Patents Examined by Melissa Ann Bonifazi
  • Patent number: 11591030
    Abstract: An endgate assembly includes a body and a quick-release receptacle. The body includes a first side and a second side opposing each other. The first side of the body defines a compartment accessible from the first side and spaced from the second side. The quick-release receptacle includes a platform. The quick-release receptacle is movable between a stowed position in which the quick-release receptacle is attached to the body within the compartment such that the platform and the first side cooperate to close the compartment, and a detached position in which the quick-release receptacle is released from the body to remove the quick-release receptacle from the compartment. A vehicle includes a cargo area and the endgate assembly as discussed above. The cargo area includes a floor, a first sidewall disposed transverse to the floor, and a second sidewall disposed transverse to the floor. The endgate assembly is coupled to the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Peter M. Snede, Derek L. Patterson
  • Patent number: 11584203
    Abstract: A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes, among other things, a frame sub-assembly that includes a driver side section, a passenger side section, and a connection member coupling the driver side section to the passenger side section. The assembly further includes a door sub-assembly disposed between the driver side section and the passenger side section. The door sub-assembly and the frame sub-assembly are pivotable together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a second axis between a door closed position and a door open position. The door sub-assembly in the door open position provides a cargo bed access opening that extends vertically downward at least as far as a floor of the cargo bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adrian Nania, Amol Borkar
  • Patent number: 11584311
    Abstract: An interior trim panel for a vehicle interior. The panel includes an air distributing member for distributing the air, a first air distribution channel for distributing the airflow from the air distributing member into the vehicle interior. A canopy is configured to partly cover an accessory arranged on the interior trim panel. Further, the interior trim panel includes a second air distribution channel configured in a gap formed between the canopy and the accessory for distributing the airflow from the air distributing member. Further, the air distributing from the second distribution channel is deviated towards the vehicle interior by a curved extension of the canopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventor: Firoz Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 11577667
    Abstract: A badge mounting system that helps promote proper installation of different badges for different vehicle trim variants. The system utilizes a set of trim assembly components that include: a badge having a plurality of badge studs protruding rearwardly in a first pattern; a trim layer having a plurality of trim holes corresponding to the plurality of badge studs and arranged in the first pattern; and a backing plate having a backing plate body with an outer perimeter circumscribing a plurality of recesses extending into the backing plate body, wherein the plurality of badge studs mate with a subset of the plurality of recesses that together form the first pattern, and wherein the first pattern of badge studs is arranged such that the badge can be mounted to the backing plate through the trim layer in only a single orientation of the badge relative to the trim layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, LLC
    Inventor: Sachin Ubale
  • Patent number: 11577665
    Abstract: A urethane and graphene interior trim panel is provided. In another aspect, the interior trim panel may be an automotive vehicle instrument panel, airbag cover, door trim panel, center console, knee bolster, seat mechanism cover, pillar cover or the like. A further aspect includes a graphene infused thermoplastic polyurethane compound and more particularly a TPU-graphene composition or mixture which can be ground, molded and then used in vehicle interior applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: CpK Interior Products
    Inventors: Murali Mohan Reddy, Gregory James Farrar
  • Patent number: 11572027
    Abstract: A bumper reinforcement includes a bumper reinforcement body, a first extension portion, a second extension portion, and a weakened portion. The bumper reinforcement body is molded from a synthetic resin material, a length of the bumper reinforcement body extends in a vehicle width direction. The first extension portion is integrally molded with the bumper reinforcement body so as to extend from the bumper reinforcement body toward a vehicle rear side and oppose a vehicle structural member extending in the vehicle width direction from a vehicle front side. The first extension portion is provided within a range spanning from a vehicle width direction side end portion to a position at 40% of an overall vehicle width direction length of a vehicle front end section away from the vehicle width direction side end portion. The second extension portion is integrally molded with the bumper reinforcement body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shizuma Uju, Jun Shobo, Kyosuke Matsui, Tomoki Mitsuya
  • Patent number: 11565641
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method capable of providing a bumper capable of providing decreasing reversionary impact forces upon an impacting collider as the bumper is compressed. The apparatus, system and method may include at least a bumper cover; and a scissor mechanism housed within the bumper cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: JABIL INC.
