Patents by Inventor Keith Thomas

Keith Thomas 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: 12269399
    Abstract: An accessory attachment system includes a baseplate that provides an attachment interface on a vehicle. The baseplate is configured to engage with an accessory to secure the accessory to the vehicle. The baseplate and the accessory are configured to electrically connect to each other through an electrical contact interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Galen Keith Thomas, Michael Azzouz, Jay Meyer
  • Patent number: 12253249
    Abstract: A device and method for growing plants from seed, seedling, clone, root stock or young plant without the use of synthetic or natural fibers or fibrous media. The device comprises flexible non-fibrous structures that support the seed, plant or root stock during growth, while also establishing a delineation between the root zone and shoot zone of the plant. The structure of the device allows water supplied to either the root zone side or the shoot zone side of the device to wick around the seeds and roots and is constructed with spacing and angles such that water applied to either side is directed only to drain toward the root zone side of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Inventors: Schuyler David Milton, Keith Thomas Born
  • Publication number: 20240417010
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a modular vehicle subassembly (MVS) includes assembling a propulsion system onto a vehicle frame, assembling a suspension system onto the vehicle frame, assembling a steering system and braking system onto the vehicle frame, assembling an electrical distribution system onto the vehicle frame, and integrating an onboard controller with the propulsion system, the steering system, and the braking system. The onboard controller is configured to command the propulsion system, the steering system, and the braking system such that the MVS is operable to move untethered through a top hat assembly line during assembly of a top hat on the MVS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Galen Keith Thomas, Kerry Lance Paskell
  • Publication number: 20240416717
    Abstract: A vehicle panel includes channels, wherein a first channel includes a first wire capable and a second channel includes a second wire and each wire is capable of carrying at least one of power or a vehicle data signal. The panel also includes a connection point connectable to at least one of a battery or a vehicle computing system, wherein selection of connection between the vehicle computing system or battery to a given connection point provided to a given one of the first or second channels dictates whether the channel carries the vehicle data signal or power. Also, the panel includes holes connecting to the first wire and at least two of the holes connecting to the second wire allowing a connection probe to be inserted into a respective hole to connect to a wire included in a channel to which the hole connects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Jonathan Engels, Galen Keith Thomas, Haysam M. Kadry, James Martin Lawlis
  • Patent number: 12142935
    Abstract: An accessory attachment system includes a baseplate that provides an attachment interface on a support surface. The baseplate is configured to engage with an accessory to secure the accessory to the support surface. The baseplate and the accessory are configured to electrically connect to each other through a wireless electrical power link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Galen Keith Thomas, Matthew B. Rutman
  • Patent number: 12103355
    Abstract: A vehicle panel includes channels, wherein a first channel includes a first wire capable and a second channel includes a second wire and each wire is capable of carrying at least one of power or a vehicle data signal. The panel also includes a connection point connectable to at least one of a battery or a vehicle computing system, wherein selection of connection between the vehicle computing system or battery to a given connection point provided to a given one of the first or second channels dictates whether the channel carries the vehicle data signal or power. Also, the panel includes holes connecting to the first wire and at least two of the holes connecting to the second wire allowing a connection probe to be inserted into a respective hole to connect to a wire included in a channel to which the hole connects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Jonathan Engels, Galen Keith Thomas, Haysam M. Kadry, James Martin Lawlis
  • Patent number: 12071189
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a modular vehicle subassembly (MVS) includes assembling a propulsion system onto a vehicle frame, assembling a suspension system onto the vehicle frame, assembling a steering system and braking system onto the vehicle frame, assembling an electrical distribution system onto the vehicle frame, and integrating an onboard controller with the propulsion system, the steering system, and the braking system. The onboard controller is configured to command the propulsion system, the steering system, and the braking system such that the MVS is operable to move untethered through a top hat assembly line during assembly of a top hat on the MVS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Galen Keith Thomas, Kerry Lance Paskell
  • Publication number: 20240181857
