Patents Examined by Melissa Ann Bonifazi
  • Patent number: 11673521
    Abstract: A body rear structure of a battery electric motor vehicle includes a rear bottom part. A bottom side of the body rear structure has at least one plastics sacrificial part which is fastened to the rear bottom part and extends downwards away from the rear bottom part and which is so configured that it forms a deformation element in the event of mechanical contact with a wheel stop at an electric charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventor: Bogdan Pentia
  • Patent number: 11673522
    Abstract: A front bumper includes a bumper fascia, an upper panel, and a shock absorbing member and a rigidity member in the interior of the upper panel. The shock absorbing member is formed in a hat shape in cross section by a front wall, an upper wall (a front-side upper wall and a rear-side upper wall), a rear wall, and a lower wall. The rigidity member includes an upper end portion fixed to the upper wall, a lower end portion fixed to the lower wall, and an intermediate portion connecting the upper end portion and the lower end portion in the vehicle up-down direction. The intermediate portion is spaced apart from the rear wall in the vehicle front-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuya Nishio, Hiroshi Mizuguchi
  • Patent number: 11662423
    Abstract: A holder (2) for fixing a sensor (1) to a motor vehicle includes a frame (7) and walls that bound an opening (8) for receiving and fixing the sensor. At at least two opposing walls (10, 11) each respectively have at least one clamping portion (14) for clamping the sensor (1) in place in the opening. At least two further opposing walls (12, 13) each respectively have at least one receiving portion (19, 20) for receiving a portion (6) of the sensor (1), wherein at least one of the receiving portions (19) has a spring portion (18) for pretensioning the sensor (1) toward the opposing wall (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Inventors: Liviu Gligor, Alexandru Lapugean, Lars Snowdon
  • Patent number: 11661021
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes front frames, first and second bumper beams, sub-frames, gussets, and load transmission members. The front frames extend in a front-rear direction. The first bumper beam is disposed in front of the front frames. The first bumper beam extends in a vehicle width direction. The sub-frames are disposed below the front frames. The sub-frames extend in the front-rear direction. The second bumper beam is coupled to front ends of the sub-frames. Ends of the second bumper beam protrude further outward than the first bumper beam. Each gusset is coupled to a corresponding one of ends of the second bumper beam and a corresponding one of intermediate portions of the sub-frames. The gussets transmit an impact load to the intermediate portions. The load transmission members are coupled to the sub-frames. The load transmission members are disposed on outer side surfaces of the front frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 11661113
    Abstract: A vehicle aerodynamic cover includes an upper body portion, a lower body portion and a boundary. The upper body portion defines a top edge. The lower body portion extends downwardly from the upper body portion and defines a bottom edge. The upper body portion is inclined in an inboard direction relative to the lower body portion when the aerodynamic cover is in an installed state. The boundary connects the upper and lower body portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Michael McGory
  • Patent number: 11654756
    Abstract: An articulating slanted back soft top assembly for 4-door and 2-door SUVs. A fabric cover is supported by a frame that is at least partially articulatable from at least a closed position to at least one open air position. The frame includes at least one forward fabric support bow member and at least one rearward fabric support bow member. The rear fabric support bow member being positioned when in the closed position in a manner which allows the fabric to clear a sport bar or “roll bar” member of a vehicle in the closed position such that a rear portion of the top is angled from the vertical when viewing the vehicle from the side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Bestop, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Haberkamp, Eric D. Getzschman, Jose N. Vigil, Andy Waite, Rick H. Troeger, Blake A. Jensen, James A. Robertson, Ronald Manzanares, George C. Stickles
  • Patent number: 11648830
    Abstract: A soft top assembly which includes lift assist and improved fabric management. The assembly includes front side rails pivotally connected to rear side rails. A plurality of fabric control bows with control linkages provide fabric control to the top material during pivoting of the front side rails. A first and second gas strut are attached to the rear side rails to assist lifting and controlled motion as the top is moved between a closed position and open sunroof position, as one strut is fully loaded and compressed while the other strut is fully loaded and open, for lift assist and dampening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Bestop, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Lewis, Tavis Lutzka, William H. Haberkamp, Eric D. Getzschman, Jose N. Vigil, Andy Waite
  • Patent number: 11648993
    Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative telescoping tailgate systems for an automotive vehicle and illustrative automotive vehicles with a telescoping tailgate system for carrying cargo or passengers. In an illustrative embodiment, a telescoping tailgate system for an automotive vehicle includes: a primary tailgate configured to be movably attached to a body of an automotive vehicle, the primary tailgate defining an opening therethrough; a secondary tailgate movably attached to the primary tailgate; and a telescoping mechanism configured to move the secondary tailgate between a retracted position and an extended position, the secondary tailgate being configured to close the opening in the primary tailgate when the secondary tailgate is in an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Gase, Patrick Hunt, Kyle Mulligan, Larry Parker