    Inventors: Jarrett Gayne, Harald Portig
  • Patent number: 11565622
    Abstract: A corner post is for a rear door of a trailer, container or truck body. The corner post has a width when the door has been swung open 90 degrees between 0.75 inch and 1.94 inch such that the width of the opening into the trailer when both doors are open is at least 98.44 inches. The corner post includes three pieces that are attached together. The three pieces include planar sections and U-shaped sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Strick Trailers, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Seitz
  • Patent number: 11548460
    Abstract: A connecting structure for exterior members includes: a first exterior member provided on a vehicle body; a second exterior member disposed adjacent to the first exterior member; an engaging portion provided on one of the first and second exterior members; and an engaged portion provided on the other one of the first and second exterior members. The connecting structure has a parting line formed between the first exterior member and the second exterior member by disposing the second exterior member on the vehicle body adjacent to the first exterior member. Sliding one of the first and second exterior members relative to the other one of the first and second exterior members along, the parting line causes the engaging portion and the engaged portion to be brought into engagement with each other in a direction intersecting a sliding direction of the one of the first and second exterior members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kohei Mineshima
  • Patent number: 11548458
    Abstract: A bumper cross member for a motor vehicle is produced from an extruded hollow profile and has a front side forming an impact side, a rear side in opposition to the front side, end zones configured for connection to the motor vehicle, a central zone extending between the end zones and bent toward the impact side, and top and bottom sides connecting the rear side with the front side. Each of the top and bottom sides has a projecting flange which is separated from the rear side by a separation cut configured to end shy of the end zones so that the flanges are connected with the bumper cross member in the end zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Tomohiro Shimizu, Frode Paulsen, Atsushi Hasegawa, Takayuki Fujii, Norikazu Matsuura, Noriaki Ito
  • Patent number: 11535161
    Abstract: The deployable steps for a tailgate includes a mounting plate, a plurality of risers, a plurality of treads, and a plurality of hinges. The deployable steps for a tailgate may attach to a tailgate of a truck via the mounting plate. The plurality of risers and the plurality of treads may fold and unfold at the plurality of hinges. The plurality of risers and the plurality of treads may form steps when unfolded into a deployed position. When folded into a stowed position, the plurality of risers and the plurality of treads may be parallel to each other and may be parallel to the tailgate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Inventor: Ernest Walker
  • Patent number: 11529909
    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 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Singer
  • Patent number: 11532970
    Abstract: Energy conversion systems and methods are disclosed. In one aspect, the system is for converting or redirecting energy received by an impact to an automobile in a proximal direction into another type of energy. The system includes a body having a first engagement structure and an impact member configured to be installed within an outer perimeter compartment of the automobile to receive an impulse. The impact member having a second engagement structure and a third engagement structure. The second engagement structure being configured to engage with the first engagement structure of the body to facilitate the impact member translating in the direction relative to the body. The system further includes a converter having a fourth engagement structure, the fourth engagement structure being configured to engage with the third engagement structure of the impact member and convert the energy received by the impact member into another type of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Inventor: Richard A. Schulman
  • Patent number: 11530010
    Abstract: In a vehicle including a windshield (7) and a support structure for supporting the windshield, the support structure includes a pair of stays (11) that support the windshield movably in a rising and lowering direction, and a holder (20) that is provided in a different position from the pair of stays, and fixes a position of the windshield, and the holder includes a base portion (21) fixed to a vehicle body, a stopper (22) that is provided to face the base portion, capable of moving along the rising and lowering direction to the base portion, and moving in a direction to approach and separate from the base portion, and brings the windshield into a fixed state when approaching the base portion, and an operation member (23) that causes the stopper to move to contact and separate from the base portion, according to an operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fujimi Sawada, Yuki Tomida
  • Patent number: 11518451
    Abstract: An airflow adjusting apparatus includes two or more airflow generators and a controller. The airflow generators are arranged in first and second directions along a surface of an object. The airflow generators are configured to generate respective airflows in parallel directions parallel along the surface of the object. The second direction intersects with the first direction. The controller is configured to control outputs from the respective airflow generators independently of each other. The controller is configured to cause a total output from the airflow generators in a first group to be greater than a total output of the airflow generators in a second group. The airflow generators in the first and the second groups are arranged side by side in an airflow generation direction. The airflow generators in the second group are adjacent to those in the first group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto Watanabe, Yusaku Dogahira
  • Patent number: 11518325
    Abstract: There is provided a reinforcement member for a vehicle which includes a cylindrical body section having a continuously closed cross section intersecting with a longitudinal direction. The cylindrical body section has a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface. The third surface has a fourth surface extending away from the second surface, and a fifth surface connecting the fourth surface and the first surface to each other. In a sectional view when viewed in the longitudinal direction, in a case where a virtual line connecting a first intersection portion where the first surface and the third surface intersect with each other and a second intersection portion where the second surface and the third surface intersect with each other is set, a third intersection portion where the fourth surface and the fifth surface intersect with each other protrudes outward with respect to the virtual line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kimihiro Nogiwa, Masayuki Ishizuka, Norieda Ueno, Kenta Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11519215
    Abstract: A sensor bracket for mounting, on a vehicle, a capacitance sensor in which a loop-shaped electric wire serving as a sensor electrode extends from a sensor main body includes a bracket main body on which the sensor main body is arranged with the electric wire looping back so as to extend in parallel with each other at a constant distance from each other, and a plate spring portion being supported by the bracket main body in a cantilever manner, having, on a tip side, a hooking portion disposed to which the electric wire can be hooked, and providing the electric wire hooked to the hooking portion with tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuma Kuroyanagi, Wataru Hattori, Hironori Koeda
  • Patent number: 11505273
    Abstract: A straddle type vehicle characterized by comprising: an air guiding plate arranged on a front side of the straddle type vehicle; and a display control unit configured to display information concerning automatic traveling control of the straddle type vehicle, wherein the display control unit displays the information concerning the automatic traveling control on the air guiding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kihoko Kaita, Masashi Hagimoto, Yoshiyuki Kuroba, Hiroshi Maeda
  • Patent number: 11505146
    Abstract: A bumper cross member designed as a hollow chamber profile for a motor vehicle having an upper component and a lower component joined to the upper component. Both components are each designed as a half shell having two legs spaced apart from one another and a web connecting the legs. An insert plate is joined to the legs of the half shells. The insert plate is arranged between the joints of the legs of the half shells facing toward one another and bridges the joint spacing between the legs of the two half shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: KIRCHHOFF AUTOMOTIVE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Michael Weige
  • Patent number: 11505129
    Abstract: A cargo bed assembly for a pickup truck includes: a pair of side walls opposing each other; a truck bed located between the pair of sidewalls, and having a first cavity; a tailgate pivotally connected to a rear end of the truck bed by a first pivot pin, and having a second cavity; a slide unit movably received in the first cavity; and a step unit movably received in the second cavity. In particular, the second cavity is configured to communicate with the first cavity, and the step unit is pivotally connected to the slide unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Un Tae Kim, Han Jun Kim