Patents by Inventor Christopher M. Higgins
Christopher M. Higgins 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).
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Publication number: 20260138447Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a vehicle audible support system include one or more vehicle sensors, a vehicle speaker, a data storage device, and one or more processors (e.g., one or more ECUs) in electronic communication with the vehicle sensor(s) and the data storage device. The processor(s) is/are configured to receive a vehicle sensor input via the one or more vehicle sensors and, in response to determining that the vehicle sensor input matches a preset input stored in the data storage device, output an audio signal to the vehicle speaker with a predetermined message to provide assistance to a driver of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2024Publication date: May 21, 2026Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Christopher M. Higgins, Markiyan Andruchowycz
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Publication number: 20250376364Abstract: An aerial lift that is interlocked with a fall-protection apparatus and is further interlocked with at least one additional safety apparatus. The serial lift is equipped with a monitoring system that is configured to detect whether a connector of a safety line of the fall-protection apparatus appears to be connected to a safety harness of a user of the aerial lift.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2025Publication date: December 11, 2025Inventors: Jonathan J. Lepp, Christopher J. Reineke, Kristin M. Mikes, Donaldo J. Medeiros, Jeffrey T. Keacher, Aline H. Hinkle, Christopher M. Higgins, Heidi A. Lopez-Hidalgo, Tyler B. Henn, Lauren K. Carlson, Michael T. Weiss
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Publication number: 20250313444Abstract: An aerial lift that is interlocked with a fall-protection safety apparatus and may be further interlocked with at least one additional safety apparatus. The aerial lift is equipped with a monitoring system that is configured to detect whether a connector of a safety line of the fall-protection apparatus appears to be connected to a safety harness of a user of the aerial lift.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2025Publication date: October 9, 2025Inventors: Jonathan J. Lepp, Christopher J. Reineke, Kristin M. Mikes, Donaldo J. Medeiros, Jeffrey T. Keacher, Aline H. Hinkle, Christopher M. Higgins, Heidi A. Lopez-Hidalgo, Tyler B. Henn, Lauren K. Carlson, Michael T. Weiss
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Patent number: 12428278Abstract: An aerial lift that is interlocked with a fall-protection safety apparatus and may be further interlocked with at least one additional safety apparatus. The aerial lift is equipped with a monitoring system that is configured to detect whether a connector of a safety line of the fall-protection apparatus appears to be connected to a safety harness of a user of the aerial lift.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2022Date of Patent: September 30, 2025Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Jonathan J. Lepp, Christopher J. Reineke, Kristin M. Mikes, Donaldo J. Medeiros, Jeffrey T. Keacher, Aline H. Hinkle, Christopher M. Higgins, Heidi A. Lopez-Hidalgo, Tyler B. Henn, Lauren K. Carlson, Michael T. Weiss
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Patent number: 12371311Abstract: An aerial lift that is interlocked with a fall-protection safety apparatus and may be further interlocked with at least one additional safety apparatus. The aerial lift is equipped with a monitoring system that is configured to detect whether a connector of a safety line of the fall-protection apparatus appears to be connected to a safety harness of a user of the aerial lift.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2024Date of Patent: July 29, 2025Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Jonathan J. Lepp, Christopher J. Reineke, Kristin M. Mikes, Donaldo J. Medeiros, Jeffrey T. Keacher, Aline H. Hinkle, Christopher M. Higgins, Heidi A. Lopez-Hidalgo, Tyler B. Henn, Lauren K. Carlson, Michael T. Weiss
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Publication number: 20240270554Abstract: An aerial lift that is interlocked with a fall-protection safety apparatus and may be further interlocked with at least one additional safety apparatus. The aerial lift is equipped with a monitoring system that is configured to detect whether a connector of a safety line of the fall-protection apparatus appears to be connected to a safety harness of a user of the aerial lift.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2022Publication date: August 15, 2024Inventors: Jonathan J. Lepp, Christopher J. Reineke, Kristin M. Mikes, Donaldo J. Medeiros, Jeffrey T. Keacher, Aline H. Hinkle, Christopher M. Higgins, Heidi A. Lopez-Hidalgo, Tyler B. Henn, Lauren K. Carlson, Michael T. Weiss
