Patents Examined by Kevin P. Weldon
  • Patent number: 11511692
    Abstract: An attachment device is mounted to a utility terrain vehicle for supporting a working accessory to the utility terrain vehicle. The attachment device has a saddle formed therein straddling the trailer hitch receiver tube of the utility terrain vehicle, and a pair of adapter brackets mounted thereto on respective side of the saddle. The adapter brackets are configured for mounting to the rear suspension posts of the vehicle and to the pivot bolts of the upper and lower control arms of the rear suspension of the vehicle. The attachment device reinforces the connection of the hitch receiver tube to the chassis of the vehicle. Any torsion stress applied to the attachment device is transmitted directly to the suspension of the vehicle, whereby a rolling of the vehicle is a direct indication of the torsion applied to the vehicle by the accessory being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Inventor: Daniel Lebouthillier
  • Patent number: 11498396
    Abstract: A viewing port for sighting through a barrier includes a primary body and a secondary body engaging with a barrier aperture in the barrier. The primary body defines a first aperture. The secondary body defines a second aperture. The first aperture of the primary body is aligned with the second aperture of the secondary body defining a viewing channel between the primary body and the secondary body. The viewing channel providing a field of view through the barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Inventor: Robert N. Justice
  • Patent number: 11498489
    Abstract: A storage system can be located at a front end of a vehicle's rear cargo space. The vehicle can include a rear opening at the rear end of the cargo space and a closure selectively opening and closing the rear opening. The storage system can include a front panel located at the front end of the rear cargo space and a lid. The front panel can include an outer surface facing the rear cargo space and a storage space recessed from the outer surface. The lid can be selectively placed in a closed state and an opened state with respect to the front panel such that the lid conceals the storage space from the rear cargo space when the lid is in the closed state, and the storage space is opened to the rear cargo space when the lid is in opened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Marek Myszkowski, Sarah J. Huth, Brian D. Large, Shirena Takai, Prakalp Satvilkar, Ramesh Gangarangaiah
  • Patent number: 11491925
    Abstract: A storage system for a tire repair kit for a vehicle can be located at the front end of a rear cargo space of the vehicle. The storage system can include a front panel and a lid. The front panel can be located at the front end of the rear cargo space and include an outer surface facing the rear cargo space and a storage space recessed from the outer surface. The storage space can be configured to contain the tire repair kit. The lid can be connected to the front panel such that the lid is selectively placed in a closed state and an opened state, the lid conceals the storage space from the rear cargo space when the lid is in the closed state, and the storage space is opened to the rear cargo space when the lid is in opened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Marek Myszkowski, Brian D. Large
  • Patent number: 11485199
    Abstract: A vehicle sunshade device including: a sunshade configured to block at least a portion of light entering a vehicle cabin, by being disposed along a door glass of a vehicle; a knob attached to the sunshade; and a case configured to internally stow the sunshade, such that stowing of the sunshade is complete in a state in which the knob contacts the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Arata Kusunoki, Takero Aoki, Takuya Okumura
  • Patent number: 11485266
    Abstract: A support assembly for a vehicle is provided that includes a base fixedly coupled to a vehicle interior, a panel disposed on the base, and a track assembly disposed between the base and the panel. The track assembly includes a track and an actuator slidably coupled with the track and coupled with the panel and movable from a first position to a second position to move the panel from a stored position to a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vishal Vinayak Nageshkar, Sangram Tamhankar, Victoria Leigh Schein
  • Patent number: 11465475
    Abstract: A panel top assembly adapted for a vehicle including a pivotal portion that is rotatable between a closed position and open sunroof position, the pivotal portion is coupled to guide assemblies to selectively slide rearward to another top open position. There is provided a removable hard rear window, a rear hard drip rail; and a pair of removable hard rear side window assemblies on the side of the vehicle that wrap around to the back of the vehicle creating clear rear hard corners and that are also in sealing engagement to the rear window. The rear hard drip rail and pivotal portion selectively drop down at an angle into the rear cargo area of the vehicle when a fully open top experience is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Bestop, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Smith, Charles C. Turney
  • Patent number: 11465691
    Abstract: A hatch door, which comprises a rear spoiler and a side spoiler, which are fixedly connected to a base structure of the hatch door, wherein it is provided according to the invention that the rear spoiler is additionally disposed mechanically reversibly secured with respect to the side spoiler and vice versa by a mechanical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sven Franke, Thorben Boesche
  • Patent number: 11465468
    Abstract: An overmold is disclosed, wherein the overmold may be incorporated into a window assembly. The overmold comprises a base portion and a receiving portion. The receiving portion may comprise a notch or a channel operable to receive a window. The window may be such that when coupled with the overmold, the sides of the overmold and the window are substantially co-planar. Accordingly, window may comprise a first and a second substrate, wherein the second substrate is coupled to a first side of the first substrate. Further, the first substrate may extend beyond the second substrate. Therefore, the overmold, when in abutting contact with the window, may extend onto the first side of the first substrate up to the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathan T. Overmyer, Luke A. Bomers, David J. Cammenga
  • Patent number: 11458903
    Abstract: A storage assembly for a vehicle includes retention features that are operable between a first position and a second position. A receiving portion defines a first opening and a second opening. A support body is coupled to the receiving portion via at least one coupling member, and a retention member is operably coupled to the support body and is selectively coupled to the retention features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Oscar Anaya
  • Patent number: 11433799
