Patents Examined by Joseph D. Pape
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Patent number: 11198381Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed that includes: a first (e.g., front) passenger seating area having a console; a second (e.g., rear) passenger seating area that is located rearwardly of the first passenger seating area; a floorpan that extends beneath the first and second passenger seating areas; and a multipurpose tray that is configured for removable connection to the floorpan. The floorpan includes an access port extending therethrough that is located generally adjacent to the console. The multipurpose tray is configured to conceal the access port, and defines at least one compartment that is configured to receive personal effects.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2019Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventor: Manuel Alejandro Vite Cadena
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Patent number: 11186151Abstract: An embodiment provides a truck cover system that includes a side rail, a cover, and a latching mechanism. The latching mechanisms include a housing attached to the cover, a latch extending through a first end of the housing and configured to engage with a bottom portion of the side rail, a cap attached to a second end of the housing, a plunger attached to the latch and having a first plunger end partially extending through an opening of the cap, an anchor element attached to the first plunger end preventing the first plunger end from entering the housing, and a spring wrapped around the plunger. When the spring is compressed, the latch may disengage with the side rail, and, when the spring is uncompressed, the latch may engage with the side rail.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2021Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Cixi City Liyuan Auto Parts Co., Ltd.Inventor: Enli Xu
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Patent number: 11186317Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a sill structure, a floor panel and a reinforcing bracket. The sill structure extends along a lower end of a door opening in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The floor panel is fixed to the sill structure. The reinforcing bracket has a first flange fixed to the sill structure, a second flange fixed to the floor panel and a mid-section that extends from the first flange to the second flange. The mid-section has a contoured surface with an overall surface length as measured along the contoured surface from the first flange to the second flange that is greater than a distance measured between the first flange and the second flange.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2019Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Patrick Grattan
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Patent number: 11180201Abstract: Disclosed herein is a truck, a deck gate for truck, and a method for manufacturing thereof. According to the present invention, the deck gate for truck has excellent impact strength, low plastic deformation rate, excellent molding property and thermal resistance, and reduces weight. Also, the deck gate for truck according to the present invention reduces weight of about 23% in comparison with a conventional steel and wood type deck gate for truck.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2019Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignees: KOLON GLOTECH, INC., KOLON INDUSTRIES INC., KOLON DACC COMPOSITE CO., LTD.Inventors: Dong Won Kim, Woo Jin Jung, Chang Hun Lee, Hyun Kyu Shin, Dae Il Lee, Jin Wook Han
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Patent number: 11173771Abstract: The present invention provides a shock-absorbing member including: an exterior material 110 for an automobile; a first reinforcing member 122 that is disposed adjacent to the exterior material 110 and whose cross section orthogonal to the extending direction has a height, in the direction orthogonal to the exterior material 110, that is greater than the width in the S direction along the exterior material 110; a second reinforcing member 124 that is disposed adjacent to the exterior material 110 and whose cross section orthogonal to the extending direction has a height, in the direction orthogonal to the exterior material 110, that is greater than the width in the direction along the exterior material 110; an intersecting part where the first reinforcing member 122 and the second reinforcing member intersect and overlap; and a joint that joins the first reinforcing member 122 and the second reinforcing member 124 at the intersection.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATIONInventors: Toshiya Suzuki, Yoshiaki Nakazawa, Tasuku Zeniya, Tohru Yoshida
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Patent number: 11173773Abstract: A convertible vehicle top, having a top cover and a top linkage displaceable between a closed position, and a storage position, the top linkage having a link assembly on either side of a vertical longitudinal center plane of the top, each link assembly having two main links pivotably mounted on a main bearing attachable to a vehicle body and which form a multi-bar linkage together with a roof middle link, and the top linkage having transverse bows via which the two link assemblies are connected. The link assemblies may each have a fabric deflection lever which is pivoted into a straightened position by the top cover when the top is in the closed position and which is pivoted into a bent position in such a manner that the top cover is deflected around the free end of the deflection lever when the top is in the storage position.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: WEBASTO SEInventors: Thomas Podolski, Uwe Fladung
