Patents Examined by Dennis H. Redder
  • Patent number: 11572103
    Abstract: Rocker structure (R1-R3) for a vehicle comprising a first steel profile (1) and a second steel profile (2) having the longitudinal direction (L) of the vehicle so that a channel (CH) is defined therebetween, the first and second profiles(1, 2) comprising a vertical central section (13), the rocker structure (R1-R3) comprising a first impact absorption element (3) arranged in the channel (CH), wherein the first impact absorption element (3) is a closed steel profile wherein an upper lobe (31) and a lower lobe (32) joined by a central joining section (33) are defined, the upper lobe (31) being located closer to the upper joining flanges (11, 21), the lower lobe (32) closer to the lower joining flanges (21, 22). The invention also relates to a method for obtaining the rocker structure and to vehicles provided with the inventive rocker structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Autotech Engineering, S.L.
    Inventors: Victor Nicolas Simon Limousin, Unai Lopategi Sanz, Quentin Benjamin Giraud Du Poyet
  • Patent number: 11560101
    Abstract: A roof structure of a motor vehicle includes an outer sheet and a headliner below the outer sheet. A telematics control unit (TCU) is disposed in an insulated space of the roof structure. The TCU is configured to provide Wi-Fi within a passenger space of the vehicle above an electrically non-conductive grille extending across an opening in the headliner. The grille permits airflow between the insulated space and a passenger space below the headliner to cool the TCU, without interfering with Wi-Fi signals from the TCU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati, Paul Kenneth Dellock, John Budaj
  • Patent number: 11548562
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle body rear part structure. The vehicle body rear part includes a rear pillar, a damper housing and a gusset. The rear pillar forms a closed cross section by joining a pillar outer to a pillar inner. The gusset connects the damper housing and the rear pillar. The pillar inner is separated into a front inner plate and a rear inner plate with a position above a top wall of the damper housing as a boundary. Bulkhead parts are formed on end edges of the front inner plate and the rear inner plate that face a separation part by bending to have a substantially L-shaped cross section to reinforce the closed cross section between the pillar outer and the bulkhead parts. An upper part of the gusset is combined to the rear pillar to close the separation part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Soshino, Mari Takeuchi, Ryoji Inaba, Tatsuya Ohishi, Izuru Sato
  • Patent number: 11548379
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle having remote terminals accessible via a charging port door. An example electrified vehicle a charging port configured to couple to a plug to charge the electrified vehicle, and remote terminals. The electrified vehicle can be jump started via the remote terminals. Further, the electrified vehicle includes a charging port door moveable between a closed position, a normal open position in which the charging port is accessible such that a plug may couple to the charging port to charge the electrified vehicle, and an extended open position in which the charging port door has moved beyond the normal open position. The remote terminals are accessible when the charging port door is in the extended open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Michael Blischke, David Brian Glickman, John Budaj, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Katherine Howard-Cone
  • Patent number: 11541940
    Abstract: A structural mount assembly for a roof panel of a vehicle. The structural mount assembly includes an exterior bracket and a plurality of interior brackets. The exterior bracket is secured to an exterior surface of the roof panel. The exterior bracket includes a plurality of stanchions for mounting a sensor structure. The plurality of interior brackets are disposed on an interior surface of the roof panel and being secured to the exterior bracket through the roof panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Samson Ng, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Joshua Jacob Clement
  • Patent number: 11541944
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body having a door opening, and a door that is attached to the vehicle body and that has a door reinforcing member extending straddling the door opening. The vehicle body includes: a rocker extending following a lower end of the door opening; a floor panel extending from an upper face of the rocker to a vehicle inward side; a first reinforcing member fixed to an upper face of the floor panel and extends in a vehicle front-rear direction following an end portion of the floor panel, an outward end portion of the first reinforcing member being disposed above the rocker, and an inward end portion of the first reinforcing member being disposed inward of the rocker; and a second reinforcing member that is fixed to an upper face of the first reinforcing member and that extends in a vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Subaru Corporation
    Inventors: Akihito Sasaki, Ryo Kimura
  • Patent number: 11535308
    Abstract: A refuse body adapter includes a sub-frame assembly, a sub-frame adapter, and a spacer. The sub-frame assembly is configured to be coupled to a cargo body. The sub-frame adapter is configured to be coupled to a chassis of a vehicle. The spacer is coupled to both the sub-frame assembly and the sub-frame adapter. The spacer is disposed in a gap formed between the sub-frame assembly and the sub-frame adapter. A thickness of the spacer may be adjusted to accommodate different gap sizes between the sub-frame assembly and the sub-frame adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Leslie Schwartz, Robert Ryan, Matthew Deinema, John Kellander, Emily Davis, Rob Messina
