Patents Examined by E. Turner Hicks
  • Patent number: 11377156
    Abstract: A vent assembly in an inner fender assembly disposed between a heat exchanger in an engine compartment and a wheel well of a motor vehicle includes a first vent and a second vent disposed in the inner fender assembly. The first vent includes a plurality of fins disposed at a first angle relative to a horizontal axis. The second vent is disposed between the first vent and the heat exchanger and includes a plurality of fins extending between distal ends of first and second walls of the second vent and disposed at a second angle relative to the horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrick G. Esber, Christopher D. Hinz, Shawn L. Tarr
  • Patent number: 11351890
    Abstract: A seat crossmember includes a base facing a floor of a vehicle, a first reinforcing portion connected to a first edge of the base, wherein the first reinforcing portion has a first cavity, and a second reinforcing portion integrally connected to a second edge of the base, wherein the second reinforcing portion has a second cavity. The first cavity and the second cavity can be closed cavities. The first reinforcing portion and the second reinforcing portion can protrude upwardly from the base, and the first reinforcing portion, the second reinforcing portion, and the base can define a third cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyun Wook Park, Seung Min Jeong
  • Patent number: 11345219
    Abstract: A side door assembly is provided for an automotive vehicle body having a side opening. The side door assembly includes an upper door half incorporating a unique outer panel coupled to or integrally formed with a structural portion. Soft goods are operably coupled to the structural portion of the upper door half. The side door assembly includes a one-piece casting for hinged connection to the vehicle body. The casting forms a frame. At least one panel insert is selectively connected from the interior of the vehicle outward by a plurality of rotary attachment features to the frame. The frame includes a plurality of reinforcement features to add structure and rigidity, while reducing weight, to the side door assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Bestop, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Getzschman, George C. Stickles, William H. Haberkamp, Stephen J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 11339553
    Abstract: A work machine includes a machine frame and a cab supported from the machine frame. At least one pivotal connection between the cab and the machine frame allows the cab to be tilted relative to the machine frame. The pivotal connection includes first and second clevises fixed to the machine frame, the first and second clevises including first and second aligned pin openings, respectively. A pivot pin is received through the pin openings so that the pivot pin is pivotable relative to the machine frame. A viscous mount includes a housing portion, a plunger portion, and a flexible element connecting the plunger portion to the housing portion. The housing portion is attached to the cab, and the plunger portion is attached to the pivot pin between the first and second clevises such that the cab and the viscous mount are pivotable with the pivot pin relative to the machine frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Patrick J. Mulligan, Michael R. Tigges, Joseph F. Tilp, Trisha L. Oyen
  • Patent number: 11332194
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure including: a pair of left and right first vehicle body framework members manufactured by die-casting, and being provided at vehicle width direction outer sides of a vehicle and extending along a vehicle front-rear direction; a pair of left and right second vehicle body framework members manufactured from sheet steel and being joined to a length direction end portion of a corresponding first vehicle body framework member and extending along the vehicle front-rear direction; and a load transmission portion provided at either the first vehicle body framework members or the second vehicle body framework members, the load transmission portion configured to abut the other the first vehicle body framework members or the second vehicle body framework members when a collision load acting substantially along the vehicle front-rear direction is input to the first vehicle body framework members or the second vehicle body framework members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ayaka Kagami, Soshiro Murata, Takashi Sagisaka, Takahiro Tashiro
  • Patent number: 11326383
    Abstract: A glove box assembly includes a glove box housing and a glove box door movable between a first, closed position and a second, open position relative to the glove box housing to selectively provide access to an interior of the glove box housing. An actuation system is connected to the glove box door and a control mechanism is operably coupled to the actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism is operable in response to the control mechanism to move the glove box door to one of the closed position or the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Gabriel O. Rapetti, Kenneth D. Snow, Ian J. Dow, Christopher Matthew Radjewski, Donald Michael Perkins
  • Patent number: 11318902
    Abstract: A grille assembly for a vehicle includes a vehicle grille having an opening with at least a pair of opposed edges, and at least one tab extending along at least one edge of the pair of opposed edges. The at least one tab has a base portion, an end portion, and two opposed faces extending between the base portion and end portion. The at least one tab is tapered such that a cross-sectional area of the tab taken along a plane extending perpendicular to either face of the opposed faces of the tab decreases in a direction extending from the base portion toward the end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Praveen Kumar
