Patents Examined by Paul Chenevert
  • Patent number: 8905454
    Abstract: A multi-tiered casket handling system is configured to preferably be placed in a vehicle. Because the casket handling system admits to adjustability in its mounting, a wide range of vehicles can be used. Further, because the casket handling system has a system for tilting the rear upper tier and powered movement of caskets, the system is capable of handling greater numbers of caskets than is possible with conventional systems, thereby taking full advantage of larger vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: FYDA Freightliner Cincinnati, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis K. Stock, Chadwick D. Fox
  • Patent number: 8899653
    Abstract: A saddle-type vehicle includes: a water-cooled engine supported on a vehicle body frame; a radiator attached to the vehicle body frame and configured to cool the engine; an outer cowl provided at a lateral side of the vehicle body frame and radiator; and a layer cowl having a front portion disposed inward of a rear portion of the outer cowl in a vehicle width direction. In the saddle-type vehicle, the outer cowl has a slit portion extending upward from a rear lower edge of the outer cowl and the layer cowl has fixing portions which fix portions of the outer cowl in front of and behind the slit portion to improve the airflow exhaust performance while securing the function of the outer cowls as a windscreen and a rider's thermal comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Usa, Daisuke Tokumura, Akihide Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 8882180
    Abstract: A door hooking arrangement for a motor vehicle for protecting against an impact on a vehicle door (1) including a catch hook (5) and a receiver (6) for the catch hook (5), the catch hook (5) and receiver (6) being correspondingly arranged on the vehicle door (1) and a door frame (4) in the vehicle. The catch hook (5) includes at least one barb (9). Thus, with plastic deformation of the vehicle door, the catch hook (5) is hooked very firmly in the receiver (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Dirk van Oirschot
  • Patent number: 8851548
    Abstract: A height compensating latch supported upon an underside of a rotatable vehicle seat and including a pair of spaced apart support plates, between which are pivotally supported a hook rotatable between a floor supported striker engaging position and a further position permitting rotation of the seat. A cam is also supported between the plates and triggers actuation of the hook. A pair of pliant and resilient portions are supported within mounting apertures associated with the plate, an open interior of each resilient portion receiving a mounting fastener for securing the plate to the seat and providing a degree of height compensation between the latch and striker. The pliant and resilient portions include a pair of rubberized bushings sandwiched between the support plates, each of the bushings further including an integrally formed grommet supported within first and second aligning pairs of mounting apertures associated with the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley D. Pacolt
  • Patent number: 8807634
    Abstract: A cowl-top cover 10 for covering a vehicle body between a front window shield and a front hood is provided with: a seal portion abutting against a rear end lower part of the front hood; and a longitudinal wall portion 1 that supports the seal portion and that is erected in a vertical direction of a vehicle, wherein the longitudinal wall 1 includes a stepped portion 3 that is extended along the vertical direction, the longitudinal wall being shaped to be wavy in a widthwise direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasumasa Horimizu
  • Patent number: 8801087
    Abstract: A cowl cross assembly includes a cowl cross bar positioned in the front region of a vehicle body, and a cowl cross half-panel joined to one end of the cowl cross bar. A part of the cowl cross bar made of a steel material is cut, and the cowl cross half-panel made of a plastic material is mounted to the cowl cross bar, thereby reducing the weight and the cost and reinforcing the strength to support the air conditioning equipment. In addition, the cowl cross bar can be easily joined to the cowl cross half-panel to improve the workability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hyun Kim, Hee Sang Park, June Kyu Park, Jung Hwan Yun, Jun Mo Ku, Jin Tae Kim, Hi Su Cho
  • Patent number: 8794687
    Abstract: A saddle-type vehicle includes an accommodation box, left and right rear frames, a seat, and an electric part accommodation section. The rear frames are disposed at a rear portion of the accommodation box, adjacent an opening of the accommodation box. A rear cross frame connects the left and right rear frames to each other, and the electric part accommodation section is at least partially disposed inside of the accommodation box at a location which is disposed below the rear cross frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dai Hiwatashi
