Patents Examined by D. Glenn Dayoan
  • Connecting structure for an actuator connected to an opening flap in an exterior trim component
    Patent number: 11351934
    Abstract: A connecting structure for connecting an actuator to an opening flap for opening and closing an exterior trim component of a motor vehicle is disclosed, wherein the connecting structure has at least one carrier arrangement, which can be connected to the opening flap, and at least one connecting section arranged on the carrier arrangement, with which the opening flap can be connected to the actuator for moving the opening flap. The invention also relates to an exterior trim component with such a connecting structure and to a motor vehicle with such an exterior trim component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Motherson Innovations Company Limited
    Inventor: Xavier Durupt
  • Load retention system
    Patent number: 11351904
    Abstract: Retention system for a load carrying container, comprising a retention portion arrangeable at or near a rear end of a load carrying container. The retention portion is pivotable between a first, raised position and a second, lowered position; and a drive element is used for moving the pivotable retention portion between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Metso Sweden AB
    Inventors: Niclas Hällevall, Henrik Persson, Andreas Hoffmann
  • Step bumper with load support on truck frame
    Patent number: 11351942
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper assembly includes a single-piece sub-frame having at least one step portion. The sub-frame is structured to be mountable on an extended portion of a vehicle frame so that the at least one step portion resides directly above the portion of the vehicle frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Knutsen, Matthew A. Jansma
  • Door upper
    Patent number: 11345219
    Abstract: A side door assembly is provided for an automotive vehicle body having a side opening. The side door assembly includes an upper door half incorporating a unique outer panel coupled to or integrally formed with a structural portion. Soft goods are operably coupled to the structural portion of the upper door half. The side door assembly includes a one-piece casting for hinged connection to the vehicle body. The casting forms a frame. At least one panel insert is selectively connected from the interior of the vehicle outward by a plurality of rotary attachment features to the frame. The frame includes a plurality of reinforcement features to add structure and rigidity, while reducing weight, to the side door assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Bestop, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Getzschman, George C. Stickles, William H. Haberkamp, Stephen J. Lewis
  • Control element
    Patent number: 11349477
    Abstract: A control element for roof or window adjustment in a motor vehicle includes a surface and a sensor. The surface has an introduced recess and a surface portion. The surface portion is connected to the surface in a gap-free manner above the recess. The surface portion only partially covers the recess. The sensor is formed within the surface portion or is arranged onto the bottom side thereof to detect deformations of the surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: KOSTAL Automobil Elektrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Uwe Borgmann, Michael Bleckmann
  • Vehicle structure and method for manufacturing the same
    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
  • Impact absorbing structure for vehicles
    Patent number: 11345295
    Abstract: An impact absorbing structure for a vehicle according to the present invention includes: a resin frame member extending in a vehicle front-rear direction and having an opening portion in a surface thereof on one side in a vehicle width direction; and a strut member disposed in the opening portion of the frame member. The frame member includes a frame body having the opening portion, and a rib protruding at least either upward or downward from the frame body and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. The strut member is disposed between a pair of opening edges for defining an upper edge and a lower edge of the opening portion and at a position abuttable against the paired opening edges, when the frame member is deformed by input of a load at a time of oblique collision from upward or oblique collision from downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chikara Kawamura, Tsuyoshi Nishihara, Kazutaka Ishikura, Hiroaki Takeshita, Tsuneki Shimanaka, Taiki Yotsuyanagi, Yoshiaki Murakami
  • Electric vehicle
    Patent number: 11345419
    Abstract: An electric vehicle may include a body; a spare tire disposed in a rear portion of the body; and a brace fixed to the body, extending along a vehicle longitudinal direction, and supporting the spare tire from below. The brace may include a front end fixed to the body, a rear end fixed to the body at a position rearward of the front end, and a bent portion located between the front end and the rear end. The bent portion of the brace is located above a straight line extending between the front end and the rear end of the brace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junya Okamura, Iwao Furukawa
  • Side underride guard
