Patents Examined by Gregory Blankenship
  • Towable crash-attenuating vehicle
    Patent number: 11512441
    Abstract: A towable crash-attenuating vehicle is shown having a frame; at least two axles coupled to the frame, each of the axles having wheels attached thereto; a T-shaped ballast coupled to the frame, and oriented such that the weight of the ballast is biased toward the front end of the frame; deflection shields coupled to the right and left sides of the frame, wherein the deflection shields cover the frame and a majority of the wheels on each side of the vehicle; a tow connection coupled to the front of the frame, pivotable from a deployed state to an undeployed state; an impact attenuator coupled to the rear of the frame; wherein the vehicle is provided with a brake system, and wherein said brake system may be locked and unlocked and wherein the vehicle is provided with an on-board mechanism for locking and unlocking the brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Concaten, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin K. Groeneweg, Taylor Groeneweg, Connor Groeneweg
  • Assemblies for mating a retention clip to a bumper cover and methods of use thereof
    Patent number: 11511690
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to an assembly for mating a retention clip to a bumper cover. The assembly includes a mating hole adapter including a body having a through hole of a first inner diameter. The assembly further includes a bumper cover including a through hole of a second inner diameter, where the first inner diameter of the through hole of the mating hole adapter is less than the second inner diameter of the through hole of the bumper cover. The assembly further includes a retention clip including a fastener having an outer diameter that is substantially equal to the first inner diameter, where the retention clip is mated with the bumper cover by the through hole of the mating hole adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Lambert
  • Tailgate device with folding feature and related methods
    Patent number: 11511816
    Abstract: A tailgate device includes a first panel defining first openings, and a second panel defining second openings. The tailgate device also includes a hinge coupled between first ends of the first and second panels and permitting the first and second panels to switch between an extended state and a folded state, and a sleeve receiving uppermost portions of the first ends of the first and second panels and aligned with the hinge to lock the first and second panels in the extended state. The tailgate device also includes a first retention device coupled to a second end of the first panel and to be coupled to a first side portion of a truck bed of a vehicle, and a second retention device coupled to a second end of the second panel and to be coupled to a second side portion of the truck bed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Inventor: Shirley A. Vanduzer
  • Tarp deploying device with quick release arm
    Patent number: 11505047
    Abstract: A tarp deploying apparatus includes radial arm with a proximal radial arm and a distal arm. The distal arm is formed from a flexible material such as a double-walled hydraulic hose. The distal arm attaches to a tarp roller to deploy the tarp over a storage area on a trailer with at least one rear door. The radial arm is mounted on a mounting bracket secured to one of the doors. A releasable connector between the arms permits the distal arm to be separated from the proximal arm so that the rear doors on the trailer can be opened and closed without interference from the radial arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Sioux City Tarp, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald William Bremer, Terry L. Berg
  • Trailer
    Patent number: 11505262
    Abstract: A trailer having a plurality of elongate floor members, each of the floor members connected to an adjacent floor member to define a floor of the trailer, side wall members attached to opposed sides of the floor, an axle assembly attached to the side wall members, and a tongue assembly attached to the side wall members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Anthony Reardon
  • Vehicle hinge assembly
    Patent number: 11505261
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body, a door and a hinge assembly. The 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 hinge assembly pivotably couples the door to the vehicle body and includes a first hinge and a second hinge. The first hinge includes a first hinge plate and at least one first hinge barrel extending from the first hinge plate. The second hinge includes a second hinge plate, an extension section and at least one second hinge barrel. The extension section positions the vertical axis laterally outwardly relative to a mounting location of the hinge assembly to the vehicle body. The vertical axis also being positioned inwardly relative to the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Paul S Van Norman, Michael C Gillam, Sean E Whelan, Clifford L Eberle, Jr., Randy K Ihrke, Eric Ghoukasian, Vivek V Kirtane, Christopher J Duke
  • Vehicle
    Patent number: 11505040
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a vehicle body including a vehicle cabin; at least one wheel disposed along one direction in the vehicle body; a seat disposed inside the vehicle cabin; a first planar member that is fixed to the vehicle body, separates the vehicle cabin from an outside of the vehicle, is disposed further toward the outside of the vehicle than the seat in the one direction, and has a first transmittance for visible light; a second planar member that is allowed to be disposed between the first planar member and the seat, and has a second transmittance for visible light that is smaller than the first transmittance; and an input device. The second planar member is disposed between the first planar member and the seat in a case where a predetermined input is performed on the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nishio, Takuma Masuda, Motohiro Aoki, Yuhei Yamamoto, Naoki Usui, Satoshi Tanigawa, Takayuki Moriwaki, Takeshi Kiritoshi, Kazuhiko Kaneuchi