    Abstract: A windshield protection apparatus configured to be releasably superposed to an exterior surface of a windshield on a vehicle so as to inhibit damage to the windshield of the vehicle. The present invention includes a body wherein the body is mateably shaped to the windshield of the vehicle for which it will be superposed. The body includes a first layer, second layer and a third layer wherein the third layer is adjacent to the exterior surface of the windshield. The first layer is manufactured from rubber or other similar material and the second layer is manufactured from Kevlar® or other similar material. The third layer is manufactured from a vinyl, rubber or similar material. The body includes embedded therein a first magnet set having a plurality of magnets located proximate the perimeter edge of the body. A metal disk set is releasably secured to the interior surface of the windshield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventor: Keith Thomas Black
  • Patent number: 11928710
    Abstract: A computer implemented search management process and platform include USER data to build libraries of keywords used to associate merchant selections in response to queries seeking merchant products and services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Rakuten, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Taylor, Keith Thoma
  • Patent number: 11803181
    Abstract: A navigation system for remote control movement of modular vehicle subassemblies (MVSs) through a plurality of assembly zones of a vehicle assembly facility includes a predefined primary pathway configured for the MVSs to move along during assembly of top hats on the MVSs, a plurality of sensors, a plurality of zone controllers, and a central management system with a navigation algorithm. The plurality of sensors are configured to transmit at least one of proximity data and visual data on the MVSs moving through the plurality of assembly zones to the plurality of zone controllers. The central management system is configured to be in communication with each of the plurality of zone controllers and the navigation algorithm is configured to receive the at least one of proximity data and visual data and calculate movement instructions for remote control movement of the MVSs moving through the plurality of assembly zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Galen Keith Thomas, Kerry Lance Paskell
  • Patent number: 11789430
    Abstract: A method for creating a digital twin for a vehicle assembled on at least one assembly line includes assembly of a modular vehicle subassembly (MVS) in a plurality of MVS assembly zones by assembling at least one component at each MVS assembly zone, scanning the at least one component at each MVS assembly zone and acquiring scanned data, and storing the scanned data in a MVS temporary digital file assigned to the pre-assembled MVS. The method also includes updating a MVS permanently digital file assigned to the pre-assembled MVS after the at least one component at each of the MVS assembly zones has been assembled and storing the MVS permanent digital file when assembly of the MVS is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Galen Keith Thomas, Kerry Lance Paskell
  • Publication number: 20230322042
    Abstract: A vehicle panel includes channels, wherein a first channel includes a first wire capable and a second channel includes a second wire and each wire is capable of carrying at least one of power or a vehicle data signal. The panel also includes a connection point connectable to at least one of a battery or a vehicle computing system, wherein selection of connection between the vehicle computing system or battery to a given connection point provided to a given one of the first or second channels dictates whether the channel carries the vehicle data signal or power. Also, the panel includes holes connecting to the first wire and at least two of the holes connecting to the second wire allowing a connection probe to be inserted into a respective hole to connect to a wire included in a channel to which the hole connects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Jonathan Engels, Galen Keith Thomas, Haysam M. Kadry, James Martin Lawlis
  • Publication number: 20230297917
    Abstract: System and methods may facilitate user guidance to risk relationship documents for an enterprise. A risk relationship document data store may contain a set of electronic data records, each electronic data record being associated with a risk relationship document and including a document identifier and a set of document metadata values. A document navigation computer may receive information from a user associated with the enterprise, and, based on the information received from the user and document metadata values, dynamically create a sub-set of the documents in the risk relationship data document data store. An interactive user interface display computer may provide indications associated with the documents in the dynamically created sub-set to the user via an interactive user interface and receive a selected document of the dynamically created sub-set. The user interface display computer may then, responsive to the selection, deliver the selected document to a remote user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Keith Thomas Clark, James A. Madison, Moon Nagar, Scott Mitchell Mackenthun
  • Patent number: 11720095
