Patents Examined by Kiran B. Patel
  • Patent number: 11046368
    Abstract: In a shock-absorbing member in which a wood member is embedded in a resin covering member so as to be integrated therewith and in which the wood member is collapsed when subjected to an impact load, thereby absorbing a portion of the impact load, sealing members are disposed between both end surfaces of the wood member in an axis direction of annual rings and an inner surface of the covering member, so as to hermetically cover both end surfaces of the wood member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshihisa Miura
  • Patent number: 11046367
    Abstract: A vehicle side structure (100; 101) comprising a side portion (102; 103) extending in a longitudinal direction (104), wherein the side portion comprises a first and a second member (106, 108) extending in the longitudinal direction. The first and second members (106, 108) form a closed space (114). The side portion (102) comprises a reinforcing member (124) located in closed space (114), the reinforcement member (124) extending in the longitudinal direction. The reinforcement member (124) has a first leg (126) and a second leg (128) extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction. Each leg has a foot (130, 132) extending in the longitudinal direction. The first and second legs (126, 129) are joined in a head section (134). Each leg (126, 128) is corrugated, wherein the corrugations of the first and second legs (126, 128) comprise ridges (136, 144) and grooves (138, 142) which extend from the head section (134) to the respective foot (130, 132).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Gestamp Hardtech AB
    Inventors: Stefan Arvidsson, Kristoffer Lundstrom, Fredrik Lernstal, Hans Bodin
  • Patent number: 11046164
    Abstract: A bed cover assembly for a pickup truck may include cover guides coupled to upper ends of both body sides of a pickup truck and having guide means such as a guide rail formed inward of the truck; a bed cover coupled between the cover guides to slide along the guide means; and rotary guide rail assemblies hinged to both body sides of the rear of the truck, wherein when the bed cover moves rearward, the rotary guide rail assemblies rotate upward about respective hinge axes thereof and the bed cover moves along guide means formed at the rotary guide rail assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hak-Lim Kim
  • Patent number: 11040679
    Abstract: A structure of the vehicle includes a rear side member, a crush box and a bumper reinforcement. The rear side member is arranged outside in a width direction of the vehicle and is extended with a length direction of the rear side member coinciding with a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The crush box plastically deforms through compression of the vehicle. The bumper reinforcement is provided with a hat-shaped open cross-section where a recess portion recessed outward with respect to the vehicle is provided in an inner surface of the bumper reinforcement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A width of an open-end portion of the recess portion in a vertical direction of the vehicle is set larger than a width of the rear side member and a size of the crush box in the vertical direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohei Hisada, Kazuki Ohtake
  • Patent number: 11040740
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sill of a vehicle body (3). The sill is characterized in that the sill (10) comprises at least a first sill profile (11) and a second sill profile (12), in that the sill profiles (11, 12) extend in the longitudinal direction of the sill (10) and each comprise a connecting surface (111, 121) which faces the further sill profile (11, 12), in that the connecting surfaces (111, 121) at least partially run vertically, in that the at least two sill profiles (11, 12) over at least one area of the connecting surfaces (111, 121) of the sill profiles (11, 12) are adhesively connected to one another, and in that at least on one of the sill profiles (11, 12), adjacent to the connecting surface (111, 121), at least one snap-in protrusion (14) is formed onto it which interlocks with at least one snap-in receiving section (15) of another one of the sill profiles (11, 12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Grottke, Stefan Schmitz, Jochem Grewe
  • Patent number: 11034316
    Abstract: A bumper assembly for a vehicle, the bumper assembly including: a side rail; a bumper beam assembly coupled to the side rail; and a crush can assembly adapted to couple the bumper beam assembly to the side rail, the crush can assembly including: a box structure including a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion of the box structure is adapted to be coupled to the side rail; and a mounting bracket coupled to the front portion of the box structure, wherein the mounting bracket is adapted to be coupled to the bumper beam assembly. The mounting bracket includes a planar structure that is coupled to the front portion of the box structure and one or more bracket members that protrude substantially perpendicularly from the planar structure, wherein each of the one or more bracket members is adapted to be coupled to the bumper beam assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Karlsson
  • Patent number: 11034223