  • Patent number: 8789871
    Abstract: A convertible with a roof arrangement can be displaced between a closed position and an open position. The roof arrangement is accommodated in a storage compartment, and which has a roof outer skin (convertible-top cloth) with a graphical element on the external visible side. A visually attractive roof arrangement is distinguished in that the graphical element is arranged on the external visible side in such a manner that it is completely visible from the outside of the vehicle both in the closed position and in the open position, and the storage compartment is configured to be completely open or partially open upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Reiner Armbruster
  • Patent number: 8783756
    Abstract: A rear arm assembly for a tarp cover system comprising a main roller arm, the rear arm assembly comprising a first arm that is secured to the main roller arm of the tarp cover system by a first connecting member, a second arm that is pivotally attached to the first arm, and a third arm that is connected to the second arm by a second connecting member that is curved at a roughly ninety-degree angle. The rear arm assembly is not attached to the tailgate at any point other than at the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Bismarck Canvas, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay A. Schmeichel
  • Patent number: 8777296
    Abstract: A step unit that guides a sliding door of a vehicle includes a step member and a rail plate member. The step member includes first and second lower rails. The first lower rail has two ends that face toward each other to form a cutout portion in between. The rail plate member is arranged in the cutout portion. The step member includes an insertion hole and an extended portion. The insertion hole is located at a position corresponding to the cutout portion. The extended portion is extended from at least one of the two ends to support the rail plate member against a load received by the rail plate member from the roller. The rail plate member is inserted through the insertion hole from above the upper side of the step member and fixed by a fastening member to the step member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichi Suzuki, Tsutomu Takeuchi, Toshihiko Ishida
  • Patent number: 8777294
    Abstract: A device for container cover support with spat, spar shaft, and spar shaft rotation lock. Rotation of the spar shaft along a non-vertical axis located along the outer surface of the container sidewall causes the spar to rotate upward and alternatively to uncover the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventor: David William Clark
  • Patent number: 8757709
    Abstract: A reinforced B-pillar assembly that achieves improved side impact resistance is provided in which the B-pillar assembly is mechanically coupled to an outer mounting surface of the rocker panel as well as to an extended brace that is attached to the upper and rear mounting surfaces of the rocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Dore Rawlinson, Michael John Baldwin, Hitendra Laxmidas Gadhiya
  • Patent number: 8714630
    Abstract: A flat vehicle body component made of a carbon fiber reinforced plastic has at least one interconnecting web that protrudes from the flat vehicle body component and that is made entirely of the matrix material epoxy resin. A mounting part at least partially envelops the interconnecting web in a force locking manner, so that the mounting part is clamped securely on the interconnecting web. The mounting part has at least one hole that can be used for fastening another component. An additional component may be fastened in the hole in a conventional manner, so that the carbon fiber reinforced plastic component does not need corresponding holes. The interconnecting web may be integrally molded on the vehicle body component during its manufacture so that practically no additional engineering effort is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Philipp Schmied, Carsten Mueller, Rastislav Takacs, Thomas Schnaufer, Siegfried Stoeckl
  • Patent number: 8702161
    Abstract: An energy absorbing and distributing side impact system for use with a vehicle is provided, the system utilizing a collapsible side sill along with multiple vehicle cross-members to achieve the desired level of vehicle side impact resistance, the combination of these elements absorbing and distributing the impact load throughout the vehicle structure. A battery pack enclosure that includes a plurality of cross-members that transverse the battery pack enclosure also help to absorb and distribute at least a portion of the load received when either the first or second side of the vehicle receives a side impact. In this configuration the battery pack enclosure is positioned between the front and rear vehicle suspension assemblies and mounted between, and mechanically coupled to, the side sill assemblies. In addition to providing rigidity, strength and impact resistance, the battery pack cross-members segregate the batteries contained within the battery pack enclosure into battery groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexi Charbonneau, Malcolm Burgess, Vivek Attaluri, Hitendra Laxmidas Gadhiya, Alan Paul Clarke, Peter Dore Rawlinson, Robert David Sumpf, Jr., Bruce Philip Edwards
