Patents Examined by E. Turner Hicks
  • Knit spacer fabric for use as interior vehicle trim
    Patent number: 11110870
    Abstract: A spacer fabric comprises a first and a second textile layer as well as spacer yarns that join the textile layers and is used to form an interior trim. The first textile layer is visible from outside on a surface of the interior trim, and the first textile layer and the spacer yarns are made entirely of polymeric multifilament yarns. At least the polymeric multifilament yarns of the first textile layer and of the spacer yarns are dyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: MUELLER TEXTIL GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Mueller, Frank Mueller
  • Expandable vehicle shelter system and method
    Patent number: 11110847
    Abstract: A shelter system configured to removably couple with a vehicle. The shelter system includes a top portion and a bottom portion that are slidably coupled such that the top and bottom portions are operable to assume a collapsed configuration with the top and bottom portions nested together with a shelter cabin having a first volume. The shelter system is also configured to assume an extended configuration having the top portion extending upward with the shelter cabin having a second volume that is greater than the first volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Strato Gear Corp.
    Inventor: Mark Stoetzl
  • Vehicle console assembly having an integrated mounting structure
    Patent number: 11104276
    Abstract: A vehicle floor console assembly includes a console body including a bin integrally formed with the console body, and a support structure integrally formed with the console body and extending from a rear wall of the bin. The support structure includes a support hinge knuckle. The vehicle floor console assembly further includes a lid including a lid hinge knuckle rotatably coupled to the support hinge knuckle, and an end panel coupled to the support structure. A front portion of the end panel together with the console body defines an end panel interface. The end panel interface is substantially flush with the rear wall of the bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Paul Thomas, Stephen Neal Jacobsen, Michele Marie Mathews
  • Mounting holder for a rear spoiler of a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 11097792
    Abstract: A mounting holder for a rear spoiler of a motor vehicle includes a fastening portion for fastening the mounting holder to a body component of the motor vehicle and a holding portion configured to be connected to a lower part of the rear spoiler. The holding portion is of elastic design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sebastian Weber, Riccardo Bauer, Tobias Posch
  • Power tailgate motor mount cartridge assembly
    Patent number: 11098518
    Abstract: A power tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes a tailgate configured to rotatably couple to the vehicle, the tailgate having an inner panel, an outer panel, a bottom panel, and first and second side panels defining an inner cavity. An opening is defined in at least one of the first side panel and the bottom panel, and a motor mount cartridge assembly is disposed in the inner cavity at least partially within the opening to at least partially conceal the motor mount cartridge assembly within the tailgate. When installed, the motor mount cartridge assembly covers the opening without need for a discrete cover for the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Randy T Gerken, Gary Bastian, Frederick F Bender, Paul S Van Norman
  • Chassis brace and small offset rigid barrier reinforcement assembly
    Patent number: 11091202
    Abstract: A chassis brace includes a body having a first end and a second end, a chassis structure abutment at the first end and a body structure abutment at the second end. Together, the chassis brace, the chassis component secured the chassis structure abutment of the chassis brace and the body component secured to the body structure abutment of the chassis brace form a small offset rigid barrier reinforcement assembly. A method of reinforcing a vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Alexander Gardner, Krishnakanth Aekbote, Hassen Hammoud, Brent Michael White, Steve William Gallagher
  • Storage apparatus provided on working vehicle
    Patent number: 11091098
    Abstract: There is provided a storage apparatus for documents capable of preventing the storage apparatus from being an obstacle to getting-on/off motions and securing front visibility in good condition. A storage apparatus includes a frame having an opening and wall portions and a lid portion attached to the frame, in which an entrance of the canopy is provided on a left side or a front side of a vehicle body, the frame is fixed to a right side of the vehicle body, the lid portion has a structure in which a right end is attached to the right wall portion of the frame, a left end turns between a position of the left wall portion and a position in a lower direction of the right wall portion, and a holding portion holding the documents is provided in an inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: TAKEUCHI MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Shiraishi, Nobuyuki Sakurai
