Patents by Inventor Spencer A Roberts

Spencer A Roberts 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: 11091065
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat including a side bracket, a seatback, a displaceable bracket extending between the seatback and the side bracket, a pivotable seatback coupling between the displaceable bracket and the seatback, and a movement assembly operably coupling the displaceable bracket to the side bracket. The movement assembly is positionable between a design position and a fully deployed position to move the displaceable bracket between a first position and a second position, respectively, and to move the pivotable seatback coupling between a primary positon and a secondary position, respectively, wherein, when the pivotable seatback coupling is in a secondary position, the seatback is movable between a forward inclined position and a substantially flat position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Macit Aktas, Johnathan Andrew Line, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Deeptej Kudav, Keith Allen Godin
  • Patent number: 11091067
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly has a seat, a seatback and a bracket extending between the seat and the seatback with a first pivotable coupling between the bracket and the seat, a second pivotable coupling between the bracket and the seatback, and a sector gear portion with a gear assembly including a spur gear. The sector gear portion is disposed along an edge of the bracket, wherein the spur gear is rotatable to engage the sector gear portion of the bracket to move the bracket from a first position to a second position to move the second pivotable coupling from a primary position to a secondary position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Keith Allen Godin, Sean Bayle West, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Macit Aktas, Deeptej Kudav
  • Patent number: 11076697
    Abstract: A seating assembly includes a frame that has an upper portion that defines an attachment aperture and a lower portion. A bracket is coupled to the lower portion. A cable has a first end and a second end that is coupled to the bracket. The cable is operable between a support position and a compressed position. A guide-sleeve is operably coupled with the cable and is disposed within the attachment aperture of the upper portion of the frame. The guide-sleeve includes retention tabs that are operably coupled to the upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Ratan Howlader, Robert Charles Shipley, David Frederick Lyons, Sean Bayle West, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Macit Aktas, Thomas J. Susko
  • Publication number: 20210221317
    Abstract: A seatback carrier module includes first and second side portions spaced-apart from one another and interconnected by an upper portion. A cradle portion is disposed along the first and second side portions and the upper portion of the seatback carrier module. The cradle portion includes inner and outer edges with a rearwardly extending body portion. A mounting portion is disposed along a portion of the inner edge of the cradle portion. The mounting portion includes inner and outer edges with a body portion disposed therebetween. The mounting portion further includes a rearwardly extending sidewall disposed along the inner edge of the mounting portion. An airbag assembly is received within the cradle portion and has an inverted U-shaped configuration to substantially surround the outer perimeter of the seatback frame. The airbag assembly is an elongate member defining an overhead airbag assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, Johnathan Andrew Line, Alan George Dry, S. M. Akbar Berry, Derek Board, Srinivasan Sundararajan, Spencer Robert Hoernke
  • Patent number: 11059399
    Abstract: A retractable anchor assembly for a seating assembly includes an actuating arm operably coupled with a seatback and defining a guide slot. The actuating arm may be movable with the seatback. A guide plate may be coupled with a seat base and may define an arm receiving slot configured to receive the actuating arm. A support plate may be slidably coupled with the guide plate. The support plate may include a side fastener received by the guide slot of the actuating arm. An anchor may be coupled with the support plate. Movement of the actuating arm through the arm receiving slot may be configured to move the support plate and anchor between an extended positioned and a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Benjamin Yilma, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Jason Matthew Koberstein, Sean Bayle West, David Frederick Lyons
  • Publication number: 20210206299
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly has a seat, a seatback and a bracket extending between the seat and the seatback with a first pivotable coupling between the bracket and the seat, a second pivotable coupling between the bracket and the seatback, and a sector gear portion with a gear assembly including a spur gear. The sector gear portion is disposed along an edge of the bracket, wherein the spur gear is rotatable to engage the sector gear portion of the bracket to move the bracket from a first position to a second position to move the second pivotable coupling from a primary position to a secondary position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Keith Allen Godin, Sean Bayle West, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Macit Aktas, Deeptej Kudav
  • Publication number: 20210206297
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat including a side bracket, a seatback, a displaceable bracket extending between the seatback and the side bracket, a pivotable seatback coupling between the displaceable bracket and the seatback, and a movement assembly operably coupling the displaceable bracket to the side bracket. The movement assembly is positionable between a design position and a fully deployed position to move the displaceable bracket between a first position and a second position, respectively, and to move the pivotable seatback coupling between a primary positon and a secondary position, respectively, wherein, when the pivotable seatback coupling is in a secondary position, the seatback is movable between a forward inclined position and a substantially flat position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Macit Aktas, Johnathan Andrew Line, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Deeptej Kudav, Keith Allen Godin
