Patents Examined by Kiran B. Patel
  • Bolted casting to casting flexible body variant shock tower system
    Patent number: 10953924
    Abstract: A system for providing multiple variations of shock tower assemblies with a common vehicle body is provided. The system includes the common vehicle body including a vehicle body member comprising a plurality of bolt holes and a shock tower assembly. The shock tower assembly includes a bolt-on shock tower cap comprising a shock receiving cavity, a plurality of bolt fasteners attaching the bolt-on shock tower cap to the vehicle body member at the plurality of bolt holes, and shock tower components including a shock device. The shock tower components are configured to matingly engage with the shock receiving cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Edward D. Moss, Mark J. McGuire, Keith J. Saari, Jagmail Singh Cheema
  • Low-profile machine cabin
    Patent number: 10947698
    Abstract: A cabin for a machine is disclosed. The cabin may include a floor, a roof, at least one A-post located at a leading end relative to a forward travel direction of the machine, and a C-post located at a trailing end opposite the at least one A-post. The C-post may have first terminal ends located at the floor and second terminal ends located at the roof. The C-post may include a C-shaped beam having the first terminal ends, and a Y-shaped beam structure having the second terminal ends. The Y-shaped beam structure may extend from the C-shaped beam to the roof. The Y-shaped beam structure may include two spaced beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nilesh Ajit Sutar, Aaron Dunaway
  • Vehicle body front structure
    Patent number: 10946900
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle body front structure capable of ensuring both driver visibility and collision performance. This vehicle body front structure comprises: a front pillar which has an A-pillar, an A?-pillar located behind the A-pillar, and a lower frame portion connecting the lower ends of the A-pillar and A?-pillar; and a top-side upper member which is disposed above a wheelhouse and connected to a lower-frame-portion upper member connecting portion. Ridge lines are formed across the upper member connecting portion, the lower frame portion, and the A?-pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Raika Kawatsu, Takehiro Ishihara, Takuya Morisawa, Yoshikazu Shoi
  • Reinforced open-section structural panel
    Patent number: 10940893
    Abstract: A bulkhead for a vehicle body structure includes a panel. The panel has a contour defined by a contour length and characterized by an open section having three surfaces in a cross-sectional view. The bulkhead also includes a support member embedded in the panel. The support member includes an external form configured to interface with and match at least two of the three surfaces of the contour. The support member also includes a support member length configured to fit within the contour length and a boxed cross-section having a substantially uniform shape along the support member length. The bulkhead additionally includes an adhesive applied between the external form of the support member and the interfacing surfaces of the contour to thereby bond the support member to the panel and reinforce the bulkhead. A vehicle having a structure with such a bulkhead is also considered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Edward D. Moss, Mark J. McGuire, Peter M. Parlow, Keith J. Saari, Eduardo B. Bugelli
  • Reinforcing devices
    Patent number: 10940896
    Abstract: A structural reinforcement comprising a rigid polymeric structure (12) including a central portion (20) and two side portions (22,24) adjacent the central portion, each of the central portion and side portions including a top surface and bottom surface and an expandable adhesive material (14) located onto at least one surface of each of the central portions and two side portions, wherein the expandable adhesive material is located along the bottom surface of the central portion and the top surface of each of the side portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Zephyros, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry E. Richardson
  • Sports car cockpit
    Patent number: 10940895
    Abstract: Sports car including a cockpit equipped with a windscreen that delimits the cockpit, the windscreen being supported by a peripheral frame made of high-resistance material including an upper crossbeam at the top, a lower crossbeam at the bottom and a pair of side uprights connecting said upper and lower crossbeams, the windscreen including a front central upright arranged between said front side uprights to connect said upper and lower crossbeams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: FERRARI S.P.A.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Favaretto
  • Apparatuses for reducing light glare and related methods
    Patent number: 10933723
    Abstract: Disclosed are light glare reducing apparatuses and related methods. A light glare reducing apparatus includes a first polarized body, a second polarized body, and a movable coupling that attaches the second polarized body to the first polarized body with the second polarized body at least partially overlapping the first polarized body. The first polarized body includes a first polarized material that is optically polarized in a first direction relative to the first polarized body. The second polarized body includes a second polarized material that is optically polarized in a second direction relative to the second polarized body. The movable coupling is configured to enable the second polarized body to move relative to the first polarized body to change an angle of the second direction relative to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: HELIO TECH LLC
    Inventors: James Hosler, Paige Hosler, Robert Bell
  • Anti-pinch control system for powered vehicle doors
    Patent number: 10934760
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body and front and rear doors having front and rear powered latches, front and rear anti-pinch sensors, and front and rear electrically-powered door openers. The vehicle further includes a controller that is configured to receive an unlatch signal from unlatch sensors/switches and generate a signal to unlatch the front and rear powered latches and actuate the front and rear door openers after the front and rear powered latches are unlatched. The controller may also be configured to actuate the rear door opener to retain the rear door in an open position when the front pinch sensor detects a hand to thereby prevent pinching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Muhammad Omer Khan, Kosta Papanikolaou, Christopher Matthew Radjewski, H. Paul Tsvi Linden, George Anthony Bernwanger, Jr.
