Patents by Inventor Michael M. Filipovich

Michael M. Filipovich 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: 10780812
    Abstract: An item holder includes a receiving well with an upper opening. First and second air bladders are disposed in the receiving well. Upper portions of outer casings of the air bladders are substantially flush with the upper opening of the receiving well when the air bladders are in an inflated condition. Also, the abutment portions abut one another along an abutment seam when the air bladders are in an inflated condition. A sensor may be sued to detect the receiving of an item in the receiving well. Valves assemblies are opened as the sensors detect an item being received in the receiving well. The item compresses a filler material disposed within the air bladders as the item is received in the receiving well. When the item is removed from the receiving well, the filler material expands to inflate the air bladders to the at-rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. Filipovich, Michael Kolich, Johnathan Andrew Line, Michael Medoro
  • Publication number: 20190248264
    Abstract: An item holder includes a receiving well with an upper opening. First and second air bladders are disposed in the receiving well. Upper portions of outer casings of the air bladders are substantially flush with the upper opening of the receiving well when the air bladders are in an inflated condition. Also, the abutment portions abut one another along an abutment seam when the air bladders are in an inflated condition. A sensor may be sued to detect the receiving of an item in the receiving well. Valves assemblies are opened as the sensors detect an item being received in the receiving well. The item compresses a filler material disposed within the air bladders as the item is received in the receiving well. When the item is removed from the receiving well, the filler material expands to inflate the air bladders to the at-rest position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Michael M. Filipovich, Michael Kolich, Johnathan Andrew Line, Michael Medoro
  • Patent number: 10315551
    Abstract: An item holder includes a receiving well with an upper opening. First and second air bladders are disposed in the receiving well. Upper portions of outer casings of the air bladders are substantially flush with the upper opening of the receiving well when the air bladders are in an inflated condition. Also, the abutment portions abut one another along an abutment seam when the air bladders are in an inflated condition. A sensor may be sued to detect the receiving of an item in the receiving well. Valves assemblies are opened as the sensors detect an item being received in the receiving well. The item compresses a filler material disposed within the air bladders as the item is received in the receiving well. When the item is removed from the receiving well, the filler material expands to inflate the air bladders to the at-rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. Filipovich, Michael Kolich, Johnathan Andrew Line, Michael Medoro
  • Publication number: 20190120774
    Abstract: An inspection station includes a conveyor, an imaging device, and a controller. The conveyor is configured to transfer a vehicle seat into the station. The imaging device is configured to capture three-dimensional data of the vehicle seat while in the station. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a deviation of the three-dimensional data from a baseline model of the seat being greater than a threshold, direct the vehicle seat to a repair station via the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Michael James WHITENS, Dragos MACIUCA, Dennis LIU, Hyung Min BAEK, Aaron HALONEN, Carlo CASCIANELLI, Michael M. FILIPOVICH, Phillip Kerry MULDOWNEY
  • Patent number: 10259370
    Abstract: An item holder includes a receiving well with a sidewall and an upper opening. One or more air bladders are disposed within the receiving well and are operable between inflated and deflated conditions within the receiving well. The air bladders substantially fill the upper opening when the air bladders are in the inflated condition to provide a filled receiving well appearance. A sensor is configured to sense an item being received in or removed from the receiving well. The air bladders deflate from the inflated condition to the deflated condition as an item is received in the receiving well. The air bladders may include a filler material that is predisposed to an expanded condition which correlates to the air bladders being in the inflated condition to substantially fill the upper opening of the receiving well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. Filipovich, Michael Kolich, Johnathan Andrew Line, Michael Medoro
  • Publication number: 20180251047
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a seatback defining a loading surface and operable between deployed and undeployed positions. A seat base is positioned proximate the seatback. A bladder is operable between inflated and deflated states. A valve is fluidly coupled with the bladder. Foam is positioned within the bladder. The loading surface is substantially horizontal when the bladder is deflated and the seatback is in the deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Daniel Ferretti, Keith Allen Godin, Michael Medoro, Michael Kolich, Michael M. Filipovich
  • Patent number: 10065534
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a seatback defining a loading surface and operable between deployed and undeployed positions. A seat base is positioned proximate the seatback. A bladder is operable between inflated and deflated states. A valve is fluidly coupled with the bladder. Foam is positioned within the bladder. The loading surface is substantially horizontal when the bladder is deflated and the seatback is in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Daniel Ferretti, Keith Allen Godin, Michael Medoro, Michael Kolich, Michael M. Filipovich
  • Publication number: 20180222373
    Abstract: An item holder includes a receiving well with an upper opening. First and second air bladders are disposed in the receiving well. Upper portions of outer casings of the air bladders are substantially flush with the upper opening of the receiving well when the air bladders are in an inflated condition. Also, the abutment portions abut one another along an abutment seam when the air bladders are in an inflated condition. A sensor may be sued to detect the receiving of an item in the receiving well. Valves assemblies are opened as the sensors detect an item being received in the receiving well. The item compresses a filler material disposed within the air bladders as the item is received in the receiving well. When the item is removed from the receiving well, the filler material expands to inflate the air bladders to the at-rest position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Michael M. Filipovich, Michael Kolich, Johnathan Andrew Line, Michael Medoro
  • Publication number: 20180222372
    Abstract: An item holder includes a receiving well with a sidewall and an upper opening. One or more air bladders are disposed within the receiving well and are operable between inflated and deflated conditions within the receiving well. The air bladders substantially fill the upper opening when the air bladders are in the inflated condition to provide a filled receiving well appearance. A sensor is configured to sense an item being received in or removed from the receiving well. The air bladders deflate from the inflated condition to the deflated condition as an item is received in the receiving well. The air bladders may include a filler material that is predisposed to an expanded condition which correlates to the air bladders being in the inflated condition to substantially fill the upper opening of the receiving well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Michael M. Filipovich, Michael Kolich, Johnathan Andrew Line, Michael Medoro
  • Publication number: 20040198123
    Abstract: A headliner for a vehicle and a method of manufacturing the same is provided. The method includes providing vacuum forming equipment including upper and lower mold halves, providing thermoplastic material including a top and an independent bottom layer, and placing the top and bottom layers into the vacuum forming equipment between the upper and lower mold halves. The method further includes substantially sealing the upper and lower mold halves from atmosphere, joining the top and bottom layers together to form an integral headliner, and applying vacuum to the top and/or bottom layers at predetermined locations so as to form cavities between the top and bottom layers. The headliner made by the aforementioned method includes a plurality of surface contours on its top and/or bottom layers defining convex and concave members for absorption of impact energy during a crash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: RONALD E. GILLINGHAM, MICHAEL M. FILIPOVICH, ROBERT ARMITAGE, JOSEPH B. FRENCH
  • Patent number: 6619738
    Abstract: A storage device for a vehicle interior including a first portion connectable to a first vehicle component of the vehicle interior, a second portion releasably connected to a second vehicle component of the vehicle interior, and a middle portion located the first portion and the second portion. When the first portion is connected to the first vehicle component and the second portion is connected to the second vehicle component, the middle portion assumes a first form capable of storing objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Michael M. Filipovich