Patents Examined by Gregory Blankenship
  • Patent number: 11673503
    Abstract: A motorhome with a superstructure, the superstructure having at least one room extension module which is displaceably attached to it, and a seal which is arranged between the superstructure and the room extension module, at least one force transmission means being arranged in the area of the seal on the superstructure and/or on the room extension module, which means is configured in such a way that it narrowly limits a vertical relative movement between the superstructure and the room extension module by transmitting forces acting in the vertical direction between the room extension module and the superstructure. The force transmission means can be designed as a pin or also as a rail with a carriage guided displaceably therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: PROTEO GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Franz Wieth
  • Patent number: 11667335
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for operating a power tailgate system are disclosed. A vehicle includes a rotatable element structured for operable connection with, and disconnection from, a tailgate when the rotatable element resides in a predetermined tailgate removal orientation. A motor is connected with the rotatable element for interdependent movement, and a motor circuit is provided for the motor. During a driving event, the system identifies when no tailgate is connected with the rotatable element. If no tailgate is connected with the rotatable element, the system determines if the rotatable element resides in the predetermined tailgate removal orientation. If the rotatable element resides in the predetermined tailgate removal orientation, the system may check the rotatable element against rotation during the driving event by operating a motor circuit to electrically brake the motor to prevent the rotatable element from rotating out of the predetermined tailgate removal orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Aisin Technical Center of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Ozog, Ryan Heins, Gowtham Harsha Pulikonda, Yasuyuki Noiri
  • Patent number: 11667337
    Abstract: In a work vehicle of the present invention, a load carrying bed includes a floor panel, a pair of left and right side panels, and a rear gate which is openable and closable. The rear gate includes left and right lock operational portions for maintaining the rear gate under a closing posture through engagement with locking engagement portions formed in the left and right side panels, a single handle disposed at an intermediate position in the left/right direction of the rear gate and supported to be pivotable about a horizontally oriented operational axis X, and left and right operational wires for operating left and right locking members in a direction for pulling these locking members out of the locking engagement portions by an operation of the handle about the operational axis X.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Ishii, Takashi Fujii
  • Patent number: 11660792
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid structure comprising a first component having a base and an upstanding wall extending from the base, the first component having an interior enclosed between the upstanding wall and the base, and a thermoplastic second component moulded to the first component, the second component comprising a reinforcing portion for structurally reinforcing the first component, the reinforcing portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the first component and located in the interior of the first component, the thermoplastic second component further comprising a locking portion that extends adjacently over at least part of an exterior of the first component, wherein the reinforcing portion and the locking portion are integrally formed, thus interlocking the first component in the thermoplastic second component. The invention relates as well to a method for manufacturing such a hybrid structure, and to a vehicle comprising such a hybrid structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Matthew Michael Delaney, Gregory E. Tremblay, Dinesh Munjurulimana, Rajkumar Karthikeyan, Anil Tiwari, Dhanendra Kumar Nagwanshi, Arunachala Parameshwara
  • Patent number: 11661119
    Abstract: A vehicle tailgate with an integrated collapsible door comprises a tailgate having an outer wall, an inner wall and a cavity there between, a door section located in an upper portion of the tailgate having an inboard wall and an outboard wall and being moveable between a closed position and an open position substantially within an envelope of the tailgate, the door section comprising means to vary the spacing between the inboard wall and the outboard wall, the means to vary the spacing between the inboard wall and the outboard wall comprising at least one rotatable cam element located within the door section, such that when the door section is in the closed position the inboard wall is flush with the inner wall and the outboard wall is flush with the outer wall and when the door section is in the open position the spacing between the inboard wall and the outboard wall is reduced to allow a portion of the door section to be received in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Multimatic Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Gordon Lehti
  • Patent number: 11661120
