Patents by Inventor Benjamin Warren Penner

Benjamin Warren Penner 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: 11758967
    Abstract: A bicycle helmet system comprising a helmet and a chin bar is disclosed. The chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet and wrapped circumferentially around a portion of the helmet. The chin bar may include a rear buckle configured to tighten the chin bar around the helmet. The chin bar may also include two side buckles that engage with side recesses on the helmet when the chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet. The chin bar may also include two alignment protrusions positioned to engage with alignment recesses on the helmet when the chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Erin Kyle Ellison, Eamon Briggs, Benjamin Warren Penner
  • Publication number: 20210378347
    Abstract: A bicycle helmet system comprising a helmet and a chin bar is disclosed. The chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet and wrapped circumferentially around a portion of the helmet. The chin bar may include a rear buckle configured to tighten the chin bar around the helmet. The chin bar may also include two side buckles that engage with side recesses on the helmet when the chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet. The chin bar may also include two alignment protrusions positioned to engage with alignment recesses on the helmet when the chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Erin Kyle Ellison, Eamon Briggs, Benjamin Warren Penner
  • Patent number: 11129432
    Abstract: A bicycle helmet system comprising a helmet and a chin bar is disclosed. The chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet and wrapped circumferentially around a portion of the helmet. The chin bar may include a rear buckle configured to tighten the chin bar around the helmet. The chin bar may also include two side buckles that engage with side recesses on the helmet when the chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet. The chin bar may also include two alignment protrusions positioned to engage with alignment recesses on the helmet when the chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Erin Kyle Ellison, Eamon Briggs, Benjamin Warren Penner
  • Patent number: 10507610
    Abstract: A molded component having a thickness reduction feature is provided. The molded component can include an injection molded polymer substrate having a front panel, a side panel, and a corner between and adjoining the front panel and the side panel. The substrate can also have a groove extending along the corner between the front panel and the side panel, the groove having a front panel edge and a side panel edge. The front panel edge and/or side panel edge have a dentil profile edge, the dentil profile edge reducing an effective thickness of the corner and thus providing increased or controlled cooling of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Warren Penner, Kerry Scott Zellner, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190216161
    Abstract: A bicycle helmet system comprising a helmet and a chin bar is disclosed. The chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet and wrapped circumferentially around a portion of the helmet. The chin bar may include a rear buckle configured to tighten the chin bar around the helmet. The chin bar may also include two side buckles that engage with side recesses on the helmet when the chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet. The chin bar may also include two alignment protrusions positioned to engage with alignment recesses on the helmet when the chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Erin Kyle Ellison, Eamon Briggs, Benjamin Warren Penner
  • Patent number: 10238165
    Abstract: A bicycle helmet system comprising a helmet and a chin bar is disclosed. The chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet and wrapped circumferentially around a portion of the helmet. The chin bar may include a rear buckle configured to tighten the chin bar around the helmet. The chin bar may also include two side buckles that engage with side recesses on the helmet when the chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet. The chin bar may also include two alignment protrusions positioned to engage with alignment recesses on the helmet when the chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Erin Kyle Ellison, Eamon Briggs, Benjamin Warren Penner
  • Publication number: 20150250255
