Patents by Inventor Gregor Whelan

Gregor Whelan 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: 10953729
    Abstract: A device for controlling the air flow from an air outlet of a heating and/or ventilation and/or air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle. The air outlet has an air discharge opening which is for discharging air into an inner vehicle space and over which there extends at least one elongate slat which can be pivoted about a longitudinal axis in order to influence an air flow flowing through the air discharge opening and whose pivot position can be adjusted by at least one adjustment mechanism which is coupled to the slat. At least one actuation mechanism, which is fitted to a vehicle seat when the vehicle seat is mounted in the inner vehicle space, moves into mechanical operational engagement with the adjustment mechanism and brings about an adjustment of the at least one slat in accordance with a position of the vehicle seat with respect to the inner vehicle space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ger Anthony Cronin, Simon Arnold, Gregor Whelan, Peter Durston
  • Publication number: 20190092140
    Abstract: A device for controlling the air flow from an air outlet of a heating and/or ventilation and/or air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle. The air outlet has an air discharge opening which is for discharging air into an inner vehicle space and over which there extends at least one elongate slat which can be pivoted about a longitudinal axis in order to influence an air flow flowing through the air discharge opening and whose pivot position can be adjusted by at least one adjustment mechanism which is coupled to the slat. At least one actuation mechanism, which is fitted to a vehicle seat when the vehicle seat is mounted in the inner vehicle space, moves into mechanical operational engagement with the adjustment mechanism and brings about an adjustment of the at least one slat in accordance with a position of the vehicle seat with respect to the inner vehicle space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ger Anthony Cronin, Simon Arnold, Gregor Whelan, Peter Durston
  • Patent number: 10207609
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat back having a cushion surface forming a bolster along a lateral edge thereof, a recess formed in the bolster, and a retractable seatbelt. When in a stowed condition, the seatbelt extends along the bolster between a top and a bottom thereof, and a portion of the seatbelt passes over the recess to create a space between an edge of the seatbelt and the cushion surface. The recess is sized and located to enable a seat occupant to insert fingers into the space and easily grasp the seatbelt for deploying it. The recess may be a depression in the cushion surface, or may be formed by a first portion of the bolster having a first radius smaller than a second radius of a second, un-recessed portion of the bolster adjoining the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Scott, Timothy Noble, Gregor Whelan, Daniel T Jackson
  • Publication number: 20160137111
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat back having a cushion surface forming a bolster along a lateral edge thereof, a recess formed in the bolster, and a retractable seatbelt. When in a stowed condition, the seatbelt extends along the bolster between a top a bottom thereof, and a portion of the seatbelt passes over the recess to create a space between an edge of the seatbelt and the cushion surface. The recess is sized and located to enable a seat occupant to insert fingers into the space and easily grasp the seatbelt for deploying it. The recess may be a depression in the cushion surface, or may be formed by a first portion of the bolster having a first radius smaller than a second radius of a second, un-recessed portion of the bolster adjoining the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Timothy SCOTT, Timothy NOBLE, Gregor WHELAN, Daniel T. JACKSON
  • Patent number: 8065931
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed having lower and upper steering column members that are slidingly interengaged. The upper column member is attached to a structural part of the motor vehicle by a ride down mechanism that allows the upper steering column to move in the event of a collision. A load transfer means is provided to bypass the ride down mechanism when an adjustment lever is moved to a position allowing the position of the upper steering column member to be adjusted thereby preventing accidental damage occurring to the ride down mechanism due to operator abuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Paul Mark Marable, Marcus John Scott Ward, Timothy Scott, Gregor Whelan
  • Patent number: 8056436
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed having lower and upper steering column members that are slidingly interengaged. The upper column member is attached to a structural part of the motor vehicle by a ride down mechanism that allows the upper steering column to move in the event of a collision. A load transfer means is provided to bypass the ride down mechanism when an adjustment lever is moved to a position allowing the position of the upper steering column member to be adjusted thereby preventing accidental damage occurring to the ride down mechanism due to operator abuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Paul Mark Marable, Marcus John Scott Ward, Timothy Scott, Gregor Whelan
  • Publication number: 20110271787
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed having lower and upper steering column members that are slidingly interengaged. The upper column member is attached to a structural part of the motor vehicle by a ride down mechanism that allows the upper steering column to move in the event of a collision. A load transfer means is provided to bypass the ride down mechanism when an adjustment lever is moved to a position allowing the position of the upper steering column member to be adjusted thereby preventing accidental damage occurring to the ride down mechanism due to operator abuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Paul Mark Marable, Marcus John Scott Ward, Timothy Scott, Gregor Whelan
  • Publication number: 20090031843
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed having lower and upper steering column members that are slidingly interengaged. The upper column member is attached to a structural part of the motor vehicle by a ride down mechanism that allows the upper steering column to move in the event of a collision. A load transfer means is provided to bypass the ride down mechanism when an adjustment lever is moved to a position allowing the position of the upper steering column member to be adjusted thereby preventing accidental damage occurring to the ride down mechanism due to operator abuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Paul Mark Marable, Marcus John Scott Ward, Timothy Scott, Gregor Whelan