  • Patent number: 11318995
    Abstract: A vehicle platform with a variety of impact safety features including front and rear impact features as well as side impact features designed to protect the passenger compartment as well as the battery compartment and vehicle chassis components. Some features may include crumple zone components, deflectors and modular energy absorption units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Canoo Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Alexi Charbonneau, Naesung Lyu, Mahesh Chinchani, Salman Khan, Yufeng Long, Morteza Kiani, Daniel McCarron, William Rohr, Aniruddha Ranade
  • Patent number: 11318892
    Abstract: A component for use in a vehicle that may be subjected to an event/external force is disclosed. The component may comprise a bin; a cover moveable between closed and open positions; a latch mechanism to hold and release the cover; a catch mechanism moveable to a blocking position to prevent the cover from opening. The cover may be retained by the catch mechanism in the closed position. The catch mechanism may comprise a pin moveable relative to the cover within a catch/track of the cover. The catch mechanism may move from the blocking position to a second blocking position to prevent the cover from opening. The catch mechanism may release the cover to facilitate opening of the cover in response to (a) a first actuating force applied to the cover; (b) release of the first actuating force; and (c) a second actuating force applied to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Shanghai Yanfeng Jinqiao Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas Scott Hodgson
  • Patent number: 11305705
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a door lining upper base and a method of manufacturing the door lining upper base through injection molding of several sub-components. The door lining upper base is manufactured by separately injection molding a base substrate that forms the structural shape of the door lining upper base including aesthetic curvature, and first and second support structures that include attachment mechanism for connecting the door lining upper base to other aspects of the motor vehicle. In this way, each sub-component may be injection molded in a cost effective manner using a two-piece mold without the need for complex multi-part molds including side-sliders or lifters. The resulting door lining upper base therefore includes an aesthetic curvature, while still being manufactured in an efficient and cost effective manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew E. Barrow, Jason R. Dilley, Sarah J. Huth, Rachel E. Canepa, Ryan W. Van Voorhis
  • Patent number: 11305698
    Abstract: A center console may include a moving portion, a motor, and a controller. The moving portion may be configured to move between a first position and a second position. The motor may be configured to move the moving portion between the first position and the second position. The controller may be configured to, responsive to moving the moving portion in a first direction towards the first position, a number of motor position increments exceeding a first threshold within a period, and an absence of location data of a position of the moving portion, stop the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Bamberg
    Inventors: Alexander Atang, Stephen Nawrocki, Matthias Buehler, Robert Trask, Markus Wunder, Detlef Russ
  • Patent number: 11299109
    Abstract: A modular side lining forming a portion of an interior surface of a motor vehicle includes a first lining member having a recessed portion, a side portion, and an upper surface portion, a second lining member, and a rear stiffener defining a rear edge of the recessed portion of the first lining member. The second lining member includes one of a plurality of bins configured to be received in the recessed portion of the first lining member and one of a plurality of lids covering a portion of the bin and forming a side surface of the modular side lining with the side portion of the first lining member. The combination of bins and lids may be selected based upon a plurality of different functional configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Marek Myszkowski, Sean M Gavin, Sarah J Huth, Shirena Takai, Larry G Hughes, Jr., Ryan W. Van Voorhis
  • Patent number: 11292526
    Abstract: A vehicle-body structure that effectively distributes and transfers a side collision load in the vehicle width direction. A cross member includes a cross member top face facing a floor panel, and a cross member front face and a cross member rear face extending from respective ends in a front-rear direction of the cross member top face to the floor panel. A reinforcement member is at a side sill-side end of the cross member top face of the cross member, and a fragile portion extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is provided at a position at a side sill-side end of the cross member and overlapping the reinforcement member. The fragile portion is selected from a cutout, a bead, and a hole. The reinforcement member is a seat mounting bracket, and the fragile portion is on a vehicle-width-direction outer side of a seat mounting surface of the seat mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Ebisumoto, Daisuke Tsuji, Akiko Nakamoto, Daisuke Imamura
  • Patent number: 11285881