    Patent number: 11345296
    Abstract: A side underride guard for attachment to the underside of a trailer comprising two guard rails longitudinally positioned below the outer sides of the trailer, with each guard rail attached to the trailer by a plurality of vertical support members and with the two guard rails attached to each other and the trailer by a plurality of diagonal support members. The side underride guard further supports and incorporates an aero skirt for reducing trailer drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventor: Perry Ponder
  • Modular tail assembly for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 11345417
    Abstract: A modular tail assembly for a motor vehicle can include a tail-side frame element and a tailgate. The frame element is configured to form a part of a tail-side vehicle frame and be detachably fastened to another part of the vehicle frame. A motor vehicle can include the modular tail assembly. The motor vehicle has a vehicle body which is formed so that a cargo tray is arranged in the region of a tail-side vehicle trunk. The modular tail assembly can facilitate easier and quicker tail-side loading of a motor vehicle and can increase the storage space available for loading within a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Lichter, Hauke Weber, Armando Lopes dos Santos, Simone Breuer, Raja Raghava Sreepathy
  • Vehicle cruise control sensor-cover and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 11345292
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vehicle cruise control sensor-cover and a method of manufacturing the vehicle cruise control sensor-cover, the vehicle cruise control sensor-cover including a bottom cover member wherein indium or an indium-containing alloy is deposited, by using a non-conductive vacuum metallization (NCVM) method, on a front surface of a bottom cover body having a logo and an outer frame protruding three-dimensionally and a top cover body including a transparent material and having a back surface formed in a shape corresponding to the front surface of the bottom cover member, wherein the top cover member is assembled integrally with the front surface of the bottom cover member, and a laser etching process is partially selectively performed only on the logo or the outer edge on the back surface of the top cover body to partially form an etched surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Keun Ha Kim, Tae Yong Hong, Hong Il Lee
  • Automobile visor organizer for storing documents and a mobile device
    Patent number: 11338655
    Abstract: An automobile visor organizer is taught which includes an area for storing a mobile device, an identification card, and a document. The mobile device storage area includes means for removably affixing a mobile device thereto. The invention includes a hook for removably holding an identification card, and a document aperture for storing a document therein. The invention includes a document guide on its backside for supporting the inserted document. The invention also includes a wireless charging pad with the mobile device storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventor: Cleveland Paul, Jr.
  • Hard support corner for a soft top
    Patent number: 11338650
    Abstract: A quarter window assembly for a soft top cover assembly that is removable. The quarter window assembly is connectable to the soft cover assembly. The quarter window assembly has a hard corner assembly mountable to features connected to a vehicle. The hard corner assembly is an injection molded plastic assembly. The quarter window assembly also has a panel carrying at least one window, and the panel is secured to the hard corner assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Bestop, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Lewis, Charles C. Turney, Jonathon G. Moore, Duane C. Junkin
  • Bumper assembly for an automotive vehicle
    Patent number: 11338749
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a body having fore and aft portions. The vehicle includes a bumper beam coupled to the vehicle body proximate the fore portion and a heat exchanger disposed aft of the bumper beam. A fascia assembly is coupled to the vehicle body and extends about the bumper beam. The fascia assembly includes a fascia inlet configured to direct an airflow from the exterior of the fascia assembly to the interior of the fascia assembly. An energy absorption member is disposed between the fascia and the bumper beam. An air passage extends through at least one of the bumper beam and the energy absorption member. The air passage extends from an air passage inlet to an air passage outlet. The air passage inlet is positioned downstream of the fascia inlet with respect to the airflow, and the air passage outlet being positioned upstream of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Wright, Changyoung Heo, Vinayshankar L. Virupaksha, Trevor T. Winch, Donald M. Jamison, Srinivasa Rao Vaddiraju, Amlanjyoti Barman
  • Zipper less removable windows for a folding SUV soft top
    Patent number: 11338652