    Abstract: A vehicle rooftop platform mounting system includes a platform adjuster device that is configured to mount to a vehicle. The platform adjuster device includes a ball joint that rotatably connects a corner of a support platform to the platform adjuster device to adjust an angle of the corner of the support platform relative to a roof of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott L. Frederick
  • Patent number: 11433744
    Abstract: A vehicle window assembly is disclosed that includes a screen assembly mountable within an opening and a motor operable to move a movable window to engage the screen assembly and hold the screen assembly within the opening. A controller is provided that is configured to operate the motor to apply a desired force against the screen assembly with the movable window to hold the screen assembly within the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Chester Stanislaus Walawender, John Walawender, Hussein Berry, Paul Kenneth Dellock, David Brian Glickman
  • Patent number: 11433747
    Abstract: A vehicle has a door including: a canopy section covering a cabin from above; and a side section bulging outward in a vehicle width direction from the canopy section to cover an upper surface of a body lateral section and formed integrally with the canopy section, in which a front end of the door is attached to a body in a freely rotatable manner, and a rear end of the door is vertically movable to open/close the cabin. The vehicle further has a seat section that supports buttocks of an occupant at the time when the occupant gets in/out and is provided on an upper surface of the body lateral section covered with the side section from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasunori Hirozawa, Hiroki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11427109
    Abstract: A truck seat adapter which is designed to be positioned between the floor of the driver's compartment and the seat base of a driver's seat to enable the seat to be positioned rearwardly of the factory installed position to provide additional leg room for the driver or the passenger. The positioning of the adapter plate for the driver's seat enables the seat to be positioned so as to not interfere with the closing of the driver's door. In a second embodiment, the positioning of the adapter plate for the passenger's seat enables the seat to be positioned so as to not interfere with the closing of the passenger's door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventor: Adam J. Wurzer
  • Patent number: 11420506
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a modular vehicle roof frame with at least two support members having at an upper end at least one coupling member through which the support member is axially assembled and releasably coupled to a plurality of top frame members such that each top frame member is releasably coupled to a plurality of support members. In an illustrative example, when the frame is assembled the support members may be substantially vertical and the top frame members may be substantially horizontal. When the frame is coupled to a vehicle the coupling members may, for example, be oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The frame may be assembled, for example, by alternately assembling top frame members and support members. Various embodiments may advantageously allow a disassembled frame to be stored within a small sized container suitable for various ground shipping services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: MODZ MOLD PATENT, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Gouldie, Alan Basta
  • Patent number: 11390151
    Abstract: A vehicle hardtop system for a jeep-type sports utility vehicle, which includes a roof panel having segments, the segments each connected to one another via hinges, the segments fold onto one another and then onto a rear panel such that the entire roof panel and rear panel is removable from the vehicle hard top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventor: Charles Lee Taggart
  • Patent number: 11383589
    Abstract: A tonneau cover comprising: (a) a plurality of panels; (b) one or more hinges between each panel of the plurality of panels so that the plurality of panels are rotatably connected together, wherein some or all of the one or more hinges include: (i) a plurality of expansion links that are movably interconnected together, some of the plurality of expansion links including: (1) one or more expansion projections; (2) one or more pockets that receive all or a portion of the one or more expansion projections from an adjacent one of the plurality of expansion links; and (3) one or more expansion stops that restricts movement of the one or more expansion projections from the adjacent one of plurality of the expansion links that extend within the one or more pockets; wherein the one or more hinges rotate so that the one or more hinges form of angle of about 90 degrees or more and about 225 degrees or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: EXTANG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jerome Facchinello, David Germano, Robbie Mosingo, Chad Carter
  • Patent number: 11383767
    Abstract: A front pillar includes a front-side front pillar and a rear-side front pillar disposed apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle. The front-side front pillar is formed in a pipe-like shape in which end faces of a plate member are joined to each other. The front-side front pillar includes a first pillar part having a first circumference, and a third pillar part having a second circumference different from the first circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Iwano
  • Patent number: 11377158
    Abstract: A hole plug includes: a tubular outer periphery wall portion for insertion into a burring hole formed in an attachment member; an annular flange portion that protrudes toward a radial direction outer side of the outer periphery wall portion, from an end portion side of the outer periphery wall portion at an opposite side from an insertion direction side of the outer periphery wall portion; a pawl portion that projects toward the radial direction outer side from the outer periphery wall portion; a closure portion that extends between inner sides of the outer periphery wall portion; and an abutting portion provided at at least one of the flange portion or the outer periphery wall portion, the abutting portion overlapping with a periphery edge portion of the burring hole as seen in the insertion direction, and the abutting portion configured to abut the periphery edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Takehiro Sato
  • Patent number: 11376932
    Abstract: A modular canopy assembly for enclosing a bed of a truck includes a frame and a set of panels. The frame comprises a set of first elements and a set of second elements. The first elements are mountable to a bed of a truck. The second elements are selectively engageable to the set of first elements so that the frame extends upwardly from the bed of the truck. The frame defines a top opening, a front opening, a rear opening, and opposed side openings. Each panel is selectively engageable to the frame to close a respective one of the top opening, the front opening, the rear opening, and the opposed side openings. The panels can be engaged to the frame to selectively enclose the bed of the truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventor: Alex Barnwell