Patents Examined by Melissa A. Black
  • Interior material
    Patent number: 9517735
    Abstract: A door lining serving as an interior material comprises a door center portion. The door center portion is provided with: a door center base material; a door center pad supported by the door center base material and configured to be elastically deformable; a door center surface skin material covering the door center pad; and a sewed portion formed by sewing the door center pad and the door center surface skin material together by a sewing thread. In the door center pad, a thick section and a thin section are formed, and the sewed portion is provided in the thin section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kurosaki, Kenichi Arai
  • Turning working vehicle
    Patent number: 9518375
    Abstract: A turning working vehicle is provided with a monitor arrangement structure where a driver's seat is arranged on an operation part disposed on a turning body, and a working part manipulation lever which manipulates a working part and a monitor which displays various information are disposed on either one of left and right sides of the driver's seat. The monitor is arranged in an upright state outside and in front of the working part manipulation lever, and a display screen of the monitor is directed toward a viewpoint side of an operator seated on the driver's seat and performing manipulation while viewing a front side. An outer manipulation lever is arranged in an upright state behind the monitor thus allowing the operator to view the display screen of the monitor between the outer manipulation lever and the working part manipulation lever within a field of vision of the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zenzo Uchida, Masamitsu Uemura, Masami Miyanishi
  • Utility vehicle
    Patent number: 9511806
    Abstract: A utility vehicle that includes a seat row, a cargo bed, an engine chamber under the cargo bed, and cabin walls surrounding a cabin. The utility vehicle further includes a first partition wall covering the rear side of the cabin and thereby partitioning the engine chamber and the cabin from each other; and a second partition wall covering the upper portion of the front portion of the engine chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Keiji Takahashi
  • Energy absorbing collapsible armrest with tunable stiffening feature
    Patent number: 9505325
    Abstract: A vehicular armrest assembly includes a laterally collapsible substrate having a gap defined between inner and outer substrate portions. A tunable stiffening feature is disposed on the collapsible substrate and has an aperture positioned over the gap, and engagement tabs that engage the inner and outer substrate portions. The stiffening feature provides lateral support to the collapsible substrate to selectively allow the inner and outer substrate portions to deflect toward each other after a predetermined lateral load is placed on the collapsible substrate and an elastic bed disposed on the tunable stiffening feature and covering the aperture. The elastic bed vertically supports a cover member at the aperture and the lateral support provided to the collapsible substrate is solely provided by the stiffening feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Linh Doan, Kenneth S. Laird, Krishnakanth E. Aekbote, Yudong Zhou, Nitesh Chandrakant Jadhav
  • Motor vehicle plastic body panel
    Patent number: 9499214
    Abstract: A motor vehicle plastic body panel is disclosed having an opaque plastic panel and a plastic window pane formed as an integral part of the plastic body panel by co-molding it with the opaque plastic panel. A lightweight motor vehicle body panel made completely from plastic is therefore provided. The plastic body panel requires no window seals due to the integration of the plastic window pane as part of the plastic body panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alicia Agius, Tom Overington, Michael Brown
  • Work vehicle
    Patent number: 9487149
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a vehicle body, an occupants' section provided in the vehicle body and having a driver's seat and a passenger's seat and a storage space that is provided under seats and opened upwards, the storage space having a first storage space section disposed under the driver's seat and a second storage space section disposed under the passenger's seat. The seats are supported to be pivotable about an axis extending along the width direction of the vehicle body and access to the first storage space section and the second storage space section is made possible by upwardly pivoting these seats. The driver's seat is slidable along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. The first storage space section has a front-rear length shorter than the front-rear length of the second storage space section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shimada, Koji Nada
  • Display device holder apparatus for sun visor
    Patent number: 9487150
    Abstract: A display device holder apparatus for a sun visor may include a slide bracket slidably coupled to the sun visor in order to enable a state in which it may be received in the sun visor and a state in which it may be drawn forwardly from the sun visor, and a plurality of holders provided in the slide bracket, so as to be elastically rotatable with respect to the slide bracket and fixing a display device so that the display device may be held in the slide bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seung Kwon Cha
  • Underbody panelling
    Patent number: 9481409
