Patents Examined by Gregory Blankenship
  • Patent number: 11608122
    Abstract: A mounting system for clips on a vehicle body panel includes a first portion having a first mounting surface and a first through-opening in the first mounting surface being configured to receive a first clip; and a second portion having a second mounting surface and a second through-opening in the second mounting surface being configured to receive a second clip. The first mounting surface is orthogonal to the second mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael M. Enciso
  • Patent number: 11608121
    Abstract: An indoor maintenance cover of a bus includes: a frame mounted on a maintenance hole; a first door and a second door in which respective both ends are connected to the frame by a hinge pin to open/close the maintenance hole; an interlocking device configured to join a hinge pin connected to one end of the first door and a hinge pin connected to one end of the second door, the interlocking device facing the hinge pin so that the first door and the second door rotate while interlocking with each other; and a fastener fastening the first door and the second door while the first door and the second door are closed. The maintenance cover can be installed to prevent accidents while increasing operability for easily opening or closing the maintenance hole in the bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Seung-Ju Lee
  • Patent number: 11608125
    Abstract: An active front deflector assembly for a vehicle capable of moving between an extended position and a retracted position or any position there between. The active front deflector assembly has a cross member for attaching to an underbody of a vehicle. The frame member also includes a plurality of slip joint connections for connecting to the underbody of the vehicle. The cross member is a fixed link of an actuator link assembly that has an actuator, drive link, floating link and a blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA EXTERIORS, INC.
    Inventors: Martin R. Matthews, Braendon R. Lindberg, Yao Wang
  • Patent number: 11603139
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle front structure capable of, without breaking a lid provided at a thermal insulating cover, reliably closing a bonnet and the lid even if an attempt is made to close the bonnet prior to closing the lid. In the present invention, a thermal insulating cover 10 including a lid 30 that covers the upper side of an engine in an openable and closable manner is provided below a bonnet 1 that covers the upper side of an engine room in an openable and closable manner; the lid 30 is provided with, in the vehicle front-rear direction, a hinge fulcrum 36 on the same rear end side as a hinge fulcrum 4 of the bonnet 1 and is openable and closable independently of the bonnet 1; and the lid 30 includes locking means 40 that is locked to the bonnet 1 when the lid 30 is open and is released from the locking in conjunction with a closing operation of the bonnet 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazumi Okamura, Motoi Aoki, Makoto Shinhama, Minoru Shitamori
  • Patent number: 11603052
    Abstract: An on-road truck body lining for protecting an on-road truck body from wear. The on-road truck body lining includes a plurality of main lining elements and a plurality of edge lining elements. Each main lining element includes a load-facing element having one or more transition sides, each transition side being adapted to meet a corresponding transition side of an adjacent edge lining element. A reinforcement plate having a main portion is fixedly attached to the load-facing element in a stacked configuration and having one or more end portions, each of the one or more end portions protruding out from a transition side of the load-facing element to form a respective flange. In use, the one or more end portions of the reinforcement plate are each arranged to be covered by a respective adjacent edge lining element such that the respective adjacent edge lining element, upon being fixated, clamps the main lining element to the on-road truck body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Metso Outotec Sweden AB
    Inventors: Jens Lagerskiƶld, Henrik Persson
  • Patent number: 11603025
    Abstract: A vacuum insulator including a heat diffusion block placed in a vacuum space; a thermoelectric module, in the vacuum space, coming into contact with the heat diffusion block so as to exchange heat therewith: and a heat sink exchanging heat with the thermoelectric module and placed in a first space or a second place. High heat-insulation performance and heat-transfer performance can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Wonyeong Jung, Myoungju Kang, Deokhyun Youn, Sungsub Lee, Sora Kim, Daewoong Kim, Jangseok Lee
  • Patent number: 11603299
    Abstract: A forklift includes a cabin and a seat for use by a driver arranged in the cabin. The cabin has a lateral opening to enter and exit the cabin, and the seat is mounted rotatably relative to the cabin. There is a safety bracket for preventing the driver from involuntarily exiting the cabin through the lateral opening, and for providing lateral impact protection. The safety bracket is mechanically connected to the seat to be rotatable together with the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: PALFINGER AG
