One-shot Type Patents (Class 293/133)
  • Patent number: 11952043
    Abstract: A profile strut includes an upper chord, a lower chord, two spaced-apart lateral walls which, together with the upper chord and the lower chord, define an interior, and a first profile end and a second profile end. A first end piece is disposed in the first profile end and a second end piece is disposed in the second profile end. A connecting web connects the first end piece to the second end piece. Each of the first end piece and the second end piece bears via end faces thereof against adjacent inner wall regions of the upper chord and the lower chord; respectively. An intermediate region, which is configured as a tunnel incorporated into the lower chord, is disposed between the first profile end and the second profile end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Hainzinger, Daniel Tauchnitz
  • Patent number: 11945385
    Abstract: An energy absorption device for a bumper of a motor vehicle has a first deformation element on the front side of the bumper. The first deformation element is a foam shaped part which extends over the width of the bumper and has a density of from 20 to 50 g/l. At least one second deformation element, with a density which is at least 50 g/l higher than the first deformation element, is inserted into the first deformation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Gross, Arne Koehler, Tamara Manske, Christian Muselmann, Mazdak Novine, Tim Rudolph, Manuel Schroeder
  • Patent number: 11939001
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a structure of a vehicle body front side member and relates to a technical field of automobile design and manufacture. A vehicle body front side member structure includes a front side member assembly, an upper side beam assembly, a front side member connection plate assembly, an upper side beam front assembly, a front anti-crash beam energy absorption box assembly, and a front anti-crash beam assembly. According to the front side member structure, it is possible to optimize the transmission route of the crash force and effectively improve the capability of the energy absorption of the front end of the vehicle body to reduce the load to the cabin stringer so as to reduce the invasion amount of the front cabin into the passenger cabin or avoid the front cabin from invading into the passenger cabin in order to improve the safety of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhanhong Li
  • Patent number: 11912218
    Abstract: A bumper crossmember comprising a wave structure oriented in the vertical direction (z direction), wherein the wave structure comprises at least three apex structures which extend in the bumper crossmember longitudinal direction and are adjacent in the vertical direction. This crossmember comprises a first length section that follows its longitudinal extent, at least one second length section that follows its longitudinal extent, and at least one transition section that is arranged respectively between these length sections. In the second length section, the wave structure is inverted with respect to the first length section, in that the opening direction of the apex structures switches in the transition section. In the transition section, there is at least one additional apex-forming structure, the apex of which is offset in the frontal direction (x direction) with respect to a frontal plane (yz-plane) in which at least two apex structures that are adjacent in the longitudinal sections lie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: KIRCHHOFF AUTOMOTIVE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Patrick Tlauka, Cristina Matthey, Ralf Stegmeyer, Rolf Peter Röttger, Marco Töller, Rolf Schwarzer, Stephan Lagin, Maria Schmitt, Lena Kremer
  • Patent number: 11912339
    Abstract: Self-supporting 3-D printed chassis structures are disclosed. Self-supporting ribs are selectively printed to walls of the structure to meet desired dynamic stiffness targets while maintaining a reduced mass. The self-supporting ribs can be used as both support structures (e.g., for outer walls) during 3-D printing and as stiffening structures when the chassis structure is in operation. In an embodiment, the chassis structure is printed such that no support structures are needed. Topology optimization can enable remaining unneeded internal ribs or supports to be removed, and a high inner spatial volume between ribs can be maintained to make maximum use of the part. In various embodiments, wall thicknesses can be maintained at or below 1-2 millimeters, which further reduces mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Paul Monteith
  • Patent number: 11820308
    Abstract: A reinforcement structure (10) comprising: (i) one or more members (12, 12A, 12B), the one or more members having one or more projections (20) extending from a base (16) of the one or more members; and (ii) one or more sleeves (28) surrounding the one or more projections (20) and secured to the one or more members, wherein the one or more sleeves and the one or more members are configured to crumple to absorb a force being applied to the reinforcement structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Zephyros, Inc.
