Patents by Inventor Rick H. Wykoff

Rick H. Wykoff 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).

  • Patent number: 11878575
    Abstract: A computing device in a vehicle can determine an occupant type, location and orientation and determine intensity and direction of sunlight. The computing device can tint one or more portions of vehicle windows based on the occupant type, location and orientation and the strength and direction of sunlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cynthia Mowery Flanigan, Victoria Leigh Schein, Clay Wesley Maranville, Rick H. Wykoff, II, Kenneth Edward Nietering, John Michael Galan Ferrer
  • Patent number: 11865234
    Abstract: A treatment apparatus for a vehicle comprises: a housing with at least one wall and a floor forming a treatment chamber; a source of ultraviolet light configured to emit ultraviolet light into the treatment chamber; and a door connected to the housing, the door having (i) an open position providing access to the treatment chamber and (ii) a closed position denying access to the treatment chamber and, together with the housing, preventing emitted ultraviolet light from irradiating beyond the treatment chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jay Z. Chen, Anthony Ligi, Jr., John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Michael Hrecznyj, Clay Wesley Maranville, Amy Ellen Langhorst, Rick H. Wykoff
  • Publication number: 20210308317
    Abstract: A treatment apparatus for a vehicle comprises: a housing with at least one wall and a floor forming a treatment chamber; a source of ultraviolet light configured to emit ultraviolet light into the treatment chamber; and a door connected to the housing, the door having (i) an open position providing access to the treatment chamber and (ii) a closed position denying access to the treatment chamber and, together with the housing, preventing emitted ultraviolet light from irradiating beyond the treatment chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jay Z. Chen, Anthony Ligi, JR., John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Michael Hrecznyj, Clay Wesley Maranville, Amy Ellen Langhorst, Rick H. Wykoff
  • Patent number: 11124297
    Abstract: A portable case for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a system including a portable case for UAV and an adapter for coupling the portable case to a vehicle are disclosed. An example system may include an exterior attachment disposed on an exterior of a vehicle, an adapter configured to couple a portable case for an UAV to the exterior attachment, and a moveable cover connected to the vehicle and configured to cover the portable case when the portable case is coupled to the vehicle. An example portable case may comprise a landing pad for the UAV, a bottom portion having the landing pad and configured to connect to the exterior attachment via the adapter, and a removable upper portion configured to be connected to the bottom portion when the bottom portion is disconnected from the at least one exterior attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raj Sohmshetty, Rick H. Wykoff, Michael Musa Azzouz, Kevin VanNieulande, Jeremy John Malick
  • Publication number: 20200108700
    Abstract: A computing device in a vehicle can determine an occupant type, location and orientation and determine intensity and direction of sunlight. The computing device can tint one or more portions of vehicle windows based on the occupant type, location and orientation and the strength and direction of sunlight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Cynthia Mowery FLANIGAN, Victoria Leigh SCHEIN, Clay Wesley MARANVILLE, Rick H. WYKOFF, II, Kenneth Edward NIETERING, John Michael Galan FERRER
  • Publication number: 20200094957
    Abstract: A portable case for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a system including a portable case for UAV and an adapter for coupling the portable case to a vehicle are disclosed. An example system may include an exterior attachment disposed on an exterior of a vehicle, an adapter configured to couple a portable case for an UAV to the exterior attachment, and a moveable cover connected to the vehicle and configured to cover the portable case when the portable case is coupled to the vehicle. An example portable case may comprise a landing pad for the UAV, a bottom portion having the landing pad and configured to connect to the exterior attachment via the adapter, and a removable upper portion configured to be connected to the bottom portion when the bottom portion is disconnected from the at least one exterior attachment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raj Sohmshetty, Rick H. Wykoff, Michael Musa Azzouz, Kevin VanNieulande, Jeremy John Malick
  • Patent number: 10343950
    Abstract: A glass bubble includes a hollow glass body having an outer surface with a diameter of between about 16 micrometers and about 25 micrometers and a surface roughness of about 0.01% to about 0.1% of that diameter. A low density sheet molding compound incorporating a plurality of glass bubbles and resin is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Haibo Zhao, Daniel Quinn Houston, Rick H. Wykoff
  • Patent number: 10343500
