Patents Examined by Dennis H. Pedder
  • Patent number: 11858577
    Abstract: A motorcycle trim component includes a hose guide designed to receive and hold a hose. The hose guide is formed integrally with the motorcycle trim component. The hose guide is designed to be incorporated into a motorcycle assembly having a brake line, with the brake line being accommodated in the hose guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tim Krych, Martin Pazulla
  • Patent number: 11858552
    Abstract: An embodiment sliding door mounting reinforcement structure includes a sliding door lower reinforcement configured to be mounted on a side of a vehicle body along a length direction of the vehicle body, the sliding door lower reinforcement including a guide rail mounted therein, the guide rail being configured to guide movement of a sliding door, and a center floor cross unit configured to be mounted in a width direction of the vehicle body, wherein the sliding door lower reinforcement and the center floor cross unit are combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Won Ki Song
  • Patent number: 11858317
    Abstract: A vehicle window vent is shaped and sized to fit in the opening left when the vehicle window is lowered or retracted. The vent fits in the opening, and its edges are captured by channels that hold the window when the window is closed. Along one edge, the vent comprises a channel, similar to the window-opening channel, so that the vent can accept an edge of the window. Thus, when the window is opened and then partially closed on the vent, the window and vent together are held securely in the window opening. The vent comprises louvered openings to allow air in and out of the vehicle. The openings may be covered with screen or mesh to prevent insects from entering the vehicle. Other features may be provided as well. An efficient method for manufacturing the vents is also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TERRAWAGEN, LLC
    Inventor: Eric A. Didier
  • Patent number: 11850942
    Abstract: Embodiments of an article comprising a cold-formed glass substrate in a curved shape, a plurality of separate mechanical retainers, and a frame are disclosed. The cold-formed glass substrate has a first major surface, and a second major surface opposing the first major surface. In one more embodiments, the plurality of separate mechanical retainers are attached to the second major surface of the cold-formed glass substrate. The mechanical retainers may be attached to the frame to define a position for each of the plurality of mechanical retainers, such that the mechanical retainers define the curved shape. Embodiments of processes to form such articles are also provided. Such processes can include attaching a plurality of separate mechanical retainers to a flexible glass substrate such that the glass substrate maintains its flexibility, and attaching the mechanical retainers to a frame, such that the mechanical retainers attached to the frame define a cold-formed curved shape for the flexible glass substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Atul Kumar, Cheng-Chung Li, William Michael Seiderman, Yawei Sun
  • Patent number: 11851105
    Abstract: The present application relates to a reinforcement element (30) arranged to be attached to a profile (10) for forming a B-pillar for a vehicle, which profile (10) is arranged with attachment areas (22, 24) for door hinges, characterised in that the reinforcement element (30) is designed with two elongated strips (32, 34) of material, wherein the strips (32, 34) are inter-connected at least at one attachment area (22) for door hinges when the reinforcement element (30) is attached to profile (10), wherein the profile (10) is hat-shaped with a central flange (12) and two sides (14, 6), and wherein each strip (32, 34) is attached to the transition area (36, 38) between the central flange (12) and a side (14, 16). The present application also 10 relates to a B-pillar provided with the reinforcement element as well as a method of manufacturing a B-pillar with the reinforcement element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Autotech Engineering S.L.
