Patents Examined by Jason S Daniels
  • Latching mechanism for a closure panel using multiple latches
    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
  • Undercover structure
    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
  • Vehicle air guide path structure and air guide path forming member
    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
  • Vehicle rock rails with energy absorbing structures and associated methods for manufacture
    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
  • Cargo space device for a front part of a motor vehicle
    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
  • Active front wheel deflector assembly
    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
  • Tonneau system for use with a pickup truck
    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
  • Cup holder assembly with expandable cup support
    Patent number: 11772538
    Abstract: An exemplary cup holder assembly includes a frame and a cup support connected to the frame and configured to expand and collapse relative to the frame. The cup support includes a plurality of segments integrally and flexibly connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Daimay North America Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Yintai Jiang, Jianhu Wang
  • Cargo bed covering and enclosing assembly
    Patent number: 11772468
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes a cargo bed cover that covers a cargo bed of a vehicle when the cargo bed is in a standard bed position. The cargo bed cover is configured to provide an aft wall of the cargo bed when the cargo bed is in an extended bed position. A cargo bed providing method includes transitioning a cargo bed from a standard bed position to an extended bed position, and enclosing an aft end of the cargo bed with a cargo bed cover that covers the cargo bed when the cargo bed is in the standard bed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Harmon, Ryan Mathew Sandor, Amol Borkar, Ronald Meredith, Martyn Swain, Scott Culver Anderson
  • Air guiding element
    Patent number: 11772482
    Abstract: An air guiding element, in particular a cooling air louver for an air inlet of a motor vehicle body, with a flat main body and with a bearing region. The air guiding element is arranged such that it can be pivoted by way of its bearing region about a pivot axis. The flat main body is formed from two shells, and with a carrier element which is arranged between the shells. The carrier element is molded between the two shells by an injection molding method such that the two shells are connected to one another in this way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Sebastian Harter
  • Aerodynamic trucking systems
    Patent number: 11772718
    Abstract: The aerodynamic skirt assembly for attachment to a trailer may comprise a side skirt fairing, a rear skirt fairing, and a secondary treatment. The side skirt fairing may comprise an inner surface and an outer surface. The rear skirt fairing may comprise an inner surface and an outer surface and located aft of the side skirt fairing. The secondary treatment may be coupled to the outer surface of the rear skirt fairing, wherein the secondary treatment is canted outwardly at an angle from the outer surface of the skirt fairing and configured to redirect the air around the at least one rear wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventors: Richard P. Senatro, Daniel J. McCormack, Christian Lee
  • Tonneau cover assembly with a fluid management system
    Patent number: 11772469
    Abstract: A bed cap configured for attachment to a top surface of a bed wall defining a cargo area of a vehicle, the bed cap assembly includes: a first channel extending at least partially along a length of the bed cap and configured to collect fluid and/or debris; a first opening for evacuating the fluid and/or debris from the first channel; a tonneau cover supporting surface extending at least partially along the length of the bed cap, wherein the tonneau cover supporting surface comprises a planar surface that is arranged inboard of the channel in vehicle position; and a seal provided between the tonneau cover supporting surface and a bottom surface of a tonneau cover that is supported by the tonneau cover supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Extang Corporation
    Inventors: Jerome Facchinello, Daniel J. Delaney, Robert L. Mosingo, Robert Gaarder, Chad Carter, David Germano
  • Vehicle active aerodynamic device with service support logic and mechanism
    Patent number: 11772720
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an aerodynamic device. The aerodynamic device includes: an air dam movable between a deployed position and a retracted position, an actuator operatively coupled to the air dam, the actuator configured to move the air dam between the deployed position and the retracted position, and a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator. The controller is configured to operate the actuator to move the air dam into the deployed position when the controller receives a service request signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Corey Benjamin Sargent, Jesse Rydell, Alexandra Noelle Gaunt
  • Air guide apparatus for vehicle
    Patent number: 11767068
    Abstract: An air guide apparatus for a vehicle includes a front wheel housing at least partially surrounding a front wheel, and having an air outlet which is open to the front wheel, a first vane assembly including a plurality of first vanes which are tiltable in a position adjacent to the air outlet, and a first driving mechanism by which the plurality of first vanes are driven, and a second vane assembly including a plurality of second vanes which are tiltable in a position adjacent to the plurality of first vanes, and a second driving mechanism by which the plurality of second vanes are driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hyung Il Kwon
  • Tonneau system for use with a pickup truck
    Patent number: 11760177
    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 an extended position covering a cargo box of the pickup truck and a folded position forming a stack of the tonneau sections. The stack being coupled to the frame and pivotally moveable between a first position depending into the cargo box and a second position extending upward generally from the cargo box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Worksport Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven Rossi, Jonathan Loudon, John Schmider, Terry Popik
  • Vehicle front structure and front exterior member
    Patent number: 11760428
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure for a vehicle including a front exterior member provided on a front surface of a vehicle body includes a front introduction hole and a duct structure. The front introduction hole is formed in an end portion of the front exterior member in a vehicle width direction. The duct structure is coupled to the front introduction hole inside the front exterior member. The duct structure includes a rear exhaust hole that exhausts air to a wheel house located at a rear side of the front exterior member in the vehicle body, and a branch exhaust hole formed in a flow path section provided between the front introduction hole and the rear exhaust hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Aoyanagi, Hideki Hata, Koushi Yamada
  • Work vehicle
    Patent number: 11760294
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a fender covering a rear wheel, a seat base to which the fender is fixed and on which a seat is installed, a step above or below the seat base and to which the seat base is fixed, and a first vibration insulating portion having a vibration insulating property and interposed between the step and the seat base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeo Shoen, Kazuya Kiyama, Ryosuke Tanaka
  • Multipurpose cover for vehicle cargo areas
    Patent number: 11752917
    Abstract: This present invention relates to a vehicle cargo area or bed cover that forms an enclosed space for use in the vehicle bed. The cover is easy to install and remove for a single person and includes a series of lightweight panels, held together by framing elements and installed on the side rails of the truck bed. The lightweight panels are attached at the top to form the top panel. A rear panel is installed on top of the rear wall of the truck bed and an aerodynamic portion is positioned on the top of the cabin of the vehicle. The enclosure can be accessed by opening a door positioned on the tailgate or front end of the truck bed. The enclosure has LED lights for illumination and fans and windows for ventilation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Inventor: Kurt Barnhart
  • Integrated drag reduction system for a vehicle when trailering
    Patent number: 11753089
    Abstract: A pickup truck including a passenger compartment, a cargo bed operatively coupled to the passenger compartment, and a selectively deployable drag reduction system mounted at the cargo bed. The selectively deployable drag reduction system includes a deflector that is shiftable between a non-deployed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration the deflector is exposed to an airflow passing over the pickup truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Richard J. Lopez, William D. Detrisac
  • Truck bed riser
    Patent number: 11745638
    Abstract: A truck bed riser providing additional hauling capacity having a front riser member, a first side riser member, a second side riser member and a tailgate riser member. The riser members are adapted to connect to each other and to be held to the truck bed, preferably by clamp members. The truck bed riser may include a cover which is attached to the top portion of the four riser members and held in place by suitable means such as clamps or velcro. Preferably, the truck bed riser is made of aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: CCR Sales, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew C. Remus