Patents by Inventor Jeffery Dix
Jeffery Dix 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).
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Patent number: 11904664Abstract: A vehicle includes a ceiling structure for a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The ceiling structure has an opening. The vehicle further includes a sunvisor assembly that is mounted to the ceiling structure. The sunvisor assembly has a panel and a swivel rod received by the opening to attach the panel to the ceiling structure. The swivel rod is movable from a first position to a second position upon receiving a predetermined force to the panel. The second position is a position in which the swivel rod is positioned further into the opening of the ceiling structure than when in the first position.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventor: Jeffery Dix
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Publication number: 20230415550Abstract: A vehicle includes a ceiling structure for a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The ceiling structure has an opening. The vehicle further includes a sunvisor assembly that is mounted to the ceiling structure. The sunvisor assembly has a panel and a swivel rod received by the opening to attach the panel to the ceiling structure. The swivel rod is movable from a first position to a second position upon receiving a predetermined force to the panel. The second position is a position in which the swivel rod is positioned further into the opening of the ceiling structure than when in the first position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2022Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventor: Jeffery DIX
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Patent number: 11623607Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly for a vehicle includes a vehicle seat, a seat support rail, a load limiter and a seatbelt assembly. The seat support rail supports the vehicle seat within the vehicle. The vehicle seat is adjustably supported to the seat support rail. The load limiter is supported to the seat support rail. The seatbelt assembly has a latch and a receptacle that receives the latch. The receptacle is movably supported to the load limiter. The receptacle is movable along the load limiter from a rest position to an operated position upon receiving a predetermined force.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Jeffery Dix, Matthew Gapinski
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Publication number: 20200172041Abstract: A vehicle that includes a vehicle body structure and a deployable energy absorbing device. The vehicle body structure defines a vehicle longitudinal direction and has an opening along a lateral exterior side thereof. The opening exposes a hollow interior of the vehicle body structure. The vehicle body structure has a structural member that extends parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction within the hollow interior inboard of the opening. The deployable energy absorbing device has a deployable member, the deployable energy absorbing device being supported to the structural member of the vehicle body structure within the hollow interior. The deployable energy absorbing device is concealed within the hollow interior in the stowed orientation. The deployable member extends laterally outward perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal direction and away from the structural member and a lateral exterior side of the vehicle body structure in a deployed orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2018Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventor: Jeffery DIX
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Patent number: 10486562Abstract: An anti-submarining seat structure includes a seat frame, upholstery, an anti-submarining device, a sensor and a controller. The upholstery overlays the seat frame at least partially forming a seat cushion portion with a cavity between the seat frame and a portion of the upholstery adjacent to a front area of the seat frame. The anti-submarining device is installed within the cavity and is configured to transition from an unactuated orientation to an actuated orientation. In the actuated orientation, the anti-submarining device forms a restraining structure proximate the front area of the seat cushion portion. The sensor is configured to detect rapid changes in acceleration and velocity of the vehicle body structure. The controller is connected to the anti-submarining device and the sensor and is configured to actuate the anti-submarining device in response to signals from the sensor indicating a rapid change in acceleration and velocity of the vehicle body structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Curtis Sharif, Jeffery Dix
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Patent number: 10377339Abstract: A seatbelt tensioning assembly having a seatbelt, a buckle tongue and a tensioning device. The buckle tongue is configured for releasable attachment to a seatbelt buckle within the passenger compartment. The tensioning device is rigidly connected to the buckle tongue with a mid-section of the seatbelt extending through a hollow interior of the tensioning device. The hollow interior of the tensioning device has a first tensioning member disposed therein at least partially defining a seatbelt path having a serpentine shape such that in the absence of tension being applied to the seatbelt the mid-portion of the seatbelt moves through the seatbelt path with the seatbelt path defining a first overall length. With a pre-determined level of tension being applied to the seatbelt, the tensioning device is configured to shorten the seatbelt path to a second overall length smaller than the first overall length.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventor: Jeffery Dix
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Publication number: 20190070986Abstract: An anti-submarining seat structure includes a seat frame, upholstery, an anti-submarining device, a sensor and a controller. The upholstery overlays the seat frame at least partially forming a seat cushion portion with a cavity between the seat frame and a portion of the upholstery adjacent to a front area of the seat frame. The anti-submarining device is installed within the cavity and is configured to transition from an unactuated orientation to an actuated orientation. In the actuated orientation, the anti-submarining device forms a restraining structure proximate the front area of the seat cushion portion. The sensor is configured to detect rapid changes in acceleration and velocity of the vehicle body structure. The controller is connected to the anti-submarining device and the sensor and is configured to actuate the anti-submarining device in response to signals from the sensor indicating a rapid change in acceleration and velocity of the vehicle body structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2017Publication date: March 7, 2019Inventors: Curtis SHARIF, Jeffery DIX
