Patents Examined by Melissa Ann Bonifazi
  • Patent number: 11491920
    Abstract: A rear module can include a tailgate configured to pivot about a pivot axis that extends transversely with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a frame element that extends transversely with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction and is integrated into the tailgate. The frame element has a first fastening assembly at its respective ends. The first fastening assembly being set up to selectively lock the rear module in a closed state of the tailgate together with second fastening assembly which are configured on the rear-side vehicle body. A motor vehicle can have such a rear module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Lichter, Hauke Weber
  • Patent number: 11492051
    Abstract: A spacer for vehicle panels can be shaped such that it absorbs a substantial portion of a first load, the first load applied in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the exterior panel; controllably deforms along a second direction when a second load is applied substantially along the second direction; wherein the second direction is other than the first direction. The spacer need not deform along the second direction when the first load is applied. The spacer can have a shaped member having a channel extending through the spacer perpendicular from the exterior panel, such that the spacer can controllably deform along a width of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Naipaul D. Ramoutar, Christopher P. Sheehy, Valerie Schnabelrauch, Jonathan R. Young
  • Patent number: 11485422
    Abstract: A mud flap for a wheeled vehicle includes an upper mounting portion and an extended protection portion. The extended protection portion includes at least two areas with slotted air flow openings. An upper slot area includes rows of elongated slots with the slots arranged in columns in each row. A lower slot area includes rows of elongated slots with the slots arranged in columns in each row. The slots in the upper slot area have heights that are greater than the heights of slots in the lower slot area. In some embodiments, a middle slot area is positioned between the upper slot area and the lower slot area. The slots in the middle slot area have different heights in different rows. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the slots in the upper slot area is replaced with diagonal mounting features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: HSMA, LLC
    Inventors: Darron Ming, Asa Hazelwood, Eric Richard Larson, Kevin Paul Shatzer, James Dow Smith
  • Patent number: 11485315
    Abstract: A device for arranging a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, in particular for arranging a child seat, in order, using the passenger restraint system, to secure a person seated in the vehicle, the device in the arranged state being fastened to a belt frame for a vehicle seat or for a vehicle seat bench. The belt frame includes a support arrangement with a vertical support and a cross strut, and, when the support arrangement is in the arranged state on the vehicle, the vertical support being arranged upright on a floor of the vehicle. The device is present as an elongate profile and wherein the device has mounting members along a longitudinal axis of the profile for the fastening of retaining catches of the passenger restraint system. The mounting members are present spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis of the profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Aguti Produktentwicklung & Design GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Hitzfelder, Christian Rogg
  • Patent number: 11479193
    Abstract: Provided is a bumper capable of improving a maneuvering stability of a vehicle. The bumper is a front bumper 7 to be attached to a front lower portion of a vehicle 1. Flow-straightening protrusions 31 each formed along a vehicular front-rear direction are provided on a lower portion of the front bumper 7 in a way such that they are aligned along a vehicular width direction across a region on an extended line 36 of a vehicular width direction inner end portion 2T of each of front wheels 2L, 2R of the vehicle 1. Thus, the occurrence of turbulent flows around the front wheels 2L, 2R can be restricted so that a vehicle stability can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA ACCESS CORP.