  • Patent number: 11628891
    Abstract: An automobile panel that are formed using at least partially using a pultrusion forming process. Examples of automobile panels formed using pultrusion include, but are not limited to tail gates, roofs, hatches, doors, hoods, bed liners, floor liners, bed steps, running boards, bumper covers etc. The automobile panel includes a pultruded core panel formed of a polymer resin material having continuous fibers extending across a length of the pultruded core panel, wherein the pultruded core panel has a plurality of channels extending across a surface of the pultruded core panel, wherein the channels have openings at opposing ends of the surface. Also included is an interior finish panel connected to a first side of the pultruded core panel and an exterior finished panel connected to a second side the pultruded core panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA EXTERIORS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark P. Birka, Peter G. DeMarois
  • Patent number: 11628883
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a vehicle bumper and a load transfer assembly. The vehicle bumper is coupled to a front end of the vehicle frame and includes a center beam and a bumper beam extension that extends laterally from an end of the center beam. The load transfer assembly includes first and second pivot pins and a load beam. The first pivot pin is fixed to the bumper beam extension and the second pivot pin is fixed to the vehicle frame. The load beam has a first end pivotably coupled to the first pivot pin and a second end pivotably coupled to the second pivot pin. The load beam is configured to load the vehicle frame in a lateral direction upon a vehicle impact event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Lakshmi P Bhatta, Zheng Qin, Hassan H El-Hor
  • Patent number: 11628782
    Abstract: A sash cover assembly for a vehicle includes a sash cover and a spacer cap. The sash cover includes a projection configured to be received by a sash of the vehicle. The spacer cap is connected to and surrounds the projection. The spacer cap is configured to prevent contact between the projection and the sash when the sash cover is connected to the sash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Marlo Martino, James Haupt
  • Patent number: 11623696
    Abstract: A vehicle bonnet structure, having designability, dent resistance and reduced weight, includes an outer panel, an inner panel attached to a back face of this outer panel, and a stiffener disposed between a front portion of the outer panel and a front portion of the inner panel and supported on the inner panel. A first step portion is provided in a vehicle-width-direction inner-side area of the outer panel which extends in the front-rear direction and has a smaller up-down dimension on the front side than on the rear side. The stiffener includes a first sealer which abuts against the outer panel in an extension line vicinity area toward the front side of a boundary portion of the first step portion and suppresses downward displacement of the outer panel, and a first bead portion extending in the front-rear direction at a position in the vicinity of the first sealer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Onaka, Shogo Okada, Yutaka Mitoma
  • Patent number: 11623592
    Abstract: A protective device structure for a vehicle is provided that includes an outer surface or shell attached to or otherwise disposed upon a vehicle that covers a top edge of a vehicle to absorb impact. The protective device can include a compressible portion disposed in a cavity defined between the outer shell and the vehicle proximate to the top front wall of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: RIDGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Raymond Augustus McDonald, Jr., Gary Alan Grandominico, Bret Jameson Moss, Crystal Hill
  • Patent number: 11618504
    Abstract: There is provided a bracket which connects an apron reinforcement provided below a bonnet and an upper portion of a fender provided on an outward side, in a vehicle width direction, of the bonnet. The bracket comprises a fender fixing portion fixed to a flange portion of an upper end portion of the fender, a body portion extending downwardly from the fender fixing portion and positioned on the outward side of the apron reinforcement, and an apron-reinforcement fixing portion extending from an inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the body portion toward the apron reinforcement and fixed to the apron reinforcement. The body portion is provided with a curved part which is configured to be curved outwardly in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuniyoshi Tashiro, Shigeaki Watanabe, Ryuichi Takahashi, Masatoki Kito, Susumu Kuroda, Reiko Yoshiura, Tomohiro Shimada, Kazumichi Takeshige, Qiang Wang, Toshihiro Nakaza, Satoru Eguchi, Hayato Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 11608123
    Abstract: A tailgate system for a vehicle comprises a tailgate and a support system. The tailgate includes a movable tailgate portion movably connected to the tailgate and configured to cover an access opening in the tailgate. The support system is selectively operable between a connected state connected to both the tailgate and the movable tailgate portion and a disconnected state. The support system in the connected state is configured to support the movable tailgate portion in a step position pivoted downwardly from the tailgate in an open position thereof to provide a step. The support system in the disconnected state is configured to allow the movable tailgate portion to pivot downwardly from the tailgate in a closed position to the downwardly extending open position. The angle of pivotal movement of the movable tailgate portion relative to the tailgate is greater in the downwardly extending open position than in the step position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: VENTRA GROUP, CO.
