Patents Examined by Lori Lyjak
  • Patent number: 11919483
    Abstract: A shelving system includes side members that each define a first channel having a slide disposed therein. A cross member extends between and connects the slides. The cross member defines a second channel having a guide member disposed therein. The guide member defines a third channel and a flange. A container includes side walls having a rail. One of the rails is movably disposed in the third channel. The rails include a first locking element and a second locking element. The handle includes a third locking element that engages the first locking element. The handle is movable between a first position in which the second locking element engages the flange and the container is fixed relative to the guide member and a second position in which the second locking element is spaced apart from the flange and the container can translate relative to the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Dejana Truck & Utility Equipment Co. Inc.
    Inventor: Charles L. Hanley
  • Patent number: 11919578
    Abstract: A movable wing assembly has a wing capable of moving laterally (left or right) on a vehicle as the vehicle is being driven such the positioning of the wing on the assembly corresponds to the optimum or desired downforce required by the vehicle for the driving action undertaking by the vehicle at that time, e.g. if cornering to the left the wing is positioned to the left on the assembly or if cornering to the right the wing is positioned to the right on the assembly or if driving straight the wing is positioned midway on the assembly. The wing is attached to a carriage moveable on a elongate beam mounted to a vehicle such that the wing is able to move relative to the vehicle as the vehicle is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: SHIFT WINGS LIMITED
    Inventor: Nicholas Gerard Maarhuis
  • Patent number: 11919426
    Abstract: An in-vehicle seat includes a seat back, a seat cushion, and an anchor for fixing a child seat. The seat cushion has a seat cushion base, a seat cushion pad that is removable from the seat cushion, and a supporting panel. The supporting panel is provided between the seat cushion base and the seat cushion pad, and serves as a placement face for the child seat. The anchor is provided at a position at which the anchor is covered and hidden by the seat cushion pad, and at which the anchor is externally exposed when the seat cushion pad is removed from the seat cushion. A guide groove that guides a linking portion protruding from the child seat to the anchor is provided in the supporting panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiichi Kondo, Kazuhisa Niimi, Ryo Sato
  • Patent number: 11912347
    Abstract: A method for reducing an amount of aerodynamic drag generated within a rear area of a vehicle may include attaching a plurality of devices to a surface of the vehicle, the plurality of devices being positioned such that at least two of the plurality of devices are parallel to each other, where each of the plurality of devices includes flat and tapered surface regions, the device is positioned in the rear area of the vehicle, and the at least two of the plurality of devices cause an air stream passing between the at least two of the plurality of devices to increase in speed before the air stream is turned inward to a vacuum formed behind the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: FORE TRANSIT INC.
    Inventors: Ryan Matthew Logsdon, Radin Rahimzadeh
  • Patent number: 11912116
    Abstract: A tarpaulin superstructure is provided for use with a movable substructure, such as a truck, a trailer, a semitrailer, a railway wagon, a dump truck, or a container. The tarpaulin superstructure includes a top frame to which a tarpaulin made of weather-resistant material can be attached, where the top frame has multiple struts which can be moved along one or more guides, and where the end of the top frame has an end runner which can be raised to open the superstructure and lowered to close the superstructure. A tarpaulin superstructure is also provided where the end runner is not lifted by the airstream, as an air deflection part is arranged at an end of the end runner so that the airstream is converted into a force in the closing direction of the end runner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: EUROPEAN TRAILER SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Leukers, Mathias Ludwig
  • Patent number: 11912348
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a sensor arrangement configured to sense one or more regions proximate to an exterior of the vehicle, and a controller configured to process signals generated by the sensor arrangement and to detect and generate a geometric profile of a trailer in the one or more regions proximate to the exterior of the vehicle, the controller further determining an air resistance of the trailer based on the geometric profile and calculating an expected driving range of the vehicle based on the detected air resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Darren Palmer, Ryan O'Gorman, Peter Phung, Katherine Howard-Cone
  • Patent number: 11904956
