Patents Examined by Patricia L. Engle
  • Patent number: 7815242
    Abstract: An automatic opening/closing apparatus for vehicle is downsized, and cost of the automatic opening/closing apparatus is reduced by reducing the number of its components. A driving drum is rotatably accommodated in a main body case of a driving unit, and one ends of cables are connected to a sliding door and the other ends are wound around the driving drum. An electric motor is attached to the main body case, and the driving drum is driven for rotation. A tensioner mechanism applying a predetermined tension to the cables is accommodated in the main body case. A control device, including a control substrate and a substrate case for accommodating the control substrate, is disposed to be overlapped on an axial-directional side of the driving drum to a portion of the main body case for accommodating the tensioner mechanism, whereby an operation of the electric motor is controlled by the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Yoshida, Yoshitaka Sekine, Yoshitaka Urano, Hiroshi Eguchi, Satoshi Nagamoto
  • Patent number: 7815238
    Abstract: A closed two-wheel motorcycle including a closed cab with a door arranged around the motorcycle structure and having retractable floors for the driver's feet, separated from each the other, which can be depressed toward the ground and are resettable by spring members is presented. Each retractable floor is connected with an external rocker arm hinged at a rear section of the motorcycle and a sliding member guided by a sleeve at a front section of the cab. The spring members operate between an upper portion of the sliding members and the front section of the cab, while locking brakes cooperate, at rest, with the sliding members for holding depressed the floor portions against the action of the spring members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: Haiyang Cao
  • Patent number: 7810871
    Abstract: A vehicle body side portion structure is disposed with a pair of right and left roof side rails disposed along a vehicle anteroposterior direction on both sides of a roof reinforcement that extends along a vehicle width direction of a roof and connection portions that bond together the roof side rails and the roof reinforcement. First fold portions in vehicle width direction outside end portions of the connection portions are disposed in a position higher in a vehicle vertical direction than second fold portions in vehicle width direction inside end portions of the connection portions. When a side load F equal to or greater than a predetermined value is inputted, the first fold portions rotate and move towards the vehicle upper side with the second fold portions acting as supporting points, the first fold portions become bent so as to become convex towards the vehicle upper side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuaki Matsui
  • Patent number: 7810876
    Abstract: A vehicle having a rear end body structure that includes first and second rear side castings. The first and second rear side castings interlock with at least one structure that at least partially defines a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Gregory Thomas Hedderly
  • Patent number: 7811036
    Abstract: A load anchor has a support 103 with an upper surface. A tongue 105 with an aperture 113 for receipt of a tie down strap is pivotable relative to the support 103 from a first position wherein the tongue 105 is substantially flush with the upper surface of the support 103 to a second position extending above the support so that the aperture 113 is exposed. The load anchor may have a lever arrangement 111 accessible through the aperture 113 in the tongue when the tongue is in the first position, so that downward force applied to part of the lever arrangement 111 through the aperture 113 pivots the lever arrangement 111 which lifts the tongue 105 from the first position. The tongue 105 may be pivotally connected relative to the support member 103 by an integrally formed shaft or shafts 107.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignees: HGW Trustee's Limited
    Inventor: Barry Douglas Armour
  • Patent number: 7806466
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a frame, and a cab structure and a seat each pivotably connected to the frame. A mechanical interconnection is provided between the cab structure and a seat. In response to the cab structure pivoting away from the frame by a predetermined amount, the seat is urged to pivot away from the frame by the mechanical interconnection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: James Shurts, Michael David Case, Kyle Brenner, Joshua John Pasa
  • Patent number: 7802838
