Patents Examined by Pinel Romain
  • Patent number: 9908437
    Abstract: An improved seating system is provided for vehicles, including military vehicles. Center-facing seats are staggered to provide for a narrow vehicle profile, improved ingress and egress, and increased blast survivability. Seats may be reclined or reclinable, and seats may have seat pans upwardly movable away from a center aisle between rows of seats to increase an effective width of the aisle for improved ingress and egress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING AND FABRICATION, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Kwiatkowski, Kris Houghton, Celyn M. Evans
  • Patent number: 9878650
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground engaging members and a frame supported by the plurality of ground engaging members. The frame assembly extends generally along a longitudinal axis of the utility vehicle. The utility vehicle further includes a front seating section coupled to the frame. The front seating section is configured to support an operator and a first passenger. Additionally, the utility vehicle includes a rear seating section coupled to the frame. The rear seating section is configured to support a second passenger and a third passenger. The rear seating section has an angled panel configured as a dead pedal for the second and third passengers, and a portion of the rear seating section extends forwardly into the front seating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Jordy A. Reed, Eric D. Bjerketvedt, Ricky G. Jaeger, Phillip B. Swain
  • Patent number: 9862423
    Abstract: An object is to provide a vehicle rear portion structure that improves rigidity of a vehicle rear portion. At a wheel house connecting member, both end portions in a vehicle transverse direction of a top surface portion are joined to joining stays that are provided at wheel houses, and lower portions of both end portions in the vehicle transverse direction of a vertical wall portion, that extends toward a vehicle lower side from the top surface portion, are joined to fixing members. Accordingly, vehicle rigidity between the wheel houses, that are connected by the wheel house connecting member at a rear portion of a vehicle, improves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshimitsu Yokoi
  • Patent number: 9845114
    Abstract: A cowl structure of the vehicle is provided. The cowl structure of the vehicle includes a cowl top panel that extends in a width direction of the vehicle and coupled to a dash panel that divides an engine and passenger compartment, and a cowl lower panel that extends in the width direction of the vehicle, is coupled to the dash panel to divide the engine and passenger compartment, and is disposed at a lower side than the cowl top panel in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Further, a cowl upper supporting member has an upper portion coupled to the cowl top panel and a coupling component of the cowl top panel and the dash panel and a lower portion coupled to the cowl lower panel. A cowl lower supporting member is coupled to the cowl lower panel and the dash panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Changsup Hwang, Tae Jun Eom, Heedae Oh
  • Patent number: 9827919
    Abstract: A floor bracket includes a first bracket portion extending along a longitudinal axis, a second bracket portion, and a third bracket portion coupled between the first bracket portion and the second bracket. The floor bracket further includes at least one hook extending from the second bracket portion toward the third bracket portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Luis Javier Solis Mondragon, Gustavo Valencia Aguirre, Jose Javier Mejia Pavon, Hector Alejandro Castro Nunez
  • Patent number: 9815145
    Abstract: A vehicle frame assembly has a first frame member defining a first frame member axis and a slot and having a first frame member connection portion adjacent the slot. A second frame member defining a second frame member axis has a projection and a second frame member connection portion adjacent thereto. The projection is received in the slot. The first frame member connection portion is connected to the second frame member connection portion to form a connection region in which the second frame member axis is disposed at a non-zero angle to the first frame member axis in the connection region. The method of assembling the frame includes inserting the projection into the slot, contacting the connection portions to each other to form the connection region with the members being positioned for connection with their axes disposed at a non-zero angle to each other, and connecting the connection portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Bruno Larocque, Simon Filion, Pascal Jacques, Jean Guillemette, David Brouillette, David Rousseau
  • Patent number: 9815352
    Abstract: An impact beam for reinforcing a vehicle door includes an elongated beam having a hollow interior spanning a length of the elongated beam. The elongated beam includes an impact portion spanning the length and configured to face an exterior side of the vehicle door. The elongated beam also includes a cross-sectional shape having a top wall section and a bottom wall section that interconnect at a bend section of the cross-sectional shape, which includes the impact portion. The top and bottom wall sections each include an intermediate bend to define a substantially horizontal section and an angled section on opposing sides of the intermediate bend, where the intermediate bends are configured to limit inward displacement of the elongated beam from an impact force at the exterior side of the vehicle door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Paul Michael Roehm, Corey J. Hoff
  • Patent number: 9802522
    Abstract: A holder for a vehicle that temporarily holds and continuously adjusts the orientation of a beverage container filled with a liquid that prevents spills as the vehicle is moving. The holder includes a base with an upper hole with a smooth perimeter edge and a suspended beverage container vessel that fits into the upper hole and rests against the perimeter edge. The container vessel includes a downward extending, half-spherical upper member and a lower neck. Formed inside the container vessel is a center bore that receives a complimentary shaped beverage container. The upper member and the perimeter edge on the base are configured to form a gripping space between the beverage container and the upper member. When the lower neck is placed inside the upper hole, the base's perimeter edge supports the upper member and allows the vessel to swivel freely when a beverage container is placed in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventor: Maksim Ghyvoronsky
  • Patent number: 9802658
    Abstract: A vehicle has an underbody that rises in a rear region of the vehicle to form a diffuser and an air guiding element for controlling aerodynamic properties of the vehicle. The air guiding element is arranged on the underbody in the rear region of the vehicle. The air guiding element is reversibly transferable between a primary position and a secondary position. In the secondary position, the air guiding element and the underbody arranged behind the air guiding element, as seen in the direction of travel, are arranged forming an angle of more than 75°, preferably of more than 85° and particularly preferably of more than 90° to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Thomas Wolf
  • Patent number: 9796430
