Patents by Inventor John M. Lude

John M. Lude 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: 5605371
    Abstract: An automobile body panel has an outer contour-defining component and an inner structural component. The inner structural component comprises a front member, a rear member, a plurality of side members, a central region defined by the front, rear, and side members, and at least one internal member disposed in the central region, and may also include at least one cross member disposed in the central region. The side members and each internal member have a substantially closed cross-sectional geometry. The outer component is secured to the inner structural component at the periphery of the panel. In addition, the outer component is substantially continuously adhesively bonded to each internal member, to flanges of the front and rear members, to each cross member and to the upper surface of each side member. The resulting panel is light-weight, has a high degree of rigidity, is capable of absorbing crash energy in frontal impact, and is resistant to puckering and oil canning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Inland Steel Company
    Inventors: James E. Borchelt, John M. Lude, Bernard S. Levy