Patents Examined by Melissa A. Black
  • Aerodynamic trailer
    Patent number: 9796431
    Abstract: An aerodynamic trailer including first and second side panels, the side panels each having a trapezoidal channel running along a substantial length thereof; an arcuate front panel extending substantially between front edges of the side panels; a top positioned above the front panel and the side panels, the top having a rearwardly sloping front section and two oppositely positioned outer fins running along outward portions thereof and a center fin running along a center thereof; a door positioned at rear edges of the side panels and the top; and at least one axle supporting at least two wheels. Other features of the trailer create aerodynamic benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: Peter Elbert Brock
  • Spindle drive for the motorized adjustment of an adjusting element of a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 9791026
    Abstract: The invention concerns a spindle drive for the motorized adjustment of an adjusting element of a vehicle, comprising a drive motor with a motor shaft, a speed reduction gear mechanism, and a feed gear mechanism, the speed reduction gear mechanism having a planetary gear mechanism and the feed gear mechanism being designed as a spindle/spindle nut gear mechanism, the planetary gear mechanism having a rotatable sun gear and coaxially in relation thereto a rotatable planet-gear carrier and a fixed or fixable ring gear, and the planet-gear carrier carrying at least one rotatable planet gear, which is in axially parallel engagement with the sun gear on the one hand and the ring gear on the other hand, the drive motor, the speed reduction gear mechanism and the feed gear mechanism being accommodated one behind the other in a substantially elongate drive housing and aligned with a common longitudinal drive axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Hallstadt
    Inventors: Christian Saxstetter, Alwin Macht, Andreas Diemar
  • Retractable cargo box assembly for a truck cargo bed
    Patent number: 9789800
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a retractable cargo box assembly for a cargo bed of a vehicle. The retractable cargo box assembly includes a cargo box. The cargo box includes a base extending laterally between a first side and a second side, and extending longitudinally between a front end and a rear end. A linear wheel assembly is mounted to the base. The linear wheel assembly includes a plurality of rollers aligned in a linear arrangement between the front end and the rear end of the base. The rollers are configured to rotatably support the cargo box on the cargo bed of the vehicle between a retracted position and an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Mark Thygesen
  • Vehicular seat
    Patent number: 9789789
    Abstract: A vehicular seat capable of housing a seat back and a seat cushion connected to the seat back in a housing floor provided in a position lower than a vehicle body floor is described. The vehicular seat includes a support base connected to the vehicle body floor and to a lower end side of the seat back, a support leg having an upper end side mounted to the seat cushion and a lower end side connectable to the support base, and a leg holding member mounted to the support base and that detachably holds the lower end side of the support leg. The seat back is connected to the support base via right and left connecting brackets disposed on sides of the seat back and having first end sides mounted to corresponding lower end sides of the seat back and second end sides pivotally connected to the support base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Akutsu
  • Roof system for a cabriolet motor vehicle
    Patent number: 9783031
    Abstract: A roof system (12) for a cabriolet vehicle (10) has a folding top (14) that is movable between a deployed position and a retracted position covered by a folding-top compartment lid (18). A side fin (16) is movable from a use position, in which the side fin (16) forms a rearward elongation of a support pillar (22), into a pivoted-away position, in which the side fin (16) is swiveled away from the folding-top compartment lid (18) about a swivel axis and into a pivoted-in position in which the side fin (16) is below the folding-top compartment lid (18). Movement of the side fin (16) away from the folding-top compartment lid (18) enables the side fin (16) to be positioned closer to or in the range of movement of the folding top (14) and the folding-top compartment lid (18) during movement between the deployed and retracted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mathias Froeschle, Dietmar Stukowski
  • Electromechanical strut with motor-gearbox assembly having dual stage planetary gearbox
    Patent number: 9776483
    Abstract: An electromechanical strut is provided for moving a pivotal closure member between an open position and a closed position relative to a motor vehicle body. The electromechanical strut includes a drive mechanism having a motor-gearbox assembly that is operable to drive a rotatable power screw. The drive mechanism converts rotary motion of the power screw into linear motion of an extensible member to move the extensible member between a retracted position corresponding to the closed position of the closure member and an extended position corresponding to the open position of the closure member. The motor-gearbox assembly includes a gearbox unit equipped with a dual-stage planetary geartrain that is operably disposed between a motor output and the power screw. The dual-stage planetary geartrain includes a first stage gearset and a second stage gearset sharing a common ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Borys M. Shchokin, Dan Cosmin, Joseph Scheuring
  • Emergency exit door for a vehicle
    Patent number: 9776482
