Patents Examined by Lori L. Lyjak
  • Patent number: 11492044
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes: a cowl member that is formed to extend in a vehicle width direction and bulges to the front from a rear side of a motor chamber; a power unit that is fixed to a right side frame in the motor chamber, has a lower portion fixed to a vehicle body, and drives the vehicle by electricity; and a protection bracket provided on an upper surface of the power unit, wherein the protection bracket is configured to abut the cowl member in the case where a frontal collision of a vehicle occurs and the power unit moves downward to the rear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuguo Shimokouchi, Kazuki Hirota, Takashi Hamada, Tadasuke Abe, Shunji Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 11495204
    Abstract: A lining component for lining a passenger cell of a motor vehicle is multifunctional. The lining component has at least one acoustic resonator which is open towards the passenger cell and/or at least a fluid chamber through which a temperature control medium is flowable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Bailer, Raphael Eltrop, Peter Genender, Philipp Hofmann, Barbara Schmidt, Felix Schumacher
  • Patent number: 11485429
    Abstract: A control system of a vehicle comprising: i) a plurality of adjustable aerodynamic control devices associated with the vehicle; ii) a fuel economy sensor configured to determine a first fuel economy measurement; and iii) an aerodynamic device controller module configured to adjust a first one of the plurality of adjustable aerodynamic control devices and to receive from the fuel economy sensor a second fuel economy measurement. The aerodynamic device controller module stores in an onboard database state information corresponding to settings of the plurality of adjustable aerodynamic control devices if the second fuel economy measurement is an improvement over the first fuel economy measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chih-Hung Yen, Taeyoung Han, Alok Warey, Kuo-Huey Chen, Bahram Khalighi, Shailendra Kaushik
  • Patent number: 11485296
    Abstract: A method for dissipating the kinetic energy during an impact on a glass trim element into a motor vehicle's interior that includes fixation of the glass trim element to a support to provide an assembly that is integrated to motor vehicle's interior body. The support further includes a material with a permanent deformation or not to dissipate the kinetic energy during an impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: AGC GLASS EUROPE
    Inventors: Claire Mattelet, Sebastien Delneufcourt, Laurent Vandievout
  • Patent number: 11472488
    Abstract: A mudflap-integrated aerodynamic member for improving aerodynamic characteristics of a motor vehicle is described. The motor vehicle includes a vehicle body, a front wheelhouse, and a frame. The mudflap-integrated aerodynamic member includes a mudflap portion configured to attach to the front wheelhouse and cover at least a portion of the front wheelhouse and an elongated air strake attached to and projecting from the mudflap portion. The elongated air strake includes an elongated strake body extending longitudinally with respect to the vehicle body from an outboard edge contiguous with the mudflap portion to an inboard edge adjacent to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Berger, Alexander N. Nastov
  • Patent number: 11472482
    Abstract: A front vehicle-body structure of a vehicle that enables smooth compressive deformation of a front side frame from the front side thereof on a vehicle frontal collision portion. The front vehicle-body structure of a vehicle includes a pair of left and right front side frames extending in a vehicle front-rear direction is characterized in that each of the front side frames is formed such that a rear side portion has a higher rigidity than a front side portion, and rigidity differences are alternately formed in the vehicle front-rear direction in each of regions of the front side portion and the rear side portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuniyoshi Tashiro, Shigeaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11472075
    Abstract: To provide a method for the production of components, in particular wheel well liners of vehicles, in which the component is produced in a spread out or unfolded form and at a later time is moved into a curved or folded form, wherein in an area of a bending point, a material strength of the component decreases as compared to a material strength of the adjacent area, it is suggested that the minimum thickness of the material in the area of the bending point is molded to be 40% to 60%, preferably 45% to 55%, more preferably about 50% less than the material strength of the adjacent area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Salvatore Vella, Oliver Mende
  • Patent number: 11465697
    Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to a moveable panel, such as a fairing, of a vehicle, such as a semi-truck. For a number of reasons, it may be desirable to gain access to the area behind the fairing, for example, to access batteries, air/gas tanks, auxiliary power units, and/or other components that are mounted to the vehicle frame. In order to move the fairing with respect to the vehicle frame, one or more examples of a mounting system are provided that enables the fairing to pivot/swing away from the vehicle frame in a first direction (e.g., forward toward the front wheel). In some embodiments, the fairing may also pivot/swing away from the frame in a second direction (e.g., rearward toward the rear wheels) opposite the first direction. This multiple pivoting/swinging movement of the fairing enables access to different locations behind the fairing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Piotr Stegawski, Jeffrey Bobrowski
  • Patent number: 11460057
    Abstract: A vehicle door assembly is disclosed herein. The vehicle door assembly includes a door. A trim panel has a mount that defines an aperture. A clip that includes a base is coupled to the door. A retainer is coupled to the base and is configured to extend through the aperture defined by the mount to an assembled position, the retainer has an upper portion that is coupled to a lower portion at a vertex to form a projection. A retention feature is coupled to the upper portion and has a ramp. A stop is coupled to the ramp and extends generally downward therefrom to the upper portion. The stop is configured to engage with a back side of the mount to generally prevent the movement of the retainer out of the aperture when the retainer is in the assembled position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Juergen Koehler, Emrah Tokyuerek, Linh Ngoc Doan
  • Patent number: 11458894
    Abstract: A structure and method for mounting a flag-type side mirror securely fastens the flag-type side mirror on a door panel of a vehicle. The structure includes: a mirror neck (11) of the flag-type side mirror which is fastened to the door (20) formed with a plurality of panels bonded to each other, where the mirror neck (11) has an end fastened to one panel of the plurality of panels of the door (20), and a portion of the panel to which the mirror neck (11) is fastened is circumferentially bonded to another panel of the plurality of panels of the door (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Je-Won Choi
  • Patent number: 11447183
    Abstract: A vehicle structure of a frame vehicle includes a central frame portion, a front-side frame portion, and a rear-side frame portion as a frame. A first section of the front-side frame portion from a connecting portion (a rear end portion) to a central frame portion through a portion supporting a front suspension, and a second section of the rear-side frame portion from a connecting portion (a front end portion) to the central frame portion through a portion supporting a rear suspension are formed so as to be symmetrical to each other in the front-rear direction with respect to the central frame portion. The front and rear suspensions are attached to the front-side and rear-side frame portions, respectively, so that the front and rear suspensions are symmetrical to each other in the front-rear direction with respect to the central frame portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryosuke Shioya, Kazunori Ogawa, Yoshimi Toda
  • Patent number: 11447191
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to an aerodynamic panel apparatus mountable to a truck cab. A panel apparatus includes a fixed panel, a moveable panel extender arranged rearward of the fixed panel, and a hinge mechanism. When aligned, the fixed panel and moveable panel extender guide an air flow past side walls of a cab and a trailer for improved aerodynamics and enhanced vehicle performance. The hinge mechanism enables pivotal movement of the moveable panel extender outboard from a closed position. The pivotal movement provides back of cab accessibility, while outboard movement avoids interference with items located in the back of cab area, and provides easy access to a handle bar arranged along an inner surface of the fixed panel. The moveable panel extender includes a resiliently deformable material that may be temporarily deformed during trailer articulation but returned to its original shape thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: William Edward Duncanson
  • Patent number: 11448281
    Abstract: Devices for superscattering a plate bending wave include a solid plate, and a circular array of spring-mass resonators positioned on a surface of the plate. All resonators in the circular array have a resonance frequency that can be matched to a frequency of a target flexural wave. The circular array has a diameter that can further be matched to the wavelength of the target flexural wave. Scattering efficiencies can exceed several multiples of the theoretical limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Taehwa Lee, Hideo Iizuka
  • Patent number: 11447186
