Patents by Inventor Charles Christopher Garnett

Charles Christopher Garnett has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8746386
    Abstract: A vehicle component or apparatus usable in a motor vehicle is described herein, along with one or more examples of methods of manufacturing the same. The vehicle component may function to provide the feature of blocking water entering from a grille opening from reaching the engine. In situations where flooding occurs and the water level rises, thus immersing portions of the car such as the wheels, the vehicle component may block some of the water from rising beyond a certain level and thus reduce the likelihood that water may reach and damage the engine. In addition or alternatively, the vehicle component may function to separate air flow entering from the lower grille and upper grille openings, respectively, thereby increasing the efficacy of engine cooling by the air flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron William Joseph Atkinson, Charles Christopher Garnett, Rob Anthony McConnell
  • Patent number: 8262154
    Abstract: A vehicle side door structure includes a door and a rocker panel providing a show surface beneath the door. The rocker panel includes a trim portion providing the show surface and a connecting portion moveably connected to the trim portion by a region of weakness such that the connecting portion is movable relative to the trim portion while connected thereto between an unlatched position and a latched position. The trim portion includes a lowest point and an upwardly extending section that locates a lowermost point of the region of weakness above the lowest point of the trim portion with the connecting portion in the latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Christopher Garnett, Mingher F. Shen
  • Publication number: 20120181802
    Abstract: A vehicle component or apparatus usable in a motor vehicle is described herein, along with one or more examples of methods of manufacturing the same. The vehicle component may function to provide the feature of blocking water entering from a grill opening from reaching the engine. In situations where flooding occurs and the water level rises, thus immersing portions of the car such as the wheels, the vehicle component may block some of the water from rising beyond a certain level and thus reduce the likelihood that water may reach and damage the engine. In addition or alternatively, the vehicle component may function to separate air flow entering from the lower grill and upper grill openings, respectively, thereby increasing the efficacy of engine cooling by the air flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Aaron William Joseph Atkinson, Charles Christopher Garnett, Rob Anthony McConnell
  • Publication number: 20110127797
    Abstract: A vehicle side door structure includes a door and a rocker panel providing a show surface beneath the door. The rocker panel includes a trim portion providing the show surface and a connecting portion moveably connected to the trim portion by a region of weakness such that the connecting portion is movable relative to the trim portion while connected thereto between an unlatched position and a latched position. The trim portion includes a lowest point and an upwardly extending section that locates a lowermost point of the region of weakness above the lowest point of the trim portion with the connecting portion in the latched position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Christopher Garnett, Mingher F. Shen