Patents Examined by Gregory A. Blankenship
  • Patent number: 8814247
    Abstract: A vehicle covering that includes a frame, a trim having a skin covering the frame, and a decorative element positioned on a visible external face of the skin. The vehicle covering further includes a stiffening component positioned in the trim locally facing the decorative element and capable of limiting deformations of the trim by compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
    Inventors: Godefroy Beau, Jean-François Oeuvrard
  • Patent number: 8813797
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to shear band of a tire that has means for inducing buckling when the tire is subjected to high deformations, and, more specifically, to a tire that has a shear band with at least one membrane that has a reinforcement having predetermined configurations for controlling the buckling behavior of the reinforcement when the membrane is subjected to compressive stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Rescherche et Techniques S.A.
    Inventors: Scott Powell Anderson, Ronald Hobart Thompson
  • Patent number: 8814249
    Abstract: A tri folding tonneau cover having multiplicity of cross beams, a soft cover extending over the frame, a set of adjustable front locking system attached onto the two ends of a cross-beam located close to the front side of the frame, and a set of rear latching mechanism. The rear latching mechanism comprising of a set of latches, cables, guiding spools and a cable handle. Each cable can release one latch and all cables are connected to the cable handle through the guiding spools. Therefore, all latched can be released at the same time with pulling onto the cable handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventor: Steven Rossi
  • Patent number: 8801088
    Abstract: A front vehicle body reinforcing structure includes: an upper reinforcing member and a lower reinforcing member attached to an upper portion and a lower portion of the shock absorber housing panel; and a front reinforcing rail and a rear reinforcing rail attached to a front side and a rear side of the shock absorber housing panel in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, respectively, thereby enhancing strength of a front vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Kyunghee Lee, Yong Kew Kim
  • Patent number: 8776850
    Abstract: A fixing element (470) that enables an electronic unit (440) to be fixed on the inside of a tire-wheel assembly, on the tubular insert (433) of an inflation valve (430) of the tire-wheel assembly, the fixing element comprising: an interface piece (471) comprising means to establish a connection with the tubular insert of the valve and a housing (488) for a seal (460); at least one container (473) holding or designed to hold the electronic unit; and at least one attachment piece (472) that enables elastic coupling between the interface piece and the container. A method for mounting an electronic unit (440) on a tire-wheel assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., TRW Automotive U.S., LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Botte, Xavier Huchard, Julien Moynet, José-Philippe Valente
  • Patent number: 8777299
    Abstract: The invention provides an automated sunroof or hoodroof installed onto the hood of a vehicle. The 3 Stage Hood Roof is centrally positioned on a vehicle's hood and is connected to an internal motor that operates with a push button mechanism located within the car. Pressing the push button engages the motor to multiple positions. In the first position, the hoodroof rotates slightly from its front attachment to the hood of the vehicle and tilts upward toward the rear. The second position retracts the roof completely or partially. The third position lowers the roof so that the roof is recessed from the hood of the vehicle. The fourth stage is a closed position, covering the entire engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventor: Isaac Langford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8770675
    Abstract: A sealing assembly provides a seal between first and second parts that are movable relative to each other. The sealing assembly comprises an elastic ring having an annular sealing lip configured to fixedly and sealingly abut on the first part. A sealing ring includes a sealing edge configured to sealingly abut on a sliding surface of the second part. A supporting ring is fixedly connected with the elastic ring and is inserted between the elastic ring and the sealing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Vom Stein
  • Patent number: 8764090
    Abstract: A vehicle includes sidewalls, a tailgate located proximate to rear ends of the sidewalls, and a tailgate energy management system. The tailgate energy management system includes a governor coupled to one of the sidewalls and to the tailgate. The governor selectively applies a governing force to the tailgate to reduce an opening speed of the tailgate. The tailgate energy management system also includes a speed sensor sensing an opening speed of the tailgate and an electronic control unit electronically coupled to the governor and the speed sensor. The electronic control unit includes a processor and memory storing an instruction set. The electronic control unit receives a speed signal indicative of the opening speed of the tailgate and the processor executes the instruction set to cause the electronic control unit to transmit a control signal to the governor to slow the opening speed of the tailgate based on the speed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman C. Kerr
  • Patent number: 8764093
    Abstract: The invention concerns a fixture, for example a sun visor used in a vehicle, comprising a covering element provided with a latch member and a basic body rotatably carried on a spindle element. The spindle element includes a positioning member. When the covering element and basic body are counter-rotated on the spindle element, the positioning member moves the latch member from a mounting position to a fitted position. The fixture when installed can be locked by means of the latch member on a fitted body which, for example, may be an interior trim piece of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Interiors GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Patrick Welter
  • Patent number: 8757706
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cowl top positioning structure for determining the relative positions of a windshield and a front cowl top by means of a clip. The clip has: a cowl top mounting section to which the front cowl top is mounted; a windshield facing section facing the lower end surface of the windshield; and a reaction force generation section for generating a reaction force acting against a pushing force with which the lower end surface of the windshield pushes the windshield facing section toward the front of the vehicle body. The relative positions of the windshield and the front cowl top are determined by causing, by means of the reaction force generated by the reaction force generation section, the rear end surface of the front cowl top to abut against the lower end surface of the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazutada Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8757694
