Patents by Inventor Joel Allen Pittenger

Joel Allen Pittenger 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).

  • Publication number: 20250087940
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle, that receives an electrical plug having a male terminal or a female terminal, includes the other of the male terminal or female terminal and a latch that, responsive to movement of the electrical plug toward the electrical receptacle resulting in movement of the male terminal into the female terminal, rides along serrations of the serrated insert such that the latch and one of the serrations cooperate to resist disengagement of the electrical plug from the electrical receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Richard Moore, Scott Robert Lirette, David Lloyd Nutt, Joel Allen Pittenger, John Paul Modzel
  • Publication number: 20230283014
    Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods involving wiring connectors. In an example system, the system may include a first wire having a first connector portion, a second wire having a second connector portion, and a connector position assurance device configured to electrically connect the first wire to the second wire after the first connector portion is mechanically connected to the second connector portion. In an example method, a first connector portion of a first wire may be aligned against a second connector portion of a second wire. The first connector portion may then be moved towards the second connector portion. The first wire may then be electrically connected to the second wire via a connector position assurance device after the first connector portion is mechanically connected to the second connector portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Bielawski, Joel Allen Pittenger
  • Patent number: 10734764
    Abstract: Apparatus are disclosed for vehicle connectors for monitoring connection with trailer connectors. An example connector of a vehicle for coupling a trailer to the vehicle includes a wall defining a cavity to receive a trailer connector, a seal to engage the trailer connector when the cavity receives the trailer connector, and a first trailer-connection sensor disposed in the seal to monitor engagement of the trailer connector with the seal to identify a secure connection with the trailer connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Joel Allen Pittenger, Aed M. Dudar, Swadad A. Carremm
  • Patent number: 10530086
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for genderless electric terminals of vehicles. An example genderless electric terminal includes a first arm, a second arm opposite the first arm, and a wall integrally connecting the first arm and the second arm to define a slot. The example genderless electric terminal also includes a first flexible contact extending from an end of the first arm and protruding into the slot to engage a first arm of a different genderless electric terminal that is inserted into the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Joel Allen Pittenger
  • Publication number: 20190157790
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for genderless electric terminals of vehicles. An example genderless electric terminal includes a first arm, a second arm opposite the first arm, and a wall integrally connecting the first arm and the second arm to define a slot. The example genderless electric terminal also includes a first flexible contact extending from an end of the first arm and protruding into the slot to engage a first arm of a different genderless electric terminal that is inserted into the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventor: Joel Allen Pittenger
  • Publication number: 20190036275
    Abstract: Apparatus are disclosed for vehicle connectors for monitoring connection with trailer connectors. An example connector of a vehicle for coupling a trailer to the vehicle includes a wall defining a cavity to receive a trailer connector, a seal to engage the trailer connector when the cavity receives the trailer connector, and a first trailer-connection sensor disposed in the seal to monitor engagement of the trailer connector with the seal to identify a secure connection with the trailer connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Joel Allen Pittenger, Aed M. Dudar, Swadad A. Carremm
  • Patent number: 10193261
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for genderless electric terminals of vehicles. An example genderless electric terminal includes a first arm, a second arm opposite the first arm, and a wall integrally connecting the first arm and the second arm to define a slot. The example genderless electric terminal also includes a first flexible contact extending from an end of the first arm and protruding into the slot to engage a first arm of a different genderless electric terminal that is inserted into the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Joel Allen Pittenger
  • Patent number: 10112452
    Abstract: A trailer yaw sensing apparatus is provided. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus includes a housing, a yaw sensor, and a docking station. The housing is configured for installation on a trailer. The housing defines apertures that are configured to engage fasteners for mounting yaw sensors in a plurality of orientations. The yaw sensor includes an external casing and is disposed within the housing. The docking station is affixed to the housing and is configured to receive a trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Swadad A. Carremm, Joel Allen Pittenger, Roy Joseph Scott, David James Tippy, Steven Yellin Schondorf
  • Patent number: 10103488
    Abstract: Apparatus are disclosed for vehicle connectors for monitoring connection with trailer connectors. An example connector of a vehicle for coupling a trailer to the vehicle includes a wall defining a cavity to receive a trailer connector, a seal to engage the trailer connector when the cavity receives the trailer connector, and a first trailer-connection sensor disposed in the seal to monitor engagement of the trailer connector with the seal to identify a secure connection with the trailer connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Joel Allen Pittenger, Aed M. Dudar, Swadad A. Carremm
  • Publication number: 20180277976
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for genderless electric terminals of vehicles. An example genderless electric terminal includes a first arm, a second arm opposite the first arm, and a wall integrally connecting the first arm and the second arm to define a slot. The example genderless electric terminal also includes a first flexible contact extending from an end of the first arm and protruding into the slot to engage a first arm of a different genderless electric terminal that is inserted into the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventor: Joel Allen Pittenger
  • Patent number: 10035392
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to actuate an electric socket mounted to an exterior of a vehicle to close upon determining that the vehicle's speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, that a cover is open, and that the electric socket is in an electrically disengaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Swadad A. Carremm, Joel Allen Pittenger, David James Tippy
  • Publication number: 20180175553
    Abstract: Apparatus are disclosed for vehicle connectors for monitoring connection with trailer connectors. An example connector of a vehicle for coupling a trailer to the vehicle includes a wall defining a cavity to receive a trailer connector, a seal to engage the trailer connector when the cavity receives the trailer connector, and a first trailer-connection sensor disposed in the seal to monitor engagement of the trailer connector with the seal to identify a secure connection with the trailer connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Joel Allen Pittenger, Aed M. Dudar, Swadad A. Carremm
  • Publication number: 20180154716
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to actuate an electric socket mounted to an exterior of a vehicle to close upon determining that the vehicle's speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, that a cover is open, and that the electric socket is in an electrically disengaged state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Swadad A. Carremm, Joel Allen Pittenger, David James Tippy
  • Publication number: 20160285197
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing, a plurality of pins disposed on the housing, a pin chamber disposed on the housing, and a cap disposed on the chamber. The cap has a plurality of holes for receiving the pins. The pins are aligned with the holes when the cap is in an operating position and the pins are offset from the holes when the cap is in a storage position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Swadad A. Carremm, Joel Allen Pittenger, Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 9455522
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing, a plurality of pins disposed on the housing, a pin chamber disposed on the housing, and a cap disposed on the chamber. The cap has a plurality of holes for receiving the pins. The pins are aligned with the holes when the cap is in an operating position and the pins are offset from the holes when the cap is in a storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Swadad A. Carremm, Joel Allen Pittenger, Aed M. Dudar