Patents by Inventor Michael E. Hilliard

Michael E. Hilliard 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: 6295713
    Abstract: A method for attaching a soft top to a motor vehicle body tensions the soft top without a separate tensioning device. The method includes the general steps of attaching a support member to the motor vehicle for pivotal movement about a transverse pivot axis, supporting an upper rear corner of the top with the support member, and tensioning the top by upwardly and rearwardly biasing the upper rear corner of the top with the support member. The support member functions to provide a spring load for tensioning the top. In the preferred method, the support member is elastically deformed for tensioning the top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignees: Chrysler Corporation, Bestop, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Hilliard, Louis D. DeLellis, William A. Grabowski, Leonard Bores, Robert D. Worley, Mark A. Hickey, Stephen K. Tebbutt
  • Patent number: 6131989
    Abstract: A rear gate assembly of a motor vehicle is provided. The motor vehicle has a rear gate opening. The rear gate assembly includes a rear gate, a back glass, and a rear gate handle. The rear gate includes a rear gate top portion, a rear gate bottom portion, and an outer surface and has a latched and unlatched position. The rear gate bottom portion is rotatably coupled to a bottom edge of the rear gate opening. The back glass has a back glass top portion and a back glass bottom portion. The back glass top portion is rotatably coupled to a top edge of the rear gate opening and has a latched and unlatched position. The rear gate handle is coupled to the outer surface of the rear gate and is actuatable from a first position to a second position. The rear gate assembly sequentially releases the back glass and rear gate from the respective latched positions in response to actuation of the rear gate handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Keith D. Montone, John F. Miller, Philip M. Jansen, Thad Scott, Michael E. Hilliard, Kipp D. Owen
  • Patent number: 6123386
    Abstract: A rear gate assembly of a motor vehicle is provided. The motor vehicle has a rear gate opening. The rear gate assembly includes a rear gate, a back glass, and a rear gate handle, The rear gate includes a rear gate top portion, a rear gate bottom portion, and an outer surface and has a latched and unlatched position. The rear gate bottom portion is rotatably coupled to a bottom edge of the rear gate opening. The back glass has a back glass top portion and a back glass bottom portion. The back glass top portion is rotatably coupled to a top edge of the rear gate opening and has a latched and unlatched position. The rear gate handle is coupled to the outer surface of the rear gate and is actuatable from a first position to a second position. The rear gate assembly sequentially releases the back glass and rear gate from the respective latched positions in response to actuation of the rear gate handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Keith D. Montone, John F. Miller, Philip M. Jansen, Thad Scott, Michael E. Hilliard, Kipp D. Owen
  • Patent number: 6073989
    Abstract: A removable door frame assembly for a motor vehicle includes a first portion pivotally interconnected to a second portion. The first portion is adapted to be oriented horizontally and releasably attached to a sport bar assembly of the motor vehicle. The second portion is adapted to be oriented vertically and releasably engage the body of the vehicle. The first portion is configured to releasably retain a retaining element attached to a top section of the soft top and thereby retain the soft top in a cross-car direction. Similarly, the second portion is adapted to releasably retain a retaining element attached to a side section of the soft top and longitudinally retain the side section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignees: DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Bestop, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Hilliard, Louis D. DeLellis, William A. Grabowski, Leonard Bores, Robert D. Worley, Mark A. Hickey, Stephen K. Tebbutt
  • Patent number: 6036256
    Abstract: A window assembly for a motor vehicle includes a window frame adapted to removably mount to a lower door assembly. The window assembly further includes a mounting arrangement for removably attaching the window frame to the lower door assembly such that substantially vertical translation of the window frame is required to remove the window frame. The window assembly further includes a stop surface which is carried by the motor vehicle. The stop surface is adapted to oppose vertical translation of the window frame when the lower door assembly is in the closed position. In one form, the stop surface is defined by a removable door frame assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignees: Chrysler Corporation, Bestop, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Hilliard, Louis D. DeLellis, William A. Grabowski, Leonard Bores, Robert D. Worley, Mark A. Hickey
  • Patent number: 5992917
    Abstract: A top system includes a hard top which may be operatively installed over a folded soft top. The top system allows delivery of both the hard top and the soft top to the customer. Additionally, the top system allows for an expanded range of uses of the associated motor vehicle. The owner/user can have the hard top on for greater comfort and less noise on long trips and on arrival, take the hard top off and have the soft top for local use with the benefit of open air driving. The soft top is ready to be moved to its operative position or retained in the stored position for available protection from the element from adverse weather conditions. The ability of the top system to allow the hard top to be operatively installed over the folded soft top is made possible largely in part due to the several unique aspects. For example, the soft top folds back and is contained within the boundaries of the body side of the motor vehicle and the tailgate area while having a low stack height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Hilliard, Louis D. DeLellis, William A. Grabowski, Stephen K. Tebbutt
  • Patent number: 5979969
    Abstract: An apparatus for selectively mounting a hard top and a soft top to a motor vehicle includes a retainer member which mounts to an upper surface of a body side panel. The retainer element preferably includes an intermediate portion fixedly attached to the body side panel. An upper side of the intermediate portion is adapted to support the hard top. An outboard flange downwardly extends from the intermediate portion and terminates in an inner curled edge. The inner curled edge is spaced apart from the body side panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Hilliard, Louis D. DeLellis, William A. Grabowski
  • Patent number: 5947546
    Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a soft top to a motor vehicle includes a retainer member for engaging a channel located in a structural element attached to the motor vehicle. In one application, the structural element is a removable door frame having a molded-in channel which opens downwardly and is disposed above a door opening. The retainer member includes a first flange adapted to fixedly attach to a lateral edge of the top section of the soft top. The retainer member further includes a second flange for engaging the molded-in channel in an interference fit. The first flange laterally extends beyond the door of the vehicle to thereby shingle the door from condensation and rain which may gather on the soft top. In an alternative embodiment, the retainer member is configured to form a trough for carrying the condensation and rain rearward away from the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignees: Chrysler Corporation, Bestop, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Hilliard, Kipp D. Owen, Mark G. Vervaeke, John F. Miller, John C. Wainwright, Robert L. Hart, Nancy L. Brunner