Patents by Inventor Matthew GAPINSKI

Matthew GAPINSKI 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: 11752820
    Abstract: A releasable alignment clip secures a primary leaf spring to one or more secondary leaf springs of a suspension of a vehicle. The releasable alignment clip prevents separation of the primary leaf spring from the secondary leaf spring during normal operation while permitting relative sliding. The releasable alignment clip has a minimum separation force such that in response to a collision forcing a wheel forwardly, the releasable alignment clip deforms and permits separation of the primary leaf spring from the secondary leaf spring to avoid the primary leaf spring from breaking between the alignment clip and a point of attachment to the vehicle. The releasable alignment clip may have a reduced thickness, notches, or one or more perforations to achieve the minimum separation force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Allison Yard, Matthew Gapinski, Yu Zhang, Jeff Mazur, Mike Bristol
  • Patent number: 11623607
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffery Dix, Matthew Gapinski
  • Publication number: 20190185059
    Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a vehicle frame and a beam. The vehicle frame has a first side member and a second side member extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and a cross-member extending in a vehicle lateral direction from the first side member to the second side member perpendicular to the first side member and the second side member. A first end of the beam is connected to one of the first side member or the second side member at a location spaced apart from the cross-member. A second end of the beam is connected to the cross-member at a location spaced apart from both the first side member and the second side member such that the beam is angularly offset from the cross-member with an angle of between 35 and 60 degrees defined between the cross-member and the beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Kazunori Iimi, Takemi Nishikawa, Takao Tani, Hideo Aimoto, Naoki Kamizawa, Christopher Hartley, Patrick Grattan, Joseph Buratto, Perry McConnell, David Wozniak, Michael McGory, Gunnar Mason, Matthew Gapinski
  • Patent number: 9981680
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle support structure and a steering linkage. The vehicle support structure includes a dash wall. The dash wall separates an engine compartment and a passenger compartment. The dash wall has an energy absorption member supported by the support structure on an engine compartment side of the dash wall. The steering linkage extends through an opening of the dash wall between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment. The steering linkage includes a steering column in the passenger compartment. The steering linkage further includes an abutment. The abutment is positioned and configured to contact the energy absorption member upon a frontal impact of the vehicle to transfer energy from the steering linkage to the energy absorption member and to limit a rearward displacement of the steering linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Gapinski, Gunnar Mason, Travis James Parak, Jeffrey Mazur, Yayoi Okumura
  • Publication number: 20180057039
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle support structure and a steering linkage. The vehicle support structure includes a dash wall. The dash wall separates an engine compartment and a passenger compartment. The dash wall has an energy absorption member supported by the support structure on an engine compartment side of the dash wall. The steering linkage extends through an opening of the dash wall between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment. The steering linkage includes a steering column in the passenger compartment. The steering linkage further includes an abutment. The abutment is positioned and configured to contact the energy absorption member upon a frontal impact of the vehicle to transfer energy from the steering linkage to the energy absorption member and to limit a rearward displacement of the steering linkage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew GAPINSKI, Gunnar MASON, Travis James PARAK, Jeffrey MAZUR, Yayoi OKUMURA