Patents by Inventor Randall R. Frank

Randall R. Frank 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).

  • Vehicle hood stiffener
    Patent number: 9663149
    Abstract: A vehicle hood includes an inner panel, an outer panel coupled to the inner panel, and an insert disposed between the outer panel and the inner panel. The insert is formed of a material that is brittle relative to a material of the outer panel. The insert includes a plurality of strips connected to each other. Each strip is elongated along and disposed adjacent to the outer panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Sushil Shastry, Randall R. Frank, Laike Misikir, Luis Jesus Chavela Guerra, Kevin Greene
  • Solar-activated structure for revealing a hidden indicia within a body panel of a vehicle
    Patent number: 9499209
    Abstract: A solar-activated body panel for a vehicle includes outer and inner panels with an internal cavity defined therebetween. The internal cavity includes first and second portions that correspond to first and second heat gain portions, respectively, on the outer surface, wherein the first heat gain portion retains solar energy at a first heat gain rate and the second heat gain portion retains solar energy at a second heat gain rate, the first heat gain rate being greater than the second heat gain rate. A thermal material is disposed on the outer surface, wherein when solar energy is radiated onto the outer surface, the first heat gain portion absorbs heat at the first heat gain rate and, in turn emits heat to the thermal material to alter the thermal material and define a predetermined indicia on the outer surface and within the thermal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Randall R. Frank, Greg B. Zinn, Michael J Gardynik, Christopher Pope
  • Vehicle body structure
    Patent number: 9487243
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a side sill formed of high strength steel and a seat cross-member formed of high strength steel. A floor pan is welded to at least one of the side sill and the seat cross-member. A flange includes a base extending from the seat cross-member and a tab extending from the base. The tab is spaced from the seat cross-member and is welded to the floor pan and the side sill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yi Qu, Michael Luchtman, Chris Stephen O'Connor, John Michael McGuckin, Randall R. Frank
  • VEHICLE HOOD STIFFENER
    Publication number: 20160280277
    Abstract: A vehicle hood includes an inner panel, an outer panel coupled to the inner panel, and an insert disposed between the outer panel and the inner panel. The insert is formed of a material that is brittle relative to a material of the outer panel. The insert includes a plurality of strips connected to each other. Each strip is elongated along and disposed adjacent to the outer panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sushil Shastry, Randall R. Frank, Laike Misikir, Luis Jesus Chavela Guerra, Kevin Greene
  • VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE
    Publication number: 20160159406
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a side sill formed of high strength steel and a seat cross-member formed of high strength steel. A floor pan is welded to at least one of the side sill and the seat cross-member. A flange includes a base extending from the seat cross-member and a tab extending from the base. The tab is spaced from the seat cross-member and is welded to the floor pan and the side sill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yi Qu, Michael Luchtman, Chris Stephen O'Connor, John Michael McGuckin, Randall R. Frank