Patents Examined by Melissa Ann Bonifazi
  • Patent number: 12104422
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an interior space and a door assemble having a door, a first door actuator mechanism, and a second door actuator mechanism. The first door actuator mechanism is disposed proximate a top of the door and the second door actuator mechanism is disposed proximate a bottom of the door. Both the first door actuator mechanism and the second door actuator mechanism transition the door between a closed position and an open position. The first door actuator mechanism includes a first channel, as well as a first carriage assembly having a first carriage and a second carriage that traverse the first channel. The second door actuator mechanism includes a second channel, as well as a second carriage assembly having a third carriage and a fourth carriage that traverse the second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam Christopher Mapson
  • Patent number: 12090938
    Abstract: A bumper arrangement (1) for a motor vehicle, in particular for a lower load plane, wherein the bumper arrangement (1) has a bumper crossmember (2) and two spaced-apart supporting profiles (3, 3), the first ends (4, 4) of which are each fastened indirectly or directly to one of the two regions of the bumper crossmember (2) that are in the vicinity of the end and which are each fastened at a second end (5, 5) to chassis parts or longitudinal member parts (6) formed on the motor vehicle, wherein the bumper crossmember (2) is held by the supporting profiles (3, 3) on the vehicle structure and has a preferably symmetrically curved portion (7) in the form of a portion of a tube or a portion of a groove or a portion of a profile, wherein the portion (7) is fastened by its ends (8, 8?) in the vicinity of the second ends (5, 5?) of the supporting profiles (3, 3?) to the chassis parts or longitudinal member parts (6), wherein the curved portion (7) is shaped in a manner projecting with a central region (9) to the bump
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: GEDIA GEBRUEDER DINGERKUS GMBH
    Inventors: Andre Clemens, Ralf Rottmann
  • Patent number: 12070990
    Abstract: A vehicle door trim interior, including: an armrest; a surface depression located in the armrest, wherein the surface depression is covered with a skin; at least one actuation switch located below the skin and in the surface depression; and a position control switch associated with least one actuation switch, the position control switch only becoming active upon actuation of the at least one actuation switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Brian H. Staser, Tyler R. Bame, Aidano Nascimento, Michael Kobylinski, David Whitehead
  • Patent number: 12065093
    Abstract: A bumper arrangement relating to a motor vehicle, having an upper main crossmember, which is able to be coupled to the motor vehicle by way of crash boxes, and a lower auxiliary crossmember wherein the main crossmember and the auxiliary crossmember are coupled to one another by way of vertical struts, wherein the bumper arrangement extends over at least 70% of the vehicle width, and in that the main crossmember and the auxiliary crossmember have end portions which protrude laterally in the motor vehicle transverse direction with respect to the crash boxes. A vertically oriented hollow profile is arranged in an outer portion of the end region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Patrick Orzelek, Stephan Rabl, Mirko Paare
  • Patent number: 12060019
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure including a left and right pair of front side members, a bumper reinforcement and a power unit. The bumper reinforcement includes a first breakage initiation point at a position at one vehicle width direction side relative to a vehicle width direction center position of the vehicle, and a second breakage initiation point at a position at the other vehicle width direction side. The first breakage initiation point is a region at which bending yield strength is lower than other regions of the bumper reinforcement. The second breakage initiation point is a region with lower bending yield strength than the other regions but higher bending yield strength than the first breakage initiation point. The bumper reinforcement includes a bumper reinforcement main body with a chamber structure and a bracing member inside the bumper reinforcement main body at the vehicle width direction center position of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naohiro Saito, Junichi Takayanagi, Ryoichi Hayashi, Atsushi Ono, Atsuo Koga
  • Patent number: 12054112
    Abstract: A cross member (1) for a bumper beam includes an outer beam (2) with a main beam portion (3) comprising an upper beam wall (12), a lower beam wall (14) and a front beam wall (16), defining together a beam inner volume (17) open in a back direction, a reinforcement element (4) defining a reinforced area (24) of the outer beam (2), located inside a part of said beam inner volume (17) and having a cross section, defining a reinforcement inner volume (25) open in the rear direction, a closing plate (6) closing at least a part of the beam inner volume (17). The cross section of the reinforcement element (4) has a shape which is not matching the shape of the outer beam (2) in the reinforced area (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: ARCELORMITTAL
    Inventors: Elie Gibeau, Yannis Kheyati, Nabil Menegady
  • Patent number: 12049177
