Patents by Inventor Matthew B. Rutman

Matthew B. Rutman 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: 12184086
    Abstract: An inductive connection system includes a baseplate that provides an attachment interface on a support surface. The baseplate is configured to engage with at least one accessory via the attachment interface to secure the accessory to the support surface. The attachment interface provides a plurality of different mounting positions for the at least one accessory. At least one puck is selectively coupled to the attachment interface to provide a desired one of the plurality of different mounting positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew B. Rutman, Stuart C. Salter, Michael M. Azzouz, Michael Lozano, Eric Scott Levine, Jeff Sturges
  • Publication number: 20240409036
    Abstract: An adaptor for an accessory attachment system comprises a body having a first side and a second side opposite of the first side. The first side has a first mounting configuration that is configured to be received within a first pattern of apertures on a base plate. The second side has a second mounting configuration that is different than the first mounting configuration such that an accessory having the second mounting configuration configured to interact with a second pattern of apertures different than the first pattern of apertures can be mounted to the base plate via the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Eric Scott Levine, Matthew B. Rutman, Stuart C. Salter, Ming Hong Choi
  • Publication number: 20240409044
    Abstract: A power routing system includes a base plate having a surface to support an accessory, a power source configured to provide power to the accessory, the power source having at least one first power outlet, and a power connection member mounted to the base plate. The power connection member includes at least one second power outlet. An adaptor is associated with the power source such that an electrical connector can connect the at least one first power outlet to the power connection member to power the accessory via the at least one second power outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Eric Scott Levine, Matthew B. Rutman, Ming Hong Choi, Stuart C. Salter, Jeffrey Sturges, Michael Lozano
  • Publication number: 20240399950
    Abstract: An accessory attachment system includes a base plate configured to be positioned within a vehicle cargo area that has a floor surface and at least one side wall extending upwardly relative to the floor surface. The base plate includes at least a first plate portion that is associated with the at least one side wall and a second plate portion that extends above the floor surface. An accessory comprises at least one accessory side wall including at least one first lock feature associated with the first plate portion, and a bottom wall including at least one second lock feature associated with the second plate portion. The accessory includes at least one handle that is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and wherein the at least one handle simultaneously unlocks the first lock feature and the second lock feature when moved to the unlocked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew B. Rutman, Eric Scott Levine, Daniel Ritz, Stuart C. Salter
  • Patent number: 12142935
    Abstract: An accessory attachment system includes a baseplate that provides an attachment interface on a support surface. The baseplate is configured to engage with an accessory to secure the accessory to the support surface. The baseplate and the accessory are configured to electrically connect to each other through a wireless electrical power link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Galen Keith Thomas, Matthew B. Rutman
  • Publication number: 20240262295
    Abstract: A base plate for an accessory attachment system includes a plurality of apertures. At least a first set of apertures of the plurality of apertures are configured to receive a mounting foot from an accessory to be mounted on the base plate. The base plate also includes an insert that is mounted in the apertures of the first set of apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew B. Rutman, Stuart C. Salter, Michael M. Azzouz, Dan Ritz, David Brian Glickman
  • Publication number: 20240262304
    Abstract: A base plate system base plate system includes a base plate with a surface to support an accessory and a power box mounted to the base plate. The power box includes at least one power outlet. An electrical connector connects the power box to a power source to be able to provide power to the accessory via the at least one power outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew B. Rutman, Stuart C. Salter, Michael M. Azzouz, Dan Ritz, David Brian Glickman
  • Publication number: 20240262300
    Abstract: A base plate for an accessory attachment system includes a first member made from a first material and a second member made from a second material, wherein the first and second members are attached to each other in an overlapping arrangement. At least one of the first and second members include a plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality of apertures comprise at least mounting apertures and power connection apertures configured to interface with an accessory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew B. Rutman, Stuart C. Salter, Michael M. Azzouz, Dan Ritz, David Brian Glickman
  • Publication number: 20240253711
    Abstract: A base plate system includes a plurality of base plate panels that are attached to each other to provide a base plate that includes a surface to hold an accessory fixed relative to the base plate. An attachment feature is associated with each base plate panel such that adjacent base plate panels can be attached to each other to provide a desired base plate size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew B. Rutman, Eric Scott Levine, Stuart C. Salter, Daniel Ritz, Todd Rakus
  • Publication number: 20240217447
    Abstract: An accessory attachment method includes receiving a plurality of feet of an accessory within a plurality of apertures, wherein each foot is moveable within a corresponding aperture in multiple engagement directions, and sliding an accessory relative to a baseplate in a selected one of the multiple engagement directions to transition the accessory from a disengaged position to an engaged position. When in the disengaged position, the plurality of feet are slidable relative to the baseplate within respective apertures in a plurality of directions and can be withdrawn from the plurality of apertures. When in the engaged position, the plurality of feet are blocked from being withdrawn from the plurality of apertures, and the accessory is engaged with the baseplate to secure the accessory relative to a vehicle when the accessory is in the engaged position, the baseplate being secured to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2024
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventor: Matthew B. Rutman
  • Publication number: 20240166121
