Patents by Inventor Constantin Manolescu
Constantin Manolescu 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: 11619079Abstract: A vehicle handle assembly includes, among other things, an attachment bracket secured to a powered closure assembly of a vehicle, a handle core that is mounted to the attachment bracket, and a switch mounted to the handle core. The switch is configured to transition from a first state to a second state in response to a user grasping the handle core. The powered closure assembly can move between a first position and a different, second position in response to a transition of the switch.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Howard Paul Tsvi Linden, Onoyom Essien Ekanem, Constantin Manolescu, Marc Beeman, Rafic Jergess
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Patent number: 11473343Abstract: A vehicle door includes an actuator for operating a latching mechanism. An actuator cable extends between the actuator and the latching mechanism. A cable housing slidably receives the actuator cable. The actuator cable is operable within the cable housing between extended and retracted positions. A cable bracket secures the cable housing to a frame member in a secured position. A clip assembly attaches to the cable housing and slidably engages the actuator cable upon operation of the actuator. The clip assembly engages the cable housing at a first side of the cable bracket and engages the actuator cable at a second side of the cable bracket.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2019Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Constantin Manolescu
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Patent number: 11230863Abstract: An exemplary latching system includes, among other things, a striker, a latch assembly that engages the striker to transition the latch assembly to a latched position, and a bumper containing rheological material. The bumper contacts the striker when the latch assembly is in the latched position. An exemplary latching method includes, among other things, contacting a striker with a bumper when a latch assembly engages the striker in a latched position, and increasing a hardness of the bumper by aligning particles within rheological material of the bumper.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2018Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Constantin Manolescu, Erin Rose Briggs, David Manuel Rogers
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Patent number: 11105128Abstract: A door latch for a motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a pawl, a release lever, and a clutch selectively engaged by a magnetic field. Further, when the clutch is engaged, motion of the release lever is transmitted to the pawl via the clutch. A method is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2018Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Constantin Manolescu, Kosta Papanikolaou, Erin Rose Briggs, David Manuel Rogers
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Publication number: 20210172217Abstract: A vehicle handle assembly includes, among other things, an attachment bracket secured to a powered closure assembly of a vehicle, a handle core that is mounted to the attachment bracket, and a switch mounted to the handle core. The switch is configured to transition from a first state to a second state in response to a user grasping the handle core. The powered closure assembly can move between a first position and a different, second position in response to a transition of the switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2019Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Howard Paul Tsvi Linden, Onoyom Essien Ekanem, Constantin Manolescu, Marc Beeman, Rafic Jergess
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Patent number: 10941603Abstract: A vehicle includes a body and a door that is movably mounted to the body. The door has a powered latch and an electrically-powered actuator that extends and retracts a plunger from an inner side of the door. A controller unlatches the powered latch and actuates the electrically-powered actuator such that the plunger contacts the body and pushes the door open. The controller then controls the electrically-powered actuator to retract the plunger while the door is open.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2020Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: H. Paul Tsvi Linden, Christopher Matthew Radjewski, Constantin Manolescu, James Parsons Sullivan
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Publication number: 20200291692Abstract: A vehicle door includes an actuator for operating a latching mechanism. An actuator cable extends between the actuator and the latching mechanism. A cable housing slidably receives the actuator cable. The actuator cable is operable within the cable housing between extended and retracted positions. A cable bracket secures the cable housing to a frame member in a secured position. A clip assembly attaches to the cable housing and slidably engages the actuator cable upon operation of the actuator. The clip assembly engages the cable housing at a first side of the cable bracket and engages the actuator cable at a second side of the cable bracket.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2019Publication date: September 17, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Constantin Manolescu
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Publication number: 20200208457Abstract: A vehicle includes a body and a door that is movably mounted to the body. The door has a powered latch and an electrically-powered actuator that extends and retracts a plunger from an inner side of the door. A controller unlatches the powered latch and actuates the electrically-powered actuator such that the plunger contacts the body and pushes the door open. The controller then controls the electrically-powered actuator to retract the plunger while the door is open.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: H. Paul Tsvi Linden, Christopher Matthew Radjewski, Constantin Manolescu, James Parsons Sullivan
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Patent number: 10697224Abstract: A vehicle includes a body and a door that is movably mounted to the body. The door has a powered latch and an electrically-powered actuator that extends and retracts a plunger from an inner side of the door. A controller unlatches the powered latch and actuates the electrically-powered actuator such that the plunger contacts the body and pushes the door open. The controller then controls the electrically-powered actuator to retract the plunger while the door is open.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2018Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: H. Paul Tsvi Linden, Christopher Matthew Radjewski, Constantin Manolescu, James Parsons Sullivan
