Patents by Inventor Donald G. Mikolai

Donald G. Mikolai 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: 7500711
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an automotive vehicle is disclosed having a vehicle body with a first pillar, a second pillar, a roof member and a floor member defining a door opening therebetween. A lateral side entry door is pivotally connected to the vehicle body for enclosing the door opening. The side entry door moves along an operating path having a closed position and an open position. The vehicle has a motor and a lead screw mounted in the side entry door and connected to the motor to be driven by the motor. The vehicle has a link connected to the lead screw and connected to the vehicle body adjacent to the door opening. The motor drives the lead screw to translate the link to open and close the side entry door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kip Alan Ewing, Donald G. Mikolai, Kelly Michael Kohlstrand, Jason Falenski, Venkatesh Krishnan
  • Publication number: 20090051192
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an automotive vehicle is disclosed having a vehicle body with a first pillar, a second pillar, a roof member and a floor member defining a door opening therebetween. A lateral side entry door is pivotally connected to the vehicle body for enclosing the door opening. The side entry door moves along an operating path having a closed position and an open position. The vehicle has a motor and a lead screw mounted in the side entry door and connected to the motor to be driven by the motor. The vehicle has a link connected to the lead screw and connected to the vehicle body adjacent to the door opening. The motor drives the lead screw to translate the link to open and close the side entry door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kip Alan Ewing, Donald G. Mikolai, Kelly Michael Kohlstrand, Jason Falenski, Venkatesh Krishnan
  • Patent number: 6913309
    Abstract: A vehicle 7 is provided having a vehicle body 36 with an opening 16 having first and second ends 18, 20. The vehicle body 7 has a first door 22. A second door 28 has a latched connection 42 with the vehicle body between the opening 16 first and second ends 18, 20. The second door 28 has a window regulator 250 to move a window pane 254 in and out of a window opening 212.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald G. Mikolai, Matthew Carey, Muhammed Ayub, Stanley Liu, Kelly Kohlstrand, Stephen L. Bruford, David Glickman
  • Patent number: 6848737
    Abstract: A vehicle 7 is provided having a vehicle body 10 with an opening 16 having first and second ends 18, 20. The vehicle body 7 has a first door 22 and a second door 28, which has a latch connection 42 with the vehicle body between the first and second ends 18, 20. A release handle mechanism 54, accessible from an interior of the vehicle body is provided for the second door 28. The release handle mechanism 54 is also accessible from an exterior of the vehicle body when the first door 22 is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald G. Mikolai, Matthew Carey, Muhammed Ayub
  • Publication number: 20040174040
    Abstract: A vehicle 7 is provided having a vehicle body 36 with an opening 16 having first and second ends 18, 20. The vehicle body 7 has a first door 22. A second door 28 has a latched connection 42 with the vehicle body between the opening 16 first and second ends 18, 20. The second door 28 has a window regulator 250 to move a window pane 254 in and out of a window opening 212.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Donald G. Mikolai, Matthew Carey, Muhammed Ayub, Stanley Liu, Kelly Kohlstrand, Stephen L. Bruford, David Glickman
  • Publication number: 20040104595
    Abstract: A vehicle 7 is provided having a vehicle body 10 with an opening 16 having first and second ends 18, 20. The vehicle body 7 has a first door 22 and a second door 28, which has a latch connection 42 with the vehicle body between the opening 16 first and second ends 18, 20. A release handle mechanism 54, accessible from an interior of the vehicle body is provided for the second door 28. The release handle mechanism 54 is also accessible from an exterior of the vehicle body when the first door 22 is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Matthew Carey, Donald G. Mikolai, Muhammed Ayub
  • Patent number: 6192725
    Abstract: A liftgate handle assembly for actuating a remotely mounted liftgate latch comprising a liftgate handle assembly including a housing having a handle pivotally mounted therein, a key cylinder rotatably mounted therein, a main lever slidably and pivotally mounted thereon, a subordinate lever mounted thereon and in pivotal communication with the main lever which is operably engageable by the handle and operably connected to the key cylinder. The liftgate handle assembly includes a cable connected between the subordinate lever and the liftgate latch. The main lever is adapted to be reciprocally slidably actuated between a locked and an unlocked mode by rotation of the key cylinder, and pivotally actuated in an unlocked mode by manually lifting the handle to move the cable via the subordinate lever to operate the liftgate latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Earl L. Watson, Donald G. Mikolai