Patents by Inventor Michael Shawn Watterworth
Michael Shawn Watterworth 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).
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Patent number: 11618509Abstract: A tailgate assembly includes a frame subassembly having a cargo bed access opening disposed between a driver side section and a passenger side section, and a door subassembly that is pivotably coupled to the frame subassembly and is pivotable relative to the frame subassembly back-and-forth between a door open position and a door closed position. The door subassembly closes the cargo bed access opening when the door subassembly is in the door closed position. The assembly further includes a tube of the frame subassembly. The tube extends along an inboard side of the driver side section, along an inboard side of the passenger side section, and along a bottom of the cargo bed access opening.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Joshua Robert Hemphill, Michael Shawn Watterworth, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, John Comiez, Donald Kreda
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Publication number: 20220371667Abstract: A tailgate assembly includes a frame subassembly having a cargo bed access opening disposed between a driver side section and a passenger side section, and a door subassembly that is pivotably coupled to the frame subassembly and is pivotable relative to the frame subassembly back-and-forth between a door open position and a door closed position. The door subassembly closes the cargo bed access opening when the door subassembly is in the door closed position. The assembly further includes a tube of the frame subassembly. The tube extends along an inboard side of the driver side section, along an inboard side of the passenger side section, and along a bottom of the cargo bed access opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2021Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventors: Joshua Robert Hemphill, Michael Shawn Watterworth, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, John Comiez, Donald Kreda
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Patent number: 11458887Abstract: A vehicle includes a lift gate that is operable between a closed position and an open position, and a lamp assembly. The lamp assembly includes a housing coupled to the lift gate and having a backing with a reflective surface, a light source that is coupled to the housing and configured to emit light, and a lid that is operably coupled to the housing. The lid includes a reflective interior surface and reflective exterior surface that is opposite the reflective interior surface. The lid is operable between an open position, wherein the reflective surface of the backing is exposed, and a closed position.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2020Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati, Juergen Koehler, Michael Shawn Watterworth, Bhavani Thota, Linh Ngoc Doan
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Publication number: 20220048428Abstract: A vehicle includes a lift gate that is operable between a closed position and an open position, and a lamp assembly. The lamp assembly includes a housing coupled to the lift gate and having a backing with a reflective surface, a light source that is coupled to the housing and configured to emit light, and a lid that is operably coupled to the housing. The lid includes a reflective interior surface and reflective exterior surface that is opposite the reflective interior surface. The lid is operable between an open position, wherein the reflective surface of the backing is exposed, and a closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2020Publication date: February 17, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati, Juergen Koehler, Michael Shawn Watterworth, Bhavani Thota, Linh Ngoc Doan
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Patent number: 10591016Abstract: An apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cylinder defining an internal volume and having a first end and a second end. A piston is received within the cylinder, a rod is coupled to the piston and extends outwardly of the first end, and a cap encloses the second end. The cap is selectively movable relative to the cylinder to vary the internal volume. A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, selectively moving an end cap relative to a cylinder body to vary internal volume.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Michael Shawn Watterworth
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Publication number: 20190234479Abstract: An apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cylinder defining an internal volume and having a first end and a second end. A piston is received within the cylinder, a rod is coupled to the piston and extends outwardly of the first end, and a cap encloses the second end. The cap is selectively movable relative to the cylinder to vary the internal volume. A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, selectively moving an end cap relative to a cylinder body to vary internal volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2018Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventor: Michael Shawn Watterworth
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Patent number: 9694856Abstract: A vehicle assembly system and related method are provided. The vehicle assembly system includes a first fender for a first vehicle model having a first shape, a second fender for a second vehicle model having a second, different shape, a front end structure common to the first vehicle model and the second vehicle model, and a support common to the first vehicle model and the second vehicle model. The support has a first member attached to a downstanding flange of the first fender or a downstanding flange of the second fender and a second member extending from a lower portion of the first member is attached to the front end structure. The system and method provide a simple and inexpensive way to attach fenders having different shapes to a common front end of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alfonso Márquez López, Ramon Credi, Michael Shawn Watterworth
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Publication number: 20170174266Abstract: A vehicle assembly system and related method are provided. The vehicle assembly system includes a first fender for a first vehicle model having a first shape, a second fender for a second vehicle model having a second, different shape, a front end structure common to the first vehicle model and the second vehicle model, and a support common to the first vehicle model and the second vehicle model. The support has a first member attached to a downstanding flange of the first fender or a downstanding flange of the second fender and a second member extending from a lower portion of the first member is attached to the front end structure. The system and method provide a simple and inexpensive way to attach fenders having different shapes to a common front end of a vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Alfonso Márquez López, Ramon Credi, Michael Shawn Watterworth
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Patent number: 9205728Abstract: A reinforced liftgate is provided for a vehicle. That reinforced liftgate includes an inner panel having a first aperture and a first reinforcing plate having a second aperture. The first reinforcing plate engages the inner panel so that the first and second apertures are aligned. A first ball stud is mounted to the inner panel in the first and second apertures. In one embodiment the liftgate also includes a hinge reinforcement.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ezequiel Alvarez Ruiz, Tad J. Siedlecki, Rabin Bhojan, Michael Shawn Watterworth, Christina Dung Nguyen
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Patent number: 9068534Abstract: A protective bracket for a compressed natural gas pressure regulator mounted in an engine compartment of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The compressed natural gas pressure regulator is disposed between a natural gas pressurized tank and an intake system for an internal combustion engine within the engine compartment, and the protective bracket comprises a main body disposed essentially about the entire external volume of the compressed natural gas pressure regulator.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Shekar Prabhakar Erasala, Mario Alberto Mendez, Michael Shawn Watterworth, Jose Luis Luis Trejo Chavez, Ulises T Herrera Esquibel
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Publication number: 20140261728Abstract: A protective bracket for a compressed natural gas pressure regulator mounted in an engine compartment of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The compressed natural gas pressure regulator is disposed between a natural gas pressurized tank and an intake system for an internal combustion engine within the engine compartment, and the protective bracket comprises a main body disposed essentially about the entire external volume of the compressed natural gas pressure regulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventors: Shekar Prabhakar Erasala, Mario Alberto Mendez, Michael Shawn Watterworth, Jose Luis Luis Trejo Chavez, Ulises T Herrera Esquibel