Patents by Inventor Robert Reiner

Robert Reiner 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: 20210107570
    Abstract: An apparatus and method, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a quarter panel comprised of a sheet molding compound and a fascia bracket. The fascia bracket includes a first flange integrated into the quarter panel, a second flange comprising a vehicle body mount interface, and a gripping feature configured to grip a portion of a fascia to be attached to the quarter panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Jack Marchlewski, Darrin Neil Wagner, Robert Reiners
  • Patent number: 10967913
    Abstract: An apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a bracket having a first attachment feature configured for attachment to a quarter panel and a second attachment feature configured for attachment to a body inner structure. A BLIS module attaches to the body inner structure without covering the first attachment feature. A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, attaching a quarter panel to a bracket via a first attachment feature, attaching the quarter panel with the bracket to a body inner structure, attaching the bracket to the body inner structure via a second attachment feature, and attaching a BLIS module to the body inner structure without covering the first attachment feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Marchlewski, Darrin Neil Wagner, Robert Reiners
  • Publication number: 20210061364
    Abstract: An apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a bracket having a first attachment feature configured for attachment to a quarter panel and a second attachment feature configured for attachment to a body inner structure. A BUS module attaches to the body inner structure without covering the first attachment feature. A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, attaching a quarter panel to a bracket via a first attachment feature, attaching the quarter panel with the bracket to a body inner structure, attaching the bracket to the body inner structure via a second attachment feature, and attaching a BUS module to the body inner structure without covering the first attachment feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Jack Marchlewski, Darrin Neil Wagner, Robert Reiners
  • Patent number: 10914448
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp installation method includes, among other things, engaging both a mounting bracket and an outer panel of a vehicle with an alignment fixture that locates the mounting bracket relative to the outer panel in a mounting position. The method further includes securing the mounting bracket to a body structure of the vehicle when the mounting bracket is in the mounting position. A vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a body structure of a vehicle, a mounting bracket secured to the body structure in a mounting position, and an outer panel secured to the body structure. The mounting bracket is located in the mounting position relative to the outer panel using an alignment fixture that engages with both the outer panel and the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Marchlewski, Robert Reiners, Darrin Neil Wagner
  • Patent number: 10894502
    Abstract: This disclosure details tie down systems for securing cargo within vehicle cargo spaces. An exemplary tie down system may include a corner bracket mounted in a corner of the cargo space. The corner bracket may include a plurality of openings for tying down cargo at different heights within the cargo space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Marchlewski, Vince Anthony Chimento, Robert Reiners, Jeffrey Gray
  • Patent number: 10870383
    Abstract: A tailgate tie down system includes a first plate assembly and a second plate assembly. A strap is connected between each of the first plate assembly and the second plate assembly. In an exemplary method, the strap can be routed through at least one accessory tool before securing the first plate assembly and the second plate assembly within tailgate latch openings. Once the plate assemblies are locked within the latch openings, the accessory tool is also locked relative to the tailgate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Reiners, Jack Marchlewski, Joshua Robert Hemphill, Jeffrey Gray, Dragan B. Stojkovic
  • Patent number: 10843640
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle with a locator device configured to maintain outer body panel alignment, and a corresponding method. In particular, an example method includes temporarily attaching a locator device to one of a body of a motor vehicle and an outer body panel connectable to the body. The method further includes connecting the outer body panel to the body, and rigidly connecting the locator device to the other of the body and the outer body panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Marchlewski, Darrin Neil Wagner, Robert Reiners
  • Patent number: 10807653
    Abstract: A pickup truck box assembly includes a truck bed, an inner side panel, and a D-pillar. The truck bed is secured on a rear edge to a rear cross-member. The inner side panel is mounted to the truck bed. The D-pillar includes an inner part secured to the cross-member and inner side panel, and an outer part secured to the inner part and disposed between an outer side panel and the inner part. The D-pillar inner part includes a U-shaped portion and a first flange extending rearward substantially ninety degrees from the U-shaped portion in a plane substantially parallel to the side panel and a second flange extending from the U-shaped portion outboard of the inner side panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Marchlewski, Robert Reiners, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Joshua R. Hemphill
  • Patent number: 10801237
    Abstract: A vehicle including a bed, and a tailgate, pivotally attached to the vehicle to close off a rear end of the bed, the tailgate having a front surface and a side with a pull tab recess. A check strap has a forward end attached to the bed and a rearward end; and an extension bracket has an extension plate pivotally connecting at a forward end to the rearward end of the check strap, a rear fastener pivotally securing the extension plate to the side of the tailgate, a pull tab extending through the extension plate and laterally slidable out of the pull tab recess, the extension plate extending essentially parallel to the front surface when the pull tab is received in the pull tab recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua R. Hemphill, Jack Marchlewski, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Brian K. Sullivan, Jeffrey Gray, Robert Reiners
  • Patent number: 10800233
    Abstract: A vehicle with removable hardtop may include vehicle sides having footrest cavities and pin recesses through top rails. The hardtop has sides resting on the top rails, locating pins extending downward from the bottom edges into respective pin recesses, and footrests extending downward from the bottom edges, farther than the locating pins, into respective footrest cavities with greater clearance than the locating pins in the pin recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Reiners, Jack Marchlewski
