Patents Examined by Dennis Pedder
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Patent number: 8672398Abstract: Continuous cross sectional profile guide tracks in an outer sliding sunroof/moonroof are provided where both the front and rear mechanism or mechanism links travel fore/aft in the same channels as each other and have fore/aft travel that is limited only by vehicle architecture. The guide track channel is partly or entirely outside/outboard of the primary water/wind sealing system of the sunroof.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Paul Gruss, Marcus Christensen
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Patent number: 8672397Abstract: The invention relates to a roof structure of a motor vehicle, in which a roof channel, which extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction, having a fastening flange is formed on both vehicle sides by at least one vehicle body component. A roof module is fastened on the two fastening flanges, which has a planar section, implemented at least sectionally in the form of a glass roof, for bridging a roof opening formed between the roof channels, at least one pair of installation bases for installing a roof rail being arranged between the fastening flanges and the planar section of the roof module. The planar section has a plurality of module openings, which are assigned to the installation bases and are each enclosed by a plastic extrusion coating, for an installation of the roof rail.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Richard Stahlhut, Axel Boywitt
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Patent number: 8672380Abstract: A handhold assembly for a machine chassis includes a handhold and a mounting structure. The handhold includes a gripping member, an elongate member extending from the gripping member, and a locking member provided at a distal portion of the elongate member. Further, an adapter provided at a distal end of the elongate member. The mounting structure is configured to be attached with the machine chassis and includes a first opening and a second opening. The first and the second openings configured to removably receive the elongate member and the adapter, respectively. Further, a slot provided on the first opening, the slot configured to engage with the locking member of the handhold.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Zachary R. Carter, Scott M. Hauser
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Patent number: 8672392Abstract: An instrument panel assembly of an automotive vehicle is provided wherein the instrument panel is operable to hold a meter cluster. The meter cluster is positioned adjacent to a shifter of an automotive vehicle. The meter cluster is mounted within the center of the vehicle. The instrument panel includes a main panel having a plurality of apertures located adjacent to the meter cluster. A mounting aperture for the meter cluster is provided wherein the meter cluster is mounted to the mounting aperture for the meter cluster. The plurality of apertures on the main panel located adjacent to the meter cluster are operable to weaken the structure of the main panel to facilitate a controlled collapse of the instrument panel when the shifter hits the meter cluster. The positioning of the apertures located adjacent to the meter cluster prevents damage to the meter cluster during the accident.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Robert Anthony Porcs, Raymond David Howe
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Patent number: 8672394Abstract: A cord-like element 4 is extending along a dash panel 3, a component 19 from the cord-like element 4 is fixed to the dash panel 3 via a bracket 20, the cord-like element 4 is fixed to the bracket 20, the cord-like element 4 and the component 19 are fixed to the dash panel 3 via the bracket 20, the cord-like element 4 is arranged on a vehicle rear side Rr from an opposed surface 20M of the bracket to an engine E, and the rigidity of fixed portions 3K of the dash panel 3 to which fixing portions 28A and 29A of the bracket 20 are fixed is set to be lower than the rigidity of the bracket 20. Accordingly, the fixed portions 3K of the dash panel 3 are deformed before the bracket 20 when the bracket 20 is pressed toward the vehicle rear side Rr by the engine E.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2011Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventors: Yuki Futsuhara, Yorisada Kondo
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Patent number: 8672382Abstract: A pedestrian protection system for a motor vehicle includes an impact recognition sensor for recognizing an impact of the motor vehicle with a pedestrian. The impact recognition sensor is located in a front fender of the motor vehicle, next to an outer skin that lines the fender, or in a front part of the motor vehicle, next to an outer skin that lines the front part of the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2005Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Stefan Schinke, Thorsten Gaas, Andre Zander
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Patent number: 8668254Abstract: A vehicle underfloor structure includes under covers (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) that cover an underside of a vehicle, and drain members (D) provided in the under covers (3, 4, 5, 6, 7). The drain members (D) each include: a front inclined wall (21) provided with a water drain opening (33, 34, 42, 43, 44, 72, 74); and a rear inclined wall (22). A recess is formed in each under cover in a front-back direction of the vehicle in such a manner that a first interior angle (?1) formed by the front inclined wall is larger than a second interior angle (?2) formed by the rear inclined wall and a length of the front inclined wall is different from a length of the rear inclined wall.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2011Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Onodera, Yasutsune Terashima
