Patents Examined by Joseph Pape
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Patent number: 10106089Abstract: A vehicle having a cargo area accessible through a lift gate opening frame and partially defined by a floor and side quarter panels is provided. The vehicle includes guide tracks supported by the side quarter panels and a tray movable between a stowed position adjacent the floor and at least one deployed position. First and second pegs extend from opposing sides of the tray and engage the guide tracks. Similarly, first and second retention pins extend from the opposing sides of the tray and engage first and second receivers supported by the side quarter panels in the at least one deployed position. A handle is supported by the tray. A release mechanism may be connected to the retention pins and is used to retract the pins from the receivers.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Joseph Walter Herman
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Patent number: 10093156Abstract: The protective film for vehicle window is a protective window film that is adapted for use with a vehicle. The protective film for vehicle window is adapted for use with the windshield of the vehicle. The protective film for vehicle window is applied to the windshield. The protective film for vehicle window is adapted to protect the windshield from damage by deflecting debris that falls upon the windshield during travel. The protective film for vehicle window is texturized. The protective film for vehicle window comprises a protective sheeting and an adhesive. The adhesive attaches the protective sheeting to the windshield.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2016Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Inventor: Harry King
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Patent number: 10092055Abstract: A cover covering an object includes an inner surface of the cover facing the object and spaced from the object, and an outer surface of the cover opposite the inner surface. A local energy absorber is operatively attached to the inner surface of the cover. The local energy absorber includes an energy absorbing core layer operatively attached to the inner surface of the cover and a frangible face sheet layer attached to the energy absorbing core layer facing the object. The frangible face sheet layer is to initiate fracture of the frangible face sheet layer during an impact applied to the outer surface defining an impact event having a duration of less than 20 milliseconds.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2016Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Louis G. Hector, Jr., Nilesh D. Mankame, Hanif Muhammad, Anil K. Sachdev
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Patent number: 10071691Abstract: A combined cup holder and storage bin is provided. Such a device includes a rotating body having a first feature, a second feature and a third feature. The rotating body is selectively displaceable into a first position orienting the first feature for use, a second position orienting the second feature for use and a third position orienting the third feature for use.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2016Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kathleen M. Parlow, Nicholas Alphonse Billardello
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Patent number: 10065599Abstract: An insert for a vehicle console is provided. The insert includes a frame having first and second opposing retention flanges, each first retention flange being hingedly supported from the frame, such that each retention flange is capable of rotating away from the frame. A support strut is also provided for restraining the retention flanges from pivoting away from a position extending beyond the access opening of said vehicle console. Removal of a lockable lid connected with the frame becomes almost impossible without total destruction of the vehicle console.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2017Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Bestop Tuffy, LLCInventors: John P. Funk, Shawn Gregory
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Patent number: 10065486Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a convertible sliding top assembly for use with a vehicle. The convertible sliding top assembly can create an opening on the top of the vehicle by rotating a plurality of arms and folding over a soft cover. The assembly can be designed and shaped to improve aerodynamics when the vehicle is moving and prevent the buildup of water on the soft cover.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2016Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: LUND MOTION PRODUCTS, INC.Inventors: Anthony Smith, Carlos Gutierrez, Chris Schumacher, Scott Cover
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Patent number: 10065488Abstract: A vehicle door trim panel (1) is provided with a water drainage portion constituted by an upper wall (3) and a lower wall (4). The upper wall (3) is provided with a water inlet aperture (8), and the lower wall (4) is provided with a water outlet aperture (9). The invention also relates to a vehicle door, and a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2014Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover LimitedInventors: Martin Halliwell, Martin Boonham, David Butlin