  • Vehicle interior component
    Patent number: 11072289
    Abstract: A vehicle interior component is disclosed. The component may comprise a base and a support. The component may comprise an actuator to operate a mechanism to move the support between raised and lowered positions. The mechanism may comprise a bladder. The support and the base may provide a cavity when the support is lowered. The support may protrude from the base when the support is raised. The support may be configured for a tilted state. The bladder may expand and/or contract to move the support. The bladder may comprise a first and second air bladder. An outer surface of the support and an outer surface of the base may comprise a substantially continuous surface when the support is in the raised or lowered position. The component may comprise at least one of a console; a floor console; a tunnel console; an armrest; an instrument panel; a door; a door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Shanghai Yanfeng Jinqiao Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Natalie Bogdanov, Norbert Truxa, Lucas Eyl, Jesus Maria Galan Garcia, Bogdan Muresan
  • Cab coming-off prevention structure of working machine
    Patent number: 11072909
    Abstract: To provide a cab coming-off prevention structure of a working machine capable of preventing a coming-off prevention device from falling off. One end side of a stopper shaft portion 51 of a coming-off prevention device 16 is inserted through a through-hole 37a. The other end side of the stopper shaft portion 51 is inserted through an insertion hole 23b. A stopper main body portion 52 is provided on the other end of the stopper shaft portion 51. A portion of the key member 53 is fitted into a notched portion 51c provided along a direction crossing an axial direction of one end side the stopper shaft portion 51. The other part of the key member 53 protruding from the stopper shaft portion 51 is fixed to the one of the cab 14 and the revolving frame 23.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar SARL
    Inventors: Tetsuji Takaoka, Ryosuke Ono
  • Tonneau cover and method of attachment
    Patent number: 11072227
    Abstract: A tonneau cover and a method of attachment are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a self-energizing clamp can be used to retain a tonneau cover onto a side wall of a truck bed, or other vehicle bed. In some embodiments, the clamp can be rotated between a usage position and a storage position in order to prevent the clamp from incidental movement or harm while accessing the truck bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: LUND MOTION PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony Smith, Dean Mettler
  • Double opening console box
    Patent number: 11059426
    Abstract: An opening/closing mechanism of a double opening console box includes right and left operation portions for opening a lid around a left or right rotation shaft, and an erroneous operation preventing device for preventing simultaneous right and left opening actions of the lid. The erroneous operation preventing device includes a center projecting portion provided to the lid, an erroneous operation prevention bar movable leftward/rightward relative to the lid, a centering component having a left-right-symmetric recess groove at a front end, and a spring member energizing the centering component in the front-rear direction relative to the erroneous operation prevention bar so that the center projecting portion is located at the rear end bottom of the recess groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kohei Yoshida, Yasufumi Ike, Keigo Hyozawa, Kunio Yamazaki, Daiki Yamada
  • Rigid cover for dump trailer tank
    Patent number: 11046160
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rigid cover for a dump trailer tank having a storage region with an open top used to transport bulk material. The rigid cover includes cover side walls having a top wall perimeter and a bottom wall perimeter and is configured along the bottom wall perimeter to correspond in shape with the open top of the trailer tank. The rigid cover includes a cover top connected to the cover side walls along the top wall perimeter and includes one or more ports in the top. The rigid cover includes cover fasteners mounted along the bottom wall perimeter configured to secure the plurality of cover side walls to the trailer tank so the traditional storage region of the trailer tank is transformed into an expanded storage region that allows storage of more bulk material than could otherwise be stored in the trailer tank alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventor: Kerry A. Trest
  • Rear vehicle-body structure
    Patent number: 11040743
    Abstract: A recessed portion is formed at a frame member provided at a rear portion of a vehicle body and having a closed cross section extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction such that a part of a lower face of the frame member is recessed upwardly, where a damper of a rear suspension is inserted and fixed. A front portion of the frame member is joined to a side sill extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction at a position offset outwardly in a vehicle width direction from the frame member. Branch-shaped closed cross sections branching off from the closed cross section inwardly and outwardly relative to the damper are formed at a position corresponding to the recessed portion of the frame member. A portion of the frame member located at the above-described position is wide outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki Tsukamoto, Ken Yamada, Akiyoshi Masuda, Hidenori Matsuoka, Koji Matsushita