    Inventor: Bill Barz
  • Patent number: 11766976
    Abstract: A hybrid bumper assembly for a vehicle includes a steel reinforcement beam and aluminum crush cans attached to end portions of the steel reinforcement beam. The reinforcement beam has a multi-tubular shape that is formed by a high-strength steel sheet that is roll formed to provide at least two tubular portions. A crush can has an interfacing portion that is coupled to an end portion of the reinforcement beam. The end portions of the reinforcement beam and the interfacing portion of the crush cans may be configured to attach together using a select joining technology in a manner that minimizes or eliminates bimetallic or galvanic corrosion between the reinforcement beam and the crush cans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventor: Joseph R. Matecki
  • Patent number: 11760423
    Abstract: To improve the collision performance of a panel member of an automobile. A panel member 1 includes a plurality of circular recessed parts 10 linearly arranged, wherein: when it is assumed that a portion where three recessed parts 10 are linearly aligned is called a recessed part group G, there are at least a first recessed part group G1 and a second recessed part group G2 arranged in parallel with the first recessed part group G1; and an angle formed between a first straight line L1 linking a center of the recessed part 10 in the first recessed part group G1 and a center of the recessed part 10 in the second recessed part group G2 located at a position closest to the recessed part 10, and, a second straight line L2 linking centers of the recessed parts 10 in the first recessed part group G1 is 80 degrees or more and 100 degrees or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Hirose, Keiichi Sato, Yoshimichi Kawai
  • Patent number: 11760285
    Abstract: A crash box system is provided. The crash box system includes V shaped leaf springs located between a front plate and a rear plate, wherein straight leaf springs have been placed vertically to the front plate and rear plate at wing winged corners. The crash box system further includes a cylindrical inner tube having a bevelled or outer tapered end surface being placed inside an outer tube having a rectangular cross-sectional structure with radiused outer corners and a reduced cross-sectional middle section. The V shaped leaf springs, the outer tube further having re-entrant hexagonal bottom imperfections and re-entrant hexagonal top imperfections, and the cylindrical inner tube having the bevelled or outer tapered end surface to provide the crash box system with energy absorption capabilities such that peak forces are kept low at different times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ISTANBUL TEKNIK UNIVERSITESI
    Inventors: Kadir Gunaydin, Halit Suleyman Turkmen
  • Patent number: 11761069
    Abstract: An automotive component is produced by hot forming and press hardening a hardenable steel alloy having a tensile strength of at least 1700 MPa. The hardenable steel alloy, in addition to a balance made up of iron and melting-related impurities, has the following alloy elements carbon, niobium, and titanium. The automotive component is coated by a thermal coating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Georg Frost, Andreas Frehn, Karsten Bake, Martin Holzweissig, Rainer Lapsien
  • Patent number: 11708040
    Abstract: An energy absorption component for a motor vehicle, comprising a connection component and a crash box formed by a top chord, a bottom chord, and two side chords spaced apart from one another and connecting the top chord to the bottom chord. One end of the crash box is designed for connection to a bumper crossmember. The other end of the crash box rests against the connection component and is welded to it. The connection component has at least one flange portion which rests against a side chord of the crash box and is connected thereto by a welded joint, wherein this welded joint is spaced apart from adjacent welded joints, which connect the connection component to the top and bottom chords of the crash box, in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the crash box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: KIRCHHOFF AUTOMOTIVE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Alexander Günther
  • Patent number: 11702715
    Abstract: A steel composition, a reinforcement part of a vehicle using the steel composition and a method of manufacturing the reinforcement part using the steel composition are provided. In particular, the steel composition includes increased content of carbon components and the steel composition is processed by rapid heating and immediate quenching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Alex Khutorsky, Jonghyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11679701
    Abstract: A passenger seat for a passenger vehicle including but not limited to an aircraft may include a seat base, a seat back, and an energy absorption system. The energy absorption system is spherically coupled to the seat base and spherically coupled to the seat back, and includes a dampening member and a support assembly. The dampening member is movable relative to the support assembly responsive to a load applied on the seat back such that engagement between the support assembly and the dampening member dampens the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC
    Inventors: Nahum Madrid, Solomon Livingston, Francisco Salcedo, Christopher Stewart, Kevin Waters
  • Patent number: 11661111
    Abstract: A vehicle rocker assembly includes an outer sill member and an inner sill member attached longitudinally along the outer sill member to define a hollow space along and between the inner and outer sill members. A tubular insert is disposed in the hollow space so as to extend longitudinally along the hollow space. The tubular insert has a crush control feature extending longitudinally along a wall of the tubular insert, such as upper and lower walls at opposing sides of the interior volume. The tubular insert is configured for side impact forces at the outer sill member to laterally deform the tubular insert at the crush control feature to provide an accordion-style lateral crush to absorb the side impact forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew Kuipers, Zehua Qin, Kannan Ramamoorthy