  • Patent number: 11520208
    Abstract: A window control system includes a plurality of electro-optic devices configured to control a transmittance of light through each of the plurality of zones, and at least one sensor configured to identify an intensity of light transmitted through the at least one window. A controller k in communication with the electro-optic devices and the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to independently control the transmittance of the light through each of the zones based on at least one of a direction of the light and an intensity of the light detected in a passenger compartment of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Autumn N. Lagowski, George A. Neuman, Michael T. Stephenson, Luke A. Bomers, Barry K. Nelson, Henry A. Luten, Dennis D. Festerling, Jr., David J. Cammenga, John S. Anderson, Michael J. VanAst
  • Patent number: 11511809
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes: a first frame that is formed of a first material and has a closed cross section; and a second frame that is formed of a second material and has a closed cross section. The first frame and the second frame are aligned with each other in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The second frame has higher tensile strength and is lighter than the first frame. In a front cross-sectional view of the vehicle, a second center associated with the second frame is located on an outer side in a vehicle width direction from a first center associated with the first frame with respect to vehicle center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsuneki Shimanaka
  • Patent number: 11505259
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle that includes a windshield and a frame. In addition, the vehicle includes a first pillar that extends from one side of the windshield. The first pillar includes a first wall and a second wall coupled to the first wall. The first pillar also includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a first interior support coupled to the first wall and a second interior support coupled to the second wall. Further, the first interior support includes a first end which is spaced from a second end in the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jamil M. Alwan, Chunhui Kevin Lee, Thiag Subbian, Djamal Eddine Midoun, Suraj Jadhav, Petros Frantzeskakis
  • Patent number: 11491853
    Abstract: A sunroof device includes a rear link that slides along a longitudinal direction of a guide rail in conjunction with a slide member and moves up and down a rear end side of a movable panel by tilting in conjunction with the sliding of the slide member. Further, the rear link is provided with an engaging protrusion protruding in a width direction of the guide rail, and the guide rail is provided with a link engaging portion that regulates, by arranging the engaging protrusion inside, tilting of the rear link in a rising direction. The link engaging portion includes an upwardly opened cutout portion provided in the guide rail, and a metallic engaging bracket having an upper wall portion covering a topside of the cutout portion by being fixed to the guide rail. The engaging protrusion includes a metallic shaft body, and a resin layer covering the shaft body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Aisin Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Fujimura, Akinori Osamura
  • Patent number: 11479098
    Abstract: An inflatable gate seal assembly includes a dump box that is mountable on a dump truck for carrying and dumping a load. A gate is hingedly coupled to the dump box for opening and closing the dump box. A conduit is integrated into the dump box and the conduit is fluidly coupled to an air compressor of the dump truck to receive compressed air from the air compressor. A control is positioned in a cab of the dump truck and the control is in electrical communication with the air compressor. A balloon is coupled to the dump box and the balloon is in fluid communication with the conduit. The balloon is inflated when the control is put in an on condition. Thus, the balloon engages the gate when the balloon is inflated and the gate is in the closed position to inhibit debris from passing between the dump box and the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventor: George Robinson
  • Patent number: 11440488
    Abstract: A fin assembly of a vehicle includes a fin supported on an A-pillar and disposed along the A-pillar at a location that is interposed between and separates a side window and a windshield in a lateral direction of the vehicle. The fin is configured for being driven to a retracted condition with respect to the A-pillar where an exterior surface of the vehicle at least partially formed along an exterior surface of the windshield, an exterior surface of the fin, and an exterior surface of the side window substantially conforms to an aerodynamic shape, and for being driven to an extended condition where the exterior surface of the vehicle is at least partially formed along the exterior surface of the windshield, an exterior surface of the A-pillar located behind the fin in a front-back direction of the vehicle, and the exterior surface of the side window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pirooz Moradnia, Matthew L. Metka
  • Patent number: 11433835
