Patents Examined by Joseph D. Pape
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Patent number: 12292036Abstract: A passive vehicle drag reduction system including an airflow capture inlet, a flow consolidating conduit, an air driven rotor assembly, and one or more flow exhaust conduits. The airflow capture inlet defines an airflow capture inlet direction. The flow consolidating conduit is close sided. The air driven rotor assembly has a rotor assembly inlet and an air driven rotor. The rotor assembly inlet defines a rotor airflow inlet direction. The air driven rotor has a laterally extending rotation axis transverse to the rotor airflow inlet direction and one or more air redirecting blades defining one or more rotor airflow outlet directions substantially parallel to the rotation axis. Each of the one or more flow exhaust conduits has a redirecting exhaust outlet located laterally of the air driven rotor assembly. The redirecting exhaust outlet defines an exhaust outlet airflow direction that is substantially parallel to the airflow capture inlet direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2024Date of Patent: May 6, 2025Assignee: PURUS POWER CORPORATIONInventor: John Michael Kourtoff
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Patent number: 12286819Abstract: A console apparatus for vehicles, includes a locking unit is additionally provided on a console box in a structure in which a console armrest is open and closed by the frictional force of a frictional hinge unit, wherein the locking unit is not operated in a normal state in which no traffic collision occurs, and thus the console armrest is smoothly open due to the frictional force of the frictional hinge unit, and the locking unit is operated to lock the console armrest at the time of a traffic collision, and thus the console armrest remains closed even at the time of the traffic collision.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2022Date of Patent: April 29, 2025Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION, NIFCO KOREA INC.Inventors: Min Woo Kwon, Jung Hoon Woo, Kwan Woo Lee, Sang Ku Hur, Byung Gi Cho, Yang Mook Lim
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Patent number: 12285795Abstract: A bumper system includes a rear wall of a bumper beam provided with hole portions, and a bumper stay including tubular portions extending in the longitudinal direction, the tubular portions being inserted into the hole portions and joined to the hole portions by pipe expansion joining. The bumper stay includes a pulling-out obstructing portion protruding from the outer surfaces of the tubular portions in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The pulling-out obstructing portion abuts on the rear wall of the bumper beam in the direction in which the bumper stay is pulled out from the hole portions.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2021Date of Patent: April 29, 2025Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.Inventors: Toru Hashimura, Artur Rekets, Yasuhiro Maeda, Taiki Yamakawa
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Patent number: 12280835Abstract: The disclosure provides a vehicle body lower structure, which may improve aerodynamic performance and inhibit the airflow guiding plate from being over-expanded or detached. The vehicle body lower structure includes an airflow guiding plate that is arranged on the vehicle body of a vehicle and is movable between a receiving position covering the lower part of the vehicle body and a deploying position protruding downward. The vehicle body lower structure further includes: a hook member, which is provided on the upper surface of the airflow guiding plate. When the airflow guiding plate is in the deploying position, the hook member is locked onto the buckle part of the vehicle body. When the airflow guiding plate is located at the receiving position, the hook member is separated from the buckle part of the vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2022Date of Patent: April 22, 2025Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenichi Ando, Kei Ambo, Yuki Nakamura, Yoshiteru Hoshida, Hidefumi Nihei, Yasunari Miyauchi
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Patent number: 12269329Abstract: A tonneau cover that includes a first panel, a second panel, a hinge between the first panel and the second panel, and a torsion element between the first panel and the second panel. The torsion element applies an urging force onto one or both of the first panel and the second panel during movement of the first panel and/or the second panel about the hinge.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2024Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Assignee: EXTANG CORPORATIONInventors: Jerome Facchinello, Chad A Carter
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Patent number: 12269328Abstract: A truck cover system comprises a side rail configured to be coupled to a side wall of a bed of a truck; a cover removably attached to the side rail and configured to cover the bed of the truck; a latching mechanism attached to the cover and configured to releasably engage the side rail; and a driving assembly configured to drive the latching mechanism. The driving assembly comprises a mount plate coupled with the side rail through a latch attachment; a driving cylinder rotatably coupled with the mount plate; a driving ring releasably coupled with the driving cylinder and configured to rotate together with the driving cylinder; a torsion spring interposed between the driving ring and the mount plate and configured to be driven by the driving ring; and a handle coupled with the driving cylinder and configured to rotate together with the driving cylinder and the driving ring.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2023Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Assignee: Cixi City Liyuan Auto Parts Co., LtdInventor: Enli Xu
