Patents Assigned to Shape Corp.
  • Patent number: 11958533
    Abstract: A side frame assembly for a vehicle includes a rocker structure and an inboard stiffening beam. The rocker structure includes a metal sheet that has longitudinal bends along a length of the rocker structure separating the upper wall, the lower wall, and the inner wall of the rocker structure. The inboard stiffening beam is disposed along an inboard-facing surface of the inner wall of the rocker structure. The inboard stiffening beam includes a second metal sheet that is formed to define a tubular shape along a length of the inboard stiffening beam. The tubular shape includes a planar upper wall and/or a planar lower wall, the planar extent of which intersects a portion of the rocker structure, such as the inner wall, to form a lateral load path from the rocker structure to the tubular shape of inboard stiffening beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventor: Matthew Kuipers
  • Publication number: 20240083513
    Abstract: A vehicle rocker assembly includes a sill outer and a sill inner that together define an elongated hollow interior. The vehicle rocker assembly also includes a rocker insert disposed within the elongated hollow interior. The rocker insert includes a top wall, a bottom wall, a side wall coupled to and extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, with the top wall, the bottom wall, and the side wall at least partially defining a second hollow interior. The rocker insert also includes a stiffening member at least partially disposed within the second hollow interior and configured to be produced by extrusion, the stiffening member defining a plurality of enclosed sections extending along a length of the elongated hollow interior. Moreover, plurality of enclosed sections are configured to carry a load path laterally between the inboard and outboard wall portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew Kuipers, Zehua Qin
  • Publication number: 20240075987
    Abstract: A front rail configured to be supported by a vehicle frame includes a tubular body formed by a roll-formed high-strength metal and configured to undergo axial loading during a front vehicle impact. The high-strength metal sheet defines a cross-sectional shape along a length of the tubular body. The tubular body includes a central wall extending from a first side wall to a second side wall defining at least a first longitudinal channel and a second longitudinal channel. A groove is disposed in first side wall of the tubular body and extends longitudinally along at least a portion of the length of the tubular body to stiffen the tubular body. A hole extends through the first side wall of the tubular body proximate the groove and is configured as a bend initiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph Matecki, Jeffrey McHenry, Endry Gardian, Matthew Kuipers, Zehua Qin
  • Patent number: 11787278
    Abstract: A vehicle battery tray includes a floor assembly that has elongated tray sections that attach together at lateral edge portions of adjacent tray sections to form a floor structure that supports vehicle batteries contained in the vehicle battery tray. The elongated tray sections each have a substantially consistent cross-sectional shape that extends longitudinally along a length of the respective tray section. A first tray section includes a first attachment feature at the lateral edge portion thereof and a second tray section includes a second attachment feature at the lateral edge portion thereof that corresponds with the first attachment feature. The first and second attachment features engage together at a longitudinal seam between the lateral edge portions of the first and second tray sections, such as to align upper surfaces of the first and second tray sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph Robert Matecki, Mark Charles Stephens, Helen Weykamp
  • 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: 11767065
    Abstract: A vehicle floor assembly having a floor panel and a pair of elongated members disposed along opposing sides of the floor panel. A central tunnel extends longitudinally between the pair of elongated members and has an upper surface elevated vertically from a planar extent of the floor panel. A crossmember beam is coupled to and spans between the pair of longitudinal members. The crossmember beam has a cross-sectional shape extending continuously along a length of the crossmember beam. The crossmember beam includes a curved shape along at least a section of the length of the crossmember beam that positions a lower surface of the crossmember beam above the upper surface of the central tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Tomohisa Honda, Kazutoyo Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 11713011
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper assembly includes a bumper beam and a crush can attached to an end portion of the bumper beam. An impact dispersion plate is attached to a front face of the bumper beam at the end portion of the bumper beam. A front surface of the impact dispersion plate extends downward from the front face of the bumper beam. A lower reinforcement member attached to a rear surface of the impact dispersion plate and extends along a lower section of the impact dispersion plate. An upright reinforcement member has an upper portion attached to the bumper beam and a lower portion attached to the lower reinforcement member. The upright and lower reinforcement members are configured, upon impact with a barrier, to disperse deformation of the barrier over the impact dispersion plate below the bumper beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Andreas Krasel, Stephane Anquetil, Jan {hacek over (S)}pergl, Pritish Avachat
  • Patent number: 11691493
    Abstract: A battery tray for an electric vehicle includes a tub component that has a floor portion and a perimeter wall portion that integrally extends upward around a peripheral edge of the floor portion to border a battery containment area of the tub component. The tub component may include a plurality of cross member portions that integrally interconnect with the floor portion and the perimeter wall portion so as to span laterally across the battery containment area to divide the battery containment area into separate compartments. A support structure of the battery tray may have an elongated member coupled at an exterior side of each of opposing longitudinal sections of the perimeter wall portion of the tub component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Mark Charles Stephens, Joseph Robert Matecki, Bob Brady, Matthew Kuipers, Paul Michael Roehm
  • Patent number: 11688910
    Abstract: A battery tray for an electric vehicle includes a tub component that has a floor portion and a perimeter wall portion that integrally extends upward around a peripheral edge of the floor portion to border a battery containment area of the tub component. The tub component may include a plurality of cross member portions that integrally interconnect with the floor portion and the perimeter wall portion so as to span laterally across the battery containment area to divide the battery containment area into separate compartments. A support structure of the battery tray may have an elongated member coupled at an exterior side of each of opposing longitudinal sections of the perimeter wall portion of the tub component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Mark Charles Stephens, Joseph Robert Matecki, Bob Brady, Matthew Kuipers, Paul Michael Roehm