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Patent number: 10059294Abstract: An assembly includes a door trim panel, and an armrest assembly supported by the door trim panel. The armrest assembly includes a crushable member. The crushable member includes a substrate defining a gap extending through the substrate. The crushable member includes a plug disposed in the gap and fixed to the substrate on a perimeter of the gap. The substrate is rigid relative to the plug.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2017Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Yi Yang Tay, Hui Wang, Li Lu, Linh Doan, Bhavani Thota
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Patent number: 10052941Abstract: A frame structure for a vehicle door and a method of manufacture thereof is disclosed. In particular, a vehicle side door includes at least two tubular parts which are flexurally deformed in the direction of their longitudinal extension and connected to each other to form a ring structure. The ring structure incorporated into a structural unit with the frame structure and a crash reinforcement in a vehicle door of a motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2015Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Udo Mildner, Lothar Teske
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Patent number: 10052974Abstract: A mounting tile is utilized for mounting a vehicle seat to a vehicle floor. A method for mounting a vehicle seat using the mounting tile includes affixing angle iron to the side edges of the floor, affixing a layer of metal plating on top of the angle iron, affixing one or more mounting tiles to the metal plating, positioning filler material between the one or more mounting tiles, positioning a floor covering over the mounting tiles and filler material, aligning the fastener elements of the vehicle seat structure with apertures in the mounting tile, and attaching the fastener elements and the seat to the mounting tile.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2017Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Freedman Seating CompanyInventors: Samuel P. Cardone, Matthew C. Kerr
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Patent number: 10046730Abstract: A support structure for absorbing forces in a vehicle includes a support element, which encloses a hollow space and includes a number of openings, which is delimited by one or more boundary faces. A receiving body for an assembly unit is inserted in one of the openings so that the receiving body at least partially projects into the hollow space. The receiving body includes a wall which at least in portions runs corresponding to the boundary faces and with which the receiving body makes contact with the boundary faces of the support element.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Ralf Schmoll
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Patent number: 10040378Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly is provided having a seat bottom and a seat back. The seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom by a bracket where the bracket has a seat bottom portion and a seat back portion. The seat bottom portion is arranged at an angle ? with respect to the seat back portion so as to generally form a right angle. A main pivot axis extends through the seat bottom. The distal end of the seat bottom portion of the bracket is pivotally connected to the main pivot. The distal end of the seat back portion of the bracket is connected to the seat back so as to pivot the seat back with respect to the seat bottom. The seat back is configured to rotate on top of the seat bottom to a stowed position.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2016Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Charles S. Hansen, Todd R. Muck
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Patent number: 10040483Abstract: A vehicle rear structure includes a side sill joined to a rear frame via an outrigger, a sub-frame mounted on the rear frame from below, and a fuel tank mounted on the sub-frame. The sub-frame is provided with a load transmitting member that opposes the outrigger. An impact load applied to the sub-frame is transmitted to the outrigger via the load transmitting member. The transmitted impact load is distributed to the two components, the rear frame (specifically, front frame section) and the side sill via the outrigger.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2016Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Norikazu Matsuura, Chihiro Sakurada
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Patent number: 10023030Abstract: A structure of a vehicle side door includes: an inner panel including a first protrusion and a second protrusion alternately provided in a vehicle front-rear direction at an upper end of the inner pane, the first protrusion protruding to the inner side, the second protrusion protruding to an outer side; an inner reinforcement that has a flange and is provided along the vehicle front-rear direction, the flange including a joint and a cutout alternately provided in the vehicle front-rear direction, the joint being joined to a surface of the first protrusion on the outer side, the cutout exposing the second protrusion from the flange to the outer side; and a weatherstrip provided along the vehicle front-rear direction, the weatherstrip including a pinching part that contacts a surface of the first protrusion on the inner side and a surface of the second protrusion on the outer side.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2017Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akihiko Shimoda
