Patents Examined by Dennis H. Pedder
  • Patent number: 12214827
    Abstract: The present teachings generally relate to a structural reinforcement, a body member comprising the structural reinforcement, and a method of using the structural reinforcement. The structural reinforcement comprises a first wall, a second wall extending from a first side of the first wall. Spacer legs extend from a second side of the first wall and define a first channel Spacer legs extend from a second side of the second wall and define a second channel. The structural reinforcement is configured to reinforce a joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: ZEPHYROS, INC.
    Inventors: Max Vanraaphorst, Jeffery T. Shantz, Garrett Taylor
  • Patent number: 12208759
    Abstract: To improve protection performance for a pedestrian colliding with a front portion of a traveling vehicle, a front bumper includes a bumper fascia, a front grill, and decorative member. The disposition position and shape of a bumper reinforcement are set such that the bumper reinforcement is positioned inside an opening of the bumper fascia in a front view. Cross members are arranged at higher and lower positions than the decorative member and extend toward a vehicle-width-direction outer side beyond the bumper reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuma Inami, Nobuyuki Nakayama, Hiroyuki Baba, Mitsuru Wakabayashi, Koji Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 12202548
    Abstract: To suppress damage on a bonnet at light collision, a vehicle-body structure includes rear-portion crush cans that perform compressive deformation when a first predetermined load is applied, and front-portion crush cans that perform compressive deformation when a second predetermined load smaller than the first predetermined load is applied. A front portion of a bonnet is positioned on a vehicle rear side of front portions of the rear-portion crush cans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuma Inami, Nobuyuki Nakayama, Hiroyuki Baba, Mitsuru Wakabayashi, Koji Miyamoto, Masaki Motoki, Manabu Tatsuda
  • Patent number: 12202415
    Abstract: A vehicle accessory module receiving system includes a first adaptor securable adjacent a first side wall of a cargo bed; and a second adaptor securable adjacent a second side wall of the cargo bed, the first and second adaptors establishing opposing sides of an opening configured to receive a vehicle accessory module, the first and second adaptors configured to concurrently engage the vehicle accessory module when the vehicle accessory module is received within the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Harmon, Jesse Rene Diephuis, Hussain Z. Tajmahal, Leyna Hirsch
  • Patent number: 12202414
    Abstract: Disclosed is a decorative element for vehicles, which comprises: on the rear part thereof, an opaque resin base (8) and a camera, the resin base having a thickness that allows the camera (9) to be positioned; and on the front part thereof, a layer of transparent resin (2) on which two decorative layers, a discontinuous opaque layer (3) and a metallic-looking layer (4), are disposed, wherein the camera is placed facing one of the discontinuities of the opaque layer (3), and wherein the metallic-looking layer (4) comprises an alloy of Cr or Mo with Al, Mg, Ag or In. By means of the metallic-looking layer, color distortion is prevented, and the camera is concealed from an external observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: ZANINI AUTO GRUP, S.A.
