Patents by Inventor Colleen Marie Hoffman

Colleen Marie Hoffman 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: 11618509
    Abstract: A tailgate assembly includes a frame subassembly having a cargo bed access opening disposed between a driver side section and a passenger side section, and a door subassembly that is pivotably coupled to the frame subassembly and is pivotable relative to the frame subassembly back-and-forth between a door open position and a door closed position. The door subassembly closes the cargo bed access opening when the door subassembly is in the door closed position. The assembly further includes a tube of the frame subassembly. The tube extends along an inboard side of the driver side section, along an inboard side of the passenger side section, and along a bottom of the cargo bed access opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Robert Hemphill, Michael Shawn Watterworth, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, John Comiez, Donald Kreda
  • Patent number: 11613224
    Abstract: A roof rail assembly for a motor vehicle having an open frame vehicle architecture includes a side air curtain fixedly coupled with an elongated hollow sport tube extending along a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle. The sport tube comprises a two-piece multi-gage tube extending along a longitudinal length of an occupant compartment of the motor vehicle. The side airbag curtain is fixedly coupled with the sport tube, the side airbag curtain having a stowed condition and an inflated condition. An integrated seal carrier is fixedly coupled with the sport tube and extends laterally outboard of the motor vehicle, the integrated seal carrier comprising a removable roof sealing member and a removable door window seal, wherein the removable roof sealing member and a removable door window seal are independent of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Forrest W. Eddings, Ted Victor Kolar, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20220371667
    Abstract: A tailgate assembly includes a frame subassembly having a cargo bed access opening disposed between a driver side section and a passenger side section, and a door subassembly that is pivotably coupled to the frame subassembly and is pivotable relative to the frame subassembly back-and-forth between a door open position and a door closed position. The door subassembly closes the cargo bed access opening when the door subassembly is in the door closed position. The assembly further includes a tube of the frame subassembly. The tube extends along an inboard side of the driver side section, along an inboard side of the passenger side section, and along a bottom of the cargo bed access opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Joshua Robert Hemphill, Michael Shawn Watterworth, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, John Comiez, Donald Kreda
  • Publication number: 20220258686
    Abstract: A roof rail assembly for a motor vehicle having an open frame vehicle architecture includes a side air curtain fixedly coupled with an elongated hollow sport tube extending along a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle. The sport tube comprises a two-piece multi-gage tube extending along a longitudinal length of an occupant compartment of the motor vehicle. The side airbag curtain is fixedly coupled with the sport tube, the side airbag curtain having a stowed condition and an inflated condition. An integrated seal carrier is fixedly coupled with the sport tube and extends laterally outboard of the motor vehicle, the integrated seal carrier comprising a removable roof sealing member and a removable door window seal, wherein the removable roof sealing member and a removable door window seal are independent of one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Forrest W. EDDINGS, Ted Victor Kolar, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11225129
    Abstract: A vehicle including a passenger compartment having a roof support framework including a pair of roof rails, a header and at least one roof bow. A roof including several rigid removable roof panels is removably assembled to the roof support framework. Pins are removably assembled to the roof rails or to brackets attached to the roof rails that extend through the roof panels. A roof rack or cargo carrier is removably attached to upper ends of the pins and is spaced above the roof panels. A method of assembling a roof rack to a vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, Jack Marchlewski, Joshua Robert Hemphill, Ronald M. Lovasz, Mathias A. Huber
  • Patent number: 10926705
    Abstract: A vehicle having front body structure including a grille opening adjacent to a front trunk. A hood is pivotally mounted to the structure over the front trunk. A grille is mounted to the body structure or the hood via a horizontal hinge, the grille pivotable from a closed position in the grille opening to an open position extending from the body structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Colleen Marie Hoffman, Dennis P. Laakso, Dragan B. Stojkovic
  • Publication number: 20200223298
    Abstract: A vehicle including a passenger compartment having a roof support framework including a pair of roof rails, a header and at least one roof bow. A roof including several rigid removable roof panels is removably assembled to the roof support framework. Pins are removably assembled to the roof rails or to brackets attached to the roof rails that extend through the roof panels. A roof rack or cargo carrier is removably attached to upper ends of the pins and is spaced above the roof panels. A method of assembling a roof rack to a vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Dragan B. STOJKOVIC, Colleen Marie HOFFMAN, Jack MARCHLEWSKI, Joshua Robert HEMPHILL, Ronald M. LOVASZ, Mathias A. HUBER
  • Patent number: 10703288
    Abstract: A pickup truck includes a box side inner panel, a box side outer panel, a first compartment defined between the box side inner panel and the box side outer panel and a battery cooling pack held in the first compartment. A storage space customization feature may also be provided in the first compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, Jack Marchlewski
  • Patent number: 10689036
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly including a vehicle body and a roof assembly is provided. The vehicle body may include a mid-pillar having a receiving region. The roof assembly may include a mid-pillar segment having an attachment end. The receiving region may be defined by a cutout having a base portion spaced from an adjacent vehicle body surface. The attachment end may be sized for disposal within the cutout for one or more fasteners to removably secure the mid-pillar segment to the mid-pillar. The receiving region and the attachment end may be arranged with one another such that the roof assembly is removably attachable adjacent a belt line of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Stephen Thomas Kozak, Edward Andrew Pleet, Colleen Marie Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10647242