    Abstract: An accessory attachment system includes a base plate that provides a plate attachment interface and at least one accessory including an accessory attachment interface to connect to the plate attachment interface. In one example, the accessory attachment interface comprises at least one mounting foot that has a predefined shape to pull the at least one accessory against a side wall mounted base plate as the foot is inserted into an aperture in the base plate and moved vertically to a mounted position. In one example, a locking mechanism that is separate from the mounting foot is movable between a locked position where the accessory is prevented from being removed from the base plate and an unlocked position where the at least one accessory is allowed to be removed from the base plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Matthew B. Rutman, Eric Scott Levine, David Brian Glickman, Michael M. Azzouz
  • Patent number: 11964632
    Abstract: A vehicle accessory attachment system include a structure having apertures. The system further includes a plurality of feet. Each foot is receivable within one of the apertures. The system further includes a locking assembly configured to transition back-and-forth between an unlocked position and a locked position. The locking assembly includes a biasing device, an extension coupled to one of the structure or the accessory, and at least one opening in the other of the structure or the accessory. When the locking assembly is in the unlocked position, the feet are slidable relative to the structure. When the locking assembly is in the locked position, the feet are received within one of the apertures and are shifted toward a side of the aperture to secure an accessory to a vehicle. The biasing device biases the locking assembly toward the locked position where the extension is received within the at least one opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew B. Rutman
  • Patent number: 11951948
    Abstract: A cargo bed system of a vehicle includes a floor assembly of a cargo bed. The floor assembly is configured to transition back-and-forth between a standard position and an extended position. A step that moves with the floor assembly back-and-forth between the standard position and the extended position. The step is movable back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Harmon, Ryan Mathew Sandor, Matthew B. Rutman, Amol Borkar, Hussain Z. Tajmahal
  • Patent number: 11904951
    Abstract: A cargo bed system includes a floor assembly for a cargo bed of a vehicle. The floor assembly is configured to transition back and forth between a standard floor position and an extended floor position. The floor assembly includes a plurality of floor sections each having a cargo support surface. The floor sections are folded when the floor assembly is in the standard floor position. The floor sections are unfolded when the floor assembly is in the extended floor position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Harmon, Ryan Mathew Sandor, Matthew B. Rutman, Vincent Anthony Chimento, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Jack Marchlewski, Amol Borkar, Kirk E. Sanborn, Ronald Meredith, Scott Culver Anderson, Daveanand Singh, Hussain Z Tajmahal
  • Patent number: 11904952
    Abstract: A cargo bed system includes a side wall assembly of a cargo bed. The side wall assembly is configured to transition back-and-forth between a standard wall position and an extended wall position. The side wall assembly include an extendable portion and a fixed portion. The extendable portion extends and retracts relative to the fixed portion when the side wall assembly transitions back-and-forth between the standard wall position and the extended wall position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Harmon, Ryan Mathew Sandor, Matthew B. Rutman, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Amol Borkar, Kirk E. Sanborn, Ronald Meredith, Jesse Rene Diephuis
  • Publication number: 20240051619
    Abstract: An adjustable base plate system includes a first track structure configured to extend along one side of a vehicle cargo area and a second track structure configured to extend along an opposite side of a vehicle cargo area. At least one base plate has a first edge and a second edge opposite of the first edge, wherein the first edge is supported by the first track structure and the second edge is supported by the second track structure. The first track structure and the second track structure each comprise at least a first tier track and a second tier track such that a distance between a bottom surface of the at least one base plate and a support surface of the vehicle cargo area can be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew B. Rutman, Eric Scott Levine, Michael M. Azzouz, Stuart C. Salter, Jeffrey R. Sturges, William Wurz, David Brian Glickman
  • Publication number: 20240051470
    Abstract: An adjustment system includes at least one base plate, at least one accessory supported by the at least one base plate, and a controller that receives input from at least one sensor. The controller determines a position of the at least one accessory on the at least one base plate and makes a recommendation to adjust a position of the at least one accessory within the vehicle cargo area to increase aerodynamic efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Brendan Diamond, David Brian Glickman, Eric Scott Levine, William Wurz, Matthew B. Rutman
  • Patent number: 11753086
    Abstract: A cargo bed system of a vehicle includes a bed floor assembly of a cargo bed. The bed floor assembly is configured to transition back-and-forth between a standard bed position and an extended bed position. A ramp assembly moves together with the bed floor assembly back-and-forth between the standard bed position and the extended bed position. The ramp assembly is configured to move back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Harmon, Ryan Mathew Sandor, Matthew B. Rutman
  • Publication number: 20230256910
    Abstract: A cargo bed system of a vehicle includes a floor assembly of a cargo bed. The floor assembly is configured to transition back-and-forth between a standard position and an extended position. A step that moves with the floor assembly back-and-forth between the standard position and the extended position. The step is movable back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Michael John Harmon, Ryan Mathew Sandor, Matthew B. Rutman, Amol Borkar, Hussain Z. Tajmahal
  • Publication number: 20230257031
    Abstract: A cargo bed system includes a floor assembly for a cargo bed of a vehicle. The floor assembly is configured to transition back and forth between a standard floor position and an extended floor position. The floor assembly includes a plurality of floor sections each having a cargo support surface. The floor sections are folded when the floor assembly is in the standard floor position. The floor sections are unfolded when the floor assembly is in the extended floor position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Michael John Harmon, Ryan Mathew Sandor, Matthew B. Rutman, Vincent Anthony Chimento, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Jack Marchlewski, Amol Borkar, Kirk E. Sanborn, Ronald Meredith, Scott Culver Anderson, Daveanand Singh, Hussain Z. Tajmahal