    Inventors: Ryo Shiogai, Seiko Fukuda, Takashi Yuzawa, Masahiro Abe, Jun Takada
  • Patent number: 11479194
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure that absorbs a shock load applied to immediately under a front grille by using a structure at a position higher than a bumper beam as a support. The vehicle front structure includes a shock absorbing member at an interior of a bumper face below a front grille. The shock absorbing member includes a load receiving portion that receives a load, an abutting portion abutting against a structure above a bumper beam during receding of the shock absorbing member, an upper-side connecting portion connecting the load receiving portion and the abutting portion, a locking portion deformed while being locked to the bumper beam during receding of the shock absorbing member, and a lower-side connecting portion connecting the load receiving and locking portions. A bending facilitating portion extending in the vehicle width direction is formed on the side of a rear portion of the upper-side connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Aizawa, Tetsuo Nagata, Ryosuke Kawafune, Yuta Mishima
  • Patent number: 11472359
    Abstract: A structural member for a vehicle includes bumper stays having a tubular configuration and fixed to each of front ends of a pair of front side members included in a vehicle, and a tubular bumper beam provided with holes and into which the bumper stay is inserted. Each of the bumper stays includes a first shock absorbing portion and a second shock absorbing portion provided adjacent to the first shock absorbing portion on an outer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taiki Yamakawa, Toru Hashimura, Yasuhiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 11465576
    Abstract: A vehicle rear bumper assembly includes a vehicle body structure, an exhaust system and a rear bumper fascia. The exhaust system is attached to the vehicle body structure and has an exhaust pipe. The rear bumper fascia has a main body and a finisher extension. The main body is attached to the vehicle body structure and has a recessed area shaped and dimensioned to complement the shape of the exhaust pipe. The finisher extension extends away from the main body proximate the recessed area. The main body and the finisher extension are formed with a living hinge therebetween such that the finisher extension is pivotable about the living hinge from an extending orientation to a finishing orientation. In the extending orientation, the finisher extension is spaced apart from the recessed area. In the finishing orientation, the finisher extension is located within the recessed area adjacent to the exhaust pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Omar Fernando Carrillo Fernandez
  • Patent number: 11433834
    Abstract: A vehicle front end structure includes a front bumper assembly, an overrider bracket, and a vehicle sensor. The front bumper assembly has a reinforcement bracket and a first energy absorbing member attached to forward portions of a vehicle body structure. The reinforcement bracket is located rearward of and spaced apart from a forward section of the first energy absorbing member defining a space therebetween. The first energy absorbing member further has a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion with a central gap defined therebetween. The overrider bracket is installed to the reinforcement bracket and is located within the central gap between the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion. The overrider bracket defines a pocket area with a second energy absorbing member installed within the pocket area. The vehicle sensor is supported to vehicle body structure and positioned above the second energy absorbing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Emilio Novoa Liceaga, Minerva Nieto Torres, Omar Rene Manzano Miranda, Arturo Barrera Anaya
  • Patent number: 11433829
    Abstract: A fitting structure for fitting first and second members together includes a fitting projection and a receptacle. The fitting projection protrudes from a second member opposed surface of the first member opposed to the second member toward the second member. The receptacle protrudes from an opposite surface on an opposite side from the second member opposed surface in an opposite direction from the second member opposed surface and includes an internal receiving space. The receptacle includes a fitting portion, a supporting portion, and two slits. A section of an inner surface of the supporting portion is opposed to inner surface of the fitting portion. The slits are provided between two edges of the fitting portion and two edges of the supporting portion to communicate with the receiving space. The fitting projection includes a first section disposed in the receiving space and a second section fitted to the fitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Tawada, Akihiro Kawashima, Toshiya Tanizawa, Takuya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11420576
    Abstract: It is intended to provide a vehicle body lower structure capable of preventing a backflow component from flowing outside the vehicle from a rear wheel housing at the shortest distance. The vehicle body lower structure of a vehicle comprising a rear wheel housing 12, and a mud guard 71 integrally attached to an inner surface of a rear portion of the rear wheel housing 12, wherein the mud guard 71 has a plate-shaped shielding portion 71b extending from a vehicle width directional inner side of a rear edge of the rear wheel housing 12 toward a front side of the vehicle, and wherein the shielding portion 71b has an up-down directional length extending from a bottom portion of the mud guard 71 to a position above at least a tail pipe 33 whose outlet portion 33a is oriented toward a rear surface of a vehicle body adjacent thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuhei Nishida, Yoshiatsu Kuga, Toshio Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 11407153