    Abstract: A soft top for a motor vehicle, lockable on a windshield frame by a latch disposed on a forward soft top section and swivelable to a locked position, the soft top movable to a rearward stowed position once the latch has been swiveled into an unlocked position. A locking mechanism provides a catch hook on the vehicle body swivelable between a releasing position and a blocking position, in which the same engages with a catch hook engaging part that is mounted on the soft top or the vehicle body when the soft top is in the blocked state. The locking mechanism is fitted with a spring device, against the spring force of which the soft top runs into the stowed position, while the catch hook can be swiveled into the released position by means of the locking drive in order to release the locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventor: Rudolf Dietl
  • Patent number: 7802837
    Abstract: A vehicle roof has at least two roof segments which, in the closed position of the roof, support a flexible roof skin at least in some regions and can be shifted via at least two pairs of links in a positively controlled manner from a closed position G of the top into a fixed storage position A of the top and vice-versa. One pair of links is thereby drivable by motor in order to move all of the roof parts. In the storage position A of the top, the driven pair of links can be supported by a first vehicle-body-side stop on each side of the vehicle in order to fix all of the roof parts with defined distances being maintained at least between the at least two pairs of links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Dr. Ing h.c. F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Lars Schulz, Felix Hermann, Dominik Beierl
  • Patent number: 7802829
    Abstract: A trailer-mounted crash impact attenuator is disclosed for attachment to a host vehicle, which comprises an anti-rotational attachment system having an internal support tube and a plurality of external support tubes. The internal support tube has a connector on its front end for attachment to a suitable receptacle on the host vehicle, and the plurality of external support tubes each have an anti-rotation support pad on a their front ends. At least one of the internal support tube and the plurality of external support tubes is comprised of a telescoping construction. A backup frame is disposed on a rear end of the attachment system, and a crash attenuator unit is disposed on an axle and pair of wheels for mobility. When the crash attenuator is impacted by an errant vehicle, the anti-rotational attachment system is actuated to prevent the trailer mounted crash impact attenuator from rotating relative to the host vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: TrafFix Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey B. Maus
  • Patent number: 7802842
    Abstract: The invention relates to a roof module of a motor vehicle, which can be fastened to the chassis of the motor vehicle and defines a roof area. The aim of the invention is to improve the utility of the roof module or the motor vehicle. For this purpose, the roof module (9) is a planar full roof that is non-transparent or at least partially transparent, or the roof module (9) is a panoramic roof that projects towards the top and/or is at least partially transparent and/or comprises a roof box fixed to the top thereof, or comprises a bearing device (18) for detachably fixing a roof box (19) to the top of the roof module (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Oliver Vogt, Bernhard Schleicher, Thomas Rudolph, Michael Koelbl, Anton Jöhl, Alain Leroy, Rupert Kogler, Nigel Westwood, Mirko Konta
  • Patent number: 7802834
    Abstract: A multiple slide-out system for a recreational vehicle or the like includes a first slide-out section having a first floor, a first carriage abutting and affixed to the first floor, a first driven track affixed to the underside of the first carriage, and a first drive motor anchored to the floor of the vehicle to drive the first slide-out section relative to the vehicle. A second slide-out section which slides within the first slide-out section includes a second floor, a second carriage abutting and affixed to the second floor, a second driven track affixed to the underside of the second carriage, and a second drive motor anchored to top side of the first carriage to drive the second slide-out section relative to the first slide-out section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Monaco Coach Corporation
    Inventors: Tomas D. Cadena, Jose J. Mercado
  • Patent number: 7798754
    Abstract: A unitary void filling apparatus for use as a lengthwise void spacer which is capable of preventing movement of a load disposed on a pallet, protecting the load from end-to-end forces, and acting as a dust cover. The apparatus consists of a frame folded to make a central area, which fits on top of the load, and two vertical sides, which hangs over opposite ends of the load. Attached to each vertical side are covered void fillers, each adapted to substantially fill any lengthwise underhang and protect the load from end-to-end forces. The central area of the frame supports the vertical sides to which the void fillers are attached, thereby holding the void fillers in the proper position and also preventing dust from accumulating on the cargo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sunrise Mfg, Inc.
