Patents by Inventor Gary D. Mullen
Gary D. Mullen 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: 12194816Abstract: An air flow control system includes a plenum having an air inlet, a first air outlet, a second air outlet and a third air outlet, a vent door, an air guide, carried on the vent door, and an actuator. The actuator displaces the vent door between a first position closing the first air outlet and a second position opening the first air outlet. A climate control method for an autonomous vehicle is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2022Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Anthony Ligi, Jr., Gary D. Mullen, Francis Raymond Gillis, Steven Nicholas Fidh
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Patent number: 12168389Abstract: A ventilation system and method of purging volatile organic compounds from an interior space of the vehicle. The ventilation space including an air extractor connected to a vehicle wall and having an interior side within the interior space defined by the vehicle wall, a fan attached to the interior side, and a controller configured to operate in a shipping mode to activate the fan to generate ventilation flow through the air extractor.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2022Date of Patent: December 17, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Scott Christopher Sterbenz, Eric Jay MacLean, Daniel Ferretti, Timothy James Hallifax, Gary D. Mullen
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Publication number: 20230322046Abstract: A ventilation system and method of purging volatile organic compounds from an interior space of the vehicle. The ventilation space including an air extractor connected to a vehicle wall and having an interior side within the interior space defined by the vehicle wall, a fan attached to the interior side, and a controller configured to operate in a shipping mode to activate the fan to generate ventilation flow through the air extractor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2022Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Scott Christopher Sterbenz, Eric Jay MacLean, Daniel Ferretti, Timothy James Hallifax, Gary D. Mullen
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Patent number: 11660932Abstract: A vehicle air purging system includes a vehicle body that defines an interior. A support member is coupled to the vehicle body. The support member defines a receiving cavity. The support member defines an aperture proximate the receiving cavity. A one-way valve is coupled to the support member and is disposed within the aperture. A fan is coupled to the support member. The fan includes an outlet aligned with the aperture. A controller is operably coupled to the fan. The controller is configured to activate the fan to blow air from the interior to an area external to the vehicle body through the one-way valve.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gary D. Mullen, Daniel Ferretti, Tim Rush, Wojciech Mariusz Wyrwa, Johnathan Andrew Line
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Publication number: 20220258572Abstract: An air flow control system includes a plenum having an air inlet, a first air outlet, a second air outlet and a third air outlet, a vent door, an air guide, carried on the vent door, and an actuator. The actuator displaces the vent door between a first position closing the first air outlet and a second position opening the first air outlet. A climate control method for an autonomous vehicle is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Anthony Ligi, JR., Gary D. Mullen, Francis Raymond Gillis, Steven Nicholas Fidh
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Patent number: 11285787Abstract: An air flow control system includes a plenum having an air inlet, a first air outlet, a second air outlet and a third air outlet, a vent door, an air guide, carried on the vent door, and an actuator. The actuator displaces the vent door between a first position closing the first air outlet and a second position opening the first air outlet. A climate control method for an autonomous vehicle is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2017Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Anthony Ligi, Jr., Gary D. Mullen, Francis Raymond Gillis, Steven Nicholas Fidh
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Patent number: 11254037Abstract: A method of forming a cross-car beam is provided. A composite is melted to form a viscous polymer. The polymer is injected into a mold. Pressurized fluid is injected into the mold to evacuate a portion of the viscous polymer from the mold and to form a channel therethrough. The remaining viscous polymer is cooled within the mold to form a cross-car beam.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dan Busuioc, Bernard Gerard Marchetti, Gary D. Mullen, Nicholas Andrew Mazzocchi
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Patent number: 11117525Abstract: A apparatus includes a trim panel and a displaceable face pane. The trim panel includes a storage compartment and a guideway having a latching slot and a positioning rack. The displaceable face panel has a trunnion received for sliding movement along the guideway.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Juergen Koehler, Bhavani Thota, Steven Nicholas Fidh, Gary D. Mullen, Linh Ngoc Doan
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Patent number: 11084437Abstract: An apparatus for an interior vehicle compartment includes a seat adapted for moving in a travel direction and a movable console. The movable console includes a holder for removably receiving and holding a mobile computer having a display. The holder may be displaced between a stowed position and a deployed position. The display is presented for viewing by a vehicle passenger seated in the seat in both of those positions.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2020Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Shivraj Karthik Ranganathan, Manjil M Kale, Robert Michael Coury, Gary D. Mullen, Anthony Ligi, Jr., Glenn Biddinger
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Publication number: 20210229527Abstract: A vehicle air purging system includes a vehicle body that defines an interior. A support member is coupled to the vehicle body. The support member defines a receiving cavity. The support member defines an aperture proximate the receiving cavity. A one-way valve is coupled to the support member and is disposed within the aperture. A fan is coupled to the support member. The fan includes an outlet aligned with the aperture. A controller is operably coupled to the fan. The controller is configured to activate the fan to blow air from the interior to an area external to the vehicle body through the one-way valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2020Publication date: July 29, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gary D. Mullen, Daniel Ferretti, Tim Rush, Wojciech Mariusz Wyrwa, Johnathan Andrew Line
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Patent number: 11052875Abstract: A unitary defroster system for a motor vehicle windshield comprises an instrument panel substrate, an HVAC supply source, and an air supply plenum in fluid communication with the HVAC supply source and terminating in a plurality of individually configured defroster nozzle ducts conjoined with the instrument panel substrate and aligned in a substantially linear row parallel to and proximate an interior surface of the windshield. The unitary defroster system is formed by an additive manufacturing process and at least two of the ducts are configured and arranged to deliver a different air flow to the interior surface of the windshield.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2018Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Gary D. Mullen, Nicholas A. Mazzocchi, Mitali Chakrabarti, Anthony Ligi, Jr.
