Patents by Inventor Michael T Mandzak

Michael T Mandzak 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).

  • Reduced offset lift-gate applique
    Patent number: 9399389
    Abstract: A vehicle including a vehicle body having a bumper assembly and a lift-gate. The bumper assembly protrudes outward from the lift-gate when the lift-gate is in a closed position. A panel is attached to an outer surface of the lift-gate that reduces a distance that the bumper assembly protrudes outward from the lift-gate. The panel includes an attachment portion that fixedly secures the panel to the outer surface, and includes a deformable portion that releasably secures the panel to a terminal edge of the lift-gate. Upon receipt of an impact by the vehicle, the bumper assembly and the deformable portion are each operable to deform to absorb the impact and at least minimize transfer of the impact to the lift-gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Michael T Mandzak
  • REDUCED OFFSET LIFT-GATE APPLIQUE
    Publication number: 20150258879
    Abstract: A vehicle including a vehicle body having a bumper assembly and a lift-gate. The bumper assembly protrudes outward from the lift-gate when the lift-gate is in a closed position. A panel is attached to an outer surface of the lift-gate that reduces a distance that the bumper assembly protrudes outward from the lift-gate. The panel includes an attachment portion that fixedly secures the panel to the outer surface, and includes a deformable portion that releasably secures the panel to a terminal edge of the lift-gate. Upon receipt of an impact by the vehicle, the bumper assembly and the deformable portion are each operable to deform to absorb the impact and at least minimize transfer of the impact to the lift-gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventor: Michael T Mandzak