    Inventors: Lori H. Funk, Patrick M. Henley
  • Patent number: 7798552
    Abstract: A sun visor holder is provided which includes a holder main body 10 and a grommet 11 which is brought into engagement with the holder main body 10 so as to fix the holder main body 10 to a body of a vehicle, wherein roof lining temporary fastening pieces 40 adapted to be brought into engagement with an upper surface of a roof lining 5 and body panel engagement portions 35 adapted to be brought into engagement with an upper surface of a body panel 13 of the body are provided on the grommet 11, and lower end portions of the roof lining temporary fastening pieces 40 are positioned further upwards than a lower surface of the body panel 13 and further downwards than the upper surface of the body panel in such a state that the body panel engagement portions 35 are in engagement with the body panel 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shirena Takai
  • Patent number: 7798557
    Abstract: A vehicle rear door articulating and sliding mechanism including an articulating hinge assembly having a hinge arm pivotally mounted to a vehicle C-pillar at one end thereof, and a vehicle rear door pivotally and slidably mounted to the hinge arm at an opposite end of the hinge arm. A guide track may be mounted to the rear door, and a slide block may be pivotally mounted to the hinge arm and slidably attached to the guide track. The hinge arm may be disposed at first and second angular positions relative to the guide track when the rear door is respectively disposed in closed and opened positions, and the slide block may be disposed at first and second positions along a length of the guide track when the rear door is respectively disposed in the closed and opened positions, to thus provide articulating and sliding movement of the rear door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adrian N. A. Elliott, Justin T. Johnson, Jason Falenski, Henry Hausler, Dave M. Lechkun
  • Patent number: 7794189
    Abstract: A cargo frame may include a support arm, a cradle operable to support a corner of cargo, and a connecting element. The support arm may be supported by a base. The support arm may be extendible and include a lower support arm and an upper support arm. The connecting element may removably attach the lower support arm to the upper support arm at a connection point of the lower support arm and one of a plurality of connection points of the upper support arm. The cradle may be rotatably and removably attached to the support arm at one of one or more connection points. The cradle may be rotatable from an unloaded position to a loaded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: New Enterprise Stone and Lime Company
    Inventors: Saul Erech, Dexter J. Fowler
  • Patent number: 7794003
    Abstract: A modular storage system for use with a utility vehicle is disclosed. The modular storage system can extend across the floor of the utility vehicle and have a central elongated bin that is located between two wheel wells and extends generally between a front wall and a rear door of a utility vehicle storage space. A side bin can be included and be located between the central elongated bin and one of the side walls of the storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan Patrick Crandall
  • Patent number: 7789453
    Abstract: A trailer fairing for reducing aerodynamic drag from trailer landing gear and/or wheel assembly is disclosed. The fairing may be directly connected to the forward facing structural supports of the landing gear, and an air tank may be located between the fairing and the cargo storage area. A single fairing may be used to reduce the drag from both the trailer landing gear and wheel assembly. The fairing may include a tapered front section and/or a rear section. The fairing may have rounded, oval, angled, and/or tapered sections. A plurality of fairings may also be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Vanguard National Trailer Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Roush, Keith Wallace
  • Patent number: 7789454
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a frame structure for vertically mounting an integrated package, which can improve mountability of the batteries and structural rigidity of the integrated package and a vehicle body. To this end, the present invention provides a frame structure which comprises: a rear floor frame disposed behind a rear seat of the vehicle in a transverse direction of body of the vehicle; and a pair of guide frames are installed in parallel with each other behind the rear floor frame in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dal Kim, Hae Kyu Lim
  • Patent number: 7784847
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a technique which contributes to stabilized movement of a sliding structure in a slide-type sun visor for vehicles. Representative sun visor for vehicles includes a sun visor body, a support shaft, a sliding member, a clip member and a clamping device. The clamping device accommodates a clearance in a circumferential direction between the support shaft and the sliding member and prevents relative rotation of the support shaft and the sliding member. The clamping device is mounted to the sliding member and rotates together with the sliding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Kyowa Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Asai
  • Patent number: 7784851
    Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention provides a passive water management system for vehicle doors. One or more water management troughs are formed into the inner door panel of the vehicle door at least partially encircling one or more holes or opening through the inner door panel. Strips of adhesive material are provided proximate to and extending along each side of the water management trough. A water deflector sheet of water shedding material is secured to the inner door panel by the adhesive strips, such that the strips, water management trough and deflector sheet form a conduit for routing water to drain holes draining into the door cavity thereby preventing water incursion through the inner door panel openings from reaching the vehicle interior. A method of managing water seeping into a vehicle door is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Filipczak, Brian R. Rusch, Luigi R. Magnanti