Patents Examined by Jason S Daniels
  • Patent number: 11904736
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a track assembly disposed on a vehicle floor. The track assembly includes a rail slidably disposed in a track and a positioning bracket fixedly coupled to the track. A lift mechanism is coupled to a pivot bracket disposed on the rail and is configured to rotate the seat frame between sitting and standing positions. A lever assembly is rotatably coupled to the lift mechanism, rotatable about a seat axis of rotation, and movable along the positioning bracket as the rail slides in the track. A release mechanism is operably coupled to the lift mechanism and the track assembly. The release mechanism may fix the rail relative to the track or release the rail from the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Macit Aktas
  • Patent number: 11904671
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a modular vehicle roof frame with at least two support members having at an upper end at least one coupling member through which the support member is axially assembled and releasably coupled to a plurality of top frame members such that each top frame member is releasably coupled to a plurality of support members. In an illustrative example, when the frame is assembled the support members may be substantially vertical and the top frame members may be substantially horizontal. When the frame is coupled to a vehicle the coupling members may, for example, be oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The frame may be assembled, for example, by alternately assembling top frame members and support members. Various embodiments may advantageously allow a disassembled frame to be stored within a small sized container suitable for various ground shipping services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: MODZ MOLD PATENT LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Gouldie, Alan Basta
  • Patent number: 11897424
    Abstract: Provided is a front trunk cargo storage system. The system includes a main body that defines a primary storage compartment, and a load floor drawer mounted upon a floor of the primary storage compartment. The primary storage compartment includes a forward opening, and the load floor drawer is configured to be slidable outwardly from the primary storage compartment through the forward opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ABC TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Harman Gill, Avinash Jayakumar, Usman Dulatov, Richard Louis Hamilton, Jarek R. Gorecki, James W. Wells
  • Patent number: 11891018
    Abstract: A storage compartment includes a housing, a lid, a locking mechanism, and a closure mechanism. The lid is pivotally coupled to the housing about a pivot axis for movement between a closed position and an opened position. The locking mechanism is displaceable in a first direction to move between an unlocked position and a locked position, the first direction extending generally normal to the pivot axis. The closure mechanism is configured to inhibit movement of the lid from the closed position towards the opened position upon movement of the locking mechanism to the unlocked position due to movement of the housing in the first direction with respect to the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori Takagi, Aaron Klenke
  • Patent number: 11891017
    Abstract: An under hood storage system of a vehicle includes an under hood storage compartment located in an under hood area of a vehicle, and a hood assembly that, when in a closed position closes the under hood storage compartment. The hood assembly includes an under hood panel having a first portion formed from a first material, and a second portion surrounding the first portion defining an outer perimeter of the under hood panel. The second portion is formed from a second material softer than the first material. One or more attachment features secure the under hood panel to the hood assembly. The under hood panel interacts with the under hood storage compartment to close the under hood storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Kukla, Kyle C. Smith, Andre Hormiz
  • Patent number: 11890921
    Abstract: An external hard bed cover for pickup truck including a series of panels connected to a cargo hopper, wherein the panel series includes a super large panel, a large panel, a medium panel and a small panel, the super large panel is rotationally connected with the large panel, the large panel is rotationally connected with the medium panel, the medium panel is rotationally connected with the small panel, the super large panel, the large panel, the medium panel and the small panel are all rectangular panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventors: Lei Qiu, Lei Chen
  • Patent number: 11884145
    Abstract: A retractable cover system includes laterally spaced apart guide rails that define an opening and each provide a track. The system further includes a cover that has multiple slats that are configured to interlock with one another in a deployed configuration. The slats cooperate with the drive assembly and are slidable in the tracks between first and second positions within the opening in response to actuation of the drive assembly. The slats are stacked onto one another in a stowed configuration. The system further includes a follower that supports the slats. The system further includes a spring-biased pulley system that is configured to cooperate with the follower and biases the slats toward the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: BOS AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: William P. Pompili, Edwin Joseph Steinmetz
  • Patent number: 11884222
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper assembly includes an adaptive energy absorption module operatively connected to a vehicle bumper body. The adaptive energy absorption module includes a primary deformable impact absorber member defining a primary impact chamber having a shape that is structurally adaptive or otherwise conforms to an impact force received by the bumper body. A secondary deformable impact absorber member is arranged in the primary impact chamber and defines a secondary impact chamber containing a shear thickening fluid that exhibits a decreasing viscosity responsive to the impact force. A plurality of fluidically connected tertiary deformable impact absorber members are arranged in an array the primary impact chamber and defines a plurality of tertiary impact chambers containing a volume of fluid, and has a shape that is structurally adaptive to the impact force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuyang Song, Umesh Gandhi, Danil Prokhorov, Phouvadol Khouphongsy
  • Patent number: 11882510
    Abstract: A specialized vehicle is provided to assist conflict resolution personnel in controlling unique incidents involving a mentally challenged, drug controlled, handicapped or other incapacitated, irrational or unpredictable individual. The vehicle is specially designed and equipped to provide a controlled environment where the individual can be directly dealt with in a calming and soothing manner, while also monitoring a control perimeter about the vehicle and communicating with people outside the vehicle about a particular incident, thereby assisting in de-escalating a potentially volatile situation. In association with de-escalating, one or more computer and/or cellphone app portals are established to provide people with incident related information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Public Transportation Safety Int'l Corp.
