Patents Examined by Gregory A. Blankenship
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Patent number: 8814247Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 22, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Faurecia Interieur IndustrieInventors: Godefroy Beau, Jean-François Oeuvrard
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Patent number: 8813797Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 30, 2011Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Rescherche et Techniques S.A.Inventors: Scott Powell Anderson, Ronald Hobart Thompson
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Patent number: 8814249Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 26, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Inventor: Steven Rossi
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Patent number: 8801088Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 4, 2013Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Kyunghee Lee, Yong Kew Kim
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Patent number: 8776850Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 8, 2007Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., TRW Automotive U.S., LLCInventors: Patrick Botte, Xavier Huchard, Julien Moynet, José-Philippe Valente
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Patent number: 8777299Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 2, 2013Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Inventor: Isaac Langford, Jr.
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Patent number: 8770675Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 7, 2010Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKFInventor: Hans-Joachim Vom Stein
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Patent number: 8764090Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 2, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Norman C. Kerr
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Patent number: 8764093Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 14, 2006Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Johnson Controls Interiors GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Patrick Welter
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Patent number: 8757706Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 5, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kazutada Sasaki
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Patent number: 8757694Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 29, 2013Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Inventor: Kevin Arlyn Kuhnle
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Patent number: 8757708Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 22, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Udo Mildner
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Patent number: 8746771Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Farber Specialty Vehicles, Inc.Inventor: Kenneth J. Farber
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Patent number: 8740267Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Inventor: Tony C. Wilson
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Patent number: 8740286Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 9, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Plasan Sasa Ltd.Inventors: Felix Aizik, Zvi Anosh Asaf, Itzhak Kuchuk-Katalan
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Patent number: 8740268Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiaki Ebara, Kosuke Katsumata
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Patent number: 8733828Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 5, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Dennis J. VanHouten, Christopher S. Kring, Ben Sapak, Jack L. Johnson
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Patent number: 8720985Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., LtdInventors: Yoshitaka Izumi, Hitoshi Nunami
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Patent number: 8720978Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 17, 2013Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Joachim Schaefer, Uwe Schmitz, Stefan Wolff
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Patent number: 8714621Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Marcus Automotive, LLCInventors: Konrad H. Marcus, Edward T. Boerema