    Abstract: A cowl assembly for a vehicle is provided with integrated water management without the need for drainage grommets or hoses. The cowl assembly includes at least one cowl panel disposed adjacent a rear section of an engine compartment and extending a distance across a transverse width direction of the vehicle. A cowl insulator component is disposed adjacent to the cowl panel, also extending across the transverse width direction of the vehicle. At least one region of a major surface of the cowl insulator component is provided with a fluid resistant barrier layer configured to route fluid in a direction away from the engine compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Steinbrecher, Nicholas H. Augustyn
  • Patent number: 11446995
    Abstract: A truck that includes a bed section located rear of a cab section where the bed section is bounded on each side by opposing first and second upward-extending side walls, respectively. The truck includes a tonneau cover which has a first panel section pivotable with respect to the opposing first and second upward-extending side walls. A latching assembly is attached to the first panel section that selectively secures and releases the first panel section with respect to the first and second upward-extending side walls of the truck. The latching assembly includes at least one adjustable pinch latch assembly. The pinch latch assembly includes a latch handle portion and a latch base located on the first panel section adjacent the latch handle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Truck Accessories Group, LLC
    Inventors: Eugene A. Dylewski, II, Christopher David Mattison, John William Bevis, III, Thomas Augustine Hubbard
  • Patent number: 11440595
    Abstract: An instrument panel assembly comprising: a crossmember (2) including a first beam (4) and a second beam (6), a center support assembly (8) with a first structural arm (30), a second structural arm (32), and a center support bracket (34); wherein the first beam (4) is hollow and has a larger diameter than the second beam (6), and the second beam (6) is adapted to slide into the first beam (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Zephyros, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry Richardson
  • Patent number: 11440592
    Abstract: Provided is an integrated bumper system including an integrated bumper system of a robot, including a bumper elastically coupled with a chassis of the robot and comprising an opening in a top surface of the bumper; at least one elastic element coupled to the chassis and interfacing with the bumper; and a bridging element coupled with the chassis or another component of the robot, wherein the bumper slides relative to the bridging element upon an impact and a release of the impact; a perimeter of the opening of the bumper is hidden beneath the bridging element when the bumper is in a neutral position and an impacted position; and the perimeter of the opening of the bumper remains hidden beneath the bridging element during movement of the bumper caused by the impact and the release of the impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Alexander Powers, Shahin Fathi Djalali
  • Patent number: 11440597
    Abstract: A rear wing for a motor vehicle includes a first end, a second end, and an aerodynamic surface including a pressure side extending between the first end and the second end, a first end plate is arranged at the first end, and a second end plate is arranged at the second end. At least one of the first end plate and the second end plate includes a selectively deployable aerodynamic surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Andrew T. Cunningham, Adam Golembeski, Alexander N. Nastov, David C. Caples, Joel P. Ruschman
  • Patent number: 11433947
    Abstract: In a vehicle subframe 1, a pair of side members 110 and 130 includes upper side members 111 and 131 and lower side members 117 and 137, respectively, the lower side members 117 and 137 extending opposed on a downward side to the upper side members 111 and 131 while being elongated to a rearward side, and a pair of mounting members 60 and 80 is joined respectively to the lower side members 117 and 137 of the pair of side members 110 and 130.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: F-TECH INC.
    Inventors: Masamitsu Innami, Hiroyuki Uchida
  • Patent number: 11433945
    Abstract: A device for arranging a passenger restraint system in a vehicle to secure a passenger seated in the vehicle, including a support arrangement having a vertical support and a cross strut. When arranged on the vehicle, the vertical support is arranged upright on a vehicle floor. The device includes a fastening element, that when arranged on the vehicle, encompasses a rail of a vehicle chassis, at least laterally and beneath, such that, when the support arrangement is arranged on the vehicle, the fastening element bears against the support arrangement. The support arrangement is held on the vehicle chassis by the fastening element and, when the support arrangement is arranged on the vehicle, the fastening element passes progressively through the vehicle floor, starting from the rail of the vehicle chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Aguti Produktentwicklung & Design GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Grieger