Patents Examined by Melissa A. Black
-
Patent number: 10023235Abstract: An automobile body and a method for manufacturing the same is provided in which a substantially rectangular windshield joining face is formed by a front roof arch, a front portion of roof side rails and a dash panel upper of a lower skeleton. Since the upper skeleton and the lower skeleton can be separated, there is the problem that a gap occurs between lower ends of the roof side rails of the upper skeleton and the vehicle width direction outer ends of the dash panel upper of the lower skeleton, and the windshield joining face is discontinuous. Extension parts are provided inward in the vehicle width direction from the lower ends of the roof side rails, and the vehicle width direction inner ends of the extension parts are connected to the vehicle width direction outer ends of the dash panel upper, thereby eliminating discontinuity of the windshield joining face.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2015Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takahira Kawata, Minoru Sakamoto
-
Patent number: 10017131Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a panel arrangement for a motor vehicle with an air inlet panel for the through-flow with ambient air, and a service panel including a water-collecting region arranged beneath the air passage region. The water-collecting region is constituted for draining water in the vehicle transverse direction, in particular to at least one wheel well of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, with such a panel arrangement assembled fixed in the vehicle in the assembly position.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Fabian Kempfer, Younes Chlyeh, Peter Zipp
-
Patent number: 10005398Abstract: A cargo management system for use in a vehicle cargo area includes at least one guide rail disposed on the load floor of the cargo area and include an elongate slot at least partially formed therein. At least one track incorporating a plurality of locking portions is disposed on the load floor proximate the at least one guide rail. A support member includes a housing and one or more extensions at least partially received within the elongate slot of the at least one guide rail. The support member is disposed adjacent to and movably positioned relative to the load floor. A locking mechanism is adjustably connected to the support member housing and includes a locking member having a projection that releasably engages one or more locking portions of the at least one track.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2016Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Taryn Dyle Kim
-
Patent number: 10005344Abstract: A tarp distributing apparatus includes a tarp guide device held in an immobile condition adjacent to and extending upright to above a rear location on a truck load bed so as to establish the height to which a tarp can be moved to above and over the rear of a cargo on the truck load bed, a tarp draught device mounted in a mobile condition adjacent to and extending upright to above the truck load bed forwardly of the tarp guide device so as to undergo movement relative thereto and along the truck load bed for engaging and pulling the tarp relative to the tarp guide device forwardly over the cargo, and an actuation mechanism configured to manipulate and move the tarp draught device relative to the tarp guide device and the cargo so as to accomplish distributing the tarp over at least a portion of the cargo.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Inventor: David R. Munter
-
Patent number: 10000170Abstract: A bumper beam is comprised of a hat-shaped profile (11) with a cover (12). The cover faces outward from the vehicle and has vertical depressions (21) at the locations of the fastening portions (18, 19) of the bumper beam, as well as horizontal depressions between said fastening portions. The sides (14, 15) of the hat-shaped profile have depressions directed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2014Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: Gestamp Hardtech ABInventor: Johan Nilsson
-
Patent number: 10000245Abstract: The panel housing for an aerodynamic fairing assembly using inflatable panels that deploy from the panel housing where the panel housing uses “shaft-less” spring hinges to pivotally connect a pair of gates that partially enclose the deflated panels within the panel housing. The spring hinges are constructed from a wire rod of spring steel bent to a pair of axially aligned spring coils, a central U-shaped neck that bolts to the gate and a pair of end arms that bolt to the end plate of the panel housing. The spring hinges functions as both a hinge mechanism and a torsion spring to normally bias the gate towards its closed orientation.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2016Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: Wall Global, LLC.Inventor: Billy Russell Wall, II
-
Patent number: 9988005Abstract: A bumper beam is roll formed so that it gets a closed cross section with, along the length, constant cross section having at least two closed chambers (15, 16) separated by an essentially horizontal partition wall (14). Each chamber has a side (19), which is turned away from the vehicle, with at least one longitudinal concave portion (20, 21; 22, 23) extending along the entire length and one side (24), which is facing the vehicle, with at least one longitudinal convex portion (25, 26; 27, 28) extending along the entire length. After the roll forming, some portions (32) of the cross section are pressed together vertically or horizontally in order to adapt the deformation properties.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2015Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Gestamp Hardtech ABInventor: Daniel Palo