    Abstract: A motor vehicle component having at least one surface which, in the installed position, forms an outer side of the motor vehicle, in which the surface has substantially V-shaped and/or substantially U-shaped projections, with the closed sides thereof facing a direction of air flow during normal operation of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG
    Inventor: Eric Reisenhofer
  • Unique and efficient grille design with integrated energy absorber and energy absorber with locking feature
    Patent number: 9475441
    Abstract: An energy absorber assembly for a motor vehicle includes a first deformable energy absorbing component and at least one deformable second energy absorbing component associated with a grille assembly of the motor vehicle. The first energy absorbing component defines at least one receiver for engaging a corresponding portion of the at least one second energy absorbing component whereby the receiver and the mating surface remain engaged on receiving an impact. The first energy absorbing component is carried on a bumper assembly or attached to a fascia assembly of the motor vehicle, and the second energy absorbing component is included in a grille carrier component of the motor vehicle grille assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Juan Moises Calleja, Rabin Bhojan, Irfan Sharif
  • Cargo loading apparatus of vehicle luggage room
    Patent number: 9469233
    Abstract: A cargo loading apparatus of a vehicle luggage room may include a rail mechanism including a fixation rail fixed to a rear back beam and a movable rail that moves forward and/or rearward along the fixation rail, a pair of left and right side plates connected with the movable rail to move together with the movable rail, an upper plate in which a rear side surface is rotatably connected with the side plates through a hinge stopper to be rotatable substantially perpendicularly to the side plates and a rear end is connected with a bumper door, and a lifter installed so that one end of which is connected to a side plate of the side plates and the other end of which is connected to the upper plate, the lifter maintaining a rotational state of the upper plate while a length of the lifter is varied when the upper plate rotates upward around the hinge stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dong Eun Cha, Hyun Gyung Kim, Seung Mok Lee, Phil Jung Jeong
  • Elastic tube alignment and fastening system for providing precise alignment and fastening of components
    Patent number: 9463831
    Abstract: An elastically averaged alignment system includes a first component having a first alignment member, an attachment element, and a support element, and a second component having a second alignment member, an alignment aperture, and an engagement surface that engages with the support element. The attachment element includes an attachment portion and an elastically deformable alignment element portion. The elastically deformable alignment element portion is configured and disposed to interferingly, deformably and matingly engage the alignment aperture. The attachment portion includes a hollow tube having a first wall thickness, and the elastically deformable alignment element portion includes a hollow tube having a second wall thickness less than the first wall thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Morris, Jennifer P. Lawall
  • Vehicle frame joint assembly and method of forming the same
    Patent number: 9463830
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a vehicle frame joint assembly includes a first frame portion including an adaptor, a second frame portion defining a cavity to receive at least a portion of the adaptor, and a first adhesive layer positioned between the adaptor and the cavity when the first frame portion is connected to the second frame portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Sanjay Mehta, John Joseph Uicker, Patrick Marchena
  • Vehicle component support structure
    Patent number: 9457729
    Abstract: A panel of a vehicle body structure has a first slot and a second slot spaced apart from one another. A component has a mounting structure that includes a first tab and a second tab spaced apart from the first tab. A first head of the first tab is inserted through a wide second end of the first slot and the second head of the second tab is inserted through a wide second end of the second slot. The first tab and the second tab thereafter moved to a corresponding one of respective narrow first ends of the first and second slots. Consequently, the first head of the first tab rests on a first upper surface portion of a first area of the panel and the second head rests on a third upper surface portion of a second area of the panel thereby suspending the component from the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Greggs
  • Cargo cover assemblies and vehicles incorporating the same
    Patent number: 9457724
    Abstract: A vehicle cargo assembly including a vehicle floor having a top surface and a storage compartment having an opening at the top surface of the vehicle floor and extending below the top surface of the vehicle floor. A vehicle seat includes a back portion pivotably coupled to a bench portion at a seat folding location. A cargo cover is coupled to the vehicle seat and is pivotable between a seat upright extended position and a seat upright retracted position. When the cargo cover is in the seat upright extended position, the cargo cover covers the opening of the storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc.