  • Structure and vehicle with a structure
    Patent number: 11498472
    Abstract: In a structure, for example in the form of a trailer cabin (115), which structure is advantageously provided for connection to a vehicle (103), the following are provided as sliding segments: a number of horizontal sliding segments (201) slidable in an expansion direction, vertical sliding segments (136) slidable in an extension direction at a right angle to the expansion direction, and double sliding segments (139) which are slidable both in the expansion direction and in the extension direction and which are connected to a central fixed segment (403). Thus, when the sliding segments (136, 139, 201) are transferred from a pushed-together compact position into a pulled-out expansion position, an interior space of the structure (115) can be considerably enlarged by a usable space in comparison with a minimum volume in the compact position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Inventor: Marc König
  • Vehicle tailgate assembly
    Patent number: 11498626
    Abstract: Vehicle tailgate assembly that includes a sill flap and tailgate, where the sill flap has rollers that contact the tailgate while the sill flap and tailgate are opened or closed. The sill flap thus maintains rolling contact with the tailgate during opening and closing operations. In embodiments of the disclosure, the tailgate opens to leave a gap between the edge of the vehicle bed and the edge of the tailgate, and the sill flap is pivoted into this gap. While being pivoted into this open position, the sill flap rollers rotatably contact the tailgate, so that the sill flap maintains rolling contact with the tailgate rather than frictional contact therewith. This prevents damage to the sill flap and tailgate when opened and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Griffith, Brian Gase, Kyle Mulligan, William Kirk Robinson, Chayan Mishra
  • Rotatable aerodynamic fairing system
    Patent number: 11492053
    Abstract: One embodiment comprises a fairing assembly adapted to couple to a vehicle, the assembly comprising: a support arm mountable to a frame rail of a vehicle and a fairing adapter adapted to mount a fairing to the support arm. The fairing adapter is rotatably coupled to the support arm and is rotatable from a first orientation corresponding to an aerodynamic position to a second orientation corresponding to a first access position. The fairing adapter may also be rotatable to a third orientation corresponding to a second access position. The assembly further comprises a releasable lock to lock the fairing adapter in the first orientation and releasable to allow the fairing adapter to rotate to the second orientation or the third orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: FLOWBELOW AERO, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua Butler, Kyle Walker, Joseph Peter Martin
  • Collision detection device
    Patent number: 11491936
    Abstract: A collision detection device includes an impact absorber and a collision detector. The impact absorber extends along a vehicle width direction between a bumper face and a bumper beam of a vehicle, and is configured to absorb impact by being deformed upon collision of the vehicle. The collision detector extends along the vehicle width direction, includes a lower collision detector and an upper collision detector, and is configured to detect that the collision has occurred by being deformed upon the collision of the vehicle. The upper collision detector has greater flexibility than the lower collision detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Yanagisawa, Issey Syudo, Yuta Kishi, Keisuke Ishigami
  • Adjustable tailgate pad
    Patent number: 11491856
    Abstract: An adjustable tailgate pad. The adjustable tailgate pad includes a front side. The adjustable tailgate pad also includes a back side. The adjustable tailgate pad further includes an adjustable top side coupled to the front side and the back side. The adjustable top side has a width which is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Siupo Low, Gary Schreiber, Vincent Huynh
  • Trucks including externally mounted combination absorber and seal member
    Patent number: 11492052
    Abstract: A pickup truck includes a passenger cabin including a rear wall. A truck bed includes a front wall that faces the rear wall of the passenger cabin. A space is provided between the rear wall of the passenger cabin and the front wall of the truck bed. A combination absorber and seal member is mounted to the rear wall of the passenger cabin. The combination absorber and seal member includes an extended portion having an elongated dimension extending at an oblique angle to a vehicle lateral direction. The combination absorber and seal member is formed from a sound absorbing material and extends outward from the rear wall of the passenger cabin in a vehicle longitudinal direction toward the front wall of the truck bed providing a clearance of no more than about 15 mm between the extended portion and the front wall of the truck bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam D. Holmstrom, Ryan C. Harris, Scott W. Shopoff
  • Lining for a haul truck body, a transition lining element and a method for fastening a lining
    Patent number: 11485295
