Patents by Inventor Ken Krankkala

Ken Krankkala 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: 11338838
    Abstract: A steering wheel cover including a stretch fabric ring having a c-shaped cross-section forming a three-hundred-sixty angular degree circle, a first frictitious layer lining at least some of the inside of the stretch fabric ring excepting an angular fabric-only portion of the three-hundred-sixty degree circle, and a second frictitious layer covering some of the outside of the stretch fabric ring, but not covering the angular fabric-only portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ADC Solutions Auto, LLC
    Inventors: Diner Mondragón, Annette Marie Stroud, Ken Krankkala
  • Publication number: 20200239059
    Abstract: A steering wheel cover including a stretch fabric ring having a c-shaped cross-section forming a three-hundred-sixty angular degree circle, a first frictitious layer lining at least some of the inside of the stretch fabric ring excepting an angular fabric-only portion of the three-hundred-sixty degree circle, and a second frictitious layer covering some of the outside of the stretch fabric ring, but not covering the angular fabric-only portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: ADC Solutions Auto, LLC
    Inventors: Diner Mondragón, Annette Marie Stroud, Ken Krankkala
  • Publication number: 20150217794
    Abstract: A steering wheel cover comprising a core layer is disclosed. The core layer includes an inner surface molded to form and self-maintain an annular channel sized to receive an automobile steering wheel therein. The core layer also includes an outer surface and two opposing terminating edges. The steering wheel cover is devoid of an outer cover layer coupled to the core layer. Thus no adhesives or stitching are required. In particular embodiments, the core layer includes a first foamed material, such as but not limited to ethyl-vinyl acetate. The core layer may also include one or more protrusions extending from the outer surface of the core layer. The protrusions may include a second foamed material of a different hardness than the first foamed material. The core layer may also include ribs protruding from the inner surface of the annular channel and/or holes extending through the core layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: C. Kwai Kong, Joleen M. Jansen, Yu He, Ken Krankkala
  • Patent number: 9039092
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of manufacture and a structure for an automobile seat cover that includes a seat cover body with an outer perimeter, a seat cover skirt with a first edge sewn with an overlock stitch to the seat cover body for a majority of the outer perimeter, and a second edge, distal from the first edge, comprising a tie element extending for a majority of the second edge around a seat opening in the seat cover. A portion of the seat cover skirt and the seat cover body corresponding to a location of at least one airbag installed in an automobile seat cover over which the seat cover is to be placed are sewn together with one of a straight stitch and a lock stitch instead of the overlock stitch. In some implementations, the thread used is a brightly colored string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Krankkala, C. Kwai Kong
  • Patent number: 9010856
    Abstract: An automobile bench seat cover having a bottom portion and a back portion is disclosed herein. The bottom portion is configured to cover three seat bottoms of a bench seat when removably coupled to the automobile bench seat. The back portion is coupled to the bottom portion and configured to cover three seatbacks of the bench seat when removably coupled to the bench seat. The bench seat cover also includes two slits extending from a top portion of the back portion toward the bottom portion. Each slit is adaptable between an open position that allows a seatbelt to fit through the slit and a closed position that closes the slit. One or more couplings, such as Velcro, are positioned adjacent each of the two slits and configured to close the respective slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Krankkala, Danielle Peters, Joleen Jansen
  • Publication number: 20150069803
    Abstract: An automobile bench seat cover having a bottom portion and a back portion is disclosed herein. The bottom portion is configured to cover three seat bottoms of a bench seat when removably coupled to the automobile bench seat. The back portion is coupled to the bottom portion and configured to cover three seatbacks of the bench seat when removably coupled to the bench seat. The bench seat cover also includes two slits extending from a top portion of the back portion toward the bottom portion. Each slit is adaptable between an open position that allows a seatbelt to fit through the slit and a closed position that closes the slit. One or more couplings, such as Velcro, are positioned adjacent each of the two slits and configured to close the respective slit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Krankkala, Danielle Peters, Joleen Jansen
  • Patent number: 8578640
    Abstract: A license plate frame that allows for removable coupling of elements to the license plate frame. The license plate frame may include four borders that each include an outer frame lip and an inner frame lip extending outwardly from a rear surface of the license plate frame. The inner frame lip may include a plurality of equally sized notches adjacent one another. A removable element that includes a pin and a channel is removably coupled to the license plate frame by placing the pin within one of the plurality of notches and placing a portion of the outer frame lip within the channel of the removable element. The removable element may be moved by lifting the pin out of the notch and sliding the outer frame lip through the channel of the removable element before inserting the pin into a different notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Krankkala, Patrick L. Ohm, C. Kwai Kong
  • Patent number: D647352
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ken Krankkala
  • Patent number: D653181
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ken Krankkala
  • Patent number: D657693
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Krankkala, Sean Hart
  • Patent number: D658555
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Krankkala, Todd R. Donaldson, C. Kwai Kong
  • Patent number: D659061
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Bellautomotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Krankkala, Kwai Kong, Guy Moisan, Michael O'Sullivan, Marilyn Langlois
  • Patent number: D662017
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Krankkala, C. Kwai Kong, Guy Moisan, Michael O'Sullivan, Marilyn Langlois
  • Patent number: D662448
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Krankkala, Kwai Kong
  • Patent number: D679238
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Krankkala, C. Kwai Kong
  • Patent number: D679240
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ken Krankkala
  • Patent number: D699984
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Krankkala, Todd Donaldson
  • Patent number: D700068
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Krankkala, Sean Hart
  • Patent number: D712626
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Krankkala, C. Kwai Kong