Patents by Inventor Michael G. Orlowsky

Michael G. Orlowsky 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: 8544928
    Abstract: A storage compartment such as a map pocket is provided over a recess in the door panel of a transportation vehicle. A frame includes a U-shaped member and a flexible spring piece coupled between the ends of the U-shaped member. The flexible spring piece has a length greater than the distance between the ends so that it tends to assume either a closed position proximate the recess or an open position away from the recess. A pocket cover has a front portion concealing the frame and has a folding side portion disposed between side and bottom edges of the frame and the door panel along corresponding edges of the recess. A tether is coupled to the frame for urging the frame toward the door panel while permitting the frame to be moved away from the door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael G. Orlowsky, Kenneth S. Laird
  • Publication number: 20130168992
    Abstract: A storage compartment such as a map pocket is provided over a recess in the door panel of a transportation vehicle. A frame includes a U-shaped member and a flexible spring piece coupled between the ends of the U-shaped member. The flexible spring piece has a length greater than the distance between the ends so that it tends to assume either a closed position proximate the recess or an open position away from the recess. A pocket cover has a front portion concealing the frame and has a folding side portion disposed between side and bottom edges of the frame and the door panel along corresponding edges of the recess. A tether is coupled to the frame for urging the frame toward the door panel while permitting the frame to be moved away from the door panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael G. Orlowsky, Kenneth S. Laird
  • Publication number: 20130093169
    Abstract: An active bolster for a door of a transportation vehicle comprises a sheet metal door frame with a plurality of brackets. A door cover panel is mounted to the door frame. The cover panel has a bolster aperture, a living hinge disposed around the perimeter of the bolster aperture, and a plurality of mounting bosses. A blow-molded bladder is arranged to fit within the bolster aperture having a front surface substantially co-planar with the cover panel, having a pleated back surface, and having a plurality of side mounting tabs extending laterally from the sides of the bladder. Each side mounting tab is attached to a respective mounting boss and includes a respective tear seam configured to pull away from the respective mounting boss during inflation of the bladder. A plurality of capture pins are insert molded into the back surface. Each pin is captured by a respective bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond E. Kalisz, Michael G. Orlowsky
  • Patent number: 8414024
    Abstract: An active bolster for a door of a transportation vehicle comprises a sheet metal door frame with a plurality of brackets. A door cover panel is mounted to the door frame. The cover panel has a bolster aperture, a living hinge disposed around the perimeter of the bolster aperture, and a plurality of mounting bosses. A blow-molded bladder is arranged to fit within the bolster aperture having a front surface substantially co-planar with the cover panel, having a pleated back surface, and having a plurality of side mounting tabs extending laterally from the sides of the bladder. Each side mounting tab is attached to a respective mounting boss and includes a respective tear seam configured to pull away from the respective mounting boss during inflation of the bladder. A plurality of capture pins are insert molded into the back surface. Each pin is captured by a respective bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond E. Kalisz, Michael G. Orlowsky
  • Patent number: 8336910
    Abstract: An active bolster is provided on an generally-planar interior trim panel. An invisible tear seam in the panel follows a closed path that is spaced away from a peripheral edge of the panel. An inflatable bladder has a rim bonded to the panel along an inward edge of the tear seam. A bowl-shaped reaction frame has a cavity receiving the inflatable bladder and has a rim bonded to the panel along an outward edge of the tear seam, so that the inflatable bladder is contained between the reaction frame and the interior trim panel. Inflation of the inflatable bladder causes the interior trim panel to tear at the tear seam causing the portion of the interior trim panel within the closed path to separate and expand away from the reaction frame into the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond E. Kalisz, Michael G. Orlowsky
  • Patent number: 8308186
    Abstract: An active bolster system for a vehicle includes a trim substrate panel adapted to be mounted to a structural element of the vehicle, wherein the substrate panel has a bolster opening. A bolster has a main body configured to fit within the bolster opening, wherein the main body has an A-side substantially flush with the substrate panel and a B-side facing the structural element. The main body has a plurality of lateral side tabs extending from the main body, and the main body expands during a deployment of the active bolster system so that a distance between the A-side and B-side increases. A retainer bracket retains the bolster against the substrate panel, wherein the retainer bracket comprises a frame extending around a periphery of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael G. Orlowsky, Raymond E. Kalisz
  • Patent number: 4881827
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method of utilization thereof of an anti-ratchet vehicle seat adjuster slide. A preferred embodiment provides an adjuster slide having an upper channel connected with the seat slidably mounted on a lower channel connected with the vehicle. The adjuster slide also has a latch pivotally connected with the upper channel having a range of pivotal movement independent of a lift bar which is also pivotally connected with the upper channel. To allow adjustment of the seat the lift bar is controlled by the operator and pulled upwards causing the latch to pivot upwards also and release from the lower channel. The latch also is provided with a tab having a curvilinear surface of engagement with the notches of the lower channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hans J. Borlinghaus, Michael G. Orlowsky, Neil G. Goodbred, Mladen Humer, Steven J. Cooper
  • Patent number: 4881781
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method of utilization thereof of a powered vehicle seat adjuster slide which can be connected with an occupant restraint belt. With use of the present invention, relative motion between the vehicle seat and vehicle is presented during periods of sudden decelerations of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hans J. Borlinghaus, Michael G. Orlowsky
  • Patent number: 4832409
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method of utilization thereof of a powered vehicle seat adjuster slide which can be connected with an occupant restraint belt. With use of the present apparatus, relative motion between the vehicle seat and vehicle is prevented during periods of sudden decelerations of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a connection for mounting the seat belt anchor to the slide rail, which, upon a predetermined force being applied to the seat belt, will engage a notched portion of the floor channel thereby preventing movement of the seat with respect to the floor channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hans J. Borlinghaus, Michael G. Orlowsky