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a lining for a haul truck body, said lining comprising a plurality of main lining elements arranged to extend over main surfaces of said haul truck body, and a plurality of transition lining elements arranged to extend over edge and/or corner portions of the haul truck body, wherein each transition lining element forms a lining transition between at least two non-parallel main lining elements of said plurality of main lining elements, and wherein said plurality of transition lining elements comprises at least one non-linear transition lining element which has a first and a second leg portion extending in non-parallel first and second leg directions, respectively. The disclosure further relates to a transition lining element for a haul truck body and a method for assembling a lining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Metso Sweden AB
    Inventors: Henrik Persson, Fredrik Larsson
  • Airflow adjusting apparatus
    Patent number: 11485430
    Abstract: An airflow adjusting apparatus includes an airflow generator, a state detector, and a controller. The airflow generator is configured to generate a control airflow to cause the control airflow to join an around-vehicle airflow formed around a vehicle body of a traveling vehicle. The airflow generator is configured to vary a flow direction of the control airflow with respect to a surface of the vehicle body. The state detector is configured to detect a state of the around-vehicle airflow. The controller is configured to vary the flow direction of the control airflow on the basis of the state of the around-vehicle airflow detected by the state detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto Watanabe, Yusaku Dogahira
  • Expandable cargo box assembly for a pickup truck
    Patent number: 11479180
    Abstract: An expandable cargo box assembly for mounting on a side wall section of a cargo bed of a pickup truck includes a base member for attaching the expandable cargo box assembly to the side wall section of the cargo bed, the base member having the form of an outer wall plate. Opposite the outer wall plate is an inner wall plate, the inner wall plate being displaceable from a first position to a second position, the first position defining a collapsed state, and the second position defining a deployed state. The outer and inner wall plates have operably associated therebetween a folding floor assembly, and the outer wall plate supports a forward folding wall and a rearward folding wall. Upon expanding the expandable cargo box assembly to a deployed state, the folding floor assembly and the forward and rearward folding walls are arranged to define an enclosure for receiving cargo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: ABC TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Avinash Jayakumar, Harman Gill, Usman Dulatov, Dave Flajnik
  • Pivot bracket debris mitigation cover
    Patent number: 11479307
    Abstract: A pivot bracket assembly having a pivot bracket configured to be fixed between a tailgate and a vehicle body. A pivot pin extends through the through-hole of the pivot bracket, and includes a first end configured to be attached to the tailgate and a second end. A pivot arm includes an aperture configured for receipt of the second end of the pivot pin, and a portion configured to be coupled to the vehicle body. A bushing assembly including a sleeve and at least one bushing positioned within the sleeve is positioned within the through-hole of the pivot bracket and the pivot pin extends through the sleeve and the bushing, wherein a debris mitigation cover is positioned between the pivot arm and the pivot bracket that is configured to minimize dust and/or debris from entering the bushing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Vinaya Sridhar, Robert J Gibbs, Christopher J Duke
  • Door for vehicle
    Patent number: 11465471
    Abstract: A vehicle door according to an exemplary embodiment enhances coupling strength through structural coupling by molding a window frame of a door module assembled between a door trim and the door panel with a separate aluminum injection product, and insert-injection molding a coupling portion of the window frame to a module body, and a groove is formed along the coupling portion of the window frame coupled to the module body to easily distinguish respective parts and serve to carry out sealing in injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, DUCKYANG IND. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dongmin Jeon, Sae Hoon Oh, Hi Su Cho
  • Set of seats and motor vehicle comprising such a set of seats
    Patent number: 11465536
    Abstract: A motor vehicle comprises two front seats aligned in a transverse direction, and at least one rear seat. Said at least one rear seat comprises a seating portion with a seating portion frame, a backrest with a backrest frame. The backrest frame is pivotable relative to the seating portion frame about a first transverse axis, between at least one deployed position for receiving an occupant of the seat and a folded position in which the backrest frame is folded down to face the seating portion frame. Said at least one rear seat is adapted to have a configuration in which said at least one rear seat is in said folded position and the backrest of said at least one rear seat extends at least partly between the two front seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: David Epaud, Farouk Bouzid, Mathieu Cluet
  • Side protection device for vehicle
    Patent number: 11458916
    Abstract: A side protection device fora vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a main body housing detachably attached to a side of a vehicle; a guard unit rotatably installed in the main body housing, deployed along the full-length direction of the vehicle for protecting the side of the vehicle from an external physical impact; and a fixing unit installed in the main body housing for catching and fixing the main body housing from the side of the vehicle by a manual operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventor: Kwang-Cheol Jeong