Patents by Inventor William Moore Sherwood

William Moore Sherwood 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).

  • Publication number: 20220097501
    Abstract: An exemplary motor vehicle includes a first door on a first side of the motor vehicle including a first pad adjacent a rear edge of the first door, and a second door on the first side of the motor vehicle including a second pad adjacent a front edge of the second door. Further, the first pad and second pad are arranged such that, in a first condition, the first pad and second pad are spaced-apart from one another and, in a second condition, the first pad and second pad contact one another to prevent overlap of the first door and second door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Yishak Habtemichael, Jeffrey Comfort, William Moore Sherwood, Steven Angus
  • Patent number: 11207958
    Abstract: An exemplary motor vehicle includes a first door on a first side of the motor vehicle including a first pad adjacent a rear edge of the first door, and a second door on the first side of the motor vehicle including a second pad adjacent a front edge of the second door. Further, the first pad and second pad are arranged such that, in a first condition, the first pad and second pad are spaced-apart from one another and, in a second condition, the first pad and second pad contact one another to prevent overlap of the first door and second door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yishak Habtemichael, Jeffrey Comfort, William Moore Sherwood, Steven Angus
  • Publication number: 20210031601
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle with a door arrangement configured to prevent overlap of the doors, and a corresponding method. An exemplary motor vehicle includes a first door on a first side of the motor vehicle including a first pad adjacent a rear edge of the first door, and a second door on the first side of the motor vehicle including a second pad adjacent a front edge of the second door. Further, the first pad and second pad are arranged such that, in a first condition, the first pad and second pad are spaced-apart from one another and, in a second condition, the first pad and second pad contact one another to prevent overlap of the first door and second door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Yishak Habtemichael, Jeffrey Comfort, William Moore Sherwood, Steven Angus
  • Patent number: 10227056
    Abstract: A test apparatus includes a linear-motion generator, an airbag, a plate, an anthropomorphic test device, a crushable member, and a guide bar. The linear-motion generator is deployable in a deployment direction. The airbag is spaced from the linear-motion generator and inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position. The plate and the anthropomorphic test device are movable together by the linear-motion generator. The crushable member is fixed relative to the airbag in the uninflated position and disposed in the deployment direction from the plate. The guide bar has an end fixed relative to the airbag in the uninflated position and is positioned to intersect the airbag in the inflated position. The test apparatus has a beltline bar that is elongated along an axis transverse to the deployment direction, adjacent the airbag in the uninflated position, and spaced farther from the linear-motion generator than the airbag in the inflated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: William Moore Sherwood, Nitesh Chandrakant Jadhav, Harikrishna Devaraj, Jeffrey Berliner, Tyler Glenn, Kevin Berington Johnson
  • Patent number: 10155542
    Abstract: A rocker assembly, or an elongated beam, for a vehicle that includes an outer panel, a side sill and an insert disposed in a cavity. The insert includes a plurality of layers of reinforcements made up of hexagonal cells having interconnected walls defining a plurality of transversely extending open cells that define openings extending perpendicularly relative to the length of the rocker assembly. The plurality of layers of reinforcements may further comprise a first layer of cells assembled to the outer panel, a second layer of cells assembled to the side sill and a third layer of cells disposed between the first and second layers of cells. A wall thickness and bending strength of one of the plurality of layers of reinforcements is different than a wall thickness and bending strength of another of the plurality of layers of reinforcements. The insert is structured to deform progressively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zhenyan Gao, Shaikh Akhlaque-e-rasul, Cheng Luo, William Moore Sherwood
  • Publication number: 20180281721
    Abstract: A rollover mitigation device for a motor vehicle comprises a frame mounted to a roof assembly within which is disposed a transversely mounted deployable rollover protector shaft. The frame comprises a pair of lateral mounting rails mounted to the roof assembly and a tubular cross member extending between the pair of lateral mounting rails. The deployable rollover protector shaft is substantially disposed within the tubular cross member when in the stowed position and is actuated from the stowed position to a locked deployed position by a spring disposed within the tubular cross member. A controller actuates a release lock to release the deployable rollover protector shaft to the deployed position upon a sensor detecting a roll angle of the motor vehicle exceeding a predetermined value. A deployment lock restrains the deployable rollover protector shaft in the deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: SHAIKH AKHLAQUE-E-RASUL, ZHENYAN GAO, WILLIAM MOORE SHERWOOD