    Abstract: A zipper less removable window system having removable windows for use with a foldable, stowable roof for a vehicle. A plurality of attachment devices of the zipper less removable window system connect the windows to the foldable, stowable roof and to the vehicle without the use of zippers. The operator zipper effort caused by traditional windows is thereby eliminated and misalignment issues present with traditional zippered windows is eliminated or reduced. The stress placed on the portions of the windows connectable to the foldable roof during installation and removal, including around curved portions of the removable window, is eliminated or reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Bestop, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric John Hanson
  • Sliding soft top
    Patent number: 11338657
    Abstract: A panel top assembly for a vehicle including a controlled guide roller management system and install/release mechanism. A pivotal portion, that is rotatable between a closed position and open position, is coupled to guide assemblies slidably connected to guide track assemblies. Each guide track assembly includes a forward isolator assembly that restricts undesired movement/rattling of a roller in a guide track. A rearward isolator assembly restricts undesired movement/rattling of the roller in each guide track, and selectively keeps the roller in the track when the panel top assembly is in a down/open position. The rearward isolator assembly also includes an isolator that selectively allows an opening in the track for releasing the guide assembly from the track to move the panel top assembly to an open/stowed position, and, reinstalling the guide assembly to the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Bestop, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Lewis, Tavis Lutzka
  • Cab viscous mount
    Patent number: 11339553
    Abstract: A work machine includes a machine frame and a cab supported from the machine frame. At least one pivotal connection between the cab and the machine frame allows the cab to be tilted relative to the machine frame. The pivotal connection includes first and second clevises fixed to the machine frame, the first and second clevises including first and second aligned pin openings, respectively. A pivot pin is received through the pin openings so that the pivot pin is pivotable relative to the machine frame. A viscous mount includes a housing portion, a plunger portion, and a flexible element connecting the plunger portion to the housing portion. The housing portion is attached to the cab, and the plunger portion is attached to the pivot pin between the first and second clevises such that the cab and the viscous mount are pivotable with the pivot pin relative to the machine frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Patrick J. Mulligan, Michael R. Tigges, Joseph F. Tilp, Trisha L. Oyen
  • Cab suspension systems and associated methods of manufacture and use
    Patent number: 11338865
    Abstract: Vehicle cab suspension control systems are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the cab suspension control systems can include front cab-to-frame mounts that include controllable elastomer-based isolators that can provide real time variable damping to improve ride quality and/or road holding and reduce cab roll in response to, for example, input from one or more cab and/or frame mounted accelerometers, position sensors, etc. Embodiments of the control systems described herein can utilize a single vehicle controller (e.g., an ECU) to control all of the cab suspension components (e.g., semi-active damping technologies, air spring technologies, etc.) employed on a vehicle to provide a single suspension control solution that can provide improved ride performance, road holding, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Link Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tye B. Davis, William E. Ott
  • Protective windshield system
    Patent number: 11338653
    Abstract: A system that includes a protective windshield system that deflects particulate away from a vehicle. The protective windshield system includes a sensor that senses the particulate and emits a signal indicative of the particulate. A deflection system deflects the particulate away from the vehicle. A controller couples to the sensor and to the deflection system. The controller detects the particulate and activates the deflection system to deflect the particulate away from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventors: Yevgeniy Viatcheslavovich Khmelev, Oscar Guerra, Jeffrey Neal Pollack, Janelle Denice Dziuk, Ashley Raine Philbrick, Ryan Thomas Russell, David Patrick Dixon
  • Connector assembly for a vehicle seat
    Patent number: 11332043
    Abstract: A track assembly for a vehicle seating assembly includes a track that defines a lateral channel and a central channel. The lateral channel is in communication with the central channel. A plurality of contact strips are coupled with the track and are positioned within the lateral channel. A rail cartridge is positioned within the central channel and is slidable along the track. The lateral channel is at least partially enclosed by the track and the rail cartridge. A support is operably coupled with the rail cartridge and extends from the central channel into the lateral channel. A plurality of contacts are operably coupled with the support and are configured to engage the plurality of contact strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish, David James Tippy, Alan George Dry, Jimmy Moua, Adam Ewel, Joshua Gauthier, Macit Aktas, Michael P. Bell