Patents by Inventor Sara James

Sara James 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: 20240183204
    Abstract: In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a door assembly for a motor vehicle, including: a door mounted relative to an opening in a body of the motor vehicle such that the door is moveable between a fully closed position and a fully open position; and a fixed door handle projecting outward from an exterior surface of the door, and wherein the fixed door handle includes a switch assembly configured to generate an electric signal when pressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Rajesh K. Patel, Constantin Manolescu, Floyd Anthony Harter, Laeth Zahed, Tony Nguyen, Sara James
  • Patent number: 11623588
    Abstract: An apparatus and method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, providing a vehicle with a hard top option where a hard top can be attached to the vehicle, a soft top option where a soft top can be attached to the vehicle, and a dual top option where either the hard top or the soft top can be attached to the vehicle. A hard top applique is provided for the hard top and a soft top applique is provided for the soft top, and a common set of fasteners is used to attach the hard top applique and the soft top applique to a pillar as needed to attach the hard top or soft top to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald M. Lovasz, Sara James
  • Publication number: 20210394690
    Abstract: An apparatus and method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, providing a vehicle with a hard top option where a hard top can be attached to the vehicle, a soft top option where a soft top can be attached to the vehicle, and a dual top option where either the hard top or the soft top can be attached to the vehicle. A hard top applique is provided for the hard top and a soft top applique is provided for the soft top, and a common set of fasteners is used to attach the hard top applique and the soft top applique to a pillar as needed to attach the hard top or soft top to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Ronald M. Lovasz, Sara James
  • Patent number: 11148616
    Abstract: An apparatus and method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, providing a vehicle with a hard top option where a hard top can be attached to the vehicle, a soft top option where a soft top can be attached to the vehicle, and a dual top option where either the hard top or the soft top can be attached to the vehicle. A hard top applique is provided for the hard top and a soft top applique is provide for the soft top, and a common set of fasteners is used to attach the hard top applique and the soft top applique to a pillar as needed to attach the hard top or soft top to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Lovasz, Sara James
  • Publication number: 20210129645
    Abstract: An apparatus and method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, providing a vehicle with a hard top option where a hard top can be attached to the vehicle, a soft top option where a soft top can be attached to the vehicle, and a dual top option where either the hard top or the soft top can be attached to the vehicle. A hard top applique is provided for the hard top and a soft top applique is provide for the soft top, and a common set of fasteners is used to attach the hard top applique and the soft top applique to a pillar as needed to attach the hard top or soft top to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Ronald Lovasz, Sara James
  • Patent number: 9114765
    Abstract: An applique assembly for a vehicle door includes a body defining an attachment surface with an edge. The body has a margin extension member coupled with the attachment surface inward of the edge that defines a margin channel open toward the edge. The assembly also includes a margin seal having a first portion receivable within the margin channel with a second portion extending inward over and spaced apart from the margin extension member outside the margin channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sara James, Paul Lawrence Lipinski