Patents by Inventor Kyle Ness

Kyle Ness 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: 11642991
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes vehicle seats having integral components for use with ventilation, air conditioning, and/or heating systems. Air ducting can be incorporated into the seat base and the seat back. Further, air can be directed through a rear-facing outlet vent in the seat back, providing improved ventilation, air conditioning, and/or heating for rear passengers of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Nikola Corporation
    Inventors: Nicolas LaBerge, Kyle Ness
  • Patent number: 11072378
    Abstract: An air deflector assembly for a vehicle includes a vertically translatable air deflector and linear actuators actuated in series by a driver to vertically translate the air deflector. The air deflector includes one or more rails configured for sliding translation within one or more cooperating vehicle-mounted tracks. A controller is operatively connected to the driver, and may be configured to vertically translate the air deflector to a predetermined position according to a vehicle rate of travel. The driver selectively causes the linear actuators to raise or lower the air deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Peter Klop, Kyle Ness
  • Publication number: 20210023970
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes vehicle seats having integral components for use with ventilation, air conditioning, and/or heating systems. Air ducting can be incorporated into the seat base and the seat back. Further, air can be directed through a rear-facing outlet vent in the seat back, providing improved ventilation, air conditioning, and/or heating for rear passengers of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Nicolas LaBerge, Kyle Ness
  • Patent number: 10293783
    Abstract: Example systems and methods for a driver detection steering wheel are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a steering wheel, a driver, a detector, and an enabling module. The example steering wheel includes a plurality of capacitive sensors. The example driver is to change voltage levels on the plurality of capacitive sensors. The example detector is to measure time delays corresponding to the plurality of capacitive sensors, and determine a number of hands on the steering wheel based on the time delays. The example enabling module is to, in response to the detector detecting two hands on the steering wheel, grant access to an infotainment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Frey, Michael Peter Mongeau, Bryce Crane, Kyle Ness
  • Patent number: 10179503
    Abstract: A cover and divider system for a cargo bed of a vehicle includes a plurality of connected cover portions securable over a cargo bed and at least one panel securable to underside of each of the plurality of cover portions in a stored condition and removable from the corresponding one of the plurality of cover portions to partition the cargo bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kendra White, Pattrick Loew, Eric Rinke, Kyle Ness
  • Publication number: 20180361839
    Abstract: A cover and divider system for a cargo bed of a vehicle includes a plurality of connected cover portions securable over a cargo bed and at least one panel securable to underside of each of the plurality of cover portions in a stored condition and removable from the corresponding one of the plurality of cover portions to partition the cargo bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Kendra White, Pattrick Loew, Eric Rinke, Kyle Ness
  • Publication number: 20180339634
    Abstract: A conveyer mechanism for a vehicle cargo area load floor includes a power seat assembly and a folding conveyer assembly carried by the power seat assembly and comprising a conveyer gearbox. A power seat motor is adapted to engage the conveyer gearbox when the power seat assembly is translated to a folded configuration. The power seat motor drives a conveyer drive gear when the power seat assembly is translated to the folded configuration, and drives a seat sector gear when the power seat assembly is translated to a deployed configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Kyle Ness, Pattrick Loew
  • Patent number: 10137818
    Abstract: A conveyer mechanism for a vehicle cargo area load floor includes a power seat assembly and a folding conveyer assembly carried by the power seat assembly and comprising a conveyer gearbox. A power seat motor is adapted to engage the conveyer gearbox when the power seat assembly is translated to a folded configuration. The power seat motor drives a conveyer drive gear when the power seat assembly is translated to the folded configuration, and drives a seat sector gear when the power seat assembly is translated to a deployed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Ness, Pattrick Loew
  • Patent number: 9855979
    Abstract: A bed divider is provided for a bed of a truck. The bed divider includes a first guide track extending along a first axis and a second guide track extending along a second axis. The second guide track is displaceable along the first guide track. The bed divider also includes a carrier displaceable along the second guide track and a partition depending from the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Ness, Pattrick Loew
  • Publication number: 20170334392
    Abstract: Example systems and methods for a driver detection steering wheel are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a steering wheel, a driver, a detector, and an enabling module. The example steering wheel includes a plurality of capacitive sensors. The example driver is to change voltage levels on the plurality of capacitive sensors. The example detector is to measure time delays corresponding to the plurality of capacitive sensors, and determine a number of hands on the steering wheel based on the time delays. The example enabling module is to, in response to the detector detecting two hands on the steering wheel, grant access to an infotainment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Frey, Michael Peter Mongeau, Bryce Crane, Kyle Ness
  • Publication number: 20170267294
    Abstract: An air deflector assembly for a vehicle includes a vertically translatable air deflector and linear actuators actuated in series by a driver to vertically translate the air deflector. The air deflector includes one or more rails configured for sliding translation within one or more cooperating vehicle-mounted tracks. A controller is operatively connected to the driver, and may be configured to vertically translate the air deflector to a predetermined position according to a vehicle rate of travel. The driver selectively causes the linear actuators to raise or lower the air deflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Aaron Peter Klop, Kyle Ness