Patents Examined by Scott Carpenter
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Patent number: 6491337Abstract: Tunnel region of a floor structure of a bodyshell f a motor vehicle and a transverse bridge. A tunnel region of a floor structure with a transverse bridge for reinforcing the tunnel region, which is held on the tunnel region by brackets fixed on side walls of the tunnel region. The side walls of the tunnel region are aligned vertically in the region in which the brackets are attached, and the brackets are positioned at the same height on the side walls.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2001Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Reinhard Averdiek, Harald Colmsee, Trong-Huang Duong
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Patent number: 6488142Abstract: The invention relates to a banderole handling device including at least one cassette arranged for supplying banderoles to a banderoling machine, a closure for the discharge end of each cassette and including a cassette support, wherein each cassette is arranged substantially vertically at the cassette support and is positionable above a banderole feeder chute of the banderoling machine. In addition, the invention relates to device for arresting a cassette including banderoles relative to a banderole feeder chute of a banderoling machine, including a closure for the discharge opening of the cassette wherein the closure is configured so that it is accommodated in a receiving portion arranged in a fixed position relative to the banderoling machine or banderole feeder chute during its opening operation. The invention relates further to a system for filling cassettes with stacks of banderoles, in which the cassettes are filled by means of a banderole stack feeder.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2000Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: British-American Tobacco (Germany) GmbHInventors: Rainer Herrmann, Thomas Jung, Rolf Kramp, Norbert Schulte, Wolfgang Wurf, Heiko Hertrich
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Patent number: 6474717Abstract: This publication describes a visor with a visor body that can be folded around the long axle leg of an L-shaped visor axle, that can be shifted parallel to said long axle leg and that is swingably positioned around a roughly vertically aligned short axle leg. Here, the short axle leg sits in a bearing block and the free terminal area of the long axle leg is positioned separably in a first bearing housing and the arrangement of the visor body is so made that it can be shifted along the long axle leg both beyond bearing block and beyond thrust bearing housing.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2001Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Lothar Viertel, Patrick Welter, Didier Weiss, Horst Karg, Hans-Gerhard Müller
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Patent number: 6474722Abstract: A structural reinforcement member for reinforcing a wheel well area of an automobile includes a carrier and a load distributing medium supported by the carrier. The carrier also may include a reinforced protrusion, two reinforced openings, and an outwardly extending flange. The flange includes a reinforced raised portion having a shape similar to that of the flange. The load distributing medium is a structural foam and preferably an epoxy-based resin. The preferred load distributing medium is L5206, L5207, L5208, or L5209 structural foam commercially available from L&L Products of Romeo, Mich.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2001Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: L&L ProductsInventor: William J. Barz
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Patent number: 6467829Abstract: A storage system for a vehicle spare tire having a tool retaining cover. The cover includes a main body defining tool retaining portions. The tool retaining portions frictionally retain tools placed in them.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2000Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignees: DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Lear CorporationInventors: Medard E Kaluszka, Norman H Bennett, Linda A Rivera
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Patent number: 6467822Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle with an energy-absorbent structure (1) and with a spoiler (2) made in one piece with the bumper or fastened thereto. To improve protection of pedestrians, it is proposed that spoiler (2) be limited in its deflection lengthwise of the vehicle by a support (3) mounted on the vehicle, with support (3) being located a radial distance behind spoiler (2).Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2000Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Kunststoff GmbHInventor: Robert Leng
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Patent number: 6464282Abstract: A convertible vehicle is equipped with a tailgate (2), which is provided in the rear region of the vehicle and is supported at the vehicle body so that it can be swiveled, on the one hand, by a movement (arrow A) about a first front swiveling axis (4) into a first open position, which opens up the trunk (6) to the rear and, on the other, by a movement (arrow B) about a second rear swiveling axis (7; 7′) into a second open position, opening up in the upward direction the compartment (8) for a folding top (3). Pursuant to the invention, the rear support of the tailgate (2) is formed by at least one closing device (12, 12′) with a supporting body (11), which is hinged over a hinge unit (10) at the tailgate (2) and can be introduced with its free end region into an accommodating body (14), which is attached to the body of the vehicle, and can be fixed in this connection position by a locking element (15).Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2001Date of Patent: October 15, 2002Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbHInventors: Peter Ellermann, Markus Exner, Detlef Steven