    Abstract: A door wiring module includes: a door planar member incorporated into a door panel of a vehicle; a wiring member disposed on a main surface of the door planar member; and a holding member covering the main surface of the door planar member and the wiring member and directly joined to at least the main surface of the door planar member to hold the wiring member in a state of being disposed on the main surface of the door planar member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Yamaguchi, Hiroki Hirai, Makoto Higashikozono, Housei Mizuno
  • Patent number: 12036951
    Abstract: A storage box includes a door that is coupled to the base. A pivot pin is coupled to the door and is operable between an engaged position, wherein the pivot pin is rotatably engaged with the base, and a disengaged position. The pivot pin is configured to move door-inboard due to contact with the base as the pivot pin moves from the disengaged position to the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati, Juergen Koehler, Linh Ngoc Doan, Brent Clifford Dalton, Bhavani Thota
  • Patent number: 12024106
    Abstract: A bumper crossmember for a vehicle having a first crossmember provided by an outer shell facing away from the vehicle and an inner shell facing toward the vehicle, which two shells are connected to one another along their circumference. This crossmember has at least one passage oriented in the direction of its longitudinal extension and extending over its middle with respect to its longitudinal extension (y direction), and by which the crossmember is divided into an upper hollow chamber section and a lower hollow chamber section. Crash boxes arranged at distance from one another are connected to the lower hollow chamber section on its side facing the vehicle. The bumper crossmember has a second lower crossmember spaced apart in the z direction from the lower hollow chamber section and connected by at least two connector parts to the lower hollow chamber section of the first crossmember. Crash boxes arranged at a distance to one another are connected on the side of the second crossmember facing the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Kirchhoff Automotive Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Günther, Lena Kremer
  • Patent number: 12012168
    Abstract: A structure for mounting a windshield includes: an adjustment support mechanism which supports the windshield such that the windshield is slidable with respect to a vehicle body; an operation element operated when a position of the windshield is adjusted; and a linear member connecting the adjustment support mechanism and the operation element. The adjustment support mechanism is switched between a position-adjustable state and a position-nonadjustable state by the operation element being operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidenori Kikuchi, Daisuke Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11987192
    Abstract: A bumper crossmember for a motor vehicle having a crossmember extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and two crashboxes connected thereto. Each crashbox is connected with its end facing away from the vehicle to the crossmember in a respective end section thereof, and with its end facing the vehicle is connectable to a structural component of the vehicle, e.g., a longitudinal member. The crossmember has a corrugated structure in the area where a crashbox is connected. A tow sleeve is integrated into the bumper crossmember in the connection area of the crashbox. The tow sleeve is held in a vertex structure of the corrugated structure in a form-fitting manner in the z and y directions, the vertex area of this vertex structure facing away from the crashbox, with the lateral surface of the tow sleeve on the flanks facing one another and forming the vertex structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: KIRCHHOFF AUTOMOTIVE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Günther, Lena Kremer, Maria Schmitt, Marco Töller
  • Patent number: 11975783
    Abstract: To simplify the configuration, decrease the number of parts, and reduce the manufacturing cost, a windshield device for a saddle-ride type vehicle includes: a screen 5 whose height is adjustable; a holder 11 holding the screen; a bracket 12 fixed to a vehicle body side member 7 and having a guide hole 71; an arm 13 arranged between the holder and the bracket; a first shaft 51 rotatably coupling the holder and the bracket and configured to move along the guide hole; a second shaft 52 arranged parallel to the first shaft and coupling the holder and one end of the arm; a third shaft 53 arranged parallel to the first shaft and coupling the bracket and another end of the arm; and an operation member 15 provided at an end portion of the first shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignees: NIFCO INC., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Naoi, Shinichiro Ishida, Naoki Hara
  • Patent number: 11976501
    Abstract: A lid urging structure includes a housing, a lid pivotally supported on the housing via a link member and switched among a closed position where the lid closes an opening in the housing, a first position in the middle of opening from the closed position, a second position located further in an opening direction, and a fully open position; and an urging member that urges the lid in a closing direction at the closed position and, when the lid is pivoted from the closing direction to the second position by overcoming the urging force, the urging direction is reversed, enables switching from the second position to the fully open position by the urging force. The urging member is formed of a plurality of springs disposed between the link member and the housing. The operating force and the urging force are adjusted by means of a balance between the springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11970122
