Patents Examined by Kiran Patel
  • Patent number: 6880880
    Abstract: An aesthetically pleasing trailer incorporates stock motorcycle side bags into the trailer, surrounding a central cargo box. The central compartment is designed in a generally parallelepiped shape, and has a leading surface which leads the side bags through an airstream when said trailer is traveling forward. The central cargo box may include a cover resembling a motorcycle seat, and will preferably have a locking closure for securing the cargo area. Most preferably, release mechanisms under the cover open access to the side bags. Consequently, access to the side bags is controlled through a single closure lock. The trailer may also be supported upon a torsion axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Lonnie D. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 6877788
    Abstract: A pair of rear mounting brackets are constructed to duplicate the front mounting on a motorcycle that holds a detachable windshield. The rear mounting brackets are attached to the motorcycle and are oriented to hold the windshield in a horizontal position behind the rider when the windshield is not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Inventor: Steven M. Graham
  • Patent number: 6877791
    Abstract: A device for automatically actuating a vehicle door (1), in particular a side door or a tailgate of the motor vehicle, including: A control device (12) and a drive (4;4?) having a motor (5) with a gearing (6) connected downstream and at least one transmission element (8;20) located between the gearing 6 (6) and thevehicle door (1). The invention facilitates the manual actuation of an automatically actuated vehicle door (1) that is in an open position. To achieve this, a load sensor (10) is mounted on the drive (4). When a predetermined load on the open vehicle door (1) has been reached, the sensor generates a control signal, which is fed to the control device (12) for activating the motor (5), or for decoupling a coupling (18) that is located between the gearing (6) and the transmission element (8;20), the load on the open vehicle door (1) being produced e.g. by a corresponding manual pressure on the vehicle door (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Valeo Sicherheitssysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Greuel, Dietmar Orth, Holger Schiffer, Bernd Ulbricht
  • Patent number: 6871894
    Abstract: A holding bar of a safety net separating a luggage compartment from a passenger compartment of an automobile vehicle has a tubular body from which holding members project at its end to engage in brackets close to the roof of the vehicle. Within the tube, the holders have enlarged ends which apply compression force to respective deformation bodies braced against constrictions of the tube so that the kinetic energy of a crash is converted to axial decompression deformation of those bodies. The bodies may be injection molded onto the shanks or can be formed of a plurality of parts and clipped together therearound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: BOS GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfram Zummack
  • Patent number: 6871901
    Abstract: In a cabriolet motor vehicle (10) with a foldable roof, especially a foldable hardtop (12), with a rigid rear window (18) which is movable between a closed position in which it covers the vehicle interior, and a stowage position in which it is held in the stowage space (54) in the vehicle (10), the hardtop (12) has a front roof part (14) which can be connected to a transverse roof support (20) which borders the windshield and a rear roof part (16) which can be moved relative to it and which is coupled to it. Furthermore, the rear window (18) is made on a rear window element (18) which can be moved relative to the vehicle body and relative to the rear roof part (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Stenvers, Michael Respondek, Thomas Dintner, Kozo Ohdoi
  • Patent number: 6871904
    Abstract: A composite pickup box for an automotive vehicle is constructed of extruded floor beams combined with extruded wall sections and extruded corner sections. An outer skin is attached to the wall sections in such manner as to cover the exterior portions of the wall sections and corner sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ramkrishna Vijay Bhat, Jason Allan Marable, Cliff Robert Reitzloff
  • Patent number: 6871889
    Abstract: An impact energy transmitting arrangement (10) for transmitting energy, which arises during impact between a vehicle (12) on which the arrangement (10) is mounted and a foreign body, to a vehicle structure (14). The arrangement includes first means (18) displaceable in a first direction, and second means (20) adapted for co-operation with the first means. The first and second means are operable such that the arrangement, below a first predetermined value of a parameter representative of the energy to be transmitted, presents a first resistance-to-displacement value and, above the first predetermined value, presents a second resistance-to-displacement value. The first resistance-to-displacement value is greater than the second resistance-to-displacement value. In this manner, a bumper assembly which is stiff at very low speeds is rendered less stiff at higher speeds which otherwise could cause injury to pedestrians.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mattias Ericsson