    Inventors: Augusto Mayer Pujadas, Jerson Jair Peralta Morales, Benjamín Izquierdo Fernández, Beatriz Bravo García, David Cañones Bonham
  • Patent number: 12202546
    Abstract: An embodiment vehicle rear structure includes a rear pillar, including a rear pillar inner and a plurality of reinforcements mounted on the rear pillar inner. A component mounting bracket is attached to the rear pillar and has a receiving portion in which a portion of a vehicle component is received. The reinforcements are disposed to surround the component mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Young Eun Kim, Jun Hyoung Kim, Seong Hoon Ham
  • Patent number: 12194896
    Abstract: A seat for a vehicle is proposed. The seat for a vehicle is configured to perform sliding of a seat cushion in conjunction with reclining of a seatback without a separate driver part or recliner, and to realize tipping-up of the seat cushion with the seat cushion and the seatback removably provided, and to be easily mounted and assembled to a vehicle to secure the inside space utilization of the vehicle and achieve cost reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, Hyundai Transys Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Woo Jeong, Han Su Yoo, Jung Sang You, Guk Mu Park, Myung Hoe Kim, Eun Sue Kim, Dae Hee Lee, Jun Sik Hwang, Gwon Hwa Bok, Hae Dong Kwak, Jae Sung Shin, Han Kyung Park, Jae Hoon Cho
  • Patent number: 12195092
    Abstract: A modular vehicle assembly platform is disclosed. In some embodiments, the platform may comprise a cast bulkhead, a cast cowl, one or more cast front strut towers, a front subframe, a cross-car beam, one or more door rings, a structural central floor comprising a battery, a cast structural rear floor, a cast upper rear section (or d-ring), and a rear motor cradle. The platform may allow for the use of common parts and structure across different vehicle types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Via Fortuna, LLC
    Inventors: Jean Pierre Pinsonneault, Jason Castriota
  • Patent number: 12194822
    Abstract: The truck bed enclosure is an apparatus that provides a comfortable and secure environment within a truck. The apparatus includes a first bed cover, a second bed cover, a first side rack, a second rack, and a truck bed. The first bed cover and the second bed cover uphold the first side rack the second side rack, respectively, as well as open and close the truck bed. The first side rack and the second side rack serve as a rack to secure and uphold various items while in a retracted configuration. The first side rack and the second side rack also serve as a bench while in an extended configuration. The first bed cover and second bed cover also include a first window and second window. The truck bed upholds the first bed cover, the second bed cover, a variety of items, and individuals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Inventor: Leslie Fisher
  • Patent number: 12195098
    Abstract: An opening/closing mechanism for a tail gate includes a hinge device configured to rotate the tail gate relative to side walls, and a latch device configured for engagement with a striker provided on the side wall to hold the tail gate in a closed state. The hinge device includes an electric driving device provided on the tail gate and configured to rotate the tail gate by means of a motor, and a coupling configured to couple a body-side engagement portion provided on the side wall and an output shaft of the electric driving device together. The output shaft of the electric driving device fits in a fitting hole portion in a first cylindrical portion formed at one end side of the coupling, and the body-side engagement portion fits in a fitting recessed portion in a second cylindrical portion formed at the other end side of the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yokota, Kohei Yamashita
  • Patent number: 12195091
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a vehicle body structure includes: a roof side rail; a front pillar connected to the roof side rail; a cowl member connected to the front pillar, and extending in a width direction of a vehicle; a cowl cross bar located below the cowl member, connected to the front pillar, and extending in the width direction of the vehicle; and a connection bracket connecting the front pillar, the cowl member, and the cowl cross bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Keon Woo Kim, Sang Woo Kim, Seung Won Lee
  • Patent number: 12187242
    Abstract: A roof module for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, is proposed, the roof module having a roof cladding, which forms an outer visible surface of the roof module, and at least one sensor module having an environment sensor for sensing a vehicle environment during an autonomous or partially autonomous operation of the motor vehicle. A viewing area can be formed in the roof cladding for the environment sensor and the viewing area can be provided with a cleaning element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Michael Huelsen, Johannes Thannheimer, Max Huber
  • Patent number: 12187109
    Abstract: A wind deflector for an openable vehicle roof having a displaceable cover element, the wind deflector may have a deployable deflector element which is made of a planar flexible material and forms a windward surface, the deflector element being attached to a pivotable deploying bow at its upper edge area and to a vehicle-attached base at its lower edge area and comprising a warp-knitted fabric having meshes. The warp-knitted fabric is a one-piece warp-knitted fabric. The windward surface is a curved surface whose curvature is defined by the interknitted meshes of the warp-knitted fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Rudolf Wimmer, Uwe-Gert Heiner
  • Patent number: 12187343