-
Patent number: 9987910Abstract: Provided is a deflector structure for a sunroof device, including: a thin cloth member that extends in a tensioned state to smooth a drive airflow when a roof panel is opened, and is folded when the roof panel is closed; a housing section that houses the folded thin cloth member; a reinforcement member that is arranged on a lower side of a front portion of the roof panel to reinforce the roof panel; and an upper holder that is fixed to an upper end portion of the thin cloth member, and is housed together with the thin cloth member into the housing section when the roof panel is closed.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2015Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hirotaka Kamioka
-
Patent number: 9981610Abstract: This envelope is an automobile accessory adapted to fit between the center console of an automobile and either the driver's seat or the passenger's seat, to catch items that fall in the space between the seat and the console. The sides of this envelope are made of flexible polymeric material that allows it to compress to fit in this space. The resilient force generated as the sides of the envelope seek to return to their uncompressed shape holds the envelope fairly securely in the space. Yet a user is able to slide the envelope into and out of the space easily. The envelope can be used to store items as well as to catch dropped ones.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2014Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Threeman LLCInventor: Daniel Robins
-
Patent number: 9982467Abstract: A push-up device includes a case, a rod juts out from inside the case so as to adopt an advanced position, a rod biasing member biases the rod in a jutting out direction pushing the rod out from inside the case, a lock mechanism that includes a slide cam that moves together with the rod in the jutting out direction and a rotation cam that is relatively rotatable with respect to the slide cam about the axis of the rod, with the lock mechanism positioned between the case and the rod, and locking the rod in a retracted position in the case by the rotation cam engaging with the slide cam and rotating due to the rod being pressed in against biasing force of the rod biasing member, and a rotation cam biasing member that biases the rotation cam toward the jutting out direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2015Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: NIFCO, INC.Inventors: Yasuhiro Watanabe, Naohiro Shimajiri
-
Patent number: 9969418Abstract: A stroller shade includes a unique clamp for attaching the shade to a stroller. The clamp has an inner clip and an outer clip. The outer clip selectively locks in place over the inner clip to prevent the inner clip from opening. When the outer clip is slid in a direction opposite an opening of the inner clip, one can open the inner clip to slide over a stroller bar to thereby allow one to clamp on a bar of a stroller thereby allowing one to attach the stroller shade to a stroller. The stroller shade attaches to a stroller to cover the seat area, in a first position, and rolled up, and held in place, to a top portion of a stroller, in a second position, while the stroller shade remains attached to the stroller, e.g. along a top portion of the stroller shade.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: SKIP HOP, INC.Inventors: Peter Therrien, Rahnee Butler, Ellen Diamant, Benjamin Bearsch, Janet Villano
-
Patent number: 9956894Abstract: An apparatus for opening and closing an armrest is provided. After an armrest is slid to a position, the position of the armrest is selectively locked or unlocked using an armrest locking unit to thus prevent the weight of the armrest or vibrations of a vehicle from accidentally changing the position of the armrest against the intention of the user. The operation of unlocking the opening/closing plate from the console body and the operation of unlocking the sliding cover from the opening/closing plate are performed simultaneously with a single unlocking manipulation to allow a user to rapidly and conveniently perform the operations of opening/closing and sliding the armrest.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2016Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, NIFCO KOREA Inc.Inventors: Jung Yoon Jang, Jae Hyun An, Kwan Bo Lee, Chang Hoon Yang, Ik Jin Jung, Geun Hueng Kim, Byoung Jun Cho
-
Patent number: 9950743Abstract: In a vehicle subframe, one of a pair of cross members includes a lower member open to a lower side of a vehicle, with an upper wall thereof having an upper wall recess depressed downward, an upper member arranged so as to cover the upper wall recess from above the vehicle and connected to the lower member, an inside space defined by the lower member and the upper member in cooperation, and a holding member connected to the lower member and the upper member in a mode in which the holding member is sandwiched between the lower member and the upper member, while penetrating the inside space in a longitudinal direction, to hold a component to be mounted.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: F-TECH INC.Inventor: Tomoyuki Yokota
-