    Abstract: An emergency exit door assembly for a vehicle. The door assembly comprises a main panel including an interior-facing surface and exterior-facing surface. The main panel is rotatably connected to the vehicle, such that the main panel is configured to selectively alternate between a closed position in which the interior-facing surface faces an interior of the vehicle and an open position in which the interior-facing surface faces an exterior of the vehicle. The door assembly additionally comprises one or more projection members extending from the interior-facing surface of the main panel. The projection members each include a first major surface configured to support articles within an interior of the vehicle while the main panel is in the closed position. The door assembly further comprises a support mechanism configured to support the main panel in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Allied Recreation Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Johann Eloff
  • Device for attaching a first sub-assembly to a second sub-assembly in an automobile
    Patent number: 9771107
    Abstract: An attachment device (1) includes: a female member (25); a male member (29) which is capable of insertion into the inner cavity (27) of the female member (25) in an insertion direction; a blocking member (31) which is movable relative to the female member (25), inside the inner cavity (27), between a rest position and an operative position for blocking the male member (29) relative to the female member (25). The attachment device does not have an actuator capable of moving the blocking member (31) from its rest position to its operative position, the blocking member (31) being movable from its rest position to its operative position by an actuator arranged outside the inner cavity (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIE
    Inventor: Christian Brancheriau
  • Vehicle connecting member and vehicle front section structure
    Patent number: 9764705
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle connecting member including: a front face portion that is connected to a crash box; a first connecting section inserted with and connected to a front end portion of a side member provided running along a vehicle front-rear direction at the vehicle front-rear direction rear side of the crash box; a second connecting section that is formed at a vehicle width direction outside of the first connecting section in a vehicle plan view, and that is connected to a lower end portion of an outrigger provided running along the vehicle front-rear direction at the vehicle width direction outside of the side member so as to extend toward a vehicle vertical direction lower side; and one or more lateral ribs that couple together the first connecting section and the second connecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Soshiro Murata, Hiroyuki Koike, Yasuhide Matsuo
  • Tonneau trunk
    Patent number: 9751469
    Abstract: A trunk for a bed of a truck is disclosed wherein the trunk provides an isolated enclosed space in an area of the truck bed. The trunk is configurable into different configurations and traversable between front and back positions in order to make best use of the bed of the truck. Moreover, the trunk may be configured and traversed easily so that one without great strength may still manipulate the trunk to make full use of the truck bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Singer
  • Vibration welding device, vibration welding method, vibration welding mold, and vibration welding molded article
    Patent number: 9751477
    Abstract: A vibration welding device 40 includes: a vibration welding mold that is configured including an upper mold and a lower mold divided in an up-down direction, that is fitted with a first component and a second component forming an elongated shape having a bent portion, and that is disposed with length directions of the first component and the second component along a left-right direction; plural first mold divisions that configure one of the upper mold or the lower mold, and that are divided in the left-right direction; a pressing device that is coupled to each of the plural first mold divisions, and that applies pressure to the first mold divisions; and a vibration device that is coupled to each of the plural first mold divisions, and that vibrates the first mold divisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Iwano
  • Cargo barrier for a vehicle
    Patent number: 9751467
    Abstract: A barrier for separating a cargo area from a passenger area of a vehicle includes a support structure that is fixedly attached to a frame of a rear seat, adjacent a seatback of the seat. A gate is attached to and supported by the support structure, and is rotatably moveable relative to the support structure between a stowed position and a deployed position. A latch mechanism automatically secures the gate relative to the support structure when the gate is in the deployed position. A release system is coupled to the latch mechanism for moving the latch mechanism into a release position to allow the gate to rotate back into the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Taryn Dyle
  • Assembly and method of manufacture thereof
    Patent number: 9746077
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacture of an assembly comprising: forming an assembly by coupling a first component (150) to a second component (110) in spaced apart relationship therewith by means of coupling means (131); providing thermally activated seal means between the components, the first component, second component and seal means being arranged such that a gap exists between the first and second components allowing fluid flow therethrough; and subjecting the assembly to heat thereby to cause the seal means to expand and bridge the gap between the first and second components thereby to form a fluid tight seal between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Neil Harwin, Gary Moyce
