Patents by Inventor Eric J. Connell

Eric J. Connell 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: 20260180355
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a power station cavity built into a wall of a vehicle cargo bed. A vehicle includes the wall defining a portion of the vehicle cargo bed. The vehicle includes a vehicle power source (e.g., a vehicle battery, a fuel cell, etc.) configured to provide power to the vehicle. The built-in power station cavity is disposed in the wall and has an opening facing into the cargo bed. The power station cavity is sized and configured to receive a removable and portable power station. The power station cavity includes a vehicle electrical connector for receiving electrical power from the vehicle power source for charging the removable and portable power station. The removable and portable power station can include a processor for throttling electric current output depending on whether the portable power station is installed or removed from the power station cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2024
    Publication date: June 25, 2026
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eric J. Connell
  • Publication number: 20210016639
    Abstract: Methods and systems may provide for technology to initiate an injection of ozone for a predetermined cycle time into a cabin of a vehicle via a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) subsystem of the vehicle only when the vehicle is in a locked state and a window-closed state, the vehicle cabin is vacant, and the vehicle is in park. The technology may also cease the injection of the ozone into the cabin in response to an override request detected before expiration of the predetermined cycle time and maintains the vehicle in the locked state for a predetermined wait time after the injection of the ozone into the cabin is ceased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric J. Connell
  • Patent number: 9656614
    Abstract: A trim assembly includes a first trim portion spaced apart from an opposed second trim portion, a first surface on the first trim portion, a first magnet connected to the first trim portion so as to be hidden when the user views the first surface and a second surface on the first trim portion, a second magnet connected to the second trim portion so as to be hidden when the user views the second surface. When the working subassembly is configured to span between the first trim portion and the second trim portion, the working subassembly magnetically connectable through the first and second surfaces to the respective first and second magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric J. Connell
  • Publication number: 20170106812
    Abstract: A trim assembly includes a first trim portion spaced apart from an opposed second trim portion, a first surface on the first trim portion, a first magnet connected to the first trim portion so as to be hidden when the user views the first surface and a second surface on the first trim portion, a second magnet connected to the second trim portion so as to be hidden when the user views the second surface. When the working subassembly is configured to span between the first trim portion and the second trim portion, the working subassembly magnetically connectable through the first and second surfaces to the respective first and second magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventor: Eric J. Connell