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Patent number: 11173963Abstract: This vehicle body front structure includes a front side frame (14) which extends in a forward and rearward direction of a vehicle body, and a side wall member (52) which is provided outside the front side frame (14) in a vehicle width direction and joined to the front side frame (14), wherein the front side frame (14) has at least three folding portions, which include a first folding portion (24), a second folding portion (25), and a third folding portion (26) capable of being bent by an impact load (F1, F3) input from in front of a vehicle, in this order at intervals from a front toward a rear of the vehicle body, and has a reinforcing panel (65) which is provided between the second folding portion (25) and the third folding portion (26) among the side wall members (52), is stacked on a compression portion (81) on which a compressive force (F2, F4) acts from the impact load (F1, F3), and has a vertical bead (87).Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2018Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kiyohiko Matsuoka, Takehiro Kondo
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Patent number: 11167696Abstract: A cargo screen assembly for a vehicle includes: a screen unit disposed inside a trim of a vehicle in a wound state, and for covering a cargo loading space of the vehicle when being drawn toward a vehicle interior; a driving part for drawing out the screen unit from the trim and the front end of the screen unit from the trim; and a pulling-out part for supporting the screen unit drawn out from the trim.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventor: Soon-Sung Park
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Patent number: 11167624Abstract: A back door handle device includes a switch to output a signal for unlocking or locking the back door, a switch knob to supplement actuating force of the switch, a housing for receiving the switch and the switch knob, and an outer cover that covers the housing. The switch knob includes an operating portion that is moved from an initial position to a switch position, a spring section that, when the operating portion is moved from the initial position toward the switch position, is elastically deformed to produce elastic force in such a direction as to return the operating portion to the initial position, and a temporary fixing portion that prevents such movement of the switch knob that the operating portion is moved from the initial position to the opposite side to the switch position. The signal is output from the switch when the operating portion reaches the switch position.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.Inventors: Hirotaka Fukui, Koji Tatematsu
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Patent number: 11161469Abstract: A vehicle front portion structure includes a lower absorber installed in a lower region of a vehicle front portion and having a longer length in a width direction of a vehicle, at least one load bearing member disposed on a rear side of the lower absorber and connected to the lower absorber so as to receive a load transferred from the lower absorber, in which at least a part of the lower absorber is equipped with a reinforcement member, and the reinforcement member is formed, in cross section, in a shape of substantially a wave composed of a series of upward protruding parts protruded upward of the vehicle and downward protruding parts protruded downward of the vehicle, the upward and downward protruding parts alternating along the width direction of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2018Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mamiko Yamatani, Masatoshi Hata
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Patent number: 11155303Abstract: A structural arrangement for a vehicle includes a vehicle frame including an upper front rail, a frame rail, and a front hinge pillar, the frame rail extending parallel to a vehicle body axis and the front hinge pillar extending perpendicular to the vehicle body axis, the frame rail including a pulley, a load deflection system including a load member coupled to the upper front rail at a first attachment point, coupled to the frame rail at a detachable attachment point, and coupled to the front hinge pillar at a non-detachable attachment point such that the cable member extends generally longitudinally along the frame rail. The load member passes around the pulley from the first attachment point to the detachable attachment point and defines a load path between the upper front rail and the front hinge pillar utilizing the strength the frame rail.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Ashish Nayak, Dheeraj Jha, Manoj Marella
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Patent number: 11155311Abstract: System and apparatus for improving aerodynamics of a vehicle including: a plurality of stiffeners offset from each other; a first airfoil configured as a thin-form sheet; a second airfoil coupled to the first airfoil using the plurality of stiffeners, wherein a trailing edge of the first airfoil overlaps a leading edge of the second airfoil; an airflow inlet defined by a leading edge of the first airfoil and a pair of stiffeners of the plurality of stiffeners; and an airflow outlet defined by the trailing edge of the first airfoil, the leading edge of the second airfoil, and the pair of stiffeners.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Strehl, LLCInventor: Jesse Regan
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Patent number: 11148730Abstract: A vehicle frame construction and method includes an elongated hollow frame member having a plurality of interior sides and a reinforcement member. The reinforcement member is formed from a thermoplastic polymer and is installed so as to be arranged within the elongated hollow frame member to reinforce each interior side of the elongated hollow frame member in a plane orthogonally oriented relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongated hollow frame member.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Benjamin J. Meaige, Derik Thomas Voigt, Eric J. Boettcher