    Abstract: A motor vehicle bumper assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a main bumper body and an actuator. The actuator includes a bracket mounted to the main bumper body, a screw jack supported by the bracket, and a trolley driven to translate by the screw jack. A lower support is mounted to the trolley. The actuator is configured to translate the lower support relative to the main bumper body from an integrated position to a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Brian Glickman, Aaron Peter Klop, Dennis Yee, Satvinder Singh Matharu
  • Patent number: 11964597
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, such as for a motor vehicle seat, adapted to be transferable from at least one use position, which is suitable for transporting a passenger, into an easy entry position as a non-use position, and back, may have a seat cushion, a backrest, and a seat frame. The seat cushion and the backrest may be coupled to the seat frame, a base and a kinematics for the articulated connection of the seat frame to the base. The kinematics may have at least one link articulated connecting the seat frame to the base. The at least one link may be lockable by a disc shaped fitting or the at least one link may be lockable with the seat frame by a locking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Adient US LLC
    Inventors: Brian S. Holder, Joseph B. A. Rajkumar, Jeffrey P. Medvecky, Mark F. Kowalski
  • Patent number: 11964724
    Abstract: A fixing structure of a screen includes a front cowl configured to cover a vehicle front portion, a meter panel disposed at a rear side of the front cowl, and a screen installed between the front cowl and the meter panel. An attachment piece is formed along a front edge of the screen. A first support portion configured to support the attachment piece from a back side is formed on the meter panel. A pressing portion configured to press the attachment piece from a front side is formed on the front cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11951921
    Abstract: A hood bumper for a vehicle having a hood including: a housing having a wall, a base, an internal chamber, and an opening to the internal chamber. The wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface. the interior surface defines the internal chamber. The hood bumper further including a biasing mechanism operably connected to the housing and a plunger operably connected to the biasing mechanism and configured to receive an exerted force from the hood. The hood bumper further including a bumper head operably connected to the housing and a support frame operably connecting the bumper head to the housing. The plunger is configured to first move into the bumper head to absorb an impact force to the hood, next the bumper head compresses to further absorb the impact force, and then the support frame collapses to even further absorb the impact force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Robert J. Kukla
  • Patent number: 11945340
    Abstract: An embodiment vehicle driver's seat structure includes a dashboard floor panel combined with a front of a center floor panel and having a shape extending in an upward inclined direction, a lower seat support installed on a top surface of the center floor panel and extending along a vehicle front-rear direction, an upper seat support installed on top of the lower seat support and underneath a driver's seat to support the driver's seat, and an upper floor horizontally connecting the upper seat support and the dashboard floor panel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Min Jeong, Seung Ho Noh
  • Patent number: 11938902
    Abstract: A sliding vehicle center console is provided. The center console may include an elongated rack, including an elongated rack, defining a plurality of teeth, a carrier member coupled to the rack, and a gearbox assembly including a pinion configured to rotate in a first or a second direction to translate the carrier member and the elongated rack from a first position to a second position. The sliding vehicle center console may also include a controller configured to change the rotation of the pinion from one of the first or second directions to the other directions, responsive to a comparison of a sensor value to a threshold condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Coburg
    Inventors: Ulf Hartmann, James Elsarelli, Michael Kidd, Andrew Lakerdas, Raymond Weir, Sarah Miller, Robert Neundorf
  • Patent number: 11926198
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a support structure. The vehicle also includes a side door operable to move relative to the support structure between an open position and a closed position. In the open position of the side door, access to a vehicle interior of the vehicle is provided. In the closed position of the side door, the side door extends across a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a plurality of pivot members, each pivotably coupled to the support structure at a first end and pivotably coupled to the side door at a second end. The side door is movable between the open and closed positions via pivotal movement of each of the plurality of pivot members relative to the support structure and pivotal movement of the side door relative to each of the plurality of pivot members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jesse Rene Diephuis, Michael John Harmon, Andrew Brand, Ryan Wayne Warner, Andrew Smith