    Abstract: A bicycle helmet system comprising a helmet and a chin bar is disclosed. The chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet and wrapped circumferentially around a portion of the helmet. The chin bar may include a rear buckle configured to tighten the chin bar around the helmet. The chin bar may also include two side buckles that engage with side recesses on the helmet when the chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet. The chin bar may also include two alignment protrusions positioned to engage with alignment recesses on the helmet when the chin bar is removably coupled to the helmet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Erin Kyle Ellison, Eamon Briggs, Benjamin Warren Penner
  • Patent number: 9036857
    Abstract: An adaptive speaker panel is provided. The speaker panel can have a speaker opening and a pair of concentric sealing ribs proximate to the speaker opening, the pair of sealing ribs having a first sealing rib and a second sealing rib towards a center of the speaker opening from the first sealing rib. The first sealing rib is first sealing rib dimensioned to seal against a first speaker basket and the second sealing rib dimensioned to seal against a second speaker basket that is smaller than the first speaker basket. Also, the first sealing rib and the second sealing rib are operatively arranged such that without modification to the speaker panel the first speaker basket or the second speaker basket can be attached to and sealed against the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry Scott Zellner, Jr., Benjamin Warren Penner
  • Patent number: 8915412
    Abstract: A cup holder assembly for use in an automotive vehicle is provided. The cup holder assembly includes a panel and cup holder. The panel includes a top surface. The top surface includes at least one beverage container opening configured to receive a cup holder. A pocket is formed on the top surface of the panel and a cushion is disposed within the pocket. The panel may be covered with a skin such as a synthetic leather so as to cover the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Lauren M. Abro, Benjamin Warren Penner
  • Patent number: 8770775
    Abstract: A cup holder assembly having a storage compartment adapted to receive a beverage container is provided. The storage compartment includes a recessed portion, and a top ring having a bottom planar surface is mounted onto the recessed portion. The recessed portion further includes a radiused inner edge exposed to the space of the storage compartment. A light source is mounted along the radiused inner edge. Light from the light source is reflected from the planar surface onto the radiused inner edge. A light shield extends beneath the bottom planar surface of the top ring so as to shield the light source from view of the passengers and driver of the vehicle yet allow light to pass from the light source onto the radiused inner edge of the cup holder assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Lauren M. Abro, Que-Whang Rhee, Benjamin Warren Penner
  • Patent number: 8616607
    Abstract: The instrument panel assembly for an automotive vehicle includes an instrument panel and a component. The instrument panel includes an exterior surface and a cutout portion having a base which is recessed from the exterior surface. The cutout portion includes an inner wall extending between the base and the exterior surface of the instrument panel. The component attaches to the instrument panel. The component includes an engagement portion located at a distal end. The distal end of the engagement portion is at least partially received within the cutout portion of the instrument panel. The engagement of the distal end of the engagement portion of the component within the cutout portion of the instrument panel provides a continuous contact between the outer surface of the engagement portion and the inner wall of the cutout portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry Scott Zellner, Jr., Benjamin Warren Penner
  • Publication number: 20130260098
    Abstract: A molded component having a thickness reduction feature is provided. The molded component can include an injection molded polymer substrate having a front panel, a side panel, and a corner between and adjoining the front panel and the side panel. The substrate can also have a groove extending along the corner between the front panel and the side panel, the groove having a front panel edge and a side panel edge. The front panel edge and/or side panel edge have a dentil profile edge, the dentil profile edge reducing an effective thickness of the corner and thus providing increased or controlled cooling of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Warren Penner, Kerry Scott Zellner, JR.
