Patents by Inventor Freeman Thomas

Freeman Thomas 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: 7578535
    Abstract: A headrest system for an automotive vehicle having a seat and a roof includes a headrest to limit the movement of a head of an occupant seated in the seat, a bracket to support the headrest and being attached with the headrest, and a track including a bracket receiving portion configured to receive a portion of the bracket. The track is attached with the roof of the vehicle. The headrest is not attached to the seat. The bracket includes an adjustable feature to permit the headrest to adjust relative to the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Freeman Thomas, Kris Tomasson, David Woodhouse, Brian White
  • Publication number: 20090179401
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle is provided with a vehicle body and at least one tow hook. The vehicle body has a front end and a rear end. The at least one tow hook is pivotally connected to the front end of the vehicle body and may pivot between a stored position at least partially recessed within the vehicle body and a deployed position extending beyond the vehicle body to facilitate access to the at least one tow hook. The vehicle may further have an actuator to cooperate with the at least one tow hook to pivot the at least one tow hook relative to the vehicle body. The vehicle may further have a pair of tow hooks on the front end and a pair of exhaust members mounted within a pair of exhaust apertures formed in the rear end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Jamieson, Freeman Thomas, David Woodhouse
  • Patent number: 7513549
    Abstract: A vehicle center console. The console includes a cantilevered body having an upper surface, which includes one or more upper center console features. The console also includes a lower surface including one or more lower center console features. The lower surface is disposed vertically apart from at least a portion of the upper surface such that a vehicle occupant has access to the one or more upper and lower center console features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kris Tomasson, Freeman Thomas, Matthew A. Hill
  • Patent number: 7445275
    Abstract: A vehicle sunroof including a sunroof frame mounted to a vehicle roof opening and having opposing lateral sides. The sunroof frame has an outer edge adjacent to the outer surface of the vehicle roof and an inner edge located within the vehicle cabin. The vehicle sunroof also includes a number of solar panels. Each solar panel includes a solar collection surface for collecting sunlight for producing solar energy. The solar panels extend between and are connected to the opposing lateral sides of the sunroof frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Woodhouse, Tyler Blake, Freeman Thomas
  • Patent number: 7399027
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle is disclosed with a vehicle body, an ornamental fascia mounted to a front end of the vehicle body and a structural member mounted to the vehicle body front end. The structural member extends through the ornamental fascia to an exterior side of the vehicle body for a compact arrangement of structural, functional and design characteristics of the vehicle front end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Woodhouse, Tyler Blake, Freeman Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080163849
    Abstract: A display system for an automotive vehicle indicates the position of a throttle valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Freeman Thomas, Mark Gorman, Sven Etzelsberger
  • Publication number: 20080164710
    Abstract: A headrest for an automotive vehicle is attached with the vehicle but not with a seat for the vehicle. The headrest may move relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Freeman Thomas, Kris Tomasson, David Woodhouse, Brian White
  • Publication number: 20080164725
    Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed having a vehicle body and a module. The vehicle body has a front end and a rear end with an opening formed through the rear end. The module is sized to be received within the rear end opening. The module has at least a portion of a vehicle interior mounted therein. The module is adapted to be inserted into the opening of the rear end to cooperate with the vehicle body to form the at least a portion of the vehicle interior. A modular vehicle interior system is disclosed with a module which is sized to be received within a rear end opening of a vehicle body. A method for assembling a vehicle interior is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Freeman Thomas, Kris Tomasson, David Woodhouse, Jordan Bennett, Matthew Edwards
  • Publication number: 20080163555
    Abstract: A door handle system for an automotive vehicle door includes a door handle and a body panel. The body panel is moveable between a flush position and a recessed position. If the body panel is in the flush position, portions of the door handle are concealed. If the body panel is in the recessed position, portions of the door handle are visible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Freeman Thomas, David Woodhouse, Jordan Bennett
  • Patent number: 7296844
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle is disclosed having a vehicle body with a passenger compartment and a door opening to the passenger compartment. A door is pivotally mounted to the door opening with an inclined axis which may extend laterally outboard and downward relative to the vehicle body in a rearward direction of the vehicle. The door opening may be provided through a sidewall and a roof of the vehicle; and the door may be provided with a side panel and a roof panel to match the door opening. Also disclosed is a hinge arrangement for attaching the door to the vehicle body at an upper region and a rearward region of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Woodhouse, Tyler Blake, Freeman Thomas
  • Patent number: D559742
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Freeman Thomas, David Woodhouse, Jordan Bennett
  • Patent number: D561646
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Freeman Thomas, David Woodhouse, Andreas Nilsson, Jeremy Leng
  • Patent number: D561658
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Freeman Thomas, David Woodhouse, Andreas Nilsson, Jeremy Leng
  • Patent number: D561665
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Freeman Thomas, David Woodhouse, Andreas Nilsson, Jeremy Leng
  • Patent number: D563277
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Freeman Thomas, David Woodhouse, Jordan Bennett
  • Patent number: D580345
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: John Paxton, Freeman Thomas, David Woodhouse
  • Patent number: D584996
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Stuart Jamieson, Freeman Thomas, David Woodhouse, Ehab Kaoud
  • Patent number: D594890
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Stuart Jamieson, Freeman Thomas, David Woodhouse
  • Patent number: D597002
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Stuart Jamieson, Freeman Thomas, David Woodhouse
  • Patent number: D601068
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: David Ivan Woodhouse Lampkin, John Paxton, Freeman Thomas