  • Patent number: 6871902
    Abstract: Disclosed is a window assembly for use in mass transit vehicles which allows the quick and easy removal and replacement of transparent sacrificial glazing panels which protect the glazing of the window from vandalism and wear. The window assembly utilizes a sacrificial protective panel and mounting arrangement which allows quick and easy replacement of protective panels on one or both sides of the window assembly, but inhibits removal by non-maintenance personnel such as vandals. The frame of the window assembly incorporates one or more retainers which fit into slots along the interior sides of the window frame and sandwich the glazing between the frame and the retainers. In turn, the retainers are essentially “locked” into position in the frame by an inner protective panel, which significantly inhibits the removal of the retainers from the window assembly when the protective panel is in its desired position against the windowpane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Transit Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale E. Carson, Jerry L. Farrar
  • Patent number: 6869127
    Abstract: A temporary replacement allows a sheet of material to be affixed in place of the glass portion of a vehicle door window. The sheet of material may also be held in place using magnetic strips, that effectively fasten the material to the metal portion of the vehicle door. The material used may be transparent, translucent, or a mesh design, that allows the free flow of air. The temporary replacement window may have a single sheet configuration, or have a bag like configuration. The single sheet configuration is placed on the outer or external side of the vehicle window, with the sheet wrapping around the window frame. An elastic strap, defined around the sheet's peripheral edge restricts the diameter of its opening to a measurement less than the window frame. A bottom elastic strip may be used to hold the bottom of the sheet against the bottom of the window frame. Another configuration uses a bag, having a mouth that is able to allow the insertion of the vehicle window frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Inventor: Bobby A. Dohle
  • Patent number: 6869123
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an instrument panel assembly (10) includes an elongate beam structure (14) and a plurality of thermoplastic energy absorbers (16) coupled to the beam structure. The instrument panel assembly also includes at least one knee bolster (116) positioned adjacent the plurality of thermoplastic energy absorbers and an instrument panel (90).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Marks, Daniel Woodman, Thomas M. Goral, Marc Stefan Black
  • Patent number: 6869128
    Abstract: A window assembly for a public transportation vehicle that permits rapid removal and replacement is disclosed. The vehicle has a sidewall with a window opening. One or more frame members are attached within the window opening. The frame members are adapted to comprise one or more apertures. One or more retainers are adhesively attached to the inner surface and towards the outer periphery of a piece of glazing. The retainers have protrusions that can extend through the apertures in the frame members and engage therewith when the piece of glazing is positioned adjacent to the window opening. Removable fasteners can be attached to the protrusions so as to detachably secure the piece of glazing and the retainers to the frame members. This allows easy removal and replacement of the piece of glazing from the window opening of the sidewall of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Transit Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Farrar, Dale Carson
  • Patent number: 6869121
    Abstract: A seat structure for a vehicle which includes a pair of side seats disposed at right and left sides of the vehicle; a center seat disposed between the pair of side seats, the center seat including a seat cushion which includes a front divided member and a rear divided member; and a first box container having an open top. The first box container may be formed, when the front divided member is moved in a front direction, by a surface of the front divided member, a front surface of the rear divided member, and a side surface of a seat cushion of each of the pair of side seats facing towards the center seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kayumi, Osamu Shirose, Shinsuke Watanabe, Yoshinori Nakamura, Ohsuke Koike
  • Patent number: 6866330
    Abstract: A cargo trailer includes a floor and a side wall extending vertically upward from a side edge of the floor. The side wall includes a plurality of generally vertical posts. Each post defines an interior surface disposed in a generally common plane and a recessed portion. A scuff band is received within the recessed portions so that at least a portion of the scuff band is outward of the common plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Great Dane Limited Partnership
    Inventors: John M. Jones, Robert H. Belew, Jr., Eric C. D'Angelo, Daniel J. McCormack, William C. Atkins
  • Patent number: 6866331