    Abstract: A tailgate assembly of a vehicle includes a tailgate configured to provide a boundary of a cargo area, and a hinge assembly coupled to the tailgate and coupled to the vehicle. The hinge assembly is configured to control a trajectory of the tailgate. The tailgate is configured to achieve a vertical closed position, a horizontal open position, and a vertical open position rotated about 180° from the first position. The hinge assembly includes a hinge arm coupled to the vehicle at a first hinge and coupled to the tailgate at a second hinge. In some embodiments, a cable assembly is used to control the position of the tailgate. In the vertical closed position, the cable end is not engaged. In the horizontal open position, the cable end is engaged. In the vertical open position rotated about 180° from the closed position, the cable end is not engaged or under tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: William Kirk Robinson, Sheetanshu Tyagi, Mark Vinnels
  • Patent number: 11661118
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a tailgate for a truck that rests at an intermediate level between the ground and the truck bed when the tailgate is disposed in an open/primarily-horizontal position. The inventive tailgate may be hinged below and forward of the rear edge of the bed level such that when opened, it rests at a level below the deck. The tailgate may be hinged with bearings that are constructed to and positioned to reduce the amount of hinge clogging. The inventive tailgate may include a pop-up mini-gate that raises to substantially the same level as the bed for use with transportation of oversized objects. The inventive tailgate may include a foldable or rotatable support structure that may be used to support items that extend beyond the end of the horizontal tailgate. The inventive tailgate may be sealed around three sides of the cargo box to prevent loss of particulate or granular cargo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Inventor: Bryce D. Goodenough
  • Patent number: 11654814
    Abstract: A trailer includes a front section having a first floor with an upper surface at a fixed vertical level approximately between three and six feet above a street level, a middle section, and a rear section having a second floor with an upper surface at the fixed vertical level. A horizontally-oriented platform is disposed in the middle section. A lifting mechanism is coupled to the platform and selectively raises and lowers the platform between a lower position of one to two feet above street level, otherwise known as curb-level, and an upper position of approximately between three and seven feet above street level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Strick Trailers, LLC
    Inventors: Justin Bell, Michael W. Palmer
  • Patent number: 11643157
    Abstract: A trailer includes a housing including an internal frame and an external frame. The external frame is coupled to the internal frame. In certain embodiments, the internal frame is positioned between interior panels and exterior panels of the housing. In certain embodiments, the external frame is spaced from exterior panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Winnebago Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Ritter, Matthew Clements
  • Patent number: 11643151
    Abstract: A tailgate assembly includes, among other things, a frame sub-assembly that includes a driver side section, a passenger side section, and a sill coupling the driver side section to the passenger side section. A door sub-assembly is disposed between the driver side section and the passenger side section. The door sub-assembly and the frame sub-assembly are pivotable together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a first door axis between a door closed position and a door open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a second door axis that is different than the first door axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Adrian Nania
  • Patent number: 11639201
    Abstract: An articulating tailgate assembly with improved accessibility into a cargo bed of a pickup truck, incorporating at least one door. The tailgate system provides a tailgate with a combination of predetermined plurality of functions for accessibility into the cargo bed of the vehicle and to improve functionality of the tailgate assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Exteriors Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Selle, Robert M. Horner, Larry R. Erickson
  • Patent number: 11639130
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a mobile kitchen system, mounted in a trunk of a vehicle, the mobile kitchen system includes a box, a first housing received in the box in a drawable manner, and a second housing received in the first housing in a drawable manner, a drawing direction of the second housing is perpendicular to a drawing direction of the first housing. The present disclosure provides a vehicle. The mobile kitchen system of the present disclosure is multifunctional and convenient to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Inventor: William Huang
  • Patent number: 11623587
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a roof ditch molding for mounting in a roof ditch of a roof of a motor vehicle. The roof ditch molding may have a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is made from a molding process using a first material. The first material imparts a rigid characteristic to the first portion. The first portion is further configured to at least substantially cover a major portion of a roof ditch of a vehicle roof, and to closely follow at least one contour of the roof ditch. The second portion is made from the molding process using a second material. The second material imparts a flexible characteristic to the second portion and is integrally connected to the first portion such that the second portion projects laterally outwardly of the first portion while following a contour of the first portion. The second portion provides a compliant seal/transition area between the first portion and the roof ditch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: JAC Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ché C. Johnston, Gordon Michie, David W. Blazic
