Patents by Inventor Kevin Gustafson

Kevin Gustafson 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: 9346424
    Abstract: A bumper assembly includes a beam and a rigid device. The beam is at least partially spaced from a vehicle fascia. The rigid device is disposed on the beam in a space defined between the fascia and the beam. The rigid device is configured to transmit and at least partially absorb a force applied to the fascia and limit damage to a rear of the vehicle. The exemplary bumper assembly may further include at least one crush can disposed on the beam. The rigid device is generally aligned with the crush can but on opposing surfaces of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bhimaraddi Venkaraddi Alavandi, Sankar Krishnamoorthy, Rajarathinam Jayachandran, Erika Kristin Low, Kevin Gustafson, Matt Alan Niesluchowski
  • Patent number: 9228628
    Abstract: An impact absorption assembly includes a bumper that is attached to a crush-can. The crush-can is assembled within a frame rail or other chassis frame member. A load path for a low speed impact is provided from the bumper through the crush-can and to the frame rail. An outer body structure defines an opening through which the crush-can is assembled to avoid damage to the outer body structure that may include a back-light support panel, a lift-gate and a rear tail light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bhimaraddi Venkaraddi Alavandi, Sankar Krishnamoorthy, Kevin Gustafson, John Michael McGuckin, Erika Kristin Low
  • Publication number: 20150115631
    Abstract: A bumper assembly includes a beam and a rigid device. The beam is at least partially spaced from a vehicle fascia. The rigid device is disposed on the beam in a space defined between the fascia and the beam. The rigid device is configured to transmit and at least partially absorb a force applied to the fascia and limit damage to a rear of the vehicle. The exemplary bumper assembly may further include at least one crush can disposed on the beam. The rigid device is generally aligned with the crush can but on opposing surfaces of the beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bhimaraddi Venkaraddi Alavandi, Sankar Krishnamoorthy, Rajarathinam Jayachandran, Erika Kristin Low, Kevin Gustafson, Matt Alan Niesluchowski
  • Publication number: 20150102615
    Abstract: An impact absorption assembly includes a bumper that is attached to a crush-can. The crush-can is assembled within a frame rail or other chassis frame member. A load path for a low speed impact is provided from the bumper through the crush-can and to the frame rail. An outer body structure defines an opening through which the crush-can is assembled to avoid damage to the outer body structure that may include a back-light support panel, a lift-gate and a rear tail light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bhimaraddi Vankaraddi Alavandi, Sankar Krishnamoorthy, Kevin Gustafson, John Michael McGuckin, Erika Kristin Low
  • Patent number: 8454080
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a frame with energy-absorbing zones at outboard corners of the vehicle and a bumper beam mounted to the energy-absorbing zones to transfer force to at least one of the energy-absorbing zones during a collision. The bumper beam includes a center section extending generally laterally across the vehicle between the energy-absorbing zones, and left and right load transfer sections attached to outboard ends of the center section. Each load transfer section extends outboard and rearward such that the free end of each load transfer section is disposed outboard of the frame adjacent a rear end of its respective energy-absorbing zone. In a small-overlap collision, the load transfer section on the side of the impact bends rearward as the energy-absorbing zone deforms, and the free end of the load transfer section contacts the frame to transfer crash loads to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yi Qu, Edgar Edward Donabedian, Kevin Gustafson, Kenneth R. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20130069377
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a frame with energy-absorbing zones at outboard corners of the vehicle and a bumper beam mounted to the energy-absorbing zones to transfer force to at least one of the energy-absorbing zones during a collision. The bumper beam includes a center section extending generally laterally across the vehicle between the energy-absorbing zones, and left and right load transfer sections attached to outboard ends of the center section. Each load transfer section extends outboard and rearward such that the free end of each load transfer section is disposed outboard of the frame adjacent a rear end of its respective energy-absorbing zone. In a small-overlap collision, the load transfer section on the side of the impact bends rearward as the energy-absorbing zone deforms, and the free end of the load transfer section contacts the frame to transfer crash loads to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yi Qu, Edgar Edward Donabedian, Kevin Gustafson, Kenneth R. Schmidt