Patents Assigned to FLEX-N-GATE ADVANCED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT LLC
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Patent number: 12234968Abstract: An illumination device for use with a motor vehicle includes a housing having a first side and a second side connected via a hinge, the hinge to allow the first side and the second side to fold together to form a closed configuration of the housing; and one or more internal components to secure within the housing when in the closed configuration; the first side, the second side, and the hinge are manufactured as a single unit; and the housing is to mount within an environment of the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2024Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventor: Felipe de JD Melhado-Moya
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Patent number: 12168405Abstract: A seat back assembly including a pultrusion reinforcement and a seat back frame formed of a resin material, the seat back frame is only partially overmolded onto the pultrusion reinforcement such that the pultrusion reinforcement is configured to be visually inspected through a plurality of openings formed in the seat back frame.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2022Date of Patent: December 17, 2024Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., BASF SE, Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventors: Jacob A. Herget, John Salvia, Todd Rupert Muck, Vikas Bhatia, Gregory T. Donovan, Matthew F. Parkinson, Steven R. Perucca
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Patent number: 12138946Abstract: A method of making a fascia for an automobile includes providing an article, the article being one of translucent or transparent and applying a deposited pattern onto at least a first portion of a first side of the article. The method further includes forming the article into a shape, the shape being configured to be consonant with a vehicle exterior configuration. A fascia system includes a transparent member mounted on a vehicle, the member having printed matter on one side, and the member being included into a vehicle exterior design. Additionally, the member is oriented in front of an illumination device and is illuminated by the device.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2020Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventor: Todd Nykerk
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Patent number: 12097673Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making a lens for a vehicle light. The process involves the growth of a clear or translucent ink on a clear or transparent substrate. The deposited ink forms light-modifying optical elements on the lens, which is then incorporated into a vehicle light assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2020Date of Patent: September 24, 2024Assignee: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventor: Todd Nykerk
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Patent number: 12072087Abstract: Lamp assembly with thermal transporter. The present disclosure includes disclosure of a lamp assembly, comprising a housing; a cover attached to the housing defining a volume; a light source disposed within the volume; and a thermal transporter in thermal communication with the light source; wherein the thermal transporter comprises a plurality of graphite sheets structured to transfer heat generated by the light source away from the light source.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2022Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventors: Muhammed Aquil Hamid, Steven Barman, Charles F. Schweitzer, Chirag Hiremath
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Patent number: 12007092Abstract: Lit image projection devices and lamp assemblies containing the same for generation of three dimensional images. A projection device of the present disclosure comprises one or more light sources, a rippled substrate defining a reflective surface, the reflective surface configured to reflect light source light from the one or more light sources as reflected light, and a first lenticular lens configured to receive the reflected light from the reflective surface, wherein the reflected light received by the first lenticular lens generates a three-dimensional lit image.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2023Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventors: Todd M. Nykerk, Lester R. Sullivan
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Patent number: 11919437Abstract: Disclosed is a system enabling micro-adjustments in headlamps having upper and lower modules. A link exists between the upper and lower modules, the length of the link is made to be adjustable. The lower module is located on a pivot so that adjustments made to the length of the link result in a desired lighting pattern.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventor: Colin Strate
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Patent number: 11906125Abstract: Lit image projection lamp and assemblies and methods to use the same to generate three-dimensional images. In an exemplary embodiment of a projection device of the present disclosure, the projection device comprises a light source and a curved lens positioned at a first distance from the light source, wherein the curved lens is a lenticular lens, having a concave portion and a convex portion, and wherein the projection device is configured to generate a homogenous light bar image from light emitted from the light source that passes through the curved lens.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventors: Todd M. Nykerk, Lester R. Sullivan
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Publication number: 20230382334Abstract: A bumper assembly includes a retention member, a front-loaded component, and a bumper shell. The retention member includes a plurality of retaining features. The front-loaded component includes a plurality of receiving members. The bumper shell is positioned substantially between the retention member and the front-loaded component. The plurality of retaining features are coupled to the plurality of receiving members such that the retention member and the front-loaded component engage the bumper shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Applicant: FLEX-N-GATE ADVANCED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, LLCInventor: Jeremy Rhodes
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Patent number: 11821599Abstract: A vehicle lamp heat dissipation system includes a heat pipe, a heat sink having a slot adapted to receive the heat pipe, and a light-emitting diode (LED) mounted directly to the heat pipe. The heat pipe is disposed in the slot such that heat is transferred from the LED to the heat sink via the heat pipe for effectively cooling the LED.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventors: James Spalding, Chirag Hiremath, Brandon Richards
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Patent number: 11718353Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hybrid material panel assembly for a vehicle. The panel assembly includes a panel and a plurality of mounting flanges integrally formed with the panel. The panel is formed of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. The plurality of mounting flanges are formed of a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, where each of the plurality of mounting flanges include a mounting area that defines a mounting surface and at least one mounting hole. The first coefficient of thermal expansion is greater than the second coefficient of thermal expansion.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: FLEX-N-GATE ADVANCED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, LLC.Inventors: Geoffrey Brooks, Steven Perucca, Jack Bekou
