Patents Examined by Joseph Pape
  • Patent number: 8562043
    Abstract: An alignment device for attachment to a mounting support for vehicle front ends, whereby the alignment device is configured to receive a crash box that connects the mounting support to a bumper bracket. The alignment device includes a first abutment element and a second abutment element between which the crash box can be inserted and which are provided upon receiving the crash box to rest on opposite sides of the crash box. At least one abutment element is designed such that when receiving the crash box, it presses the same against the other abutment element, whereby one or more holding devices are provided on at least one of the first or second abutment elements that serve to limit the insertion of the crash box into the alignment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: HBPO GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Raulf, Hartmut Fabiunke, Daniel Földi
  • Patent number: 8556323
    Abstract: A folding seat arrangement comprising a first carrying structure (2) having a backrest (3) and guiding elements (11) for the removable attachment in guide rails (9) to a vehicle floor, a second carrying structure (5) pivotally mounted to the first carrying structure (2) and having a seat cushion (4), and a supporting structure (6; 31), on which in a first end region guiding elements (10) are provided for the removable attachment in guide rails (9) and which in a second region is mounted a carrying structure (2; 5) in an articulated manner such that the seat arrangement in the folded setting requires the least amount of space in the lower region of the expanded luggage compartment. This is achieved in that the guiding elements (11) on the first carrying structure (2) and the supporting structure (6; 31) can be moved relative to one another to pivot the supporting structure (6; 31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Magna Seating (Germany) GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Hoge, Karim El Benaye, Lip-Min Ng, Matthew Cooper, Johan Skrabala
  • Patent number: 8556332
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes a door main body having a hollow portion, a work hole, a door hole seal that covers the work hole, a door trim, a protruding member provided so as to protrude from the door trim toward the vehicle interior side surface, and a harness routed through the door hole seal to the door trim side. The door hole seal is provided with a general surface, a bulging portion facing the protruding member and bulging from the general surface toward the inside of the hollow portion, and a harness pull-out hole through which the harness is passed. The bulging portion has an inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakashima, Hitoshi Ohki
  • Patent number: 8556335
    Abstract: A vehicle bottom structure is provided which, in the case where a vehicle is involved in an accident such as a rear-end collision, can prevent an exhaust system component reaching a high temperature from being brought into contact with a fuel tank without causing any trouble. A vehicle bottom structure according to the present invention includes a suspension member installed between a fuel tank and a muffler silencer and extending in the width direction of the vehicle, and a stopping member suspended from the bottom of the vehicle between the suspension member and the muffler silencer, the vertical position of the sopping member overlapping the vertical position of the muffler silencer. The suspension member is on a trajectory obtained by rotating the stopping member to the front side of the vehicle around the point at which the stopping member is suspended from the bottom of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroo Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 8556324
    Abstract: A utility vehicle according to the present invention includes a front seat, a rear seat, a cargo bed, a screen, and seat belt systems, the cargo bed is changeable between an expanded state and a non-expanded state, the screen has a movable mount in a lower end, the screen is movable between a first position and a second position, each of the seat belt systems has a three-point seat belt structure, a bottom anchor, a retractor, and a buckle are provided in the movable mount, and a top anchor is provided in the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruaki Yamamoto, Itsuo Takegami
  • Patent number: 8550536
    Abstract: The tailgate (1) or rear door for a motor vehicle with a rear window includes a single-piece main carrying structure (10) with a peripheral, flexurally resistant frame (11), with an upper transverse beam (12), two lateral longitudinal beams (13, 14) and at least one lower transverse beam (15). The main carrying structure consists of a fibre-reinforced moulding compound (20) with at least two impregnated, integrated continuous-fibre bands (21) and this moulding compound is non-positively connected to the rear window (2) and together with this forms a flexurally resistant structure. Thereby, the continuous-fibre bands (21) in sections are integrated into the frame (11) in an arrangement vertical (v) to the surface (H) of the tailgate, by way of the continuous-fibre bands (21) being arranged vertically to the surface (H) and/or at a vertical distance (d) to the surface (H).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Weber Automotive AG-Holding
    Inventors: Matthias Gächter, Diego Jaggi, Andreas Rüegg, Stefan Ziegler, Norbert Stötzner
  • Patent number: 8550538