Patent number: 9950673Abstract: Drawer arrangements are provided which include a drawer connected to a support structure having three guides for the path of the drawer between open and closed positions, at least two of which are operational at any given position of the drawer, as it moves both horizontally and vertically between different locations. In a closed position, the drawer is supported near its horizontal extremities and rests in a position that resists horizontal motion. In fully extended open positions, the drawer is supported in a cantilevered manner from the support structure. Intermediate the fully closed and fully extended positions, the drawer is supported in inclined positions which provide access to contents therein. The present invention also includes mounting structure which facilitates connection at a variety of locations under the floor of a motor home, with exterior accessibility.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2015Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: MORryde International, Inc.Inventors: Anthony J. Granzotto, Adam Timmins
-
Patent number: 9950750Abstract: An apparatus for partially covering an end of a vehicle bed includes a tailgate comprising a frame adapted for moving between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the vehicle bed. The frame supports at least one member adapted for moving along the frame to at least partially expose the end of the vehicle bed without moving the frame to the lowered position. A plurality of movable members in the form of panels may be provided, along with actuators for rotating and/or moving one or more of the panels between the raised and collapsed configuration. A related method is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2016Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jason Michael Babbage, Henry W. Hausler, Danielle Marie Rodriguez
-
Patent number: 9944324Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle frame structure including: a pair of right and left side rails; a cross member that bridges the side rails in the vehicle width direction; a bumper reinforcement that is placed on the front side of the side rails; load bearing portions that are disposed at vehicle width direction outer side surfaces of the side rails; curved portions that are disposed in the bumper reinforcement, curve toward the vehicle rear side heading outward in the vehicle width direction in sections of the bumper reinforcement at the vehicle width direction outer sides of the side rails; and projecting portions that are secured to rear surfaces of the curved portions of the bumper reinforcement, that project toward the vehicle rear side, that are placed with gaps between them and the load bearing portions.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2016Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tetsuya Asai
-
Patent number: 9944243Abstract: A guard for a restraints control module includes a corrugated base and right and left corrugated sidewalls. The sidewalls extend above the base and are spaced from a restraints control module secured to the base. The sidewalls diverge from each other in a vertical direction above the base and include alternating furrows and ridges that form the corrugations. The furrows and ridges are connected by rib walls that strengthen the guard against lateral collision forces. A method is disclosed for protecting a restraints control module in a side impact collision. According to the method, in a side impact collision, an object driven into the guard bends the sidewall towards the restraints control module to absorb the impact force applied by the object.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2016Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Saied Nusier, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, David James Bauch, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam
-
Patent number: 9944214Abstract: A vehicle having a chassis, a cab mounted on the chassis, and a body. The body includes a bottom, a top and sides. The sides partially enclose an interior space and define an opening for accessing the interior space. The vehicle also includes a closure moveable between an open position and a closed position and a ladder compartment positioned in the interior space adapted for receiving a ladder having a length of at least about 12 feet. The ladder compartment has a lower surface positioned at a level no more than about 42 inches above ground level. The ladder compartment has an open end facing generally toward the opening. The storage compartment is configured so a ladder can slide longitudinally into and out of the ladder compartment through the open end of the ladder compartment.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2012Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: DHSquared Innovations, LLCInventor: Dale M. Heuvelman
-
Patent number: 9937884Abstract: A length-adjustable protector that overlies, and protects, either a front or a rear bumper cover of a vehicle, and self-adjusts to the length of either the front or the rear bumper cover. The protector includes an inner, an outer, and a pair of intermediate layers. The inner layer faces, and overlies, a central portion of the length of either the front or the rear bumper cover. The outer layer overlies the inner layer. The pair of intermediate layers extend movably between the inner and outer layers, face, and overlie, remaining end portions of the length of either the front or the rear bumper covers, and in doing so, self-adjusts to the length of either the front or the rear bumper covers.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2016Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Inventor: Darrin Dagrossa
-
Patent number: 9936647Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for trimming product in a mobile unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2016Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Inventor: Todd Reed
