Patents Examined by Lori L. Lyjak
  • Patent number: 11325650
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a fender apron member, a shock absorber housing joined to the fender apron member, and a side reinforcement member configured to connect the fender apron member and the shock absorber housing to a lower side of a front pillar and reinforce a side surface of an engine room, wherein the shock absorber housing and the side reinforcement member comprise stepped joining portions corresponding to and joined to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Deok Hwa Hong, Hee Seouk Chung, Byeongcheon Lee, Hyunsik Kim
  • Patent number: 11325661
    Abstract: An apparatus for a trailer is provided that has a top fairing configured for being mounted to a top surface of the trailer at a location closer to the back of the trailer than the front of the trailer. The trailer has a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and a vertical direction. First and second side fairings are also included and are configured for being mounted to respective first and second side surfaces of the trailer. Additionally, first and second trailer skirts are configured for being carried by the trailer and are part of the apparatus. First and second trailer rear skirts are likewise included and are located rearward of the first and second trailer skirts. The combination of components provides aerodynamic benefit to the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Calvin Rhett Bradley
  • Patent number: 11325663
    Abstract: A car having: a passenger compartment; a body surrounding the passenger compartment and having: a roof, a tail provided with a rear bumper, and a joining portion connecting the 5 roof to the tail; a rear spoiler, which is arranged at the end of the joining portion in the area of the tail; and a deflector panel, which is arranged on the joining portion, is directly hit by an air flow brushing the joining portion during the travel and is mounted in a movable manner so as 10 to move between a rest position, in which the deflector panel rests on the joining portion, and an active position, in which the deflector panel is lifted and spaced apart from the joining portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: FERRARI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Matteo Biancalana, Salvatore Sedda
  • Patent number: 11312418
    Abstract: A subframe arranged below a power plant room located in a forward part of a vehicle includes: a left-right pair of extension members extending in a vehicle front-rear direction; a rear member connected to rear end portions of the extension members and extending in a vehicle width direction; and U-shaped brackets respectively attached to front portions of the extension members and each extending downward and inclined forward in side view. The extension members each have left and right side faces spaced apart in the vehicle width direction. Each of the U-shaped brackets is made from a flat plate and includes a left-right pair of connection portions respectively connected to the left and right side faces of the corresponding one of the extension members. Each of the U-shaped brackets has a bottom face portion having a sloped surface that rises upward as the sloped surface extends forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato Takahashi, Takuto Sakai
  • Patent number: 11312428
    Abstract: An active wing apparatus for a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a deployable wing assembly and a lifting means for lifting the assembly when the assembly is deployed. The lifting means comprises two lifting arms each having a first end pivotably coupled to a mounting portion, and a second end pivotably coupled to the wing assembly. The apparatus further comprises a cover panel below the wing assembly arranged to be raised and lowered. The lifting arms are configured to protrude through apertures in the cover panel to enable connection of the wing assembly to the body of the vehicle. The cover panel further comprises a pair of infill cover panels slidably coupled to the cover panel and movable between open and closed conditions. When the apparatus is in a stowed condition, the infill panels assume an open position, and when in a deployed condition, the infill panels assume a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventor: Ian Bossons
  • Patent number: 11312426
    Abstract: A fairing includes a first part including a wall having and a top flange extending from the wall. A second part of the fairing includes a body and a bottom flange extending from the body. The bottom flange is configured to engage the top flange to couple the second part to the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: DEJANA TRUCK AND UTILITY EQUIPMENT CO., INC.
    Inventor: Charles L. Hanley
  • Patent number: 11312279
    Abstract: A bus structure, optionally an electric bus structure for one hundred passengers or more. The bus structure includes: a passenger compartment, a side wall with a vertical post and delimiting the passenger compartment, a horizontal support, a vertical handle—or stanchion—along the vertical post and projecting from the horizontal support, a strut projecting from the vertical post to the horizontal support, and a floor structure of reduced thickness. The strut defines a triangle with the wheel housing and the vertical post. The strut is straight or curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: ALPHA EC INDUSTRIES 2018 S.À.R.L.
