Patents Examined by Joyce Eileen Hill
  • Patent number: 11958343
    Abstract: Vehicle roof arrangement with a movable roof element held by a frame for selectively closing a roof opening. The roof element may have a first strand-like seal profile and a second strand-like seal profile, which is formed separately from the first seal profile. The first seal profile is configured for sealing with respect to the movable roof element and can be fastened to the vehicle roof, and the second seal profile can be fastened to the frame by a plug connection and is configured for sealing between the frame and the vehicle roof. The plug connection may have a plug-in region of the frame, into which plug-in region a projection of the second seal profile may be plugged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Samuel Schuster, Stefan Schäufler, Andreas Josef Zunzer
  • Patent number: 11919427
    Abstract: A reversible seat assembly for use in an automotive vehicle has an inboard seat riser, an outboard seat riser, a seat cushion, a seat back, a plurality of inboard reversing links, a plurality of outboard reversing links, a plurality of inboard strikers coupled to the inboard seat riser and a plurality of outboard strikers coupled to the outboard seat riser. The seat cushion is coupled to the inboard and outboard seat risers, and extends between a front end and a rear end. The seat back comprises an inboard latch bracket and an outboard latch bracket. The plurality of inboard reversing links extend between an upper end pivotally coupled to the inboard latch bracket and a lower end pivotally coupled to the inboard seat riser, and the plurality of outboard reversing links extend between an upper end pivotally coupled to the outboard latch bracket and a lower end pivotally coupled to the outboard seat riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc.
    Inventors: Louis Vetere, II, Michael D Nacy, Kai Zhao, Detjon Marini, Cheikh Dioum
  • Patent number: 11878738
    Abstract: The present teachings provide a reinforcement for a cavity. The reinforcement may include a carrier having a length extending along an axis between a first end and a second end. The carrier may include one or more longitudinal structures and one or more transverse structures. The carrier may also include one or more walls joined together to form one or more cavities extending along the axis. The carrier may have a cross-sectional shape roughly corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of interior of a hollow structural member. The device may also include a secondary material placed over the carrier. The secondary material is configured to expand, seal, reinforce, or a combination thereof upon application of a selectable stimuli and adhere to the interior of the cavity to provide reinforcement of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Zephyros, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry Richardson
  • Patent number: 11865904
    Abstract: Provided is an automatic light blocking device for a vehicle, wherein a light blocking slider protrudes in a sliding manner from the ceiling or roof of the vehicle in order to block sunlight shining into the interior of the vehicle. To this end, an automatic light blocking device for a vehicle comprises: a light blocking body provided on the ceiling or roof of the vehicle and having at least one sliding groove which is open in the direction in which light is to be blocked; a light blocking slider which is slidably inserted into and coupled to the sliding groove; and a driving unit for sliding the light blocking slider along the light blocking body by using power applied from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Young Sung Geum
  • Patent number: 11845323
    Abstract: A vehicle roof having a plate-shaped body-shell element and a shading arrangement which has a shading element and guide rails for laterally guiding the shading element. At least one fixing element is formed integrally on each of the guide rails at an upper side facing the body-shell element, said fixing element being in engagement with at least one molded portion which is molded to the body-shell element and has at least one fixing counterpart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Gioacchino Inzerillo, Gianluca Anedda
  • Patent number: 11840133
    Abstract: A torsion spring installation means for a vehicle sunroof, front frame and vehicle sunroof. The torsion spring may have spring coils, a first torsion arm and a second torsion arm. The torsion spring installation means has a recess, the recess being configured as a cavity having an opening, for the purpose of receiving the spring coils, and having a wall and a recess bottom; a receiving component, the receiving component having an opening part, in order to receive the first torsion arm; wherein a guide block is provided on a first wall face of the wall in a fixed manner, the guide block extending out from the first wall face in such a way that its size gradually diminishes. The present means provides convenience of installation and removal, ease of maintenance and replacement, effective prevention of water penetration, the ability to prevent jumping out and wobbling, an extended service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Yunquan Bu, Baojia Liu, Jun Chen
  • Patent number: 11840129
    Abstract: A roof system for a vehicle comprises a wind deflector member including a wind deflector body which extends in a transverse direction of the vehicle that is movable between a retracted position below a fixed roof and an extended position at least partly above the fixed roof. Wind deflector arms at the lateral ends of the wind deflector body extend substantially in a rearward direction and are at least rotatably connected to a stationary part. A sealing arrangement comprises a first seal is positioned between the wind deflector body and a panel that seals a gap between an the wind deflector body and the panel in its closed position. The first seal is configured to close a gap between the wind deflector arms and the panel. A second seal is closes a gap between the wind deflector member and the stationary part when the panel is in its closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Suyanto Teri Wahiyu Ten-Jet-Foei, Thomas Anton Martijnszoon Albers
