Patents by Inventor Dean Robert Rife

Dean Robert Rife 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).

  • Vehicle rocker guard with integrated pivoting storable step
    Patent number: 10556560
    Abstract: A guard for a vehicle includes a support tube. A pivoting step includes a pivot tube portion movable about the support tube between a stowed position and a deployed position and a step portion. A spring member is disposed between the support tube and pivot tube biasing the pivot tube toward one of the stowed position and deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean Robert Rife, Travis S. Garland, Mark Beilman
  • VEHICLE ROCKER GUARD WITH INTEGRATED PIVOTING STORABLE STEP
    Publication number: 20190126870
    Abstract: A guard for a vehicle includes a support tube. A pivoting step includes a pivot tube portion movable about the support tube between a stowed position and a deployed position and a step portion. A spring member is disposed between the support tube and pivot tube biasing the pivot tube toward one of the stowed position and deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Dean Robert Rife, Travis S. Garland, Mark Beilman
  • Hood lifter assembly with protective cover
    Patent number: 9796355
    Abstract: A hood lifter assembly includes an actuator having a piston displaceable between a home position and a hood lifting position. The hood lifter assembly also includes a cover overlying the piston in the home position and protecting the actuator from water exposure. A cowl vent grille and a method of lifting a vehicle hood in response to a pedestrian impact event are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nancy C Evans, Dean Robert Rife, David Lee Jarvis