    Abstract: A truck bed extension includes two portions of a base pivotally attached to each other and a side wall pivotally attached to one of each base portion. An attachment combines the base portions to truck bed and a tailgate attachment pivotally combines the tail gate to the base portions. I this manner, a removable truck bed extension is provided that can be collapsed and stored in the truck bed for selective use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventor: Kevin Arlyn Kuhnle
  • Patent number: 8757708
    Abstract: A motor vehicle body is provided having a front wall structure and having at least one lateral longitudinal girder, at least regionally situated in front of the front wall structure in the travel direction of the vehicle, and having a reinforcement element, which is connected to the front wall structure and to the longitudinal girder, the longitudinal girder and the reinforcement element, in a connection section lying in front of the front wall structure in the travel direction, being at least partially overlapping viewed in the vehicle transverse direction and being directly connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Udo Mildner
  • Patent number: 8746771
    Abstract: A removable litter support assembly for installation on a interior wall of a transport vehicle. The removable litter support assembly includes a plurality of wall supports and a plurality of straps. Each of the plurality of wall supports are generally oriented vertical and parallel to each other and in a linear orientation and each of the plurality of straps are generally oriented vertical and parallel to each other and in a linear orientation. The linear orientation of the plurality of wall supports being parallel to the linear orientation of the plurality of straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Farber Specialty Vehicles, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Farber
  • Patent number: 8740267
    Abstract: A safety barrier for a fuel truck is disclosed. The barrier consists of a pair of side rails hingedly attached to the truck where they may be deployed perpendicularly from its side. The rails include support legs and further include front rails that are deployed generally parallel to the sides of the fuel truck to provide a physical and visual barrier when the fuel truck is dispensing its load. Additionally, the barrier may include a plurality of LED devices connected to the power supply in the truck to enhance the visibility of the barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Inventor: Tony C. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8740286
    Abstract: A reinforcement system for a vehicle comprising side walls and a floor extending therebetween and meeting with each side wall along an intersection line dividing the side wall into an upper and a lower side wall section. The vehicle further comprises a belly attached to the lower side wall section at a location thereof spaced from the intersection line. The reinforcement system comprises a central reinforcement assembly configured for reducing deformation of the floor due to torque generated along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The reinforcement system further comprises a peripheral reinforcement assembly configured for localizing bending of the side wall at the lower side wall portion due to movement of the belly towards the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Plasan Sasa Ltd.
    Inventors: Felix Aizik, Zvi Anosh Asaf, Itzhak Kuchuk-Katalan
  • Patent number: 8740268
    Abstract: A bumper structure includes a bumper beam that extends in a vehicle width direction and a bumper absorber that is provided along a front surface of the bumper beam and that has an opening in a top center portion of the bumper absorber in the vehicle width direction. The bumper beam includes a center portion that extends parallel to the vehicle width direction and a pair of oblique portions that obliquely extend backward and outward in the vehicle width direction from respective ends of the center portion. The bumper absorber includes a pair of load receiving portions outside the opening in the vehicle width direction, and the load receiving portions are arranged at positions corresponding to a pair of bent portions that are formed at boundaries between the center portion and the respective oblique portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ebara, Kosuke Katsumata
  • Patent number: 8733828
    Abstract: This invention relates to a roof structure in a vehicle, wherein the roof structure (100) is provided with printed electrical connection means (110) for connecting electrical devices in the vehicle. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a roof structure and to a system comprising an electrical device, a roof structure (100) with printed electrical connection means (110), a printed conductive pad (112, 212, 312, 412) and an electrical connector, wherein the electrical connector (530, 730) is pierced through the roof structure (100) to connect the electrical device with the conductive pad (112, 212, 312, 412).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Dennis J. VanHouten, Christopher S. Kring, Ben Sapak, Jack L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8720985
    Abstract: A side body structure for a vehicle includes a side sill. The side sill includes a closed cross sectional shape which is formed by a side sill inner and a side sill outer, the side sill inner includes an upper inner member and a lower inner member which are separate members, a tensile strength of the upper inner member being higher than a tensile strength of the lower inner member, the side sill has. At a front portion of the side sill, a deforming portion which is to be deformed by a load applied in a longitudinal direction of the side sill is provided. The upper inner member and the lower inner member are connected together by a reinforcing member which is disposed close to the deforming portion and in the closed cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Izumi, Hitoshi Nunami
  • Patent number: 8720978
    Abstract: A motor vehicle body with a front hood, a front window rising from a rear edge of the front hood, and an elongated cross member is provided. The elongated cross member includes a middle region curved channel-like in section in a vehicle longitudinal direction. A contact zone of the elongated cross member supports a lower edge of the front window and a longitudinal end supports the elongated cross member. A transition region is between the longitudinal end and the middle region and, in section in the vehicle longitudinal direction, is less curved than the middle region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Schaefer, Uwe Schmitz, Stefan Wolff
  • Patent number: 8714621
    Abstract: A visor is provided which pivots downwardly away from the windshield and includes a movable pivot axis that moves the visor toward the vehicle windshield and away from the operator as the operator lowers the visor. This moves the visor to a comfortable and functional position for the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Marcus Automotive, LLC
    Inventors: Konrad H. Marcus, Edward T. Boerema