Patents by Inventor William S. Gulker

William S. Gulker 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: 11535090
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mitigating wind throb in vehicles are disclosed herein. An example method includes detecting wind throb in a cabin of a vehicle due to opening of a first window of the vehicle, determining when a seat that is adjacent to a second window of the vehicle is unoccupied, opening the second window when the seat is determined to be unoccupied so as to compensate for the wind throb, determining that the first window has been closed, and closing the second window in response to closing of the first window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Dean, Richard A. Kreder, William S. Gulker, Chris Murray, Ibaa Al hayek, Newton A. G. Filho
  • Publication number: 20220032746
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mitigating wind throb in vehicles are disclosed herein. An example method includes detecting wind throb in a cabin of a vehicle due to opening of a first window of the vehicle, determining when a seat that is adjacent to a second window of the vehicle is unoccupied, opening the second window when the seat is determined to be unoccupied so as to compensate for the wind throb, determining that the first window has been closed, and closing the second window in response to closing of the first window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Dean, Richard A. Kreder, William S. Gulker, Chris Murray, Ibaa Al hayek, Newton A.G. Filho
  • Patent number: 11084543
    Abstract: An apparatus and method, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a composite material selectively movable between an inactive position and an active position, and a control to apply a voltage to the composite material in response to a vehicle panel moving from a closed position to an open position to move the composite material to the active position to mitigate wind throb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Howard, Robert Lietz, John Romig, Lawren Gamble, Daniel Inman, William S. Gulker, Artem Poliakov
  • Patent number: 10597088
    Abstract: An apparatus is for use with a pillar adjacent to a vehicle window, such as a windshield. The apparatus includes a molding for positioning adjacent to the pillar, the molding forming a channel in a deployed condition for receiving moisture from the vehicle windshield, or for reducing the effects of wind throb when a single vehicle window is open. An actuator may be associated with the molding for activating a non-deployed condition of the molding for reducing the effects of wind noise. The molding may include a passage for receiving an airflow and transmitting it to an outlet for directing fluid away from the molding, the pillar and adjacent side window. In the deployed condition, the molding may project from a surface of the pillar and in the non-deployed condition may be substantially flush with the surface of the pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William S Gulker, Jonathan B Barnes, Travis S Garland, Mark George Vojtisek, Jamal Kanso, Douglas Richard Olson
  • Patent number: 10487562
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for determining and mitigating wind throb caused by an open vehicle window. An example vehicle includes a plurality of windows corresponding to a plurality of seats having respective occupancy sensors, a microphone, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine that a first window is open, determine, based on microphone data, that a sound pressure level is above a threshold level, and responsively open a second window selected based on occupancy data determined by the occupancy sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Wheeler, William S. Gulker
  • Publication number: 20190276097
    Abstract: An apparatus and method, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a composite material selectively movable between an inactive position and an active position, and a control to apply a voltage to the composite material in response to a vehicle panel moving from a closed position to an open position to move the composite material to the active position to mitigate wind throb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin Howard, Robert Lietz, John Romig, Lawren Gamble, Daniel Inman, William S. Gulker, Artem Poliakov
  • Publication number: 20190193791
    Abstract: An apparatus is for use with a pillar adjacent to a vehicle window, such as a windshield. The apparatus includes a molding for positioning adjacent to the pillar, the molding forming a channel in a deployed condition for receiving moisture from the vehicle windshield, or for reducing the effects of wind throb when a single vehicle window is open. An actuator may be associated with the molding for activating a non-deployed condition of the molding for reducing the effects of wind noise. The molding may include a passage for receiving an airflow and transmitting it to an outlet for directing fluid away from the molding, the pillar and adjacent side window. In the deployed condition, the molding may project from a surface of the pillar and in the non-deployed condition may be substantially flush with the surface of the pillar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: William S. Gulker, Jonathan B. Barnes, Travis S. Garland, Mark George Vojtisek, Jamal Kanso, Douglas Richard Olson