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Patent number: 10023127Abstract: A vehicle interior component is disclosed. The vehicle interior component is an overhead console assembly for a vehicle interior. The overhead console may comprise a bezel/base and a storage member coupled to the bezel. The storage member is configured to move between a retracted/closed position and an extended/open position. The bezel provides a resilient member to aid/facilitate installation/attachment of the storage member to the bezel.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2016Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Shanghai Yanfeng Jinqiao Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd.Inventors: Randy L Arendsen, Eric Charles Asselin, Michael H Weiss
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Patent number: 10011309Abstract: A drag-reducing pickup truck canopy includes an upper portion having a generally rectangular shape with one long side acting as a front edge and an opposite long side acting as a rear edge, the upper portion having a downward sloping section extending between the front edge and the rear edge, two side portions with one side portion extending downward and tapering outward from each short side of the upper portion, and two support portions extending outward from lower edges of the side portions. The upper portion may include a substantially flat portion adjacent to the front edge and/or a substantially flat portion adjacent the rear edge.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2017Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Inventor: Yoshitaka Suzuka
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Patent number: 10005409Abstract: In one embodiment, an energy absorber comprises: a plurality of crush lobes, wherein the base, sides and outer wall comprise a first thermoplastic material; and a composite insert in the energy absorber, wherein the insert comprises a second plastic material and reinforcement, and wherein the composite insert is a separate element that is disposed in located at an area of the crush lobes, wherein the area is the side and/or the outer wall, and wherein the area has an area height and an area width. In an embodiment, a corner energy absorber can comprise: a plurality of layers with a plurality of ribs connecting the layers, wherein the layers and ribs comprise a first thermoplastic material; a composite insert comprising a second plastic material and reinforcement, and wherein the composite insert is a separate element that is disposed in the layers, the ribs, or both.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2016Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.Inventors: Sudhakar Ramamoorthy Marur, Dhanendra Kumar Nagwanshi
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Patent number: 8833833Abstract: The present invention relates to a reclining apparatus for a rear seat of a vehicle, having a back frame having a upper end and a lower end; a cushion frame having a front side and a back side, wherein the back side of the cushion frame is pivotally connected to the lower end of the back frame; a back frame locking module disposed on the upper end of the back frame, the back frame locking module removably engageable to a body panel and acting as a pivot center when engaged with the body panel; and a guide module configured to guide the cushion frame pivotally connected to the back frame so that the lower portion of the back frame pivots about the upper portion when the cushion frame slides up forward or down rearward to allow the back frame to move between an upright position and a reclined position.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2013Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Dymos Incorporated, Dae Chang Seat Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chan Ho Jeong, Jun Yeol Heo, Gil Ju Kim, Chang Ju Gi, Seon Chae Na, Sang Uk Yu, Eom Seok Yoo, Young Sun Lee, In Chang Hwang, Myung Soo Lee
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Patent number: 8833839Abstract: Impact protection structures for vehicles are described. An impact protection structure includes a support structure of the vehicle, an interior rail coupled to the support structure, and an exterior rail coupled to the interior rail. The exterior rail has an inboard boundary wall positioned between an upper mounting region and a lower mounting region. The upper and the lower exterior mounting region of the exterior rail are coupled to an upper and a lower mounting region of the interior rail. At least a portion of the inboard boundary wall is spaced apart from an outboard wall of the interior rail such that when the exterior rail is impacted by a blunt-object barrier, the inboard boundary wall of the exterior rail deforms, thereby damping energy of the impact at the exterior rail and arresting crack propagation between the exterior rail and the interior rail.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Telsa Motors, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Richard Young, Donald James Robert Parr, Ernest Matthew Villanueva, Nathan Nelson, Paul Dewitt Frey
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Patent number: 8827333Abstract: There is provided a vehicle bumper structure. The vehicle bumper structure includes a bumper face exposed outward from a vehicle at a front end of a vehicle body, and a load transmission member having a front end opposing a surface of the bumper face at a vehicle rear side and a rear end secured to a vehicle body structural member. The load transmission member has a groove in either of an upper portion and a lower portion thereof. The groove serves as a starting point for bending the load transmission member in response to a compressive load in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiro Ota, Yoshiyuki Hashimoto, Kentaro Yamamoto