Patents Examined by Dennis H. Pedder
  • Vehicle door of the flush type
    Patent number: 11639086
    Abstract: A vehicle door comprising a mount, a encapsulated fixed window module, a movable window, and a sliding joint, the windows comprising outer surfaces which are aligned with each other as well as with an outer surface of a first trim attached to the first ascending strand and fixed to the first ascending post, and an outer surface of a second trim attached to the second ascending strand and fixed to the ascending profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: HUTCHINSON
    Inventors: Olivier Blottiau, Cyril Lajoux
  • Cover device for a side sill of a passenger vehicle
    Patent number: 11634090
    Abstract: A cover device for a side sill of a passenger vehicle includes a sill cover which has a cover element securable on the side sill and a mobile cover element which is disposable in a length region of the side sill below a door opening of the passenger vehicle. The mobile cover element is displaceable between a covering position and an entry position by a drive unit and the drive unit, configured as a pre-assembled structural unit, has a motor and is disposed in a region of the cover element by a holding device. The motor is disposed on an outside of the cover element and protrudes into an interior of the sill cover with a motor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Samuel Hahn
  • Vehicle body rear part structure
    Patent number: 11634180
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a vehicle body rear part structure. The vehicle body rear part structure includes a load support part on a quarter pillar. The load support part includes a side sill stiffener, a quarter pillar stiffener and a damper stiffener. The side sill stiffener reinforces a side sill and forms a part of the quarter pillar. The quarter pillar stiffener is provided continuously with the side sill stiffener and reinforces the quarter pillar. The damper stiffener is provided above a rear wheel house and joined to the quarter pillar stiffener and a roof side rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawazu, Hiroyuki Yasuda, Kei Ichikawa, Hitomi Ezura
  • Front pillar outer
    Patent number: 11634178
    Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a front pillar outer that has high strength and high rigidity. In an area in which the first door-side flange part and a second door-side flange part overlap with each other, the first door-side flange part and the second door-side flange part are joined to each other. In an area in which the first glass-face-side flange part and the second glass-face-side flange part overlap with each other, the first glass-face-side flange part and the second glass-face-side flange part are joined to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichiro Otsuka, Masafumi Azuma, Naoki Kimoto
  • Sub-frame mounting combination structure of vehicle body
    Patent number: 11634177
    Abstract: A sub-frame mounting combination structure of a vehicle body may include a fender apron side member mounted at the rear end portion of a front side member in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, a first side extension disposed in the transverse direction of the vehicle body and connected to the inside of the fender apron side member, a second side extension disposed in the transverse direction and connected to the outside of the fender apron side member, a tunnel member disposed in the transverse direction connecting the first side extensions at both sides at the center portion of the vehicle body to each other, and having the same phase as the first side extension, and a cap type bracket disposed to cover the fender apron side member at a portion where the fender apron side member and the first and second side extensions are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: HanSeok Song, Songjae Jeong
  • Draining structure for cowl
    Patent number: 11634181
    Abstract: An embodiment cowl drainage structure includes a lower inner member, a lower outer member disposed outside the lower inner member and coupled to the lower inner member so as define a closed space therebetween, and an upper outer member coupled to both the lower outer member and the lower inner member, wherein the upper outer member includes a main hole, and wherein a portion of a space defined between the upper outer member and the lower inner member is configured to communicate fluidly with an outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Song Jae Jeong
  • Connection apparatus and methods for communication with movable electro-optic window systems
    Patent number: 11628708
    Abstract: A vehicle apparatus configured to selectively position and enclose an opening formed in at least one panel of a vehicle includes a sliding panel and a positioning mechanism. The sliding panel includes an electrical device in communication with a control circuit of the vehicle and the positioning mechanism is configured to slidably position the sliding panel along a positioning track between an open position and a closed position. A control connection is configured to transmit control signals between the control circuit of the vehicle and the electrical device. The control connection extends from a portion of the vehicle to a connection interface of the electrical device, and the connection apparatus is configured to communicate a control signal to adjust an operating state of the electrical device in both the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Luke A. Bomers
  • Vehicle body structure