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Patent number: 8668256Abstract: The application discloses a panel assembly for use in a open roof construction for a vehicle. The panel assembly comprises a panel main body, and at least one reinforcement member positioned in the vicinity of at least a part of the edges of said panel main body, and firmly connected thereto by means of a part molded in a molding process to said panel main body and said reinforcement member. A provision is made for locally at least reducing adherence of the moldable material to said reinforcement member and/or said panel main body during molding. There is also disclosed a method of manufacturing the panel assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2011Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.Inventor: Sander De Bie
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Patent number: 8668243Abstract: A vehicle boundary layer air flow control structure is provided with a vehicle body and a side view mirror. The vehicle body includes an exterior contoured surface with an air flow deflector. The side view mirror is attached to the vehicle body to provide a diagonally rearward direction to be viewed from a driver's seat. The air flow deflector has a downward air flow guiding surface provided in a vehicle body region of the exterior contoured surface of the vehicle body along which an air flow heading toward the side view mirror passes. The downward air flow guiding surface extends in an air flow direction of the air flow with respect to the side view mirror to divert the air flow underneath the side view mirror.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2010Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satoshi Komiya, Kazuhito Sugimoto, Hirofumi Kondou, Yuichi Morinaka, Tomohiro Koyahata, Masato Inoue, Kenichiro Koizumi, Hitoshi Takagi, Yuji Ishihara, Kazuaki Nakajima
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Patent number: 8668245Abstract: A front underfloor structure of a vehicle (EV) includes a protruding member protruding downward from a front underfloor surface of the vehicle, and redirects a flow of traveling air that flows around a front underfloor while traveling. The protruding member is configured as a protruding member with curved surface (31) disposed at a position closer to the vehicle front than front tires (1L, 1R) and in a central portion of the front underfloor straddling a vehicle center line (CL). The protruding member with curved surface (31) has a circumference of protrusion in a vehicle longitudinal direction that is longest at the position of the vehicle center line (CL), and the circumference of protrusion in the vehicle longitudinal direction becomes gradually shorter with increasing distance from the vehicle center line (CL) on both sides in a vehicle width direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2011Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Kakiuchi, Masahiro Ataka, Youhei Ogawa, Kazuaki Nakajima, Yuji Ishihara
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Patent number: 8662561Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat cushion and seat back supported above a floor by a rear leg. The seat back is pivotally coupled to a recliner bracket. The seat cushion is selectively pivotally locked relative to the recliner bracket. A disc recliner operatively couples the recliner bracket and rear leg. The disc recliner allows the rear leg to pivot relative to the recliner bracket to move the seat assembly from a design seating position to a slouch position. The seat back is pivoted towards the seat cushion and the recliner allows the rear leg to pivot relative to the recliner bracket, thereby lowering the seat assembly to move the seat assembly to a fold and kneel position. The seat cushion is unlocked relative to the recliner bracket to pivot the seat cushion towards the seat back to move the seat assembly to a stadium position.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Magna Seating Inc.Inventors: David M. Runde, Peter Paul Zeimis, III
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Patent number: 8662562Abstract: A door overload protection device for a vehicle door, especially for an armored vehicle door is disclosed. The door overload protection includes a door leaf, a door frame and at least one hinge, the device being made such that it can act against a compressive force which has arisen from the weight of the door leaf and which is applied in a vertical and/or a horizontal direction in its moving, opening and closing state. A method for producing a door overload protection device is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Inventor: Klaus Ackermann
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Patent number: 8662559Abstract: A removable cargo liner for use in a vehicle cargo area. The removable cargo liner comprises an upper cargo liner layer being positionable in the cargo area of a vehicle and a lower layer being made of a dual purpose, nonwoven, needle punch fiber having a loop feature. The lower layer is fixedly coupled to the upper cargo liner layer. The lower layer provides a generally non-abrasive contact interface with the vehicle cargo area. An intermediate layer made of a compliant material is coupled between the upper cargo liner layer and the lower layer such that the coupling of the lower layer to the upper cargo liner layer is via the intermediate layer. A single-sided member is connectable to the cargo area defining a hook feature, such that the hook feature of the single-sided member is releasably coupled to the loop feature of the lower layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Bedrug, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Wise, Jeffrey S. Quinn
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Patent number: 8662573Abstract: A lateral impact energy transfer rail for an automotive vehicle and a body structure incorporating the same. The transfer rail includes a cross member having a gusset mounted at each end. The gussets opposing end of each gusset is attached to a roof side rail of the vehicle. The gussets are secured to the cross member by a fastener and an additional connection. The additional connection is laterally offset from the fastener.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Steven B. Vantrease, Tyler E. Schnug