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Patent number: 10550610Abstract: A motor vehicle emergency handle door release comprises a housing having a pair of opposed walls and one of a pair of opposed pivot bosses disposed on an interior surface of each of the opposed walls. A pivotable handle comprises a pivot mount, a lever disposed on one side of the pivot mount, and a door latch release cable end fitting disposed on another side of the pivot mount. The pivot mount includes a pair of opposed pivots extending laterally from the pivot mount of the pivotable handle that are received within the pivot bosses disposed on the interior surface of each of the opposed walls. A spring having a first leg is disposed against a surface of the housing and a second leg is disposed against a surface of the pivotable handle, urging the pivotable handle to a stowed position.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2016Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Howard Paul Tsvi Linden, Constantin Manolescu, Kostandinos D. Papanikolaou, Christopher Matthew Radjewski
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Publication number: 20190264477Abstract: A door latch for a motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a pawl, a release lever, and a clutch selectively engaged by a magnetic field. Further, when the clutch is engaged, motion of the release lever is transmitted to the pawl via the clutch. A method is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2018Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: Constantin Manolescu, Kosta Papanikolaou, Erin Rose Briggs, David Manuel Rogers
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Patent number: 10385592Abstract: A door for vehicles includes a mechanism that prevents unlatching of the door if the door handle is moved at a high rate of speed, but permits unlatching during normal (e.g. manual) handle operation. The mechanism includes a wheel having a wheel tooth. The door mechanism also includes an inertia lever having a first pair of teeth. An input lever has a second pair of teeth that engage the wheel tooth and the first pair of teeth. This engagement prevents rotation of the input lever only when the input lever rotates at a rate above a predefined maximum rate thereby rotating the inertia lever relative to the wheel. Rotation of the input lever unlatches a door latch.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Constantin Manolescu, Livianu Dorin Puscas, Kosta Papanikolaou, Thomas Michael Herline
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Publication number: 20190242160Abstract: An exemplary latching system includes, among other things, a striker, a latch assembly that engages the striker to transition the latch assembly to a latched position, and a bumper containing rheological material. The bumper contacts the striker when the latch assembly is in the latched position. An exemplary latching method includes, among other things, contacting a striker with a bumper when a latch assembly engages the striker in a latched position, and increasing a hardness of the bumper by aligning particles within rheological material of the bumper.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2018Publication date: August 8, 2019Inventors: Constantin Manolescu, Erin Rose Briggs, David Manuel Rogers
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Publication number: 20180363354Abstract: A vehicle includes a body and a door that is movably mounted to the body. The door has a powered latch and an electrically-powered actuator that extends and retracts a plunger from an inner side of the door. A controller unlatches the powered latch and actuates the electrically-powered actuator such that the plunger contacts the body and pushes the door open. The controller then controls the electrically-powered actuator to retract the plunger while the door is open.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: H. Paul Tsvi Linden, Christopher Matthew Radjewski, Constantin Manolescu, James Parsons Sullivan
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Patent number: 10087671Abstract: A vehicle includes a body and a door that is movably mounted to the body. The door has a powered latch and an electrically-powered actuator that extends and retracts a plunger from an inner side of the door. A controller unlatches the powered latch and actuates the electrically-powered actuator such that the plunger contacts the body and pushes the door open. The controller then controls the electrically-powered actuator to retract the plunger while the door is open.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: H. Paul Tsvi Linden, Christopher Matthew Radjewski, Constantin Manolescu, James Parsons Sullivan
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Publication number: 20180044947Abstract: A door for vehicles includes a mechanism that prevents unlatching of the door if the door handle is moved at a high rate of speed, but permits unlatching during normal (e.g. manual) handle operation. The mechanism includes a wheel having a wheel tooth. The door mechanism also includes an inertia lever having a first pair of teeth. An input lever has a second pair of teeth that engage the wheel tooth and the first pair of teeth. This engagement prevents rotation of the input lever only when the input lever rotates at a rate above a predefined maximum rate thereby rotating the inertia lever relative to the wheel. Rotation of the input lever unlatches a door latch.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2016Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Constantin Manolescu, Livianu Dorin Puscas, Kosta Papanikolaou, Thomas Michael Herline
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Publication number: 20180038147Abstract: A vehicle includes a body and a door that is movably mounted to the body. The door has a powered latch and an electrically-powered actuator that extends and retracts a plunger from an inner side of the door. A controller unlatches the powered latch and actuates the electrically-powered actuator such that the plunger contacts the body and pushes the door open. The controller then controls the electrically-powered actuator to retract the plunger while the door is open.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2016Publication date: February 8, 2018Inventors: H. Paul Tsvi Linden, Christopher Matthew Radjewski, Constantin Manolescu, James Parsons Sullivan
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Publication number: 20170370133Abstract: A motor vehicle emergency handle door release comprises a housing having a pair of opposed walls and one of a pair of opposed pivot bosses disposed on an interior surface of each of the opposed walls. A pivotable handle comprises a pivot mount, a lever disposed on one side of the pivot mount, and a door latch release cable end fitting disposed on another side of the pivot mount. The pivot mount includes a pair of opposed pivots extending laterally from the pivot mount of the pivotable handle that are received within the pivot bosses disposed on the interior surface of each of the opposed walls. A spring having a first leg is disposed against a surface of the housing and a second leg is disposed against a surface of the pivotable handle, urging the pivotable handle to a stowed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2016Publication date: December 28, 2017Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Howard Paul Tsvi Linden, Constantin Manolescu, Kostandinos D. Papanikolaou, Christopher Matthew Radjewski