Patents by Inventor Gerald Arthur Heath
Gerald Arthur Heath 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: 6378894Abstract: A seamless passenger side inflatable restraint system for a motor vehicle includes an instrument panel having a deployment opening and a deployment door integral with the instrument panel and closing the deployment opening. The seamless passenger side inflatable restraint system also includes a side inflatable restraint module disposed within the instrument panel and aligned with the deployment opening. The seamless passenger side inflatable restraint system further includes a door reinforcement connected to the deployment door and operatively connected to the instrument panel to rotate the deployment door and retain the deployment door to the instrument panel after inflation of an air bag of the side inflatable restraint module.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 1999Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Lisandro Trevino, Ashir Prafull Thakore, Gerald Arthur Heath, Robert Floyd Kukla, Shishir K. Agrawal, Valerie DiCarlo
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Patent number: 6250729Abstract: A sliding console (20) for use with a vehicle. The console (20) includes a padded upper portion (40) to serve as an arm rest. The console (20) includes a slider assembly (52) that moves toward and way form the front end (32) and rear end walls (34) to allow the padded upper portion (40) to be adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1999Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Johnny Hugh Allison, Richard Morabito, Gerald Arthur Heath
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Patent number: 6180212Abstract: Method of making an automotive latch handle intended for operation by manually pulling fingertips across a margin of the handle; it includes the steps of: a) molding a latch handle of a first essentially rigid plastic defining an area support for the margin, which plastic when fully solidified and cured has a stiffness of 0.8-5.8 GPa and a durometer ratio of 710,000 shore A; and b) overmolding the support area of the first plastic with a second plastic to define the margin, which margin when fully solidified and cured defines a finger gripping pad that has a stiffness of <0.01 GPa and a durometer ratio in the range of 35-85 shore A. An automotive latch handle structure that comprises: a) a generally flat paddle having means facilitating linear or pivotal movement, the paddle having been formed by molding of a first essentially rigid plastic with a stiffness of 0.8-5.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1999Date of Patent: January 30, 2001Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Arthur Single, Beth M. Wichterman, Daniel Ryan Malwitz, Gerald Arthur Heath
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Patent number: 6174470Abstract: A method for forming an automotive instrument panel having a concealed door comprising a series of steps. A plastic parison is extruded to form the substrate layer of the instrument panel. The parison has first and second walls. The parison is placed within a mold and the first wall is contacted with the second wall to form a hinge. The area of contact forms a bond between the first and second walls. A different portion of the first and second walls are contacted to form an opening path. The opening path intersects the hinge. The opening path usually has a thickness much less than the thickness of the first and second walls to form an easily fracturable area. The door swings on the hinge to open. A elongated section of material on the second wall, enables the second wall to wrap along the hinge when the door is opened.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1998Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Bradley Richard Plymale, Christopher Alan Myers, Gerald Arthur Heath, Jeffrey Hampton Helms, Lisandro Trevino, Sorin Stancu
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Patent number: 6116674Abstract: A console is provided for use with an automotive vehicle. The console can be removed from or repositioned within a vehicle interior using an existing seating arrangement or seat fastening system. The console includes a variety of features, including use as a cooler or a seat separate from the vehicle. The console can be used in several positions within the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1998Date of Patent: September 12, 2000Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Johnny Hugh Allison, David Norman Denomme, Gerald Arthur Heath, Richard Morabito
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Patent number: 6050628Abstract: A glove box assembly (10) for a vehicle includes left and right side braces (50, 52) each having multiple sections (54, 64, 78). The first section (54) is fastened to the vehicle frame (24) and the second section (64) is connected to the first section and slidably movable relative to the first section between a retracted position at which the second section nests in the first section an extended position at which the second section extends from the first section. The third section (78) is connected to the second section (64) and slidably movable relative to the second section between a retracted position at which the third section nests in the second section an extended position at which the third section extends from the second section. A bin (28) is removably mounted between the left and right side braces (50, 52). The second and third sections (64, 78) of the braces (64, 78) are extended and retracted to controllably extend and retract the bin (28).Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1997Date of Patent: April 18, 2000Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Johnny Hugh Allison, Gerald Arthur Heath