    Inventors: Eric O'Keeffe, Patrick Keenan, Matthias Kalin
  • Patent number: 11597449
    Abstract: A vehicle outer plate panel includes: a transparent resin plate that is formed into a prescribed shape through pressure molding and is attached to a vehicle so as to constitute an outer wall of a body; and a decorative layer that is formed on at least a part of the transparent resin plate through screen printing such that the transparent resin plate is decorated therewith. A method of producing an vehicle outer plate panel is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yutaka Kanaguchi
  • Patent number: 11597333
    Abstract: A vehicle cargo area liner system for efficiently and removably lining a cargo area of a vehicle such as the bed of a pickup truck. The liner may be installed on the vehicle in addition to a hard shell liner as is common with pickup trucks. The liner includes a pair of inner connectors for removably securing the liner to the cargo area of the vehicle. The liner also includes a pair of outer connectors to which corresponding cover connectors on a cover may removably engage to removably secure a cover over the liner to enclose the cargo area. Securing connectors near the rear end of the liner may be utilized to secure the liner around a bed of a pickup truck. Straps may extend through openings in the liner to removably secure the front end of the liner to the cargo area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventor: Michael J. Stevens
  • Patent number: 11591029
    Abstract: A railing assembly includes at least one ratcheting post and at least one connection post. The at least one ratcheting post includes at least one ratcheting assembly attached to the at least one ratcheting post for selectively engaging a strap and the at least one connecting post including at least one attachment point for engaging an attachment member on the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventors: David Gunsberg, Jeffrey Bronson
  • Patent number: 11584450
    Abstract: An assembly for securing a tailgate to a cargo bed includes, among other things, a strap having a first leg spaced from a second leg, and a fastener moveable to an engaged position with the strap. The fastener in the engaged position extends through a first aperture in the first leg to threadably engage a second aperture in the second leg. When the fastener is in the engaged position, the fastener and the strap are configured to secure a tailgate to a cargo bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Wilson, Jessica Lee Dzurnak, Michael J. Gardynik
  • Patent number: 11584289
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tent for a vehicle, the tent comprising: a body frame connected to the vehicle and defining an interior space; at least one door introducing the interior space, the door comprising: a door frame; a first board located on one side of the door frame, and a second board located on the other side of the door frame, and wherein the first and the second board are connected to each other via a connecting member over one edge of the door frame, and wherein the first board comprises a first subboard, a second subboard, and a first tent cloth connecting between the first and the second subboard along the edge of the first and the second subboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Song Zu Lee
  • Patent number: 11584452
    Abstract: An active front deflector assembly having a deflector panel, actuator, and linkage assemblies each with a predetermined ratio of the links to each other for motion of the deflector panel. The assembly deploys and retracts based on vehicle requirements, and, when deployed, redirects the air flow in the front of the vehicle to improve the vehicle aerodynamics for either fuel economy or performance characteristics. Additionally, it allows for the deflector panel to retract so the vehicle meets ground clearances, etc. The deflector panel is also both rigid and semi-rigid to absorb impact energy. The drive shaft transmits the drive from the actuator coupled to one linkage assembly to the other linkage assembly for moving the deflector panel between the deployed/retracted positions. The actuator is clutched to prevent damage to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Exteriors Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Povinelli, Martin R. Matthews, Jeffrey B. Manhire
  • Patent number: 11584199
    Abstract: A method and a system are provided for retaining a side window in a vehicle to meet FMVSS No. 226 standard, where the side window is being secured to an exterior surface of a vehicle body. An optically transparent flexible film laminate is adhered to a visible interior surface of the side window. The optically transparent flexible film laminate has a thickness of between about 0.005 inches and about 0.020 inches. A peripheral edge of the optically transparent flexible film laminate is bonded to an interior surface of the vehicle body. The bonding agent overlaps the peripheral edge and the interior surface at a distance of at least 0.5 inches. The bonding agent can be a Sikaflex-552 adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Sunset Vans, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Schicora, Derek Murray
  • Patent number: 11584453
