Patents by Inventor John F. HOWARD, JR.

John F. HOWARD, JR. 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: 11878637
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle body, a side curtain airbag mounted by the vehicle body, and a roof lining mounted to the vehicle body via an attachment structure. The attachment structure includes a bracket fastened to the vehicle body and the roof lining includes a mating hole aligned with the bracket. A cap at least partially received within the mating hole from an exterior surface of the roof lining is directly fastened to the bracket. A cover for covering the mating hole from the exterior surface of the roof lining is connected to the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: John F. Howard, Jr., Akira Miyazaki, Carlington G. Demetrius
  • Patent number: 11623522
    Abstract: An overhead display system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a trim panel, a set of brackets, and a plurality of display units. The brackets are disposed within an interior region of the trim panel, and the display units are mounted on the brackets through openings formed in the trim panel. The display units are arranged such that a pair of screens can be oriented in both a rearward-facing direction and a forward-facing direction. The system is configured as a module that can be readily installed in a roof structure of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: John F. Howard, Jr., Carlington G. Demetrius, Akira Miyazaki, Yozo Takagi, Akihiro Shibuya, Fumiyuki Mizuno
  • Patent number: 11548453
    Abstract: A split roof lining and datum scheme includes first, second and third roof lining assemblies. The first and second roof lining assemblies are aligned and directly connected to a roof installation of a vehicle using alignment features mated with datums in the roof installation. The third roof lining assembly is aligned and directly connected with the first and second roof lining assemblies using alignment features mated with datums in the first and second roof lining assemblies. The third roof lining assembly is not directly connected to the roof installation. Cover assemblies, optionally including light sources, cover interfaces between the first and third roof lining assemblies and between the second and third roof lining assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: John F. Howard, Jr., Yuze Li, Akira Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 11541787
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes a vehicle body including an interior panel, a seat having a frame fixed to the panel, and a seat energy absorber operably associated with the seat and including a backing and a bracket. The backing is formed from the vehicle body and positioned separated from the seat to define a space between the seat and the backing along a length of the panel, and the bracket is mounted in the space on at least one of the seat and the backing such that a proximal end portion of the bracket is located closer to the seat than the backing, and a distal end portion of the bracket is located closer to the backing than the seat. During a crash event a section of the panel is configured to collapse against the seat when the seat is driven toward the panel relative to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: John F. Howard, Jr., Eric D. Daume, John J. Hwang, Carlington G. Demetrius, Akira Miyazaki, Yoshiaki Ikeda, Benjamin M. Oros, Junichi Suzuki, Fernando M. Rosero, Yosuke Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20220314793
    Abstract: An overhead display system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a trim panel, a set of brackets, and a plurality of display units. The brackets are disposed within an interior region of the trim panel, and the display units are mounted on the brackets through openings formed in the trim panel. The display units are arranged such that a pair of screens can be oriented in both a rearward-facing direction and a forward-facing direction. The system is configured as a module that can be readily installed in a roof structure of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: John F. HOWARD, JR., Carlington G. DEMETRIUS, Akira MIYAZAKI, Yozo TAKAGI, Akihiro SHIBUYA, Fumiyuki MIZUNO
  • Publication number: 20220314847
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes a vehicle body including an interior panel, a seat having a frame fixed to the panel, and a seat energy absorber operably associated with the seat and including a backing and a bracket. The backing is formed from the vehicle body and positioned separated from the seat to define a space between the seat and the backing along a length of the panel, and the bracket is mounted in the space on at least one of the seat and the backing such that a proximal end portion of the bracket is located closer to the seat than the backing, and a distal end portion of the bracket is located closer to the backing than the seat. During a crash event a section of the panel is configured to collapse against the seat when the seat is driven toward the panel relative to the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: John F. HOWARD, JR., Eric D. DAUME, John J. HWANG, Carlington G. DEMETRIUS, Akira MIYAZAKI, Yoshiaki IKEDA, Benjamin M. OROS, Junichi SUZUKI, Fernando M. ROSERO, Yosuke NISHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20220314903
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle body, a side curtain airbag mounted by the vehicle body, and a roof lining mounted to the vehicle body via an attachment structure. The attachment structure includes a bracket fastened to the vehicle body and the roof lining includes a mating hole aligned with the bracket. A cap at least partially received within the mating hole from an exterior surface of the roof lining is directly fastened to the bracket. A cover for covering the mating hole from the exterior surface of the roof lining is connected to the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: John F. HOWARD, JR., Akira MIYAZAKI, Carlington G. DEMETRIUS
  • Publication number: 20220289123
    Abstract: A split roof lining and datum scheme includes first, second and third roof lining assemblies. The first and second roof lining assemblies are aligned and directly connected to a roof installation of a vehicle using alignment features mated with datums in the roof installation. The third roof lining assembly is aligned and directly connected with the first and second roof lining assemblies suing alignment features mated with datums in the first and second roof lining assemblies. The third roof lining assembly is not directly connected to the roof installation. Cover assemblies, optionally including light sources, cover interfaces between the first and third roof lining assemblies and between the second and third roof lining assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: John F. HOWARD, JR., Yuze LI, Akira MIYAZAKI