Patents by Inventor David William Gaines
David William Gaines 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: 11007908Abstract: A seatback assembly includes a pair of lateral seatback assembly frame members and a moveable thoracic back support defining a support surface operably coupled with an upper thoracic support bracket. An attachment assembly operably couples the thoracic back support to the upper thoracic support bracket, and includes a pair of mounting lugs disposed on either of one of the upper thoracic support bracket or the moveable thoracic back support, and a pair of mounting bosses disposed on the other of the upper thoracic support bracket or the thoracic back support. The seatback assembly is assembled by aligning the pair of mounting lugs with the pair of mounting bosses as the moveable thoracic back support is horizontally positioned above the lower seatback insert, whereby the pair of mounting lugs are received within the pair of mounting bosses, and vertically lowering the moveable thoracic back support relative the lower seatback insert.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: David William Gaines, Arya Sabeti, Benjamin Kulhawik
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Patent number: 10906446Abstract: A convenience assembly includes a work surface coupled to a support structure by a mounting structure. A switch protrudes from the support structure toward an underside of the mounting structure. A switch-actuation assembly is positioned between the support structure and the work surface and is movable between raised and lowered positions relative to the switch to indicate a rotational position of the work surface relative to the support structure.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David William Gaines, Benjamin Kulhawik, Diego Santillan gutierrez, Raul Javier Elias
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Publication number: 20200406790Abstract: A seatback assembly includes a pair of lateral seatback assembly frame members and a moveable thoracic back support defining a support surface operably coupled with an upper thoracic support bracket. An attachment assembly operably couples the thoracic back support to the upper thoracic support bracket, and includes a pair of mounting lugs disposed on either of one of the upper thoracic support bracket or the moveable thoracic back support, and a pair of mounting bosses disposed on the other of the upper thoracic support bracket or the thoracic back support. The seatback assembly is assembled by aligning the pair of mounting lugs with the pair of mounting bosses as the moveable thoracic back support is horizontally positioned above the lower seatback insert, whereby the pair of mounting lugs are received within the pair of mounting bosses, and vertically lowering the moveable thoracic back support relative the lower seatback insert.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2019Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: David William Gaines, Arya Sabeti, Benjamin Kulhawik
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Publication number: 20200317105Abstract: A convenience assembly includes a work surface coupled to a support structure by a mounting structure. A switch protrudes from the support structure toward an underside of the mounting structure. A switch-actuation assembly is positioned between the support structure and the work surface and is movable between raised and lowered positions relative to the switch to indicate a rotational position of the work surface relative to the support structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2019Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: David William Gaines, Benjamin Kulhawik, Diego Santillan gutierrez, Raul Javier Elias
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Patent number: 9320361Abstract: A climate controlled seat test apparatus is provided. The test apparatus may have a pump arrangement configured to alter a pressure within a vicinity of a climate controlled portion of a vehicle seat. A controller may be programmed to detect airflow obstructions or losses within the climate controlled portion of the seat. The climate controlled portion may include a blower motor. The controller may detect airflow obstructions and/or losses based on a change in current consumed by the blower motor caused by the pump arrangement altering the pressure within the vicinity of the climate controlled portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David William Gaines, Anton Crainic
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Publication number: 20150070195Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain, a brake, and a controller configured to anticipate an impending stoplight change, predict a status of a stoplight that will occur when the vehicle arrives at the stoplight, and display the prediction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2013Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: David William Gaines, Peter T. Mueller
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Publication number: 20150040643Abstract: A climate controlled seat test apparatus is provided. The test apparatus may have a pump arrangement configured to alter a pressure within a vicinity of a climate controlled portion of a vehicle seat. A controller may be programmed to detect airflow obstructions or losses within the climate controlled portion of the seat. The climate controlled portion may include a blower motor. The controller may detect airflow obstructions and/or losses based on a change in current consumed by the blower motor caused by the pump arrangement altering the pressure within the vicinity of the climate controlled portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2013Publication date: February 12, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David William Gaines, Anton Crainic
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Patent number: 8590966Abstract: A vibration damper for a vehicle seat back is disclosed. The vibration damper includes an enclosure provided inside the upper end of a vehicle seat back. The enclosure includes a plurality of projections, preferably in the form of spaced apart, vertically extending pins, extending from one or more interior walls of the enclosure. A non-newtonian stress thickening fluid is provided within the enclosure. When the seat back is at rest the stress thickening fluid is free flowing within the enclosure. When the seat back is moved the stress thickening fluid is acted upon by the walls of the enclosure, the internally mounted pins, or both. As the walls and pins push on the fluid it comes under shear stress which causes the fluid to harden. As the pins pass through the hardened fluid they absorb energy and dampen the motion.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2011Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David William Gaines, Peter T. Mueller
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Publication number: 20130038112Abstract: A vibration damper for a vehicle seat back is disclosed. The vibration damper includes an enclosure provided inside the upper end of a vehicle seat back. The enclosure includes a plurality of projections, preferably in the form of spaced apart, vertically extending pins, extending from one or more interior walls of the enclosure. A non-newtonian stress thickening fluid is provided within the enclosure. When the seat back is at rest the stress thickening fluid is free flowing within the enclosure. When the seat back is moved the stress thickening fluid is acted upon by the walls of the enclosure, the internally mounted pins, or both. As the walls and pins push on the fluid it comes under shear stress which causes the fluid to harden. As the pin passes through the hardened fluid they absorb energy and dampen the motion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2011Publication date: February 14, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: David William Gaines, Peter T. Mueller