Patents Examined by Melissa Ann Bonifazi
  • Patent number: 11975783
    Abstract: To simplify the configuration, decrease the number of parts, and reduce the manufacturing cost, a windshield device for a saddle-ride type vehicle includes: a screen 5 whose height is adjustable; a holder 11 holding the screen; a bracket 12 fixed to a vehicle body side member 7 and having a guide hole 71; an arm 13 arranged between the holder and the bracket; a first shaft 51 rotatably coupling the holder and the bracket and configured to move along the guide hole; a second shaft 52 arranged parallel to the first shaft and coupling the holder and one end of the arm; a third shaft 53 arranged parallel to the first shaft and coupling the bracket and another end of the arm; and an operation member 15 provided at an end portion of the first shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignees: NIFCO INC., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Naoi, Shinichiro Ishida, Naoki Hara
  • Patent number: 11976501
    Abstract: A lid urging structure includes a housing, a lid pivotally supported on the housing via a link member and switched among a closed position where the lid closes an opening in the housing, a first position in the middle of opening from the closed position, a second position located further in an opening direction, and a fully open position; and an urging member that urges the lid in a closing direction at the closed position and, when the lid is pivoted from the closing direction to the second position by overcoming the urging force, the urging direction is reversed, enables switching from the second position to the fully open position by the urging force. The urging member is formed of a plurality of springs disposed between the link member and the housing. The operating force and the urging force are adjusted by means of a balance between the springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11970122
    Abstract: A motor vehicle bumper assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a main bumper body and an actuator. The actuator includes a bracket mounted to the main bumper body, a screw jack supported by the bracket, and a trolley driven to translate by the screw jack. A lower support is mounted to the trolley. The actuator is configured to translate the lower support relative to the main bumper body from an integrated position to a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Brian Glickman, Aaron Peter Klop, Dennis Yee, Satvinder Singh Matharu
  • Patent number: 11964724
    Abstract: A fixing structure of a screen includes a front cowl configured to cover a vehicle front portion, a meter panel disposed at a rear side of the front cowl, and a screen installed between the front cowl and the meter panel. An attachment piece is formed along a front edge of the screen. A first support portion configured to support the attachment piece from a back side is formed on the meter panel. A pressing portion configured to press the attachment piece from a front side is formed on the front cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11964597
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, such as for a motor vehicle seat, adapted to be transferable from at least one use position, which is suitable for transporting a passenger, into an easy entry position as a non-use position, and back, may have a seat cushion, a backrest, and a seat frame. The seat cushion and the backrest may be coupled to the seat frame, a base and a kinematics for the articulated connection of the seat frame to the base. The kinematics may have at least one link articulated connecting the seat frame to the base. The at least one link may be lockable by a disc shaped fitting or the at least one link may be lockable with the seat frame by a locking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Adient US LLC
    Inventors: Brian S. Holder, Joseph B. A. Rajkumar, Jeffrey P. Medvecky, Mark F. Kowalski
  • Patent number: 11951921
    Abstract: A hood bumper for a vehicle having a hood including: a housing having a wall, a base, an internal chamber, and an opening to the internal chamber. The wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface. the interior surface defines the internal chamber. The hood bumper further including a biasing mechanism operably connected to the housing and a plunger operably connected to the biasing mechanism and configured to receive an exerted force from the hood. The hood bumper further including a bumper head operably connected to the housing and a support frame operably connecting the bumper head to the housing. The plunger is configured to first move into the bumper head to absorb an impact force to the hood, next the bumper head compresses to further absorb the impact force, and then the support frame collapses to even further absorb the impact force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Robert J. Kukla
  • Patent number: 11945340
    Abstract: An embodiment vehicle driver's seat structure includes a dashboard floor panel combined with a front of a center floor panel and having a shape extending in an upward inclined direction, a lower seat support installed on a top surface of the center floor panel and extending along a vehicle front-rear direction, an upper seat support installed on top of the lower seat support and underneath a driver's seat to support the driver's seat, and an upper floor horizontally connecting the upper seat support and the dashboard floor panel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Min Jeong, Seung Ho Noh
  • Patent number: 11938902
    Abstract: A sliding vehicle center console is provided. The center console may include an elongated rack, including an elongated rack, defining a plurality of teeth, a carrier member coupled to the rack, and a gearbox assembly including a pinion configured to rotate in a first or a second direction to translate the carrier member and the elongated rack from a first position to a second position. The sliding vehicle center console may also include a controller configured to change the rotation of the pinion from one of the first or second directions to the other directions, responsive to a comparison of a sensor value to a threshold condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Coburg
