578047
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ehab Naguib Kaoud, Lon A. Zaback, David Griffiths, Bruce Preston Williams, Gustavo Bizyk
  • Patent number: D691296
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Gordon M Platto, Bruce Preston Williams, Anthony Lee Meyer
  • Patent number: D703586
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Gordon M. Platto, Brad Alan Richards, Dong Park, Jonathan Fontaine, Anthony Meyer, Bruce Preston Williams
  • Patent number: D717977
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Gordon M. Platto, Bruce Preston Williams