Patents by Inventor Todd John Mueller

Todd John Mueller 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: 11117627
    Abstract: This disclosure details overmolded vehicle sheet metal structures that included integrated attachments for achieving part integration. An exemplary sheet metal structure includes a sheet metal panel, a reinforcing structure molded on the sheet metal panel, and an integrally molded attachment structure formed within the reinforcing structure. In some embodiments, the integrally molded attachment structure may include a nut, a bracket, or both. An additional vehicle component may be attached to the sheet metal panel via the integrally molded attachment structure. The sheet metal structure may be formed in a single shot injection molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Andrew Pleet, Jason Scott Balzer, Todd John Mueller, Rohit Telukunta
  • Publication number: 20210171103
    Abstract: This disclosure details overmolded vehicle sheet metal structures that included integrated attachments for achieving part integration. An exemplary sheet metal structure includes a sheet metal panel, a reinforcing structure molded on the sheet metal panel, and an integrally molded attachment structure formed within the reinforcing structure. In some embodiments, the integrally molded attachment structure may include a nut, a bracket, or both. An additional vehicle component may be attached to the sheet metal panel via the integrally molded attachment structure. The sheet metal structure may be formed in a single shot injection molding process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Edward Andrew PLEET, Jason Scott BALZER, Todd John MUELLER, Rohit TELUKUNTA
  • Patent number: 10556534
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for transporting cargo over a cargo bed. The apparatus includes a first rail, having a first key and a second key, and a first track member including (a) a first keyway having a first end and a second end, (b) a second keyway axially aligned with the first end and (c) a third keyway axially aligned with the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Todd John Mueller
  • Patent number: 10549700
    Abstract: An accessory support for a vehicle cargo area includes a guide assembly adapted to provide vertical and lateral adjustability and at least one support member slidably carried by the guide assembly. The guide assembly includes a first pair of guide rails each including one or more vehicle z-axis oriented guide channels and a second pair of guide rails each including one or more vehicle y-axis oriented guide channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonatan Leff Yaffe, Carlos Emilio Merino, Todd John Mueller, Pedro Montoya, Luis Manuel Garcia
  • Publication number: 20180236944
    Abstract: An accessory support for a vehicle cargo area includes a guide assembly adapted to provide vertical and lateral adjustability and at least one support member slidably carried by the guide assembly. The guide assembly includes a first pair of guide rails each including one or more vehicle z-axis oriented guide channels and a second pair of guide rails each including one or more vehicle y-axis oriented guide channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Jonatan Leff Yaffe, Carlos Emilio Merino, Todd John Mueller, Pedro Montoya, Luis Manuel Garcia
  • Patent number: 9975580
    Abstract: A vehicle body assembly may include a header, a roof rail, and a gusset component. The header may define a lateral axis extending across a vehicle body. The roof rail may define a longitudinal axis extending fore/aft along the vehicle body. The gusset component is for securing the header and roof rail to one another and includes an edge extending diagonally between the header and the roof rail to reinforce a vehicle body corner joint. The edge may extend diagonally from the header to the roof rail at an angle between thirty and sixty degrees relative to the lateral axis and the longitudinal axis. The edge may define an edge axis oriented at substantially forty-five degrees relative to the lateral axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jaspinder S. Sahi, Todd John Mueller, Ye Angela Chen, Di Wu
  • Publication number: 20180111542
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for transporting cargo over a cargo bed. The apparatus includes a first rail, having a first key and a second key, and a first track member including (a) a first keyway having a first end and a second end, (b) a second keyway axially aligned with the first end and (c) a third keyway axially aligned with the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventor: Todd John Mueller