    Abstract: A system for remote control of modular vehicle subassemblies within a vehicle assembly facility includes a central management system having predetermined assembly paths and specifications for the modular vehicle subassemblies and a zone management system having zone controllers in communication with the central management system and in communication with the onboard controllers of the modular vehicle subassemblies. The zone controllers are configured to receive transient data from the onboard controllers of the modular vehicle subassemblies and manage movement of the modular vehicle subassemblies throughout the zones within the vehicle assembly facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Galen Keith Thomas, Kerry Lance Paskell
  • Patent number: 11699120
    Abstract: System and methods may facilitate user guidance to risk relationship documents for an enterprise. A risk relationship document data store may contain a set of electronic data records, each electronic data record being associated with a risk relationship document and including a document identifier and a set of document metadata values. A document navigation computer may receive information from a user associated with the enterprise, and, based on the information received from the user and document metadata values, dynamically create a sub-set of the documents in the risk relationship data document data store. An interactive user interface display computer may provide indications associated with the documents in the dynamically created sub-set to the user via an interactive user interface and receive a selected document of the dynamically created sub-set. The user interface display computer may then, responsive to the selection, deliver the selected document to a remote user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Keith Thomas Clark, James A. Madison, Moon Nagar, Scott Mitchell Mackenthun
  • Patent number: 11634954
    Abstract: A system for controlling surge pressure and deployed into a wellbore drilled using a managed pressure drilling technique includes auto-fill float equipment allowing flow into a liner casing string, a drillpipe diverter providing a flow path between a drillpipe landing string and an annulus, and a drillpipe flow restrictor selectively blocking the flow path from the top of the drillpipe landing string while allowing fluid to be displaced up the liner casing string and into the annulus. The drillpipe flow restrictor and the drillpipe diverter are convertible to provide a flow path from the wellbore through the auto-fill float equipment to a top surface while blocking flow through the diverter into the annulus. The auto-fill float equipment is convertible to block the flow path from the wellbore into the liner casing string, while allowing fluid to flow from the liner casing string into the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: John Christopher Jordan, Joseph Jude Boudreaux, Roland Taylor Hennigan, Tony Wooley, Keith Thomas Lutgring
  • Publication number: 20230115814
    Abstract: An accessory attachment system includes a baseplate that provides an attachment interface on a support surface. The baseplate is configured to engage with an accessory to secure the accessory to the support surface. The baseplate and the accessory are configured to electrically connect to each other through a wireless electrical power link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Galen Keith Thomas, Matthew B. Rutman
  • Publication number: 20230109950
    Abstract: A vehicle accessory assembly includes an accessory configured to engage a baseplate to secure the accessory to a vehicle. The accessory and the baseplate are configured to engage each other through an attachment system having feet that are each received within an aperture when engaged. The accessory is configured to provide electrical power to at least one device that is electrically coupled to the accessory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew B. Rutman, Eric S. Levine, Galen Keith Thomas
  • Publication number: 20230115236
    Abstract: An accessory attachment system includes a baseplate that provides an attachment interface on a vehicle. The baseplate is configured to engage with an accessory to secure the accessory to the vehicle. The baseplate and the accessory are configured to electrically connect to each other through an electrical contact interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Galen Keith Thomas, Michael Azzouz, Jay Meyer
  • Patent number: 11590913
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a rail-mounted component and a restraint monitoring system. The rail-mounted component can include one or more restraints. The restraint monitoring system includes a restraint control module, an encoder-decoder module, and a rail-mounted component control module. The rail-mounted component control module can include a restraint deployment loop and a restraint diagnostic loop. The restraint deployment loop can include a deployment signal amplifier. The restraint diagnostic loop can include a diagnostic signal amplifier. In examples that include both the deployment signal amplifier and the diagnostic signal amplifier, the deployment signal amplifier and the diagnostic signal amplifier may be wired in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David James Tippy, Alan George Dry, Mark A. Cuddihy, Derek Board, Jimmy Moua, Galen Keith Thomas, Ajeya Gupta, Johnathan Andrew Line