Patents Examined by Melissa Ann Bonifazi
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Patent number: 11565641Abstract: An apparatus, system and method capable of providing a bumper capable of providing decreasing reversionary impact forces upon an impacting collider as the bumper is compressed. The apparatus, system and method may include at least a bumper cover; and a scissor mechanism housed within the bumper cover.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2019Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: JABIL INC.Inventors: Jarrett Gayne, Harald Portig
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Patent number: 11565622Abstract: A corner post is for a rear door of a trailer, container or truck body. The corner post has a width when the door has been swung open 90 degrees between 0.75 inch and 1.94 inch such that the width of the opening into the trailer when both doors are open is at least 98.44 inches. The corner post includes three pieces that are attached together. The three pieces include planar sections and U-shaped sections.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Strick Trailers, LLCInventor: Kevin Seitz
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Patent number: 11548460Abstract: A connecting structure for exterior members includes: a first exterior member provided on a vehicle body; a second exterior member disposed adjacent to the first exterior member; an engaging portion provided on one of the first and second exterior members; and an engaged portion provided on the other one of the first and second exterior members. The connecting structure has a parting line formed between the first exterior member and the second exterior member by disposing the second exterior member on the vehicle body adjacent to the first exterior member. Sliding one of the first and second exterior members relative to the other one of the first and second exterior members along, the parting line causes the engaging portion and the engaged portion to be brought into engagement with each other in a direction intersecting a sliding direction of the one of the first and second exterior members.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Kohei Mineshima
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Patent number: 11548458Abstract: A bumper cross member for a motor vehicle is produced from an extruded hollow profile and has a front side forming an impact side, a rear side in opposition to the front side, end zones configured for connection to the motor vehicle, a central zone extending between the end zones and bent toward the impact side, and top and bottom sides connecting the rear side with the front side. Each of the top and bottom sides has a projecting flange which is separated from the rear side by a separation cut configured to end shy of the end zones so that the flanges are connected with the bumper cross member in the end zones.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbHInventors: Tomohiro Shimizu, Frode Paulsen, Atsushi Hasegawa, Takayuki Fujii, Norikazu Matsuura, Noriaki Ito
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Patent number: 11535161Abstract: The deployable steps for a tailgate includes a mounting plate, a plurality of risers, a plurality of treads, and a plurality of hinges. The deployable steps for a tailgate may attach to a tailgate of a truck via the mounting plate. The plurality of risers and the plurality of treads may fold and unfold at the plurality of hinges. The plurality of risers and the plurality of treads may form steps when unfolded into a deployed position. When folded into a stowed position, the plurality of risers and the plurality of treads may be parallel to each other and may be parallel to the tailgate.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2020Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Inventor: Ernest Walker
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Patent number: 11529909Abstract: A collapsible trunk for use with a vehicle having a wheel well. The trunk comprises a base wall and a side wall pivotally connected thereto. The side wall extends from the base wall and terminates at an upper edge. The side wall and base wall collectively define a storage cavity. The base wall and the side wall each have an expandable portion conformable to the wheel well in response to placement of the base wall and the side wall over the wheel well. The trunk is selectively transitional between a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the collapsed configuration, the base panels overlap each other, and in the deployed configuration, the plurality of base panels are co-planar to each other. The upper edge of the side wall moves away from the base wall as the trunk transitions from the collapsed configuration toward the deployed configuration.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2020Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Inventor: Nicholas J. Singer
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Patent number: 11532970Abstract: Energy conversion systems and methods are disclosed. In one aspect, the system is for converting or redirecting energy received by an impact to an automobile in a proximal direction into another type of energy. The system includes a body having a first engagement structure and an impact member configured to be installed within an outer perimeter compartment of the automobile to receive an impulse. The impact member having a second engagement structure and a third engagement structure. The second engagement structure being configured to engage with the first engagement structure of the body to facilitate the impact member translating in the direction relative to the body. The system further includes a converter having a fourth engagement structure, the fourth engagement structure being configured to engage with the third engagement structure of the impact member and convert the energy received by the impact member into another type of energy.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2019Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Inventor: Richard A. Schulman
