Patents Examined by Paul Chenevert
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Patent number: 8186738Abstract: A motor vehicle has a fuel supply device provided in a bowl indentation of the vehicle body. A closing cap closes the fuel supply device and a cover flap is articulated on the motor vehicle that, in the closed state, covers the bowl body of the body. Vehicles of the same model series must have different closing caps for different sales markets. Here, at least two different holding devices for holding the closing cap are therefore provided in the region of the fuel supply device. Differently designed closing caps for closing the fuel supply device can thus be received.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2010Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Volkswagen AktiengesellschaftInventors: Bernd Winkler, Sven Falke
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Patent number: 8177276Abstract: A bed extender assembly for a vehicle bed includes at least one bed extender device having a longitudinal length greater than a length of the vehicle bed. The at least one bed extender device has a first end disposed in the vehicle bed and a second end spaced apart from the first end to define the longitudinal length. The second end is spaced rearwardly apart from a rearward end of the vehicle bed. A locking bar extends transversely across the vehicle bed adjacent the first end to lock the first end of the at least one bed extender device against the bed floor.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2009Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: David Edwards
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Patent number: 8172300Abstract: Protective laminate films protect an underlying window surface from scratches or other damage. The laminate films generally include a substrate having a scratch resistant coating adhered to one side and an adhesive layer adhered to an opposite side. Adhesion promoter and primer layers may be provided to enhance adhesion of the scratch-resistant coating to the surface. Each layer is transparent such that, when applied to a surface, the laminate film does not significantly impact or reduce optical clarity. Each layer may also be flexible so that the laminate films can be molded to a curved surface. Generally, the scratch resistant coating protects the laminate film from scratching or other damage, such as from debris or impacts. The substrate provides structural integrity to the laminate film and may provide some impact dispersion.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2011Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Clearplex CorporationInventors: Chris E. McCormick, Brent A. Strong, Mike D. Ridges, Kevin A. Plumb, Jeff Smith
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Patent number: 8136863Abstract: Detachable vehicle seat, with a back structure and a seat structure, a coupling mechanism for coupling the seat structure to the back structure, a securing mechanism for securing the seat structure to a part of the vehicle floor and a rapid detachment mechanism that permits the seat to be decoupled from the back. At least one first strap is coupled to the structure of the back part of the seat in a zone corresponding to the abdominal zone of the person. Also, a headrest in which at least one second strap is coupled in a zone corresponding to the zone of the head of the person.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2007Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Innovations & Safety, S.L.Inventor: Sergio De Rico Herrero
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Patent number: 8128151Abstract: A method and system for disengaging a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door. An automobile having a door with a door handle, a drive rod, a latching system, a striker, and a drive rod striking member. The drive rod striking member can be positioned adjacent the drive rod. Upon impact to the door, the drive rod is disengaged from the door handle and/or the latching system through inertia, the drive rod striking member impacting the drive rod, or any other disengagement mechanisms. The drive rod striking member prevents the drive rod from re-engaging with the latching system. The disengagement of the drive rod prevents the drive rod from controlling the latching system to disengage from the striker, either through deformation of the door, or through actuations by the door handle.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2009Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Daisuke Teramoto, Kazuhiro Fukazawa, David L. Minock, Christopher M. Higgins, Nathaniel P. Jordan, Jessica A. Riffe
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Patent number: 8123279Abstract: A vehicle includes a roll cage and a net structure. The roll cage at least partially defines a protected area and additionally at least partially defines an access opening configured to facilitate passage of an operator through the access opening and into the protected area. A net structure is attached to the roll cage and is configured to selectively block at least a portion of the access opening. Net structures and methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventors: Bill E. Orr, Kaita Kihoko, Takahashi Kosaku, Inoue Masahiro, Kevin L. Aschenbach, Takashi Mishima, Terry L. Gasparovic, Hendrik J. Zwart, Jeffrey K. Kuida
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Patent number: 8118342Abstract: A lock apparatus of a seat for a vehicle includes a striker, a first plate including a first plate groove portion, a second plate including a second plate groove portion, plural fixing portions provided at the first and second plates, a hook member being pivotable between a lock release position and a lock position and including a hook groove portion with and from which the striker is engageable and releasable, a pawl member engageable with and releasable from the hook member, a biasing member biasing the hook member and the pawl member, and plural connecting portions provided at the first and second plates for connecting the first and second plates. The connecting portions are located at an area defined between the fixing portions and one side portion of the first and second plates opposite to another side portion at which the first and second plate groove portions are formed.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2009Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Motohiro Kokubo, Ikuno Nakanishi, Kouji Kondoh