  • Patent number: 10086787
    Abstract: A rollover mitigation device for a motor vehicle comprises a frame mounted to a roof assembly within which is disposed a transversely mounted deployable rollover protector shaft. The frame comprises a pair of lateral mounting rails mounted to the roof assembly and a tubular cross member extending between the pair of lateral mounting rails. The deployable rollover protector shaft is substantially disposed within the tubular cross member when in the stowed position and is actuated from the stowed position to a locked deployed position by a spring disposed within the tubular cross member. A controller actuates a release lock to release the deployable rollover protector shaft to the deployed position upon a sensor detecting a roll angle of the motor vehicle exceeding a predetermined value. A deployment lock restrains the deployable rollover protector shaft in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shaikh Akhlaque-e-rasul, Zhenyan Gao, William Moore Sherwood
  • Patent number: 10029734
    Abstract: An elongated beam, or rocker assembly, is disclosed that includes a first panel and a second panel attached to the first panel to define a cavity. A reinforcement is disposed in the cavity that includes a first tubular member adhesively connected to the first panel inside the cavity and a pair of tubular members are connected with an adhesive to the second panel, to each other, and the first tubular member. The tubular members are arranged in a triangular array within the cavity and extend along the length of the elongated beam. The wall thickness and bending strength of the tubular members are selected to provide an insert that collapses preferentially with the outer tubular member of the insert collapsing before the inner tubular members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shaikh Akhlaque-e-rasul, Zhenyan Gao, Cheng Luo, William Moore Sherwood
  • Patent number: 9975578
    Abstract: A structural member for a vehicle includes an outer panel defining a U-shaped channel. The outer panel is formed from a first material. The structural member further includes a reinforcement panel defining a U-shaped channel. The reinforcement panel is formed from a second material different than the first material and is formed to attach to the outer panel. The structural member also includes an inner panel defining a U-shaped channel. The inner panel is formed from a third material different than the first and second materials and is formed to attach to the reinforcement panel such that the outer panel, reinforcement panel, and the inner panel are oriented along an axis and span an entire length of each of the U-shaped channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shaikh Akhlaque-E-Rasul, William Moore Sherwood, Zhenyan Gao, Cheng Luo
  • Patent number: 9950594
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a door and an impact absorbing structure. The door has an interior panel. The impact absorbing structure is secured to an inner surface of the interior panel. The impact absorbing structure has a centrally located hub and a plurality of spokes extending radially outward from the hub toward a peripheral boundary of the interior panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shaikh Akhlaque-E-Rasul, Nitesh Chandrakant Jadhav, William Moore Sherwood
  • Publication number: 20180072260
    Abstract: A test apparatus includes a linear-motion generator, an airbag, a plate, an anthropomorphic test device, a crushable member, and a guide bar. The linear-motion generator is deployable in a deployment direction. The airbag is spaced from the linear-motion generator and inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position. The plate and the anthropomorphic test device are movable together by the linear-motion generator. The crushable member is fixed relative to the airbag in the uninflated position and disposed in the deployment direction from the plate. The guide bar has an end fixed relative to the airbag in the uninflated position and is positioned to intersect the airbag in the inflated position. The test apparatus has a beltline bar that is elongated along an axis transverse to the deployment direction, adjacent the airbag in the uninflated position, and spaced farther from the linear-motion generator than the airbag in the inflated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Moore Sherwood, Nitesh Chandrakant Jadhav, Harikrishna Devaraj, Jeffrey Berliner, Tyler Glenn, Kevin Berington Johnson
  • Publication number: 20170349216
    Abstract: A structural member for a vehicle includes an outer panel defining a U-shaped channel. The outer panel is formed from a first material. The structural member further includes a reinforcement panel defining a U-shaped channel. The reinforcement panel is formed from a second material different than the first material and is formed to attach to the outer panel. The structural member also includes an inner panel defining a U-shaped channel. The inner panel is formed from a third material different than the first and second materials and is formed to attach to the reinforcement panel such that the outer panel, reinforcement panel, and the inner panel are oriented along an axis and span an entire length of each of the U-shaped channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Shaikh AKHLAQUE-E-RASUL, William Moore SHERWOOD, Zhenyan GAO, Cheng LUO
  • Publication number: 20170210426