    Abstract: A window assembly includes a first polarizing windowpane, and a second polarizing windowpane. The first and second polarizing windowpanes are each independently moveable between a first position that blocks an opening to an interior of a vehicle, and a second position that does not block the opening. A window operating method includes moving first and second polarizing windowpanes of a window assembly from respective first positions that block an opening to an interior of a vehicle to respective second positions that do not block the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bala Chander, Rick H. Wykoff, II, Kenneth Edward Nietering
  • Publication number: 20180272843
    Abstract: A window assembly includes a first polarizing windowpane, and a second polarizing windowpane. The first and second polarizing windowpanes are each independently moveable between a first position that blocks an opening to an interior of a vehicle, and a second position that does not block the opening. A window operating method includes moving first and second polarizing windowpanes of a window assembly from respective first positions that block an opening to an interior of a vehicle to respective second positions that do not block the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Bala Chander, Rick H. Wykoff, II, Kenneth Edward Nietering
  • Patent number: 10046713
    Abstract: A vehicle roof mount includes at least one datum feature. The datum feature is provided according to at least one datum. The at least one datum is determined according to a specified orientation of a sensor included in a sensor frame. The sensor frame is mateable to the roof mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Clay Wesley Maranville, Douglas Scott Rhode, Rick H. Wykoff, Randal Henry Visintainer
  • Publication number: 20180037496
    Abstract: A glass bubble includes a hollow glass body having an outer surface with a diameter of between about 16 micrometers and about 25 micrometers and a surface roughness of about 0.01% to about 0.1% of that diameter. A low density sheet molding compound incorporating a plurality of glass bubbles and resin is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Haibo Zhao, Daniel Quinn Houston, Rick H. Wykoff
  • Patent number: 9809493
    Abstract: A method is provided for treating the outer surfaces of a plurality of glass bubbles. That method includes loading a plurality of glass bubbles into a processing vessel having a roughened lining and displacing the processing vessel so that the plurality of glass bubbles move against the roughened lining to thereby roughen the outer surfaces. Alternatively, or in addition, the glass bubbles are subjected to air plasma treatment to increase the surface energy of the glass bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Haibo Zhao, Daniel Quinn Houston, Rick H. Wykoff
  • Publication number: 20170190300
    Abstract: A vehicle roof mount includes at least one datum feature. The datum feature is provided according to at least one datum. The at least one datum is determined according to a specified orientation of a sensor included in a sensor frame. The sensor frame is mateable to the roof mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Clay Wesley Maranville, Douglas Scott Rhode, Rick H. Wykoff, Randal Henry Visintainer
  • Publication number: 20160340236
    Abstract: A method is provided for treating the outer surfaces of a plurality of glass bubbles. That method includes loading a plurality of glass bubbles into a processing vessel having a roughened lining and displacing the processing vessel so that the plurality of glass bubbles move against the roughened lining to thereby roughen the outer surfaces. Alternatively, or in addition, the glass bubbles are subjected to air plasma treatment to increase the surface energy of the glass bubbles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Haibo Zhao, Daniel Quinn Houston, Rick H. Wykoff
  • Patent number: 9180917
    Abstract: A vehicle panoramic sunroof assembly includes a vehicle frame including a medial pillar that extends vertically from a lower frame portion to a longitudinal member of a roof frame portion. A top portion of the medial pillar includes a supplemental support flange. A panoramic sunroof frame is set within and connected to the longitudinal member of the roof frame portion and connected to the supplemental support flange. The supplemental support flange is mechanically connected to the panoramic sunroof frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fubang Wu, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Rick H. Wykoff
  • Publication number: 20150140337
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a polymeric article includes a polymeric composition, which in turn includes a polymeric material in a first weight percent, a non-metallic fibrous material in a second weight percent, and a metallic fiber material in a third weight percent and being intermixed with the non-metallic fibrous material. The polymeric material may include at least one of epoxy, vinyl ester, and/or polyester. The fibrous material may include at least one of glass fiber and carbon fiber. The metallic fiber material may include at least one of steel and aluminum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rick H. Wykoff, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Fubang Wu, Yijung Chen, Matthew John Zaluzec
  • Publication number: 20140346811
    Abstract: A beam sub-assembly for a vehicle includes a beam member and at least one carbon-fiber prepreg bonded to a first portion of an exterior surface of the beam member so as to cover an entire length of the beam member along the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matt J. Zaluzec, Fubang Wu, Rick H. Wykoff, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Ridha Baccouche