  • Publication number: 20130257085
    Abstract: The instrument panel assembly for an automotive vehicle includes an instrument panel and a component. The instrument panel includes an exterior surface and a cutout portion having a base which is recessed from the exterior surface. The cutout portion includes an inner wall extending between the base and the exterior surface of the instrument panel. The component attaches to the instrument panel. The component includes an engagement portion located at a distal end. The distal end of the engagement portion is at least partially received within the cutout portion of the instrument panel. The engagement of the distal end of the engagement portion of the component within the cutout portion of the instrument panel provides a continuous contact between the outer surface of the engagement portion and the inner wall of the cutout portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry Scott Zellner, JR., Benjamin Warren Penner
  • Publication number: 20130258670
    Abstract: A cup holder assembly having a storage compartment adapted to receive a beverage container is provided. The storage compartment includes a recessed portion, and a top ring having a bottom planar surface is mounted onto the recessed portion. The recessed portion further includes a radiused inner edge exposed to the space of the storage compartment. A light source is mounted along the radiused inner edge. Light from the light source is reflected from the planar surface onto the radiused inner edge. A light shield extends beneath the bottom planar surface of the top ring so as to shield the light source from view of the passengers and driver of the vehicle yet allow light to pass from the light source onto the radiused inner edge of the cup holder assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Lauren M. Abro, Que-Whang Rhee, Benjamin Warren Penner
  • Publication number: 20130255067
    Abstract: An adaptive speaker panel is provided. The speaker panel can have a speaker opening and a pair of concentric sealing ribs proximate to the speaker opening, the pair of sealing ribs having a first sealing rib and a second sealing rib spaced inwardly from the first scaling rib. The first and second sealing ribs are arranged such that without modification to the speaker panel, a speaker basket can seal against the first sealing rib if the basket is too large to seal against the second sealing rib, or in the alternative, the speaker basket can seal against the second sealing rib if the basket is too small to seal against the first sealing rib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry Scott Zellner, JR., Benjamin Warren Penner
  • Publication number: 20130256356
    Abstract: A cup holder assembly for use in an automotive vehicle is provided. The cup holder assembly includes a panel and cup holder. The panel includes a top surface. The top surface includes at least one beverage container opening configured to receive a cup holder. A pocket is formed on the top surface of the panel and a cushion is disposed within the pocket. The panel may be covered with a skin such as a synthetic leather so as to cover the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Lauren M. Abro, Benjamin Warren Penner
  • Patent number: 8287021
    Abstract: A vehicle interior handle assembly includes a handle comprising a front wall and a back wall. The front wall and back wall define a downwardly open pocket sized to receive one or more of an operator's fingers for a pulling operation to move the handle between latch and unlatch positions. A panel is adjacent the handle. The panel has a portion located behind the pocket with the handle in the latch position and a portion below the pocket with the handle in the latch position. The panel has an outer surface facing the handle having a contour such that a distance from the outer surface of the panel to an end of the back wall of the handle is maintained at less than a maximum distance as the handle is moved from the latch position to the unlatch position the maximum distance selected to prevent placement of a finger between the outer surface and the end of the back wall of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Warren Penner
  • Patent number: 8210589
    Abstract: A console assembly for a vehicle includes a housing including a front panel extending in a vertical direction. A cup holder assembly is in a cup holder-receiving volume within the housing. The cup holder-receiving volume is at least partially bounded by a partitioning panel having a horizontal portion extending toward the front panel. An interior panel is spaced rearward of the front panel. The interior panel extends in a vertical direction. An electrical component is mounted to at least one of the interior panel and the front panel and located between the interior panel and the front panel. A rib structure extends beyond the horizontal portion of the partitioning panel toward the front panel and that is located between the cup holder assembly and the electrical component. The rib structure is arranged and configured to direct liquid falling from the horizontal portion of the partitioning panel away from the electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Warren Penner, Chandan Chahande
  • Patent number: 8196985
    Abstract: A console assembly for use in an automotive vehicle is provided. The console assembly includes a housing having first end wall, a pair of side walls spaced apart from each other, and an open end spaced apart from the first end wall. Each of the pair of side walls has a free end. The free end extends from the first end wall so as to define a first storage compartment. Each of the pair of side walls also includes a slot extending longitudinally from the free end towards the first end wall. The console assembly further includes a storage box slidably engaged within the housing. The storage box has a second end wall and a pair of arms spaced apart from each other. Each of the pair of arms is configured to engage respective slots of the housing. The storage box is operable to move between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Warren Penner, Hiroyuki Morita
  • Patent number: 8162520
    Abstract: A lighting assembly for illuminating a console assembly of a vehicle includes a cup holder assembly in the console assembly having a cup-receiving volume. A storage bin in the console assembly has a storage volume. A light source assembly is mounted within the console assembly. The light source assembly illuminates the cup-receiving volume directly and illuminates the storage bin indirectly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
    Inventor: Benjamin Warren Penner