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rear spoiler arrangement (3) including a displaceable air-guiding element (4) and a lower shell (5), wherein the lower shell (5) is arranged on a rear component (6) of a motor vehicle (1), wherein the air-guiding element (4) is arranged displaceably above the lower shell (5), and wherein the lower side of the lower shell (5) has a lip (9) which is composed of an elastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Thomas Huebener
  • Patent number: 11904954
    Abstract: A skirt assembly adapted for use on a motor vehicle including a first panel that is pivotally attached to the motor vehicle, a second panel that is pivotally attached to the first panel, a first rod that is pivotally attached to the first panel, a second rod that is pivotally attached to the second panel, a first actuator that is pivotally attached to the motor vehicle and pivotally attached to the first panel and the second panel. The first actuator is adapted to move between a retracted position and an extended position, and the skirt assembly is adapted to be moved between an open position and a closed position when the first actuator moves between the extended position and the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Barry Andersen
  • Patent number: 11904955
    Abstract: An active aerodynamic assembly that includes a lift gate having a cavity formed between two panels. An aperture of formed on the outer panel providing access to the cavity. A frame connected to the lift gate within the cavity. A spoiler slidably connected to the frame and moveable along the deployment axis between a stowed position and a deployed position. At least one coupler link connected between the spoiler and the frame that is driven by the actuator along one of the plurality of tracks on the frame. There is also a moveable D pillar contained with the cavity that moves between a stowed position within the cavity and an extended position such that a winglet of the moveable D pillar extends outside of the cavity past the outside surface of the lift gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: MAGNA EXTERIORS, INC.
    Inventors: Braendon R. Lindberg, Michael Cowan, Ted E. Peterson
  • Patent number: 11904730
    Abstract: Removable seats and lawnmowers with removable seats are provided. A lawnmower includes a frame; a walking element coupled to the frame to move the lawnmower relative to an underlying ground surface; and a seat selectively coupled to the frame, the seat including: one or more rails; a lower support adjustably coupled to the one or more rails; a backrest coupled to the lower support; and a latch coupled to the lower support through at least one of the one or more rails, the latch being selectively engageable with the frame to maintain the seat in a riding position, wherein the seat is removable from the frame by rotating the seat about a horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Techtronic Cordless GP
    Inventors: Trent J. Dingman, Michael Feng
  • Patent number: 11897547
    Abstract: An active liftgate spoiler used on a liftgate of a vehicle. The liftgate has an upper surface and is typically a rear liftgate or hatch on the rear side of the vehicle. A housing is connected to the upper surface of the liftgate. There is a moveable panel connected to the housing using a connection. The connection is formed by a four bar linkage that forms a portion of the connection between the moveable panel and the housing. An actuator, which in one embodiment is a single rotary actuator is connected to the four bar linkage and causes the movement of the moveable panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Magna Exteriors Inc.
    Inventors: Braendon R. Lindberg, Michael Cowan, Martin R. Matthews, Anthony J. Povinelli, Larry Erickson, Michael McAfee
  • Patent number: 11897546
    Abstract: A delivery system for delivery items includes sidewalls that define a cargo space. A retention assembly is operably coupled to the sidewalls. The retention assembly includes a housing and a retention feature that is operably coupled to the housing. The retention feature has an attachment portion and a control unit that is operably coupled with the retention feature. A controller is communicatively coupled to the control unit of the retention assembly, and a memory storage is communicatively coupled with the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Young-Chae Hong, Kurt Michael Lundeen
  • Patent number: 11891126
    Abstract: A vehicle having a vehicle body including a front portion, an opposing rear end portion and an underbody portion configured to face a road surface; and an active diffuser assembly disposed on the underbody portion and configured to control ambient airflow passing under the vehicle body. The active diffuser assembly includes a fixed panel disposed on the vehicle underbody; a movable active panel disposed adjacent the fixed panel and configured for selective movement to be deployed away from the vehicle body and to be retracted toward the vehicle body for stowage; and an actuator configured to deploy and retract the movable active panel, the fixed panel and the movable active panel defining a continuous plane when the movable panel is in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pirooz Moradnia, Matthew L. Metka, Benjamin Bowlby, Connor J. Torris, David J. Rose, Pratap Thamanna Rao