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper assembly includes a first energy absorbing member extending in a lateral direction of a vehicle. A reinforcement member extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle and is connected to the first energy absorbing member. A second energy absorbing member is connected to the reinforcement member. The second energy absorbing member includes a first bracket member configured to be connected to a vehicle body structure of the vehicle. A retaining member extends outwardly from the first bracket member. The retaining member has a first portion having a substantially constant first height and a second portion having a second height less than the first height. At least one first compression member is movably disposed in the retaining member. The at least one first compression member is configured to move through the retaining member responsive to an impact event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Aravind Chandrasekaran
  • Patent number: 11407450
    Abstract: There is provided a reinforcement for a vehicle having a main body portion that is formed in a hollow beam shape, and extends in a vehicle width direction while having both end portions thereof in the vehicle width direction supported by structural components of a vehicle, and whose cross-sectional surface area in a vehicle front-rear direction becomes progressively larger from the end portions in the vehicle width direction towards a central portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Sakurai, Hiroyuki Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 11400852
    Abstract: A recreational vehicle has a floor and a vehicle body with a pair of walls, a roof, and end shells disposed at the front and rear ends of the walls and roof. Each wall has a plurality of horizontal members each extending at least part way between the front and back end of the respective wall and a plurality of spaced apart vertical bows each extending at least part way between the bottom and top of the respective wall. Each of the vertical bows has an inner surface and an outer surface with a recess defined in the inner or outer surface, the recess configured to receive one of the plurality of horizontal members therein such that the horizontal member does not extend beyond a portion of the inner or outer surface adjacent the recess. An outer wall skin is attached to the outer surface of the bows or members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: ThorTech, Inc.
    Inventor: John Eugene Connolly
  • Patent number: 11396224
    Abstract: A multi-piece frame for an open roof assembly is manufactured by providing a first frame element having an edge and a first attachment area adjacent to the edge; providing a second frame element having a second attachment area; arranging the first attachment area and the second attachment area at least partly over each other; applying a fluid sealant adjacent to the edge of the first frame element; applying a sealing element on at least one of the first frame element and the second frame element and on the sealant, while the sealant is still at least partly fluid; and curing the sealant to provide a fluid-tight sealing between the first frame element, the second frame element and the sealing element. Thus, fluid tight connection between the sealing element and the sealant is provided in a reliable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Diederik Gijsbertus Swinkels, Wilhelmus Maria Theresia Hendrikus Schrans, Marcel Nellen
  • Patent number: 11396329
    Abstract: A fiber-reinforced resin composite configured to be to be used for a vehicle body structure has a cylindrical shape and a longitudinal direction. The fiber-reinforced resin composite includes first fibers and second fibers. The first fibers are disposed along an axial direction of the cylindrical shape. The second fibers are wound over an entire circumferential surface along a direction intersecting the axial direction of the cylindrical shape. The number of the first fibers per unit area in a tensile surface that is to mainly receive tensile stress upon a collision of a vehicle body is larger than the number of the first fibers per unit area in a compressive surface that is to mainly receive compressive stress upon the collision of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuya Mukainakano
  • Patent number: 11358448
    Abstract: A tonneau cover system, comprising: (a) a retractable tonneau cover having a plurality of interconnected panels; (b) a first retainer secured to a first sidewall of a cargo box of a vehicle; and (c) a second retainer secured to an opposing second sidewall of the cargo box, wherein the first retainer and the second retainer are substantially parallel to each other so that the tonneau cover spans between the first retainer and the second retainer; and wherein the plurality of panels each include a bearing positioned within the first retainer to guide the tonneau cover in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: RETRAX HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Tyler Alyce Voegele
  • Patent number: 11358455
    Abstract: A deflector device capable of holding a mesh support across a straight portion and a corner portion of a holding member without a through-hole being formed in the corner portion of the holding member. A corner-side recess, which receives a hook portion and is formed as a concavity in which a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to a direction of extension of a corner portion is open on a lower side, is formed in said corner portion. A pair of facing inside surfaces of the corner-side recess are configured to pinch and hold the hook portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Toru Shibue, Kazuki Kakihara