  • Device for reinforcing and sealing a structural element
    Patent number: 10933922
    Abstract: A device for reinforcing and sealing a structural element in a motor vehicle including a reinforcing element which has a longitudinal axis and which is disposable in a cavity of the structural element, wherein the reinforcing element includes walls which extend substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein part-regions of the walls on an external circumference of the reinforcing element form at least one strip which encircles the reinforcing element and which runs transversely to the longitudinal axis of the reinforcing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: SIKA TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Vincent Belpaire, Ardi Shehu
  • Automotive bumper with storage and method of use
    Patent number: 10933826
    Abstract: An automotive bumper includes an elongated body to extend across an end of a vehicle, the elongated body has walls forming a first compartment; a lid attached to the elongated body to enclose the first compartment; an attachment device secured to one of the walls to attach the elongated body to a vehicle; a lock to secure the lid in a closed position against the elongated body; and an actuator connected to the lock and electrically coupled to an electronic device; the electronic device unlocks the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventor: Darrel Hood
  • Airflow deflector for a vehicle
    Patent number: 10933927
    Abstract: An airflow deflector for a vehicle protrudes downward from an inner fender having a wheel housing that houses a front wheel. The airflow deflector includes an airflow guide member extending in both a lateral direction and a vertical direction of the vehicle and provided in front of the wheel housing. The guide member has an inboard end portion and an outboard end portion. The inboard end portion is spaced inboard from an inner sidewall of the front wheel and the outboard end portion is spaced inboard from an outer sidewall of the front wheel. The outboard end portion includes a cutout to guide airflow around the outer sidewall of the front wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Larry Travis Nichols, Michael R. Missig, Kurtis Ray Horner, Patrick G. Esber
  • Shared safety cell for passenger cars
    Patent number: 10926802
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a passive safety cell (2) for passenger cars with alternative powertrains which is shared for the passengers (3) as well as for the energy source (4) with its main components, to protect both units in one cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: OUTOKUMPU OYJ
    Inventors: Thomas Fröhlich, Stefan Lindner
  • Mobile showroom
    Patent number: 10926687
    Abstract: A system includes a vehicle, a rear display assembly, and a center display assembly. The rear display assembly extends within a main rear storage compartment of the vehicle. The rear display assembly comprises a first base movable in opposing directions between retracted and deployed configurations and a first merchandising module supported by the first base and usable when the first base is in the deployed configuration to demonstrate and/or display a first device. The center display assembly extends within a main center cabin of the vehicle. The center display assembly comprises a second base and a first display module supported by the second base. A first power source is operable to provide electrical power to the first device and/or the first display module. A second power source is operable to provide electrical power to the vehicle. The first and second power sources are separate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: INTERACTIVE MOBILE MARKETING, LLC
    Inventors: George Tadros, Ehab Sweis
  • Light weight rocker reinforcement
    Patent number: 10926804
    Abstract: A rocker assembly for a vehicle comprising a rocker panel and a side sill that enclose an injection molded reinforcement. The reinforcement includes a plurality of intersecting walls that may be provided in horizontal and vertical planes. An intermediate wall formed by frames within four sided cells that define windows. The rocker assembly may include two different types of reinforcements, one with intersecting walls, or fins, extending laterally and one formed by a plurality of longitudinally extending tubular members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Herbert Yang, Praveenmanickam Renganathan, Shekar Prabhakar Erasala, John Michael McGuckin, Shawn Michael Morgans
  • Apparatus for covering a container load
    Patent number: 10919368
    Abstract: An apparatus for covering an open top of a transportation trailer container includes a frame on top of the container. The frame surrounds an aperture for flow of material into the container. The apparatus also includes an arm pivotable between a closed position and an open position. The arm holds a rotatable roller for dispensing and receiving a flexible cover. The flexible cover is wrapped around the roller when the arm is in the open position. The flexible cover is unrolled from the roller to cover the aperture due to motion of the arm from the open position to the closed position. The frame includes a side portion having an inwardly and upwardly tapered outer surface. The roller contacts the outer surface when the arm is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ty-Crop Manufacturing Lid.
