Patents by Inventor James E. Ralph

James E. Ralph 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).

  • Vehicle rims including deformable features and vehicles incorporating the same
    Patent number: 9421821
    Abstract: Vehicle structures for dissipating and distributing energy associated with a collision are described herein. In one embodiment, a rim includes an inner flange and an outer flange that extend around a periphery of the rim, a rim wall that extends around the periphery of the rim and that extends between the inner flange and the outer flange in the vehicle lateral direction, a drop-well portion that is positioned between the rim wall and the outer flange in the vehicle lateral direction, where the rim wall comprises an increased thickness region that is positioned proximate to the drop-well portion, and where a maximum thickness of the increased thickness region is greater than a maximum thickness of the rim wall positioned outside of the increased thickness region, and at least one spoke extending radially inward from the drop-well portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Avinash S. Phadatare, Palani Palaniappan, Jesse Taylor, James E. Ralph
  • Vehicle Rims Including Deformable Features and Vehicles Incorporating The Same
    Publication number: 20160101649
    Abstract: Vehicle structures for dissipating and distributing energy associated with a collision are described herein. In one embodiment, a rim includes an inner flange and an outer flange that extend around a periphery of the rim, a rim wall that extends around the periphery of the rim and that extends between the inner flange and the outer flange in the vehicle lateral direction, a drop-well portion that is positioned between the rim wall and the outer flange in the vehicle lateral direction, where the rim wall comprises an increased thickness region that is positioned proximate to the drop-well portion, and where a maximum thickness of the increased thickness region is greater than a maximum thickness of the rim wall positioned outside of the increased thickness region, and at least one spoke extending radially inward from the drop-well portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Avinash S. Phadatare, Palani Palaniappan, Jesse Taylor, James E. Ralph