Abstract: A trim element for a tailgate of a motor vehicle. A receptacle is formed in the trim element which is open towards an inside of the vehicle and in which a warning triangle received in a case can be placed or is placed. The receptacle has: a rear wall portion having at least one elastic clamping element; two front restraining portions; a support portion; and the clamping element, the front restraining portions and the support portion are designed in such a way that they are in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection with the case when the warning triangle is placed. The rear wall portion has a guide portion above the clamping element which is curved concavely towards the inside of the vehicle and along which the case of the warning triangle can be introduced into or removed from the receptacle.
Abstract: A modular aerodynamic system for a vehicle includes multiple nozzles that generate airsheets. The airflow from the nozzles may be controlled separately. Thus, the nozzles collectively enable granular control of the overall air velocity profile around (e.g., behind) the vehicle. The airsheet configuration may allow the system to control the wake behind the vehicle for various purposes, such as drag reduction, stabilization, and/or breaking. The overall air velocity profile may increase the back pressure of the vehicle, reducing energy consumption. The system may also move the center of pressure and changing the dynamic response of the vehicle to other external forces. These changes may be implemented dynamically in response to aerodynamic/dynamic changes.
Abstract: A motor vehicle has a rear diffuser which includes a diffuser element which can be moved into a diffuser position in order to influence a driving behavior of the motor vehicle in respect of vehicle downforce and air resistance. The diffuser element, in a closed position, covers an opening of a hitch device, which is exposed by the diffuser element in an open position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 30, 2021
Date of Patent:
October 3, 2023
Inventors:
Sven Wallrabe, Ilya Senchenkov, Dominik Beierl
Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to an active diffuser mechanism for a vehicle comprising a mounting mechanism for connecting a diffuser body to a body of a vehicle such that the diffuser body is moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position in which an airflow surface of the diffuser body is spaced further away from the body of the vehicle than in the stowed position. The mounting mechanism comprises a linkage mechanism configured such that the diffuser body follows a linear translation path and a rotational path during movement from the stowed position to the deployed position. Aspects of the present invention also related to an active diffuser assembly, an active diffuser system and a vehicle comprising such an active diffuser mechanism.
Abstract: An embodiment front vehicle body structure includes an underbody, an upper body coupled to the underbody, a front cowl disposed in front of the upper body, and a cowl support unit connected to the front cowl through a front pillar and a front side member of the upper body. An embodiment cowl support unit includes a cowl lower cross member connected to a front of the front side member along a vehicle width direction, a cowl lower support connected to the cowl lower cross member and the front cowl, and a cowl upper side support connecting an upper portion of the front pillar and the front cowl.
Abstract: An aerodynamic skirt assembly is described therein, the aerodynamic skirt assembly comprising a ribbed skirt panel with at least one rib associated with the ribbed skirt panel to alter mechanical properties of the ribbed skirt panel, wherein the rib is providing a longitudinal stiffness of a thinner ribbed skirt panel that is comparable to a thicker non-ribbed skirt panel while allowing momentarily elastic deformation of the ribbed skirt panel when the ribbed skirt panel is contacting a foreign object while returning automatically to a non-deformed configuration when the ribbed skirt panel is not contacting the foreign object.
Abstract: The purpose of this device is to reduce the fuel consumption of heavy trucks by improving airflow past trailer axles. Rather than restrict airflow to the side of the vehicle, diffusers streamline its aerodynamic profile and allow air to flow smoothly beneath. A series of panels mounted to each axle of a truck and trailer forms a substantially continuous surface from the front to the rear axle, promoting laminar flow to the aft of the vehicle, minimizing the effect of suction drag.
Abstract: Vertical bars extend downwardly from the structural siderails of a trailer frame to a guard bar extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the trailer, thus forming a side underride guard. Two side underride guards are fixed to the structural siderails of the trailer. The guard bars are located vertically below the bed of the trailer to have an effective ground clearance of twenty-seven inches. Lateral bracing of each guard bar extends from the guard bar to the structural siderail across the trailer. Bracing at the trailing end of the side underride guards employs a K-brace to provide an air brake hose non-chafing zone. The K-brace is displaced from the trailer bed.