    Inventor: Mark B. Barron
  • Patent number: 11872920
    Abstract: Automobile accessories, kits, and methods of use. An automobile accessory is a heel guard that can be applied to a floor and/or a floor mat within an interior of an automobile such as a car, a truck, a van, a bus, and the like. The heel guard may be secured to the floor and/or the floor mat to provide a layer of protection between the driver's shoe or foot and the floor and/or floor mat. The heel guard prevents damage to these surfaces due to friction produced by movement of the driver's foot during operation of the foot pedals of the automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: James Dawson
  • Patent number: 11866907
    Abstract: A superstructure for mounting upon a ground engaging structure of a working machine includes a cab structure for housing a human operator of the working machine; a chassis structure providing a base for the cab structure; and a frame including a tubular body, the tubular body comprising two legs and a cross member interposed between the legs, wherein the cross member is at a non-zero angle to both legs. The frame is connected to the cab structure proximate an upper extent of the frame and the chassis structure proximate a lower extent the frame so as to support a portion of the cab structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: J. C. Bamford Excavators Limited
    Inventor: Ian Mark Parry-Jones
  • Patent number: 11866101
    Abstract: A floor mat arranged in a working machine includes a floor portion, a wall portion arranged on a circumferential portion of the floor portion, and an opening portion arranged on a part of a connecting portion of the wall portion, the connecting portion connecting to the floor portion. The floor mat includes a mat main body arranged on the floor portion, a covering portion configured to cover the opening portion, and an connecting portion configured to connect the covering portion flexibly to a circumferential portion of the mat main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Aihara, Hironobu Konishi, Shohei Tanaka, Yuta Yamada, Yoshiki Takizawa, Tokio Sakata
  • Patent number: 11858408
    Abstract: A truck includes a passenger cabin and a truck bed located rearward of the passenger cabin in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The truck bed includes a bed deck and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls. A compressor unit is located between an inner sidewall panel and an outer sidewall panel of one of the sidewalls. A truck bed cover covers the truck bed. A bladder is connected to an underside of the truck bed cover. The compressor unit connected to the bladder and configured to inflate the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott L. Frederick
  • Patent number: 11858405
    Abstract: A recreational vehicle may include a chassis, an axle assembly, a floor, and a vehicle body enclosing living quarters. A fluid storage vessel may be supported in the chassis. The chassis may include a first and a second longitudinal chassis member each having an upper and lower edge, and an inner and outer face. Cross members have a first and second ends connected to the first and second chassis member, respectively. The cross members have an upper and lower edges extending between the ends. The cross members have an end height at the ends and a midsection height that is greater than the end height. A transport area extends longitudinally between two cross members, transversely between inner faces of the longitudinal chassis members, and vertically between upper and lower edges of the cross members. The fluid storage vessel is disposed in the transport area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: THOR TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Snyder, Jonathan Gust
  • Patent number: 11858407
    Abstract: A trailer system with a modular design is provided for the transport of tiny homes. The system comprises a front hitch assembly to connect to a suitable towing or transport vehicle, and a rear axle assembly designed to carry the weight of a tiny home. The trailer bed portion of the trailer system is the tiny house foundation adapted to connect with the front hitch and rear axle assemblies in a lowboy configuration. Each of the front hitch and rear axle assemblies have pegs that can be secured into channels formed into the end walls (e.g. slots/cavities) or alongside walls (e.g. grooves) of the foundation. Once inserted into the channels, the pegs can be secured to the foundation using a securing means (e.g. locking pins). After transport of the tiny home, the front hitch and rear axle assemblies can be connected to each for transport to another location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: Dillon Point
  • Patent number: 11858324
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a vehicle body and elastic seal. The vehicle body is supported on the vehicle frame. The vehicle body has a cabin and a cargo box. The cabin houses one or more vehicle seats of the vehicle. The cabin and the cargo box are separately mounted on the vehicle frame and being separated by a gap. The elastic seal movably connects the cabin and the cargo box and covers the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Keith St. Clair
  • Patent number: 11858323
    Abstract: A convertible top element for a convertible vehicle has, in sequence: an outer cover layer, a coupling layer, a convertible top bow, an absorber layer and an inner cover layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Steffen Borchert, Peter Holler, Ralf Mehling, Thomas Schnaufer, Daniel Seiboth, Christian Spickermann
  • Patent number: 11850984
    Abstract: A vehicle seating system includes a frame, a plurality of seat bolsters coupled to the frame, and a plurality of air channels interposing adjacent ones of the plurality of seat bolsters. The plurality of air channels exposes portions of the frame between the adjacent ones of the plurality of seat bolsters. Each of the plurality of seat bolsters is detachably coupled to a front surface of the frame while the frame is installed in a vehicle. Each of the plurality of seat bolsters has a seat bolster configuration defined based on a user physical profile, a use case of the vehicle, an environmental condition, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: AYRO, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Wittenschlaeger
  • Patent number: 11851919
    Abstract: A door handle includes a door handle case and an electrostatic sensor provided in the door handle case. The electrostatic sensor includes a detection electrode that is formed of a flat conductor plate, or that is formed on a surface of a flat substrate or within a flat substrate. The detection electrode includes a middle portion in a longitudinal direction of the detection electrode and includes peripheral portions proximal to both end portions of the detection electrode in the longitudinal direction. For a width of the detection electrode in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, each peripheral portion is wider than the middle portion, and the width of the detection electrode gradually increases toward each end portion in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiki Nakamura, Takashi Sasaki, Yoshiyuki Kikuchi, Yuzuru Kawana, Heishiro Fudo, Yukimitsu Yamada, Hiroshi Shigetaka
  • Patent number: 11850927
    Abstract: A telescoping truck bed shell is disclosed herein. The truck bed shell is capable of being retracted so that the user can have full access to the truck bed and also extended so that the user can have a protected volume at the truck bed in order to store things. The telescoping truck bed has traversable frames and a traversable cover wherein the frames and cover may be traversed between extended and retracted positions depending on whether the truck bed shell is being deployed or stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Singer