Patents by Inventor Patricia C. Tibbenham

Patricia C. Tibbenham 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: 20100154181
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a variety a releasable fasteners and fastening systems. Some fasteners include a shape memory polymer configured to change geometry of the fastener between a release geometry and an attachment geometry without application of a mechanical force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Cynthia M. Flanigan, Patricia C. Tibbenham, Jackie Rehkopf, David Dean
  • Patent number: 7157026
    Abstract: An emergency trunk release handle for an automobile displays the graphics explaining the use and function of the handle by cutting out the material from the handle. Forming the emergency release handle from a phosphorescent plastic material that can be formed by a molding process, such as injection molding, the cut-out graphics show as darkened areas, when viewed in the dark confines of an automobile trunk, to provide a high degree of visibility for the graphics. The graphics are also visible when seen against the dark carpet in the interior of an opened trunk cavity. The formation of the graphics is accomplished by coring the mold in the configuration of the desired graphics and by forming the plastic material in the mold around the cores. The resultant handle structure is thus formed in a cost effective manner that reduces the process failure potential during the manufacturing of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patricia C. Tibbenham, David Dean, Wieslaw S. Zaydel
  • Patent number: 7029138
    Abstract: An emergency trunk release handle for an automobile displays the graphics explaining the use and function of the handle by cutting out the material from the handle. Forming the emergency release handle from a phosphorescent plastic material that can be formed by a molding process, such as injection molding, the cut-out graphics show as darkened areas, when viewed in the dark confines of an automobile trunk, to provide a high degree of visibility for the graphics. The graphics are also visible when seen against the dark carpet in the interior of an opened trunk cavity. The formation of the graphics is accomplished by coring the mold in the configuration of the desired graphics and by forming the plastic material in the mold around the cores. The resultant handle structure is thus formed in a cost effective manner that reduces the process failure potential during the manufacturing of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patricia C. Tibbenham, David Dean, Wieslaw S. Zaydel
  • Publication number: 20040160760
    Abstract: An emergency trunk release handle for an automobile displays the graphics explaining the use and function of the handle by cutting out the material from the handle. Forming the emergency release handle from a phosphorescent plastic material that can be formed by a molding process, such as injection molding, the cut-out graphics show as darkened areas, when viewed in the dark confines of an automobile trunk, to provide a high degree of visibility for the graphics. The graphics are also visible when seen against the dark carpet in the interior of an opened trunk cavity. The formation of the graphics is accomplished by coring the mold in the configuration of the desired graphics and by forming the plastic material in the mold around the cores. The resultant handle structure is thus formed in a cost effective manner that reduces the process failure potential during the manufacturing of the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Patricia C. Tibbenham, David Dean, Wieslaw S. Zaydel