Patents Examined by Daniel J. Colilla
  • Patent number: 12291911
    Abstract: In a door hinge device for vehicles, in a vehicle without a B pillar, a hinge slider connected to a hinge portion of a door slidably moves in an external diagonal direction of a vehicle body along a rail in a case to secure a rotational trajectory of the door, and then a first striker configured in the hinge slider is restrained to a hinge latch unit fixed onto the rail inside the case in association with an action of a second striker provided at one side of the door to fix a slide movement location of the hinge slider, stably achieving an opening/closing operation of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hyungin Yun, Chungsik Yim
  • Patent number: 12286064
    Abstract: A trim assembly of a vehicle includes a first component, a second component, and one or more primary retention elements attaching the first component to the second component. A secondary retention element is located at the first component. The secondary retention element is configured to engage the second component only in the event that the first component begins to move away from the second component to prevent release of the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Erick Asgard Tellez, Reynaldo Godinez
  • Patent number: 12280702
    Abstract: Disclosed are an assist grip and a vehicle including the same. The assist grip includes a fixing part coupled to an interior of a vehicle, a grip part including a radar member that senses whether an object is present within a close distance, and connected to the fixing part to be rotatable, and a connection part connecting the grip part to the fixing part such that the grip part is rotatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, HL Klemove Corp.
    Inventors: Seul Ki Jeon, Eung Hwan Kim, Han Yeol Yu, Beom Sic Yoo, Kyung Jin You, Jae Ho Huh
  • Patent number: 12280832
    Abstract: A vehicle closure module overtravel accommodating system includes a closure module of a vehicle. The closure module is pivotably coupled to a vehicle frame and is configured to pivot relative to the vehicle frame back-and-forth between a closed position and an open position. The system further includes a breakaway mount of the vehicle, and a bumper assembly having a head disposed on a base. The bumper assembly engages the breakaway mount to secure the bumper assembly within the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Gardynik, David Brian Glickman, Mark Joseph Courtright
  • Patent number: 12280701
    Abstract: A deployable folding tray system for a vehicle including a first tray, a second tray pivotally coupled to the first tray, a third tray pivotally coupled to the second tray, and a connector assembly connecting the third tray to a support in a storage compartment which defines a storage space of the vehicle. The second tray pivots relative to the first tray to be deployed from the storage compartment, wherein the first tray pivots relative to the second tray to extend further into a deployed position, and wherein the first, second or third trays are stowed within the storage compartment in a stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael John Harmon
  • Patent number: 12280708
    Abstract: A tie-down chain anchor and storage system for use on trailers, such as flatbed trailers. The system includes a container for holding the chain when not in use a top opening that has anchor slots for securing the chain at a given distance when using the chain to secure equipment on the trailer. The container has a flat top, and the container is coupled to other aspects of the trailer with the flat top flush with a flat portion of the trailer. The system allows for storage of the securing line, e.g., chain, point of pull, and no impediment in loading the trailer. Other embodiments are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Inventor: Roy M. Boyett
  • Patent number: 12269411
    Abstract: A vehicle with a head airbag integrated into the vehicle body, which is covered so as to be visually screened by a headliner that has a headliner opening for a functional component, in particular a reading light, wherein a fastening arrangement is provided on the reverse side of the headliner facing away from a passenger compartment, via which the functional component is secured. At least one shield element is associated with the fastening arrangement and is arranged between the head airbag and the fastening arrangement in a head airbag deployment direction, so that when an airbag deploys, a region of the fastening arrangement having interfering contours is shielded against the deploying head airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Akbar Fatemi
  • Patent number: 12263888
    Abstract: A chassis for an autonomous mobile robot comprises a moulded frame having a stable support for any payload or additional machinery loaded on top of the mobile robot, while ensuring a rigidity of the chassis which again ensures that the supporting elements for the sensors are kept in a stable position relative to each other. The chassis has several separated compartments for EEE placement. These EEE compartments are accessible from the sides and ends of the mobile robot by removing detachable cover parts. A removable top cover is mounted on top of the moulded frame providing a top covering for central inside compartment and outside side compartments. Side covers and end covers are provided for outside compartments and are removable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Mobile Industrial Robots A/S
    Inventors: Oliver Haagaard, Mikkel Bjergskov Nielsen, Jonathan Lindskov Naundrup-Jensen, Niels Jul Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 12263891
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle characterized in that it comprises a tractor having a chassis extending along a longitudinal axis supported by wheels, a cab mounted on a chassis, an air deflecting assembly installed on a roof of the cab, the air deflecting assembly having a shield and an adjustment mechanism configured adjust a rear height of the shield, a semi-trailer configured to be removably attached to the tractor, a mechanical measuring device comprising a first portion configured to be disposed on a semi-trailer roof, second and third portions adjacent to the semi-trailer front wall, the third portion configured to indicate an optimal position of the air deflecting assembly selected from among predetermined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: Damien Chacaton
  • Patent number: 12263726
    Abstract: A vehicle (e.g., a class-2 vehicle) with an improved cab door is disclosed. The vehicle can have a vertical plane that bisects the vehicle into a driver's side and an opposed side. The vehicle can comprise a chassis and a body supported by the chassis. The body can define a cab. The cab can define an opening configured to provide operator access to the cab. The cab door can be configured to travel about and between an open position and a closed position along a linear axis. In the closed position, the cab door can at least partially cover the opening of the cab. The linear axis can form an acute angle with the vertical plane that bisects the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Morgan Olson Corporation
