Patents by Inventor Robert J. Schlenke

Robert J. Schlenke 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: 20210094207
    Abstract: An interior trim panel for a vehicle includes a polymer/leather layer having leather particles each having a diameter of less than 5000 micrometers dispersed within a polymer, and a backing layer adhered to the leather layer and providing a support structure for the polymer/leather layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: William R. Rodgers, Robert Joseph Reuter, Xiaosong Huang, Timothy M. Boundy, Robert J. Schlenke, Brian McPeck
  • Publication number: 20210086411
    Abstract: An interior trim panel for a vehicle includes a leather layer defining a feature having a radius of less than five millimeters, and a backing layer adhered to the leather layer and providing a support structure for the leather layer. A method of forming the interior trim panel includes clamping the leather layer in a frame to securely fix the edges of the leather layer, positioning the leather layer between compression mold dies defining a complementary surface having a feature with a radius of less than five millimeters, and compressing the leather layer between the dies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: William R. Rodgers, Robert Joseph Reuter, Xiaosong Huang, Timothy M. Boundy, Robert J. Schlenke, Brian McPeck
  • Patent number: 10696276
    Abstract: A wiper system for clearing an outer surface of a window is disclosed and includes an arm, a frame, a blade, and an actuator operatively connected to the arm. The arm includes a parked position and defines a proximate end portion and a distal end portion. The arm is pivotable about the proximate end portion of the arm out of the parked position. The frame is pivotally connected to the distal end portion of the arm. The frame defines a lengthwise distance. The blade extends along at least a lengthwise portion of the frame. The blade defines an edge that is configured to contact the outer surface of the window when the arm is in the parked position. The actuator is configured to exert a force against the arm that is sufficient to urge the arm out of the parked position and away from the outer surface of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. Kiester, Kenton L. West, Robert J. Schlenke, Jason H. Ross
  • Patent number: 10668861
    Abstract: A floor-mounted console assembly includes a stationary floor bracket having a longitudinal first support bar and a longitudinal second support bar positioned parallel to the first support bar. The console assembly further includes a cradle having a first connector wing and a second connector wing. The first connector wing is slidably received over the first support bar and the second connector wing is slidably received over the second support bar. The console assembly further includes a console connected to the cradle and supported by the first connector wing and the second connector wing such that the console is vertically spaced above the first support bar and the second support bar. The console and the cradle are configured to translate along the first support bar and the second support bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Rudy M. Vican, Alex Archer, Robert J. Schlenke
  • Publication number: 20190389432
    Abstract: A wiper system for clearing an outer surface of a window is disclosed and includes an arm, a frame, a blade, and an actuator operatively connected to the arm. The arm includes a parked position and defines a proximate end portion and a distal end portion. The arm is pivotable about the proximate end portion of the arm out of the parked position. The frame is pivotally connected to the distal end portion of the arm. The frame defines a lengthwise distance. The blade extends along at least a lengthwise portion of the frame. The blade defines an edge that is configured to contact the outer surface of the window when the arm is in the parked position. The actuator is configured to exert a force against the arm that is sufficient to urge the arm out of the parked position and away from the outer surface of the window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy A. Kiester, Kenton L. West, Robert J. Schlenke, Jason H. Ross
  • Publication number: 20190283680
    Abstract: A floor-mounted console assembly includes a stationary floor bracket having a longitudinal first support bar and a longitudinal second support bar positioned parallel to the first support bar. The console assembly further includes a cradle having a first connector wing and a second connector wing. The first connector wing is slidably received over the first support bar and the second connector wing is slidably received over the second support bar. The console assembly further includes a console connected to the cradle and supported by the first connector wing and the second connector wing such that the console is vertically spaced above the first support bar and the second support bar. The console and the cradle are configured to translate along the first support bar and the second support bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rudy M. Vican, Alex Archer, Robert J. Schlenke
  • Patent number: 10363897
    Abstract: One general aspect includes an airbag module, including: a housing. The airbag module also includes a cushion disposed within the housing. The airbag module also includes a chute having a first side and a second side with a seam centrally formed therebetween, where each of the first and second sides include a plurality of fingers which operatively cooperate to define a track configured to slidably attach the housing to the chute such that the chute sufficiently encloses the cushion within the housing, and where the chute is configured to open during deployment of the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. Citko, Shawn D. Burney, Christopher R. Phelps, Brian McPeck, Robert J. Schlenke, George Helou
  • Publication number: 20190100164
    Abstract: One general aspect includes an airbag module, including: a housing. The airbag module also includes a cushion disposed within the housing. The airbag module also includes a chute having a first side and a second side with a seam centrally formed therebetween, where each of the first and second sides include a plurality of fingers which operatively cooperate to define a track configured to slidably attach the housing to the chute such that the chute sufficiently encloses the cushion within the housing, and where the chute is configured to open during deployment of the cushion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Steven M. Citko, Shawn D. Burney, Christopher R. Phelps, Brian McPeck, Robert J. Schlenke, George Helou