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Publication number: 20240161593Abstract: An aerial lift that is interlocked with a fall-protection safety apparatus and may be further interlocked with at least one additional safety apparatus. The aerial lift is equipped with a monitoring system that is configured to detect whether a connector of a safety line of the fall-protection apparatus appears to be connected to a safety harness of a user of the aerial lift.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2024Publication date: May 16, 2024Inventors: Jonathan J. Lepp, Christopher J. Reineke, Kristin M. Mikes, Donaldo J. Medeiros, Jeffrey T. Keacher, Aline H. Hinkle, Christopher M. Higgins, Heidi A. Lopez-Hidalgo, Tyler B. Henn, Lauren K. Carlson, Michael T. Weiss
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Patent number: 11319000Abstract: A stake assembly is disclosed with reference to a vehicle that includes a bed with a deck and a wall, and a rail secured to the wall. The stake assembly includes a stake axis, a stake base, a rail adaptor supported from the stake base, and a deck adaptor supported from the stake base. The stake base extends along the stake axis. The rail adaptor extends laterally to the stake axis beside the stake base and is configured to secure to the rail. The deck adaptor extends along the stake axis beneath the stake base and is configured to secure to the deck.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Christopher M. Higgins
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Patent number: 11235817Abstract: A vehicular body structure includes a polymeric deck panel. The deck panel includes an adjacent ridge and valley with a leg shared therebetween, a crossbeam footprint crosswise to the adjacent ridge and valley, and a rib extending along the adjacent ridge and valley. Outside the crossbeam footprint, the rib extends along the ridge, approaching the crossbeam footprint, the rib extends along the leg into the valley, and across the crossbeam footprint, the rib extends along the valley.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2020Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Christopher M. Higgins, Matthew A. Jansma
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Publication number: 20210403096Abstract: A vehicular body structure includes a polymeric deck panel. The deck panel includes an adjacent ridge and valley with a leg shared therebetween, a crossbeam footprint crosswise to the adjacent ridge and valley, and a rib extending along the adjacent ridge and valley. Outside the crossbeam footprint, the rib extends along the ridge, approaching the crossbeam footprint, the rib extends along the leg into the valley, and across the crossbeam footprint, the rib extends along the valley.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2020Publication date: December 30, 2021Inventors: Christopher M. Higgins, Matthew A. Jansma
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Patent number: 11155300Abstract: A vehicular body structural arrangement includes a polymeric deck panel. The deck panel includes corrugations, a crosswise crossbeam footprint and, along a partial length of the crossbeam footprint, two features for securing a crossbeam thereto. The corrugations include an adjacent ridge and valley. The features include a first feature having a first direction along the deck panel, and a second feature having a second direction toward the deck panel. The first feature includes a unitarily-formed web projecting normally to the deck panel past the ridge, and a rivet nut installed to the web against a backing facing the first direction. The second feature includes a unitarily-formed stanchion behind the web projecting normally to the deck panel from inside the valley, and a threaded insert seated in the stanchion facing the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Continental Structural Plastics, Inc.Inventors: Matthew A. Jansma, Christopher M. Higgins, Steven D. Harmon, Jr.
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Publication number: 20210323607Abstract: A vehicular body structural arrangement includes a polymeric deck panel. The deck panel includes corrugations, a crosswise crossbeam footprint and, along a partial length of the crossbeam footprint, two features for securing a crossbeam thereto. The corrugations include an adjacent ridge and valley. The features include a first feature having a first direction along the deck panel, and a second feature having a second direction toward the deck panel. The first feature includes a unitarily-formed web projecting normally to the deck panel past the ridge, and a rivet nut installed to the web against a backing facing the first direction. The second feature includes a unitarily-formed stanchion behind the web projecting normally to the deck panel from inside the valley, and a threaded insert seated in the stanchion facing the second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2020Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Matthew A. Jansma, Christopher M. Higgins, Steven D. Harmon, JR.
