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).

  • Patent number: 11619079
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Paul Tsvi Linden, Onoyom Essien Ekanem, Constantin Manolescu, Marc Beeman, Rafic Jergess
  • Patent number: 11473343
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Constantin Manolescu
  • Patent number: 11230863
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Constantin Manolescu, Erin Rose Briggs, David Manuel Rogers
  • Patent number: 11105128
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Constantin Manolescu, Kosta Papanikolaou, Erin Rose Briggs, David Manuel Rogers
  • Publication number: 20210172217
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Howard Paul Tsvi Linden, Onoyom Essien Ekanem, Constantin Manolescu, Marc Beeman, Rafic Jergess
  • Patent number: 10941603
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: H. Paul Tsvi Linden, Christopher Matthew Radjewski, Constantin Manolescu, James Parsons Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20200291692
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Constantin Manolescu
  • Publication number: 20200208457
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: H. Paul Tsvi Linden, Christopher Matthew Radjewski, Constantin Manolescu, James Parsons Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10697224
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: H. Paul Tsvi Linden, Christopher Matthew Radjewski, Constantin Manolescu, James Parsons Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10550610
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Paul Tsvi Linden, Constantin Manolescu, Kostandinos D. Papanikolaou, Christopher Matthew Radjewski
  • Publication number: 20190264477
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Constantin Manolescu, Kosta Papanikolaou, Erin Rose Briggs, David Manuel Rogers
  • Patent number: 10385592
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Constantin Manolescu, Livianu Dorin Puscas, Kosta Papanikolaou, Thomas Michael Herline
  • Publication number: 20190242160
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Constantin Manolescu, Erin Rose Briggs, David Manuel Rogers
  • Publication number: 20180363354
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: H. Paul Tsvi Linden, Christopher Matthew Radjewski, Constantin Manolescu, James Parsons Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10087671
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: H. Paul Tsvi Linden, Christopher Matthew Radjewski, Constantin Manolescu, James Parsons Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20180044947
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Constantin Manolescu, Livianu Dorin Puscas, Kosta Papanikolaou, Thomas Michael Herline
  • Publication number: 20180038147
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: H. Paul Tsvi Linden, Christopher Matthew Radjewski, Constantin Manolescu, James Parsons Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20170370133
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Paul Tsvi Linden, Constantin Manolescu, Kostandinos D. Papanikolaou, Christopher Matthew Radjewski