  • Patent number: 11628883
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a vehicle bumper and a load transfer assembly. The vehicle bumper is coupled to a front end of the vehicle frame and includes a center beam and a bumper beam extension that extends laterally from an end of the center beam. The load transfer assembly includes first and second pivot pins and a load beam. The first pivot pin is fixed to the bumper beam extension and the second pivot pin is fixed to the vehicle frame. The load beam has a first end pivotably coupled to the first pivot pin and a second end pivotably coupled to the second pivot pin. The load beam is configured to load the vehicle frame in a lateral direction upon a vehicle impact event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Lakshmi P Bhatta, Zheng Qin, Hassan H El-Hor
  • Patent number: 11628885
    Abstract: A vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of the present invention comprises a bumper support portion provided at a vehicle body of the vehicle to support to bumper, a connection portion connecting the bumper and the bumper support portion and supporting the bumper, and a slide allowance portion configured to allow the bumper to slide in a vehicle longitudinal direction relative to the bumper support portion when a longitudinal load having a specified magnitude or larger is applied to the bumper from a vehicle outside, wherein the connection portion is provided on an upper face of the bumper support portion, and the slide allowance portion is configured to allow the longitudinal sliding of the bumper independently from the supporting of the bumper by the connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuya Nishio
  • Patent number: 11623595
    Abstract: A vehicle cushioning member includes first and second bending portions including first and second convex-bending portions, and first and second concave-bending portions. The first and second convex-bending portions and the first and second concave-bending portions are formed perimetrically while switched from each other between the adjacent side walls. When a length from a top surface of the top plate to a flange portion is 100%, a length from the top surface to the first bending portion is 24% or more and 47% or less, a length from the first bending portion to the second bending portion is 34% or more and 49% or less, and a length from the second bending portion to a top-plate-side surface of the flange portion is 13% or more and 33% or less, concerning a height direction along the axis of a substantially polygonal tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: KASAI KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinsuke Miotani
  • Patent number: 11618399
    Abstract: A shock absorbing member is provided having a sequential destruction capability and protection against electrolytic corrosion on fastening-fixing portions thereof to be fastened to a bumper reinforcement or a vehicle body. Embodiments include a shock absorbing member between a bumper reinforcement and a vehicle body, including a distal end portion fastened to the bumper reinforcement; a base end flange portion fastened to the vehicle body; and an absorbing member body extending in a vehicle front-rear direction and connecting the distal end portion and the base end flange portion. The absorbing member body includes a carbon fiber-glass reinforced plastic layer. Fastening-fixing portions of the distal end portion and the base end flange portion are composed of glass fiber reinforced plastic layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taiki Yotsuyanagi, Tsuyoshi Nishihara, Ryo Shimoda, Chikara Kawamura, Tsuneki Shimanaka, Kota Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11613229
    Abstract: A pedestrian protection device of a vehicle includes a first body element mounted to the vehicle and having a connecting section. The pedestrian protection device includes a second body element that includes a hollow profile section. The first body element is movably received in the hollow profile section. The pedestrian protection device includes an elastically deformable exterior component connected to the second body element. The hollow profile section of the second body element is displaced from a rest position to a crash position upon the application of force against exterior component. The pedestrian device includes a latching device that releasably latches the connecting section of the first body element with the hollow profile section of the second body element when set in the crash position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Anca Ebner, Holger Staack
  • Patent number: 11584425
    Abstract: A steering device includes an inner column, an outer column, a hanger bracket, and a fixing member. The hanger bracket has a guide hole which extends in the front-rear direction and through which the shaft portion of the fixing member passes. An edge portion of the guide hole of the hanger bracket is provided with a fixing portion and a gradually increasing resistance portion. The seat portion of the fixing member comes into contact with the fixing portion to fix the hanger bracket to the inner column. The gradually increasing resistance portion is disposed in front of the fixing portion and gradually increases frictional resistance between the fixing member and the hanger bracket according to forward displacement of the fixing member when the fixing member is displaced forward together with inner column by a secondary collision load being input to the steering shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Shiroishi
  • Patent number: 11560179