Abstract: A sun visor system includes multiple visors to provide selective window coverage for glare. This system can be employed on the driver side, passenger side, or both. The second visor (50), having pivotal device (56) on support rod (54), can be easily connected to the first visor (20) support rod (24) to provide pivotal movements between the windshield and side window. These visors, first and second, can be moved together or separately to stored positions, windshield and side window blocked positions, or combinations of both positions to provide window protection from glare quickly and easily for windshield, side window, or both. Also support rod of the visor can be made of flexible material, like gooseneck arm, to further provide flexible adjustments of visor to desired positions to block glare from different angles or positions of vehicle window. This adjustable visor system can be applied to a single sun visor system or multiple visors system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 22, 2013
Date of Patent:
November 3, 2015
Inventors:
Der-Gao Lin, Wonchon Lin, Won-Yi Lin, Liao Yu-Hua Lin
Abstract: An integrated structural system for a vehicle, the system having: a structural member; a means for securing a first beam component to the structural member, the first beam component being molded from a first amount of thermoplastic material; and a means for securing a second beam component to the first beam component, the second beam component being separately molded from a second amount of thermoplastic material, the second beam component having a configuration different from the first beam component.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 20, 2012
Date of Patent:
July 21, 2015
Assignee:
INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
Inventors:
Edward J. Wenzel, Robert Van Jaarsveld, Ronald Widin, Joseph A. Bertucci, Gregory J. Kowalski
Abstract: A bench for a vehicle is provided, which bench comprises at least two seats that are arranged next to one another and are connected to one another. Provision is made for one of the at least two seats to act as a base seat that has at least one locking unit for the purpose of connection to a vehicle floor of a vehicle body, while the at least one other seat hovers above a vehicle floor since the other seat is reversibly connected solely to the base seat.
Abstract: A side-support structure mounted over an upper side portion of a vehicle includes an upper horizontal portion attached to a portion of the roof of the vehicle. A central arcuate portion of the side-support structure is attached to a portion of the vehicle between the roof and the side-pillar of the vehicle. The side-support structure also includes a lower vertical portion attached to an upper portion of the side-pillar of the vehicle.
Abstract: An adjustable automobile shade cover and a method for covering the windows of a vehicle are disclosed. The shade cover includes a flexible and collapsible shade panel covering the windshield, the window and passenger compartment of the vehicle to provide temporary shading from the sun and other weather elements, and is adjustably anchored to the closed trunk on one end of the shade panel, and to a front or side area of the vehicle on the other end of the shade panel.
Abstract: The sliding device (1), in particular for vehicle sun visor (2), arranged so as to pivot about a rod (3) intended to be connected to a stationary element such as, in particular, the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The sliding device (1) comprises a sliding carriage (4) slidably mounted inside a tubular profile member (6). The sliding carriage (4) and the tubular profile member (6) comprise respectively complementary male and female fitting members with a substantially triangular cross-section that define at least two bearing surfaces of the sliding carriage (4) on the tubular profile member (6) in the direction of the return force of the return member (7). The bearing surfaces are symmetrical and inclined by an angle (?) with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry (P) of the sliding device (1).
Abstract: A vehicle pillar structure includes a reinforcement that is provided in a vehicle pillar and that includes a buckling portion and a strain reducing face portion, wherein the buckling portion serves as a starting point of buckling; and the strain reducing face portion is adjacent to the buckling portion in a lateral direction of the reinforcement and reduces strain that occurs when the buckling.
Abstract: An interior deck system of a trailer includes a side rail configured to be coupled to an inner surface of a sidewall of the trailer and a panel coupled to the side rail. The panel is movable between a generally vertical, stowed position and a generally horizontal, use position. The interior deck system further includes a hinge assembly including a hinge butt coupled to the side rail and a hinge strap coupled to the panel.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 9, 2013
Date of Patent:
November 25, 2014
Assignee:
Wabash National, L.P.
Inventors:
Danny L. Gilbert, James B. Brown, Todd Blaising
Abstract: A selectively detachable fender brace system includes a structural fender assembly comprising an outer fender panel comprising an outer upper attachment flange having a brace bore disposed therein and an inner fender panel comprising an inner upper attachment flange having a first blind slot extending inwardly toward an engine compartment and rearwardly to a first slot opening, the inner fender panel attached to the outer fender panel with the inner upper attachment flange disposed below the outer upper attachment flange and brace bore proximate the first blind slot; a brace comprising a fender end having a fender bore extending therethrough and an opposed wall end that is detachably attached to a cross-vehicle wall of the engine compartment; and a threaded fastener that is disposed through the brace bore, first blind slot and fender bore configured to apply a predetermined clamping force and forming a selectively detachable fender attachment joint.
Abstract: A vehicle body structure in which a vehicle body including an upper vehicle body and a lower vehicle body that are joined is constituted in whole or in part by a fiber-reinforced composite material, metal members are inserted into the respective upper vehicle body and lower vehicle body, the metal members being fastened to each other to form a joint portion, and at least two functional components are attached to the joint portion.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 2, 2013
Date of Patent:
November 11, 2014
Assignee:
Teijin Limited
Inventors:
Koji Suzuki, Yutaka Yagi, Tadashi Yamaji, Masatomo Teshima
Abstract: A tailgate for an associated automotive vehicle. The tailgate is coupled via a rod to a motor. The tailgate includes a frame having a point of attachment to the rod. The rod passes through an opening in the vehicle body. The rod has a longitudinal axis that travels in a substantially linear axial direction in the region passing through the opening when the tailgate moves from a closed to an open position and vice versa.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2013
Date of Patent:
November 11, 2014
Assignee:
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Inventors:
Jacob Ivan Wasser, Makoto Watanabe, Travis Lonas