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Patent number: 6457767Abstract: A motor vehicle having a load-carrying post intended to support the roof structure of the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle (17) has a passenger compartment and an air-conditioning system intended to supply ventilation air to said passenger compartment via air ducts. The load-carrying post (1,31) accommodates at least one air duct (4,24), to which the air-conditioning system is connected, and includes at least one air-vent connection (7,27) which is arranged as to allow the ventilation air (6,26) to be directed in a first direction (9,29) essentially counter to the intended main direction of travel of said motor vehicle (17). The invention finds its main application when the aim is to achieve more flexible regulation of the ventilation air supplied in the region around what is known as the B-post, but also in order to avoid small children secured in child car-seats in the front or rear passenger space being exposed to unnecessary drafts.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2000Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: Volvo Person Vagnar ABInventor: Hassan Omarain
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Patent number: 6450567Abstract: A rear body of an automotive vehicle which includes three parts: a front body structural element, an intermediate body structural element, and a rear body structural element which are made of casts and joined together. The rigidity of the rear body is increased from the rear body structural element to the front body structural element, thereby facilitating the ease of a collapse of the rear body structural element in response to input of a rear-end collision impact for ensuring a protective structural area at a front side of the rear body.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2001Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Nissan Motor Co.Inventors: Ryuichi Toba, Atsushi Hanyu
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Patent number: 6447054Abstract: A vehicle access system includes an access opening for the passenger compartment that is closed by a swinging door in combination with an articulating door. The articulating door moves through an arc without angling away from the vehicle body and is supported on a hinge assembly that attaches near the center of the door. An arm assembly guides the door throughout its range of positions and maintain the door in an orientation that is substantially parallel to the vehicle body. When the doors are open, an uninterrupted access opening is provided to the area of the second and third seat rows of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2000Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Brad L Pietryga, Leon F. Van Eden
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Patent number: 6439652Abstract: For mounting an instrument panel onto a given portion in a motor vehicle, there is provided an instrument panel mounting structure. A cowl panel is arranged at the given portion. The cowl panel includes an upper panel part and a lower panel part which are united to constitute an inwardly protruding holder structure. The holder structure comprises a first section where the upper and lower panel parts intimately contact at mutually facing surfaces thereof and a second section where the upper and lower panel parts are spaced from each other at the mutually facing surfaces thereof. The second section constitutes a rear end of the holder structure. Catch devices are provided by the instrument panel. Each catch device includes a catch section and a guide section. The catch section is constructed to catch the rear end of the holder structure when brought to the rear end of the holder structure.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2001Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignees: Calsonic Kansei Corporation, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yukihisa Fujita, Takashi Takeuchi
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Patent number: 6439376Abstract: A pocket conveyor wherein a flexible toothed belt is fitted with conveying pockets equally spaced along the belt, and wherein each pocket is connected to the belt by a first and at least one second connecting member, both hinged to the belt; the first connecting member is connected rigidly to the pocket; and the second connecting member has at least one degree of freedom with respect to the pocket.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2000Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: G. D Societa' per AzioniInventors: Mario Spatafora, Loris Grepioni
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Patent number: 6435602Abstract: In a structure for attaching a pillar garnish according to the present invention, the structure includes: a reference attaching portion; a plurality of first movable attaching portions provided on a door side in a widthwise direction of the pillar garnish; and a plurality of second movable attaching portions provided on an widthwise outer side away from the door. Each of the first movable attaching portions allows only the thermal expansion and contraction of the pillar garnish in its longitudinal direction, while each of the second movable attaching portions allows the thermal expansion and contraction of the pillar garnish in its widthwise and longitudinal directions. In addition, since the arrangement provided is such that, at the second movable attaching portions, the pillar garnish is attached in such a manner as to urge the pillar garnish toward a widthwise reference position.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2000Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiro Sukegawa, Kiyoshi Kuramochi