    Inventors: Hans Bodin, Martin Holmberg, Joakim Johansson, Sofia Nayström
  • Patent number: 11851107
    Abstract: A vehicle roof assembly for covering at least a part of a passenger compartment of a vehicle comprises a mounting frame and a panel device. The panel device comprises a cover panel and a mounting bracket comprising a mounting flange. The mounting frame comprises a first flange and a second flange under an angle. The second flange comprises a mechanical coupler for attaching the mounting flange. The first flange is configured to be extending towards the passenger compartment. The mounting flange is attached to the second flange at the mechanical coupler. In a mounted state, at least a part of the first flange is arranged closer to the cover panel than the mechanical coupler such that head space is preserved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Leonardus Augustus Perfors, Eduardus Christianus Henricus van Boxtel
  • Patent number: 11851110
    Abstract: A vehicle has a vehicle body provided with a pair of rockers, the rockers each being provided on one side of a floor panel in a right-left direction and on another side of the floor panel in the right-left direction. The vehicle has a battery pack that is disposed below the floor panel, and that stores electric power to be supplied to a traveling motor. The vehicle has a pair of fixing members, the fixing members each being disposed on one side of the battery pack in the right-left direction and another side of the battery pack in the right-left direction, that is configured to fix the battery pack to the rockers. The vehicle has an elastic member disposed between the battery pack and the fixing members. The elastic member is disposed in a state compressed by the battery pack and the fixing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Hirota, Naoki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11851106
    Abstract: A roof module for a motor vehicle may have a roof skin, a roof frame on a vehicle body and have at least one transverse frame part extending in the transverse roof direction and a longitudinal frame part extending in the longitudinal roof direction on either side of a longitudinal center roof plane, and a roof opening system having a lid element configured to be displaced on guide rails, which are part of the longitudinal frame parts of the roof frame, in the longitudinal roof direction relative to the roof frame, and/or a solid roof element having a transparent see-through portion and being rigidly connected to the roof frame, having a sensor system comprising at least one sensor module which has at least one environmental sensor and is located outside of the roof opening and/or outside of the transparent see-through portions and is covered by a cover element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Michael Huelsen, Johannes Thannheimer, Dirk Legler, Max Huber, Thomas Lindner, Michael Deppe, Thomas Rudolph, Cedric Langlais, Michael Mailhamer, Juraj Lehotsky, Achim Holzwarth, Michael Respondek, Alexander Kilias
  • Patent number: 11845389
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper structure to be applied to a vehicle includes an impact absorber to be disposed on a front end side or a rear end side of the vehicle so as to extends in a vehicle width direction. The impact absorber includes small reaction section and a large reaction section. The small reaction section is to be disposed on an outer end side in the vehicle width direction. The small reaction section is configured to generate a predetermined reaction against a colliding object. The large reaction section is to be disposed on an inner side of the small reaction section in the vehicle width direction. The large reaction section is adjacent to the small reaction section. The large reaction section is configured to generate a larger reaction against the colliding object than the predetermined reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuta Kishi, Wataru Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 11845494
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes: a roof panel, a rail disposed below the roof panel and extending in a left-right direction, a brace disposed below the roof panel and coupled to an end of the rail and extending from the rail toward in a front-rear direction, a reinforcing member reinforcing a connection portion where the rail is coupled to the brace. A first end of a main wall of the reinforcing member is welded to a first-end-side flange of the rail. A second end of the main wall is welded to a second-end-side flange of the rail and to an end of the brace on the first side in the front-rear direction. The reinforcing member includes flanges welded to the bottom wall of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: SUBARU CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keisuke Yokota
  • Patent number: 11845493
    Abstract: A body structure for a vehicle includes a roof side rail assembly, a vehicle pillar, a pillar reinforcement bracket and an intermediate reinforcement bracket. The roof side rail assembly includes an attachment plate and a rail secured to the attachment plate and configured to extend along a length of the vehicle. The vehicle pillar extends downward from the attachment plate. The pillar reinforcement bracket is secured to the rail and at least partially disposed within the vehicle pillar. The pillar reinforcement bracket includes a lower portion. The intermediate reinforcement bracket is disposed within and secured to the vehicle pillar. The intermediate reinforcement bracket also includes a connecting wall that is secured to the lower portion of the pillar reinforcement bracket. The connecting wall extends parallel to a surface of the attachment plate where the rail is secured to the attachment plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Prescott Hickey
  • Patent number: 11845391
    Abstract: An emergency escape system and an emergency escape method for a vehicle are provided. The emergency escape system includes a sunroof that is mounted at a headliner of the vehicle and a driving device opening or closing the sunroof by receiving current. A float sensor detects whether the vehicle is filled with water up to a predetermined mounting position. A pressure sensor detects a force applied to the headliner or the sunroof. A controller supplies the current to the driving device in response to receiving from the float sensor a signal indicating that the vehicle is filled with the water up to the predetermined mounting position and determining that the force applied to the headliner or the sunroof, which is detected by the pressure sensor, is greater than a predetermined force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Vignesh Balaji Sg, Raman Shyam