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Patent number: 6003716Abstract: A dual open console for use with a vehicle. The console includes a lock assembly that allows opening of only one side of the console at a time. The lock assembly includes a pivot bar engaging locks on both sides of the lid of the console. The pivot bar operates to ensure that the lock on one side of the lid remains engaged when the lock on the other side is released.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1998Date of Patent: December 21, 1999Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Johnny Hugh Allison, Gerald Arthur Heath, Richard Morabito, Jeff Hayes, David Norman Denomme, Walter Andrew Hartley, Harry Craig Kuptz
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Patent number: 5979540Abstract: An apparatus for cooling electrical components contained inside an enclosed housing, which is positioned proximate to a dashboard of a vehicle, includes an inlet pipe which receives a forced air flow and an outlet pipe which expels air from the enclosed housing. The inlet pipe receives the forced air flow either from a fan or from an air intake mechanism which supplies filtered air to an intake manifold of the vehicle engine. The air intake mechanism also maintains the temperature of the vehicle battery at a predetermined temperature by use of heated air from the engine exhaust manifold.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 1995Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Assignees: Ford Motor Co., United Technologies Automotive, Inc.Inventors: Johnny Hugh Allison, Gerald Arthur Heath, David S. Wills, R. David Arndt, Mark Timothy Lecznar, Bruce Allen Williams
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Patent number: 5845965Abstract: A console assembly in an automotive vehicle has a center console positioned between a pair of seats, a storage bin having a storage compartment therein accessible through an opening in an upper portion, and a lid covering the opening which is movable to provide an adjustable armrest. A hinge attached between the lid and the storage compartment allows the lid to pivot between a closed position covering the opening and an open position uncovering the opening. The hinge has a lid plate which fits into a sleeve on a bottom surface of the lid for allowing the lid to move longitudinally with respect to the console over the storage compartment between an aft position in which the lid covers the opening and a fore position in which a rear portion of the opening is uncovered. A cover plate covers the rear portion of the opening when the lid is in the closed and fore positions.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 1997Date of Patent: December 8, 1998Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Gerald Arthur Heath, Ionel Eugene Simplicean, Sorin Stancu
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Patent number: 5749629Abstract: A console assembly in an automotive vehicle has a center console positioned between a pair of seats and a storage compartment with a lid having an armrest on an outer surface, the storage compartment being diagonally adjustable with respect to the console to provide an adjustable armrest for an occupant. The console has a mounting well and an auxiliary storage compartment therein. A telescoping member is angularly mounted with respect to a vertical axis for simultaneously adjusting the storage compartment both in a vertical direction and in a fore-aft direction with respect to the console, the telescoping member mounted to a storage compartment bottom of the second storage compartment on a first end and mounted within the mounting well on a second end. A stabilizing rod is mounted substantially parallel to the at least one telescoping member for preventing rotation of the second storage compartment about the telescoping member.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 1997Date of Patent: May 12, 1998Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Gerald Arthur Heath, Kelly Michael Obriot, Ionel Eugene Simplicean, Sorin Stancu
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Patent number: 5649834Abstract: A novel electrical connector assembly is disclosed. An embodiment of the electrical connector assembly includes a guide sleeve having a tapered interior and electrical contacts disposed therein. The guide sleeve receives a tapered housing having corresponding electrical contacts for mating with the electrical contacts of the guide sleeve. An alternate embodiment of the electrical connector assembly has a connection mechanism using a flat contact surface and a round tipped contact surface to maintain electrical contact while allowing for movement of the contacts in any direction along the surface of the flat contact surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1995Date of Patent: July 22, 1997Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: John Hugh Allison, Gerald Arthur Heath, Richard Granitz