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Publication number: 20210107332Abstract: An air duct includes an inlet and an outlet that are interconnected with one another by a curved intermediate portion. A plurality of chambers are disposed within the curved intermediate portion. Each chamber of the plurality of chambers includes a first end opening into the inlet and a second end opening into the outlet. An enclosed body portion interconnects the first and second ends of each chamber. The curved intermediate portion further includes a first cross-sectional configuration disposed at a first portion of the curved intermediate portion, and a second cross-sectional configuration that is different from the first cross-sectional configuration disposed at a second portion of the curved intermediate portion. The second portion of the curved intermediate is disposed downstream from the first portion of the curved intermediate portion. The air duct directs airflow in a demisting sequence and is further contemplated to be formed using an additive manufacturing process.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2019Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gary D. Mullen, Mitali Chakrabarti, John A. Shinska, Daniel D. Mitchell, Martin Alfred Lindell, III
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Patent number: 10913419Abstract: A footwell assembly for a vehicle is disposed herein. The footwell assembly includes at least one foot pedal disposed in the footwell and operable between a use position and a stowed position. A receiving member is positioned within the footwell and is defining a recess, wherein the at least one foot pedal is configured to nest within the recess while in the stowed position. A cover feature is operably coupled to the receiving member and is configured to cover the at least one foot pedal when the at least one foot pedal is nested within the recess of the receiving member in the stowed position.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2019Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gary D. Mullen, John A. Shinska, Gregory Pfirman, Keith Brown
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Publication number: 20200398725Abstract: A footwell assembly for a vehicle is disposed herein. The footwell assembly includes at least one foot pedal disposed in the footwell and operable between a use positon and a stowed position. A receiving member is positioned within the footwell and is defining a recess, wherein the at least one foot pedal is configured to nest within the recess while in the stowed position. A cover feature is operably coupled to the receiving member and is configured to cover the at least one foot pedal when the at least one foot pedal is nested within the recess of the receiving member in the stowed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2019Publication date: December 24, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gary D. Mullen, John A. Shinska, Gregory Pfirman, Keith Brown
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Publication number: 20200338797Abstract: A method of forming a cross-car beam is provided. A composite is melted to form a viscous polymer. The polymer is injected into a mold. Pressurized fluid is injected into the mold to evacuate a portion of the viscous polymer from the mold and to form a channel therethrough. The remaining viscous polymer is cooled within the mold to form a cross-car beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dan Busuioc, Bernard Gerard Marchetti, Gary D. Mullen, Nicholas Andrew Mazzocchi
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Patent number: 10793088Abstract: A handle device includes: a housing, a handle unit including a base portion and a handle portion. The base portion includes a first track and is pivotably connected to the housing. The handle portion includes a slider movable along the first track and a retractable first locking unit connected to a first side portion of the housing. The first locking unit is positioned at least partially within the first track in a locking position and positioned outside of the first track in an unlocking position.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2018Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Vic Kong, Peter Zhang, Gary D. Mullen, Yoyo Ma
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Patent number: 10759099Abstract: A method of forming a cross-car beam is provided. A composite is melted to form a viscous polymer. The polymer is injected into a mold. Pressurized fluid is injected into the mold to evacuate a portion of the viscous polymer from the mold and to form a channel therethrough. The remaining viscous polymer is cooled within the mold to form a cross-car beam.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2018Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dan Busuioc, Bernard Gerard Marchetti, Gary D. Mullen, Nicholas Andrew Mazzocchi
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Patent number: 10744918Abstract: A motor vehicle console comprises a mount and a pair of exposed parallel tubular members. Each of the tubular members has a forward section, an intermediate section extending rearwardly, and a rearward section, wherein at least one of the forward horizontal section, intermediate section, and rearward section is disposed at an elevation horizontally above the other of the forward section, intermediate section, and rearward section and each forward section is operatively coupled with the mount.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2019Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gary D. Mullen, Dennis Sartorello, Anthony Ligi, Jr., Stephen Neal Jacobsen
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Patent number: 10730557Abstract: A cross car beam assembly is provided herein. A composite beam structure extends transversely across a vehicle. A vehicle floor bracket is disposed below the composite beam. A composite reinforcement has a first portion fixedly engaged to the beam structure and a second portion engaged to the vehicle floor bracket.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gary D. Mullen, Anthony Ligi, Jr., Li Lu, Nicholas Andrew Mazzocchi
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Publication number: 20200223368Abstract: A apparatus includes a trim panel and a displaceable face pane. The trim panel includes a storage compartment and a guideway having a latching slot and a positioning rack. The displaceable face panel has a trunnion received for sliding movement along the guideway.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2019Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventors: Juergen Koehler, Bhavani Thota, Steven Nicholas Fidh, Gary D. Mullen, Linh Ngoc Doan