Patents by Inventor Aaron Richard Steinhilb

Aaron Richard Steinhilb has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9598114
    Abstract: An energy absorption member coupled between a vehicle front fender and a vehicle side structural member providing peak impact force resistance and energy absorption during an impact force imposed on the front fender. The energy absorption member extends continuously along the length of the front fender opposed from the side structural member to provide constant load along the entire length of the front fender. The energy absorption member may be a foamed block, a vertical, or horizontal oriented honeycomb structure or spaced hollow crush lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Richard Steinhilb
  • Patent number: 9580029
    Abstract: A bumper assembly includes a bumper reinforcement beam, a bumper energy absorber member coupled to a face of the bumper reinforcement beam, and a bumper cover reinforcement coupled to the bumper reinforcement beam, the bumper cover reinforcement including a base portion and an outward extending portion extending outward of the base portion in a vehicle longitudinal direction to an end, the bumper cover support portion including a horizontally extending portion and a vertically extending portion, where the at least one of the horizontally extending portion decreases in dimension in the vehicle lateral direction and the vertically extending portion decreases in dimension in the vehicle vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah Thomas Hammer, Aaron Richard Steinhilb
  • Patent number: 9573543
    Abstract: A vehicle including a bumper assembly includes a bumper reinforcement beam that extends generally in a vehicle lateral direction. The bumper reinforcement beam has a front face, a rear face opposite the front face and a top extending between the front face and the rear face. A bumper cover is located above the bumper reinforcement beam in a vehicle vertical direction. A bumper cover reinforcement includes an anchor portion supported on the bumper reinforcement beam and a bumper cover support portion extending outwardly from the anchor portion toward the bumper cover. The bumper cover support portion is arranged and configured to resist a downward force applied to the bumper cover in the vehicle vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah Thomas Hammer, Aaron Richard Steinhilb
  • Publication number: 20160355151
    Abstract: A bumper assembly includes a bumper reinforcement beam, a bumper energy absorber member coupled to a face of the bumper reinforcement beam, and a bumper cover reinforcement coupled to the bumper reinforcement beam, the bumper cover reinforcement including a base portion and an outward extending portion extending outward of the base portion in a vehicle longitudinal direction to an end, the bumper cover support portion including a horizontally extending portion and a vertically extending portion, where the at least one of the horizontally extending portion decreases in dimension in the vehicle lateral direction and the vertically extending portion decreases in dimension in the vehicle vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah Thomas Hammer, Aaron Richard Steinhilb
  • Publication number: 20160280164
    Abstract: A vehicle including a bumper assembly includes a bumper reinforcement beam that extends generally in a vehicle lateral direction. The bumper reinforcement beam has a front face, a rear face opposite the front face and a top extending between the front face and the rear face. A bumper cover is located above the bumper reinforcement beam in a vehicle vertical direction. A bumper cover reinforcement includes an anchor portion supported on the bumper reinforcement beam and a bumper cover support portion extending outwardly from the anchor portion toward the bumper cover. The bumper cover support portion is arranged and configured to resist a downward force applied to the bumper cover in the vehicle vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah Thomas Hammer, Aaron Richard Steinhilb
  • Patent number: 9352681
    Abstract: An attachment bracket for attaching one vehicle component, such as a headlamp housing, to another vehicle component includes a wall with an upper end flange and a rib structure defining stiffness along one axis of the vehicle component and having a buckle portion allowing buckling and deformation of the attachment bracket along at least one perpendicular axis to absorb energy. The rib structure includes at least one rib extending along the wall of the attachment bracket, where the at least one rib includes a shape defining an intermediate buckle portion along the rib. The at least one rib may have a laterally extending notch, a lateral offset segment, a curved segment, or a thinner segment. One or more apertures formed in the wall to define the buckle portion. Any rib configuration may be provided on one or all of the opposed major wall surfaces of the attachment bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Richard Steinhilb, Jeremiah Thomas Hammer
  • Publication number: 20160082878
    Abstract: An attachment bracket for attaching one vehicle component, such as a headlamp housing, to another vehicle component includes a wall with an upper end flange and a rib structure defining stiffness along one axis of the vehicle component and having a buckle portion allowing buckling and deformation of the attachment bracket along at least one perpendicular axis to absorb energy. The rib structure includes at least one rib extending along the wall of the attachment bracket, where the at least one rib includes a shape defining an intermediate buckle portion along the rib. The at least one rib may have a laterally extending notch, a lateral offset segment, a curved segment, or a thinner segment. One or more apertures formed in the wall to define the buckle portion. Any rib configuration may be provided on one or all of the opposed major wall surfaces of the attachment bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Aaron Richard Steinhilb, Jeremiah Thomas Hammer
  • Patent number: 9278715
    Abstract: A hood and, in particular, a hood inner panel for increasing pedestrian safety during a collision between a pedestrian and a motor vehicle. The hood inner panel includes two regions separated by an angled wall or a reinforcing structure which increases local rigidity. The rigidity of the hood inner panel in the vicinity of the angled wall is then adjusted for energy absorption by the inclusion of apertures which can increase the deformability of the hood inner panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Richard Steinhilb, Jeremiah Thomas Hammer
  • Publication number: 20160031487
