Patents by Inventor Herb Meingast

Herb Meingast 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: 11034219
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes an inner panel including an upper portion defining a window aperture, and a lower portion positioned opposite the upper portion in a vertical direction, and a support assembly coupled to the inner panel, the support assembly including a first torsion member extending along the upper portion of the inner panel in a lateral direction that is transverse to the vertical direction, the first torsion member defining holes extending through the first torsion member, a second torsion member extending along the upper portion of the inner panel toward the first torsion member, the second torsion member defining holes that are aligned with the holes of the first torsion member, and at least one fastener positioned in corresponding aligned holes of the first torsion member and the second torsion member, the at least one fastener coupling the first torsion member to the second torsion member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William A. Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne, Johnny Rose, Wasim Ukra, Rajesh Chennagowni, Herb Meingast
  • Publication number: 20200238801
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes an inner panel including an upper portion defining a window aperture, and a lower portion positioned opposite the upper portion in a vertical direction, and a support assembly coupled to the inner panel, the support assembly including a first torsion member extending along the upper portion of the inner panel in a lateral direction that is transverse to the vertical direction, the first torsion member defining holes extending through the first torsion member, a second torsion member extending along the upper portion of the inner panel toward the first torsion member, the second torsion member defining holes that are aligned with the holes of the first torsion member, and at least one fastener positioned in corresponding aligned holes of the first torsion member and the second torsion member, the at least one fastener coupling the first torsion member to the second torsion member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William A. Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne, Johnny Rose, Wasim Ukra, Rajesh Chennagowni, Herb Meingast
  • Publication number: 20200238802
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes an inner panel formed from a resin and including an upper portion, and a lower portion positioned opposite the upper portion in a vertical direction, and a torsion bar assembly coupled to the inner panel, the torsion bar assembly including a lateral bar that extends across the upper portion of the inner panel in a lateral direction that is transverse to the vertical direction, a pair of vertical bars extending downward from the lateral bar, where the pair of vertical bars and the lateral bar define an inner cavity extending along the torsion bar assembly, and the lateral bar defines an access hole that provides access to the inner cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William A. Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne, Johnny Rose, Wasim Ukra, Rajesh Chennagowni, Herb Meingast
  • Patent number: 10717349
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes an inner panel formed from a resin and including an upper portion, and a lower portion positioned opposite the upper portion in a vertical direction, and a torsion bar assembly coupled to the inner panel, the torsion bar assembly including a lateral bar that extends across the upper portion of the inner panel in a lateral direction that is transverse to the vertical direction, a pair of vertical bars extending downward from the lateral bar, where the pair of vertical bars and the lateral bar define an inner cavity extending along the torsion bar assembly, and the lateral bar defines an access hole that provides access to the inner cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William A. Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne, Johnny Rose, Wasim Ukra, Rajesh Chennagowni, Herb Meingast
  • Patent number: 10696112
    Abstract: A towing hitch receiver structure for a vehicle is disclosed. The towing hitch receiver structure includes a torsion tube; and a receiver structure mounted to the torsion tube at a center position between both ends. The receiver structure supports a receiver tube positioned below the torsion tube. The receiver structure includes a pair of side receiver plates, each plate having an opening that encircles the outer cross-section of the torsion tube and is secured to the torsion tube by a weld. The side plates are parallel to each other and to the receiver tube in the lengthwise direction. Because the receiver plates make up each side of the receiver structure, the torsion tube is allowed to bend freely. Provided the arrangement of side receiver plates, the hitch structure can be made using thinner, lighter weight parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Herb Meingast, Daniel Mount, Kyle A. Banner, David C. Smith, Peter D. Susi
  • Publication number: 20190255898
    Abstract: A towing hitch receiver structure for a vehicle is disclosed. The towing hitch receiver structure includes a torsion tube; and a receiver structure mounted to the torsion tube at a center position between both ends. The receiver structure supports a receiver tube positioned below the torsion tube. The receiver structure includes a pair of side receiver plates, each plate having an opening that encircles the outer cross-section of the torsion tube and is secured to the torsion tube by a weld. The side plates are parallel to each other and to the receiver tube in the lengthwise direction. Because the receiver plates make up each side of the receiver structure, the torsion tube is allowed to bend freely. Provided the arrangement of side receiver plates, the hitch structure can be made using thinner, lighter weight parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Herb MEINGAST, Daniel Mount, Kyle A. Banner, David C. Smith, Peter D. Susi
  • Patent number: 8550412
    Abstract: A switch bracket includes a bracket body that includes a lower surface and a kickplate. The switch bracket also includes a switch mount located on the lower surface of the bracket body, where at least a portion of the kickplate extends outward from the lower surface further than the stop lamp switch that is retained at the switch mount. In another embodiment, a brake pedal assembly includes a switch bracket coupled to a pedal mount, the switch bracket having a lower surface and a kickplate. The brake pedal assembly also includes a stop lamp switch coupled to the lower surface of the switch bracket, and a brake pedal rotationally engaged with the pedal mount and coupled to the stop lamp switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Richard Slade, Crystal Jasmine Mink, Herb Meingast
  • Publication number: 20120111138
    Abstract: A switch bracket includes a bracket body that includes a lower surface and a kickplate. The switch bracket also includes a switch mount located on the lower surface of the bracket body, where at least a portion of the kickplate extends outward from the lower surface further than the stop lamp switch that is retained at the switch mount. In another embodiment, a brake pedal assembly includes a switch bracket coupled to a pedal mount, the switch bracket having a lower surface and a kickplate. The brake pedal assembly also includes a stop lamp switch coupled to the lower surface of the switch bracket, and a brake pedal rotationally engaged with the pedal mount and coupled to the stop lamp switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Richard Slade, Crystal Jasmine Mink, Herb Meingast