Patents by Inventor Kevin Wayne Preuss

Kevin Wayne Preuss 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).

  • Publication number: 20250196739
    Abstract: A user support includes a hood structure that is supported by a back frame structure of the user support. The hood structure may comprise a one-piece homogeneous polymer structure that is formed by an additive process. The hood structure may include solid structures and at least one porous lattice matrix that is integrally formed with the solid structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marc Silva Kondrad, David D. Friske, Michael Joseph Niksa, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Sangram Laxman Tamhankar, Keith Weston
  • Publication number: 20250196766
    Abstract: A user support for motor vehicles includes a flexible cover having a flexible light comprising electroluminescent material that emits light when electrical power is supplied to the electroluminescent material. The user support may include a resilient porous lattice matrix formed by an additive process and may include electroluminescent material disposed on links of the lattice matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: MARC SILVA KONDRAD, Kevin Wayne Preuss, David D. Friske, Keith Weston
  • Publication number: 20250196744
    Abstract: A user support comprises at least one cushioned component having a porous lattice matrix formed by an additive process. The porous lattice matrix may comprise a plurality of integrally formed tubular portions. A sound passageway may be integrally formed in the porous lattice matrix to carry sound from a remote source to an opening in the user support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David D. Friske, Marc Silva Kondrad, Michael Joseph Niksa, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Sangram Laxman Tamhankar, Kevin VanNieulande, Keith Weston
  • Publication number: 20240383311
    Abstract: An air delivery system for a vehicle comprises an HVAC system and an air duct fluidly coupled with the HVAC system. The air delivery system comprises a rail extending parallel to the air duct. The system comprises a module having a rail rider slidably coupled with the rail. The module defines an air inlet in selective fluid communication with the air duct. The module defines an air chamber in fluid communication with the air inlet. The module comprises an air register fluidly coupled with the air chamber. The air delivery system comprises a sensor that senses at least one of a distance between the module and the HVAC system; and an air flow therebetween. The air delivery system comprises a controller that controls the air flow based upon at least one of the measured distance between the module and the HVAC system and the air flow therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vishal Vinayak Nageshkar, John Craig Elson, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin Wayne Preuss
  • Publication number: 20240351498
    Abstract: A vehicle including a cabin interior, a pillar support structure at least partially exposed to the cabin interior, and a deployable table operatively coupled to the pillar support structure. The deployable table is movable between a stowed position pivoted against the pillar support structure and a deployed position pivoted vehicle inward within the cabin interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vishal Vinayak Nageshkar, Sangram Tamhankar, Kevin Wayne Preuss
  • Patent number: 12090905
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat, a front leg, a seatback, and a lower leg support. The seat includes a forward end and a rearward end. The seat is configured to be coupled to a support surface. The front leg engages with the support surface. The seatback is rotatably coupled to the seat proximate the rearward end. The lower leg support is directly and rotatably coupled to the seat proximate the forward end. The lower leg support is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The vehicle seating assembly is movable between a seated position and a reclined-and-raised position. Moving from the seated position toward the reclined-and-raised position includes increasing a first distance between the front leg and the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Maloney, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin VanNieulande, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Joseph Michael Kish
  • Publication number: 20240283895
    Abstract: A communication system and associated methods are provided. The communication system and associated methods includes a vehicle having an interior for seating a number of individuals, a camera coupled to the interior, and a display screen coupled to the interior. The communication system further includes an apparatus having a camera and a display screen. The camera of the vehicle is wirelessly connected to the display screen of the apparatus. The camera of the apparatus is wirelessly connected to the display screen of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Kevin Mozurkewich, Patrick Maloney, Trevor White
  • Patent number: 12005758
    Abstract: A thermally managed storage system for a vehicle that includes a partition structure that couples with and is expandable in a compartment of the vehicle. The partition structure includes a first wall fixed with the compartment and a plurality of second walls that are each moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. The plurality of second walls forms a space between the first wall and the plurality of second walls in the extended position. A casing is disposed in a space and selectively couples with a climate control system of the vehicle via a fluid connection with the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hrecznyj, Michael M. Azzouz, Scott Nydam, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Chris Robert Sculthorpe
  • Publication number: 20240181948
    Abstract: A thermal enclosure assembly for a vehicle includes a container disposed in a compartment of the vehicle that selectively couples with a wall of the compartment. The container is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. A tray couples with the wall and pivots between a folded position and an unfolded position to selectively enclose the container with the wall. The container is configured to move between the retracted position and the extended position when the tray is in the unfolded position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hrecznyj, Michael M. Azzouz, Scott Nydam, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin Wayne Preuss
  • Publication number: 20240181839
    Abstract: A thermally managed storage system for a vehicle that includes a partition structure that couples with and is expandable in a compartment of the vehicle. The partition structure includes a first wall fixed with the compartment and a plurality of second walls that are each moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. The plurality of second walls forms a space between the first wall and the plurality of second walls in the extended position. A casing is disposed in a space and selectively couples with a climate control system of the vehicle via a fluid connection with the compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hrecznyj, Michael M. Azzouz, Scott Nydam, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Chris Robert Sculthorpe
  • Publication number: 20240123874
    Abstract: A system for reconfiguring a seating assembly within a vehicle, the system comprising identifying an adjacent surface within an interior of the vehicle, calculating a distance between the seating assembly and the adjacent surface, wherein the configuration is an occupiable seating configuration, and further wherein the occupiable seating configuration has a mode chosen from a forward facing mode and a rearward facing mode, storing the distance between the seating assembly and the adjacent surface, receiving a user input to transition the seating assembly from one occupiable seating configuration mode chosen from the forward facing mode and the rearward facing mode toward the other mode, and controlling the configuration of the seating assembly to transition from one occupiable seating configuration mode chosen from the forward facing mode and the rearward facing mode toward the other of the forward facing mode and the rearward facing mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, Patrick Maloney, Kevin VanNieulande, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • Patent number: 11904743