  • Patent number: 11891127
    Abstract: A drag reduction spoiler for a vehicle includes a fixed portion configured for attachment to the vehicle and an extendable top portion configured for movement relative to the fixed portion, the extendable top portion includes a first top portion and a second top portion. The drag reduction spoiler further includes first and second side spoiler portions configured for movement relative to the vehicle, and at least one actuator configured to deploy the extendable top portion, the at least one actuator being secured to the first top portion. The first top portion includes a first engagement element and the second top portion includes a second engagement element, the first engagement element being configured to engage the second engagement element when the first top portion is deployed by the at least one actuator such that the first top portion draws the second top portion outwardly as the first top portion is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: David J. Rose, Matthew L. Metka
  • Patent number: 11891128
    Abstract: A vehicle spat device includes: a spat that rotatably supported by a first rotation shaft and configured to be displaced between a deployment position and a storage position; and a link unit transmitting power of an actuator to the spat. The link unit includes a drive link rotating integrally with a drive shaft when the actuator is driven, and an intermediate link connected to the spat via a second rotation shaft and connected to the drive link via a third rotation shaft. The drive link rotates around the drive shaft between a first position where the spat is disposed at the storage position and a second position where the spat is disposed at the deployment position. In the drive link, the first position is a position rotated from a first neutral position in a first rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryota Tachi, Kenji Hori, Shuhei Uchida
  • Patent number: 11891125
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an active air flap for vehicles, which includes a frame unit having a hollow structure in which horizontal and vertical frames thereof are connected to each other, and configured to fluidly communicate with an outside air inlet of a grill, a flap unit having a plurality of flap members rotatably connected to the frame unit and configured to open and close the outside air inlet, a drive unit configured to provide a driving force to the flap unit, and a link unit connected between the flap unit and the drive unit to transmit the driving force from the drive unit to the flap unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Sup Byun, Kyeong Am Lee
  • Patent number: 11884336
    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: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: DEJANA TRUCK AND UTILITY EQUIPMENT CO., INC.
    Inventor: Charles L. Hanley
  • Patent number: 11878636
    Abstract: An automotive interior component is provided which includes: an infrared sensor that includes an emission unit and a reception unit, the emission unit emitting infrared rays to an object, and the reception unit receiving the infrared rays reflected by the object; a molded body in which the infrared sensor is installed; and a surface material disposed so as to cover the infrared sensor, the surface material transmitting the infrared rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: NISSHA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chuzo Taniguchi, Tatsuo Ito, Yasuhide Fukada, Daichi Hama, Eiji Kawashima
  • Patent number: 11878637
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle body, a side curtain airbag mounted by the vehicle body, and a roof lining mounted to the vehicle body via an attachment structure. The attachment structure includes a bracket fastened to the vehicle body and the roof lining includes a mating hole aligned with the bracket. A cap at least partially received within the mating hole from an exterior surface of the roof lining is directly fastened to the bracket. A cover for covering the mating hole from the exterior surface of the roof lining is connected to the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: John F. Howard, Jr., Akira Miyazaki, Carlington G. Demetrius
  • Patent number: 11866102
    Abstract: A spoiler apparatus for a vehicle has a spoiler blade that is pivotally mounted about a transverse vehicle axis. An electric motor moves the spoiler blade between operating positions. The spoiler blade has a first mounting location on each end and is pivotally mounted there on the spoiler housing by way of a hinge. The hinges are advantageously each formed by an arched hinge lever, the hinge lever being rotatably mounted on one end on the spoiler housing fixed to the vehicle and mounted on the other end on the spoiler blade for conjoint rotation. Viewed transversely to the direction of the vehicle, the electric motor is fixed on the spoiler housing between the first mounting locations and, by way of a toggle lever mechanism, is operatively connected thereto in a second mounting location of the spoiler blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andre Hofmann, Marcel Klopp, Ingo Lanfer