Patents by Inventor Xiu Juan Ma

Xiu Juan Ma 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).

  • Vehicle body to frame load absorbing structure
    Patent number: 7481485
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for transferring a side load from a vehicle body rocker structure to a vehicle body frame rail that is spaced laterally away from the rocker structure. The apparatus is an energy absorbing strut that is attached to one of the rocker structure and the frame rail and extends toward the other of the rocker structure and the frame rail and into proximity therewith but spaced therefrom. Accordingly, during normal operating conditions of the vehicle the strut carries no load, but upon side load induced excursion of the rocker structure toward the frame rail, the strut deforms and absorbs energy as it transfers the side load from the rocker structure to the frame rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiu Juan Ma, Jianrong Pan, Frank J. Daley, Adam S. Kline, Jane H. Sternemann
  • Vehicle Body to Frame Load Absorbing Structure
    Publication number: 20080106119
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for transferring a side load from a vehicle body rocker structure to a vehicle body frame rail that is spaced laterally away from the rocker structure. The apparatus is an energy absorbing strut that is attached to one of the rocker structure and the frame rail and extends toward the other of the rocker structure and the frame rail and into proximity therewith but spaced therefrom. Accordingly, during normal operating conditions of the vehicle the strut carries no load, but upon side load induced excursion of the rocker structure toward the frame rail, the strut deforms and absorbs energy as it transfers the side load from the rocker structure to the frame rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiu Juan Ma, Jianrong Pan, Frank J. Daley, Adam S. Kline, Jane H. Sternemann