    Abstract: The invention concerns a trim panel arrangement for trimming a body element of a vehicle, with a pivotably mounted air guide device which is movable by means of a kinematic arrangement into a retracted first function position and a fully extended second function position and vice versa. At low speeds and also at high speeds, this should ensure an optimum aerodynamics of the motor vehicle in the air flow. This is achieved in that the air guide device is formed in two parts and comprises a first and a second trim part which are pivotably connected together, and that the kinematic arrangement is formed from a primary and a secondary lever drive. The invention furthermore concerns a method for forced movement of the air guide device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA EXTERIORS GMBH
    Inventor: Bernd Knauer
  • Patent number: 11584310
    Abstract: Drawer assembly for mounting to a cargo area of a vehicle. The drawer assembly includes: a drawer body defining a longitudinal axis and configured to be mounted to a track system to allow moving towards and away from the cargo area along the longitudinal axis; and a utility module pivotally mounted to the drawer body about an axis arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The utility module is pivotable between a storage position, where the utility module is received within the drawer body, and an access position, where the utility module is arranged to extend away from the drawer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: ARB Corporation Limited
    Inventors: Paul William Cooper, John Desmond Clark, Andrew Harry Brown
  • Patent number: 11584451
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body, a door and a handle assembly. A door is coupled to the vehicle body and is pivotable about a horizontal axis between a closed position and a horizontal open position. The door is also pivotable about a vertical axis between the closed position and a vertical open position. The handle assembly includes a housing, a first release switch and a second release switch. The housing extends at least partially into a cavity of the door and includes a lower wall and an upper wall that cooperate to define a pocket. The first release switch is disposed along the upper wall of the housing and is configured to be actuated to pivot the door about the horizontal axis. The second release switch is disposed along the lower wall of the housing and is configured to be actuated to pivot the door about the vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Robert J Gibbs, Christopher J Sytek, Clifford L Eberle, Jr., Eric Ghoukasian, Piyush Agarwal, Sean E Whelan, David R Parks, Michael C Gillam, Paul Van Norman, Christopher J Duke
  • Patent number: 11577791
    Abstract: A tailgate system for a vehicle comprises a tailgate pivotally mounted to a vehicle body for movement about a generally horizontal pivot axis between an open position and a closed position. The tailgate has an access opening configured to provide access to a vehicle bed area when the tailgate is in the closed position. The tailgate also has a movable tailgate portion movably connected to the tailgate. The movable tailgate portion is configured to cover the access opening in the tailgate when in a closed position of the movable tailgate portion. The tailgate also has a pocket opening for receiving the movable tailgate portion therein. The movable tailgate portion is slideably mounted to the tailgate for movement to an open position in which the movable tailgate portion is received in the pocket opening in the tailgate to uncover the access opening in the tailgate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: VENTRA GROUP CO.
    Inventors: Joaquin Hung, Tony Fabiano, Steve jArjoura, Wayne Doswell
  • Patent number: 11578510
    Abstract: Actuator apparatus and related methods for use with vehicle locks are disclosed. A disclosed locking system for a vehicle includes a movable component of the vehicle and a lock operatively coupled to the movable component. The locking system also includes an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly includes a housing coupled to a vehicle body, an actuator supported by the housing, and a linkage mechanism connecting the actuator to the lock. The locking system also includes an input device supported by the housing. Activation of the input device causes the actuator to change a state of the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Justin Norris
  • Patent number: 11577792
    Abstract: A cargo box (10) reinforcement system (20) includes an upper front panel reinforcement (22) securable to a cargo box front panel (18) and side wall panels (14, 16). The system (20) including a pair of side reinforcements (24, 26). Each side reinforcement (24, 26) is securable to one side of the pair of side panels (14, 16) of the cargo box (10). Each side reinforcement (24, 26) is secured with an end (40) of the upper front panel reinforcement (22). Also, the system (20) includes a pair of gussets (28, 30). Each gusset (28, 30) is coupled with the upper front panel reinforcement (22) and one of the pair of side reinforcements (24, 26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Paul R Stibich, Liam McGuirk, Pablo A. Gutierrez, Congyue Wang, Michael Okuniewicz, Luke T Douma