    Inventor: Jørgen Hallundbæk
  • Patent number: 11312417
    Abstract: A rigidity reinforcement structure of the rear underbody of a vehicle may include: a transverse member disposed in the width direction of the vehicle at a site adjacent to the rear end of the vehicle; a rearside member disposed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and having a rear end located below the transverse member; and a transverse reinforcement member formed in the vertical direction of the vehicle and having an upper portion bonded to the transverse member and a lower portion bonded to the rearside member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hyung-Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 11312427
    Abstract: An active wing apparatus for a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a deployable wing assembly and a lifting mechanism configured to lift the assembly. The lifting mechanism comprises at least two lifting arms each having first and second ends, the second end being pivotably coupled to the assembly, the first end being pivotably coupled to a mounting portion. The second ends are coupled to the assembly and arranged to move with respect to the assembly. Each arm is provided with a revolute side arm pivotably coupled at a first end to a respective lever arm at a side arm lever arm pivot, a second end of each side arm being pivotably coupled to a primary wing portion at a side arm wing pivot. The side arms are arranged to rotate with respect to the respective lever arm in a scissoring manner when the apparatus deploys to the deployed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventor: Ian Bossons
  • Patent number: 11305825
    Abstract: An illustrated view of a tailgate gap prevention device for preventing a gap between a tailgate and a box of a vehicle. The tailgate gap prevention device is useful for preventing debris, ice, snow, etc. from falling into and being trapped in the gap between the tailgate and the box of the vehicle. The tailgate prevention device provides a quick, easy and safe cleanup of the truck box where the gap is not collecting debris, ice, snow etc. The tailgate gap prevention device has a tailgate bridge and a plurality of hinges. The hinges are screwed onto the tailgate bridge and onto the box of a vehicle. Once installed, spring-loaded hinges will cause the tailgate bridge to slide into position preventing the gap from debris, ice, snow, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventor: Kevin Juchmes
  • Patent number: 11305827
    Abstract: An fairing for a trailer is provided that has a transition zone with a corrugation receiving feature that defines a corrugation receiving void that increases in size forward to rearward in a longitudinal direction of the fairing. The corrugation receiving void receives a corrugation of the trailer. A main portion is also present and extends rearward from the transition zone in the longitudinal direction. The transition zone and the main portion define an aerodynamic surface of the fairing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Parker Baxter
  • Patent number: 11305818
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle body front structure capable of suppressing load concentration in a collision body and preventing local deformation of the collision body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironao Yashiro, Tatsuya Manabe
  • Patent number: 11305822
    Abstract: A liftgate arrangement including a thermoplastic inner panel with an outer surface and an inner surface. The liftgate arrangement further includes one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements connected to and extending across a portion of the outer surface of the inner panel. The one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements also includes a channel extending between two openings on the one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements. The one or more carbon fiber sheet mold compound reinforcements are used to strengthen the inner panel at desired locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA EXTERIORS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher John Kuntze, Mark P. Birka, Sinisa Andrasic, Scott Varisto, William J. J. Harney
  • Patent number: 11299217
    Abstract: A pivoting cover and cover system are shown and described. In some examples, a vehicle trailer system and a pivoting cab extender apparatus, system, kit, methods, and assembly for protecting the vehicle and vehicle parts while economically and safely covering a gap between the cab and the trailer are shown and described. In some examples the inventions may be considered a hinged wind deflector for minimizing a trailer gap and, also minimizing vehicle damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventors: Mark Timothy James, Christopher Ryan Leroux
  • Patent number: 11299210
    Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a vehicle is provided that includes: a body; a drive system configured to propel the body; and a front motor compartment formed within the body, the front motor compartment including: a first shock tower; a second shock tower; and a structural integration brace for a vehicle, including: a first end attached to a first shock tower of the vehicle; and a second end attached to a second shock tower of the vehicle; wherein the structural integration brace extends between the first end and the second end, generating a load path therebetween within the front motor compartment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bradley Leier, Mark A. Stebbins, Joung Min Choi
  • Patent number: 11292311
    Abstract: A front upper suspension connection for a space frame comprises a bottom surface fixedly attachable to a front lower suspension connection; a top rear mounting surface fixedly attachable to a front upper frame connection; a top front mounting surface fixedly attachable to a first elongate support member; a front strut attachment point located below the top rear mounting surface and the top front mounting surface to pivotably attach a front strut; and a lower rear mounting surface located below the top rear mounting surface fixedly attachable to a second elongate support member. The front strut attachment point can include a hole passing through the top rear mounting surface, a coaxial hole passing through the top front mounting surface, and a front strut attachment pin configured to pass through the top rear mounting surface, the top front mounting surface, and a top mounting hole integral to the front strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Tad W. Miller
  • Patent number: 11292536
    Abstract: An apparatus for a trailer is provided that has a top fairing configured for being mounted to a top surface of the trailer at a location closer to the back of the trailer than the front of the trailer. The trailer has a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and a vertical direction. A side fairing is also present and is configured for being mounted to a side surface of the trailer. The top fairing engages the side fairing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Calvin Rhett Bradley, Justin Kane Morgan
  • Patent number: 11285789
    Abstract: A modular retractable door assembly for open-air vehicle and method of articulation during stowage and deployment. The assembly is operable with an open-air vehicle to selectively cover and uncover the passenger side openings of the vehicle with doors and rear panels that pivot and slide inwardly and outwardly to selectively cover passenger side openings in the vehicle, and stow away in a roof enclosure. Two doors and two rear panels hingedly articulate between a deployed position covering the passenger openings; and a stowed position stowed on a pair of stacked rails inside a roof enclosure. The door and rear panel operate independently of each other. Multiple upper hinge members allow the doors and rear panels to pivot about a longitudinal roof support members of the vehicle. The door and rear panels slide in and out of the roof enclosure along traversing roof support members inside the roof enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventor: Michael P Held
  • Patent number: 11286010
    Abstract: A pickup truck includes a cab having a rear wall and a rear window positioned in the rear wall. An airflow duct extends along a portion of the cab. The airflow duct has an inlet and an outlet and defines an airflow passage extending between the inlet and the outlet. The outlet is positioned rearwardly of the cab and within a space defined by a first horizontal plane extending through an edge of the rear window and a second horizontal plane spaced apart a predetermined distance from the first horizontal plane in a direction away from the rear window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paxton S. Williams, Scott Louis Frederick, Colby Steven Williams
  • Patent number: 11279306
    Abstract: A front end structure for a vehicle includes a front end body having a front end surface and a grille body having a plurality of openings. The grille body is mounted to be movable with respect to the front end body. The grille body is movable between a position close to the front end surface of the front end body and a position recessed from the front end surface of the front end body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Myeong Woo Park, Jai Hak Kim