Patents by Inventor Gerritt A. B.
Gerritt A. B. 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).
-
Patent number: 10876932Abstract: A device for testing vehicle airbags includes a pusher plate that has first mounting holes and second mounting holes, a first pin received in one of the first mounting holes, a second pin received in one of the second mounting holes, a first magnet coupled to the pusher plate, and a second magnet coupled to the pusher plate. The device includes a first mass received on the first pin and secured to the pusher plate by the first magnets prior to and during acceleration of the pusher plate, and a second mass separate from the first mass and received on the second pin, the second mass secured to the pusher plate by the second magnets. Deceleration of the pusher plate causes the first mass and the second mass to release from the pusher plate. The device includes an accelerator coupled to the pusher plate and a vehicle airbag deployment device.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Timothy J. Woychowski, Gerritt B. Meyers
-
Publication number: 20200249131Abstract: A device for testing vehicle airbags includes a pusher plate that has first mounting holes and second mounting holes, a first pin received in one of the first mounting holes, a second pin received in one of the second mounting holes, a first magnet coupled to the pusher plate, and a second magnet coupled to the pusher plate. The device includes a first mass received on the first pin and secured to the pusher plate by the first magnets prior to and during acceleration of the pusher plate, and a second mass separate from the first mass and received on the second pin, the second mass secured to the pusher plate by the second magnets. Deceleration of the pusher plate causes the first mass and the second mass to release from the pusher plate. The device includes an accelerator coupled to the pusher plate and a vehicle airbag deployment device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Timothy J. Woychowski, Gerritt B. Meyers
-
Patent number: 9937952Abstract: Vehicles and vehicle systems for restricting rotation of vehicle steering systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vehicle including a front wheel, a steering column assembly coupled to the front wheel, a steering wheel coupled to the steering column assembly, a steering rack assembly that includes a rack coupled to the front wheel, where the rack extends in a vehicle lateral direction and is translatable with respect to a body of the vehicle in the vehicle lateral direction, and a resistance device including a damper coupled to at least one of the steering rack assembly and the steering column assembly that limits a rotation of the steering column assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2015Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Tyler E. Schnug, Mark D. Clauser, Gerritt B. Meyers
-
Patent number: 9932063Abstract: Vehicles and vehicle systems including locking devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a front wheel, a steering rack assembly that includes a rack coupled to the front wheel, where the rack extends in a vehicle lateral direction and is translatable with respect to a unibody of the vehicle in the vehicle lateral direction, and a locking device coupled to the steering rack assembly, where the locking device includes a deactivated configuration that allows translation of the rack and an activated configuration that restricts translation of the rack.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2015Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Tyler E. Schnug, Gerritt B. Meyers
-
Publication number: 20160347360Abstract: Vehicles and vehicle systems for restricting rotation of vehicle steering systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vehicle including a front wheel, a steering column assembly coupled to the front wheel, a steering wheel coupled to the steering column assembly, a steering rack assembly that includes a rack coupled to the front wheel, where the rack extends in a vehicle lateral direction and is translatable with respect to a body of the vehicle in the vehicle lateral direction, and a resistance device including a damper coupled to at least one of the steering rack assembly and the steering column assembly that limits a rotation of the steering column assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2015Publication date: December 1, 2016Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Tyler E. Schnug, Mark D. Clauser, Gerritt B. Meyers
-
Publication number: 20160347361Abstract: Vehicles and vehicle systems including locking devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a front wheel, a steering rack assembly that includes a rack coupled to the front wheel, where the rack extends in a vehicle lateral direction and is translatable with respect to a unibody of the vehicle in the vehicle lateral direction, and a locking device coupled to the steering rack assembly, where the locking device includes a deactivated configuration that allows translation of the rack and an activated configuration that restricts translation of the rack.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2015Publication date: December 1, 2016Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Tyler E. Schnug, Gerritt B. Meyers
-
Patent number: 8720118Abstract: The vehicle door construction includes a bezel carrying a door release lever and linkage connected by a pair of first attachments to a door trim panel and by a second attachment to a door inner panel. The pair of first attachments includes a collar with an aperture for receiving a fastener to attach the bezel via the collar to the door trim panel. A small tab integrally connects the collar to a main portion of the bezel and defines a rupturable area when force is exerted on the door causing the door trim panel to separate from the door inner panel. The tabs rupture to allow the door trim panel to separate from the door inner panel while maintaining the bezel and the door release lever and linkage fixedly attached to the door inner panel.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2012Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Gerritt B. Meyers, Tiffany Beech, Jeff Pehler
