Patents by Inventor Monica BLAIR

Monica BLAIR 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).

  • Variable width platform vehicle body structure and method
    Patent number: 9505439
    Abstract: A method of varying vehicle width on a single platform includes providing a plurality of vehicles, where each vehicle includes a side sill extending longitudinally along a lower portion of a vehicle body. The side sill defines a door opening interface on each opposing side of the vehicle body. Each of the plurality of vehicles also includes a floor panel extending laterally across a width of each vehicle. The floor panel is joined at a lateral edge to the side sill. The method also includes maintaining a common lateral position of the joint between the floor panel and the side sill across each of the plurality of vehicles. The method further includes positioning the door opening interface at first lateral position corresponding to a first one of the plurality of vehicles and at a second lateral position corresponding to a second one of the plurality of vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vladimir Vladimirovich Bogachuk, Monica Blair, Maria J. Heirtzler, Shawn Michael Morgans, Steve William Gallagher, Joshua Jacob Clement, Eric Layton Stratten, Jon A. Wilcox
  • VARIABLE WIDTH PLATFORM VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20160304128
    Abstract: A method of varying vehicle width on a single platform includes providing a plurality of vehicles, where each vehicle includes a side sill extending longitudinally along a lower portion of a vehicle body. The side sill defines a door opening interface on each opposing side of the vehicle body. Each of the plurality of vehicles also includes a floor panel extending laterally across a width of each vehicle. The floor panel is joined at a lateral edge to the side sill. The method also includes maintaining a common lateral position of the joint between the floor panel and the side sill across each of the plurality of vehicles. The method further includes positioning the door opening interface at first lateral position corresponding to a first one of the plurality of vehicles and at a second lateral position corresponding to a second one of the plurality of vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Vladimir Vladimirovich BOGACHUK, Monica BLAIR, Maria J. HEIRTZLER, Shawn Michael MORGANS, Steve William GALLAGHER, Joshua Jacob CLEMENT, Eric Layton STRATTEN, Jon A. WILCOX