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Patent number: 11136071Abstract: A vehicular body structural arrangement includes a unitarily-formed polymeric bed box including a bulkhead panel, an elongate reinforcement including a spine, and a row of rivet nuts securing the reinforcement to the bulkhead panel in an unconcealed manner. The reinforcement is backed against the bulkhead panel from outside the bed box. The rivet nuts are installed to the bulkhead panel against the reinforcement facing inside the bed box.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Christopher M. Higgins, Matthew A. Jansma, Herbert Meingast, Naoya Ashida
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Patent number: 11104260Abstract: A bed for a vehicle can include tie down anchors that extend at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. As a result, the tie down anchors can match a loading direction of a strap or other securement device, thereby minimizing or avoiding bending moments on the tie down anchors. The bed can include a tie down flange provided at an interface between a transverse wall and a side wall of the bed. A recess being defined on an outer side of the bed at the location of the tie down flange. A tie down anchor operatively connected to the tie down flange.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Matthew A. Jansma, Christopher M. Higgins
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Publication number: 20210171126Abstract: A stake assembly is disclosed with reference to a vehicle that includes a bed with a deck and a wall, and a rail secured to the wall. The stake assembly includes a stake axis, a stake base, a rail adaptor supported from the stake base, and a deck adaptor supported from the stake base. The stake base extends along the stake axis. The rail adaptor extends laterally to the stake axis beside the stake base and is configured to secure to the rail. The deck adaptor extends along the stake axis beneath the stake base and is configured to secure to the deck.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2019Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventor: Christopher M. Higgins
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Patent number: 10946905Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame rail, a crossbeam resting atop the frame rail, a deck panel resting atop the crossbeam, an adaptor resting inside the crossbeam, and a fastener extending from atop the adaptor to the frame rail through the adaptor and the crossbeam. The deck panel includes an aperture and a bordering area around the aperture. The adaptor rises through the aperture and overtop the bordering area. The fastener overhangs the bordering area and is engaged with the adaptor overtop the bordering area, and is secured to the frame rail. The fastener thereby secures the adaptor to the frame rail against the crossbeam without tightening against the deck panel at the bordering area.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2019Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Matthew A. Jansma, Christopher M. Higgins
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Patent number: 10906594Abstract: A vehicular body structure includes a polymeric deck panel. The deck panel includes adjacent ridges and valleys with legs shared therebetween, crossbeam footprints crosswise to the adjacent ridges and valleys, and ribs extending along the adjacent ridges and valleys between the crossbeam footprints and ending short thereof. The ribs project normally to the deck panel past the ridges, and have elongate cross-sectional shapes, with cross-sectional thicknesses substantially the same as or greater than the cross-sectional thicknesses of the adjacent ridges and valleys.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Matthew A. Jansma, Christopher M. Higgins, Herbert Meingast, Wei Jiang, Naoya Ashida, Yuki Yoshimura
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Publication number: 20200377156Abstract: A vehicular body structure includes a polymeric deck panel. The deck panel includes adjacent ridges and valleys with legs shared therebetween, crossbeam footprints crosswise to the adjacent ridges and valleys, and ribs extending along the adjacent ridges and valleys between the crossbeam footprints and ending short thereof. The ribs project normally to the deck panel past the ridges, and have elongate cross-sectional shapes, with cross-sectional thicknesses substantially the same as or greater than the cross-sectional thicknesses of the adjacent ridges and valleys.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2019Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Matthew A. Jansma, Christopher M. Higgins, Herbert Meingast, Wei Jiang, Naoya Ashida, Yuki Yoshimura
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Publication number: 20200324832Abstract: A vehicular body structural arrangement includes a unitarily-formed polymeric bed box including a bulkhead panel, an elongate reinforcement including a spine, and a row of rivet nuts securing the reinforcement to the bulkhead panel. The reinforcement is backed against the bulkhead panel from outside the bed box. The rivet nuts are installed to the bulkhead panel against the reinforcement facing inside the bed box.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2019Publication date: October 15, 2020Inventors: Christopher M. Higgins, Matthew A. Jansma, Herbert Meingast, Naoya Ashida
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Publication number: 20200317277Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame rail, a crossbeam resting atop the frame rail, a deck panel resting atop the crossbeam, an adaptor resting inside the crossbeam, and a fastener extending from atop the adaptor to the frame rail through the adaptor and the crossbeam. The deck panel includes an aperture and a bordering area around the aperture. The adaptor rises through the aperture and overtop the bordering area. The fastener overhangs the bordering area and is engaged with the adaptor overtop the bordering area, and is secured to the frame rail. The fastener thereby secures the adaptor to the frame rail against the crossbeam without tightening against the deck panel at the bordering area.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2019Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Matthew A. Jansma, Christopher M. Higgins