Patents by Inventor Louis D. Thole

Louis D. Thole 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: 11760292
    Abstract: A sleeping occupant crash protection system includes an occupant sleeping compartment positioned within an autonomous vehicle. A substantially flat platform of the occupant sleeping compartment supports an occupant reclining in a horizontal sleep position. An elastic bedsheet is positioned in direct contact with an upper surface of the platform positioned between the occupant and the platform. A sensing system is in communication with the occupant sleeping compartment and triggers deployment of a bedsheet displacement system during a vehicle rapid deceleration event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yi-Pen Cheng, Chin-hsu Lin, Louis D. Thole, Wonhee Michael Kim
  • Publication number: 20230126971
    Abstract: A sleeping occupant crash protection system includes an occupant sleeping compartment positioned within an autonomous vehicle. A substantially flat platform of the occupant sleeping compartment supports an occupant reclining in a horizontal sleep position. An elastic bedsheet is positioned in direct contact with an upper surface of the platform positioned between the occupant and the platform. A sensing system is in communication with the occupant sleeping compartment and triggers deployment of a bedsheet displacement system during a vehicle rapid deceleration event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Yi-Pen Cheng, Chin-hsu Lin, Louis D. Thole, Wonhee Michael Kim
  • Patent number: 11541795
    Abstract: An inflatable system includes a first bladder configured to contain gas and a second bladder configured to contain gas. The first bladder includes a top wall, a bottom wall opposite of the top wall, a sidewall extending between and connected to perimeter edges of the top and bottom walls, and a plurality of tethers extending between and connected to interior surfaces of the top and bottom walls. The second bladder includes a top wall, a bottom wall opposite of its top wall, a sidewall extending between and connected to perimeter edges of its top and bottom walls, and a plurality of tethers extending between and connected to interior surfaces of its top and bottom walls. The bottom wall of the first bladder is secured to the top wall of the second bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Alexander, Louis D. Thole, Conner J. Stormer, Daniel W. Booth, Wonhee M. Kim, David Acosta
  • Patent number: 11529893
    Abstract: An adjustable seat for a vehicle including a first seat section configured to support a lower leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and a second seat section configured to support an upper leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and a torso and head portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction. The adjustable seat also comprising a third seat section configured to support the torso and head portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and the upper leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction. The adjustable seat also comprising a fourth seat section configured to support the lower leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mark O. Neal, Louis D. Thole, David Acosta, Chin-Hsu Lin, Yi-Pen Cheng, Scott D. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11390331
    Abstract: A pick-up truck cargo area includes a cargo floor having a forward end, a rearward end and a pair of side edges extending between the forward end and the rearward end. A pair of inflatable bedside panels extend along the pair of side edges. A pair of bed side rails extend above the cargo floor and support the pair of inflatable bedside panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Louis D. Thole, Karan Moorjani, Paul W. Alexander, Wonhee M. Kim
  • Patent number: 11364869
    Abstract: A vehicle safety seat system comprises: i) a vehicle seat configured to move to a substantially reclining position, the vehicle seat comprising a seat back and a seat bottom; and ii) a first support arm associated with the seat back, the first support arm including a first airbag on a lower surface of the first support arm, the first support arm holding the first airbag in a position above the thorax of a passenger reclining in the vehicle seat. The first airbag inflates in the event of a collision and provides protection between the first support arm and the thorax of the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chin-Hsu Lin, Louis D. Thole, David Acosta, Yi-pen Cheng, Paul E. Krajewski, Gary L. Jones
  • Publication number: 20220134927
    Abstract: An inflatable system includes a first bladder configured to contain gas and a second bladder configured to contain gas. The first bladder includes a top wall, a bottom wall opposite of the top wall, a sidewall extending between and connected to perimeter edges of the top and bottom walls, and a plurality of tethers extending between and connected to interior surfaces of the top and bottom walls. The second bladder includes a top wall, a bottom wall opposite of its top wall, a sidewall extending between and connected to perimeter edges of its top and bottom walls, and a plurality of tethers extending between and connected to interior surfaces of its top and bottom walls. The bottom wall of the first bladder is secured to the top wall of the second bladder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Paul W. ALEXANDER, Louis D. THOLE, Conner J. STORMER, Daniel W. BOOTH, Wonhee M. KIM, David ACOSTA
  • Publication number: 20220135146
    Abstract: A pick-up truck cargo area includes a cargo floor having a forward end, a rearward end and a pair of side edges extending between the forward end and the rearward end. A pair of inflatable bedside panels extend along the pair of side edges. A pair of bed side rails extend above the cargo floor and support the pair of inflatable bedside panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Louis D. THOLE, Karan MOORJANI, Paul W. ALEXANDER, Wonhee M. KIM
  • Patent number: 11040689
    Abstract: An inflatable blanket for a vehicle includes a first blanket layer, a second blanket layer coupled to the first blanket layer, and an airbag disposed between the first blanket layer and the second blanket layer. The airbag has a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration to protect a vehicle occupant when the vehicle is subjected to an external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chin-Hsu Lin, Louis D. Thole, Mark O. Neal, David Acosta
  • Publication number: 20210016688
    Abstract: An adjustable seat for a vehicle including a first seat section configured to support a lower leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and a second seat section configured to support an upper leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and a torso and head portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction. The adjustable seat also comprising a third seat section configured to support the torso and head portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and the upper leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction. The adjustable seat also comprising a fourth seat section configured to support the lower leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Mark O. Neal, Louis D. Thole, David Acosta, Chin-Hsu Lin, Yi-Pen Cheng, Scott D. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20200180543
    Abstract: An inflatable blanket for a vehicle includes a first blanket layer, a second blanket layer coupled to the first blanket layer, and an airbag disposed between the first blanket layer and the second blanket layer. The airbag has a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration to protect a vehicle occupant when the vehicle is subjected to an external force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chin-Hsu Lin, Louis D. Thole, Mark O. Neal, David Acosta
  • Patent number: D749249
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Louis D. Thole, Marc A. Mainville, Holger K. Koring, Hasan Zraikat
  • Patent number: D749250
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Louis D. Thole, Marc A. Mainville, Holger K. Koring, Hasan Zraikat
  • Patent number: D750001
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Louis D Thole, Marc A. Mainville
  • Patent number: D753033
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Louis D. Thole, Marc A. Mainville
  • Patent number: D753034
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Louis D. Thole, Marc A. Mainville
  • Patent number: D771529
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Louis D. Thole, Marc A. Mainville, Alexandre Batista Da Silva Henriques
  • Patent number: D775007
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Louis D. Thole, Tyler L. H. Moffett, Warrack N. Leach
  • Patent number: D781184
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Louis D. Thole, Jesung Ahn, Junglim Huh, Hakan Demir, Aaron D. Riggs
  • Patent number: D1019500
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Louis D. Thole, Gary W. Ruiz, Jingxu Zhan, Raphael M. Molina