    Abstract: A vehicle roof structure including a plurality of roof support pillars that include a plurality of receptacles on an outer surface of the pillars. The receptacles are adapted to receive a connector for securing an article to a vehicle either directly or by means of a tie down strap. A spider roof structure or conventional roof structure are disclosed that may include either X-shaped receptacle openings or a T-track slot. Articles may be directly secured to the receptacles or slots on the outer surface of the pillars or may be connected to the roof or side outer walls of the pillar by tie down straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, Stephen Thomas Kozak
  • Publication number: 20200130586
    Abstract: A vehicle having front body structure including a grille opening adjacent to a front trunk. A hood is pivotally mounted to the structure over the front trunk. A grille is mounted to the body structure or the hood via a horizontal hinge, the grille pivotable from a closed position in the grille opening to an open position extending from the body structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Colleen Marie Hoffman, Dennis P. Laakso, Dragan B. Stojkovic
  • Patent number: 10632825
    Abstract: A vehicle including a passenger compartment having a roof support framework including a pair of roof rails, a header and at least one roof bow. A roof including several rigid removable roof panels is removably assembled to the roof support framework. Pins are removably assembled to the roof rails or to brackets attached to the roof rails that extend through the roof panels. A roof rack or cargo carrier is removably attached to upper ends of the pins and is spaced above the roof panels. A method of assembling a roof rack to a vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, Jack Marchlewski, Joshua Robert Hemphill, Ronald M. Lovasz, Mathias A. Huber
  • Publication number: 20200114826
    Abstract: A pickup truck includes a box side inner panel, a box side outer panel, a first compartment defined between the box side inner panel and the box side outer panel and a battery cooling pack held in the first compartment. A storage space customization feature may also be provided in the first compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, Jack Marchlewski
  • Patent number: 10538207
    Abstract: A vehicle tailgate includes an internal panel, a pair of side panels, and a tie-down bracket. The internal panel extends between the pair of side panels. The pair of side panels are rotatably secured to a cargo bed. The tie-down bracket is secured to an exterior of the internal panel. The tie-down bracket defines first and second C-channels that extend in a direction from a first to a second of the side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Jack Marchlewski, Joshua Robert Hemphill, Stephen William Gallagher, Colleen Marie Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20190366819
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly including a vehicle body and a roof assembly is provided. The vehicle body may include a mid-pillar having a receiving region. The roof assembly may include a mid-pillar segment having an attachment end. The receiving region may be defined by a cutout having a base portion spaced from an adjacent vehicle body surface. The attachment end may be sized for disposal within the cutout for one or more fasteners to removably secure the mid-pillar segment to the mid-pillar. The receiving region and the attachment end may be arranged with one another such that the roof assembly is removably attachable adjacent a belt line of the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Stephen Thomas Kozak, Edward Andrew Pleet, Colleen Marie Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10494036
    Abstract: A tailgate cover assembly may include a first panel having a beaded side and a flat side, and a first ledge extending from one end of the first panel, and a second panel having a beaded side and a flat side, and a second ledge extending from an end proximate to the first panel, the second ledge configured to overlap the first ledge to attach the first panel to the second panel wherein the flat side of the first panel aligns with the flat side of the second panel to form a tailgate cover having a beaded side and a flat side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Robert Hemphill, Jack Marchlewski, Robert Reiners, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10471901
    Abstract: A vehicle tailgate includes an internal panel, an upper panel, a lower panel, a pair of side panels, and a tie-down bracket. The internal panel extends from the upper panel to the lower panel and between the pair of side panels. The pair of side panels are rotatably secured to a cargo bed. The tie-down bracket is secured to an exterior of one of the side panels. The tie-down bracket defines a C-channel that extends along the exterior of one of the side panels from the upper panel toward the lower panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Jack Marchlewski, Joshua Robert Hemphill, Stephen William Gallagher, Colleen Marie Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20190315210
    Abstract: A vehicle including a passenger compartment having a roof support framework including a pair of roof rails, a header and at least one roof bow. A roof including several rigid removable roof panels is removably assembled to the roof support framework. Pins are removably assembled to the roof rails or to brackets attached to the roof rails that extend through the roof panels. A roof rack or cargo carrier is removably attached to upper ends of the pins and is spaced above the roof panels. A method of assembling a roof rack to a vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Dragan B. STOJKOVIC, Colleen Marie HOFFMAN, Jack MARCHLEWSKI, Joshua Robert HEMPHILL, Ronald M. LOVASZ, Mathias A. HUBER
  • Publication number: 20190084490
    Abstract: A vehicle tailgate includes an internal panel, an upper panel, a lower panel, a pair of side panels, and a tie-down bracket. The internal panel extends from the upper panel to the lower panel and between the pair of side panels. The pair of side panels are rotatably secured to a cargo bed. The tie-down bracket is secured to an exterior of one of the side panels. The tie-down bracket defines a C-channel that extends along the exterior of one of the side panels from the upper panel toward the lower panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Dragan B. STOJKOVIC, Jack MARCHLEWSKI, Joshua Robert HEMPHILL, Stephen William GALLAGHER, Colleen Marie HOFFMAN
  • Publication number: 20190084491
    Abstract: A vehicle tailgate includes an internal panel, a pair of side panels, and a tie-down bracket. The internal panel extends between the pair of side panels. The pair of side panels are rotatably secured to a cargo bed. The tie-down bracket is secured to an exterior of the internal panel. The tie-down bracket defines first and second C-channels that extend in a direction from a first to a second of the side panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Dragan B. STOJKOVIC, Jack MARCHLEWSKI, Joshua Robert HEMPHILL, Stephen William GALLAGHER, Colleen Marie HOFFMAN