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Patent number: 8113561Abstract: Mounting structure of a door grip in a door for the vehicle includes a inner panel composing a door body. The mounting structure of a door grip further includes a door trim arranged so as to oppose to the inner side of the inner panel. The door grip is fixed to the inner panel via the door trim and having a pair of connecting parts to be connected to the door trim. Further included are fixing members for fixing the door trim to the inner panel. The fixing members are arranged in both sides of the connecting parts regarding an axis line passing through both the first connecting part and the second connecting part. The fixing members are respectively provided in both sides of the first connecting part while the fixing members are respectively provided in both sides of the second connecting part.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2008Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuki Yamada, Masami Uratsu, Makoto Horiba, Junichi Kawakami
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Patent number: 8109552Abstract: The truck bed extender (10) has three panels (12, 26a, 26b) removably attached to the edge of the vehicle tailgate (G) and the rear portions (LR, RR) of the cargo box sidewalls (LW, RW). The deployed extender (10) increases the vehicle capacity and efficiency. The side panels (26a, 26b) fold against the inner surface of the primary panel (12) and the primary panel (12) folds against the inner surface of the tailgate (G) for compact storage of the assembly. The panel assembly (10) may be quickly and easily removed from the permanently installed hinges (14a, 14b) on the vehicle tailgate (G). The extender assembly (10) may be deployed, stored, removed, and installed without tools, once the primary panel hinges (14a, 14b) and side panel attachment brackets have been installed on the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2007Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Inventor: Charles R. Nelson
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Patent number: 8104824Abstract: According to a vehicle door system (10), when a forward collision prediction sensor (76) predicts a forward collision of a vehicle (12), a state is immediately brought about where a terminal edge portion (54) at the rear end of a front door (16) is positioned more outwardly in the vehicle width direction than a terminal edge portion (56) at the front end of a rear door (18). Thus, even when the front door (16) is moved toward the rear door (18) side (that is, toward the rear of the vehicle) due to a forward collision or the like that has occurred after the forward collision is predicted, for example, it is possible to prevent the situation in which the front door (16) is jammed inside the rear door (18), more specifically, the situation in which a rear-end hemmed portion (60) of the front door (16) gets inside a front-end hemmed portion (62) of the rear door (18) with respect to the vehicle width direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2007Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshinori Hitomi
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Patent number: 8104822Abstract: A vehicle roller blind or a sunshield roller blind for motor vehicles includes a roller blind web which is connected to a thrust element, which is rigid in compression and/or bending-resistant, for tensioning the roller blind web, and having an adjusting device which actuates the thrust element, which is embodied in the manner of a single-strand cable window lifter and which is at least partially encapsulated together with the thrust element. The thrust element and the adjusting device are arranged in a housing which holds the thrust element and the adjusting device and which comprises a drive housing for the roller blind drive and a preferably tubular guide channel which holds the thrust element and the flexible traction means.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2007Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co., KG, CoburgInventors: Olaf Kriese, Markus Schultz
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Patent number: 8096603Abstract: A lock (57) for a door assist system (12) for use on a vehicle door (10) and connected to a vehicle to lock the door into an open position. The door assist system includes a door handle (40) having a first operable position, a second operable position and a released position, a pneumatic actuator (28) having an actuator rod (32), where the actuator rod is extendable when the door handle is in the first operable position and the actuator rod is retractable when the door handle is in the second operable position. The door assist system also includes a slide block (34) displaceable by the actuator rod of the pneumatic actuator. The slide block (34) also includes a door link (54) connecting the slide block (34) to the vehicle frame. As the slide block is displaced away from the pneumatic actuator (28), the door link opens the door (10) with respect to the vehicle. The lock also includes a hydraulic locking actuator (58) with a hydraulic rod (66) extendable and retractable with the slide block (34).Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2009Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLCInventor: Nicholas M Cassaday
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Patent number: 8096610Abstract: A device for securing a rear seat within a cab of a vehicle, comprising a crossmember configured for attachment to a floor pan of the vehicle, the crossmember cooperating with the floor pan to provide a cavity for storing items within the cab. When the crossmember is attached to the floor pan and the rear seat is attached to the crossmember, the crossmember is contained within the space between the seat and the floor pan without extending into a passenger leg room area.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2008Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Satish Ganti, Edward Andrew Pleet, Naijiang Xu