    Abstract: A foldable tonneau system comprising: (a) a plurality of frames, each of the plurality of frames include a panel region and a hinge region; (b) a plurality of panels each connected to one or more of the plurality of frames via the panel region; (c) a plurality of hinges that extend between and into the hinge region of a first of the plurality of frames and the hinge region of a second of the plurality of frames and connect the first of the plurality of frames to the second of the plurality of frames so that two of the plurality of panels are movable relative to each other; and (d) a coating that covers all or a portion of the plurality of panels, all or portion of the plurality of frames, and a connection region where each of the plurality of panels connect to the one of the plurality of frames at the panel region so that fluid is prevented from entering the connection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: UNDERCOVER, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Dale Hutchens, III, Timothy James Spice, James Gerard Quintus, Robert C. Joslyn
  • Patent number: 11034388
    Abstract: A motor vehicle hood assembly includes a hood shell, an insulation layer, carried on the hood shell, and a fluid reservoir packaged between the hood shell and the insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Enrique Remes
  • Patent number: 11027781
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hot-stamping formed article which is long and formed of a single steel sheet, the hot-stamping formed article including: two standing wall portions; a top sheet portion adjacent to the two standing wall portions; and a protrusion portion including an overlapping portion in which a portion of the steel sheet extending from at least one standing wall portion of the two standing wall portions and a portion of the steel sheet extending from the top sheet portion overlap, in which an angle between the top sheet portion and the protrusion portion in a case where a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the hot-stamping formed article is viewed in a cross section is larger than 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenichiro Otsuka
  • Patent number: 11027780
    Abstract: A reinforcing plate is provided between an inner central portion that structures a portion of a connecting member and a rear end portion of a dash cross-member. The reinforcing plate is a wrought member and is joined (at a join portion) to both the inner central portion and a rear wall portion of the dash cross-member via joining members. Because the wrought member has high tensile strength, when the reinforcing plate is provided at the join portion of the connecting member, a tensile load acting on the join portion may be borne by the reinforcing plate, and breakage of the connecting member may be suppressed. Therefore, an impact load transmitted from a front side member through the connecting member may be transmitted to the dash cross-member and rockers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ayukawa
  • Patent number: 11027682
    Abstract: A front portion structure of a vehicle includes a front bumper R/F, a side member, and a crush box inserted between the front bumper R/F and the side member, the side member having a first region connected to the crush box and a second region extending from a rear end of the first region, in which a vehicle-widthwise outer side surface of the first region is at a position being bent with respect to a vehicle-widthwise outer side surface of the crush box so as to form a protrusion protruding vehicle-widthwise outward, and a vehicle-widthwise outer side surface of the second region is at a position being bent from the vehicle-widthwise outer side surface of the first region so as to form a protrusion protruding vehicle-widthwise inward, and a reinforcement plate is joined to the vehicle-widthwise outer side surface in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Sotoyama
  • Patent number: 11027659
    Abstract: A vehicle interior component comprising a cover rotatably coupled to a base is disclosed. The component may comprise a mechanism comprising a feature on the base and a feature on the cover. When the cover is closed, the feature on the cover may axially align with the feature on the base. The feature on the base may disengage the feature on the cover when the cover opens and may engage the feature on the cover when the cover closes. The mechanism may comprise a cam mechanism comprising a cam surface and a follower. The mechanism may comprise a pivot joint. The pivot joint may comprise a set of projections to provide an axis of cover rotation. The pivot joint may comprise a projection and a ramp. The component may comprise a console, center stack/console, floor console, overhead console, instrument panel, door panel, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Shanghai Yanfeng Jinqiao Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Randy Len Arendsen, Tyler T. Grab, Adam R. Gofton
  • Patent number: 11021194
    Abstract: An air guiding arrangement for a motor vehicle includes: a carrier arranged on a vehicle body, and on which an air guide is mounted such that the air guide is drivable from a retracted home position to an extended maximum position by a drive, a sensor arrangement that monitors the position of the air guide and is connected to a controller so as to transmit data corresponding to the position, the sensor arrangement comprising an electric field sensor arrangement to monitor the position of the air guide, at least one electromagnetic field source is provided in the air guide, and at least one electric field receiver, which is a sensor of the sensor arrangement, is provided in the carrier and/or in the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Pfister, Markus Paulitsch, Dimitar Danev, Steffen Hoelzel