  • Shifter-supporting base and shifter assembly and vehicle employing the same
    Patent number: 9738155
    Abstract: The present invention in one or more embodiments provides a base for supporting shifter, wherein the base includes longitudinal axis, a first cross-section including a first border defining therein a first aperture, and a second cross-section positioned spaced apart from the first cross-section along the longitudinal axis and including a second border defining therein a second aperture. The base as provided is believed to be advantageous in supporting the shifter while allowing arrangement for the air duct to pass through and therefore to improve comfort for the rear-seat passenger without having to necessarily increase the interior packaging size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Leo Chen, Gary D. Mullen, Iain Raymond Jones, Denis Gerald O'Shannessy, Paul Schmidt
  • Bumper absorber attachment structure
    Patent number: 9738241
    Abstract: There is provided a bumper absorber attachment structure including (1) bumper reinforcement, (2) a first engaged portion that is formed at a vehicle upper side of a side face at a vehicle front side of the bumper reinforcement, (3) a second engaged portion that is formed at a vehicle lower side of the side face at the vehicle front side of the bumper reinforcement, (4) a bumper absorber that includes a thinned portion, an upper leg, and a lower leg, (5) a first engagement portion that is formed at a vehicle rear side of the upper leg, and that engages with the first engaged portion, and (6) a second engagement portion that is formed at a vehicle rear side of the lower leg, and that engages with the second engaged portion in a case in which the bumper absorber is displaced toward the vehicle lower side in a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Tomita
  • Storage assembly for vehicle center console
    Patent number: 9738227
    Abstract: A storage assembly for positioning between vehicle seats, includes an enclosable compartment that has opposing longitudinal sidewalls and opposing lateral sidewalls that are connected to the opposing longitudinal sidewalls to define an interior volume. A plurality of retention features are spaced along an upper edge of the opposing longitudinal sidewalls and the opposing lateral sidewalls. A hanging storage module has a rigid panel suspended in the interior volume and a pair of support elements protrudes horizontally from opposing ends of the rigid panel to removably engage a corresponding pair of the plurality of retention features on a select one of the opposing longitudinal sidewalls and the opposing longitudinal sidewalls. The rigid panel has a side portion configured to vertically hold at least one object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Annette Lynn Huebner, Kristin Ann Hellman, Artur Sakarian, Ryan Welch, Scott H. Dunham, Stuart Salter, Cornel Gardner
  • Blind region mirror structure and vehicle using the same
    Patent number: 9739990
    Abstract: A mirror structure permitting an undistorted view of the blind spots of a vehicle include a first lens module and a second lens module. The first lens module is mounted on an A-pillar of a vehicle and located outside of the vehicle; the second lens module is opposite the first lens module and mounted inside of the vehicle on the A-pillar. The first lens module focuses light beams which would otherwise be blocked by the A-pillar of the vehicle and transmits the light beams to a front windshield of the vehicle, the light beam passing through the front windshield to reach the second lens module, the second lens module diffusing the light beams into the vision of a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wei-Feng Wu
  • Front pillar structure integrated with flange
    Patent number: 9731770
    Abstract: A front pillar structure of a vehicle has a flange which connects an inner panel, an outer panel, and a side outer panel at a lateral side to which a door is mounted. The inner panel, the outer panel, and the flange between the inner panel and the outer panel integrally form from a tubular body having a closed cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hee Seouk Chung, Si Young Park, Deok Hwa Hong
  • Vehicular straightening device
    Patent number: 9731778
    Abstract: A front straightening portion is formed at a front portion of a main body portion of a spat. In the front straightening portion, a front inclined surface is inclined backward with respect to a vehicle with decrease in distance to a lower side of the vehicle in a lateral view, and front lateral surfaces extend forward with respect to the vehicle from both end portions of the front inclined surface in a vehicle width direction, respectively. A traveling wind that hits the front lateral surfaces flows toward the front inclined surface side, and is caused to flow out downward with respect to the vehicle from the front straightening portion together with a traveling wind. The flow velocities of the traveling winds increase, the air resistance of the vehicle can be reduced, operation stability of the vehicle can be enhanced, and riding comfort performance of the vehicle can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiichi Uchiyama, Kunihiro Kobayashi, Kazuhide Asano, Katsumi Miyashita, Hiroto Furuya
  • Door for utility vehicle and utility vehicle employing same door
    Patent number: 9724984
    Abstract: A door for utility vehicle including a door body part provided with a grip part used for opening and closing the door. The door body part is supported by a vehicle body frame in a manner of being capable of being set at a plurality of closed states each having a different gap between the door body part and the vehicle body frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Teruaki Yamamoto