Patents by Inventor Mike J. Leigh

Mike J. Leigh 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).

  • Instrument panel brace
    Patent number: 5664823
    Abstract: An instrument panel brace for aiding in the alignment of the steering column of a vehicle during a collision. The brace is attached to the instrument panel beam which in turn is attached to the steering column. Further, the instrument panel brace lies adjacent the cowl rather than being rigidly attached to either the cowl or dash panel. During a collision, the brace resists rotation of the steering column caused when the driver's knees push up against the instrument panel beam while resisting transferring load from the engine to the steering column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sudipta K. Misra, Mike J. Leigh, Joseph B. Hurley