Patents by Inventor Jeffery Dix

Jeffery Dix 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: 20140292028
    Abstract: A vehicle front body structure includes a front side member, an A-pillar and a strut tower. The front side member extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The A-pillar is coupled to the front side member. The strut tower is positioned forward of the A-pillar and has an inboard side fixedly attached to an outboard section of the front side member. The strut tower also defines a force receiving surface extending between the inboard side and an outboard side. The force receiving surface of the strut tower is configured and arranged to receive a force directed rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction and redirect at least a portion of the force in a vehicle lateral direction toward the front side member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery DIX, Ryan CORBY, Joyce LAM
  • Publication number: 20140252742
    Abstract: A vehicle front suspension includes a suspension support structure, a transverse link, a front link breakaway structure and a rear link breakaway structure. The transverse link has an inboard side with a front connection structure connecting a front end of the transverse link to the suspension support at a first location and a rear connection structure pivotally connecting a rear end of the transverse link to the suspension support at a second location that is spaced rearwardly of the first location. The front link breakaway structure is configured to release the front end of the transverse link from the suspension support upon application of a prescribed rearward directed force on the vehicle front suspension outboard of the suspension support structure. The rear link breakaway structure is configured to release the rear connection structure of the transverse link from the suspension support upon rearward rotation of the transverse link about the rear connection structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Joyce LAM, Ryan CORBY, Jeffery DIX, Mark SNYDER
  • Publication number: 20140252741
    Abstract: A vehicle front suspension includes a lower suspension support structure, a transverse link, a steering knuckle and a lower knuckle breakaway structure. The transverse link has an inboard side and an outboard side, with the inboard side being attached to the lower suspension support structure. The steering knuckle is pivotally coupled to the outboard side of the transverse link. The lower knuckle breakaway structure is formed on one of the transverse link and the steering knuckle to release the steering knuckle from the transverse link upon application of a prescribed rearward directed force on the vehicle front suspension outboard of the lower suspension support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan CORBY, Joyce LAM, Kenneth AMELOOT, Jeffery DIX
  • Publication number: 20140239617
    Abstract: An airbag includes a rear panel, a front panel, and an extension panel. The rear panel has an inflation aperture for receiving an inflation gas. The front panel has at least one communication aperture, and the front panel is connected to the rear panel at a peripheral seam to define a primary inflatable portion having a central axis. The extension panel has an inner edge that is connected to the front panel at a location that is offset from the central axis of the primary inflatable portion and an outer edge that is connected to at least one of the front panel or the rear panel to define a secondary inflatable portion that is in communication with the primary inflatable portion through the at least one communication aperture. When inflated by the inflation gas, the secondary inflatable portion extends outward with respect to the front panel toward a vehicle occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery Dix
  • Patent number: 8764053
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a driver airbag and a curtain airbag. The driver airbag has a primary driver airbag portion that defines an occupant-facing surface and a secondary driver airbag portion that, when inflated, extends outward from the occupant-facing surface of the primary driver airbag portion. The curtain airbag has a primary curtain portion that defines an occupant-facing surface and a secondary curtain portion that, when inflated, extends outward from the occupant-facing surface of the primary curtain portion, wherein the secondary driver airbag portion and the secondary curtain portion are positioned with respect to one another such that, when inflated, the secondary driver airbag portion and the secondary curtain portion are engageable with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery Dix
  • Patent number: 8646793
    Abstract: A vehicle front suspension includes a lower suspension support structure, an upper suspension support structure, a steering knuckle and a strut. The steering knuckle has a lower end pivotally coupled to the lower suspension support structure and an upper end. The strut has an upper end connected to the upper suspension support structure, and a lower end fixedly attached to the upper end of the steering knuckle by an upper knuckle breakaway structure. The upper knuckle breakaway structure has a predetermined frangible part that releases the upper end of the steering knuckle from the strut upon application of a prescribed rearward directed force on at least one of the lower suspension support structure and the steering knuckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Joyce Lam, Ryan Corby, Jeffery Dix