  • Patent number: 11021047
    Abstract: This invention is relevant to a bed cover of pickup truck. The bed cover of pickup truck includes one bed cover. The bed cover includes at least two plates. The adjacent plates are connected by rotating shaft structure. The rotating shaft structure includes a plate-like pedestal, two connectors which form a rotary connection with the pedestal. This invention provides a bed cover of pickup truck with simple structure and great leading function. The drainage channel in the invention are big and will not cause syphonage. Thus the leading function will be better, requirement of the assembly accuracy will be lower and the production will be easier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventors: Lanhua Cai, Yi Lin
  • Patent number: 11014611
    Abstract: A front body of a vehicle includes left and right front side members extending forward from a left end part and a right end part of a lower end of a dash panel, an upper back beam connecting front ends of the front side members and extending in a width direction of the vehicle, left and right front center members extending forward from a central left part and a central right part of the lower end of the dash panel, a lower back beam connecting front ends of the front center members and extending in the width direction of the vehicle, and first and second support members, the first support member connecting the left front side member and the left front center member and the second support member connecting the right front side member and the right front center member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Byung Gyu Kim
  • Patent number: 11007957
    Abstract: A bumper structural body (100) includes a bumper reinforcement (10), energy absorbing members (30a, 30b), and intermediate members (50a, 50b). The sloped sections (12a, 12b) of the bumper reinforcement (10) are connected to the energy absorbing members (30a, 30b) and the intermediate members (50a, 50b). The intermediate members (50a, 50b) are each formed in a quadrilateral by connecting a first portion (51) contacting the energy absorbing member (30a, 30b), a second portion (52) contacting the bumper reinforcement (10), and portions connecting the first portion (51) and the second portion (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignees: UACJ CORPORATION, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoya Yokota, Tatsuo Inagaki, Keiichiro Tsuji, Tomohide Sekiguchi, Naoki Takaki, Ryo Kita
  • Patent number: 11007842
    Abstract: A downdraft fan assembly mountable on a vehicle roll bar, which may be used for providing a flow of ambient air over the vehicle operator, and a canopy carried by the fan assembly, which may be used for providing solar and precipitation protection for the operator. The downdraft fan may draw air through a roof cap with a rear-facing outlet, or may draw air through a series of vents disposed around the canopy of the assembly, or through some combination of the two, such as may be desired. In some variations, multiple openings may be provided in the roof, if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventor: William Russ
  • Patent number: 11008047
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a connecting sleeve arrangement for connecting a first tubular cross member to a second tubular cross member of an instrument panel support in a vehicle, including: a first receptacle opening configured to receive the first tubular cross member extending in a first cross member direction, and a second receptacle opening facing away from the first receptacle opening configured to receive the second tubular cross member extending in a second cross member direction, wherein the connecting sleeve arrangement is curved, wherein the second receptacle opening is transversely offset, relative to the first receptacle opening, from the first cross member direction, and wherein the connecting sleeve arrangement is formed from a first half shell and a second half shell that are integrally bonded to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Simon Werneke, Konstantin Tatarinov
  • Patent number: 11007916
    Abstract: The invention relates to a passenger compartment (20) of a vehicle (10) comprising at least one seat (14, 15, 16, 17) and comprising a console (18) that can be placed laterally adjacent the seat. The particularity is that at least one seat (14, 15) is designed to be adjustable such that it can be moved out of a first position in which it faces in the travel direction, and into a second position, and that at least part of the console (18) is mounted so as to be movable out of a primary position in which it is laterally adjacent the seat, into a secondary position in which it is outside the movement path of the seat during movement of the seat between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: GRAMMER AG
    Inventors: Manfred Schlierf, Hubert Keller
  • Patent number: 11008044
    Abstract: A panel to be arranged in a vehicle body includes a reinforcing inner panel made of metal and formed by press molding, and a thickening part to partially thicken the reinforcing inner panel by a thickening process. The reinforcing inner panel includes a first surface, a second surface, and a surface edge between the first surface and the second surface, along which the thickening part is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Fukushi, Kanji Fujii