    Abstract: A method for producing a cladding part for vehicles with a cladding part body that forms a cladding in the mounted state. A sandwich panel is formed and extends two-dimensionally in a plane with at least one transparent thermoplastic upper layer, a prefabricated, postprocessing-free intermediate layer, and a thermoplastic base layer. The at least three-layered sandwich plate is subsequently three-dimensionally formed under the influence of heat into a sandwich element forming the cladding part body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: HIB Trim Part Solutions GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Schnabel
  • Patent number: 11407366
    Abstract: A bracket for a vehicle includes a first surface that defines support ribs and a second surface. A cantilevered end defines an attachment aperture. A retention feature is coupled to an upper edge of the cantilevered end and defines a retention notch. A central portion defines an arcuate notch and a fastening aperture. An attachment end includes a coupling feature that extends outwardly from the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Carretero Jacinto, Liliana Alonso Vazquez
  • Patent number: 11408209
    Abstract: A two-stage open tailgate includes a handle assembly disposed at an outer surface of a half door, wherein the half door is opened when the handle assembly performs a first operation, a full door disposed at a rear surface of the half door and opened in an integrated state with the half door when the handle assembly performs a second operation, a first striker mounted to one end of the half door, a second striker mounted to a vehicle body such that the second striker is disposed adjacent to the first striker in a closed state of the half door, a dual latch formed at one end of the full door at positions respectively corresponding to the first striker and the second striker, wherein the handle assembly and the dual latch are spaced apart from each other when the half door is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Seung Lee, Dae Hee Lee, Kyu Hoon Cho, Seung Sik Han, Yong Hyun Nam, Chung Sik Yim
  • Patent number: 11400996
    Abstract: A straddle type vehicle comprises: a detection unit for detecting a condition of front of a vehicle; a cleaning member capable of cleaning the detection unit; and a movable apparatus for changing a position of the cleaning member in relation to the detection unit in a height direction of the vehicle, wherein the cleaning member, by the changing of the position, performs the cleaning by wiping with a portion of the detection unit where the cleaning unit contacts the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kuroba, Futoshi Koga, Hiroshi Maeda, Naoto Yamashita, Akihito Kawamura, Shohei Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11400992
    Abstract: A windscreen device for a saddled vehicle, according to which a height of a windscreen is adjustable according to a body frame or preference of a user, and according to which support stiffness for the windscreen can be secured and a windscreen support section can be miniaturized. Up-down movement of the windscreen is operated with a screen raising/lowering switch provided on a vehicle body side. A windscreen device includes a base member provided on the vehicle body side to guide the up-down movement of the windscreen, and a slider provided on the windscreen side to be slidably engaged with the base member. A rack is provided on one of the base member and the slider, and an electric motor for rotating a pinion that is meshed with the rack is provided on the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soichiro Miyamoto, Tetsu Horiuchi, Naoki Hara, Shinji Kawasumi
  • Patent number: 11377155
    Abstract: Included are a cowl top arranged on a lower end part of a front windshield; a dash panel provided with a first air intake port for sucking external air under and behind the cowl top, and on one side of the cowl top in a vehicle width direction; a hood arranged in front of the dash panel, and above an engine room; left and right fenders arranged respectively on sides of the cowl top; and left and right cowl sides extending in up-down and front-rear directions respectively on the opposite sides of the cowl top in the vehicle width direction. The right cowl side includes a second air intake port for introducing the external air to under the cowl top. The hood is arranged above the second air intake port. The right fender is arranged outside the second air intake port in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ishiyama, Hiroyo Miyanaga
  • Patent number: 11370294
    Abstract: A grille shutter includes a frame, a fin supported by the frame, and brackets that are arranged respectively on opposite sides of the frame in the vehicle right-left direction and used for attaching the frame to a vehicle body. Each of the brackets is partially provided with a fragile portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tamotsu Tsuchida, Shun Totsuka, Ken Komatsubara, Kazuki Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 11370350
    Abstract: A component arrangement includes at least one basic component in which at least one additional component is integrated, the additional component forming at least one visible joint with the basic component. A holding device for the additional component is integrated in the basic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Riccardo Bauer, Tobias Posch, Ulrich Koenigs, Andreas Kieschke
  • Patent number: 11370347
    Abstract: Provided is a mobile cabin set that allows flexible arrangement of layout in a cabin. One aspect of the present disclosure provides a mobile cabin set that includes a cabin body configuring a part of a moving body and including a ceiling surface, a floor surface, and two or more side surfaces that define an interior space; at least one rail arranged on at least one surface of the ceiling surface, or the two or more side surfaces of the cabin body, the at least one rail extending in a direction that intersects a vertical direction; and at least one attachment arranged in the interior space. The at least one rail includes an attachment/detachment mechanism to allow attachment/detachment of the at least one attachment at a given position of the at least one rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tokuyuki Nishikawa, Katsuhito Yamauchi, Takeshi Yamada, Hiroaki Namba, Masahiro Tatenami