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Patent number: 8091943Abstract: An apparatus for accessing the bed of a pickup truck having a frame, a rear bumper and a tailgate having a distal edge and being hingedly mounted to the frame includes a lower linkage assembly having proximal and distal ends and being pivotally mounted at its proximal end to the rear truck bumper at a first axis; an upper linkage assembly having proximal and distal ends and being pivotally mounted at its proximal end to and proximal the distal edge of the truck tailgate at a second axis, and being pivotally mounted at its distal end to the distal end of the lower linkage assembly at a third axis; a step connected to the lower linkage assembly; and, wherein the distance between the first and second axes is an effective length LB, the distance between the second and third axes is an effective length LT, and the distance between the first and third axes is an effective length LS, and wherein the ratio of LS to LT to LB to is approximately 2.9 to 1.8 to 4.5.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2008Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Inventor: Robert M. Weber
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Patent number: 8087712Abstract: A pair of vertically disposed handlebars spaced laterally apart mounting a plurality of vertically spaced flexible cords.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2009Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Inventor: David Svengalis
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Patent number: 8087717Abstract: The exemplary embodiments generally relate to a device for reinforcing an automotive roof assembly. Some embodiments include a stiffening member for attaching to a cross member of an automotive roof assembly. The stiffening member may have a plurality of supports for providing additional stiffness in longitudinal, lateral, and/or vertical directions. Some embodiments relate to methods of making and/or using the device.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2008Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Nobuo Aizawa
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Patent number: 8079631Abstract: A method and system for guiding a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door. An automobile having a door with a door handle, a drive rod, a latching system, a striker, and a drive rod guiding member. The drive rod guiding member can be positioned adjacent to the drive rod. Upon impact to the door, the drive rod can be disengaged from the door handle or the latching system. The drive rod guiding member guides the drive rod away from the door handle or the latching system. By guiding the drive rod away the door handle or the latching system, the drive rod guiding member can prevent the drive rod from re-engaging with the door handle or the latching system. This maintains the door in the closed position instead of the open position.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2009Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Christopher M. Higgins, Nathaniel P. Jordan, Jessica A. Riffe
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Patent number: 8079630Abstract: An assembly includes a roof part kinematic system having front and rear connecting rods. Each connecting rod is pivotally connected to a roof part and is pivotally connectable to a vehicle body such that the roof part kinematic system can move the roof part between end positions. The assembly further includes a spring-loaded kinematic system having a spring, a coupling rod, and a triangular-shaped spring lever. The spring is connected to the front connecting rod and is connected to the first spring lever corner, the coupling rod is connected to the rear connecting rod and is connected to the second spring lever corner, and the third spring lever corner is pivotally connectable to the vehicle body such that the spring produces a torque on the connecting rods to move the roof part away from either end position when the roof part is in that end position.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2009Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: Magna Car Top Systems GmbHInventors: Gernot Bruder, Marcus Papendorf
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Patent number: 8075048Abstract: A bonnet for an automobile, the bonnet having an outer member made from fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) and an inner member made from FRP, joined to the back-surface side of the outer, wherein the inner is separated into two parts in the forward and backward direction of a vehicle body. The bonnet can satisfy impact absorbing performance and predetermined required performance for deformation in a collision accident etc., and can improve easiness of production.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2005Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.Inventors: Yukitane Kimoto, Hiroshi Kiyama
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Patent number: 8070212Abstract: An arranging structure spans a wire harness for a motor vehicle between a vehicle body and a slide member. The structure includes a corrugated tube for sheathing the wire harness; a protector made of a resin material, the protector holding opposite ends of the corrugated tube in a longitudinal direction and threading the wire harness; and a rotary member integrated with the protector or coupled to the protector as a different element from the protector, the rotary member being rotatably supported on supporting members provided on the vehicle body and the slide member.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2007Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuya Shima, Yoshinao Kobayashi, Shigeki Murayama