    Abstract: A rocker assembly, or an elongated beam, for a vehicle that includes an outer panel, a side sill and an insert disposed in a cavity. The insert includes a plurality of layers of reinforcements made up of hexagonal cells having interconnected walls defining a plurality of transversely extending open cells that define openings extending perpendicularly relative to the length of the rocker assembly. The plurality of layers of reinforcements may further comprise a first layer of cells assembled to the outer panel, a second layer of cells assembled to the side sill and a third layer of cells disposed between the first and second layers of cells. A wall thickness and bending strength of one of the plurality of layers of reinforcements is different than a wall thickness and bending strength of another of the plurality of layers of reinforcements. The insert is structured to deform progressively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Zhenyan Gao, Shaikh Akhlaque-e-rasul, Cheng Luo, William Moore Sherwood
  • Publication number: 20170210427
    Abstract: An elongated beam, or rocker assembly, is disclosed that includes a first panel and a second panel attached to the first panel to define a cavity. A reinforcement is disposed in the cavity that includes a first tubular member adhesively connected to the first panel inside the cavity and a pair of tubular members are connected with an adhesive to the second panel, to each other, and the first tubular member. The tubular members are arranged in a triangular array within the cavity and extend along the length of the elongated beam. The wall thickness and bending strength of the tubular members are selected to provide an insert that collapses preferentially with the outer tubular member of the insert collapsing before the inner tubular members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Shaikh Akhlaque-e-rasul, Zhenyan Gao, Cheng Luo, William Moore Sherwood
  • Patent number: 9550447
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes a front end module, an upper panel, and a fender covering the upper panel. The vehicle assembly also includes a housing, mounted to the front end module, having a first contour, and a bracket, having a second contour complementary with the first contour, attached with the housing. The bracket generally maintains a position of the headlamp assembly relative to the upper panel during a RCAR Low Speed Structural Crash Test Protocol (Issue 2.2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mustafa Ahmed, Ian Dupret, Thejaswi Prabhakar, William Moore Sherwood, Sara E. Veyo, Ray Hari Manala Rethinam
  • Patent number: 9499205
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel tank, a battery, a first exoskeleton, and a second exoskeleton. The fuel tank and the battery straddle a driveline and are each disposed below a seating area. The first exoskeleton has a first pair of rails secured to each other by a first cross member. The second exoskeleton has a second pair of rails secured to each other by a second cross member. The first and second exoskeletons surround the fuel tank and battery, respectively, and are configured to absorb energy during an impact to protect the fuel tank and battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Elia, Justin I. Thakolkaran, Corey John Jarocki, William Moore Sherwood, John Patrick Doyle, II
  • Publication number: 20150353002
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes a front end module, an upper panel, and a fender covering the upper panel. The vehicle assembly also includes a housing, mounted to the front end module, having a first contour, and a bracket, having a second contour complementary with the first contour, attached with the housing. The bracket generally maintains a position of the headlamp assembly relative to the upper panel during a RCAR Low Speed Structural Crash Test Protocol (Issue 2.2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Mustafa AHMED, Ian DUPRET, Thejaswi PRABHAKAR, William Moore SHERWOOD, Sara E. VEYO, Ray Hari Manala RETHINAM
  • Patent number: 8702126
    Abstract: A pencil brace is incorporated into a cross car assembly of an automotive vehicle as a secondary energy absorption device to assist in managing the energy and controlling the column stroke due to a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn Grayson Gloden, Sarah Beth Certeza, Alvin Matti, Daniel Blaine Bollinger, Leonard Anthony Shaner, William Moore Sherwood
  • Publication number: 20130207370
    Abstract: A pencil brace is incorporated into a cross car assembly of an automotive vehicle as a secondary energy absorption device to assist in managing the energy and controlling the column stroke due to a collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn Grayson Gloden, Sarah Beth Certeza, Alvin Matti, Daniel Blaine Bollinger, Leonard Anthony Shaner, William Moore Sherwood
  • Patent number: 6830287
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rear impact absorption system for a motor vehicle. The rear impact absorption system includes a rear body assembly including longitudinally extending rear rails including first and second portions having first and second respective heights relative to a generally horizontal plane, the first height being greater than the second height. The invention further provides a neutralizing member connectable to bridge the first and second heights of each rear rail so as to minimize the effect of a moment arm created by the first and second heights during a rear impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peyman Aghssa, John Jude Fusco, William Moore Sherwood, Martin Wedel