    Inventors: Ulf Hartmann, James Elsarelli, Michael Kidd, Andrew Lakerdas, Raymond Weir, Sarah Miller, Robert Neundorf
  • Patent number: 11926368
    Abstract: Vehicle cab suspension control systems are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the cab suspension control systems can include front cab-to-frame mounts that include controllable elastomer-based isolators that can provide real time variable damping to improve ride quality and/or road holding and reduce cab roll in response to, for example, input from one or more cab and/or frame mounted accelerometers, position sensors, etc. Embodiments of the control systems described herein can utilize a single vehicle controller (e.g., an ECU) to control all of the cab suspension components (e.g., semi-active damping technologies, air spring technologies, etc.) employed on a vehicle to provide a single suspension control solution that can provide improved ride performance, road holding, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Link Manufacturing, LTD
    Inventors: Tye B. Davis, William E. Ott
  • Patent number: 11926198
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a support structure. The vehicle also includes a side door operable to move relative to the support structure between an open position and a closed position. In the open position of the side door, access to a vehicle interior of the vehicle is provided. In the closed position of the side door, the side door extends across a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a plurality of pivot members, each pivotably coupled to the support structure at a first end and pivotably coupled to the side door at a second end. The side door is movable between the open and closed positions via pivotal movement of each of the plurality of pivot members relative to the support structure and pivotal movement of the side door relative to each of the plurality of pivot members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jesse Rene Diephuis, Michael John Harmon, Andrew Brand, Ryan Wayne Warner, Andrew Smith
  • Patent number: 11912218
    Abstract: A bumper crossmember comprising a wave structure oriented in the vertical direction (z direction), wherein the wave structure comprises at least three apex structures which extend in the bumper crossmember longitudinal direction and are adjacent in the vertical direction. This crossmember comprises a first length section that follows its longitudinal extent, at least one second length section that follows its longitudinal extent, and at least one transition section that is arranged respectively between these length sections. In the second length section, the wave structure is inverted with respect to the first length section, in that the opening direction of the apex structures switches in the transition section. In the transition section, there is at least one additional apex-forming structure, the apex of which is offset in the frontal direction (x direction) with respect to a frontal plane (yz-plane) in which at least two apex structures that are adjacent in the longitudinal sections lie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: KIRCHHOFF AUTOMOTIVE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Patrick Tlauka, Cristina Matthey, Ralf Stegmeyer, Rolf Peter Röttger, Marco Töller, Rolf Schwarzer, Stephan Lagin, Maria Schmitt, Lena Kremer
  • Patent number: 11897404
    Abstract: Bumper reinforcement produced by molding a thermoplastic material and intended to be integrated into a motor vehicle front assembly between a bumper and a technical part. The bumper reinforcement comprises at least one mounting plate that is intended to bear at least one sensor, said mounting plate being integrally formed with said bumper reinforcement and connected by its perimeter thereto via a fragile material bridge such that, in the event of a frontal impact resulting in deformation of the bumper reinforcement and impacting the mounting plate, the mounting plate detaches fully or partially from the bumper reinforcement under the effect of the rupture of the material bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE PLASTIC OMNIUM
    Inventor: Stéphane Ginja
  • Patent number: 11891122
    Abstract: Provided is a frame which is made of a fiber reinforced composite and has an increased bending strength by suppressing occurrence of buckling. The frame which is made of a fiber reinforced composite includes: a compressive wall part where a compressive stress occurs in a longitudinal direction of the frame when the frame receives a bending load in a normal direction perpendicularly intersecting the longitudinal direction; and a side wall part extending in the normal direction and defining one of corners with the compressive wall part. The compressive wall part includes a longitudinal alignment layer having reinforcement fibers aligned in the longitudinal direction. The side wall part has a surface section composed of a normal directional alignment layer having reinforcement fibers aligned in a direction different from the longitudinal direction, and serving as a differential alignment layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignees: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, NIPPON STEEL Chemical & Material Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chikara Kawamura, Tetsuya Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11885160