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a collision energy absorbing apparatus capable of suppressing a peak load at the initial stage of a collision and a load drop immediately after it. The collision energy absorbing apparatus is an apparatus that absorbs collision energy, the apparatus being mounted on a vehicle and including a pressure member, an absorbing member, and a guide part that guides, a moving direction of the pressure member, in which a hole through which the pressure member guided and moved by the guide part enters is formed in the absorbing member, and in an event of a collision, the pressure member is guided by the guide part and a tip part of the pressure member enters the hole formed in the absorbing member while shearing an inner wall of the hole, to thereby absorb collision energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Hiramatsu, Koji Kurozumi
  • Patent number: 11548558
    Abstract: A front vehicle-body structure comprises a crash can fixed to a front end of a front frame. The crash can comprises an upper face portion, a lower face portion, a pair of side face portions, corner portions respectively positioned between the side face portion and the upper face portion and between the side face portion and the lower face portion, a first fragile portion provided at each of the corner portions, and a second fragile portion provided at each of the side face portions. The first fragile portion is configured to be deformed before the second fragile portion when a collision load applied toward a vehicle rearward side is inputted to an extension portion of a bumper beam. The second fragile portion is configured to be deformed before the front frame when the collision load applied toward the vehicle rearward side is inputted to the extension portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Narahara, Nobuyuki Shibutake, Yasushi Ishikawa, Yuichi Morita
  • Patent number: 11535285
    Abstract: The invention relates to an articulated coupling comprising at least one tension-transferring or compression-transferring rod, at least one pressure plate comprising a cutting tool that comprises at least one blade and a central conically shaped recess. Furthermore, the articulated coupling comprises at least one conical threaded ring which comprises an internal thread and is slit in a longitudinal direction, wherein the rod comprises an external thread onto which the conical threaded ring is screwed. The cutting tool is arranged on a conical external surface of the conical threaded ring, wherein the conical threaded ring is arranged at least partially in the conically shaped recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Axtone S.A.
    Inventors: Krzysztof Puszkarz, Jan Kukulski, Leszek Wasilewski, Miroslaw Sum
  • Patent number: 11505253
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle body structure in which when a load acts on an impactor, the impactor is moved toward an inner wall, a slider is moved along the inner wall by means of direction-changing unit, and in the case where the load acting on a crushing member via the slider exceeds a set value, the moving slider crushes the crushing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Hasegawa, Takayuki Fujii, Yumi Saito
  • Patent number: 11505135
    Abstract: An impact absorbing member is disposed between a roof panel and a top ceiling disposed below the roof panel. The impact absorbing member includes a base plate portion and a hollow, cone-shaped portion extending upward from the base plate portion. The cone-shaped portion has a fragile portion that facilitates vertical crush and deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yamagiwa, Hiroyuki Matsuda, Katsunori Monden, Hiroshi Nagai
  • Patent number: 11505148
    Abstract: A vehicle reinforcement assembly includes a detector and a reinforcement member. The detector is configured to be housed in an interior compartment of a vehicle. The reinforcement member is configured to be housed in the interior compartment at a location adjacent to the detector. The reinforcement member has a vehicle forward facing end that extends closer to a vehicle front end than the detector extends to the vehicle front end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Omar Fernando Carrillo Fernandez, Tomohiro Hida
  • Patent number: 11505180
    Abstract: An active impact control system includes: at least one actuator couplable to a crush structure of a vehicle and couplable to a portion of a structure of the vehicle; at least one sensor configured to sense impact with an object; and a controller configured to receive information from the at least one sensor and to determine a location and angle of impact based on the information received from the sensor, the controller being further configured to selectively signal the actuator to cause the crush structure to move relative to the structure of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Jared Odle
  • Patent number: 11485304
    Abstract: A bumper system (4) for a motor vehicle comprising a cross beam (1) which is globally orientated in a transverse direction (Y), said cross beam comprising a front wall (6) adapted to receive a crash impact force and a rear wall (5) opposed and spaced from said front wall, at least one absorber (2), at least an intermediate component (3) to attach the absorber (2) to the cross beam (1), said intermediate component (3) being connected to the rear wall (5) through a first contact area (10), distant from a longitudinal axis (LL), by an internal component distance, called Lin, and an external component distance, called Lout, which corresponds respectively to the minimum and maximum distance between said first contact area (10) and the longitudinal axis (LL), said longitudinal axis (LL) passing at mid width of the cross beam and being perpendicular to the transverse direction (Y), said intermediate component (3) being connected to the absorber (2) through a second contact area (20) distant from the longitudinal axi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: CONSTELLIUM SINGEN GMBH