  • Collapsible storage container for a cargo bay of a vehicle
    Patent number: 11034393
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cargo bay defined by a fore endwall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a bed. A closure panel is pivotable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the cargo bay. The vehicle also includes a collapsible storage container comprising a plurality of wall panels. Each respective wall panel of the plurality of wall panels is pivotably coupled to at least one other respective wall panel of the plurality of wall panels. The plurality of wall panels are selectively repositionable between a stowed position and a deployed position. A respective wall panel of the plurality of wall panels is pivotably coupled to the interior side of the closure panel. In the stowed position each respective wall panel is disposed parallel to the closure panel and in the deployed position a storage volume is defined between the plurality of wall panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alexandru F. Ionescu, Joseph M. Polewarczyk
  • Projectile penetration resistance assemblies
    Patent number: 11029132
    Abstract: Unidirectional transparent projectile penetration resistant panels and bidirectional opaque projectile penetration resistant assemblies and systems and methods of forming and mounting the same relative to underlying support structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Truarmor a division of Clear-Armor, LLC
    Inventor: David Anthony Trudeau
  • Rear fairing assemblies for a cargo enclosure
    Patent number: 11014618
    Abstract: A rear fairing assembly for a cargo enclosure includes a fairing bracket configured to be coupled to an enclosure wall of the cargo enclosure. In addition, the rear fairing assembly includes a separate fairing skin supported relative to the enclosure wall via the fairing bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: TRANSTEX LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Alan Motter, Nathan David See
  • Promotional vehicle with adjustable showroom
    Patent number: 11014484
    Abstract: A vehicle has a first showroom enclosure at a first side of the vehicle body and a second showroom at an opposite side of the vehicle body. A storage area is provided between the first and second showroom and can be accessed by a door at the rear of the vehicle body, or at access panels located at the first and/or second sides of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Aardvark Event Logistics, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence W. Borden
  • Fuel cell vehicle
    Patent number: 11008041
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body having a frame structure provided with a pair of right and left side rails, and hydrogen tanks and a secondary battery disposed in a region between the side rails. The side rails have deformed portions that are deformed due to a vehicle front collision load at the time of a vehicle front collision, and the hydrogen tanks are disposed in front of the secondary battery or on both outer sides of the secondary battery in a vehicle width direction such that the deformed portions, when the amount of movement of each of the deformed portions of the side rails has reached a predetermined amount, reach the hydrogen tanks without reaching the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mikio Inoue, Kohei Shigematsu
  • Air guiding device for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 11008052
    Abstract: An air guiding device for a motor vehicle includes a rear wing, a wing supporting device configured to secure the rear wing and to forward forces which act on the rear wing, and connecting components configured to connect the rear wing and the wing supporting device to one another. A first of the connecting components is configured as a trough-shaped receiving device on the rear wing and/or the wing supporting device. A second of the connecting components which interacts with the first connecting component is configured as a hammer component on the other of the rear wing and/or the wing supporting device. The hammer component has a hammer handle and a hammer head which is connected to the hammer handle, extends transversely with respect thereto, and is received in the trough-shaped receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Kieschke, Riccardo Bauer, Tobias Posch, Florian Karl, Simon Fischer, Andreas Wallmann
  • Laminated assembly
    Patent number: 11001038
    Abstract: An improved laminated assembly comprising functional elements with connections extending outside of the laminated assembly preventing air, moisture and water from entering the assembly as well as a method to prevent air, moisture and water from entering a laminated assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: AGC GLASS EUROPE
    Inventors: Pierre Defoy, Pierre Boulanger, Samuel Martinquet