    Abstract: A vehicle interior component is disclosed. The component may comprise a base comprising an outer surface and a support comprising an outer surface and configured to move between a raised position and a lowered position. The component may comprise a light source to provide a lighted border around the support and/or illuminate walls of the cavity. The outer surface of the support and the outer surface of the base may comprise a substantially continuous surface when the support is in the raised position. The support may descend into the base to provide a cavity. The support may rotate and translate as it descends. The support may comprise a switch to send a signal to move the support. The component may comprise a pump and a valve. The component may comprise at least one of a console, floor console, tunnel console, armrest, instrument panel, door or door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Shanghai Yanfeng Jinqiao Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Chris J. Harmelink, Jonathan Alan Dykstra, Brandon Miller, Brian Scott DeBlaay, Thomas Scott Hodgson, Rick Alan Anderson, Natalie Bogdanov, Norbert Truxa, Lucas Eyl, Jesus Maria Galan Garcia, Ivo Erler, Wei Lange-Mao, Bogdan Muresan
  • Patent number: 11279293
    Abstract: A vehicle interior component comprising a bin moveable relative to a base is disclosed. The bin may provide a closed position and an open position for bin access. The open position may comprise a side access state and an end access state comprising a front access state and/or a rear access state. The bin may move laterally relative to the base to provide the end access state. The bin may pivot relative to the base to provide the side access state. The component may comprise a carrier for the bin to extend relative to the base to provide the front access state. The base may comprise an end door assembly to open for the bin in the end access state. The bin may pivot with a side door assembly in the side access state. The component may comprise a console; floor console; center console; or storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Shanghai Yanfeng Jinqiao Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Syed Razvi, Thomas Scott Hodgson, Michael Robert Catlin, Jiunn Tyng Chen
  • Patent number: 11273767
    Abstract: A roof console device for a vehicle is formed by fixing a console housing to a lower face of a front portion of a vehicle roof, inserting from below a roof module into a housing portion formed in the console housing, and joining them by concavo-convex engagement. A backward facing wall face of the roof module and a forward facing wall face of the console housing oppose each other across a gap. A recess portion is formed in one of the backward facing and forward facing wall faces, and a projecting portion is formed on the other. Therefore, even if the concavo-convex engagement is disengaged due to an impact of a secondary collision, the console housing moves and the recess and projecting portions are fitted together to thus allow the roof module to be retained by the console housing, thereby preventing the roof module from falling from the console housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Udo, Yohei Ouchi
  • Patent number: 11260814
    Abstract: A bug screen for mounting to a grille of a vehicle comprises a membrane disposed in a frame. At least one slot is disposed on the frame, and at least one platform is disposed on the grille. At least one extension is disposed on the at least one platform. A leg is included in the at least one extension. The leg projects perpendicularly from the at least one platform and has an end opposite to the at least one platform. A barb is disposed on the end of the leg. A sloping surface is disposed on the barb, and the sloping surface passes through the at least one slot on the frame to mount the bug screen to the grille.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. Elskafoss, Robert D. Charles
  • Patent number: 11260799
    Abstract: A sliding door assembly for selectively covering a cup holder or other storage compartment of a vehicle, the sliding door assembly including: a pair of opposed rails adapted to be disposed on opposed sides of an opening of the cup holder or other storage compartment; and a panel door including a plurality of adjacent slats adapted to be disposed between the pair of opposed rails, wherein one or more of the plurality of adjacent slats includes a central body portion with a clamp structure disposed at each end of the central body portion, wherein each of the clamp structures is adapted to grasp one of the pair of opposed rails to translatably secure the panel door to the pair of opposed rails. The sliding door assembly also includes a cover panel adapted to be disposed between the pair of opposed rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Artur Hopfen, Joakim Ringdahl
  • Patent number: 11254362
    Abstract: A vehicle including a rocker extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction having a first surface and a second surface, at least one crossmember extending in a vehicle width direction from the first surface of the rocker, and at least one spacer coupled to the second surface of the rocker, the at least one spacer being in line with the at least one crossmember.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Paxton S. Williams, James Chung, Tyler Schnug, Rahul Gururaj
  • Patent number: 11247733
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wheelhouse structure of a vehicle, including an inner panel with an inner flange that includes a straight portion, and an outer panel with an outer flange sized and shaped to interface with the inner flange along at least the straight portion. The outer panel includes a stiffening bead situated forward from, or proximate to a forward portion of, the straight portion. The wheelhouse structure also includes a plurality of joins coupling the inner flange to the outer flange, and a gap in the plurality of joins that is aligned with the first stiffening bead. When a rear portion of the wheelhouse structure is subjected to a loading force in a forward direction, the outer panel bends in locations proximate to the stiffening bead more easily than in locations remote from the stiffening bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: William F. Graves, Faiyaz Mohammed