Patents by Inventor Donald Federico
Donald Federico 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: 11964719Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle having a breakaway tie rod. The tie rod has a longitudinal axis oriented substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and includes a rod portion and a receiver portion. The rod portion includes a proximal ball joint disposed at the proximal end and a male coupling section disposed at the distal end. The receiver portion includes a female coupling section disposed at the proximal end, a distal ball joint disposed at the distal end, and a narrowing feature disposed between the proximal end and distal end. The male coupling section of the rod portion is received into the female coupling section of the receiver portion, forming a connection, and the distal end of the rod portion is disposed proximate to the narrowing feature. The narrowing feature is configured to fracture when subjected to a threshold force substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2020Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Jeremiah T. Hammer, Brian L. Tew, Kristofer L. Karch, Nikhil V. Bhosale, John Kim, Donald Federico, Sato Koki, Isao Kohno
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Publication number: 20220055686Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle having a breakaway tie rod. The tie rod has a longitudinal axis oriented substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and includes a rod portion and a receiver portion. The rod portion includes a proximal ball joint disposed at the proximal end and a male coupling section disposed at the distal end. The receiver portion includes a female coupling section disposed at the proximal end, a distal ball joint disposed at the distal end, and a narrowing feature disposed between the proximal end and distal end. The male coupling section of the rod portion is received into the female coupling section of the receiver portion, forming a connection, and the distal end of the rod portion is disposed proximate to the narrowing feature. The narrowing feature is configured to fracture when subjected to a threshold force substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2020Publication date: February 24, 2022Inventors: Jeremiah T. Hammer, Brian L. Tew, Kristofer L. Karch, Nikhil V. Bhosale, John Kim, Donald Federico, Sato Koki, Isao Kohno
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Patent number: 9128510Abstract: The departure time scheduling control system includes an electric vehicle having an electric power storage device and an interior climate control device operable to vary an interior temperature. A user interface includes a display and an input portion which allows a user to schedule a departure time having a temperature setting and a charge mode setting having an immediate mode and a delayed mode. A charger unit controls the charging of the electric power storage device to the preset charge level accordingly to the charge mode setting by the departure time. A controller activates the interior climate control device to bring the interior temperature to the temperature setting by the departure time. The controller also activates the charger unit to charge the electric power storage device according to the charge mode setting to the preset charge level by said departure time.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2012Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Donald Federico, Yasushi Kondo, Daniel Todd Smith
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Publication number: 20130271074Abstract: The departure time scheduling control system includes an electric vehicle having an electric power storage device and an interior climate control device operable to vary an interior temperature. A user interface includes a display and an input portion which allows a user to schedule a departure time having a temperature setting and a charge mode setting having an immediate mode and a delayed mode. A charger unit controls the charging of the electric power storage device to the preset charge level accordingly to the charge mode setting by the departure time. A controller activates the interior climate control device to bring the interior temperature to the temperature setting by the departure time. The controller also activates the charger unit to charge the electric power storage device according to the charge mode setting to the preset charge level by said departure time.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2012Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Donald Federico, Yasushi Kondo, Daniel Todd Smith
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Publication number: 20130274968Abstract: An interior comfort control system that allows a driver and/or passenger of an electric vehicle to balance between driving range for the vehicle and interior comfort and thereby obtain an optimum driving range-interior comfort combination. The interior comfort control system can include an electric vehicle having an interior and an interior comfort control module (ICCM). The ICCM can have an Off-Mode, a Normal-Mode, and an Eco-Mode with the Normal-Mode operable to reach a desired vehicle interior temperature using a first air temperature change rate and the Eco-Mode operable to reach the same desired vehicle interior temperature using a second air temperature change rate, the second air temperature change rate being less than the first air temperature change rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2012Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicants: Denso Corporation, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Donald Federico, Nicholas Scott Sitarski, Daniel Todd Smith, Yasushi Kondo
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Patent number: 8240750Abstract: An air duct system which mates an air duct attached to the roof of an automotive vehicle and an air duct attached to a nonexposed surface of a headliner is provided. The air duct system is attached to an air supply which delivers directed air and is disposed between an inner surface of the roof and the nonexposed surface of the headliner. The headliner includes an opening into the passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle. The air duct system includes a first air duct and a second air duct. The first air duct is attached to the inner surface of the roof, and the second air duct is attached to the nonexposed surface of the headliner. Upon installation of the headliner to the roof a portal on the first air duct registers with a portal on the second air duct so as to provide an air flow passage between said first air duct and said second air duct.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2009Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Adam Michael Ludwig, Jeff Charles Hills, Donald Federico
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Publication number: 20110127803Abstract: An air duct system which mates an air duct attached to the roof of an automotive vehicle and an air duct attached to a nonexposed surface of a headliner is provided. The air duct system is attached to an air supply which delivers directed air and is disposed between an inner surface of the roof and the nonexposed surface of the headliner. The headliner includes an opening into the passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle. The air duct system includes a first air duct and a second air duct. The first air duct is attached to the inner surface of the roof, and the second air duct is attached to the nonexposed surface of the headliner. Upon installation of the headliner to the roof a portal on the first air duct registers with a portal on the second air duct so as to provide an air flow passage between said first air duct and said second air duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2009Publication date: June 2, 2011Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Johnson Controls, Inc.Inventors: Adam Michael Ludwig, Jeff Charles Hills, Donald Federico
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Publication number: 20110028077Abstract: A headliner duct for a heating-venting-air conditioning (HVAC) system in a motor vehicle is provided. The headliner duct can include a headliner and an elongated thermoformed aircap that has a wall and is bonded to a top side of the headliner. The thermoformed aircap and the headliner form an air duct, the air duct having an inlet and being operable to have an air flow pass therethrough. The elongated thermoformed aircap has an air-kick that is integral with the wall of the aircap and extends into an air flow region thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2009Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Adam Michael Ludwig, Donald Federico, Yan Liu
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Publication number: 20100009620Abstract: An inside air/outside air switching device that includes: an inside air/outside air switching case that has an outside air inlet which opens into an engine room, a first inside air inlet and a second inside air inlet which open into a vehicle compartment; an inside air/outside air switching door that is provided in the inside air/outside air switching case, and that switches an open inlet between the first inside air inlet and the outside air inlet; an inside air introduction support door that opens and closes the second inside air inlet; and a noise insulation member that is provided in such a manner that an operation of the inside air introduction support door is not interfered with, and that blocks out noise which is generated in the engine room and which proceeds from the outside air inlet toward the second inside air inlet when the outside air inlet is open.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2009Publication date: January 14, 2010Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshiaki Kawato, Donald Federico