-
Patent number: 8602146Abstract: A battery attachment bracket and method of assembly for protecting a battery of a motor vehicle from damage during a rear impact. The battery attachment bracket connects the battery to support structure of the motor vehicle in an area subject to deformation during a rear impact. The battery attachment bracket is formed by a body member extending from a battery-engaging surface to a vehicle-support-engaging surface. The vehicle-support-engaging surface has a bolt-receiving aperture, and a notch cut-out adjacent to the bolt-receiving aperture located in a vehicle-front direction with respect to the bolt-receiving aperture to define a narrowed portion of the battery attachment bracket. A gusset having an angled surface is located on a vehicle-front-facing surface of the battery attachment bracket. The gusset resists deformation of the battery attachment bracket and promotes separation of the battery attachment bracket from the support structure of the motor vehicle adjacent the bolt-receiving aperture.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2012Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Gerritt B. Meyers, Jonathan R. Young, Jesse Buehler, Naipaul Ramoutar, Taichi Yamashita
-
Publication number: 20130264135Abstract: A battery attachment bracket and method of assembly for protecting a battery of a motor vehicle from damage during a rear impact. The bracket connects the battery to support structure of the motor vehicle in an area subject to deformation during a rear impact. The bracket is formed by a body member extending from a battery-engaging surface to a vehicle-support-engaging surface. The vehicle-support-engaging surface has a bolt-receiving aperture formed therein, and a notch cut-out adjacent to the bolt-receiving aperture located in a vehicle-front direction with respect to the bolt-receiving aperture to define a narrowed portion of the battery attachment bracket. A gusset is located on a vehicle-front-facing surface of the bracket and has an angled surface. The gusset resists deformation of the bracket and promotes separation of the bracket from the support structure of the motor vehicle adjacent the bolt-receiving aperture.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2012Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Gerritt B. Meyers, Jonathan R. Young, Jesse Buehler, Naipaul Ramoutar, Taichi Yamashita
-
Publication number: 20130263518Abstract: The vehicle door construction includes a bezel carrying a door release lever and linkage connected by a pair of first attachments to a door trim panel and by a second attachment to a door inner panel. The pair of first attachments includes a collar with an aperture for receiving a fastener to attach the bezel via the collar to the door trim panel. A small tab integrally connects the collar to a main portion of the bezel and defines a rupturable area when force is exerted on the door causing the door trim panel to separate from the door inner panel. The tabs rupture to allow the door trim panel to separate from the door inner panel while maintaining the bezel and the door release lever and linkage fixedly attached to the door inner panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2012Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Gerritt B. Meyers, Tiffany Beech, Jeff Pehler
-
Patent number: 7093639Abstract: A procedure and device for longitudinal sealing and cutting of a film web, in particular a foil tube, in which the film web shows at least two layers of film, made of thermoplastic synthetic material, and in which the film web is sealed and cut in a continuous process by leading it through the device, in which the film first contacts the heating element in order to seal the two film layers by welding, in order to cut this sealed seam in the middle of the seam by guiding the film web over the cutting element, which dividends the sealed seam into at least two partial film tubes.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2003Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: D.R. Joseph, Inc.Inventors: Ulrich Büttel, Gerritt A. B., Frank Berrenbaum
-
Publication number: 20040188007Abstract: A procedure and device for longitudinal sealing and cutting of a film web, in particular a foil tube, in which the film web shows at least two layers of film, made of thermoplastic synthetic material, and in which the film web is sealed and cut in a continuous process by leading it through the device, in which the film first contacts the heating element in order to seal the two film layers by welding, in order to cut this sealed seam in the middle of the seam by guiding the film web over the cutting element, which dividends the sealed seam into at least two partial film tubes.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2003Publication date: September 30, 2004Inventors: Ulrich Buttel, Gerritt A. B., Frank Berrenbaum
-
Patent number: 4734613Abstract: An efficiently cooled display tube is obtained by pumping a low viscosity liquid having a high heat capacity through a cooling space less than 1 mm. thick on the outside of the display window. A chamber is smoothly connected to the inlet aperture of the cooling space to assure a laminar flow, eliminating swirls which could give rise to refractive patterns in the display picture.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 1984Date of Patent: March 29, 1988Assignee: U.S. Philips CorporationInventors: Gerritt B. Gerritsen, Willem M. Van Alphen