Patents Examined by Jason S Daniels
  • Patent number: 11840286
    Abstract: An airflow adjusting apparatus to be provided in a vehicle includes a flap and an airflow generator. The vehicle includes a wheel disposed to be partly protruded downward from a vehicle body of the vehicle. The flap is protruded, in front of the wheel, downward from the vehicle body. The airflow generator is configured to generate an airflow, and provided in an underneath of the vehicle body. The airflow generator is configured to generate an airflow. The airflow moves backward and downward of the vehicle and the airflow moves obliquely relative to a horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto Watanabe, Yusaku Dogahira
  • Patent number: 11834106
    Abstract: An air conduction device for a motor vehicle including an air conduction element and a movement device with adjustment kinematics. The air conduction element is movable relative to the remaining body as at least part of a tail side part of the vehicle body. The air conduction element moves between an inoperative position and at least one final operating position. The tail side part has a flow guiding area along which air flows which is designed to face an area surrounding the motor vehicle. The air conduction element has a surface which is at least part of the flow guiding area. The air conduction element is configured in its final operating position to lengthen the flow guiding area in the direction of a longitudinal body axis (X) of the body. The adjustment kinematics are configured in the form of multipoint joint kinematics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventors: Dominik Beierl, Joachim Paul, Henrik Heidorn, Haiko Neher, Moritz Zeh
  • Patent number: 11827168
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle frame and a bumper supported by the vehicle frame. A bumper extension is supported by the bumper and is moveable downwardly relative to the bumper from a raised position to a lowered position. A reinforcement has a first end fixed relative to vehicle frame and a second end fixed relative to the bumper extension. The reinforcement includes a lock fixing the first end and the second end of the reinforcement relative to each other when the bumper extension is in the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: S. M. Iskander Farooq, Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, Saeed D. Barbat
  • Patent number: 11827180
    Abstract: A cargo hold arrangement of a front chamber of a motor vehicle that is closable by a front bonnet includes a cargo hold box with a cargo hold and a cover. The cargo hold box is closed by the cover when the cover is disposed in a closed position below the front bonnet. The cover is movable downwards in relation to the cargo hold box in a vertical direction of the cargo hold box in an event of an accident of the motor vehicle. The cover is smaller in relation to a clear cross-section of the cargo hold box such that the cover is movable downwards in a vertical direction of the motor vehicle into the cargo hold of the cargo hold box in the event of the accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz Group AG
    Inventor: Hanno Weber
  • Patent number: 11827284
    Abstract: A motor vehicle side spoiler arrangement with a spoiler blade which can be moved in a motorized manner between a retracted rest position and a laterally extended spoiler position. A spoiler shell is fixed on the vehicle and provided with a shell rear wall, a guide mechanism which guides the spoiler blade in the longitudinal direction, and an actuating motor. A sliding seal lip is provided between the spoiler blade and the shell rear wall, which sliding seal lip closes a front-side gap (S) between the spoiler blade and the shell rear wall in the spoiler position of the spoiler blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventors: Dominik Beierl, Joachim Paul, Henrik Heidorn, Haiko Neher
  • Patent number: 11820209
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a structure and a method of sealing the structure as it is manufactured. The method uses a combination of thermoplastic sealants in the form of films and a substrate encapsulated tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: H.B. Fuller Company
    Inventors: Craig A. Erichsen, Jonathon O. Cordell
  • Patent number: 11814113
    Abstract: An air deflection device of a motor vehicle includes an air deflection element and a displacement kinematic system. The air deflection element is displaceable by the displacement kinematic system from an extended deflection position, in which the air deflection element with a deflection surface in a front region of the air deflection element in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle diverts an airflow hitting the air deflection element in an underbody region in a forward direction of travel of the motor vehicle, into a retracted position. The air deflection element is displaceable by the displacement kinematic system rearwards in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle and upwards in a vertical direction of the motor vehicle and is pushable back in a direction of the retracted position in an event of an obstacle-related force component acting on the air deflection element in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz Group AG