  • Patent number: 11840180
    Abstract: A fastening device is provided for arranging a water-catching strip of a motor vehicle on an A-pillar of the motor vehicle. The fastening device can be secured in its position relative to the A-pillar by way of a bolt fastened to the A-pillar. The fastening device has a retaining region for retaining a fastening portion of the water-catching strip. The fastening device includes, in the retaining region, at least one tab, which protrudes from a main body of the fastening device and has a detent element, which detent element is designed to engage in one of a plurality of grooves. The grooves are formed in the fastening portion of the water-catching strip such that the grooves are arranged adjacent to each other in a direction of extension of the at least one tab. An arrangement of a water-catching strip of a motor vehicle on an A-pillar is carried out by a fastening device of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lukas Held, Richard Sosnik
  • Patent number: 11840129
    Abstract: A roof system for a vehicle comprises a wind deflector member including a wind deflector body which extends in a transverse direction of the vehicle that is movable between a retracted position below a fixed roof and an extended position at least partly above the fixed roof. Wind deflector arms at the lateral ends of the wind deflector body extend substantially in a rearward direction and are at least rotatably connected to a stationary part. A sealing arrangement comprises a first seal is positioned between the wind deflector body and a panel that seals a gap between an the wind deflector body and the panel in its closed position. The first seal is configured to close a gap between the wind deflector arms and the panel. A second seal is closes a gap between the wind deflector member and the stationary part when the panel is in its closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Suyanto Teri Wahiyu Ten-Jet-Foei, Thomas Anton Martijnszoon Albers
  • Patent number: 11840280
    Abstract: A reinforcement for a vehicle structural member, includes a top wall, and opposite lateral walls extending from opposite edges of the top wall. At least one of the lateral walls includes a flat surface portion for mounting an additional vehicle part. The flat surface portion has an edge forward in a press direction in which the reinforcement is pressed, the edge being curved and convex in the press direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Kosaka
  • Patent number: 11833949
    Abstract: Systems are provided for integrating a deployable grip with a vehicle. The deployable grip may comprise a support coupled to a portion of a vehicle and a handle attached to the support and configured to move between a deployed position and a retracted position relative to the support upon application of a force on the handle. The handle provides a physical aid, when deployed, to an occupant of the vehicle while the occupant is entering or exiting the vehicle, is deployable when a door of the vehicle proximal to which the support is coupled to the portion of the vehicle is open, is not deployable when the door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander L. Paradis, Frank A. Richards
  • Patent number: 11833893
    Abstract: A guide rail for a sunroof apparatus includes an inner member and an outer member. The outer member is arranged on an outer side of the inner member in a width direction in an attached state where the guide rail is attached to a vehicle. The inner member guides a drive shoe of the sunroof apparatus. The outer member includes a fixed portion fixed to the vehicle. The outer member is coupled to the inner member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Aisin Corporation
    Inventors: Shota Motomura, Katsutoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 11833936
    Abstract: A set of seats for an automotive vehicle, where the set of seats comprises a first seat and a second seat, where the first seat is provided with a first seatback and a first seat bottom, where the second seat is provided with a second seatback and a second seat bottom, the set of seats is configured in order to have: a road configuration in which the first seat bottom extends substantially horizontally and the first seatback extends substantially vertically; and a relaxed configuration in which the second seat is in a table position in which the second seatback extends substantially horizontally and the second seat bottom extends substantially vertically, where the second seatback and the second seat bottom delimit a knee space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventor: Pierre-Henri Petiphar
  • Patent number: 11833956
    Abstract: An arm assembly for a cover system includes a force mechanism associated within a hollow arm of the assembly that includes a resiliently compressible element, such as a compression spring or gas spring, connected to one end of a cable. The opposite end of the cable is fastened to a non-circular pulley mounted to the container body, so that the cable is wound around the pulley as the arm pivots relative to the container body. As the arm pivots in a stowed direction, energy is stored by the compressible element, and releasing the stored energy causes the arm to pivot toward an extended or deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Aero Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan A. Reeder, John Vogel
  • Patent number: 11834005
    Abstract: Cargo systems for use in a vehicle cargo compartment that provide a range of selectable cargo carrying configurations. A cargo shelf system includes a first support wall, a second support wall, at least one set of removable shelves supported between one of the support walls and an interior side panel of the vehicle, and a set of retractable shelves supported between the first and second support walls. A cargo divider system includes a tray bin attached to a frame structure of the vehicle, a load floor supported upon the tray bin, a flip-wall divider supported upon the tray bin, and a plurality of laterally displaceable divider walls. Another cargo divider system includes a storage bin, an independently moveable seat-side load floor, and an independently moveable gate-side load floor, the seat-side load floor and the gate-side load floor collectively covering the storage bin to form a generally planar continuous load floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: ABC TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Harman Gill, Avinash Jayakumar, Usman Dulatov