Patents Examined by Dana Ivey
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Patent number: 9688319Abstract: A retractable fairing for reducing aerodynamic drag at a rear end of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) may comprise a streamlining element having a medial plane and an airflow surface for streamlining air flow. A suspension frame may have an element end for hingedly supporting the streamlining element at approximately the medial plane and may have a trailer end for hingedly mounting the suspension frame to approximately an outer vertical corner of the rear end and may include a trailer hinge allowing the streamlining element to move in a horizontal plane into a folded position adjacent to the rear end. A pair of streamlining elements of complementary shape may be each mounted by a suspension frame to respective left and right halves of the rear end and placed in the folded position, the medial planes of each element facing one another and the streamlining elements collectively forming the retractable fairing.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Traylor Aerodynamic Systems, LLCInventor: David W. Traylor
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Patent number: 9682734Abstract: A drag reducing device for a vehicle includes an air flow turning component having a curved surface adapted to turn air flow passing over the curved surface, a first mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to a rear door of the vehicle, and a second mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to one of the opposite side walls of the vehicle. The mounting components are configured so that the air flow component is automatically in a deployed position when the rear door is closed, in which position the air flow turning component turns air flow passing along the side the vehicle inward to thereby reduce drag. The mounting components are further configured so that the air flow component is automatically stowed between the rear door and the vehicle side wall when the door is fully opened. The air turning component is an extrusion sized for a minimal prominence in the stowed position.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Aero Industries, Inc.Inventors: Ryan A. Reeder, John Vogel, James R. Tuerk
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Patent number: 9676416Abstract: A vehicle body front portion structure is equipped with a front side member that is disposed along a vehicle front and rear direction at a vehicle width direction outer side of a power unit disposed in a vehicle body front portion. A spacer is attached to an outside portion at the vehicle width direction outer side of the front side member. The spacer has a rear side attachment portion that is joined to the outside portion of the front side member, an outside front wall portion that is positioned at the vehicle front and rear direction front side and the vehicle width direction outer side of the rear side attachment portion, and a load transmitting rib that interconnects the outside front wall portion and the rear side attachment portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shintaro Kitakata, Takanobu Kaneko
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Patent number: 9663149Abstract: A vehicle hood includes an inner panel, an outer panel coupled to the inner panel, and an insert disposed between the outer panel and the inner panel. The insert is formed of a material that is brittle relative to a material of the outer panel. The insert includes a plurality of strips connected to each other. Each strip is elongated along and disposed adjacent to the outer panel.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Sushil Shastry, Randall R. Frank, Laike Misikir, Luis Jesus Chavela Guerra, Kevin Greene
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Patent number: 9662990Abstract: A door assembly for a charging port for an electric vehicle may include a link assembly mounted to a back of a charging port door to perform a swing operation, in which the door is mounted in a structure capable of being kept at a minimum distance between the door and a vehicle body when the door is open according to the swing operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignees: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company, CAMS Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yong Won Jeong, Yong Suk Shin, Young Ik Cho, Hwan Jeong
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Patent number: 9663050Abstract: A vehicle body front section structure capable of suppressing deformation of a vehicle body in a small overlap collision is obtained. A vehicle body front section structure includes a front side member with a crash box attached to a vehicle front end, a coupling member that is interposed between and joined to the crash box and the front side member at a vehicle front end side, and that is joined to a fender apron section at a vehicle rear end, and a spacer that is disposed at a portion overlapping with the front side member in a vehicle vertical direction between the front side member and the coupling member.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Gen Nishida, Nobuaki Matsui, Reiji Iwaihara, Tatsuya Ayukawa, Tsutomu Hamabe
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Patent number: 9663038Abstract: A storage console for a vehicle is provided and may include a housing movable from a stowed position to an upright position. The housing may include a top surface that is substantially flush with a floor of the vehicle in the stowed position and is spaced apart from the floor in the upright position.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Carl Mather, Kenric P Socks
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Patent number: 9656544Abstract: A flap arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle with a moveably mounted flap that is in particular a preloaded tank flap, a holder for fixing the flap, an actuator for actuating the holder, and a switch for selectively operating the actuator. The actuator is equipped in order to actuate the holder for fixing and for releasing the flap.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2015Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Markus Frommann, Heiko Betzen
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Patent number: 9643477Abstract: A vehicle interior structure has a driver's seat disposed inside a cabin, a rear passenger's seat disposed on a vehicle rear side of the driver's seat inside the cabin, and a partition panel arranged along a vehicle width direction between the driver's seat and the rear passenger's seat. The partition panel has a bulging section bulging toward a vehicle front side.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Haruka Mochizuki, Wataru Suzuki, Takashi Mukaiyama
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Patent number: 9644740Abstract: A pass-through seal may seal a component extending between a first member and a second member in a vehicle. The pass-through seal may define a core opening and have a varying outer profile. The core opening receives the component at a predefined angle relative to an aperture defined by the first member. The core opening supports the component at the predefined angle at one end and has a snug fit with the component at the other end. The varying outer profile is configured to create an interference fit with the aperture defined by the first member at one end and to be larger than the aperture at the other end.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Denso International America, Inc.Inventors: Scott Gorski, Mark Rothenberg, Jason Hendry
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Patent number: 9637183Abstract: An aerodynamic device includes an inflatable member convertible between a deflated position and an inflated position at a speed certain. When in the inflated position, the inflatable member on the aerodynamic device extends between the cabin wall on a vehicle and a leading wall on a container supported by a trailer towed by the vehicle. The inflatable member fills a gap ordinarily between the cabin wall and trailer to encourage laminar flow as truck hauls trailer through an air stream. The encouragement of laminar flow reduces drag which results in increase fuel economy for the truck's engine, amongst other advantages.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Trailstar International, Inc.Inventor: Michael A. Conny
