Patents by Inventor Tom Thanh Ngo

Tom Thanh Ngo 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: 10994660
    Abstract: A tailgate assembly includes, among other things, a tailgate coupled to a vehicle body, and a step moveable from a stowed position where the step is held within a chamber of the tailgate to a step position where the step provides a step surface to a vehicle cargo bed. A method includes, among other things, moving a step from a stowed position where the step is held within a chamber of a tailgate to a step position where the step provides a step surface to a vehicle cargo bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Tom Thanh Ngo
  • Patent number: 10787128
    Abstract: A cargo management system includes a guideway and a panel displaceable between a plurality of operating positions along that guideway. The guideway includes opposed guide tracks. Each of the opposed guide tracks includes an inclined trunk and a plurality of branches extending from that inclined trunk. The panel includes opposed pivot pins received in the opposed guide tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Tom Thanh Ngo
  • Publication number: 20200101902
    Abstract: A cargo management system includes a guideway and a panel displaceable between a plurality of operating positions along that guideway. The guideway includes opposed guide tracks. Each of the opposed guide tracks includes an inclined trunk and a plurality of branches extending from that inclined trunk. The panel includes opposed pivot pins received in the opposed guide tracks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Tom Thanh Ngo
  • Publication number: 20190389388
    Abstract: A tailgate assembly includes, among other things, a tailgate coupled to a vehicle body, and a step moveable from a stowed position where the step is held within a chamber of the tailgate to a step position where the step provides a step surface to a vehicle cargo bed. A method includes, among other things, moving a step from a stowed position where the step is held within a chamber of a tailgate to a step position where the step provides a step surface to a vehicle cargo bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventor: Tom Thanh Ngo
  • Patent number: 10246137
    Abstract: An exemplary tailgate assembly includes, among other things, a first gate pivotably coupled to a vehicle body, and a second gate pivotably coupled to the first gate. The second gate has an inner surface that faces a vehicle cargo bed when the second gate is in a closed position. The first and second gates are moveable to a step position where the inner surface is a step surface to the vehicle cargo bed. An exemplary method includes, among other things, pivoting a first and a second gate to a step position where an inner surface of the second gate is a step surface to a vehicle cargo bed. The inner surface faces the vehicle cargo bed when the second gate is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Tom Thanh Ngo
  • Publication number: 20190054961
    Abstract: An exemplary tailgate assembly includes, among other things, a first gate pivotably coupled to a vehicle body, and a second gate pivotably coupled to the first gate. The second gate has an inner surface that faces a vehicle cargo bed when the second gate is in a closed position. The first and second gates are moveable to a step position where the inner surface is a step surface to the vehicle cargo bed. An exemplary method includes, among other things, pivoting a first and a second gate to a step position where an inner surface of the second gate is a step surface to a vehicle cargo bed. The inner surface faces the vehicle cargo bed when the second gate is in a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventor: Tom Thanh Ngo
  • Patent number: 10081303
    Abstract: An apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a rail assembly supported by a vehicle body, a tailgate coupled to the rail assembly and configured to slide on rails to an extended position relative to the vehicle body, and a pivot associated with the rails to allow the tailgate to pivot downwardly from the extended position to provide a step. A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, sliding a tailgate to an extended position relative to a vehicle body and selectively pivoting the tailgate between a closed position, a tailgate deployed position, and a step position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tom Thanh Ngo, Martin Countegan
  • Patent number: 9963019
    Abstract: An extended-range sun visor assembly includes a rail and a sun visor panel. The sun visor panel is releasably mounted to the rail at an inboard sun visor panel end and slidably mounted to the rail at an outboard sun visor panel end. The rail may be fixed at opposite ends thereof to a vehicle roof panel and/or headliner. The sun visor panel is releasably mounted at the inboard end by a snap fit retainer, and slidably mounted at the outboard end by a shaft coupler configured to slide along a longitudinal axis of the rail. The shaft coupler pivots or swivels around a shaft coupler vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Tom Thanh Ngo
  • Publication number: 20170326953
    Abstract: An extended-range sun visor assembly includes a rail and a sun visor panel. The sun visor panel is releasably mounted to the rail at an inboard sun visor panel end and slidably mounted to the rail at an outboard sun visor panel end. The rail may be fixed at opposite ends thereof to a vehicle roof panel and/or headliner. The sun visor panel is releasably mounted at the inboard end by a snap fit retainer, and slidably mounted at the outboard end by a shaft coupler configured to slide along a longitudinal axis of the rail. The shaft coupler pivots or swivels around a shaft coupler vertical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventor: Tom Thanh Ngo