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Publication number: 20230219473Abstract: A seat back assembly including a pultrusion reinforcement and a seat back frame formed of a resin material, the seat back frame is only partially overmolded onto the pultrusion reinforcement such that the pultrusion reinforcement is configured to be visually inspected through a plurality of openings formed in the seat back frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2022Publication date: July 13, 2023Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., BASF SE, Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventors: Jacob A. HERGET, John SALVIA, Todd Rupert MUCK, Vikas BHATIA, Gregory T. DONOVAN, Matthew F. PARKINSON, Steven R. PERUCCA
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Publication number: 20230144629Abstract: Lit image projection devices and lamp assemblies containing the same for generation of three dimensional images. A projection device of the present disclosure comprises one or more light sources, a rippled substrate defining a reflective surface, the reflective surface configured to reflect light source light from the one or more light sources as reflected light, and a first lenticular lens configured to receive the reflected light from the reflective surface, wherein the reflected light received by the first lenticular lens generates a three-dimensional lit image.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2023Publication date: May 11, 2023Applicant: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventors: Todd M. Nykerk, Lester R. Sullivan
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Patent number: 11629832Abstract: A lamp assembly for a vehicle includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted in or on the vehicle and arranged in a linear pattern. An elongated optical member is disposed longitudinally along the linear pattern of LEDs. The elongated optical member is configured to receive light emitted from the LEDs and project a corresponding plurality of lit images. A vehicle lamp assembly includes a plurality of LEDs mounted to a printed-circuit board to form a linear array. A primary light pipe is disposed adjacent to the linear array of LEDs and aligned longitudinally along the linear array of LEDs, such that light emitted from each of the LEDs of the linear array traverses radially through the primary light pipe.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2022Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventor: Todd Nykerk
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Patent number: 11629839Abstract: A hybrid vehicle lamp includes a functional surface and a functional marking integrated within the functional surface. A housing has a plurality of mounting locations configured to respectively align a plurality of light sources configured to illuminate the functional marking or the functional surface, or both, in a lit mode. A controller is configured to individually control each of the plurality of light sources for providing different illumination patterns of the functional marking and the functional surface such that such that automotive functional lighting and non-automotive functional lighting is provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2021Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventors: Lester Ray Sullivan, Ronie George
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Patent number: 11624492Abstract: Disclosed are methods for forming a double-sided optical sheet, and a vehicle lamp assembly having the double-sided optical sheet integrated therein. A first optical pattern is imprinted on a first side of a material, and a second optical pattern is imprinted on a second side of the material, opposite the first side. The first and second optical patterns are thereby formed on opposing sides of the same sheet. When oriented adjacent a light source, the double-sided optical sheet homogenizes light emitted from the light source. For a light source having a plurality of lighting elements, the double-sided optical sheet is configured to blend light emitted from the plurality of lighting elements to form one homogenous beam of light output resulting from a single light-modifying member.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventor: Todd Nykerk
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Patent number: 11608959Abstract: A segmented switchable mirror vehicle headlamp includes a light source, a switchable electrochemical film having a plurality of segments, and a controller electrically coupled with each segment of the plurality of segments, such that each segment of the plurality of segments is individually controllable for switching between a substantially transparent state and a substantially reflective state. The plurality of segments include a low-beam array of segments configured for providing a low-beam light distribution from the light source, and a high-beam array of segments configured for providing a high-beam light distribution from the light source. The controller is configured for switching the low-beam array of segments and the high-beam array of segments between the substantially transparent state and the substantially reflective state for controlling the low-beam light distribution and the high-beam light distribution, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventors: Todd Nykerk, David Bjarne Hansen, Jeffrey Simchak
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Publication number: 20230083673Abstract: Lamp assembly with thermal transporter. The present disclosure includes disclosure of a lamp assembly, comprising a housing; a cover attached to the housing defining a volume; a light source disposed within the volume; and a thermal transporter in thermal communication with the light source; wherein the thermal transporter comprises a plurality of graphite sheets structured to transfer heat generated by the light source away from the light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2022Publication date: March 16, 2023Applicant: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventors: Muhammed Aquil Hamid, Steven Barman, Charles F. Schweitzer, Chirag Hiremath
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Publication number: 20230033443Abstract: A battery module includes a first side rail, a second side rail, one or more battery cell banks, and one or more battery cell separators. The one or more battery cell banks are positioned between the first side rail and the second side rail. The one or more battery cell separators are positioned within the one or more battery cell banks and configured to separate one or more battery cells positioned adjacent one another. The one or more battery cell separators include one or more cell barriers and a support structure. The one or more cell barriers are positioned adjacent the one or more battery cell banks. The support structure is positioned between the one or more cell barriers. The one or more battery cell separators are configured to propagate thermal energy produced from the one or more battery cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Applicant: FLEX-N-GATE ADVANCED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, LLCInventors: Daniel Le, Jack Bekou, Paul Martini
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Patent number: 11543097Abstract: Lit image projection devices and lamp assemblies containing the same for generation of three dimensional images. A projection device of the present disclosure comprises one or more light sources, a rippled substrate defining a reflective surface, the reflective surface configured to reflect light source light from the one or more light sources as reflected light, and a first lenticular lens configured to receive the reflected light from the reflective surface, wherein the reflected light received by the first lenticular lens generates a three-dimensional lit image.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2017Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Flex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLCInventors: Todd M. Nykerk, Lester R. Sullivan