    Abstract: The present invention describes a hollow structural body such as an automotive unibody or frame rail that is reinforced with a reinforcing material such as a polyurethane foam by inserting into a portion of the structural body a bulkhead-containing insert, which, in combination with the structural body at the place of insertion, creates a containment region for the reinforcing material. Uncured reinforcing material can then be added to the containment region and cured. The present invention solves a problem in the art by providing structural reinforcement to be easily and precisely placed within the structural body to provide, for example, enhanced crash resistance or improvements in acoustical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Kropfeld
  • Patent number: 6863321
    Abstract: A bumper beam for a vehicle includes a hat beam (10) with a cover (14). The hat beam has a crown (11) and side flanges (12, 13), and the cover (14) is fastened to the side flanges. The crown is fastened to the vehicle body. The cover (14) extends past one of the side flanges (12, 13) and is stiffened by being transversely corrugated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: SSAB Hardtech AB
    Inventors: Martin Jonsson, Magnus Juntti
  • Patent number: 6863338
    Abstract: So that intake water cannot flow from a frame side member of the body structure by way of a seat cross member into an exterior side member of the vehicle, a so-called partition part is arranged between the frame side member and the seat cross member, which partition part comprises a basic part and an expansion foam arranged thereon. As a result of the effect of heat, the expansion foam can expand to such an extent that the passage surface in the seat cross member is closed off in a watertight fashion and water can no longer enter the cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventor: Rainer Stahl
  • Patent number: 6860544
    Abstract: An intermediate support for a retractable roll awning. The support is positioned between two end brackets and provides additional support. The support includes a two support surfaces for supporting the roll awning in two directions. Alternatively, the support may comprise a single curved support surface. The support surface or surfaces include an arrangement for reducing friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Dometic Corporation
    Inventor: Dale G. Malott
  • Patent number: 6860545
    Abstract: A travel trailer having a two-level chassis supporting at least two discrete floor sections at at least two different heights above the ground with at least one of those floors having a bathroom portion being supported by an upper chassis beam is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the chassis has a substantially horizontal forward upper portion and a substantially horizontal rearward lower portion, and an upper floor is secured to the upper portion and a lower floor is secured to the lower portion with an intermediate floor positioned below the upper edge of the upper portion of the chassis to a height intermediate that of the upper and lower floors. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the intermediate floor is suspended below the upper chassis portion. The area underneath the intermediate section and above the bottom of the trailer defines a storage area that is not blocked or limited in size by the width of the chassis beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: B & B Homes Corp.
    Inventors: Anthony G. Ingram, Marion B. Johnson, Terry L. Harkins
  • Patent number: 6857674
    Abstract: The articulated device (10) that is intended for filtering vibrational movements from a vehicle floor (12) and transmitted to a passenger support (19), is installed between said floor (12) and said support (19), and comprises two mounts (20) fixed to the vehicle floor (12), one mobile central part (22) articulated to the support (19), two connecting rods (24), each articulated to one of the mounts (20) and the central part (22). These five elements (20, 22, 24) are articulated to each other and to the support (19) by rotation joints, the rotations operating about five rotation axes (32, 34, 36) that are parallel to each other. The system (100) for filtering vibrational movements transmitted to a passenger support (19) comprises at least three filtering devices (10), such that the support (19) moves in translation along a plane curved trajectory. To be used for an aircraft seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventor: Philippe Chareyre
  • Patent number: 6857691
    Abstract: A front structure of a vehicle includes torque box members connecting front side frames and side sills, and front suspension member supports integrally provided on the torque box members. According to the structure of the present invention, the number of members is decreased, and the supporting rigidity of the front suspension member supports is increased. Furthermore, the geometry of the front suspension members supports is maintained by being prevented from local deformation by load application from the suspension member to the front suspension member supports. Thus, the excellent driving stability and maneuverability of the vehicle are assured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kuroda, Masanori Igarashi