Patents by Inventor Sean E. Whelan

Sean E. Whelan 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: 20210245818
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body, a door and a hinge assembly. The door is coupled to the vehicle body and is pivotable about a horizontal axis between a closed position and a horizontal open position. The door is also pivotable about a vertical axis between the closed position and a vertical open position. The hinge assembly pivotably couples the door to the vehicle body and includes a first hinge and a second hinge. The first hinge includes a first hinge plate and at least one first hinge barrel extending from the first hinge plate. The second hinge includes a second hinge plate, an extension section and at least one second hinge barrel. The extension section positions the vertical axis laterally outwardly relative to a mounting location of the hinge assembly to the vehicle body. The vertical axis also being positioned inwardly relative to the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Paul S. Van Norman, Michael C. Gillam, Sean E. Whelan, Clifford L. Eberle, JR., Randy K. Ihrke, Eric Ghoukasian, Vivek V. Kirtane, Christopher J. Duke
  • Publication number: 20210245817
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body, a door and a handle assembly. A door is coupled to the vehicle body and is pivotable about a horizontal axis between a closed position and a horizontal open position. The door is also pivotable about a vertical axis between the closed position and a vertical open position. The handle assembly includes a housing, a first release switch and a second release switch. The housing extends at least partially into a cavity of the door and includes a lower wall and an upper wall that cooperate to define a pocket. The first release switch is disposed along the upper wall of the housing and is configured to be actuated to pivot the door about the horizontal axis. The second release switch is disposed along the lower wall of the housing and is configured to be actuated to pivot the door about the vertical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Robert J. Gibbs, Christopher J. Sytek, Clifford L. Eberle, JR., Eric Ghoukasian, Piyush Agarwal, Sean E. Whelan, David R. Parks, Michael C. Gillam, Paul Van Norman, Christopher J. Duke