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Patent number: 6431631Abstract: A device for releasably fastening a vehicle seat or parts of a vehicle seat includes at least one electrical contact element that can couple with an electric contact element on the vehicle side, in a motor vehicle having a locking mechanism that can be unlocked to remove the seat or parts of the seat from the motor vehicle. A removal lock prevents unlocking of the locking mechanism when the two contact elements are coupled. The removal lock includes a securing element which, when the contact elements are coupled together, is mounted between a movable locking element of the locking mechanism and a stop connected to the vehicle seat. The removal lock is forced by the locking element against the stop when an attempt is made to unlock the seat.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2001Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Jochen Hofmann, Gregor Kroener
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Patent number: 6431804Abstract: A preassembled endgate (10) for blocking movement of a load (12) along the floor (30) of a vehicle (14) includes a floor panel (40) adapted to extend along the vehicle floor, and a load panel (90) engageable with the load. The endgate (10) also comprises a first hinge (140-142) connected between the load panel (90) and the floor panel (40) to enable the load panel to pivot relative to the floor panel between (a) a stored condition in a side by side relationship with the floor panel and (b) a blocking condition extending upward from and transverse to the floor panel. The endgate (10) also comprises a brace panel (150) extending between and transverse to the load panel (90) and to the floor panel (40) to maintain the load panel in the blocking condition relative to the floor panel.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1999Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Inventor: John M. Wetzig, III
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Patent number: 6428080Abstract: A closure for an automotive vehicle has a sheet body mounted for pivotal movement about a rotational axis between open and closed positions. A pair of parallel stiffeners extend in a parallel relation from the rotational axis and each stiffener has a body or web with a mounting flange extending in perpendicular relation from one end of the web and a bowed flange extending from the opposite end of the web. The flanges have free edges and an inturned bead or curl is formed on each free edge for stiffening of the flanges.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2001Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Inventor: Carlos M. Ochoa
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Patent number: 6428077Abstract: A securing structure of vehicle auxiliary equipment comprises harness-side connection ends 11 having peripheral walls 11a in which wire harness-terminals 10 are embedded and portion of the wire harness-terminals 10 being exposed to inner peripheral surfaces of the peripheral walls 11a; grommet screws 13 integrally formed together with a bracket 2 and inserted into the harness-side connection ends 11 which are temporarily secured to securing holes 12; visor-side connection terminals 14 which are connected to electric wires 4 led out from a sun visor 1, and which abut against the wire harness terminals 10 when the grommet screws 13 are inserted into the harness-side connection ends 11; and bolt members 15 which are inserted into the grommet screws 13 in a state in which the grommet screws 13 are inserted into the harness-side connection ends 11, thereby finally securing the bracket 2 and the harness-side connection ends 11 to the securing holes 12.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2000Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Yazaki CorporationInventor: Masahiro Sawayanagi
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Patent number: 6428082Abstract: A tailgate mounting structure for minimizing vibration of a tailgate formed at a rear end of a vehicle. The structure includes a gate glass where a lower end of the gate glass is coupled to one end of a tailgate panel. The tailgate trim panel includes a rib formed at an extended tip end. The rib includes a coupling portion where each coupling portion is fitted with a sponge pad. The tailgate structure also includes inner and outer tailgate panels where the panels are coupled together and one end of the coupled panels or an extension of the coupled panels is inserted into the rib coupling portion of the tailgate trim panel between the sponge pad.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 1999Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Yong-Soo Kim
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Patent number: 6428078Abstract: A mounting assembly for installing a rotatable shaft, such as used with a vehicle visor, to an apertured panel. The mounting assembly includes an elbow rotatable within an inner bracket that is held within an outer bracket. One or more resilient locking arms of the inner bracket extend through openings in the outer bracket, and a catch portion of each locking arm overlays the panel distal surface to resist withdrawal of an installed mounting assembly. Each locking arm is configured such that when the inner bracket is moved axially relative to the outer bracket, the locking arm catch portion is radially retracted clear of the panel distal surface to allow proximal withdrawal of the installed mounting assembly. A method of mounting a visor to a vehicle is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2001Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Crotty CorporationInventor: Jeffrey L. Beaver
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Patent number: 6425620Abstract: Roof arrangement for a convertible with a rigid roof element (3), a rigid rear element (5) which has a rear window (31), a stowage space (16) for the folding roof located in the rear area of the vehicle for holding the roof arrangement (1), and a forced control mechanism (14) for opening and closing the roof arrangement (1), the rear element (5) having a U-shaped frame (23) with a rear lower cross strut (25) and two lateral C columns (29) and the rear window (31) with its rear lower edge being pivotally connected via the window pivot axis (33) to the bottom cross strut (25) of the rear element (5).Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2000Date of Patent: July 30, 2002Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbHInventors: Thomas Schütt, Stefan Miklosi