    Inventors: Gary Wayne Teichrob, Patrick Scott Mason, Alan Arthur Martens, Kevin Brent Thiessen, James Ryan Brezden, Robert Douglas Younie, Dennis Keith Ho, Brent Douglas Van Kleeck, Kevin James Standeven
  • Active drag-reduction system and a method of reducing drag experienced by a vehicle
    Patent number: 10919583
    Abstract: There is provided an active drag-reduction system having first 22 and second 24 fluid outlets located on a vehicle 10 adjacent to a low pressure (drag) region 12, wherein fluid ejected from the second fluid outlet 24 is at a higher pressure/ejection velocity than from the first fluid outlet 22. Turbulent and/or low pressure regions adjacent to vehicles are not uniform, but rather have a varying intensity. For instance, the centre of a region may have a lower pressure and/or more turbulent nature than the periphery of the region. The system may inject relatively higher pressure air (or relatively higher speed air) into the relatively lower pressure/more turbulent part of the low pressure/turbulent region, and relatively lower pressure air (or relatively lower speed air) into the relatively higher pressure/less turbulent part of the low pressure/turbulent region, compared to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ogab Ltd.
    Inventors: Osama Elogab, Hatem Elogab
  • Vehicle storage compartment
    Patent number: 10919455
    Abstract: A storage compartment of a vehicle including a passenger compartment and a passenger compartment door controlling access to the passenger compartment. The storage compartment includes a base and a side wall surrounding a storage volume. The storage compartment is located forward of a footwell of the passenger compartment, the storage compartment is further positioned so that an opening to the storage volume is accessible from a lateral side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Karma Automotive LLC
    Inventors: Jacques Flynn, Andre Franco Luis, Andreas Thurner
  • Multipart apron for a vehicle
    Patent number: 10919471
    Abstract: An apron for a vehicle is formed of a plurality of partial aprons. In order to prevent damage to the apron requiring a complete replacement of the apron, the novel apron has a plurality of partial aprons, wherein at least one of the partial aprons has a predetermined breaking point that is configured to break earlier than the other partial apron in case of mechanical stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Kuczmik, Linda Schoenweiss, Konstantin Rubinchik, Fritz Leiker, Lars Buchmann, Dirk Jolas
  • Clamp assembly for tonneau cover
    Patent number: 10919369
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a clamp assembly for attaching a tonneau cover to a vehicle. The clamp assembly can include a bow hanger comprising a main body extending between first and second ends and a protrusion extending away from the main body and along a portion of a length thereof. The clamp assembly can have a bow slide comprising a head configured to surround and move along the bow hanger. The clamp assembly can have a slot configured to receive the protrusion of the bow hanger, wherein engagement between the protrusion and the slot of the bow slide prevents the bow slide from rotating around the bow hanger. In some embodiments, the clamp assembly includes a handle coupled to the bow slide and a cam follower. The cam follower can engage rails of the handle which can be disposed either internally or externally of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Lund, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Lewis, Chris Slinger
  • Child sitting saddle and child stroller
    Patent number: 10913480
    Abstract: Disclosed are a child sitting saddle and a child stroller, the child sitting saddle comprises an enclosure frame assembly, a plug connector, a seat rod assembly and a cloth cover including a seat cloth cover and a backrest cloth cover; the child sitting saddle further comprises a first lock mechanism for locking the enclosure frame assembly with the plug connector, a connecting rod and a second lock mechanism disposed between the seat rod assembly and the connecting rod; when in a chair state, the seat rod assembly obliquely intersects with the backrest cloth cover; when in a sleeping basket state, the seat rod assembly, the seat cloth cover and the backrest cloth cover are all disposed horizontally. The child sitting saddle can be converted between the chair state and the sleeping basket state, and the conversion is convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: GOODBABY CHILD PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaocong Gu, Shilei Zhu