Patents by Inventor Nathan Kenneth Shaeff

Nathan Kenneth Shaeff 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).

  • Publication number: 20220219500
    Abstract: A pivotable vehicle trailer hitch assembly may include a tube frame operably coupled to a chassis of a vehicle and extending transversely across a rear portion of the vehicle, a hitch receiver operably coupled to the tube frame to support a ball mount, and a pivot assembly defining a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to a direction of extension of the tube frame. The pivot assembly may be operably coupled to the hitch receiver and the tube frame to pivot the hitch receiver and ball mount about the pivot axis from an extended position in which the hitch receiver and ball mount extend substantially perpendicular to tube frame, and a retracted position in which the hitch receiver and ball mount extend substantially parallel to the tube frame. The pivot assembly comprises an electrically operated linear actuator operable to transfer the hitch receiver and the ball mount between the extended position and the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Nathan Kenneth Shaeff, Joe Buchwitz, James Adam Drozdowski, Henry W. Hausler
  • Patent number: 10780841
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a camera module that is moveable back and forth between a first and a second position. In the first position, the camera module is mounted to, and at least partially housed within, a portion of a vehicle. In the second position, the camera module is mounted to a structure other than the vehicle. A viewing method includes using a camera module to view a first area when the camera module is at least partially housed within a portion of a vehicle in a first position. The method further includes using the camera module to view a different, second area after moving the camera module to a second position where the camera module is mounted to a structure other than the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Kenneth Shaeff, David R. Huelke
  • Publication number: 20200086807
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a camera module that is moveable back and forth between a first and a second position. In the first position, the camera module is mounted to, and at least partially housed within, a portion of a vehicle. In the second position, the camera module is mounted to a structure other than the vehicle. A viewing method includes using a camera module to view a first area when the camera module is at least partially housed within a portion of a vehicle in a first position. The method further includes using the camera module to view a different, second area after moving the camera module to a second position where the camera module is mounted to a structure other than the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Nathan Kenneth Shaeff, David R. Huelke