  • Patent number: 11623556
    Abstract: A retractable trailer cover adapted for mounting to an existing boat trailer and a method for retrofitting the trailer cover to the boat trailer. The trailer cover includes multiple ribs extending from one side to the other, a flexible cover material, two elongated tracks, and multiple wheels received within the tracks. The ribs are affixed to the wheels so as to be slidably mounted to the tracks. Mounting brackets can be spaced along each of the trailer cover sides, and the tracks can be affixed to the mounting brackets. To mount the trailer cover to the boat trailer, the mounting brackets can be attached to a frame of the boat trailer. The trailer cover can selectively be expanded and retracted to cover and uncover an associated boat and boat trailer and may be used with new or used trailers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignees: Jackson Canvas Company, Creek Meadow Marine LLC
    Inventors: Ted MacCready, Stephen Brown
  • Patent number: 11618509
    Abstract: A tailgate assembly includes a frame subassembly having a cargo bed access opening disposed between a driver side section and a passenger side section, and a door subassembly that is pivotably coupled to the frame subassembly and is pivotable relative to the frame subassembly back-and-forth between a door open position and a door closed position. The door subassembly closes the cargo bed access opening when the door subassembly is in the door closed position. The assembly further includes a tube of the frame subassembly. The tube extends along an inboard side of the driver side section, along an inboard side of the passenger side section, and along a bottom of the cargo bed access opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Robert Hemphill, Michael Shawn Watterworth, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, John Comiez, Donald Kreda
  • Patent number: 11618513
    Abstract: An aerodynamic wrap for use with a tank trailer illustratively includes opposing first and second side assemblies. In an illustrative embodiment, each side assembly includes an upper panel pivotably supported by the tank trailer, and a lower panel pivotably supported by the upper panel. A lower connecting member illustratively couples the lower panels of the first and second side assemblies under the belly of the tank trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Tank Trailer Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Mark R. Holden, Scot McQuilkin, Brian Farley
  • Patent number: 11618506
    Abstract: A panel for constructing a trailer floor is provided. The panel includes a platform from which a plurality of sidewalls extend from a first edge and a second edge, with slots therebetween for receiving cross members. The sidewalls engage with the cross members to inhibit movement of the sidewalls away from the slots, which simultaneously inhibits the panel from flexing. The inhibition of flexure of the panel increases the load carrying capacity of the panel, allowing utilization of lighter materials to achieve the same load carrying capacity as heavier materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventor: Richard Leslie Williamson
  • Patent number: 11613213
    Abstract: Center console provided with a fixed rail, extending in a longitudinal direction, a translatable member, a gearbox assembly and first and second cables. The translatable member may be coupled to the fixed rail and configured to move between a first position and a second position. The gearbox assembly may include a cable drum configured to rotate in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction. The first and second cables may each be coupled to the translatable member and a cable drum. As the cable drum rotates in the first rotational direction, the first cable may translate the translatable member towards the first position. As the cable drum rotates in the second rotational direction, the second cable may translate the translatable member towards the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: James Elsarelli
  • Patent number: 11613199
    Abstract: A cover assembly for covering a bed of a vehicle has a first panel fixedly attached to a bed of the vehicle and at least one movable panel adapted to pivot between an open position and a folded position. The cover assembly also includes a pair of rails attached to a pair of sidewalls of the vehicle. Each rail includes a first portion engaged with a sidewall and a second portion defining a catch therebetween. The cover assembly also includes a lock assembly for locking the movable panel in the open position. The lock assembly includes a lock member adapted to move between a lock position and an unlock position. In the lock position, the lock member is engaged with the catch and locks the movable panel in the open position. In the unlock position, the lock member is arranged away from the catch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: TIANJIN REGIS STAR GROUP CO., LTD, FOSHAN CITY MANYIN AUTO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Liling Luo, Chaochao Deng
  • Patent number: 11613312
    Abstract: A trailer truck is the combination of a truck and one or more trailers used to haul freight. A trailer attaches to the truck via a trailer coupling (hitch), with much of its weight borne by the truck. The result is that both the truck and the trailer will have a distinctly different design than a rigid truck and trailer. Exemplary vehicles are provided, such as heavy duty trucks having truck bodies with improved aerodynamic characteristics, including improved drag coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: NIKOLA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Trevor R. Milton, Stephen Jennes, Markus Scholten