Patents by Inventor Diane T. Allen
Diane T. Allen 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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Patent number: 8550757Abstract: A flexible cargo bed tie-down system allows the user to easily change, adjust, customize, and adapt his or her vehicle to specific needs at any given moment, and interfaces with the rest of the vehicle in an optimum manner from a functional, structural, and aesthetic standpoint. One embodiment of the invention provides a vehicle having a side wall construction enclosing a cargo bed at a side of the cargo bed. The side wall construction includes an outer portion which runs generally vertically at an outer portion of the vehicle, and a top portion which runs generally horizontally from the outer portion toward a longitudinal center of the vehicle. A tie-down rail is mounted adjacent to the top portion such that a part of the top portion overhangs at least a portion of the tie-down rail. The tie-down rail is configured to accept a tie-down fitting and includes a slotted opening generally aligned with an interior edge of the top portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2007Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Anderson, Diane T. Allen, Stephen D. Ball
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Publication number: 20080219795Abstract: A flexible cargo bed tie-down system allows the user to easily change, adjust, customize, and adapt his or her vehicle to specific needs at any given moment, and interfaces with the rest of the vehicle in an optimum manner from a functional, structural, and aesthetic standpoint. One embodiment of the invention provides a vehicle having a side wall construction enclosing a cargo bed at a side of the cargo bed. The side wall construction includes an outer portion which runs generally vertically at an outer portion of the vehicle, and a top portion which runs generally horizontally from the outer portion toward a longitudinal center of the vehicle. A tie-down rail is mounted adjacent to the top portion such that a part of the top portion overhangs at least a portion of the tie-down rail. The tie-down rail is configured to accept a tie-down fitting and includes a slotted opening generally aligned with an interior edge of the top portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2007Publication date: September 11, 2008Inventors: Michael D. Anderson, Diane T. Allen, Stephen D. Ball
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Patent number: 7281889Abstract: A flexible cargo bed tie-down system allows the user to easily change, adjust, customize, and adapt his or her vehicle to specific needs at any given moment, and interfaces with the rest of the vehicle in an optimum manner from a functional, structural, and aesthetic standpoint. One embodiment of the invention provides a vehicle having a side wall construction enclosing a cargo bed at a side of the cargo bed. The side wall construction includes an outer portion which runs generally vertically at an outer portion of the vehicle, and a top portion which runs generally horizontally from the outer portion toward a longitudinal center of the vehicle. A tie-down rail is mounted adjacent to the top portion such that a part of the top portion overhangs at least a portion of the tie-down rail. The tie-down rail is configured to accept a tie-down fitting and includes a slotted opening generally aligned with an interior edge of the top portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2005Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Anderson, Diane T. Allen, Stephen D. Ball
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Patent number: 6846140Abstract: A flexible cargo bed tie-down system that allows the user to easily change, adjust, customize, and adapt his or her vehicle to specific needs at any given moment, and that interfaces with the rest of the truck in an optimum manner from a functional, structural, and aesthetic standpoint. Tie-down track(s) are provided that are integral with the body of the truck such that the exterior contour of the track(s) do not extend appreciably beyond the contour of the adjacent portions of the body. This permits the track(s) to blend in with the body of the truck, which improves functionality because the track(s) do not obstruct the placement of items on the truck. This also permits the portions of the body of the truck that support the tracks(s) to be specifically designed to take large loads, which thus allows the track(s) to support, separate and/or secure large loads.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2001Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Anderson, Diane T. Allen, Stephen D. Ball
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Patent number: 6712568Abstract: A flexible cargo bed tie-down system that allows the user to easily change, adjust, customize, and adapt his or her vehicle to specific needs at any given moment, and that interfaces with the rest of the vehicle in an optimum manner from a functional, structural, and aesthetic standpoint. Tie-down track(s) are provided that are integral with the body of the vehicle such that the exterior contour of the track(s) do not extend appreciably beyond the contour of the adjacent portions of the body. This permits the track(s) to blend in with the body of the vehicle, which improves functionality because the track(s) do not obstruct the placement of items on the vehicle. The track(s) are provided with a predetermined region that provides for controlled deformation of the vehicle body in case of a collision.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2002Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignees: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc., Nissan Design America, Inc.Inventors: Mark D. Snyder, Darren A. Womack, William G. Bowes, Michael D. Anderson, Diane T. Allen, Stephen Ball
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Publication number: 20020164225Abstract: A flexible cargo bed tie-down system that allows the user to easily change, adjust, customize, and adapt his or her vehicle to specific needs at any given moment, and that interfaces with the rest of the vehicle in an optimum manner from a functional, structural, and aesthetic standpoint. Tie-down track(s) are provided that are integral with the body of the vehicle such that the exterior contour of the track(s) do not extend appreciably beyond the contour of the adjacent portions of the body. This permits the track(s) to blend in with the body of the vehicle, which improves functionality because the track(s) do not obstruct the placement of items on the vehicle. The track(s) are provided with a predetermined region that provides for controlled deformation of the vehicle body in case of a collision.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2002Publication date: November 7, 2002Applicant: Nissan Design America, Inc.Inventors: Mark D. Snyder, Darren A. Womack, William G. Bowes, Michael D. Anderson, Diane T. Allen, Stephen D. Ball
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Publication number: 20020048495Abstract: A flexible cargo bed tie-down system that allows the user to easily change, adjust, customize, and adapt his or her vehicle to specific needs at any given moment, and that interfaces with the rest of the truck in an optimum manner from a functional, structural, and aesthetic standpoint. Tie-down track(s) are provided that are integral with the body of the truck such that the exterior contour of the track(s) do not extend appreciably beyond the contour of the adjacent portions of the body. This permits the track(s) to blend in with the body of the truck, which improves functionality because the track(s) do not obstruct the placement of items on the truck. This also permits the portions of the body of the truck that support the tracks(s) to be specifically designed to take large loads, which thus allows the track(s) to support, separate and/or secure large loads.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2001Publication date: April 25, 2002Applicant: Nissan Design America, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Anderson, Diane T. Allen, Stephen D. Ball
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Patent number: D500461Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2003Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Noguchi, Toshio Yamashita, Diane T. Allen
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Patent number: D501428Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2003Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masato Takahashi, Toshio Yamashita, Diane T. Allen