    Inventors: Jochen Wiedemann, Thomas Schmid, Tim Kleindick
  • Patent number: 11433835
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper assembly includes a first energy absorbing member extending in a lateral direction of a vehicle. A reinforcement member extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle and is connected to the first energy absorbing member. A second energy absorbing member is connected to the reinforcement member. The second energy absorbing member includes a first bracket member configured to be connected to a vehicle body structure of the vehicle. A retaining member extends outwardly from the first bracket member. The retaining member has a first portion having a substantially constant first height and a second portion having a second height less than the first height. At least one first compression member is movably disposed in the retaining member. The at least one first compression member is configured to move through the retaining member responsive to an impact event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Aravind Chandrasekaran
  • Patent number: 11396331
    Abstract: A front end structure for a vehicle includes: a pair of front side members; a front bumper beam located in front of the pair of front side members; a pair of bumper beam extensions respectively extending from both ends of the front bumper beam toward both sides of the vehicle; and a pair of catching members attached to the pair of front side members, respectively. In particular, each bumper beam extension is curved toward the rear of the vehicle, and each catching member protrudes from a corresponding front side member toward the bumper beam extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ji Woong Park
  • Patent number: 11345294
    Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a first member that extends in a vehicle width direction, second members that extend in a front-back direction that are inserted in the front-back direction with respect to the first member, and third members that are arranged at end portions of the first member in the vehicle width direction and joined to the end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Hashimura, Taiki Yamakawa, Yasuhiro Maeda, Kenichi Watanabe, Junya Naito, Akihiko Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 11331864
    Abstract: Resin infusing a composite preform includes placing a first vacuum bagging film over a tool surface and the composite preform to define a sealed first chamber. A bridge structure has an underside defining a cavity above the first vacuum bagging film. A second vacuum bagging film is placed over the first vacuum bagging film and the bridge structure to define a sealed second chamber. At least partial vacuum pressure is applied to the first chamber to drive resin from a resin supply through the first chamber, infusing the composite preform with resin. Partial vacuum pressure is applied inside the second chamber and an exterior pressure is applied outside the second vacuum bagging film while. The exterior pressure exceeds the pressure applied to the first and second chambers, thereby compacting the composite preform outside of a region, with the bridge supporting the second vacuum bagging film against the exterior pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Richard Roberts
  • Patent number: 11292326
    Abstract: Vehicle platforms, and systems, subsystems, and components thereof are described. A self-contained vehicle platform or chassis incorporating substantially all of the functional systems, subsystems and components (e.g., mechanical, electrical, structural, etc.) necessary for an operative vehicle. Functional components may include at least energy storage/conversion, propulsion, suspension and wheels, steering, crash protection, and braking systems. Functional components are standardized such that vehicle platforms may be interconnected with a variety of vehicle body designs (also referred to in the art as “top hats”) with minimal or no modification to the functional linkages (e.g., mechanical, structural, electrical, etc.) therebetween. Configurations of functional components are incorporated within the vehicle platform such that there is minimal or no physical overlap between the functional components and the area defined by the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Canoo Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel George McCarron, Alexi Charbonneau, William J. Rohr, Charles Garmel, Felix Haeusler, Nathaniel Risler Rosso, John Mason, Mayurkumar Ashokbhai Agrawal, Phillip John Weicker, Sohel Merchant, Naesung Lyu, Chung Shen Ang, Jeffrey Walsh
  • Patent number: 11167797
    Abstract: An apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a vehicle structural component that has a plurality of open cells surrounding an open center section. The open center section comprises a multi-corner open center. A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, extruding a vehicle structural component from a metallic material, wherein the vehicle structural component includes a plurality of open cells surrounding an open center section, and wherein the plurality of open cells each comprise a polygonal cross-section and the open center section comprises a multi-corner open center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tau Tyan, Krish E. Aekbote, Michael Black, Maria J. Heirtzler
  • Patent number: 11161468
    Abstract: A vehicle component for a vehicle has a component body which extends longitudinally in a longitudinal direction, wherein the component body has deformation zones which are spatially distributed in the longitudinal direction and are formed in the component body of sheet metal material. At least two locally distributed and spaced-apart deformation zones have different tensile strengths configured to influence a deformation course of the component body upon a force acting on the component body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Frost, Andreas Hitz, Mathias Lohberg, Martin Schroeter
