Patents by Inventor Michael Apone

Michael Apone 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: 12623607
    Abstract: A cargo management system for a vehicle includes a base member slidably supported in a cargo zone of a vehicle. A collapsible cargo box is mounted to the base member. The collapsible cargo box includes a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls that define a storage zone. A deployment mechanism is operatively connected to the base member. The deployment mechanism selectively biases the base member outwardly from the cargo zone. An actuator is operatively connected to the deployment mechanism. The actuator selectively triggers the deployment mechanism to shift the base member outwardly of the cargo zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: James L. Benigni, Patrick Minjeur, Michael Apone, Owen Rauch
  • Patent number: 12617326
    Abstract: A seat component includes a body having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface. The first side surface and the second side surface extend between and connect the first surface and the second surface. A recess is formed in one of the first side surface and the second side surface. An assist handle is secured to the seat component at the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: James Logan, Jr., Stefano A. Moraccini, Jeff E. Nasca, Michael Apone
  • Patent number: 12558948
    Abstract: A consolidated vehicle floor and a rechargeable energy storage system cover having a lower cover panel with a plurality of first structural formations including at least one of dimples and corrugations such that the lower cover panel includes upwardly protruding portions and downwardly protruding portions and an upper cover panel with second structural formations including at least one of dimples and corrugations such that the upper cover panel includes downwardly protruding portions and upwardly protruding portions, the downwardly protruding portions of the upper cover panel are secured to respective ones of the upwardly protruding portions of the lower cover panel. A vehicle floor panel with a plurality of third structural formations such that the vehicle floor panel includes downwardly protruding portions and upwardly protruding portions, the downwardly protruding portion of the vehicle floor panel are secured to respective ones of the upwardly protruding portions of the upper cover panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Apone, Andrew Clay Bobel
  • Publication number: 20250329863
    Abstract: Battery enclosure systems, methods for venting gases from batteries, and vehicle are provided. A battery enclosure system includes a tray, a cover, an annular inner seal sealing the tray to the cover and defining an inner enclosed chamber and an annular outer enclosed channel, and a battery located in the inner enclosed chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2024
    Publication date: October 23, 2025
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Apone, Ryan Patrick Hickey
  • Publication number: 20250132374
    Abstract: An enclosure body and a method for manufacturing an enclosure includes one of extruding and deep drawing an enclosure including a plurality of side walls defining a first cavity. The plurality of side walls are formed without stiffening portions. After extruding and deep drawing of the enclosure, forming a plurality of stiffening portions on the enclosure using an expandable punch, a hydraulic punch, and/or hydroforming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Andrew Clay BOBEL, Michael Apone, Diptak Bhattacharya
  • Publication number: 20250065704
    Abstract: A consolidated vehicle floor and a rechargeable energy storage system cover having a lower cover panel with a plurality of first structural formations including at least one of dimples and corrugations such that the lower cover panel includes upwardly protruding portions and downwardly protruding portions and an upper cover panel with second structural formations including at least one of dimples and corrugations such that the upper cover panel includes downwardly protruding portions and upwardly protruding portions, the downwardly protruding portions of the upper cover panel are secured to respective ones of the upwardly protruding portions of the lower cover panel. A vehicle floor panel with a plurality of third structural formations such that the vehicle floor panel includes downwardly protruding portions and upwardly protruding portions, the downwardly protruding portion of the vehicle floor panel are secured to respective ones of the upwardly protruding portions of the upper cover panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Michael APONE, Andrew Clay Bobel
  • Publication number: 20240391373
    Abstract: A seat component includes a body having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface. The first side surface and the second side surface extend between and connect the first surface and the second surface. A recess is formed in one of the first side surface and the second side surface. An assist handle is secured to the seat component at the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: James Logan, Jr., Stefano A. Moraccini, Jeff E. Nasca, Michael Apone
  • Publication number: 20240391283
    Abstract: A shock absorber assembly including: a cylinder housing a first damper fluid and a first piston, the first piston extending out from within the cylinder; a top mount in cooperation with a distal end of the first piston; and a hydraulic jounce control damper adjacent to the top mount, the hydraulic jounce control damper defining a jounce chamber including a second damper fluid and a second piston extending out from within the jounce chamber. In response to compression of the shock absorber assembly, the second piston is configured to contact the cylinder and slide within the jounce chamber with movement of the second piston dampened by the second damper fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Michael APONE, Douglas Arbour, Dominck Sterley
  • Publication number: 20240308430
    Abstract: A cargo management system for a vehicle includes a base member slidably supported in a cargo zone of a vehicle. A collapsible cargo box is mounted to the base member. The collapsible cargo box includes a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls that define a storage zone. A deployment mechanism is operatively connected to the base member. The deployment mechanism selectively biases the base member outwardly from the cargo zone. An actuator is operatively connected to the deployment mechanism. The actuator selectively triggers the deployment mechanism to shift the base member outwardly of the cargo zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: James L. Benigni, Patrick Minjeur, Michael Apone, Owen Rauch
  • Patent number: 12054083
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base including a seating surface flanked by a first side bolster and a second side bolster and a seat back including a support surface flanked by a third side bolster and a fourth side bolster. At least one of the first side bolster, the second side bolster, the third side bolster, and the fourth side bolster is selectively shiftable relative to a corresponding one of the seating surface and the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Apone, Mirza Grebovic
  • Publication number: 20240083318
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base including a seating surface flanked by a first side bolster and a second side bolster and a seat back including a support surface flanked by a third side bolster and a fourth side bolster. At least one of the first side bolster, the second side bolster, the third side bolster, and the fourth side bolster is selectively shiftable relative to a corresponding one of the seating surface and the support surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Apone, Mirza Grebovic