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Patent number: 11148509Abstract: An automated retractable sun shield system for a vehicle, comprising a sun shield, a deployment mechanism, a roller, a tension bar, and a controller. The sun shield includes a flexible material which blocks sunlight. The deployment mechanism operates to deploy and retract the sun shield. The sun shield wraps around the roller so that the sun shield is in a rolled configuration when the sun shield is retracted and stored. The tension bar guides the sun shield to match a shape of the tension bar when the sun shield is deployed. At least one element comprising the sun shield system is installed and concealed behind a dashboard valence panel of the vehicle. At least one element comprising the sun shield system is installed and concealed behind an interior trim covering a vertical support of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: KARMA AUTOMOTIVE LLCInventor: Onix Isaac Carmona
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Patent number: 11142046Abstract: A vehicle side-window sun shield detachably mounts to a vehicle side-window to block sunlight from the outer arm of the driver or passenger in a vehicle. The sun shield includes a flat lower portion panel having two legs that fit into the slot between the window and rubber strip along window. The sun shield also includes a flat upper portion panel integrally formed with the lower portion panel. Upper portion panel is disposed at an angle of at least 45° relative to the lower portion panel to shade the outer arm from the ultra violet light of the sun. The upper portion panel extends towards the interior of the vehicle above the driver or passenger arm to block sunlight. The upper portion panel may extend out 5¼? over the arm of the driver. A film overlays the panels to block the ultraviolet light of sun.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Inventor: Scott Catuzza
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Patent number: 11142056Abstract: A truck bed cover includes rails attached along truck bed side tops, slats residing laterally between the rails, end caps attached to opposite ends of each slat sliding forward and rearward in the rails, and flexible joiner hinges attaching consecutive ones of the slats. A cover holder resided between truck sides against a truck cab. The cover slides into the holder for storage, and rolls into a spiral inside the holder. Each slat includes two end walls and a center wall. The center wall includes a center “C” shaped portion and vertical portions reaching up from the center “C” shaped portion to a slat top surface and down from the center “C” shaped portion to a slat bottom surface. The slat top is cambered to reduce or eliminate water pooling on the cover.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: JCWIN AUTO CORPInventors: Lai Miaoyi, Shun Kit Tam
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Patent number: 11142137Abstract: A vehicle trim includes a support, a display screen fixed on the support, and a covering that covers the screen, the covering having a visible front face and a back face turned toward the screen. An image generated by the screen is visible on the front face of the covering. The covering has an optical layer applied on the screen with no empty space between the optical layer and the screen.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIEInventors: Zakaria Benchikhi, Francois Floch, Omar Ben Abdelaziz
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Patent number: 11142052Abstract: A bracket assembly for a tarpaulin support device for an open top of a trailer or vehicle. The bracket may have an axial bore and one or more vertical bores for receiving an end or socket of a bow assembly. The bracket may interchangeably hold a variety of bow assemblies, such as a traditional curved bow, a rod, one or more concentric tubes, or a combination of one or more tubes and a rod. The bracket assembly may comprise a plurality of brackets for holding a series of bow assemblies in place on a trailer or vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Inventor: Clifford O. McWilliams
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Patent number: 11142044Abstract: A shock absorbing vehicle window arrangement for a vehicle cab comprising a transparent windscreen having a height. The shock absorbing vehicle window arrangement further comprising a metal frame comprising an inner portion at least partially extending on an inside of the transparent windscreen, and an outer portion, at least partially extending on an outside of the transparent windscreen. The outer portion overlaps the transparent windscreen with at least 1% of the height of the transparent polymer windscreen. The shock absorbing vehicle window arrangement further comprises an additional transparent polymer windscreen which is lighter than the transparent windscreen and comprises a plurality of through holes or recesses for receiving fixation elements for fixating the additional transparent polymer windscreen to the metal frame.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: HAMMERGLASS ABInventors: Peter Andersson, Fredrik Krook, Kenneth Svensson
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Patent number: 11135907Abstract: A bodywork for a two-wheeled vehicle, in particular a scooter, has a roof element and a storage compartment. The roof element has at least two roof struts and a cover for the storage compartment. The roof element is mounted so as to pivot around an axis of pivot between at least two positions. In a first, lower position of the roof element, the roof struts are arranged in a stored position, the storage compartment has a reduced volume and is closed by the cover. In a second, upper position, the roof struts are arranged above a driver's seat and the storage compartment has an enlarged volume.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2018Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: AUDI AGInventor: Mario Rossetti