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Patent number: 8657368Abstract: A mechanism for increasing stiffness of the side-structure of a vehicle, for transferring loads and strain energy, and for improving rigidity from the lower portion of a side pillar, to the underbody structural components of the vehicle. The vehicle includes a hydroformed tube having a horizontal portion, a vertical portion and an arcuate central portion. The upper end of the vertical portion is spot welded to the lower portion of the side pillar. The horizontal portion is received into, and spot welded to, an inner portion of a structural member. The structural member is an L-shaped bracket, and its major portion is spot welded to an inner portion of an elongated beam. The beam is fixedly attached to the side rail of the vehicle. The tubular member, the structural member, and the elongated beam, when connected, form a closed continuous box shaped structure, which reinforces the side-structure of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2012Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mike James Freeman, Philip John Leonetti, Gene A. Senn, Christopher Kunkel, Shadi M. Al-Thabteh
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Patent number: 8657369Abstract: A floor structure of a motor vehicle body is provided. The floor structure has two frame rail arrangements essentially extending in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle body. The arrangements are joined together by a cross member essentially extending in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle body. A floor panel extends between the cross member and the two frame rail arrangements. A diagonal reinforcement is located above the floor panel and abuts against the cross member in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle body. A reinforcing element essentially extends in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle body between the two frame rail arrangements. The diagonal reinforcement abuts against the reinforcing element in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2012Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Udo Mildner, Stanislaw Klimek, Karsten Bohle
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Patent number: 8651546Abstract: A vehicle center console trim assembly includes a console body and a cover. The console body includes a first side section and a ledge extending laterally from the first side section along a lower body portion of the console body. The cover is coupled to the console body and overlies a side surface of the first side section to form a side pocket between the cover and the side surface of the first side section with the ledge defining a bottom surface of the side pocket. The cover includes an upper cover portion that extends along an upper body portion of the console body, which is spaced above the lower body portion of the console body, with the upper cover portion concealing the ledge of the first side section of the console body from view in a downward vehicle looking direction from a location above the console body.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2012Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Melaina Vasko, Walter Yourke, Thomas Mally, Douglas Dawe
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Patent number: 8651563Abstract: A bearing structure arrangement of a motor vehicle body is provided with a side panel structure adjoining a bulkhead, and a linking component secured thereto for accommodating a frame rail section located upstream from the side panel structure in the traveling direction. The linking component facing the frame carrier section includes, but is not limited to an attachment profile corresponding with the profile cross section of the frame rail section.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2012Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Udo Mildner, Lothar Teske
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Patent number: 8646832Abstract: A lower wall portion of a bracket is attached to a motor compartment cross member via a charger. The bracket has an L-shaped cross-sectional configuration when viewed from a side of the vehicle, and includes a vertical wall portion which is bent from a vehicle-rear side end of the lower wall portion and extends toward the top of the vehicle. A DC/DC converter is attached to an upper portion of the vertical wall portion of the bracket. The DC/DC converter is located in such a position that an upper portion of the DC/DC converter overlaps with a cowling when viewed from a front of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2012Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Taichi Yamashita
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Patent number: 8646825Abstract: The present disclosure provides an overhead console for a motor vehicle that can firmly hold, store and allow viewing of a portable electronic device. The overhead console can include a sunglass storage bin that is pivotally attached to an overhead console storage structure, the sunglass storage bin having a closed position and an open position. The console can also include a storage unit insert that is attached to and located at least partially within the sunglass storage bin. The storage unit insert can be dimensioned to hold a portable electronic device within the sunglass storage bin and allow the device to be stored out of view when the sunglass storage bin is in the closed position and allow viewing of the electronic device when the sunglass storage bin is in the open position.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2012Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Mark Minelli, Eric Day, Lynelle Harrison