Patents by Inventor John E. Hilliker

John E. Hilliker 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).

  • Integrated liftgate wire harness tether
    Patent number: 10688944
    Abstract: A vehicle wire harness assembly is provided that, in addition to carrying electricity to and from a vehicle closure, acts as a tether that provides structural reinforcement to the vehicle closure during a crash event. The vehicle wire harness assembly includes a wire harness having electrical wires and a sheath. The electrical wires have an electrical wire tensile strength. The wire harness includes one or more reinforcing tendons configured such that the electrical wires and the reinforcing tendon(s) have a combined tensile strength that is at least 50 percent greater than the electrical wire tensile strength. Anchors retain the wire harness to a vehicle body and a body panel closure. Each anchor has a pull-out strength of at least 50 pounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: John E Hilliker, Duane A Koehler
  • INTEGRATED LIFTGATE WIRE HARNESS TETHER
    Publication number: 20190061649
    Abstract: A vehicle wire harness assembly is provided that, in addition to carrying electricity to and from a vehicle closure, acts as a tether that provides structural reinforcement to the vehicle closure during a crash event. The vehicle wire harness assembly includes a wire harness having electrical wires and a sheath. The electrical wires have an electrical wire tensile strength. The wire harness includes one or more reinforcing tendons configured such that the electrical wires and the reinforcing tendon(s) have a combined tensile strength that is at least 50 percent greater than the electrical wire tensile strength. Anchors retain the wire harness to a vehicle body and a body panel closure. Each anchor has a pull-out strength of at least 50 pounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: John E. Hilliker, Duane A. Koehler