    Inventors: Jasmin Doerr, Siegfried Zipperle, Dirk Becker, Alexander Mueller, Stefan Wiggen, Waldemar Rauh
  • Patent number: 11814104
    Abstract: A support frame assembly configured to strengthen an upper frame portion of a frame of a vehicle, comprising a first frame member having a first end and a second end, and a second frame member having a first end and a second end, wherein both the first ends of the first and second frame members are configured to couple to a front half of the frame and the second ends of the first and second frame members are configured to couple to the front half of the frame to strengthen the upper frame portion, at least one of the first and second ends of each of the first and second frame members including at least one mechanically coupled joint configured for coupling each of the first and second frame members to the front half of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua A. Rasa
  • Patent number: 11807311
    Abstract: An air guide device of a motor vehicle body has a flow channel including an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The inlet opening is formed in a front-end region and the outlet opening is formed at least partially in the region of a wheel arch of the motor vehicle body. The flow channel is provided for being flowed through by air from the front-end region of the motor vehicle body in the region of a rear end of the motor vehicle body. The inlet opening has a slat arrangement for changing a flow cross section of the inlet opening. The flow channel is at least partially of two-part form, wherein a first channel part, which includes the slat arrangement, is designed for a controlled throughflow, and wherein a second channel part can be flowed through freely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventor: Sebastian Harter
  • Patent number: 11801737
    Abstract: A tonneau cover for a vehicle can include a panel and a table. The panel can define a cavity. The table can be modifiable between a stowable configuration and a standing configuration. In the stowable configuration, the table is configured to stow inside the cavity. In the standing configuration, the table is configured to stand on a ground surface when removed from the cavity. In the stowable configuration, the table may be configured to further rigidify the panel such that a user of the vehicle can store cargo on top of the tonneau cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott Louis Frederick
  • Patent number: 11801799
    Abstract: In order to absorb collision energy so as to prevent an increase in reaction force against a pedestrian to a level higher than or equal to a certain level during collision, a bumper absorber of the present invention includes: a trunk part that extends in an X direction and that is simply compressed in the X direction in response to an impact; and a branch part that branches off from the trunk part toward a rear of a vehicle body, the branch part having a branching part in which the branch part branches off from the trunk part and which is provided with a breakage inducing part that causes breakage between the trunk part and the branch part in response to the impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignees: KANEKA CORPORATION, Chugai Co., Ltd., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Tamura, Seiji Sawai, Yusuke Kikuchi, Yuuki Nakamura, Shota Kotake, Yoshikazu Yukimoto
  • Patent number: 11801738
    Abstract: The invention relates to a panel joining arrangement for a vehicle canopy. The vehicle canopy includes at least one three panel join where a side panel, roof panel and end panel of the vehicle canopy meet. The panel joining arrangement comprises first and second lip portions formed in the side panel of the vehicle canopy and a third lip portion formed in the roof panel. The first and second lip portions are longitudinally offset and transversely overlapping in relation to a length of the side panel. The third lip portion is configured to mate with the second lip portion at the three panel join of the vehicle canopy such that the third lip portion is located adjacent to and substantially flush with the first lip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Rock Solid Industries International (Pty) Ltd
    Inventor: Michael Voss
  • Patent number: 11801739
    Abstract: A vehicle system, includes an upper liftgate of a split liftgate assembly, a lower liftgate of the split liftgate assembly, and a privacy panel assembly that extends between the upper liftgate and the lower liftgate. Another vehicle system includes a hanger bracket assembly configured to engage at least one hinge assembly of a vehicle, a liftgate assembly pivotably connected to the vehicle, and a privacy panel that is coupled to the hanger bracket assembly and the liftgate. A shielding method includes securing a privacy panel assembly to an upper liftgate of a split liftgate assembly of a vehicle, and securing the privacy panel assembly to a lower liftgate of the split liftgate assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Adrian Aguirre, Micah Jones, Hussein H. Berry, Dustin Shedlarski
  • Patent number: 11794824
