Patents Assigned to Nissan Design America, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8052019
    Abstract: A multi-purpose vehicle cargo bed accessory includes a central body portion, a first lateral body portion and a mounting structure. The first lateral body portion is rigidly connected along a first lateral edge of the central body portion to form a generally T-shaped transverse cross section with the central body portion along a majority of a length of the first lateral edge. The first lateral body portion has a first longitudinal part extending outwardly from a first side of central body portion and a second longitudinal part extending outwardly from a second side of central body portion. At least one of the central body portion and the first lateral body portion includes the mounting structure configured and arranged to securely fasten the vehicle cargo bed accessory to a vehicle cargo area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Plavetich
  • Patent number: 7832790
    Abstract: A vehicle door structure includes a vehicle structure formed with an opening, an interior panel and an exterior door. The interior panel is supported to the vehicle structure for pivotal movement by a first hinge arrangement about a first pivot axis. The exterior door is supported to the vehicle structure for pivotal movement by a second hinge arrangement about a second pivot axis that is spaced apart from the first pivot axis. The exterior door is also supported to the interior panel such that the interior panel and the exterior door move together as the exterior door is moved between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Plavetich
  • Patent number: 7819295
    Abstract: A vehicle cargo bed structure includes a vehicle cargo area including a bed floor, a front cargo wall, a first side cargo wall and a second side cargo wall, each having at least one accessory attachment track fixedly attached thereto. A multi-purpose vehicle cargo bed accessory is configured and arranged to be attached, detached and reattached any one of the accessory attachment tracks. The multi-purpose vehicle cargo bed accessory includes a central body portion and a first lateral body portion. At least one of the central body portion and the first lateral body portion includes a mounting structure configured and arranged to securely fasten the multi-purpose vehicle cargo bed accessory to the accessory attachment track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Plavetich
  • Publication number: 20100164198
    Abstract: A vehicle side panel step structure includes a step, a mounting structure and a sub-side body panel. The mounting structure movably couples the step to the structural support for movement of the step between a retracted step position and an extended step position relative to a structural support of the vehicle. In the extended step position the step is approximately horizontally oriented relative to a main side body panel of the vehicle. A sub-side body panel is coupled to the mounting structure to move between a fascia mating position when the step is in the retracted step position and a non-fascia mating position when the step is in the extended step position. The sub-side body panel includes a contoured edge configured such that in the retracted step position the contoured edge of the sub-side body panel and a contoured edge of the main side body panel at least partially define the wheel well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: NISSAN DESIGN AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Richard Plavetich
  • Patent number: 7717493
    Abstract: A sliding door system for a motor vehicle, including a door that is configured to be disposed within a door opening that is formed in the vehicle body, a trim panel connected to the door, and an opening formed through the trim panel. A hinge arm extends through the opening in the trim panel and has a first end connected to the vehicle body and a second end slidably connected to the door for movement of the door between a closed position and an open position. A closure panel is moveable between a deployed position, wherein the closure panel obstructs at least a portion of the opening in the trim panel, and a stowed position, wherein the closure panel does not obstruct the opening in the trim panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Plavetich
  • Publication number: 20100109376
    Abstract: A vehicle door structure includes a vehicle structure formed with an opening, an interior panel and an exterior door. The interior panel is supported to the vehicle structure for pivotal movement by a first hinge arrangement about a first pivot axis. The exterior door is supported to the vehicle structure for pivotal movement by a second hinge arrangement about a second pivot axis that is spaced apart from the first pivot axis. The exterior door is also supported to the interior panel such that the interior panel and the exterior door move together as the exterior door is moved between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: NISSAN DESIGN AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Richard Plavetich
  • Publication number: 20100109381
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of vehicles having table assemblies. One embodiment of a vehicle comprises a vehicle body structure, a support member, and a table member. The vehicle body structure defines at least a portion of a compartment and has an opening permitting access to the compartment. The support member is coupled to the vehicle body structure to move from an interior position in which the support member is substantially inboard of the compartment, to an exterior position in which at least a portion of the support member moves through the opening to a location outboard of the vehicle body structure. The table member is coupled to the support member to move from a first position in which the table member is located inboard of the vehicle body structure, to a second position in which the table member is located outboard of the vehicle body structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: NISSAN DESIGN AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Richard Plavetich
  • Patent number: 7611185
    Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a vehicle body portion, a body panel and a fluid dispensing device. The body panel is coupled to the vehicle body portion to move between a closed position and an extended position. The fluid dispensing device is coupled to the body panel to move therewith when the body panel is moved to the closed position and when the body panel is moved to the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventor: Diane Allen
  • Publication number: 20090195037
    Abstract: A vehicle seating system including a seating assembly and a first adjustment assembly. The seating assembly has a first seat portion and a second seat portion. The first adjustment assembly is configured to move the first seat portion with respect to the second seat portion between an extended position, wherein the seating assembly has a first width and a gap is defined between the first seat portion and the second seat portion, and a retracted position, wherein the seating assembly has a second width that is smaller than the first width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: NISSAN DESIGN AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Plavetich, John Cupit, Steven Moneypenny, Martin Horton
  • Publication number: 20090189412
    Abstract: A sliding door system for a motor vehicle, including a door that is configured to be disposed within a door opening that is formed in the vehicle body, a trim panel connected to the door, and an opening formed through the trim panel. A hinge arm extends through the opening in the trim panel and has a first end connected to the vehicle body and a second end slidably connected to the door for movement of the door between a closed position and an open position. A closure panel is moveable between a deployed position, wherein the closure panel obstructs at least a portion of the opening in the trim panel, and a stowed position, wherein the closure panel does not obstruct the opening in the trim panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Plavetich