    Abstract: The pickup truck bed camping tent with air mattress is an accessory that installs inside of a pickup truck bed, and which deploys to inflate a tent and air mattress in order to provide an enclosure with sleeping surface for at least one person. The inflatable tent and air mattress are inflated via an electric pump, which when operating shall inflate both the tent and mattress from a forward portion of the pickup truck bed forwardly. The inflatable tent is comprised of a plurality of inflatable ribs that attach to a cover that encloses and forms the outer shape of the inflatable tent. The accessory, when inflated, anchors itself to holes located on a top surface of opposing sides of the truck bed, and which requires the tailgate to be in a lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventor: Kyle Brandenburg
  • Patent number: 8550539
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a substantially flat vehicular surface on the rear of a vehicle so as to create at least one surface which operates to reduce aerodynamic drag, comprising: at least one support adapted to be moveably attached to the rear surface of a vehicle; at least one surface supported by the at least one support; the at least one surface movably position so as to move from deployed position extending from the rear of a vehicle to a retracted position; whereby the apparatus operates to reduce aerodynamic drag in the deployed position and does not interfere with vehicle loading in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventor: Lawrence Everett Anderson
  • Patent number: 8550540
    Abstract: A device for attaching to and covering an entire blunt nose of a blunt-nosed trailer that is attached to and spaced behind a towing vehicle without impinging upon the towing vehicle so as to reduce drag of the blunt-nosed trailer when being towed by the towing vehicle by changing the blunt nose of the blunt-nosed trailer to a lateral wedge. The device includes a frame and a skin. The frame is laterally wedge-shaped, is rigid, and is for attaching to the blunt nose of the blunt-nosed trailer without impinging upon the towing vehicle. The skin covets the frame, is rigid, is laterally wedge-shaped, encloses the frame, and is for covering the entire blunt nose of the blunt-nosed trailer so as to reduce drag of the blunt-nosed trailer when being towed by the towing vehicle by changing the blunt nose of the blunt-nosed trailer to a lateral wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas W. Pacholyk, Jill M. Pacholyk
  • Patent number: 8544933
    Abstract: A vehicle sun visor system provides shade by blocking sunlight passing into a vehicle cabin. The system includes a base plate configured for coupling to a vehicle sun shade. A plurality of protrusions is coupled to the base plate. The protrusions are positioned on a side of the base plate opposite the vehicle sun shade. A cover plate is detachably coupled to the base plate. A plurality of indentions extending into the cover plate, the indentations is complimentary to the protrusions. The cover plate is removable from and repositionable on the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Gary M. Fuller
  • Patent number: 8534737
    Abstract: A trunk of a motor vehicle having an opening providing access from the outside, a floor, two side walls substantially transversal to the floor, a load platform, which is defined by a first edge facing the opening, by a second edge substantially parallel to the first edge and by two side edges substantially transversal to the first and second edge; the trunk being further equipped with two shelves, each of which is integral with a respective side wall and has a respective groove overlooking the groove of the other first shelf and adapted to be slidingly engaged by a respective said side edge in order to arrange and keep the load platform stable in a tilted position with respect to the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A.
    Inventors: Carlo Franco Torres, Armando Spagnolini, Stefania Betrone, Gianpiero Valsania, Caterina Cavagliato
  • Patent number: 8528964
    Abstract: A body structure is provided for a motor vehicle with a windshield that includes, but is not limited to a pane cross member, on which the windshield rests. The pane cross member includes, but is not limited to a first and a second edge section in the form of brackets, and a central part lying there between, which has a U-shaped cross-section. The first edge section forms a support section for the windshield, the second edge section is fastened to a fixed component of the body structure and is arranged laterally from the first edge section, and the central part is constructed such that it has a cross-section which is curved in the direction towards an engine hood of the motor vehicle and can deform on application of force from above and/or from the front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Stephan Walter, Uwe Schmitz, Joachim Schaefer
  • Patent number: 8528963
    Abstract: A expandable camping and cargo trailer features at least one fold-out bunk mounted at a side wall of the trailer. The frame of the trailer is designed to support the weight of the bunk when folded out and carrying a load. In certain versions, the frame members of the side wall frame are doubled or tripled in order to provide sufficient strength and rigidity to the side wall. The trailer is sufficiently light to be pulled by most cars and light trucks, while also providing sufficient storage space for motorcycles, ATVs, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: Tom Brawley
  • Patent number: 8523263
    Abstract: In a power slide device for vehicle seat which moves an upper rail in the forward/rearward direction by rotationally driving a screw rod, by providing a screw rod supporting rail with a pair of load transmitting members that are spaced from each other in the forward/rearward direction and providing the screw rod with a load receiving member which is in contact with the pair of load transmitting members, bucking is supported at a plurality of points when the buckling occurs in the screw rod due to an axial force acting on the screw rod, and this limits the direction of the buckling to reduce the amount of the buckling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Shiroki Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Kimura, Hirohito Aoi, Toshiharu Ito