  • Patent number: 11833981
    Abstract: A support element fastens an interior lining part to a structural part of a vehicle, wherein the interior lining part is fastenable to the structural part via the support element. The support element has at least one deformation region which is of meandering design in at least one plane and is deformable under the application of a force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Harald Distler, Sascha Engel, Ralf Mueller, Andreas Petermann, Wolfgang Witek
  • Patent number: 11827276
    Abstract: A glass pane which covers a surface region of a vehicle roof and has an edge protection at a pane edge of the glass pane. The edge protection can be formed by an edge protection strip which covers the glass pane at its pane edge, and a vehicle roof) having such a glass pane, the glass pane being adhesively bonded to a support surface of a roof component of the vehicle roof so as to form a gap between the glass pane and the support surface and the edge protection strip being arranged so as to be contact-free with respect to the support surface and/or contact-free with respect to the adhesive bond of the glass pane to the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Andreas Josef Zunzer, Enrico Müntel, Florian Grosser
  • Patent number: 11827161
    Abstract: A system of securing a connection of a decorative feature to a magnetic surface is provided. The system includes (a) a decorative feature attached to a substrate; (b) a magnet configured to be positioned within the substrate; and (c) two or more attachment arms extending away from the substrate and overmolding the magnet. The magnet is configured to magnetically secure the decorative feature to a magnetic attachment surface. In an example the substrate is a panoramic ring of a vehicle and the decorative feature is a headliner. The magnet is provided in a magnet bowl that includes an engagement feature to assist in overmolding. An attachment clip is also provided having two or more attachment arms with a magnet assembly overmolded to the clip. A pressure fit clip is provided having two or more attachment arms with a magnet assembly overmolded to the clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Precision Masters Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew R Bachan
  • Patent number: 11820276
    Abstract: A sheet of flexible material can be deployed or stored by unfurling or furling the sheet using one or more inflatables. After the sheet is deployed to, for example, cover a load on a flatbed trailer, the inflatable can be deflated for storage. A sheet that has been removed from the load can be stored by placing an inflatable along an edge of the sheet. The inflatable is pressurized, and the sheet is furled onto the inflatable by rolling the inflatable. The inflatable is deflated and rolled up with the sheet for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Farmer Innovations LLC
    Inventors: Jason Farmer, Lance Lowell Nordby
  • Patent number: 11813931
    Abstract: A glazed panel includes a glass panel, two longitudinal reinforcement armatures in order to reinforce the glass panel against deformations by flexure, and two longitudinal securing armatures in order to secure the glazed panel in an outer structure provided for this purpose. The armatures can be overmolded in a polymer material which is arranged on the periphery of the glass panel. The two reinforcement armatures and the two securing armatures are joined in pairs by their longitudinal ends in order to form a frame by means of an assembly by nesting, optionally using an intermediate part. This measure makes it possible to reduce the concentrations of stresses in the corners of the glass panel, and simplifies the molding operation during the production of the glazed panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Christophe Kleo, Li Zhao
  • Patent number: 11813932
    Abstract: A drive system for operation of a roll top cover for covering a cargo bed of a vehicle enables improved and smoother roll top cover movement. The drive system includes: an elongate housing that defines a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, the housing including an axially extending aperture for receiving the roll top cover therethrough; first and second receiving plates disposed transversely within the housing at the respective first and second ends thereof, the receiving plates comprising opposed spiral-shaped slots extending therethrough, each of the spiral-shaped slots having an open end proximally and a closed end distally; and a drive shaft assembly disposed within the housing and extending axially between the first and second ends thereof; wherein the drive shaft assembly is adapted for being operably connected to a drive chain and driving movement thereof within the spiral-shaped slots during operation of the roll top cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Oakmoore Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Shane Fowler, Wolfgang Schollhammer, Zenon Theodoulou
  • Patent number: 11814110
    Abstract: A system for insulating a structural element in a motor vehicle including a structural element having a first constituent part and a second constituent part which are joined together at a first joining point and a second joining point and form a cavity. The system furthermore includes a device having a carrier and a first expandable adhesive, wherein the carrier is arranged on the first constituent part of the structural element by way of a fastening element. The system furthermore includes a second expandable adhesive which is arranged on the second constituent part of the structural element. In this case, the first expandable adhesive and the second expandable adhesive are configured, and arranged, in such a way that, after the adhesives have been expanded, the device and the second expandable adhesive substantially completely fill a cross section of the structural element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SIKA TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Henrik Lindgren, Gino Saint Medar, Didier Henrion