    Abstract: In a vehicle air guide path structure, a vertically long air guide path forming member is provided along an outer edge of a side surface portion of a vehicle body on a rear side of a wheel house. A vertically long air guide path is formed at the rear side of the wheel house. The vertically long air guide path suctions air from the wheel house and exhausts air along a side surface of the vehicle body. A partition member partitions the vertically long air guide path so as to form a plurality of sections in an upper-lower direction. A vertically long inclined surface is formed on the side surface portion of the vehicle body at a rear side of the vertically long air guide path. The partition member protrudes to a rear side from the vertically long air guide path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: SUBARU CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryuji Nozaki, Kazuyuki Kotsuka, Hideki Hata, Kenji Watanuki, Koushi Yamada
  • Patent number: 11794825
    Abstract: In an undercover structure according to the present invention, a first cover part that is a lowermost part of an undercover has a first rear end positioned ahead of a front wheel axle. This generates a strong negative pressure in a region ahead of the front wheel axle. Accordingly, a flow rate of air flowing to a wheelhouse decreases (a flow rate of airflow between a road and a vehicle generated along a bottom surface of the first cover part of the undercover increases). This causes an attraction force that attracts the vehicle to a road surface to act on a vehicle body of the vehicle, thereby making traveling stability more excellent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kei Ambo, Kenichi Ando, Yuki Nakamura, Yoji Suwa, Mohd Syafiq
  • Patent number: 11794820
    Abstract: A latching mechanism for facilitating opening and closing of a closure panel of a vehicle, comprising: a first latch mounted in a first location, the first location positioned on a first side of the vehicle, the first latch coupling the closure panel to the body of the vehicle when engaged with a corresponding first mating latch component; a second latch mounted in a second location, the second location positioned on a second side of the vehicle, the second latch coupling the closure panel to the body of the vehicle when engaged with a corresponding second mating latch component; wherein one of the first latch and the second latch is maintained in a latched state and the other of the first latch and the second latch is in an unlatched state when the closure panel is moved between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: John Distefano
  • Patent number: 11787482
    Abstract: Rock rail assemblies are provided for motor vehicles. An exemplary rock rail assembly may include a beam structure, an energy absorbing structure, and an outer skin. The energy absorbing structure may reinforce the beam structure and may be configured to distribute point loads when an obstacle impinges upon the rock rail assembly. The beam structure may be made of a metallic material, the energy absorbing structure may be made of a foamed polymer-based material, and the outer skin may be made of a polymer-based material. The rock rail assemblies may be constructed in a manufacturing method that involves roll forming and extrusion processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock, David Brian Glickman, Stuart C Salter, Patrick Reed
  • Patent number: 11787343
    Abstract: A cargo space device for a front part having a front space of a motor vehicle, where the front space is coverable by a moveable front bonnet. The cargo space device includes a cargo space and a shifting device where the cargo space is shiftable by the shifting device between a stowed position accommodated in the front part and an extended position that is raised in relation to the stowed position in a first shifting direction. The cargo space is pivotable around a pivoting axis running in a region of a lower front marginal edge of the cargo space, in relation to the shifting device, in a second shifting direction which is different from the first shifting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Volker Kowollik
  • Patent number: 11780511
    Abstract: An active front wheel deflector assembly (10) including a deflector panel (20) moveable between a stowed position and at least one deployed position wherein the deployment of the deflector panel (20) moves the deflector panel (20) into an airflow to direct air and improves aerodynamics. The active front wheel deflector assembly (10) combines linear actuation with rotational motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Exteriors Inc.
    Inventors: Yao Wang, Jeffrey E. May, Thomas E. Cobb, Martin R. Matthews, Braendon R. Lindberg
  • Patent number: 11780305
    Abstract: A tonneau system for use with a pickup truck. The tonneau system includes a frame and a tonneau cover having a plurality of tonneau sections moveable between a folded position and an unfolded position. The tonneau cover includes solar energy-receiving material secured to a top exposed surface of at least two of the tonneau sections. The solar energy-receiving material moves with their corresponding tonneau sections between the unfolded and folded positions. A battery, transformer, and/or electrical cabling system may be included within the circuit for power storage and conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: WorkSport Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven Rossi, Jonathan Loudon