  • Patent number: 8702155
    Abstract: A cowl louver sealing structure that is capable of being positioned between a cowl louver and a hood of a vehicle may include an elastic sealing member capable of closing a space between an inner surface of the hood and the cowl louver. The sealing member is directly attached to the cowl louver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Kojima Press Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kosuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8696051
    Abstract: An energy absorbing and distributing side impact system for use with a vehicle is provided, the system utilizing a collapsible side sill assembly along with multiple vehicle cross-members to achieve the desired level of vehicle side impact resistance, the combination of these elements absorbing and distributing the impact load throughout the vehicle structure. The collapsible side sill assembly includes a side sill insert, the insert divided into a collapsible portion designed to absorb impact energy and a reacting portion designed to distribute the impact energy to the vehicle cross-members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexi Charbonneau, Malcolm Burgess, Vivek Attaluri, Hitendra Laxmidas Gadhiya
  • Patent number: 8678460
    Abstract: A vehicle accessory assembly includes a housing and a vehicle accessory subassembly, including a vehicle accessory and a bezel, installed in the housing. The housing includes a side panel having at least one tab extending from a top of the side panel. The vehicle accessory includes a side wall and a guide rib extending from the side wall in a direction away from a center of the accessory. The guide rib includes a guide portion. A guide angle between the guide portion and the side wall is less than about 90°. The bezel includes a snap portion. As the vehicle accessory subassembly is installed on the housing, the tab of the side panel engages the guide portion of the guide rib such that the guide portion of the guide rib guides the tab over an outboard side of the snap portion into engagement with the receiving slot of the bezel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jan-Michael Francis Stachura, Toshinao Wada
  • Patent number: 8678480
    Abstract: There is provided a functional panel that can be joined and disassembled with ease by solving problems with a functional panel including electrical conductors integrally molded therewith, causing occurrence of cracking on the surface thereof, or cracking of a molded unit around the periphery of the electrical conductor, thereby rendering the electrical conductor susceptible to a break when a flexural load, an impact load, and so forth, acts on the functional panel. The functional panel comprises a main body of a panel member, an electrical conductor coated with a semi-cured resin having heat resistance and insulation properties, and a reinforcing fiber having a continuous filament, for fixing the electrical conductor to the main body of the panel member to thereby provide enhancement, and the functional panel is formed by exposing one end, and the other end of the electrical conductor from respective end faces of the panel member formed by integral molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiko Sawada, Hiroshi Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8678474
    Abstract: A resilient strut adapted to secure an aerodynamic skirt to a trailer is provided, the aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel including a front portion and a rear portion adapted to be substantially longitudinally mounted to the trailer, the skirt panel being adapted to move away from the aerodynamic configuration when contacting a foreign object and to recover its aerodynamic configuration thereafter, the resilient strut includes a shape variation adapted to change the mechanical strength thereof and also adapted to sustain an elastic deformation allowing the resilient strut to bend when a load is applied to the resilient strut when the skirt panel moves away from the aerodynamic configuration and to self-recover its original shape when the load is removed. A kit of resilient struts, a method thereof and a trailer equipped with same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Transtex Composite Inc.
    Inventors: Mathieu Boivin, Philippe Desjardins, Mathieu Desjardins
  • Patent number: 8678464
    Abstract: An ATV includes a vehicle frame, a straddle type seat mounted to the frame for a driver, and a passenger support assembly positioned rearward of the driver. The passenger support assembly is comprised of a seat frame assembly and a seat assembly. The seat assembly is removably mounted to the seat frame assembly, and the seat frame assembly is pivotally movable relative to the vehicle frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Smith, Richard D. Ripley, Scott D. Taylor