Patents by Inventor Thomas William Pietila

Thomas William Pietila 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: 10421379
    Abstract: An armrest for a vehicle includes an armrest element and a floating support assembly configured for selectively pivoting the armrest element in a vehicle-fore and -aft motion. The floating support assembly includes at least one vertically translatable support arm pivotally attached to the armrest element. The at least one vertically translatable support arm may be operatively supported by a resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Ligi, Scott Simon, Thomas William Pietila, Chad M. Bross
  • Publication number: 20170282760
    Abstract: An armrest for a vehicle includes an armrest element and a floating support assembly configured for selectively pivoting the armrest element in a vehicle-fore and -aft motion. The floating support assembly includes at least one vertically translatable support arm pivotally attached to the armrest element. The at least one vertically translatable support arm may be operatively supported by a resilient member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Anthony Ligi, Scott Simon, Thomas William Pietila, Chad M. Bross
  • Patent number: 9093773
    Abstract: An electrical socket cap includes a tether between the cap and an electrical socket, wherein the tether provides power to the cap. The cap is adapted to close an opening to the electrical socket in a closed position, and further adapted to allow access to the electrical socket in an open position. The cap further includes inner and outer surface which include one or more electrical ports disposed thereon. Electrical ports disposed on the inner surface are not accessible when the cap is in the closed position, while ports disposed on the outer surface of the cap are accessible when the cap is in the closed position. Electrical ports disposed on the inner surface are accessible when the cap is in the open position while the electrical socket is also accessible. The tether is electronically coupled to the electrical socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas William Pietila, Scott Simon, Anthony Ligi, Andrew Schafer
  • Publication number: 20150171542
    Abstract: An electrical socket cap includes a tether between the cap and an electrical socket, wherein the tether provides power to the cap. The cap is adapted to close an opening to the electrical socket in a closed position, and further adapted to allow access to the electrical socket in an open position. The cap further includes inner and outer surface which include one or more electrical ports disposed thereon. Electrical ports disposed on the inner surface are not accessible when the cap is in the closed position, while ports disposed on the outer surface of the cap are accessible when the cap is in the closed position. Electrical ports disposed on the inner surface are accessible when the cap is in the open position while the electrical socket is also accessible. The tether is electronically coupled to the electrical socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas William Pietila, Scott Simon, Anthony Ligi, Andrew Schafer
  • Patent number: 8511733
    Abstract: A panel end cap storage unit is disposed on an instrument panel end cap adjacent a vehicle door and is configured such that the unit is not accessible when the vehicle door is closed. In this way, the present invention provides a nonvisible secure storage unit that is only accessible when the adjacent vehicle door is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kathleen Blackmore, Thomas William Pietila, Anthony Ligi, Bhavani Thota
  • Publication number: 20130057012
    Abstract: The present invention provides a panel end cap storage unit that is disposed on an instrument panel end cap adjacent a vehicle door and is configured such that the unit is not accessible when the vehicle door is closed. In this way, the present invention provides a nonvisible secure storage unit that is only accessible when the adjacent vehicle door is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kathleen Blackmore, Thomas William Pietila, Anthony Ligi, Bhavani Thota