    Abstract: An energy absorption member coupled between a vehicle front fender and a vehicle side structural member providing peak impact force resistance and energy absorption during an impact force imposed on the front fender. The energy absorption member extends continuously along the length of the front fender opposed from the side structural member to provide constant load along the entire length of the front fender. The energy absorption member may be a foamed block, a vertical, or horizontal oriented honeycomb structure or spaced hollow crush lobes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventor: Aaron Richard Steinhilb
  • Patent number: 9233657
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper structure includes a lateral arrangement of hollow lobes forming an energy absorption apparatus attached to a beam. The lobes are designed to provide a predetermined peak force resistance and a predetermined energy absorption capability. Local stiffening to increase the buckling resistance and energy absorption is provided by increased stiffness regions provided in one or more locations on one or more of the lobes. The local increased stiffness regions can be provided by an increased wall thickness surrounding apertures formed in selected shear walls of the lobes or a laterally outward offset in the shape of the shear walls of the lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Avinash S. Phadatare, Aaron Richard Steinhilb
  • Publication number: 20150054305
    Abstract: A hood and, in particular, a hood inner panel for increasing pedestrian safety during a collision between a pedestrian and a motor vehicle. The hood inner panel includes two regions separated by an angled wall or a reinforcing structure which increases local rigidity. The rigidity of the hood inner panel in the vicinity of the angled wall is then adjusted for energy absorption by the inclusion of apertures which can increase the deformability of the hood inner panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North america, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Richard Steinhilb, Jeremiah Thomas Hammer
  • Patent number: 8403391
    Abstract: An attachment bracket for mounting a fender of a vehicle to a side structural member includes a top portion that connects to the fender. A first vertical leg connects to the side structural member. The first vertical leg extends downwardly from an edge of the top portion. A second vertical leg connects to the side structural member. The second vertical leg extends downwardly from an opposite edge of the top portion. The first vertical leg includes a bend separating the first vertical leg into an upper portion and a lower portion. The first vertical leg has a central opening at the bend that is spaced vertically from the top portion and a bottom end of the first vertical leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Richard Steinhilb, Kyle Andrew Ott, Daniel Justin Koenen
  • Publication number: 20120200122
    Abstract: An attachment bracket for mounting a fender of a vehicle to a side structural member includes a top portion that connects to the fender. A first vertical leg connects to the side structural member. The first vertical leg extends downwardly from an edge of the top portion. A second vertical leg connects to the side structural member. The second vertical leg extends downwardly from an opposite edge of the top portion. The first vertical leg includes a bend separating the first vertical leg into an upper portion and a lower portion. The first vertical leg has a central opening at the bend that is spaced vertically from the top portion and a bottom end of the first vertical leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Richard Steinhilb, Kyle Andrew Ott, Daniel Justin Koenen
  • Patent number: 8182027
    Abstract: An attachment bracket for mounting a fender of a vehicle to a side structural member includes a top portion that connects to the fender. A first vertical leg connects to the side structural member. The first vertical leg extends downwardly from an edge of the top portion. A second vertical leg connects to the side structural member. The second vertical leg extends downwardly from an opposite edge of the top portion. The first vertical leg includes a bend separating the first vertical leg into an upper portion and a lower portion. The first vertical leg has a central opening at the bend that is spaced vertically from the top portion and a bottom end of the first vertical leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Richard Steinhilb, Kyle Andrew Ott, Daniel Justin Koenen
  • Patent number: 8136870
    Abstract: A windshield support assembly includes a cowl upper that extends in a vehicle widthwise direction and is configured to connect to a windshield, a cowl lower that extends in the vehicle widthwise direction and is configured to connect to the cowl upper, and multiple cowl braces connected to the cowl upper and the cowl lower. The cowl braces are spaced-apart from each other in the vehicle widthwise direction. Each cowl brace includes an upper portion, a lower portion and a continuous body portion connecting the upper portion and the lower portion. At least one of the upper portion and the lower portion includes multiple legs. Each leg is connected to the cowl upper or the cowl lower at spaced-apart locations along the vehicle widthwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Andrew Ott, Aaron Richard Steinhilb
  • Publication number: 20110068607
    Abstract: A cowl brace for supporting a cowl upper and a cowl lower of a windshield assembly is disclosed. The cowl brace includes an upper portion comprising a plurality of upper legs extending in an upper direction. The plurality of upper legs are spaced-apart from each other in a vehicle widthwise direction for connection to the cowl upper. A lower portion of the cowl brace extends in a lower direction for connection to the cowl lower. A continuous body portion of the cowl brace extends in the vehicle widthwise direction connecting the upper portion and the lower portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America
    Inventors: Kyle Andrew Ott, Aaron Richard Steinhilb
  • Publication number: 20100314518
    Abstract: An attachment bracket for mounting a fender of a vehicle to a side structural member includes a top portion that connects to the fender. A first vertical leg connects to the side structural member. The first vertical leg extends downwardly from an edge of the top portion. A second vertical leg connects to the side structural member. The second vertical leg extends downwardly from an opposite edge of the top portion. The first vertical leg includes a bend separating the first vertical leg into an upper portion and a lower portion. The first vertical leg has a central opening at the bend that is spaced vertically from the top portion and a bottom end of the first vertical leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Richard Steinhilb, Kyle Andrew Ott, Daniel Justin Koenen