  • Patent number: 10787131
    Abstract: A motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of this disclosure includes, among other things, a roof structure, a bracket projecting from the roof structure, a roof panel configured to attach to the roof structure such that the bracket is beneath the roof panel, and an accessory configured to attach to the bracket. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Marchlewski, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Joshua Robert Hemphill, Robert Reiners, Jeffrey Gray
  • Publication number: 20200269767
    Abstract: A pickup truck that includes a bed having a side wall with an electric panel; and a lockbox having walls secured to, extending laterally from the side wall and surrounding the electric panel, and a security panel pivotally mounted on the walls to enclose the electric panel within the lockbox. The lockbox may also include a divider pivotally mounted to the walls inboard of the security panel and movable between a closed position extending longitudinally adjacent to the security panel and an open position extending laterally into the bed. A lock may secure the divider to the walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Joshua R. Hemphill, Jack Marchlewski, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Robert Reiners, Jeffrey Gray
  • Patent number: 10752294
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle with a removable outer body panel and a detachable tail lamp support, and a corresponding method. An example method includes connecting a subassembly to a body of a motor vehicle, where the subassembly includes an outer body panel connected to a tail lamp support. This arrangement permits detachment of the tail lamp support from the outer body panel, which allows a user to detach the outer body panel from the body without having to detach the tail lamp support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Marchlewski, Darrin Wagner, Robert Reiners
  • Patent number: 10730447
    Abstract: A pickup truck that includes a bed having a side wall with an electric panel; and a lockbox having walls secured to, extending laterally from the side wall and surrounding the electric panel, and a security panel pivotally mounted on the walls to enclose the electric panel within the lockbox. The lockbox may also include a divider pivotally mounted to the walls inboard of the security panel and movable between a closed position extending longitudinally adjacent to the security panel and an open position extending laterally into the bed. A lock may secure the divider to the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua R. Hemphill, Jack Marchlewski, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Robert Reiners, Jeffrey Gray
  • Publication number: 20200240184
    Abstract: A vehicle including a bed, and a tailgate, pivotally attached to the vehicle to close off a rear end of the bed, the tailgate having a front surface and a side with a pull tab recess. A check strap has a forward end attached to the bed and a rearward end; and an extension bracket has an extension plate pivotally connecting at a forward end to the rearward end of the check strap, a rear fastener pivotally securing the extension plate to the side of the tailgate, a pull tab extending through the extension plate and laterally slidable out of the pull tab recess, the extension plate extending essentially parallel to the front surface when the pull tab is received in the pull tab recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Joshua R. Hemphill, Jack Marchlewski, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Brian K. Sullivan, Jeffrey Gray, Robert Reiners
  • Publication number: 20200231013
    Abstract: A vehicle hitch assembly is provided that includes an angled trailer tow bar configured to be supported at the rear of a vehicle, a hitch receiver movably coupled to the tow bar such that the receiver may move on the tow bar, and a locking mechanism for locking the receiver in a fixed position on the tow bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Jack Marchlewski, Joshua Robert Hemphill, Robert Reiners
  • Publication number: 20200223299
    Abstract: A vehicle with removable hardtop may include vehicle sides having footrest cavities and pin recesses through top rails. The hardtop has sides resting on the top rails, locating pins extending downward from the bottom edges into respective pin recesses, and footrests extending downward from the bottom edges, farther than the locating pins, into respective footrest cavities with greater clearance than the locating pins in the pin recesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Reiners, Jack Marchlewski
  • Publication number: 20200217478
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp installation method includes, among other things, engaging both a mounting bracket and an outer panel of a vehicle with an alignment fixture that locates the mounting bracket relative to the outer panel in a mounting position. The method further includes securing the mounting bracket to a body structure of the vehicle when the mounting bracket is in the mounting position. A vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a body structure of a vehicle, a mounting bracket secured to the body structure in a mounting position, and an outer panel secured to the body structure. The mounting bracket is located in the mounting position relative to the outer panel using an alignment fixture that engages with both the outer panel and the mounting bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Jack Marchlewski, Robert Reiners, Darrin Neil Wagner
  • Publication number: 20200189491
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle with a locator device configured to maintain outer body panel alignment, and a corresponding method. In particular, an example method includes temporarily attaching a locator device to one of a body of a motor vehicle and an outer body panel connectable to the body. The method further includes connecting the outer body panel to the body, and rigidly connecting the locator device to the other of the body and the outer body panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Jack Marchlewski, Darrin Neil Wagner, Robert Reiners
  • Publication number: 20200164923
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle with a removable outer body panel and a detachable tail lamp support, and a corresponding method. An example method includes connecting a subassembly to a body of a motor vehicle, where the subassembly includes an outer body panel connected to a tail lamp support. This arrangement permits detachment of the tail lamp support from the outer body panel, which allows a user to detach the outer body panel from the body without having to detach the tail lamp support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Jack Marchlewski, Darrin Wagner, Robert Reiners