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Patent number: 9637182Abstract: A drag reduction assembly is mountable on a vehicle or other object experiencing relative motion in a fluid environment. The assembly comprises at least one shell of flexible web material movable between non-deployed and deployed positions. In addition, the shell is configured to provide at least an outer flow surface in the deployed position (e.g., a curved surface) to reduce the effects of aerodynamic drag. In many embodiments, intake apertures such as NACA ducts may be provided to allow a portion of the flowing fluid into the shell. The flowing fluid will cause the shell to assume automatically the deployed position. In cases where fluid enters the shell, an exit location is provided in the shell to permit such fluid to exit and rejoin fluid on the outside.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: AeroFab, LLCInventors: Lewis S. Wayburn, Stephen M. Tuel
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Patent number: 9630559Abstract: In a vehicle door mirror device, in a contact tube of a motor base, projection leading end faces of second contact ribs are disposed at radial direction inside of a circular circumferential face in which projection leading end faces of first contact ribs are disposed. The projection leading end faces of the second contact ribs have a smaller gap dimension to a support tube of a support shaft than gap dimension of the projection leading end faces of the first contact ribs to the support tube in a state in which a drive body is not tilted with respect to the support shaft. This thereby enables tilting of the drive body with respect to the support shaft to be effectively suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHOInventors: Kazuya Umino, Shigeki Yoshida
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Patent number: 9630580Abstract: The present invention provides a back beam for vehicle, which includes: a back-beam body formed in an arcuate shape and having a predetermined length; and reinforcement parts protruding from a plurality of portions of a front surface of the back-beam body and spaced apart from each other with intervals gradually varying toward both ends from a central portion of the back-beam body.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: LG HAUSYS, LTD.Inventors: Kyung Hoon Lee, Hee June Kim, Yong Kil Kil
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Patent number: 9616831Abstract: A bumper assembly includes a bumper upper member that is reinforced in a vehicle vertical direction against a bumper energy absorber structure. The bumper upper member includes a vertical rigidity flange that extends outwardly toward the bumper energy absorber that limits movement of the bumper upper member in response to a downward vertical force, which can improve static subjective rigidity, while maintaining pedestrian performance.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Scott L. Frederick, Manpreet Singh, Matthew A. Jansma
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Patent number: 9616745Abstract: The invention relates to an actuation device for a flap mounted moveably on a component between a closed position and an opened position, in particular for a flap mounted moveably on a housing of an automobile, comprising: a first actuation part and a second actuation part which are designed to engage with one another in a movement direction, locking means with a locking reception provided on the first or second actuation part and a locking element provided on the other of the first or second actuation part, wherein the locking element engages in the locking reception during engagement of the actuation parts and thus holds the actuation parts together in a locking position, wherein the locking reception has sufficient size so that in the locking position a relative movement between the locking element and the locking reception in the movement direction of the actuation parts and thereby a corresponding relative movement of the actuation parts in their movement direction with regard to one another is possible,Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2013Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventor: Christian Beck
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Patent number: 9616733Abstract: A shading device for a rear window arrangement of a motor vehicle having a shading structure arranged so as to be shiftable relative to the rear window arrangement between a compactly stored inoperative position and an extended shading position, and with a dimensionally stable extension profile arranged on an end region, at the front in the extension direction, of the shading structure, the extension profile being guided so as to be shiftable in parallel in vehicle-mounted, lateral guide arrangements. The extension profile having two different visible contours positionable into different functional positions by rotation about a longitudinal axis of the extension profile, is known. The extension profile is mounted on opposite end sides by respective ball and socket joint so as to be pivotable about the longitudinal axis relative to lateral guide elements guided in the lateral guide arrangements.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: BOS GMBH & CO. KGInventor: Matthias Maier
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Patent number: 9610898Abstract: A storage console for a vehicle is provided and may include a housing movable from a stowed position to an upright position. The housing may include a top surface that is substantially flush with a floor of the vehicle in the stowed position and is spaced apart from the floor in the upright position.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Carl Mather, Kenric P Socks
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Patent number: 9598110Abstract: A vehicle storage compartment assembly has a bottom wall, a first and second upright walls and a top wall. The first upright wall, the second upright wall and the top wall are each formed with a breakaway structure. A first section is defined on a first side and a second section is defined on a second side of the breakaway structure. The bottom wall extends from the first section to the second section in the absence of the breakaway structure. The first section, the second section and the bottom wall define a storage space. The breakaway structure is configured such that in response to one of the first section and the second section receiving an impacting force the breakaway structure breaks separating the first section from the second section along the first upright wall, the second upright wall and the top wall.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Joshua Willerton, Aaron Andersen, Thomas Mally, Nicholas Bee, Brandon Sakofske
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Patent number: 9597948Abstract: A hatch assembly attachable to a roof of a vehicle includes a removable dome attached to a frame including opposed first and second linkage mechanisms and a latch assembly. The frame includes an annular sidewall section defining an aperture and an outwardly extending flange portion peripheral to the annular wall portion and includes a continuous upper peripheral surface. The dome has an outer planar surface covering the aperture and an inner surface including a hinge portion attached to the first linkage assembly. A latch assembly attaches to the inner surface of the dome on a side of the dome that is opposed to the hinge portion. The latch assembly rotatably couples to a lock wedge, which includes a helical locking surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: SPHEROS NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Timo Butz, Marko Tapio Jokila