  • Patent number: 7537522
    Abstract: The in-vehicle gaming system is comprised of vehicle controls that are adapted to provide both vehicle control during a normal driving mode and game control inputs during a gaming mode. At least one of the controls is selectively disengaged from the vehicle control during the gaming mode. A display provides an indication to the driver of the game environment in response to the game control inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Plavetich, John Cupit
  • Patent number: 7484761
    Abstract: An embodiment of a body for a vehicle includes a plurality of interconnected, formed panels including a rear suspension mounting portion, a bulkhead, a floor pan and a front suspension mounting portion. The body further includes a unitary tubular support member extending from the front suspension mounting portion to the bulkhead. At least a portion of the support member is positioned above the floor pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Plavetich, John Cupit
  • Publication number: 20080253857
    Abstract: An interior vehicle cargo system is provided with an interior cargo structure, bulkhead and a bulkhead attachment assembly. The bulkhead attachment assembly selectively retains the bulkhead in one of a plurality of locations within interior cargo area. The bulkhead attachment assembly includes at least a pair of elongated tracks and at least one fastening structure associated with each of the elongated tracks. One of the elongated tracks is attached to a first one of the vehicle panels, while another elongated track is attached to a second one of the vehicle panels that is opposite the first one of the vehicle panels. The fastening structures are slideably arranged on the elongated tracks to selectively fastening the bulkhead at one of the plurality of locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: NISSAN DESIGN AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: James G. McJunkin
  • Publication number: 20080231075
    Abstract: A multi-purpose vehicle cargo bed accessory includes a central body portion, a first lateral body portion and a mounting structure. The first lateral body portion is rigidly connected along a first lateral edge of the central body portion to form a generally T-shaped transverse cross section with the central body portion along a majority of a length of the first lateral edge. The first lateral body portion has a first longitudinal part extending outwardly from a first side of central body portion and a second longitudinal part extending outwardly from a second side of central body portion. At least one of the central body portion and the first lateral body portion includes the mounting structure configured and arranged to securely fasten the vehicle cargo bed accessory to a vehicle cargo area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard PLAVETICH
  • Publication number: 20080231064
    Abstract: A vehicle cargo bed structure includes a vehicle cargo area including a bed floor, a front cargo wall, a first side cargo wall and a second side cargo wall, each having at least one accessory attachment track fixedly attached thereto. A multi-purpose vehicle cargo bed accessory is configured and arranged to be attached, detached and reattached any one of the accessory attachment tracks. The multi-purpose vehicle cargo bed accessory includes a central body portion and a first lateral body portion. At least one of the central body portion and the first lateral body portion includes a mounting structure configured and arranged to securely fasten the multi-purpose vehicle cargo bed accessory to the accessory attachment track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard PLAVETICH
  • Publication number: 20080231076
    Abstract: A vehicle side panel step structure includes a step, a mounting structure and a sub-side body panel. The mounting structure movably couples the step to the structural support for movement of the step between a retracted step position and an extended step position relative to a structural support of the vehicle. In the extended step position the step is approximately horizontally oriented relative to a main side body panel of the vehicle. A sub-side body panel is coupled to the mounting structure to move between a fascia mating position when the step is in the retracted step position and a non-fascia mating position when the step is in the extended step position. The sub-side body panel includes a contoured edge configured such that in the retracted step position the contoured edge of the sub-side body panel and a contoured edge of the main side body panel at least partially define the wheel well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Plavetich
  • Publication number: 20080224461
    Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a vehicle body portion, a body panel and a fluid dispensing device. The body panel is coupled to the vehicle body portion to move between a closed position and an extended position. The fluid dispensing device is coupled to the body panel to move therewith when the body panel is moved to the closed position and when the body panel is moved to the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventor: Diane ALLEN
  • Publication number: 20080179924
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat assembly having an exposed non-seating surface that includes one of a hook material and a loop material. The seat assembly also includes at least one removable storage element having a surface portion covered with the other of the hook material and the loop material. The removable storage element further removably attaches to a portion of the exposed non-passenger supporting surface in any one of a plurality of orientations and positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Scot Thompson, Raymond Devers, Anke Mazzei, Hideshi Saiki
  • Patent number: 7401851
    Abstract: A rumble seat for increasing passenger capacity of a motor vehicle by at least one occupant includes a combination seat back frame and roll bar moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. The combination seat back frame and roll bar can be selectively operated for carrying at least one additional passenger when in the extended position, while providing a substantially uninterrupted exterior motor vehicle contour when in the retracted position. A track mechanism and a plurality of rotatable elongate linkages can be provided for guiding movement of the combination seat back frame and roll bar between the retracted and extended positions. The track mechanism can include a guide track having an L-shaped configuration with an upper horizontally extending segment and a lower vertically extending segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Plavetich, John Cupit
  • Patent number: 7328932
    Abstract: A vehicle door and hinging is described that allow for the door of a vehicle to be translated forward and rotated upward upon being opened in order to improve occupant ingress and egress. In addition, the doors and hinges of embodiments of the present invention allow for the door to be translated slightly outward for increased body panel clearance. In one embodiment of the present invention, a door has a four bar link hinge where the first and second pivots of a first bar of the four bar link hinge each allow for a single degree of motion. The pivot points are not co-axial and allow the door to translate vertically and horizontally. A second bar has first and second pivot points that each allow for three degrees of rotation to allow for the vertical and horizontal translation of the door member when actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Plavetich, John Cupit