    Patent number: 11628887
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes: a front pillar joined to a dash panel; a front side member extending from the dash panel toward the front of a vehicle; a side sill connected to a bottom end of the front pillar; a rear lower member connecting a rear portion of the front side member and a front portion of the side sill; and a connection member connecting at least two of the front pillar, the side sill, and the rear lower member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Deok Hwa Hong, Hee Seouk Chung, Hyun Sik Kim, Byeong Cheon Lee
  • Vehicle-body structure of vehicle
    Patent number: 11628885
    Abstract: A vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of the present invention comprises a bumper support portion provided at a vehicle body of the vehicle to support to bumper, a connection portion connecting the bumper and the bumper support portion and supporting the bumper, and a slide allowance portion configured to allow the bumper to slide in a vehicle longitudinal direction relative to the bumper support portion when a longitudinal load having a specified magnitude or larger is applied to the bumper from a vehicle outside, wherein the connection portion is provided on an upper face of the bumper support portion, and the slide allowance portion is configured to allow the longitudinal sliding of the bumper independently from the supporting of the bumper by the connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuya Nishio
  • Vehicle body side structure
    Patent number: 11628886
    Abstract: A vehicle body side structure includes a side panel assembly and a floor assembly. The side panel assembly has a side sill outer panel part fixed to a side sill reinforcement member and a fastening nut provided on a rear end portion of the side sill reinforcement member. The floor assembly has a wheel arch reinforcement member fixed to an inner panel front portion and a collar interposed between the wheel arch reinforcement member and the inner panel front portion. The side panel assembly is assembled to the floor assembly by fastening a fastening bolt to the fastening nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunori Hida, Hiroyuki Sakai
  • Vehicle bonnet structure
    Patent number: 11623696
    Abstract: A vehicle bonnet structure, having designability, dent resistance and reduced weight, includes an outer panel, an inner panel attached to a back face of this outer panel, and a stiffener disposed between a front portion of the outer panel and a front portion of the inner panel and supported on the inner panel. A first step portion is provided in a vehicle-width-direction inner-side area of the outer panel which extends in the front-rear direction and has a smaller up-down dimension on the front side than on the rear side. The stiffener includes a first sealer which abuts against the outer panel in an extension line vicinity area toward the front side of a boundary portion of the first step portion and suppresses downward displacement of the outer panel, and a first bead portion extending in the front-rear direction at a position in the vicinity of the first sealer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Onaka, Shogo Okada, Yutaka Mitoma
  • Vehicle including a vehicle cargo area with a vehicle cargo cover having a clip
    Patent number: 11624222
    Abstract: A vehicle including a vehicle cargo area includes a hinge pin in a wall of the vehicle cargo area, a cargo cover defining first and second slots, a single-piece clip which includes a first fixing feature positioned in the first slot, and a second fixing feature positioned in the second slot. The clip defines a channel receiving the hinge pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Alejandro Hernandez Covarrubias, Juan Manuel Alvarado, Frank W. Schipperijn
  • Vehicle front structure
    Patent number: 11623697
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes: a pair of left and right front pillars; a front wall portion provided between the pair of left and right front pillars and forming a front end of the vehicle interior; a lower wall portion extending rearward from a lower end of the front wall portion; a tunnel member formed at a middle portion of the lower wall portion in a vehicle width direction and having an upward convex shape; and a reinforcing portion laminated on and fixed to the front wall portion or the front wall portion and the lower wall portion, in which the reinforcing portion is provided so as to be inclined downward from the front pillar toward the tunnel member and forms a thick plate portion in collaboration with the front wall portion or the front wall portion and the lower wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Hanafusa, Ryo Kita
  • Vehicles including sprayer assemblies for vehicle bumpers
    Patent number: 11623616
    Abstract: A vehicle including a sprayer assembly for washing away debris, such as ice, dirt, and the like, accumulating on an upper surface of a rear bumper of the vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a rear bumper having an upper surface, a reservoir including a supply of fluid and a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, the plurality of nozzles being spaced apart from one another in a vehicle lateral direction, the plurality of nozzles configured to spray the fluid from the fluid reservoir at the upper surface of the rear bumper. In some embodiments, the vehicle includes a tailgate positionable between an open position and a closed position, and the nozzles are operable when the tailgate is in the closed position. As such, the nozzles may emit a spray of fluid when the tailgate is in the closed position to wash away the debris prior to the tailgate opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Paxton S. Williams