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Patent number: 11530010Abstract: In a vehicle including a windshield (7) and a support structure for supporting the windshield, the support structure includes a pair of stays (11) that support the windshield movably in a rising and lowering direction, and a holder (20) that is provided in a different position from the pair of stays, and fixes a position of the windshield, and the holder includes a base portion (21) fixed to a vehicle body, a stopper (22) that is provided to face the base portion, capable of moving along the rising and lowering direction to the base portion, and moving in a direction to approach and separate from the base portion, and brings the windshield into a fixed state when approaching the base portion, and an operation member (23) that causes the stopper to move to contact and separate from the base portion, according to an operation.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Fujimi Sawada, Yuki Tomida
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Patent number: 11518451Abstract: An airflow adjusting apparatus includes two or more airflow generators and a controller. The airflow generators are arranged in first and second directions along a surface of an object. The airflow generators are configured to generate respective airflows in parallel directions parallel along the surface of the object. The second direction intersects with the first direction. The controller is configured to control outputs from the respective airflow generators independently of each other. The controller is configured to cause a total output from the airflow generators in a first group to be greater than a total output of the airflow generators in a second group. The airflow generators in the first and the second groups are arranged side by side in an airflow generation direction. The airflow generators in the second group are adjacent to those in the first group.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Naoto Watanabe, Yusaku Dogahira
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Patent number: 11518325Abstract: There is provided a reinforcement member for a vehicle which includes a cylindrical body section having a continuously closed cross section intersecting with a longitudinal direction. The cylindrical body section has a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface. The third surface has a fourth surface extending away from the second surface, and a fifth surface connecting the fourth surface and the first surface to each other. In a sectional view when viewed in the longitudinal direction, in a case where a virtual line connecting a first intersection portion where the first surface and the third surface intersect with each other and a second intersection portion where the second surface and the third surface intersect with each other is set, a third intersection portion where the fourth surface and the fifth surface intersect with each other protrudes outward with respect to the virtual line.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Kimihiro Nogiwa, Masayuki Ishizuka, Norieda Ueno, Kenta Watanabe
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Patent number: 11519215Abstract: A sensor bracket for mounting, on a vehicle, a capacitance sensor in which a loop-shaped electric wire serving as a sensor electrode extends from a sensor main body includes a bracket main body on which the sensor main body is arranged with the electric wire looping back so as to extend in parallel with each other at a constant distance from each other, and a plate spring portion being supported by the bracket main body in a cantilever manner, having, on a tip side, a hooking portion disposed to which the electric wire can be hooked, and providing the electric wire hooked to the hooking portion with tension.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: AISIN CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuma Kuroyanagi, Wataru Hattori, Hironori Koeda
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Patent number: 11505273Abstract: A straddle type vehicle characterized by comprising: an air guiding plate arranged on a front side of the straddle type vehicle; and a display control unit configured to display information concerning automatic traveling control of the straddle type vehicle, wherein the display control unit displays the information concerning the automatic traveling control on the air guiding plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2020Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kihoko Kaita, Masashi Hagimoto, Yoshiyuki Kuroba, Hiroshi Maeda
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Patent number: 11505146Abstract: A bumper cross member designed as a hollow chamber profile for a motor vehicle having an upper component and a lower component joined to the upper component. Both components are each designed as a half shell having two legs spaced apart from one another and a web connecting the legs. An insert plate is joined to the legs of the half shells. The insert plate is arranged between the joints of the legs of the half shells facing toward one another and bridges the joint spacing between the legs of the two half shells.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2019Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: KIRCHHOFF AUTOMOTIVE DEUTSCHLAND GMBHInventor: Michael Weige
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Patent number: 11505129Abstract: A cargo bed assembly for a pickup truck includes: a pair of side walls opposing each other; a truck bed located between the pair of sidewalls, and having a first cavity; a tailgate pivotally connected to a rear end of the truck bed by a first pivot pin, and having a second cavity; a slide unit movably received in the first cavity; and a step unit movably received in the second cavity. In particular, the second cavity is configured to communicate with the first cavity, and the step unit is pivotally connected to the slide unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: Un Tae Kim, Han Jun Kim
