Patents by Inventor Mark A. Fredal

Mark A. Fredal 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: 20160272123
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a luggage carrier system that may include a plurality of docking pads and at least one cross-rail wherein each individual docking pad may include a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and a protuberant that may extend from the second surface and may define a threaded hole constructed and arranged to receive a cross-rail bolt. The at least one cross-rail may include a rail having a first end and a second end, a first stanchion affixed to the first end, a second stanchion affixed to the second end, and may be constructed and arranged to be removably attached to the plurality of docking pads via the cross-rail bolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: JOEL T. BACHLER, SCOTT D. SUTHERLAND, JEFFREY A. DIEGEL, MARK A. FREDAL, BRIAN J. JUTILA, RICHARD C. SPINA
  • Patent number: 9022264
    Abstract: A roof rack attachment assembly for a vehicle is provided along with a method of assembling a vehicle having a roof panel capable of receiving a roof rack attachment at a predetermined attachment point is provided. The vehicle may include a roof panel defining a plurality of elongated grooves. The assembly may include a groove applique disposed within and along the length of each of the elongated grooves. The groove applique may be secured within each of the elongated grooves with a plurality of securing components placed along the length of the elongated groove. A plurality of attachment features may be coupled to the groove applique at predetermined locations, defining a predetermined attachment point for a vehicle roof rack. The roof rack assembly allows a roof rack of any style to be added, removed, or replaced at the each of the predetermined attachment points throughout the life of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian J Jutila, Ronald J. Wojciechowski, Mark A. Fredal
  • Publication number: 20140131406
    Abstract: A roof rack attachment assembly for a vehicle is provided along with a method of assembling a vehicle having a roof panel capable of receiving a roof rack attachment at a predetermined attachment point is provided. The vehicle may include a roof panel defining a plurality of elongated grooves. The assembly may include a groove applique disposed within and along the length of each of the elongated grooves. The groove applique may be secured within each of the elongated grooves with a plurality of securing components placed along the length of the elongated groove. A plurality of attachment features may be coupled to the groove applique at predetermined locations, defining a predetermined attachment point for a vehicle roof rack. The roof rack assembly allows a roof rack of any style to be added, removed, or replaced at the each of the predetermined attachment points throughout the life of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Brian J. Jutila, Ronald J. Wojciechowski, Mark A. Fredal