  • Drive system for a movable roof part of a roof module of a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 11623501
    Abstract: A drive system including a guide rail assembly fixed to a roof module and including a control mechanism movable in the guide rail assembly and operatively connected to the roof part in order to move the moveable roof part between a closed position, a ventilation position, and an open position. The control mechanism has a drive slide connected to a drive transmission section. A tilting claw is provided on the drive slide, and a wall section of the guide rail assembly is provided with at least one latching profiled section positioned in the region of the guide rail assembly and facing the drive slide. The drive slide is positioned in the guide rail assembly region in the open position of the moveable roof part, and interacts with the tilting claw in a form-fitting manner when the drive slide is tilted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: BOS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Heidan, Marius Marquart
  • Panel assembly for vehicle made of different materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion
    Patent number: 11623500
    Abstract: A panel assembly for a vehicle made of different materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes: an external panel 10, an internal panel 20 having the circumference bonded to the circumference of the external panel 10, and made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion different from a coefficient of thermal expansion of the external panel 10, and at least one deformation absorption panel 30, 40 connected to at least one of the external panel 10 and the internal panel 20 on the circumferences of the external panel 10 and the internal panel 20, and for absorbing an amount of thermal deformation according to a change in temperatures of the external panel 10 and the internal panel 20 when the external panel 10 and the internal panel 20 are thermally deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Je-Won Choi
  • Movable vehicle module system
    Patent number: 11623574
    Abstract: A vehicle module system is disclosed. The system includes a track assembly operably coupled with a body of a vehicle. One or more modules may be removably and slidably coupled with the track assembly. The modules include base structure defining an attachment point. A rail feature is disposed along a bottom portion of the base structure. An attachment feature having a retainer for removably coupling to the attachment point to the base structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Prozzi, Tyler Carpenter, Jeremy John Malick, John Galin, Christopher Robert Westfall, Andres Almeida Senatore, Daniel Boccuccia, Siddharthan Selvasekar
  • Formed body, structural member, and method for producing formed body
    Patent number: 11623260
    Abstract: A formed body 1 includes a first flange 3, a body portion 100 (a first vertical wall portion 4, a top plate portion 5, a second vertical wall portion 6), and a second flange 7, and the formed body 1 is made of steel having tensile strength of 440 MPa or more. The first flange 3 extends toward the second flange 7 from an edge portion of the first vertical wall portion 4. The first flange 3 and the body portion 100 curve so as to conform to each other as viewed from the direction orthogonal to the top plate portion 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuichi Nishimura, Yoshiaki Nakazawa
  • Vehicle body
    Patent number: 11623693
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a vehicle body capable of suppressing the occurrence of cracks in a center pillar at the time of a side collision. A center pillar stiffener forms a hollow structure with a closed cross section by including a side wall which faces the outer surface of a pillar inner, a front wall which is formed by bending from a front end of the side wall to form a first ridge with the side wall and which is joined to the outer surface of the pillar inner, and a rear wall which is formed by bending from a rear end of the side wall to form a second ridge with the side wall and which is joined to the outer surface of the pillar inner. The pillar stiffener is provided with a bead recessed toward the pillar inner and orthogonal to the first and second ridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Abe, Yu Iemura
  • Vehicles including heater assemblies for vehicle bumpers
    Patent number: 11623594
    Abstract: A vehicle including a rear bumper having an upper surface, a power source, and a heating element in communication with the power source is provided. The heating element extends in a vehicle lateral direction and along substantially an entire portion of the upper surface of the rear bumper. The heating element may operable when a tailgate is in a closed position. Thus, debris, such as ice, dirt, and the like, accumulating on the upper surface of the rear bumper may be melted by the heating element prior to the tailgate opening. The heating element may be configured to heat substantially an entire portion of the upper surface of the rear bumper. The heating element may be configured to heat upon a condition being satisfied such as, for example, a vehicle start operation or outside temperature being below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Paxton S. Williams