    Inventor: Norman N. Lu
  • Carrier structure for an armrest of a vehicle
    Patent number: 9457695
    Abstract: A carrier structure for an armrest for pivotal articulation to a mount in a vehicle includes two carrier arms carrying a support body, wherein the carrier arms are connected at one end to a cross member. The cross member has pins for pivotable support in the mount. The cross member is produced by tube forming, bending and punching of a steel sheet corresponding substantially to the planar projection of the cross member, wherein the pins are formed on the cross member as tube parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Steffen Mangold
  • Interior panels for motor vehicles and methods for making the interior panels
    Patent number: 9446723
    Abstract: Interior panels for motor vehicles and methods for making interior panels are provided. In one example, an interior panel includes, but is not limited to a fiber reinforced composite substrate that has a first side and a second side that is opposite the first side. The fiber reinforced composite substrate defines a plurality of inwardly tapered pockets. The inwardly tapered pockets are arranged proximate to each other and extend between the first and second sides. Each of the inwardly tapered pockets has an open end that is disposed in the second side and a closed end that is disposed adjacent to the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: FAURECIA INTERIOR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: David J. Stepanski
  • Under-floor frame system for vehicle
    Patent number: 9446793
    Abstract: An under-floor frame system is disclosed. In particular, a main frame made of carbon fiber composite materials forms a closed quadrangle. A center cross member made of carbon fiber composite materials runs along a width direction of a vehicle and connects middles of the both side members. Also, a front cross member and a rear cross member made of carbon fiber composite materials runs along a width direction of a vehicle and connects a front side member portion and a rear side member portion at both sides of the main frame, respectively. A center tunnel member made of carbon fiber composite materials and is extended in a width direction of a vehicle to traverse an upper space of the center cross member and connects the front cross member and the rear cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Chi Hoon Choi, Young Ho Choi, Gi Hwan Kim, Jeong Min Cho, Hermann Hansen, Rolf Verhoeven, Pawel Kwasniak
  • Elastic averaging alignment member
    Patent number: 9446722
    Abstract: An elastic averaging alignment member includes a base portion, a first elastic averaging member including a first end portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the base portion to a second end portion and a second elastic averaging member spaced from the first elastic averaging member. The second elastic averaging member includes a first end section extending substantially perpendicularly from the base portion to a second end section. At least one elastic averaging element arranged between the first and second elastic averaging members. At least one of the first and second elastic averaging members and the at least one elastic averaging element is configured and disposed to deform when the elastic averaging alignment member is passed into an alignment member receiver to establish an elastically average position of one component to another component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Morris, Jennifer P. Lawall
  • Lid lock structure for saddle type vehicle
    Patent number: 9440684
    Abstract: A lid lock structure for a saddle type vehicle that can achieve a reduction in the weight of a vehicle body cover while a lock member is attached to a vehicle body cover side. The lid lock structure for a saddle type vehicle includes a lock member capable of locking a lid in a closed state that is fixed to an upper inner cover and placed on upper frames below the upper inner cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kohei Yokouchi, Michio Atsuchi
  • Tray system for a truck
    Patent number: 9434292
    Abstract: A system for accommodating a variety of modular components on a truck bed tray that is assembled to a truck frame. A plurality of first engagement features are provided to secure a heavier attachment to the bed. Each of the first engagement features includes a first receptacle and a first plug that may be inserted in the first receptacle. A plurality of second engagement features are provided to secure a relatively lighter weight attachment to the bed. Each of the second engagement features includes a second receptacle and a second plug that may be inserted in the second receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Jeremy Welch