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Patent number: 12269429Abstract: A cargo cover assembly for covering a cargo space of a vehicle includes a cover having a pair of longitudinal sides adapted to extend along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and a pair of lateral side adapted to extend in a lateral direction of the vehicle. The cover assembly also includes a pair of rod assemblies coupled to the pair of longitudinal sides of the cover and configured to be removably coupled to a vehicle body. The pair of rod assemblies is configured to extend along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle when engaged with the vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2023Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Assignee: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.Inventors: James J. Logan, Kyle R. Harp, Edgar Martinez, Nicholas P. Ziraldo, Edward J. Passarelli
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Patent number: 12263887Abstract: A vehicle rear-side structure is configured to ease an impact applied onto a battery pack of a vehicle upon an occurrence of a collision. The vehicle rear-side structure includes side frames and a rear-end-collision impact reducer. The side frames extend in a front-rear direction of the vehicle and are disposed at positions at which the side frames sandwich the battery pack therebetween in a widthwise direction of the vehicle. The rear-end-collision impact reducer is disposed between and above the side frames at a rear side of the battery pack. The rear-end-collision impact reducer is configured to allow air, which is to be sent to a battery stack included in the battery pack, to flow through the rear-end-collision impact reducer.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2022Date of Patent: April 1, 2025Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Ryuya Suzuki, Takashi Hashimoto
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Patent number: 12258071Abstract: A method for manufacturing a lightweight cowl crossbar includes: producing an inner pipe, laminating a plurality of composite material layers wound around the inner pipe, and extruding an outer pipe on the winding layer, in which the plurality of composite material layers adjacent to each other are wound in different directions.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2020Date of Patent: March 25, 2025Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, LG HAUSYS, LTD., HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jae Hyun An, In Soo Han, Hee Seok Kim, Il Sang Kim, Ik Jin Jung, Kyeong Hoon Jang, Young Jin You, Sang Hyeon Park, Wook Hee Lee, Yong Woo Jung, Ik Keun Choi, Young Chan Cho
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Patent number: 12257957Abstract: A trim assembly of a vehicle includes a first trim piece, a second trim piece, and a clip extending from the first trim piece. The clip has a base portion located at the first trim piece and a tip portion. A clip opening is located at the second trim piece. The clip opening has a complimentary shape into which the clip is installed. The clip opening includes a plurality of opening tabs, each opening tab of the plurality of opening tabs is engaged with a retention feature of the clip to retain the clip in the clip opening.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2022Date of Patent: March 25, 2025Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jesus Edgar Dominguez, Leon Alfonso Alvarez, Alejandro Barrera
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Patent number: 12258076Abstract: A transparent spoiler for a vehicle including a first section, at least a portion of the first section having a first visual characteristic, and a second section, at least a portion of the second section having a second visual characteristic, the second visual characteristic defining a greater visibility through the second section than the visibility through the first section.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2021Date of Patent: March 25, 2025Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Pirooz Moradnia, David J. Rose, Matthew L. Metka
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Patent number: 12251993Abstract: Disclosed embodiments may include a vehicle without a B-pillar that has barn doors and partially frameless windows. The barn doors may include a window seal system having a primary seal for creating a watertight barrier when the window is in a first closed position. Upon the vehicle exceeding a predetermined speed threshold, the vehicle may automatically raise the window from the first closed position to being in a second closed position in which a secondary seal secures the window to prevent buffeting of the window. Disclosed embodiments may further include a seal and door structure that provides a pair of seals (an inner seal and an outer seal) between the front and rear barn doors that provide a watertight barrier when the doors are closed together and that also allows for each of the front and rear doors to be independently opened and closed in a barn-door fashion.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2024Date of Patent: March 18, 2025Assignee: Via Fortuna, LLCInventors: Pablo Kunz Arrache, Jean Pierre Pinsonneault, Jason Castriota
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Patent number: 12252181Abstract: A seat adapter for a mobility assist vehicle includes a top member that defines mounting locations thereon sized to receive an OEM seat mount for an OEM seat of the mobility assist vehicle. A right side member mounted to a lower surface of the top member extends generally downwardly from the lower surface and defines at least one mounting location thereon to allow the right side member to be mounted to a floor tub assembly of the mobility assist vehicle. A left side member mounted to the lower surface extends generally downwardly from the lower surface of the top member in spaced-apart relation to the right side member. The left side member defines at least one mounting location thereon to allow the left side member to be mounted to the floor tub assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2024Date of Patent: March 18, 2025Assignee: Vantage Mobility, LLCInventors: Philip Clement Angelechio, Steven Paul Ungetheim, Kirsten Nichole Mangum, Christopher William Sack
