Patents by Inventor Susan E. Hartfield-Wünsch

Susan E. Hartfield-Wünsch 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).

  • Crush zone and method for introducing crush zone into vehicle structure
    Patent number: 6994350
    Abstract: The present invention involves a method to produce crush zones in aluminum structures using controlled application of retrogression heat treatment. Selected areas of a tubular rail are retrogression heat treated to locally lower the tensile yield strength. As a result, during a crash event, initial deformation is localized in the crush zone enabling the crush pattern to be designed directly into the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Krajewski, Alan (Aihua) A. Luo, Susan E. Hartfield-Wünsch, Patrick J. McNamara