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cabin interior, a floor, and a tailgate at the rear end of the cabin interior, wherein at least a portion of the tailgate pivots between a vertical closed position and a horizontal open position. The vehicle has a first seat track assembly is supported on the floor in the cabin interior, a second seat track assembly supported on the tailgate, and a seat assembly. The seat assembly including a first seat panel, a second seat panel, a bracket that allows the first seat panel and the second seat panel to pivot between a forward facing position and a rearward facing position, and a guide supporting the bracket on one of the first and second seat track assemblies, wherein the seat assembly may slide rearward along the first seat track assembly onto the second seat track assembly when the tailgate is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Sean Bayle West, Johnathan Andrew Line, Peter Phung, Kevin Wayne Preuss
  • Publication number: 20240034214
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat, a front leg, a seatback, and a lower leg support. The seat includes a forward end and a rearward end. The seat is configured to be coupled to a support surface. The front leg engages with the support surface. The seatback is rotatably coupled to the seat proximate the rearward end. The lower leg support is directly and rotatably coupled to the seat proximate the forward end. The lower leg support is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The vehicle seating assembly is movable between a seated position and a reclined-and-raised position. Moving from the seated position toward the reclined-and-raised position includes increasing a first distance between the front leg and the support surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Maloney, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin VanNieulande, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Joseph Michael Kish
  • Patent number: 11772536
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat, a support surface, a seatback and a lower leg support. The seat includes a forward end and a rearward end. The support surface is coupled to the seat. The seatback is rotatably coupled to the seat proximate the rearward end. The lower leg support is directly and rotatably coupled to the seat proximate the forward end. The lower leg support is directly coupled to the support surface in a manner that results in automatic mechanical deployment of the lower leg support when the seat and the seatback are moved toward a reclined-and-raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Maloney, Kevin VanNieulande, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Joseph Michael Kish
  • Patent number: 11772519
    Abstract: A transportation system is disclosed. The transportation system includes a vehicle, a plurality of seating assemblies positioned within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and defining an arrangement, a plurality of actuators that effect movement of various components of the plurality of seating assemblies, a plurality of sensors, and a controller. Specific examples of pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements are disclosed, as well as the ability to customize the arrangement. Additionally, exemplary methods are disclosed that illustrate transitions between a variety of the pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, Patrick Maloney, Kevin Mozurkewich, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Jerry R. Brown
  • Patent number: 11691547
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cabin interior, a floor, and a deployable seat assembly. The deployable seat assembly includes a pair of deployable seat support assemblies, each having first and second pivot bars pivotally supported on the floor, a first rail coupled to the first and second pivot bars, wherein the first rail is raised and lowered as the first and second pivot bars rotate between first and second bar positions, and a second rail slidingly extendable from the first rail. The seat assembly has a seat supported by the second rail, wherein the seat faces rearward and extends rearward on the second rail as the second rail slides away from the first rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Sean Bayle West, Johnathan Andrew Line, Peter Phung, Kevin Wayne Preuss
  • Patent number: 11548348
    Abstract: A seating assembly includes a seating surface extending over at least one of a seat and a seatback. The seating assembly also includes a fluid mover and a fluid transfer member including a fluid inlet portion and a fluid outlet portion. The fluid inlet portion is coupled to the fluid mover, and the fluid outlet portion is proximate the seating surface. The fluid mover is selectively operable to release a pressurized fluid through the tube so that the release of the pressurized fluid at the outlet cools a seating assembly occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin Wayne Preuss
  • Publication number: 20220396186
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cabin interior, a floor, and a deployable seat assembly. The deployable seat assembly includes a pair of deployable seat support assemblies, each having first and second pivot bars pivotally supported on the floor, a first rail coupled to the first and second pivot bars, wherein the first rail is raised and lowered as the first and second pivot bars rotate between first and second bar positions, and a second rail slidingly extendable from the first rail. The seat assembly has a seat supported by the second rail, wherein the seat faces rearward and extends rearward on the second rail as the second rail slides away from the first rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Sean Bayle West, Johnathan Andrew Line, Peter Phung, Kevin Wayne Preuss
  • Patent number: 11518296
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a seating assembly attached to a vehicle interior. A seat is rotationally operable relative to a seatback. A retention device is selectively positionable in a stored position or a cargo storage position and extends between the seatback and a floor area disposed adjacent to the seating assembly. The seat is selectively positionable in a seating position or a stadium position. The retention device in the cargo storage position, the seat in the stadium position, and a floor at least partially define an enclosure configured to secure cargo to the floor and the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Hugh Fowler, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin Wayne Preuss
  • Publication number: 20220379780
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cabin interior, a floor, and a tailgate at the rear end of the cabin interior, wherein at least a portion of the tailgate pivots between a vertical closed position and a horizontal open position. The vehicle has a first seat track assembly is supported on the floor in the cabin interior, a second seat track assembly supported on the tailgate, and a seat assembly. The seat assembly including a first seat panel, a second seat panel, a bracket that allows the first seat panel and the second seat panel to pivot between a forward facing position and a rearward facing position, and a guide supporting the bracket on one of the first and second seat track assemblies, wherein the seat assembly may slide rearward along the first seat track assembly onto the second seat track assembly when the tailgate is in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Sean Bayle West, Johnathan Andrew Line, Peter Phung, Kevin Wayne Preuss