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Patent number: 12246584Abstract: Provided in the present disclosure are a roller shutter tail cover and a roller shutter cover with the same. The roller shutter tail cover includes a cover body, a limit switch, and a limit device, where the limit switch is disposed on the cover body, and the limit device is connected to the limit switch. During motion of the roller shutter tail cover, when the limit switch is touched, the limit switch starts the limit device, and the limit device works to limit the motion of the roller shutter tail cover. During motion of the roller shutter tail cover, if the roller shutter tail cover touches other objects, the limit switch starts the limit device, and the limit device limits the motion of the roller shutter tail cover, thereby preventing the roller shutter tail cover from pinching other objects and lowering the safety risk.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2024Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Inventor: Xiaoqian Ying
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Patent number: 12240535Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to an air jet shield. The air jet shield may include a support frame configured to attach to a vehicle utilizing a set of security straps. Sets of V-shaped and concave air ducts may be horizontally and vertically coupled to the support frame, respectively. Each of the air ducts may have a decreasing cross-sectional area and include (i) an inlet that receives air from a surrounding environment during a travel of the vehicle into a headwind or crosswind and (ii) an outlet that dispenses the air received from the inlet as a free air jet. Upon entering a headwind or crosswind, the free air jet creates a wind shear causing rotation at an increased velocity. Within the free air jet and surrounding the vehicle, static air pressure and wind velocity is decreased, thereby causing a reduction in aerodynamic drag during travel.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2022Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITYInventor: Charles Magee
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Patent number: 12240370Abstract: The corner cup comprises a base, first and second trough, angled lip, side wall, rear wall, wedge, and rib system. The troughs are located on opposing sides of the corner cup and redirect excess liquid away from the RV. The rib system provides a means for the base to rest at a sloped angle and allow excess water to drain away from the RV.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2023Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: Jaeger-Unitek Sealing Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Jason Cackley, Scott Koppen, Kevin Casey
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Patent number: 12233753Abstract: A seat having a seating area, an interior side bolster disposed on a first side of the seating area, and an exterior side bolster disposed on a second side of the seating area. The exterior side bolster includes an activator slidably disposed within an aperture of the exterior side bolster. The activator adjusts a height of the exterior side bolster based on a position of the activator within the aperture.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2022Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: David M. Aller
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Patent number: 12221820Abstract: An embodiment vehicle hinge driving apparatus for driving a vehicle hinge mounted between a door component and a vehicle body includes an actuator, a housing connected to the actuator, an output shaft having an axis aligned with an axis of the housing, and a transmission mechanism configured to vary a torque generated by the actuator and to transmit the torque to the output shaft.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2022Date of Patent: February 11, 2025Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, PHA Co., Ltd., Keyang Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.Inventors: Duck Young Kim, Jae Man Cho, Byung Ju Kang, Seung Yup Lee, Kwang Hun Hong
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Patent number: 12221166Abstract: An embodiment connection structure of tubular type pillars includes an outer joint bracket coupled to a sill outer member of a side sill, wherein a lower portion of a pillar member is fitted and coupled to the outer joint bracket along a vehicle width direction, and an inner joint bracket coupled to a sill inner member and coupled to the outer joint bracket, wherein the sill inner member and the sill outer member are joined to each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2022Date of Patent: February 11, 2025Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia CorporationInventors: Joonghyun Shin, Chulhee Heo, Dae Seung Kim, Heedae Oh, Jung Jong Chun, Minsoo Kim
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Patent number: 12214735Abstract: A trim element includes a support comprising a groove delimited by a first wall and a second wall, and a first covering layer having at least one edge received in the groove. The trim element further includes a retention device for retaining the edge of the first covering layer in the groove, the retention device having a supporting element extending at least partly into the groove and applying a part of the outer face of the edge of the first covering layer against the second wall of the groove, with the first covering layer covering the groove from the first wall to the second wall.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2022Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIEInventors: Franck Bonaventure, Jean-Pierre Morel