Patents by Inventor Rob Swann

Rob Swann 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: 11131129
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having a door check mechanism. An example motor vehicle a pivotable door, a door check mechanism including a bar, wherein the door check mechanism is configured to hold the door open in a fully open check position, and a retarder assembly configured to oppose opening of the door beyond the fully open check position by applying a force generated by a non-linear surface of the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Westgarth, Jack Whitehurst, Rob Swann, Ian Patterson
  • Patent number: 10954703
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having a door check mechanism. An example motor vehicle includes a door pivotable between fully open and fully closed positions, and a door check mechanism including a bar having a helical groove and at least one check hold recess along the helical groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Westgarth, Ian Patterson, Rob Swann, Jack Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 10822832
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door anti-rattle mechanism includes male and female parts. The male part is fastened to a door of a motor vehicle and the female part is fastened to a door pillar of the motor vehicle. The male part includes an expandable member that is selectively engageable with a recess in the female part in order to inhibit relative movement between the male and female parts and, hence, rattling of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Westgarth, Ian Patterson, Jack Whitehurst, Rob Swann
  • Publication number: 20200115938
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having a door check mechanism. An example motor vehicle a pivotable door, a door check mechanism including a bar, wherein the door check mechanism is configured to hold the door open in a fully open check position, and a retarder assembly configured to oppose opening of the door beyond the fully open check position by applying a force generated by a non-linear surface of the bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Brian Westgarth, Jack Whitehurst, Rob Swann, Ian Patterson
  • Publication number: 20200080353
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having a door check mechanism. An example motor vehicle includes a door pivotable between fully open and fully closed positions, and a door check mechanism including a bar having a helical groove and at least one check hold recess along the helical groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Brian Westgarth, Ian Patterson, Rob Swann, Jack Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 10519701
    Abstract: A vehicle door check mechanism includes a bellows to act as a pneumatic retarder to prevent a high load from being transferred from the door check mechanism to a structural part of a door of the motor vehicle if that door is opened to a fully open position at high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ian Patterson, Brian Westgarth, Rob Swann, Jack Whitehurst, John Strudwick
  • Patent number: 10391954
    Abstract: A vehicle trim portion connection bracket is provided. The bracket includes a first flange having a connecting portion configured to be coupled to a trim portion and a second flange configured to be coupled to a support member of the vehicle. The support member is configured to be coupled to a body of the vehicle. A relief slot is provided in the first flange and configured to reduce a load required to deform the connecting portion relative to a remaining portion of the first flange, such that the connecting portion may be deformed without disrupting the coupling between the bracket and the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Westgarth, Ian Patterson, Jack Whitehurst, Rob Swann
  • Publication number: 20190218820
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door anti-rattle mechanism includes male and female parts. The male part is fastened to a door of a motor vehicle and the female part is fastened to a door pillar of the motor vehicle. The male part includes an expandable member that is selectively engageable with a recess in the female part in order to inhibit relative movement between the male and female parts and, hence, rattling of the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Brian Westgarth, Ian Patterson, Jack Whitehurst, Rob Swann
  • Publication number: 20190106917
    Abstract: A vehicle door check mechanism includes a bellows to act as a pneumatic retarder to prevent a high load from being transferred from the door check mechanism to a structural part of a door of the motor vehicle if that door is opened to a fully open position at high speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Ian Patterson, Brian Westgarth, Rob Swann, Jack Whitehurst, John Strudwick
  • Patent number: 10161174
    Abstract: A vehicle has a sliding door fitted with a rotatable brake member to apply a braking force to the sliding door when the vehicle is on a slope. The brake member is automatically rotated about a pivot axis X-X by a moveable member forming part of an actuator when the vehicle is resting on a slope into a position in which a braking force is applied to the sliding door by the interaction of the brake member with an elongate track in the form of a sliding door support track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Whitehurst, Brian Westgarth, Rob Swann, Ian Patterson
  • Publication number: 20180105121
    Abstract: A vehicle trim portion connection bracket is provided. The bracket includes a first flange having a connecting portion configured to be coupled to a trim portion and a second flange configured to be coupled to a support member of the vehicle. The support member is configured to be coupled to a body of the vehicle. A relief slot is provided in the first flange and configured to reduce a load required to deform the connecting portion relative to a remaining portion of the first flange, such that the connecting portion may be deformed without disrupting the coupling between the bracket and the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Westgarth, Ian Patterson, Jack Whitehurst, Rob Swann
  • Publication number: 20170342755
    Abstract: A vehicle has a sliding door fitted with a rotatable brake member to apply a braking force to the sliding door when the vehicle is on a slope. The brake member is automatically rotated about a pivot axis X-X by a moveable member forming part of an actuator when the vehicle is resting on a slope into a position in which a braking force is applied to the sliding door by the interaction of the brake member with an elongate track in the form of a sliding door support track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Jack Whitehurst, Brian Westgarth, Rob Swann, Ian Patterson