  • Publication number: 20190112861
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for determining and mitigating wind throb caused by an open vehicle window. An example vehicle includes a plurality of windows corresponding to a plurality of seats having respective occupancy sensors, a microphone, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine that a first window is open, determine, based on microphone data, that a sound pressure level is above a threshold level, and responsively open a second window selected based on occupancy data determined by the occupancy sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Joshua Wheeler, William S. Gulker
  • Patent number: 10259505
    Abstract: An apparatus is for use with a pillar adjacent to a vehicle window, such as a windshield. The apparatus includes a molding for positioning adjacent to the pillar, the molding forming a channel in a deployed condition for receiving moisture from the vehicle windshield, or for reducing the effects of wind throb when a single vehicle window is open. An actuator may be associated with the molding for activating a non-deployed condition of the molding for reducing the effects of wind noise. The molding may include a passage for receiving an airflow and transmitting it to an outlet for directing fluid away from the molding, the pillar and adjacent side window. In the deployed condition, the molding may project from a surface of the pillar and in the non-deployed condition may be substantially flush with the surface of the pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William S Gulker, Jonathan B Barnes, Travis S Garland, Mark George Vojtisek, Jamal Kanso, Douglas Richard Olson
  • Patent number: 10173510
    Abstract: An apparatus is for use with a pillar adjacent to a vehicle window, such as a windshield. The apparatus includes a molding for positioning adjacent to the pillar, the molding forming a channel in a deployed condition for receiving moisture from the vehicle windshield, or for reducing the effects of wind throb when a single vehicle window is open. An actuator may be associated with the molding for activating a non-deployed condition of the molding for reducing the effects of wind noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark George Vojtisek, Douglas Richard Olson, Jamal Kanso, William S Gulker, Jonathan B Barnes, Travis S Garland
  • Publication number: 20180056766
    Abstract: An apparatus is for use with a pillar adjacent to a vehicle window, such as a windshield. The apparatus includes a molding for positioning adjacent to the pillar, the molding forming a channel in a deployed condition for receiving moisture from the vehicle windshield, or for reducing the effects of wind throb when a single vehicle window is open. An actuator may be associated with the molding for activating a non-deployed condition of the molding for reducing the effects of wind noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Mark George Vojtisek, Douglas Richard Olson, Jamal Kanso, William S. Gulker, Jonathan B. Barnes, Travis S. Garland
  • Publication number: 20180057065
    Abstract: An apparatus is for use with a pillar adjacent to a vehicle window, such as a windshield. The apparatus includes a molding for positioning adjacent to the pillar, the molding forming a channel in a deployed condition for receiving moisture from the vehicle windshield, or for reducing the effects of wind throb when a single vehicle window is open. An actuator may be associated with the molding for activating a non-deployed condition of the molding for reducing the effects of wind noise. The molding may include a passage for receiving an airflow and transmitting it to an outlet for directing fluid away from the molding, the pillar and adjacent side window. In the deployed condition, the molding may project from a surface of the pillar and in the non-deployed condition may be substantially flush with the surface of the pillar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: William S. Gulker, Jonathan B. Barnes, Travis S. Garland, Mark George Vojtisek, Jamal Kanso, Douglas Richard Olson
  • Patent number: 8333423
    Abstract: A false division bar assembly for minimizing wind noise generated during movement of a vehicle including a retractable rear window. The assembly includes a division bar mountable in a vehicle rear door window opening to create at least two air passages on opposite sides of the division bar within the vehicle rear door window opening, to thereby minimize wind noise generated during movement of the vehicle when the vehicle front windows are closed with the vehicle rear windows being opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William S. Gulker, Steven C. Dworack, Scott D. Conn, Artem Poliakov
  • Publication number: 20090121517
    Abstract: A false division bar assembly for minimizing wind noise generated during movement of a vehicle including a retractable rear window. The assembly includes a division bar mountable in a vehicle rear door window opening to create at least two air passages on opposite sides of the division bar within the vehicle rear door window opening, to thereby minimize wind noise generated during movement of the vehicle when the vehicle front windows are closed with the vehicle rear windows being opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: William S. Gulker, Steven C. Dworack, Scott D. Conn, Artem Poliakov