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Patent number: 11491920Abstract: A rear module can include a tailgate configured to pivot about a pivot axis that extends transversely with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a frame element that extends transversely with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction and is integrated into the tailgate. The frame element has a first fastening assembly at its respective ends. The first fastening assembly being set up to selectively lock the rear module in a closed state of the tailgate together with second fastening assembly which are configured on the rear-side vehicle body. A motor vehicle can have such a rear module.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Martin Lichter, Hauke Weber
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Patent number: 11492051Abstract: A spacer for vehicle panels can be shaped such that it absorbs a substantial portion of a first load, the first load applied in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the exterior panel; controllably deforms along a second direction when a second load is applied substantially along the second direction; wherein the second direction is other than the first direction. The spacer need not deform along the second direction when the first load is applied. The spacer can have a shaped member having a channel extending through the spacer perpendicular from the exterior panel, such that the spacer can controllably deform along a width of the channel.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA INC.Inventors: Naipaul D. Ramoutar, Christopher P. Sheehy, Valerie Schnabelrauch, Jonathan R. Young
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Patent number: 11485422Abstract: A mud flap for a wheeled vehicle includes an upper mounting portion and an extended protection portion. The extended protection portion includes at least two areas with slotted air flow openings. An upper slot area includes rows of elongated slots with the slots arranged in columns in each row. A lower slot area includes rows of elongated slots with the slots arranged in columns in each row. The slots in the upper slot area have heights that are greater than the heights of slots in the lower slot area. In some embodiments, a middle slot area is positioned between the upper slot area and the lower slot area. The slots in the middle slot area have different heights in different rows. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the slots in the upper slot area is replaced with diagonal mounting features.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2021Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: HSMA, LLCInventors: Darron Ming, Asa Hazelwood, Eric Richard Larson, Kevin Paul Shatzer, James Dow Smith
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Patent number: 11485315Abstract: A device for arranging a passenger restraint system in a vehicle, in particular for arranging a child seat, in order, using the passenger restraint system, to secure a person seated in the vehicle, the device in the arranged state being fastened to a belt frame for a vehicle seat or for a vehicle seat bench. The belt frame includes a support arrangement with a vertical support and a cross strut, and, when the support arrangement is in the arranged state on the vehicle, the vertical support being arranged upright on a floor of the vehicle. The device is present as an elongate profile and wherein the device has mounting members along a longitudinal axis of the profile for the fastening of retaining catches of the passenger restraint system. The mounting members are present spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis of the profile.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2019Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Aguti Produktentwicklung & Design GmbHInventors: Klaus Hitzfelder, Christian Rogg
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Patent number: 11479193Abstract: Provided is a bumper capable of improving a maneuvering stability of a vehicle. The bumper is a front bumper 7 to be attached to a front lower portion of a vehicle 1. Flow-straightening protrusions 31 each formed along a vehicular front-rear direction are provided on a lower portion of the front bumper 7 in a way such that they are aligned along a vehicular width direction across a region on an extended line 36 of a vehicular width direction inner end portion 2T of each of front wheels 2L, 2R of the vehicle 1. Thus, the occurrence of turbulent flows around the front wheels 2L, 2R can be restricted so that a vehicle stability can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: HONDA ACCESS CORP.Inventors: Ryo Shiogai, Seiko Fukuda, Takashi Yuzawa, Masahiro Abe, Jun Takada
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Patent number: 11479194Abstract: A vehicle front structure that absorbs a shock load applied to immediately under a front grille by using a structure at a position higher than a bumper beam as a support. The vehicle front structure includes a shock absorbing member at an interior of a bumper face below a front grille. The shock absorbing member includes a load receiving portion that receives a load, an abutting portion abutting against a structure above a bumper beam during receding of the shock absorbing member, an upper-side connecting portion connecting the load receiving portion and the abutting portion, a locking portion deformed while being locked to the bumper beam during receding of the shock absorbing member, and a lower-side connecting portion connecting the load receiving and locking portions. A bending facilitating portion extending in the vehicle width direction is formed on the side of a rear portion of the upper-side connecting portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Makoto Aizawa, Tetsuo Nagata, Ryosuke Kawafune, Yuta Mishima