  • Patent number: 11148624
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bumper arrangement for a motor vehicle, with a crossmember, a body element, a crash box arranged between crossmember and body element. The invention is distinguished in that a) a front axis of rotation is formed by a structural element, and a rear axis of rotation by a further structural element in the region of an inner wall of the crash box, and b) a tension relief element or a tension delay element is arranged in the region of an outer wall of the crash box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Martin Vovesny
  • Patent number: 11097678
    Abstract: A vehicle crush can adapted to couple a bumper beam to a side rail, including: a hollow box structure including front and rear portions, the front portion including or adapted to be coupled to a bracket assembly adapted to be coupled to the bumper beam, the rear portion adapted to be disposed within the side rail and defining a plurality of lateral holes; and one or more internal sleeves disposed within the box structure and defining a plurality of lateral channels aligned with the plurality of lateral holes of the box structure; the plurality of lateral holes of the box structure and the plurality of lateral channels of the one or more internal sleeves adapted to be aligned with a plurality of holes defined by the side rail when the rear portion of the box structure is disposed within the side rail and collectively receive a plurality of bolts therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Karlsson
  • Patent number: 11052845
    Abstract: A bumper system including a bumper beam being cast from metal having a front panel and a back panel, extending between a first bumper beam end and a second bumper beam end. A plurality of reinforcing ribs integrally cast with the bumper beam extends between the front panel and the back panel defining a non-uniform cross-sectional profile along a portion of the bumper beam. The front panel includes a front center portion disposed between a pair of front side portions. The back panel includes a back center portion disposed between a pair of back side portions. The front center portion has a front center portion thickness greater than a back center portion thickness. Each of the front side portions has a front side portion thickness being less than a back side portion thickness of adjacent one of the back side portions. Method of manufacturing the bumper system is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Edward Karl Steinebach, Jeremiah John Brady, Jeffrey Jay Mellis, Richard Lee Winfree, Mark Justin Jones, Darren Andrew Womack
  • Patent number: 11014612
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure for a vehicle may include: a front side member disposed on a front of a vehicle; and a front end member coupled to a front end of the front side member. In particular, the front end member includes a main body which is coupled to the front side member to be aligned, and a lateral reinforcement portion which extends from the main body toward an outboard side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hee Seouk Chung, Byeong Cheon Lee, Hyun Sik Kim, Deok Hwa Hong
  • Patent number: 10994755
    Abstract: An energy absorbing device has a rod with a part, suitable for cutting by means of surrounding cutting tools mounted in a body sleeve and oriented to the inside. In addition, the rod has an angular guiding part passing into the part suitable for cutting and is pivoted in a support, wherein the body sleeve with the attached cutting tools is connected by breakable elements with the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: AXTONE SPOLKA AKEYJNA
    Inventors: Jan Kukulski, Leszek Wasilewski
  • Patent number: 10906485
    Abstract: The crush can 4 is provided therein with the ribs 46 and 47. The front side frame 2 has the inner plate part 24 and the outer plate part 23 in the vehicle width direction. The inner plate part 24 and the outer plate part 23 are provided with recessed linear portions 23a and 24a recessed toward an inner side of the front side frame 2 and extending in the vehicle front and rear direction, respectively. The recessed linear portions 23a and 24a and the ribs 46 and 47 of the crush can 4 are disposed at approximately the same heights, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuniyoshi Tashiro, Ippei Kuroda, Satoshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10906596
    Abstract: A structural part for a body in white of a vehicle includes a frame formed by at least two branches connected to one another in at least one connecting zone and separated from each other by at least one gap in a zone of least stress. The frame is made of a first composite material comprising a plurality of continuous fibers impregnated with a first polymeric material. A body is integral with the frame extending in the gap and connecting the two branches in the zone of least stress. The body is made of a second material that is different from the first composite material and comprises at least a second polymeric material, wherein the body is integral with the branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE COMPOSITES
    Inventors: Benedikt Eck, Gilles Nedelec, Yang Cao, Pankaj Bedmutha, Louis Moreau-Gentien
  • Patent number: 10889328
    Abstract: A front subframe structure includes a subframe body and a pair of right and left longitudinal members. The subframe body includes an arm front-side supporting portion, an arm rear-side supporting portion, and a detaching portion. Each of the longitudinal members has, in the rear part thereof, a bent portion that is further in the vehicle width direction outer side with respect to the arm front-side supporting portion. A lower arm has, in the rear part thereof, a longitudinally extending portion. The rear face portion of the bent portion, and the front face portion which is in the front side of the longitudinally extending portion of the lower arm extend substantially parallel to each other along the vehicle width direction. A reinforcing portion is provided on a face of the rear face portion of the bent portion, the face opposing the front face portion of the longitudinally extending portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Komiya, Yasushi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10843648