  • Patent number: 11660652
    Abstract: A multi-tubular beam for a vehicle, such as a vehicle structure or a bumper reinforcement, includes an elongated beam formed with a metal sheet. The metal sheet has a central section and outer sections extending along a length of the metal sheet. The outer sections are disposed in opposing directions from the outer edges of the central section to provide adjacent first and second tubular portions. The central section forms a common center wall between the adjacent first and second tubular portions. A first edge portion of the metal sheet is disposed along and in parallel alignment with the center wall. The first edge portion is attached to the center wall at a first weld joint to form the first tubular portion. The first weld joint includes a weld material that extends through a thickness of the center wall and into a thickness of the first edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Baas, Joseph R. Matecki, Shawn R. Jasman
  • Patent number: 11660950
    Abstract: A battery support structure for a vehicle includes a first peripheral member configured to be supported by a longitudinal section of a vehicle frame. A second peripheral member has an end surface that selectively attaches at an inside surface of the first peripheral member to enclose a corner section of a battery containment area. Prior to fixed attachment of the first and second peripheral members, a slip plane is defined between the end surface and the inside surface to adjust the second peripheral member along the first peripheral member to a predefined dimension of the battery containment area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Matecki, Dennis V. Rupar, James H. Dodd
  • 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: 11590911
    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: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventor: Joseph R. Matecki
  • Patent number: 11560180
    Abstract: A rocker component for a vehicle includes a reinforcement beam having a metal sheet that is shaped with a plurality of elongated bends extending in parallel along a length of the reinforcement beam that together form a cross-sectional shape extending continuously along the length of the reinforcement beam. The cross-sectional shape of reinforcement beam includes a beam portion and a flange portion integrally extending from the beam portion. The beam portion has a multi-hollow shape that encloses a plurality of hollow cavities that extend longitudinally between openings at opposing ends of the reinforcement beam. The flange portion integrally extends from the beam portion and includes an edge of the metal sheet. The flange portion is configured to attach to the vehicle for supporting the rocker component along an outboard side region of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Matecki, Brian Oxley, Matthew Kuipers, Cody Alger, Douglas S. Baas
  • Patent number: 11524645
    Abstract: A beam assembly includes a first beam that has a first tubular portion and a first projecting portion that extends from the first tubular portion. A second beam has a second tubular portion and a second projecting portion that extends from the second tubular portion. The elongated interior of the first tubular portion defines a first hollow area and the elongated interior of the second tubular portion defines a second hollow area. The first beam is attached to the second beam with the first projecting portion attached to the second tubular portion and the second projecting portion attached to the first tubular portion to define a third hollow area between the first and second projecting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventor: Ed Pendergrass
  • Patent number: 11511610
    Abstract: A door carrier includes a body formed of a first material, the body including an edge extending around a perimeter of the body. The door carrier includes a seal having a proximal end affixed to the edge and a distal end spaced from the proximal end, the seal being formed of a second material more resilient than the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventor: Paul Dunn
  • Patent number: 11427144
    Abstract: A galvanized reinforcement beam is continuously formed by uncoiling a roll of galvanized sheet stock in a generally horizontal plane. Protrusions are formed at an upper surface of the sheet stock, which is then roll formed to form a tubular shape with the protrusions abutting a surface of the sheet stock to form venting gaps. The sheet stock is laser welded at the protrusions to continuously form a weld joint, where zinc oxide gas generated from the welding is permitted to escape an interior of the tubular shape through the venting gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Baas, Joseph R. Matecki, Shawn R. Jasman
  • Patent number: 11273697
    Abstract: A battery support structure for a vehicle includes a first peripheral member configured to be supported by a longitudinal section of a vehicle frame. A second peripheral member has an end surface that selectively attaches at an inside surface of the first peripheral member to enclose a corner section of a battery containment area. Prior to fixed attachment of the first and second peripheral members, a slip plane is defined between the end surface and the inside surface to adjust the second peripheral member along the first peripheral member to a predefined dimension of the battery containment area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Matecki, Dennis V. Rupar, James H. Dodd
  • Patent number: 11267327
    Abstract: A vehicle battery tray includes a floor assembly that has elongated tray sections that attach together at lateral edge portions of adjacent tray sections to form a floor structure that supports vehicle batteries contained in the vehicle battery tray. The elongated tray sections each have a substantially consistent cross-sectional shape that extends longitudinally along a length of the respective tray section. A first tray section includes a first attachment feature at the lateral edge portion thereof and a second tray section includes a second attachment feature at the lateral edge portion thereof that corresponds with the first attachment feature. The first and second attachment features engage together at a longitudinal seam between the lateral edge portions of the first and second tray sections, such as to align upper surfaces of the first and second tray sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph Robert Matecki, Mark Charles Stephens, Helen Weykamp
  • Patent number: 11214137
    Abstract: A battery support structure for a vehicle includes a plurality of side reinforcement members and front and rear reinforcement members. The plurality of side reinforcement members are configured to extend longitudinally relative to an associated vehicle frame, and the front and rear reinforcement members are configured to extend laterally relative to the associated vehicle frame. A plurality of module nodes are attached between adjacent ends of the side reinforcement members and the front and rear members to together form a containment wall that generally surrounds a battery containment area. The plurality of module nodes comprise corner sections of the containment wall, such that a length of the side reinforcement members or the front and rear reinforcement members is selected to provide a desired respective length or width of the battery containment area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Mark Charles Stephens, Joseph Robert Matecki, Ed C. Pendergrass