    Inventors: Steve Jarjoura, Joaquin Hung, Wayne Doswell, Guido Benvenuto
  • Patent number: 11590912
    Abstract: A front vehicle-body structure flows air from the vehicle lower side to its upper side. After hitting a front bumper face, the air is separated and flows around and along a top face of an exterior member, ensuring aerodynamic performance. Embodiments include exterior members covering the upper side of an engine room, and a front grille disposed on a lower side relative to a front end portion of the exterior member. A rectification member extends the width of the exterior member in the vehicle width direction on the lower side of the exterior member front end portion. The rectification member includes a front piece portion extending toward the vehicle up-down-direction lower side from the exterior member to an upper end portion of the front grille, and a lower piece portion extending toward the vehicle rear side from an upper end of the front piece portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiya Mizokane, Yuki Ikawa, Masayoshi Enomoto, Yoshiatsu Kuga, Satoshi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 11591030
    Abstract: An endgate assembly includes a body and a quick-release receptacle. The body includes a first side and a second side opposing each other. The first side of the body defines a compartment accessible from the first side and spaced from the second side. The quick-release receptacle includes a platform. The quick-release receptacle is movable between a stowed position in which the quick-release receptacle is attached to the body within the compartment such that the platform and the first side cooperate to close the compartment, and a detached position in which the quick-release receptacle is released from the body to remove the quick-release receptacle from the compartment. A vehicle includes a cargo area and the endgate assembly as discussed above. The cargo area includes a floor, a first sidewall disposed transverse to the floor, and a second sidewall disposed transverse to the floor. The endgate assembly is coupled to the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Peter M. Snede, Derek L. Patterson
  • Patent number: 11584203
    Abstract: A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes, among other things, a frame sub-assembly that includes a driver side section, a passenger side section, and a connection member coupling the driver side section to the passenger side section. The assembly further includes a door sub-assembly disposed between the driver side section and the passenger side section. The door sub-assembly and the frame sub-assembly are pivotable together about a first axis between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position. The door sub-assembly is pivotable relative to the frame sub-assembly about a second axis between a door closed position and a door open position. The door sub-assembly in the door open position provides a cargo bed access opening that extends vertically downward at least as far as a floor of the cargo bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adrian Nania, Amol Borkar
  • Patent number: 11584311
    Abstract: An interior trim panel for a vehicle interior. The panel includes an air distributing member for distributing the air, a first air distribution channel for distributing the airflow from the air distributing member into the vehicle interior. A canopy is configured to partly cover an accessory arranged on the interior trim panel. Further, the interior trim panel includes a second air distribution channel configured in a gap formed between the canopy and the accessory for distributing the airflow from the air distributing member. Further, the air distributing from the second distribution channel is deviated towards the vehicle interior by a curved extension of the canopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventor: Firoz Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 11577667
    Abstract: A badge mounting system that helps promote proper installation of different badges for different vehicle trim variants. The system utilizes a set of trim assembly components that include: a badge having a plurality of badge studs protruding rearwardly in a first pattern; a trim layer having a plurality of trim holes corresponding to the plurality of badge studs and arranged in the first pattern; and a backing plate having a backing plate body with an outer perimeter circumscribing a plurality of recesses extending into the backing plate body, wherein the plurality of badge studs mate with a subset of the plurality of recesses that together form the first pattern, and wherein the first pattern of badge studs is arranged such that the badge can be mounted to the backing plate through the trim layer in only a single orientation of the badge relative to the trim layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, LLC
    Inventor: Sachin Ubale