Patents by Inventor Kenric P. Socks

Kenric P. Socks 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: 10138661
    Abstract: An ingress/egress aid for a vehicle having a vehicle body and a door movable relative to the vehicle body between an open state and a closed state is provided and includes a handle rotatably supported by the door between a non-actuated state and a deployed state. The handle extends from the door in the deployed state. A locking mechanism restricts rotation of the door relative to the vehicle body in a locked state and permits rotation of the door relative to the vehicle body in an unlocked state. The locking mechanism is movable from the unlocked state to the locked state when the door is in the open state and the handle is moved from the non-actuated state to the deployed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Dorinel Neag, Carl Mather, Elaine M Herbon, Kenric P Socks
  • Patent number: 9809173
    Abstract: A storage console for a vehicle is provided and may include a housing movable from a stowed position to an upright position. The housing may include a top surface that is substantially flush with a floor of the vehicle in the stowed position and is spaced apart from the floor in the upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Kenric P Socks
  • Patent number: 9663038
    Abstract: A storage console for a vehicle is provided and may include a housing movable from a stowed position to an upright position. The housing may include a top surface that is substantially flush with a floor of the vehicle in the stowed position and is spaced apart from the floor in the upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Kenric P Socks
  • Patent number: 9610898
    Abstract: A storage console for a vehicle is provided and may include a housing movable from a stowed position to an upright position. The housing may include a top surface that is substantially flush with a floor of the vehicle in the stowed position and is spaced apart from the floor in the upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Kenric P Socks
  • Publication number: 20150267444
    Abstract: An ingress/egress aid for a vehicle having a vehicle body and a door movable relative to the vehicle body between an open state and a closed state is provided and includes a handle rotatably supported by the door between a non-actuated state and a deployed state. The handle extends from the door in the deployed state. A locking mechanism restricts rotation of the door relative to the vehicle body in a locked state and permits rotation of the door relative to the vehicle body in an unlocked state. The locking mechanism is movable from the unlocked state to the locked state when the door is in the open state and the handle is moved from the non-actuated state to the deployed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Dorinel Neag, Carl Mather, Elaine M Herbon, Kenric P Socks
  • Publication number: 20150091321
    Abstract: A storage console for a vehicle is provided and may include a housing movable from a stowed position to an upright position. The housing may include a top surface that is substantially flush with a floor of the vehicle in the stowed position and is spaced apart from the floor in the upright position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Kenric P. Socks
  • Publication number: 20150091320
    Abstract: A storage console for a vehicle is provided and may include a housing movable from a stowed position to an upright position. The housing may include a top surface that is substantially flush with a floor of the vehicle in the stowed position and is spaced apart from the floor in the upright position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Kenric P. Socks
  • Publication number: 20150091319
    Abstract: A storage console for a vehicle is provided and may include a housing movable from a stowed position to an upright position. The housing may include a top surface that is substantially flush with a floor of the vehicle in the stowed position and is spaced apart from the floor in the upright position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Kenric P Socks
  • Patent number: 8919847
    Abstract: A storage console for a vehicle is provided and may include a housing movable from a stowed position to an upright position. The housing may include a top surface that is substantially flush with a floor of the vehicle in the stowed position and is spaced apart from the floor in the upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Kenric P. Socks
  • Patent number: 8702146
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a propshaft, a vehicle body and a seat assembly. The propshaft is coupled to a source of rotary power and a rear axle of the vehicle. The source of rotary power may be disposed in a front portion of the vehicle. The vehicle body includes an occupant cabin defined by a floor panel and a back wall panel. The floor panel is disposed above the propshaft and defines a lower boundary of the occupant cabin. The back wall panel extends upward from the floor panel and defines a rearward boundary of the occupant cabin. The seat assembly is disposed above the propshaft and is movable between a seating position and a stowed position. The seat assembly may be at least partially received in a space of the vehicle body that is separate from the occupant cabin when the seat assembly is in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Kenric P Socks
  • Publication number: 20140091590
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a propshaft, a vehicle body and a seat assembly. The propshaft is coupled to a source of rotary power and a rear axle of the vehicle. The source of rotary power may be disposed in a front portion of the vehicle. The vehicle body includes an occupant cabin defined by a floor panel and a back wall panel. The floor panel is disposed above the propshaft and defines a lower boundary of the occupant cabin. The back wall panel extends upward from the floor panel and defines a rearward boundary of the occupant cabin. The seat assembly is disposed above the propshaft and is movable between a seating position and a stowed position. The seat assembly may be at least partially received in a space of the vehicle body that is separate from the occupant cabin when the seat assembly is in the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Kenric P. Socks
  • Publication number: 20140091589
    Abstract: A storage console for a vehicle is provided and may include a housing movable from a stowed position to an upright position. The housing may include a top surface that is substantially flush with a floor of the vehicle in the stowed position and is spaced apart from the floor in the upright position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Kenric P. Socks
  • Patent number: 5831584
    Abstract: A virtual reality vehicle simulator has a seat for supporting a person in a sitting position. The person wears goggles that present to the person an image of a virtual vehicle, as well as a virtual image of the person's hand and any objects, such as coffee cups, that the person may grasp in his hand. A position sensing system senses the position of a marker that is attached to a marked portion of the person's hand, e.g., the back of the hand. The person may be tasked to manipulate a virtual object, e.g., a virtual pushbutton, with a contact portion of his hand, e.g., the index finger. To calibrate the distance between the marked and contact portions so that a virtual image of the hand accurately may be displayed, a control surface is positioned adjacent the seat such that the person can manipulate the control surface. Based on the manipulation, the distance between the marked and contact portions is determined, thus calibrating the size of the virtual hand to accurately model the person's actual hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Kenric P. Socks, Hugh W. Cumming
  • Patent number: 5583526
    Abstract: A virtual reality vehicle simulator has a seat for supporting a person in a sitting position. The person wears goggles that present to the person an image of a virtual vehicle, as well as a virtual image of the person's hand and any objects, such as coffee cups, that the person may grasp in his hand. A position sensing system senses the position of a marker that is attached to a marked portion of the person's hand, e.g., the back of the hand. The person may be tasked to manipulate a virtual object, e.g., a virtual pushbutton, with a contact portion of his hand, e.g., the index finger. To calibrate the distance between the marked and contact portions so that a virtual image of the hand accurately may be displayed, a control surface is positioned adjacent the seat such that the person can manipulate the control surface. Based on the manipulation, the distance between the marked and contact portions is determined, thus calibrating the size of the virtual hand to accurately model the person's actual hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Kenric P. Socks, Peter J. Daniels