  • Publication number: 20210187403
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a foldable material including a first portion and a second portion, the second portion at least partially surrounding the first portion; an inner connection structure; and an outer connection structure. The inner connection structure is configured to rotate relative to the outer connection structure; at least part of the first portion of the foldable material is attached to the inner connection structure and at least part of the second portion of the foldable material is attached to the outer connection structure; and the foldable material changes shape when the inner connection structure rotates relative to the outer connection structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas Marvin, Spencer Roberts
  • Publication number: 20210170931
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a leg support rotationally coupled to a seat and including a bladder assembly at least partially disposed on the leg support, and a lift mechanism disposed between the seat and the leg support, wherein the lift mechanism is configured to move the leg support between a stored position and a deployed position, and wherein the bladder assembly is inflatable between a deflated state and an inflated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Macit Aktas, Paul D. Peterson, Jimmy Moua, Joseph Michael Kish, Sean Bayle West, Deeptej Kudav
  • Publication number: 20210170916
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly comprises a lift mechanism disposed at a forward portion of a seat and a latch assembly disposed at a rearward portion of the seat and rotatably coupled to the seat. A mechanical link has a first end rotatably coupled to the forward portion of the seat and a second end rotatably coupled to the latch assembly. The vehicle seating assembly is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the latch assembly is positionable in a latched position or an unlatched position relative to a mount assembly. The mechanical link is disposed in an initial position when the seating assembly is in the first position, and the mechanical link is disposed in a final position when the seating assembly is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Macit Aktas, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Paul D. Peterson, Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish
  • Publication number: 20210175860
    Abstract: Embodiments of RF amplifiers and packaged RF amplifier devices each include an amplification path with a transistor die, and an output-side impedance matching circuit having a T-match circuit topology. The output-side impedance matching circuit includes a first inductive element (e.g., first wirebonds) connected between the transistor output terminal and a quasi RF cold point node, a second inductive element (e.g., second wirebonds) connected between the quasi RF cold point node and an output of the amplification path, and a first capacitance connected between the quasi RF cold point node and a ground reference node. The RF amplifiers and devices also include a baseband termination circuit connected to the quasi RF cold point node, which includes an envelope resistor, an envelope inductor, and an envelope capacitor coupled in series between the quasi RF cold point node and the ground reference node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey Spencer Roberts, Ning Zhu, Olivier Lembeye, Damon G. Holmes, Jeffrey Kevin Jones
  • Publication number: 20210170922
    Abstract: A lift mechanism for a vehicle seating assembly comprises a gear assembly that includes a first gear and a second gear. A mounting bracket is fixedly coupled to a vehicle and shares a common axis with the first gear, wherein the first and second gears are positionable in a fixedly coupled arrangement at an initial location relative to the mounting bracket or at a final location relative to the mounting bracket, such that, when the first and second gears are in the fixedly coupled arrangement at the initial location relative to the mounting bracket, the seating assembly is in a sitting position, and when the first and second gears are in the fixedly coupled arrangement at the final location relative to the mounting bracket, the seating assembly is in a standing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Macit Aktas, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Paul D. Peterson, Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish
  • Publication number: 20210155137
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat, a seatback, and a lower leg support. The seat includes a forward end and a rearward end. The seatback is pivotably coupled to the seat. The lower leg support includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. The lower leg support is rotatably coupled to the forward end of the seat and is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The stowed position of the lower leg support places the lower leg support in an area below the seat. The stowed position of the lower leg support forms an acute angle with the seat. A linkage assembly is coupled to an underside of the seat and the interior of the lower leg support. The linkage assembly is responsible for transitioning the lower leg support between the stowed position and the deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Carol Diane Casey, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Jimmy Moua, Brian Boland, Sean Bayle West, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Keith Allen Godin
  • Patent number: 11014479
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a frame, a front closeout panel supported on the frame and an articulating flexmat assembly operably coupled with at least one of the front closeout panel and the frame. The articulating flexmat assembly includes an upper flexmat extending from a first side of the frame to a second side of the frame. The upper flexmat includes an upper cable coupled with the upper flexmat and an upper cable regulating motor operably coupled with the upper cable. The articulating flexmat assembly also includes a lower flexmat extending from the first side of the frame to the second side of the frame. The lower flexmat includes a lower cable coupled with the lower flexmat and a lower cable regulating motor operably coupled with the lower cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Carol Casey, Robert Damerow, Andrew Bernard Matusko, Spencer Robert Hoernke, S. M. Akbar Berry, Daniel Ferretti, Steven Carnago
