Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Kevin VanNieulande

John Wayne Jaranson

Patrick Maloney

Johnathan Andrew Line

Daniel Ferretti

Grant A Compton

Kendrick Alden Harper

Sangram Laxman Tamhankar

Christian J Hosbach

Victoria Leigh Schein

Marcos Silva Kondrad

Siddharthan Selvasekar

Marc Silva Kondrad

Vishal Vinayak Nageshkar

Chris Fredriksson

Kevin Wayne Preuss

Raj Sohmshetty

Joseph Michael Kish

Michael Kolich

Kevin Mozurkewich

Michael Steven Medoro

Andres Almeida Senatore

Alex Perkins

Lorne Joseph Lovelace

Michael Musa Azzouz

Adam Michael Sachs

Rick H Wykoff

Harry X Zhong

Jonathan Weiler

Jeremy John Malick

A headrest assembly includes a lattice matrix having a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) cells. Each 3D cell of includes a node and a plurality of links outwardly extending from the node. The lattice matrix includes a plurality of sections including a first section having a first overall elastic modulus, a second section positioned adjacent to the first section and having a second overall elastic modulus that is higher than the first overall elastic modulus of the first section, and a third section positioned adjacent to the second section and having a third overall elastic modulus that is higher than the second overall elastic modulus of the second section. The lattice matrix is integrally constructed using an additive manufacturing technique, wherein the 3D cells of each section are provided in various patterns and cured to varying degrees to provide the varying overall elastic moduli of each section of the lattice matrix.

Additively manufactured trim article

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat, a front leg, a seatback, and a lower leg support. The seat includes a forward end and a rearward end. The seat is configured to be coupled to a support surface. The front leg engages with the support surface. The seatback is rotatably coupled to the seat proximate the rearward end. The lower leg support is directly and rotatably coupled to the seat proximate the forward end. The lower leg support is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The vehicle seating assembly is movable between a seated position and a reclined-and-raised position. Moving from the seated position toward the reclined-and-raised position includes increasing a first distance between the front leg and the support surface.

Vehicle seating assembly with lower leg support

A transportation system is disclosed. The transportation system includes a vehicle, a plurality of seating assemblies positioned within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and defining an arrangement, a plurality of actuators that effect movement of various components of the plurality of seating assemblies, a plurality of sensors, and a controller. Specific examples of pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements are disclosed, as well as the ability to customize the arrangement. Additionally, exemplary methods are disclosed that illustrate transitions between a variety of the pre-set or pre-programmed arrangements.

Authorization-based adjustment of passenger compartment arrangement

A translation assembly for a vehicle includes a rail assembly that defines a first channel, a second channel, and a central member that extends between the first and second channels. A carriage assembly couples to the rail assembly. The carriage assembly is movable relative to the rail assembly. The carriage assembly includes a first rail engagement structure that extends into the rail assembly and is received within the first channel; a second rail engagement structure that extends into the rail assembly and is received within the second channel; and a carriage housing that is coupled to the first and second rail engagement structures. The carriage housing extends between the first and second rail engagement structures. The carriages assembly also includes one or more drive assemblies that engage with a top surface of the central member of the rail assembly.

Translation assembly for a vehicle

A method of making a trim article includes the steps of 1) obtaining specified criteria of a target component part comprised of a plurality of materials; 2) processing the specified criteria into a design envelope that includes parameters of the target component part within which the trim article to be created is to be confined, 3) inputting the design envelope into an additive manufacturing device supplied with a single forming material; and 4) forming the trim article using the additive manufacturing device from the single material. The formed trim article includes an outer casing with an interior portion having one or more lattice matrices disposed therein and having varying density profiles to simulate the specified criteria of the target component part. The formed trim article is created as a fully integrated monolithic whole via the additive manufacturing device.

Trim article having an integrated structural composition with variated densities and methods for making the same

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat, a support surface, a seatback and a lower leg support. The seat includes a forward end and a rearward end. The support surface is coupled to the seat. The seatback is rotatably coupled to the seat proximate the rearward end. The lower leg support is directly and rotatably coupled to the seat proximate the forward end. The lower leg support is directly coupled to the support surface in a manner that results in automatic mechanical deployment of the lower leg support when the seat and the seatback are moved toward a reclined-and-raised position.