    Abstract: A vehicle exhaust pipe disposed for gases ejected therefrom to divert headwinds from otherwise impinging directly upon critical faster-moving upper wheel surfaces reduces vehicle propulsive counterforces needed to countervail mechanically magnified upper wheel drag forces upon the primary vehicle-drag-inducing upper wheel surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: Garth L. Magee
  • Patent number: 9789805
    Abstract: A motorized expedition vehicle has a truck cab, an engine and riding gear package, and a cabin. The cabin can serve any as a living, camping or office area. The wherein the cabin is expandable and collapsible between expanded and collapsed extremes. To do this, the cabin has an openable rectangular box structure. Namely, there is a rectangular and open-topped lower-sidewall/floor portion, a rectangular and open-bottomed upper-sidewall/roof portion, and one more rectangular-hoop shaped, intermediate sidewall sections. A crawlspace hatchway is formed between the cabin and cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Van Pelt
  • Patent number: 9789753
    Abstract: A door of a utility vehicle includes a door body including a grip portion utilized for opening and closing the door, an attachment portion provided to the door body, and a replaceable portion detachably attached to the attachment portion and enabling visual recognition from inside to outside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Teruaki Yamamoto, Kazumasa Hisada
  • Patent number: 9783241
    Abstract: In a vehicle body rear part structure, a plurality of first spot weld parts that join the rear panel inner flange and the rear panel outer flange by spot welding are provided at a first weld pitch; a plurality of second spot weld parts that join together the rear pillar inner flange and the rear pillar outer flange by spot welding are provided at a second weld pitch; at the corner part, a plurality of third spot weld parts that join together, by spot welding, regions of the rear panel inner flange, the rear panel outer flange, the rear pillar inner flange, and the rear pillar outer flange where at least three of the flanges overlap with one another are provided at a third weld pitch; and the third weld pitch is set to be shorter than the first weld pitch and the second weld pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takehiro Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9783034
    Abstract: A sheet of sun blocking material has a forward edge, a rear edge, and side edges. At least one forward suction cup is attached to the front edge of the sheet. The forward suction cup is removably coupled to a vehicle between the headlights. A box has a slot exteriorly and a roller interiorly. The sheet extends through the slot. The rearward edge of the sheet is attached to the roller. A spring urges the roller with the sheet to an inoperative coiled orientation within the box. At least one rearward suction cup is attached to the box. The rearward suction cup is removably coupled to the rear window of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Inventor: Marwan Ahmed Mohammed Yafouz
  • Patent number: 9783134
    Abstract: A fastening arrangement is provided for positioning and fastening a decorative cover on a window frame of a vehicle door of a vehicle. The fastening arrangement has a first fastening element associated with the window frame and a second fastening element associated with the decorative cover. The first and second fastening elements cooperate in a form-fitting manner for fastening the decorative cover on the window frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Erol Mori, Michael Alhof
  • Patent number: 9776670
    Abstract: A front vehicle body reinforcing structure may include a dash panel configured to partition an engine room and a passenger room, front side members deployed at both left and right sides in a width direction of a vehicle, formed to extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and having rear portions coupled to an outer surface of the dash panel, and a dash upper reinforcing member overlapped with an inner surface of the dash panel to be coupled together with the front side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: KiBong Park
  • Patent number: 9776368
    Abstract: A baffle for sealing a vehicle structure, comprising a carrier with an interior body portion characterized by a plurality of spaced-apart members, providing voids, and an expandable material, that may also have openings, disposed on the carrier which, upon expansion, fills a vehicle cavity and covers the interior body portion and each of the voids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Zephyros, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Lewis, Blake Synnestvedt, Jean Michael Coulon, Todd R. Deachin
  • Patent number: 9777522
    Abstract: A vehicle door hinge structure includes a body bracket, a hinge arm, a door bracket and a check structure. A first end of the hinge arm is attached to the body bracket for pivoting movement about a first pivot axis. The door bracket is attached to the second end of the hinge arm for pivoting movement about a second pivot axis. A clip member of the check structure has a main body, a clip portion and a retention portion. The main body of the clip member extends through a clip aperture of the hinge arm. The bracket pin is fixedly attached to the door bracket at a location spaced apart from the second pivot axis such that with the clip portion of the clip member engaged with the bracket pin, the door bracket is retained in a fixed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Debraj Dey
  • Patent number: 9776536
    Abstract: A cargo management system including a vehicle load floor having a cellulose-based core to compartmentalize a cargo area of the vehicle into an upper compartment and a covered lower compartment is provided. The floor has a wood grain finish. The load floor includes a compression-molded composite panel that includes first and second outer layers of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material, first and second sheets of thermoplastic adhesive and a core of cellulose-based material and positioned between the outer layers. The core has a cellular structure. The outer layers are bonded to the core by the first and second sheets and by press molding. The first outer layer having a top surface on which a multi-layer sheet is bonded by the press molding. The multi-layer sheet has a substantially planar upper support surface to support cargo in the upper compartment and to provide the load floor with the wood grain finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBAL IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Darius J. Preisler, Christopher A. Heikkila, Steven A. Mitchell, Jeffrey P. Schmelzer
  • Patent number: 9776675
    Abstract: A wing assembly for a vehicle includes a pivotable elongate wing member. The wing member extends from a first end to a second end, and is configured to pivot relative to a pivot axis between a first position and a second position. The pivot axis extends from the first end to the second end. The wing assembly further includes a first endplate pivotably coupled to the first end and a second endplate pivotably coupled to the second end. The first endplate has a first endplate position relative to the pivot axis, and is configured to maintain the first endplate position independent of wing member position. The second endplate has a second endplate position relative to the pivot axis, and is configured to maintain the second endplate position independent of wing member position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Richard A. Berger