  • Patent number: 11813928
    Abstract: A weather seal system is provided for sealing a perimeter of a vehicle sunroof. The system includes a mounting base having an outboard first channel, and an inboard second channel spaced apart from, and extending generally parallel to, the outboard first channel. At least two connecting portions are positioned between and connecting the first and second channels. A spine is supported by the at least two connecting portions so as to reside above the first and second channels when the mounting base is mounted on a vehicle. The spine extends generally parallel to the outboard first channel. At least a first and a second opposed weather strip retention projections extend from respective opposite first and second sides of the spine. A weather strip is structured to engage the opposed first and second weather strip retention projections so as to secure the weather strip to the spine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN Technical Center of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Thomas Runyan, Michael Mixon, Jacob Grimaldo, Tatsuya Matsui
  • Patent number: 11807088
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle comprises at least a movable lever to which, by means of a pin-like member, a slide shoe is connected that, for defining a movement of the movable lever, cooperates with and moves longitudinally along a guide. The pin-like member at a first end is connected to said lever and at a second end is connected to said slide shoe and the guide and slide shoe are provided with at least one pair of cooperating guide part and slide shoe part. The pin-like member at its second end is provided with an enlarged head configured to engage the slide shoe at a side thereof facing away from the lever. The dimensions of the enlarged head are such that, as seen in a direction from the enlarged head towards the lever, at least part of said enlarged head overlaps at least one guide part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Anton Martijnszoon Albers, Eduardus Christianus Henricus van Boxtel
  • Patent number: 11807087
    Abstract: A tonneau cover system, comprising: (a) a retractable tonneau cover having a plurality of interconnected panels; (b) a first retainer secured to a first sidewall of a cargo box of a vehicle; and (c) a second retainer secured to an opposing second sidewall of the cargo box, wherein the first retainer and the second retainer are substantially parallel to each other so that the tonneau cover spans between the first retainer and the second retainer; and wherein the plurality of panels each include a bearing positioned within the first retainer to guide the tonneau cover in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: RETRAX HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Tyler Alyce Voegele
  • Patent number: 11787273
    Abstract: A roof module for a vehicle roof of a passenger vehicle includes a module frame which includes a front module frame transverse element, a rear module frame transverse element, a first lateral module frame longitudinal element, and a second lateral module frame longitudinal element, where the first and the second lateral module frame longitudinal elements connect the front and the rear module frame transverse elements to each other. A cover element is mounted on the module frame. The front module frame transverse element is a first shell element and the first shell element is connectable to a second shell element of a roof frame of the vehicle roof. When the first shell element is connected to the second shell element they together form a roof crossmember of the vehicle roof which encloses a cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Achim Demmer, Eberhard Benz
  • Patent number: 11772470
    Abstract: A wind deflector assembly includes a flexible wind deflecting material attached by a lower connecting part to a stationary part and by an upper connecting part to an upper elongate member to keep the flexible wind deflecting material taut in at least an effective position. The flexible wind deflecting material comprises a frontal part extending substantially along the front of a roof opening and further a lateral part extending from the frontal part to an end part of the flexible wind deflecting material near a hinge member. The flexible wind deflecting material comprises a first area having a first weaving density and at least a second area having a second weaving density. The second area is shaped as a strip and extends at least partly in the frontal part and in the lateral part and is bound by flexible wind deflecting material having a different weaving density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B.V.
    Inventor: Tom Theodorus Maria Coenen
  • Patent number: 11772465
    Abstract: A sunshade system of vehicle roof includes a sunshade formed from a fabric material including a plurality of pleats arranged across a lateral sunshade width and extending along a sunshade length. At least one sunshade guide extends along a length of the sunshade and retains a lateral width edge of the fabric material, and guides the sunshade along a path between a stowed position and an extended position. The sunshade has a variable sunshade width along the sunshade length in the extended position by expansion and relaxation of the plurality of pleats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Lopez de Salvi, Keith E. Diven