  • Patent number: 8523274
    Abstract: A front end of a left member having a first plate thickness, and a left end of a lateral member having a third plate thickness are welded together while defining a first weld line, and a front end of a right member having a second plate thickness and a right end of the lateral member are welded together while defining a second weld line. The first plate thickness and the second plate thickness are thinner than the third plate thickness, and a support bracket that supports an auxiliary equipment is fitted to the lateral member. The first weld line and the second weld line are respectively positioned outer side of the vehicle body with respect to a fitted position of the support bracket, so as not to overlap on the fitted position in the lateral member where the support bracket is fitted to the lateral member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: F-Tech Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Nagahori, Naohiro Noma, Kou Satou
  • Patent number: 8523269
    Abstract: A vehicle window panel mounted in a window opening formed in a vehicle to close the opening includes a panel body obtained by molding a resin material. A light-transmitting window is integrally connected to the panel body, and a protrusion is integrally connected to the panel body to protrude toward at least one of an inside or outside of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Daikyonishikawa Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Igura
  • Patent number: 8523271
    Abstract: A vehicle having a structural bed configured to serve as a structural load-bearing member is provided. The structural bed extends rearward from a cab structure of the vehicle and includes a core layer. First and second outer layers flank the core layer and span substantially the entirety of the core layer. The first and second outer layers are composed of a material that has a higher strength than the core layer. The thickness of the core layer may be at least approximately 10 times greater than each of the thicknesses of the first and second outer layers, respectively. The composite structural bed may be integrated with mass-efficient structures to produce an efficient load-bearing structure for a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Brian V. Castillo
  • Patent number: 8517453
    Abstract: When a load caused by a collision is transmitted from the front side of a vehicle, tire cutout portions of front side members are deformed by the load transmitted from the front side of the vehicle. Accordingly, the tire cutout portions of the front side members come into contact with a power unit formed of an engine or the like of the vehicle, switch a transmission path of the load to a direction corresponding to the power unit of the vehicle, and transmit the load to the power unit as a load. The tire cutout portion is formed between two engine mounts. Accordingly, a starting point from which the front side member begins to be deformed is set between the engine mounts that are two supported portions of the power unit, so that the stable bending and deformation of the front side member are controlled. Further, a transmission path of a load toward the power unit is newly formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8517451
    Abstract: A front underfloor structure of a vehicle includes front deflectors disposed forward of front tires, respectively. The front deflectors each include a front apex portion disposed at a position closer to the vehicle front than a leading edge surface of each of the front tires when straight, and disposed at a position closer to a vehicle center line than an inner surface of each of the front tires when straight; an outer end portion disposed at a position closer to the vehicle rear than the front apex portion, and disposed at a position outward in the vehicle width direction of the front apex portion; and a second flow redirection surface connecting the front apex portion and the outer end portion, and being configured such that, when struck by air traveling from the vehicle front, the second flow redirection surface redirects a flow of the traveling air outward in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kakiuchi, Masahiro Ataka, Youhei Ogawa, Kazuaki Nakajima, Yuji Ishihara
  • Patent number: 8511739
    Abstract: A control system for use with a vehicle's dual hinged door assembly is provided, the control system including a door switch, upper and lower door portions, primary and secondary door drive systems and a controller. The upper door portion pivots about a primary axis formed by its juncture with a structural member in the roof while the lower door portion pivots about a secondary axis formed by its juncture with the upper door portion. Primary and secondary drive systems provide independent powered motion of the upper and lower door portions. The controller monitors door switch activation and determines whether activation corresponds to a door open or door closed command; performs preset door opening and closing sequences using the drive systems; and modifies the preset door opening and closing sequences based on data from proximity sensors, pinch sensors, latch sensors, drive system motor speed and the current draw by the drive systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Lee Brown, Franz von Holzhausen, Peter Dore Rawlinson, Nicholas John Sampson, Michael James Eckert, David Lemire, Axel Boris Vollmer