Patents by Inventor Chris Stephen O'Connor
Chris Stephen O'Connor 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).
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Patent number: 10099647Abstract: An instrument-panel assembly in a vehicle includes an instrument panel extending along a longitudinal axis and an airbag supported by the instrument panel. The airbag is inflatable from an undeployed position to a deployed position. In two embodiments, the airbag includes a side extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis and a tether attached to the side, and the side has a fold when the airbag is in the deployed position. Alternatively, in a third embodiment, the airbag in the deployed position has a tapered shape from a vertical perspective relative to the instrument panel at the instrument panel.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Chris Stephen O'Connor, Jacob Wookeun Lee
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Publication number: 20180079383Abstract: An instrument-panel assembly in a vehicle includes an instrument panel extending along a longitudinal axis and an airbag supported by the instrument panel. The airbag is inflatable from an undeployed position to a deployed position. In two embodiments, the airbag includes a side extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis and a tether attached to the side, and the side has a fold when the airbag is in the deployed position. Alternatively, in a third embodiment, the airbag in the deployed position has a tapered shape from a vertical perspective relative to the instrument panel at the instrument panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2016Publication date: March 22, 2018Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Chris Stephen O'Connor, Jacob Wookeun Lee
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Patent number: 9821746Abstract: An instrument-panel assembly includes an instrument panel, an airbag housing supported by the instrument panel, an airbag supported by the airbag housing, and a rotatable connection rotatably supporting the airbag housing on the instrument panel. The instrument panel extends along a longitudinal axis. The rotatable connection is rotatable about a rotational axis transverse to the longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Chris Stephen O'Connor, Jacob Wookeun Lee
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Patent number: 9694853Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body that includes a rocker fixed to an underbody. The rocker and the under body at least in part define a front wheel well of the vehicle. A rim engagement member is cantilevered from the underbody and extends into the wheel well. The rim engagement member snags a rim of a front wheel of the vehicle and directs movement of a front wheel of the vehicle away from intrusion into a floor and/or dash of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ryan Craig, Akshay Kulkarni, Chris Stephen O'Connor
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Publication number: 20170144707Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body that includes a rocker fixed to an underbody. The rocker and the under body at least in part define a front wheel well of the vehicle. A rim engagement member is cantilevered from the underbody and extends into the wheel well. The rim engagement member snags a rim of a front wheel of the vehicle and directs movement of a front wheel of the vehicle away from intrusion into a floor and/or dash of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2015Publication date: May 25, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ryan Craig, Akshay Kulkarni, Chris Stephen O'Connor
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Patent number: 9487243Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a side sill formed of high strength steel and a seat cross-member formed of high strength steel. A floor pan is welded to at least one of the side sill and the seat cross-member. A flange includes a base extending from the seat cross-member and a tab extending from the base. The tab is spaced from the seat cross-member and is welded to the floor pan and the side sill.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2015Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yi Qu, Michael Luchtman, Chris Stephen O'Connor, John Michael McGuckin, Randall R. Frank
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Publication number: 20160159406Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a side sill formed of high strength steel and a seat cross-member formed of high strength steel. A floor pan is welded to at least one of the side sill and the seat cross-member. A flange includes a base extending from the seat cross-member and a tab extending from the base. The tab is spaced from the seat cross-member and is welded to the floor pan and the side sill.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2015Publication date: June 9, 2016Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yi Qu, Michael Luchtman, Chris Stephen O'Connor, John Michael McGuckin, Randall R. Frank
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Patent number: 9260135Abstract: A deflector member comprises opposing first and second walls and a plurality of sidewalls arranged adjacent to each other and between the first and second walls, the sidewalls having a cross-sectional shape between the first and second walls that is at least three-sided. The deflector member is adapted to mount to a vehicle frame. The deflector member is further adapted to extend distally from the first wall to the second wall relative to the vehicle frame, and away from a centerline of the vehicle frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2014Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ramanjaneya Reddy Butukuri, Yi Tony Qu, Chris Stephen O'Connor, Ahteram Khan
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Publication number: 20150353040Abstract: A deflector member comprises opposing first and second walls and a plurality of sidewalls arranged adjacent to each other and between the first and second walls, the sidewalls having a cross-sectional shape between the first and second walls that is at least three-sided. The deflector member is adapted to mount to a vehicle frame. The deflector member is further adapted to extend distally from the first wall to the second wall relative to the vehicle frame, and away from a centerline of the vehicle frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2014Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Ramanjaneya Reddy Butukuri, Yi Tony Qu, Chris Stephen O'Connor, Ahteram Khan
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Patent number: 8985671Abstract: A V shape bumper extension for a vehicle is provided where the V shape member has an extension member and a support member. The extension member extends linearly away from a bumper and the support member is positioned at an acute angle with respect to a crush can. The support member includes an outer edge spaced apart from the crush can and is connected to the crush can through at least one breakable attachment.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2013Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Wanjun Lei, Yi Qu, Chris Stephen O'Connor, Naeem Ahmed Ghias, Erika Kristin Low