    Abstract: A crash structure for a vehicle, including a bumper crossmember of which the end portions are each connected to a corresponding longitudinal member via a crash box. End regions of the end portions each project in the vehicle transverse direction beyond the corresponding longitudinal member. In each case a first supporting element which protrudes in the direction of a corresponding wheelhouse is arranged at the end regions and, in an accident situation with slight overlapping of the other party in the accident, impinges on the corresponding longitudinal member. In each case a second supporting element is arranged at the end regions of the end portions and, in the accident situation with slight overlapping of the other party in the accident, impinges on a corresponding connecting region between the crash box and the longitudinal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Mario Zierer, Thomas Hahn, Matthew Clarke, Anton Kaufmann, Marc Compte, Markus Sandfort
  • Patent number: 10836334
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a crash management system adapted for use in a vehicle. The crash management system includes a bumper beam and at least two crash boxes. Each crash box extends from the bumper beam and is provided with deformation indication means adapted for static indication of crash box deformation caused by a vehicle crash. The present invention also relates to a method for detecting crash box deformation by means of the crash management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: CHINA-EURO VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventors: Emil Eriksson, Oskar Ewehag
  • Patent number: 10695817
    Abstract: A strengthening member for an automotive vehicle includes a thirty-six-cornered cross section having adjacent sides defining internal angles and external angles. Each of the internal angles and the external angles are at least 45 degrees and are less than 180 degrees. The sides define a plurality of adjacent lobes disposed about a perimeter of the strengthening member. Along the perimeter of the thirty-six-cornered cross section, individual lobes of the plurality of lobes are separated by one external angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Tau Tyan
  • Patent number: 10654432
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper device includes: (i) a bumper beam formed of a continuous fiber reinforced plastic and including (a) a central portion that extends in a vehicle width direction and (b) a left-right pair of lateral portions that respectively extend from opposite ends of the central portion and curve toward a vehicle body; and (h) bumper auxiliary portions formed of a short fiber reinforced plastic different from the continuous fiber reinforced plastic and protruding respectively from the lateral portions outward in a vehicle front-rear direction. The lateral portions each have at least one ridgeline defined by a surface step formed on the upper surface section or the lower surface section. The ridgeline extends between the collision load receiving section and the vehicle body attachment section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoya Yabu
  • Patent number: 10611325
    Abstract: A motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a bumper having an at least partially metallic shell mounted to the vehicle by way of a mount. Further, at least a portion of the mount is configured to bend to allow movement of the shell in response to a collision. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David Brian Glickman, Michael Williams, Sudip Sankar Bhattacharjee, Mohammed Shenaq, Mustafa Ahmed, Harsha Kusnoorkar
  • Patent number: 10562475
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle body structure capable of preventing separation between a bumper beam and a bumper beam mounting member on the non-collision side at the time of an offset collision. The vehicle body structure includes a bumper beam, a pair of bumper beam mounting members, and a pair of holding members. The holding member includes an outer mounting portion for mounting an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the holding member on the bumper beam mounting member, and a front mounting portion for mounting an inner side in the vehicle width direction of the holding member on the front surface portion of the bumper beam. The front mounting portion extends to a position corresponding to a vehicle width direction inner end portion of the bumper beam mounting member in a front-rear direction at least on the front surface portion of the bumper beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Momoka Fujii, Tomohito Kamada, Isamu Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 10521982
    Abstract: A diagnostic system of a vehicle includes an energy absorber sandwiched between a front bumper fascia and a front bumper reinforcement of the vehicle. A sensing tube is located between a portion of the energy absorber and the front bumper reinforcement. A first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor measure a first pressure of air and a second pressure of air within the sensing tube, respectively. An actuator is configured to actuate and vary a pressure within the sensing tube. A diagnostic module is configured to selectively diagnose the presence of a fault with the sensing tube based on at least one of: a first change in the first pressure in response to actuation of the actuator; and a second change in the second pressure in response to the actuation of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Amanda Hyde