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Publication number: 20180361986Abstract: A seatbelt tensioning assembly having a seatbelt, a buckle tongue and a tensioning device. The buckle tongue is configured for releasable attachment to a seatbelt buckle within the passenger compartment. The tensioning device is rigidly connected to the buckle tongue with a mid-section of the seatbelt extending through a hollow interior of the tensioning device. The hollow interior of the tensioning device has a first tensioning member disposed therein at least partially defining a seatbelt path having a serpentine shape such that in the absence of tension being applied to the seatbelt the mid-portion of the seatbelt moves through the seatbelt path with the seatbelt path defining a first overall length. With a pre-determined level of tension being applied to the seatbelt, the tensioning device is configured to shorten the seatbelt path to a second overall length smaller than the first overall length.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2017Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventor: Jeffery DIX
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Patent number: 9731758Abstract: A transverse link has an inboard side and an outboard side. A steering knuckle has an upper end, a wheel supporting section and a lower end. The lower end is pivotally coupled to the outboard side of the transverse link. A strut has an upper end and a lower end. An upper knuckle breakaway structure attaches the upper end of the steering knuckle to the lower end of the strut. The upper knuckle breakaway structure has a frangible part that releases the upper end of the steering knuckle from the lower end of the strut upon application of a prescribed rearward directed force. A transverse link breakaway structure couples the inboard side of the transverse link to a lower suspension support structure such that upon application of the prescribed rearward directed force the inboard side of the transverse link is released from the lower suspension support structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Ryan Corby, Joyce Lam, Kenneth Ameloot, Jeffery Dix
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Patent number: 9321422Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a pillar, a roof rail, a pillar trim panel mounted to the pillar, a pillar airbag and a curtain airbag. The pillar airbag is mounted to the pillar in a stowed orientation between the pillar trim panel and the pillar. The pillar airbag is arranged to be deployed in a first direction extending away from the pillar in a deployed orientation. The curtain airbag is mounted to the roof rail in a stowed orientation along the roof rail, and is arranged to be deployed in a downward direction extending away from the roof rail to a deployed orientation. The pillar airbag is positioned outboard of the curtain airbag with the curtain airbag overlaying a portion of the pillar airbag with respect to a second direction transverse to the first direction while the pillar airbag and the curtain airbag are in their deployed orientations, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2015Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Mueller, Neal Osterhout, Jeffery Dix
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Publication number: 20160107684Abstract: A transverse link has an inboard side and an outboard side. A steering knuckle has an upper end, a wheel supporting section and a lower end. The lower end is pivotally coupled to the outboard side of the transverse link. A strut has an upper end and a lower end. An upper knuckle breakaway structure attaches the upper end of the steering knuckle to the lower end of the strut. The upper knuckle breakaway structure has a frangible part that releases the upper end of the steering knuckle from the lower end of the strut upon application of a prescribed rearward directed force. A transverse link breakaway structure couples the inboard side of the transverse link to a lower suspension support structure such that upon application of the prescribed rearward directed force the inboard side of the transverse link is released from the lower suspension support structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Ryan CORBY, Joyce LAM, Kenneth AMELOOT, Jeffery DIX
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Patent number: 9254724Abstract: A vehicle front suspension includes a lower suspension support structure, a transverse link, a steering knuckle and a lower knuckle breakaway structure. The transverse link has an inboard side and an outboard side, the inboard side being attached to the lower suspension support structure. The steering knuckle has an upper end, a lower end, and a wheel supporting section between the upper end and the lower end. The lower end is pivotally coupled to the outboard side of the transverse link. The lower knuckle breakaway structure is formed on the steering knuckle to release the steering knuckle from the transverse link upon application of a prescribed rearward directed force on the vehicle front suspension outboard of the lower suspension support structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2014Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Ryan Corby, Joyce Lam, Kenneth Ameloot, Jeffery Dix
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Publication number: 20150130172Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a pillar, a roof rail, a pillar trim panel mounted to the pillar, a pillar airbag and a curtain airbag. The pillar airbag is mounted to the pillar in a stowed orientation between the pillar trim panel and the pillar. The pillar airbag is arranged to be deployed in a first direction extending away from the pillar in a deployed orientation. The curtain airbag is mounted to the roof rail in a stowed orientation along the roof rail, and is arranged to be deployed in a downward direction extending away from the roof rail to a deployed orientation. The pillar airbag is positioned outboard of the curtain airbag with the curtain airbag overlaying a portion of the pillar airbag with respect to a second direction transverse to the first direction while the pillar airbag and the curtain airbag are in their deployed orientations, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2015Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: Joseph MUELLER, Neal OSTERHOUT, Jeffery DIX