    Inventor: Dustin Hershberger
  • Patent number: 12252174
    Abstract: A reinforced structural member includes a structural member having a hole and having a closed, and/or partially closed, cross-section, and a reinforcement fixed to the structural member. A portion of the reinforcement may be inserted into the structural member through the hole, and the hole and the reinforcement may be configured to align with a mount portion of an associated component when the associated component is mounted on the structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Sun Ju Lee, Il Do Kim
  • Patent number: 12252177
    Abstract: A vehicle side structure includes a side door and a pillar which includes at least a pillar reinforcement. In the vehicle side structure, an end portion, in a vehicle longitudinal direction, of the side door incorporates a digital key sensor and has a protruding region, and the pillar reinforcement includes an outer wall facing outward in the vehicle width direction and having an indented region in which a part of a main surface of the outer wall is curved or bent so as to protrude inward in the vehicle width direction, a center concave bead extending along the vehicle vertical direction at the center, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, of the outer wall, and a center convex bead raised from a bottom surface of the center concave bead, in which a vertical length range of the center convex bead is overlapped at least partially with the indented region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirokazu Maeda, Masahiro Nozawa, Tomohito Sono, Yoshihiro Kojima, Nobuhito Nishio
  • Patent number: 12246779
    Abstract: A tonneau cover comprising: (a) a slat; (b) a drive system adapted to move the slat; and (c) a disconnect connected to the slat and in communication with the drive system, wherein the disconnect is adapted to release from communication with the drive system so that the slat manually moves independently from the drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: RETRAX HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Lucas R. Spray
  • Patent number: 12241824
    Abstract: A soot sensing system includes a soot sensor having a first element, and circuitry to an amount of soot accumulated on the element and to control heating of the element in response to the soot accumulation. An electrostatic repelling voltage (ERV) may be applied to a sensor/heater element(s) during a contamination prevention mode (CPM) to repel ash and reduce contamination of the sensor. A pulsed heating voltage (PHV) may be applied to the elements during the CPM and a pulsed ERV may be applied to the elements during the “off” period of the PHV. All voltage to the elements may be turned off during the CPM and the elements may be floating/ground. A PHV may be applied to the elements during the CPM and no voltage may be applied to the elements during the “off” period of the PHV. A heating voltage may be applied to the elements during a CPM corresponding to a cold start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Standard Motor Products
    Inventors: Kayvan Hedayat, John Hart, Eric Matson, Mark Wilson, Norman Poirier
  • Patent number: 12240215
    Abstract: A structural reinforcement for insertion into a cavity of a vehicle structure including a base reinforcing portion, an expandable material and a localized reinforcement is disclosed. The localized reinforcement is placed within the structural reinforcement at a location of anticipated increased deformation during vehicle impact in an effort to reduce deformation and control the load distribution post-impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: ZEPHYROS, INC.
    Inventors: Henry E. Richardson, Xuping Qian, Gary Hulett
  • Patent number: 12236923
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a portable music production apparatus which a USB interface for connecting to a computer device, the apparatus comprises a first control element which is configured to provide a pitch bend functionality and a second control element which can be assigned to modulate any parameter a user desires like a modulation wheel. The apparatus can also be provided with additional programmable control elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Inventor: Alex Matthew Moye
  • Patent number: 12233802
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes an environment sensor (22) positioned in an inner space defined between a bumper face and an internal structural member, and attached to the internal structural member, and a cover member (23) including a lower wall (24) extending from the internal structural member to a point adjacent to the bumper face to substantially close the inner space from below. The cover member including a main part (28) forming a base end part thereof and a tip end part (29) extending from the main part to the point adjacent to the bumper face and having a substantially lower stiffness than the main part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tadahiro Matori
  • Patent number: 12227253
    Abstract: A two-wheeled vehicle includes a frame, a plurality of ground-engaging members for supporting the frame, and an engine supported by the frame and operably coupled to the ground-engaging members. Additionally, the two-wheel vehicle includes a down tube extending downwardly from a front end of the frame. A front fairing is supported on the down tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Indian Motorcycle International, LLC
    Inventors: Tyler J. Kramer, Jeffrey D. Oltmans, Andrew O. Glaeser, Juho Pekka Wuollet, Kent A. Underland, Cal W. Johnson, Ronald A. Vorndran, G. Jay McKoskey, Jeffrey M. O'Halloran
  • Patent number: 12221164
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a vehicle body structure includes a dash cross member disposed on an upper surface of a dash floor in a lateral direction of a vehicle. A lower side member is coupled to a lower side of the dash floor to face the dash cross member and coupled to a side wall of a side sill. A body mounting bracket is provided under the lower side member and coupled to a frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Min Jeong, Seung Ho Noh
  • Patent number: 12221044
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure comprises a beam member and a plate member. The plate member comprises a vertical face portion, a body portion extending forwardly from the vertical face portion, a front end portion positioned at a front end of the body portion, and a protrusion face portion provided to be forwardly spaced apart from the vertical face portion. The front end portion comprises an upper section located at a higher level than the body portion. The protrusion face portion comprises a protrusion-face-portion upper section located at a higher level than an upper end of the upper section and a protrusion-face-portion lower section located at a lower level than the upper end of the upper section. The protrusion-face-portion lower section is configured to have lower strength against a collision load applied from a vehicle forward side than the protrusion-face-portion upper section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Furutani, Ryo Ando, Reiko Yoshiura