  • Patent number: 11001218
    Abstract: A seatback carrier module includes first and second side portions spaced-apart from one another and interconnected by an upper portion. A cradle portion is disposed along the first and second side portions and the upper portion of the seatback carrier module. The cradle portion includes inner and outer edges with a rearwardly extending body portion. A mounting portion is disposed along a portion of the inner edge of the cradle portion. The mounting portion includes inner and outer edges with a body portion disposed therebetween. The mounting portion further includes a rearwardly extending sidewall disposed along the inner edge of the mounting portion. An airbag assembly is received within the cradle portion and has an inverted U-shaped configuration to substantially surround the outer perimeter of the seatback frame. The airbag assembly is an elongate member defining an overhead airbag assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, Johnathan Andrew Line, Alan George Dry, S. M. Akbar Berry, Derek Board, Srinivasan Sundararajan, Spencer Robert Hoernke
  • Publication number: 20210129723
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a frame, a front closeout panel supported on the frame and an articulating flexmat assembly operably coupled with at least one of the front closeout panel and the frame. The articulating flexmat assembly includes an upper flexmat extending from a first side of the frame to a second side of the frame. The upper flexmat includes an upper cable coupled with the upper flexmat and an upper cable regulating motor operably coupled with the upper cable. The articulating flexmat assembly also includes a lower flexmat extending from the first side of the frame to the second side of the frame. The lower flexmat includes a lower cable coupled with the lower flexmat and a lower cable regulating motor operably coupled with the lower cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Carol Casey, Robert Damerow, Andrew Bernard Matusko, Spencer Robert Hoernke, S.M. Akbar Berry, Daniel Ferretti, Steven Carnago
  • Publication number: 20210126593
    Abstract: A radio frequency amplifier includes a transistor, an input impedance matching circuit (e.g., a single-section T-match circuit or a multiple-section bandpass circuit), and a fractional harmonic resonator circuit. The input impedance matching circuit is coupled between an amplification path input and a transistor input terminal. An input of the fractional harmonic resonator circuit is coupled to the amplification path input, and an output of fractional harmonic resonator circuit is coupled to the transistor input terminal. The fractional harmonic resonator circuit is configured to resonate at a resonant frequency that is between a fundamental frequency of operation of the RF amplifier and a second harmonic of the fundamental frequency. According to a further embodiment, the fractional harmonic resonator circuit resonates at a fraction, x, of the fundamental frequency, wherein the fraction is between about 1.25 and about 1.9 (e.g., x?1.5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey Spencer Roberts, Ning Zhu, Damon g. Holmes, Jeffrey Kevin Jones
  • Patent number: 10989242
    Abstract: A seating assembly for a vehicle comprises: a cushion comprising an outer edge and a plurality of snap-fit-fasteners; and a carrier comprising an outer edge surface and a plurality of snap-fit receivers near the outer edge surface of the carrier arranged to receive the plurality of snap-fit fasteners; wherein the plurality of snap-fit receivers have received and are retaining the plurality of snap-fit fasteners such that the cushion is interconnected with the carrier; and wherein the plurality of snap-fit fasteners and plurality of receivers are arranged to prevent the edge of the cushion from rolling up. The cushion further comprises a lip having an inward facing surface; wherein the cushion at least partially surrounds the carrier with at least a portion of the inward facing surface of the lip facing the outer edge surface of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Christian J. Hosbach, Corbin Shea Johnston, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Kevin Mozurkewich, Andrew Matusko, Brian M. Thiel
  • Patent number: 10974626
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seatback having an interior portion and a seat portion having an interior portion. A belt member includes first and second ends and a deployable portion disposed therebetween. The deployable portion is operable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The deployable portion of the belt member is disposed within the interior portion of the seatback and the interior portion of the seat portion when the deployable portion is in the stowed position. The deployable portion of the belt member is disposed outside of the interior portion of the seatback and outside of the interior portion of the seat portion when the deployable portion is in the deployed position. One or more retractor mechanisms are operably coupled to the belt member and operative to retract a portion of the deployable portion of the belt member after or during deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Yilma, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Johnathan Andrew Line, Sean Bayle West, Edward Joseph DeSmet, William Jerome Olsen, S. M. Akbar Berry
  • Patent number: 10967765
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback with a frame assembly having first and second portions. A primary structure extends between the first and second portions and defines a seating surface. A secondary structure extends between the first and second portions. A retractor mechanism is disposed on one of the first and second portions and is selectively positionable in an unlocked, a locked, or a pre-tensioned position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Spencer Robert Hoernke, Johnathan Andrew Line, Scott Holmes Dunham, Jimmy Moua