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Patent number: 9022403Abstract: A vehicle front suspension includes a suspension support structure, a transverse link, a front link breakaway structure and a rear link breakaway structure. The transverse link has an inboard side with a front connection structure connecting a front end of the transverse link to the suspension support at a first location and a rear connection structure pivotally connecting a rear end of the transverse link to the suspension support at a second location that is spaced rearwardly of the first location. The front link breakaway structure is configured to release the front end of the transverse link from the suspension support upon application of a prescribed rearward directed force on the vehicle front suspension outboard of the suspension support structure. The rear link breakaway structure is configured to release the rear connection structure of the transverse link from the suspension support upon rearward rotation of the transverse link about the rear connection structure.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Joyce Lam, Ryan Corby, Jeffery Dix, Mark Snyder
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Patent number: 8967661Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a pillar, a roof rail, a pillar trim panel mounted to the pillar, a pillar airbag and a curtain airbag. The pillar airbag is mounted to the pillar in a stowed orientation between the pillar trim panel and the pillar. The pillar airbag is arranged to be deployed in a first direction extending away from the pillar in a deployed orientation. The curtain airbag is mounted to the roof rail in a stowed orientation along the roof rail, and is arranged to be deployed in a downward direction extending away from the roof rail to a deployed orientation. The pillar airbag is positioned outboard of the curtain airbag with the curtain airbag overlaying a portion of the pillar airbag with respect to a second direction transverse to the first direction while the pillar airbag and the curtain airbag are in their deployed orientations, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Mueller, Neal Osterhout, Jeffery Dix
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Publication number: 20140346758Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a pillar, a roof rail, a pillar trim panel mounted to the pillar, a pillar airbag and a curtain airbag. The pillar airbag is mounted to the pillar in a stowed orientation between the pillar trim panel and the pillar. The pillar airbag is arranged to be deployed in a first direction extending away from the pillar in a deployed orientation. The curtain airbag is mounted to the roof rail in a stowed orientation along the roof rail, and is arranged to be deployed in a downward direction extending away from the roof rail to a deployed orientation. The pillar airbag is positioned outboard of the curtain airbag with the curtain airbag overlaying a portion of the pillar airbag with respect to a second direction transverse to the first direction while the pillar airbag and the curtain airbag are in their deployed orientations, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2013Publication date: November 27, 2014Applicant: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Joseph MUELLER, Neal OSTERHOUT, Jeffery DIX
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Patent number: 8876153Abstract: An airbag includes a rear panel, a front panel, and an extension panel. The rear panel has an inflation aperture for receiving an inflation gas. The front panel has at least one communication aperture, and the front panel is connected to the rear panel at a peripheral seam to define a primary inflatable portion having a central axis. The extension panel has an inner edge that is connected to the front panel at a location that is offset from the central axis of the primary inflatable portion and an outer edge that is connected to at least one of the front panel or the rear panel to define a secondary inflatable portion that is in communication with the primary inflatable portion through the at least one communication aperture. When inflated by the inflation gas, the secondary inflatable portion extends outward with respect to the front panel toward a vehicle occupant.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2013Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventor: Jeffery Dix
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Patent number: 8876194Abstract: A vehicle front body structure includes a front side member, an A-pillar and a strut tower. The front side member extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The A-pillar is coupled to the front side member. The strut tower is positioned forward of the A-pillar and has an inboard side fixedly attached to an outboard section of the front side member. The strut tower also defines a force receiving surface extending between the inboard side and an outboard side. The force receiving surface of the strut tower is configured and arranged to receive a force directed rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction and redirect at least a portion of the force in a vehicle lateral direction toward the front side member.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2013Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Jeffery Dix, Ryan Corby, Joyce Lam
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Patent number: 8870205Abstract: A vehicle front suspension includes a lower suspension support structure, a transverse link, a steering knuckle and a lower knuckle breakaway structure. The transverse link has an inboard side and an outboard side, with the inboard side being attached to the lower suspension support structure. The steering knuckle is pivotally coupled to the outboard side of the transverse link. The lower knuckle breakaway structure is formed on one of the transverse link and the steering knuckle to release the steering knuckle from the transverse link upon application of a prescribed rearward directed force on the vehicle front suspension outboard of the lower suspension support structure.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Ryan Corby, Joyce Lam, Kenneth Ameloot, Jeffery Dix
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Publication number: 20140292028Abstract: A vehicle front body structure includes a front side member, an A-pillar and a strut tower. The front side member extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The A-pillar is coupled to the front side member. The strut tower is positioned forward of the A-pillar and has an inboard side fixedly attached to an outboard section of the front side member. The strut tower also defines a force receiving surface extending between the inboard side and an outboard side. The force receiving surface of the strut tower is configured and arranged to receive a force directed rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction and redirect at least a portion of the force in a vehicle lateral direction toward the front side member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2013Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Jeffery DIX, Ryan CORBY, Joyce LAM