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).

  • Publication number: 20260138447
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2024
    Publication date: May 21, 2026
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Christopher M. Higgins, Markiyan Andruchowycz
  • Publication number: 20250376364
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2025
    Publication date: December 11, 2025
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20250313444
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2025
    Publication date: October 9, 2025
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 12428278
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2025
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 12371311
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20240270554
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20240161593
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 11319000
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher M. Higgins
  • Patent number: 11235817
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Higgins, Matthew A. Jansma
  • Publication number: 20210403096
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher M. Higgins, Matthew A. Jansma
  • Patent number: 11155300
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Continental Structural Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Jansma, Christopher M. Higgins, Steven D. Harmon, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210323607
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew A. Jansma, Christopher M. Higgins, Steven D. Harmon, JR.
  • Patent number: 11136071
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Higgins, Matthew A. Jansma, Herbert Meingast, Naoya Ashida
  • Patent number: 11104260
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Jansma, Christopher M. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20210171126
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventor: Christopher M. Higgins
  • Patent number: 10946905
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Jansma, Christopher M. Higgins
  • Patent number: 10906594
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Jansma, Christopher M. Higgins, Herbert Meingast, Wei Jiang, Naoya Ashida, Yuki Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20200377156
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew A. Jansma, Christopher M. Higgins, Herbert Meingast, Wei Jiang, Naoya Ashida, Yuki Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20200324832
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher M. Higgins, Matthew A. Jansma, Herbert Meingast, Naoya Ashida
  • Publication number: 20200317277
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew A. Jansma, Christopher M. Higgins