A trim article includes an outer casing having an inner surface defining an interior portion of the outer casing. The outer casing includes a front surface having a plurality of through apertures disposed thereon. A core portion is disposed within the interior portion of the outer casing and includes first and second portions having variated densities relative to one another. The first and second portions include lattice matrices having variated patterns of interconnected links and associated cells that provide variated force deflection parameters between the first and second portions of the core portion. The outer casing and the core portion are integrated to define a monolithic structure comprised of a common material.

Landing apparatuses for unmanned aerial vehicles are provided herein. An example battery assembly can include a housing having a top surface, and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the housing having a receiving interface that receives a first protruding adapter of an associated object. The top surface of the housing having a second protruding adapter that mates with the receiving interface of a second battery assembly, an energy storage unit disposed within the housing, a locking mechanism disposed within the housing, a biasing member that places the locking mechanism in a locked configuration, and a controller having a processor and memory for storing instructions, the processor being configured to execute the instructions to cause the locking mechanism to move into an unlocked configuration.

Stackable battery apparatuses and methods of use

A seat assembly includes a seatback having a cushioned component pivotally coupled to the seatback and operable between deployed and retracted positions. The cushioned component includes an interior cavity. A rack assembly is positioned within the interior cavity and includes a forward-most rack with a first receiving area. The rack assembly further includes a rearward-most rack having a second receiving area. A first cartridge assembly is removeably received in the first receiving area of the rack assembly. A second cartridge assembly is removeably received in the second receiving area of the rack assembly. The rack assembly may also include one or more intermediate rack assemblies positioned between the forward-most and rearward-most rack assemblies for supporting other intermediate cartridge assemblies. Each cartridge assembly includes a different density profile for providing variated comfort settings to the seatback of the seat assembly.

Seat assembly having interchangeable cartridge assemblies for adjustable comfort settings

A seat assembly includes a cushioned component having a lattice matrix, wherein the lattice matrix includes a first portion defined by a first pattern of interconnected links which defines a first set of cells, and a second portion defined by a second pattern of interconnected links which defines a second set of cells. The first portion of the lattice matrix includes a density profile that is different than a density profile of the second portion of the lattice matrix. An air bladder is disposed within a core portion of the lattice matrix and includes a non-porous outer casing surrounding an interior cavity. The outer casing of the air bladder and the lattice matrix are integrated components comprised of a common material to define a monolithic structure created using an additive manufacturing process.

Seat assembly having cushion supports with integrated air bladders for pneumatic activation

A vehicle seating assembly includes a frame with an engagement portion, a carrier, and a strap disposed between the frame and the carrier, wherein if the carrier is in an attached position relative to the frame, then application of an actuating force to the strap moves the carrier to a detached position relative to the frame.

Strap assembly for carrier detachment

A vehicle includes a vehicle interior having opposed first and second sides and a support surface disposed therebetween. A track system is laterally disposed on the support surface. A seat pedestal includes a base portion supported on the track system for lateral movement within the vehicle interior. The seat pedestal further includes a seat portion rotatably supported on the base portion. A first interior trim member includes an outer surface facing inwardly into the vehicle interior in a lateral direction. The first interior trim member includes a seatback integrated into the outer surface thereof. A second interior trim member includes an outer surface facing inwardly into the vehicle interior in a rearward direction. The second interior trim member includes a seatback integrated into the outer surface thereof.

Laterally translating seat pedestal

A portable case for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a system including a portable case for UAV and an adapter for coupling the portable case to a vehicle are disclosed. An example system may include an exterior attachment disposed on an exterior of a vehicle, an adapter configured to couple a portable case for an UAV to the exterior attachment, and a moveable cover connected to the vehicle and configured to cover the portable case when the portable case is coupled to the vehicle. An example portable case may comprise a landing pad for the UAV, a bottom portion having the landing pad and configured to connect to the exterior attachment via the adapter, and a removable upper portion configured to be connected to the bottom portion when the bottom portion is disconnected from the at least one exterior attachment.

Growing community of inventors

Fraser, MI, United States of America

Kevin VanNieulande