    Abstract: A self-aligning locking device for a vehicle sliding door assembly includes a sliding door threshold configured to be mounted on a door panel. The threshold is configured to slide along a sliding axis. The threshold includes a latch and a tongue at a car body-engaging end of the latch. The locking device also includes a groove block and a hook plate both configured to be coupled to the car body. Optionally, the locking device can include a switch sensor. The tongue of the threshold is configured to engage the groove to maintain alignment of the hook plate to mate with the latch to lock the threshold to the car body. The optional switch sensor can be configured to generate a signal indicating a locked state of the hook with the latch responsive to actuation of the switch sensor by the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Luc Vachon, Samuel Blanchard, Frédéric Augé
  • Patent number: 11872961
    Abstract: A collapsible trunk for use with a vehicle having a wheel well. The trunk comprises a base wall and a side wall pivotally connected thereto. The side wall extends from the base wall and terminates at an upper edge. The side wall and base wall collectively define a storage cavity. The base wall and the side wall each have an expandable portion conformable to the wheel well in response to placement of the base wall and the side wall over the wheel well. The trunk is selectively transitional between a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the collapsed configuration, the base panels overlap each other, and in the deployed configuration, the plurality of base panels are co-planar to each other. The upper edge of the side wall moves away from the base wall as the trunk transitions from the collapsed configuration toward the deployed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Singer
  • Patent number: 11845389
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper structure to be applied to a vehicle includes an impact absorber to be disposed on a front end side or a rear end side of the vehicle so as to extends in a vehicle width direction. The impact absorber includes small reaction section and a large reaction section. The small reaction section is to be disposed on an outer end side in the vehicle width direction. The small reaction section is configured to generate a predetermined reaction against a colliding object. The large reaction section is to be disposed on an inner side of the small reaction section in the vehicle width direction. The large reaction section is adjacent to the small reaction section. The large reaction section is configured to generate a larger reaction against the colliding object than the predetermined reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuta Kishi, Wataru Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 11827133
    Abstract: A console assembly for use in a vehicle provided with a floor. The console assembly includes a guide member, coupled to the vehicle floor, a moving portion, a gearbox assembly, a transmission assembly, and a disengaging device. The gearbox assembly includes a gear configured to rotate about a rotational axis in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction to move the moving portion between a first position and a second position. The transmission assembly is configured to operate in a number of operating states, including an engaged state and a disengaged state. The disengaging device is configured to change the operating state of the transmission assembly between the engaged state and the operating state so that the moving portion is movable while the transmission assembly is in the disengaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE SE & CO. KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT, COBURG
    Inventor: James Elsarelli
  • Patent number: 11827277
    Abstract: A structural reinforcement comprising a rigid polymeric structure having a longitudinal axis and including a first portion having an opening for connecting the structure to a secondary surface and a second portion including a stop device having a terminal end that extends beyond any other surface of the structure, a fastening device for locating into the opening an adhesive associated with one or more of the first and second portion, wherein at least a section of the second portion lies in a plane that is skew to a plane in which the first portion lies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Zephyros, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Deachin, Eric White
  • Patent number: 11807178
    Abstract: A cross member for a bumper beam includes an outer beam, an inner reinforcement element extending inside at least a part of the outer beam inner volume and comprising at least two reinforcement ribs protruding towards the front beam wall, the reinforcement ribs being connected together at least at their back end, opposite to the front beam wall, by an upper transversal branch and a lower transversal branch, the upper and lower transversal branches being attached respectively to the upper and lower beam flanges of the outer beam, wherein each reinforcement rib abuts the front beam wall and the length of the upper transversal branch is less than the length of the upper beam wall and the length of the lower transversal branch is less than the length of the lower beam wall, the lengths being measured in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: ArcelorMittal
    Inventors: Elie Gibeau, Yannis Kheyati, Nabil Menegady
  • Patent number: 11801800
    Abstract: An energy absorbing device is designed to increase the amount of absorbed energy and control the deformation of the device in case of an impact. The energy absorbing device consists in a hollow longitudinal member extending along a first longitudinal axis and a longitudinal guide extending along a second longitudinal axis, arranged within the longitudinal member and suitable for guiding the deformation of the longitudinal member in case of an impact. The length ratio between the longitudinal guide and the member is comprised between the values of 1/5 and 3/5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: ARCELORMITTAL
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Colmont, Thierry Derchu, Sébastien Albeaux, Guillaume De Taillac