Patents by Inventor Hugo F. Fortin

Hugo F. Fortin 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: 8567853
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a bumper fascia panel and a fascia support bracket. The bumper fascia panel includes side and front end fascia sections. The front end and side fascia sections are integrally formed as a one-piece member. The side fascia section includes upper and lower fascia portions defining a fascia cutout such that they at least partially surround a vehicle lamp area. The fascia support bracket includes front end and side fascia supports. The front end fascia support supports an inboard surface of the bumper fascia panel along the front end fascia section. The side fascia support includes upper and lower support portions that support the inboard surface of the bumper fascia panel along the upper and lower fascia portions, respectively. The upper and lower support portions define a support cutout such that they at least partially surround the vehicle lamp area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Huber, Hugo F Fortin
  • Patent number: 8523251
    Abstract: A bumper fascia support assembly includes a front support, a bracket and a bumper fascia. The bracket has a support attachment end, a body section and a fascia attachment end. The support attachment end is fixedly attached to a forward facing surface of the front support. The bumper fascia has a central section fixedly attached to the fascia attachment end of the bracket. The body section of the bracket has a controlled deflection structure that is configured with respect to the support attachment end and the fascia attachment end to deform downwardly in response to a prescribed impacting force being applied to the bumper fascia so that the fascia attachment end and the central section of the bumper fascia move downward relative to the support attachment end absorbing impact energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugo F. Fortin, Matthew Huber
  • Publication number: 20130026791
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a bumper fascia panel and a fascia support bracket. The bumper fascia panel includes side and front end fascia sections. The front end and side fascia sections are integrally formed as a one-piece member. The side fascia section includes upper and lower fascia portions defining a fascia cutout such that they at least partially surround a vehicle lamp area. The fascia support bracket includes front end and side fascia supports. The front end fascia support supports an inboard surface of the bumper fascia panel along the front end fascia section. The side fascia support includes upper and lower support portions that support the inboard surface of the bumper fascia panel along the upper and lower fascia portions, respectively. The upper and lower support portions define a support cutout such that they at least partially surround the vehicle lamp area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Huber, Hugo F. Fortin
  • Patent number: 7510232
    Abstract: A bumper with an override feature for a vehicle has at least one impact resisting member having at least one bumper beam with a bumper face and at least one override member having at least one override face extending from the bumper beam to increase an effective face area of the bumper beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugo F. Fortin
  • Patent number: 7478849
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper assembly includes a bumper reinforcement member, a corner bracket and a biasing member. The bumper reinforcement member has a first lateral end section, a second lateral end section, an outboard facing side extending between the first and second lateral end sections and an inboard facing side with a vehicle mounting structure. The corner bracket is pivotally supported to the first lateral end section of the bumper reinforcement member proximate the inboard facing side. The biasing member extends between the outboard facing side of the bumper reinforcement member and an outboard side of the corner bracket. The biasing member biases the corner bracket outwardly relative to the vehicle mounting structure to a normal rest position for absorption of low speed impact energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugo F. Fortin
  • Publication number: 20080203744
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper assembly includes a bumper reinforcement member, a corner bracket and a biasing member. The bumper reinforcement member has a first lateral end section, a second lateral end section, an outboard facing side extending between the first and second lateral end sections and an inboard facing side with a vehicle mounting structure. The corner bracket is pivotally supported to the first lateral end section of the bumper reinforcement member proximate the inboard facing side. The biasing member extends between the outboard facing side of the bumper reinforcement member and an outboard side of the corner bracket. The biasing member biases the corner bracket outwardly relative to the vehicle mounting structure to a normal rest position for absorption of low speed impact energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugo F. Fortin