    Abstract: A vehicle body lateral section structure includes: a side panel outer (2) that is made of an aluminum alloy; a reinforcing member (4) that is made of steel and overlaps inside the side panel outer (2); an inner panel (3) that is made of steel and overlaps inside the reinforcing member (4); a plurality of mechanical coupling portions (5) that are provided at an interval (P1) of 40 mm or more and 80 mm or less in a longitudinal direction of the opening flange; and resistance welded portions (6) that are provided between the plurality of mechanical coupling portions (5) in the longitudinal direction to join the reinforcing member (4) and the inner panel (3) to each other in a state where the side panel outer (2), the reinforcing member (4), and the inner panel (3) overlap each other in three layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Higuchi, Kosaku Tomozawa
  • Patent number: 12187352
    Abstract: In a construction machine (1) for working a ground pavement, comprising a machine frame (5) supported by travelling devices (3), an operator platform (11) arranged on the machine frame (5), and a protective canopy (13), adjustable in height by means of a telescopic guide unit (2), arranged on the operator platform (11), wherein the telescopic guide unit (2) comprises at least one first telescopic element (4) and one second telescopic element (6), wherein the first telescopic element (4) is at least partially guidable in the second telescopic element (6), at least one driving device (10) for moving the protective canopy (13) up and down by means of moving the first telescopic element (4) relative to the second telescopic element (6), it is provided that at least one recess (14) in the first telescopic element (4) and at least one latching element (12) are provided, wherein the latching element (12) is arranged to pivot about a pivoting axis (16) on the second telescopic element (6) and is shaped in such a fash
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Jung, Willi Preis
  • Patent number: 12187106
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle comprises a frame and a panel capable of at least partly opening and closing an opening in a fixed roof. A drive motor in the vicinity of the rear edge of the opening and in the vicinity of a longitudinal center line of the opening comprises elongate drive members extending from its output shaft oppositely along the rear edge. An operating mechanism is movably connected between the frame near the rear edge and the rear edge of the panel. The operating mechanism includes two height-adjusting members on the frame, one on each lateral side of the drive motor and guided for a movement in lateral direction initiated by the drive members. Two height-adjustable members are immovably fixed to the panel and cooperate with the height-adjusting members which move along with the drive members so as to cause the height adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Suyanto Teri Wahiyu Ten-Jet-Foei, Thomas Anton Martijnszoon Albers
  • Patent number: 12187211
    Abstract: To suppress deformation of a vehicle cabin by efficiently absorbing an impact load obliquely from a vehicle front side, a vehicle-body front structure includes an upper-side cross member, a lower-side cross member, upper-side impact absorption members that support respective ones of both vehicle-width-direction sides of the upper-side cross member, and lower-side impact absorption members that support respective ones of both vehicle-width-direction sides of the lower-side cross member. The upper-side impact absorption members and the lower-side impact absorption members are each positioned farther on a vehicle-width-direction outer side at a position farther on a vehicle front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuma Inami, Nobuyuki Nakayama, Hiroyuki Baba, Mitsuru Wakabayashi, Koji Miyamoto, Masaki Motoki, Manabu Tatsuda
  • Patent number: 12187177
    Abstract: A truck includes a passenger cabin and a truck bed located rearward of the passenger cabin in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The truck bed includes a bed deck and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls. A tailgate replacement extends across a rear opening to the truck bed and between the sidewalls. The tailgate replacement includes vertically-extending support rails and vertically spaced-apart, laterally-extending support rails that extend between the vertically-extending support rails. A slider is connected to the laterally-extending support rails. The slider includes a first connecting portion that slidably engages a first one of the laterally-extending support rails and a second connecting portion that slidably engages a second one of the laterally-extending support rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott L. Frederick
  • Patent number: 12187355
    Abstract: A shield may be provided between a rear bumper and a silencer, the shield may be provided so as to extend in the vehicle width direction to overlap with at least a rear vertical wall of the silencer in the up-down direction in vehicle rear view, and the shield may be provided with a guider that guides underfloor traveling air downward, the underfloor traveling air flowing to the rear side through a lower portion of the silencer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiya Mizokane, Yuki Ikawa, Tomomu Arai, Shota Sato
  • Patent number: 12179842
    Abstract: A vehicle structure comprising a portion extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein the portion comprises a first member extending in the longitudinal direction and a second member extending in the longitudinal direction. The first member is con-figured to face an inside of a vehicle, and the second member is configured to face an outside of the vehicle. The first and second members are attached to one another to form a substantially closed space between them. The portion comprises a wave-shaped reinforcement member located in a substantially closed space. The substantially closed space is formed when the first and second members are attached to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: AUTOTECH ENGINEERING S.L.
    Inventors: Oscar Schelén, Robert Viklund, Mattias Lehto, Hans Bodin, Stefan Arvidsson