Patents by Inventor John P. Kim
John P. Kim 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).
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Patent number: 11957318Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating disorders of the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, including methods and apparatus for dilating ostia, passageways and other anatomical structures, endoscopic methods and apparatus for endoscopic visualization of structures within the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, navigation devices for use in conjunction with image guidance or navigation system and hand held devices having pistol type grips and other handpieces.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2021Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.Inventors: Joshua Makower, John Y. Chang, Ketan P. Muni, John H. Morriss, Hung V. Ha, Isaac J. Kim, Julia D. Vrany
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Patent number: 11364863Abstract: Disclosed is a device for distributing crash energy within a vehicle. The device includes a member insertable into an end of a bumper beam of a vehicle, where a first portion of the inserted member occupies an unsupported end of the bumper beam. A second portion of the inserted member is fixedly attached to the bumper beam and to a left frame rail or a right frame rail of the vehicle, and a third portion of the inserted member occupies a portion of the bumper beam between the left frame rail and the right frame rail.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2020Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Jeremiah T. Hammer, Brian L. Tew, John P. Kim
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Patent number: 11247523Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling wheel motion during a collision are provided. A retaining member may be connectable between a vehicle frame and a wheel assembly to control motion of the wheel assembly during a collision of a vehicle with an object. The retaining member may include one or more of a first attachment point connecting the retaining member to the vehicle frame, a second attachment point connecting the retaining member to the wheel assembly, a retaining member routing, and/or one or more break-away connections attaching the retaining member to the vehicle frame and/or to the wheel assembly. The first and second attachment points, retaining member routing, and/or break-away connections may be selected to control motion of the wheel assembly within a preferred path to control loading between the object and the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2019Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Jeremiah T. Hammer, John P. Kim, Mark Clauser
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Patent number: 11220296Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for improving lateral crash pushing and distributing crash energy within a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a first frame cross member extending laterally between a left hand frame rail and a right hand frame rail of a vehicle, and a second frame cross member, aft of the first frame cross member, extending laterally between the left hand frame rail and the right hand frame rail. The apparatus further comprises an outrigger projecting outward laterally from the first frame cross member and an impact member selected from the left hand frame rail or right hand frame rail; and a connection arm projecting diagonally from a distal end of the outrigger to a connection point on the second frame cross member, beneath the impact member, such that when an impact force travels longitudinally into the outrigger, the impact force is distributed to both the first frame cross member through the outrigger and the second frame cross member through the connection arm.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2019Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Jeremiah T. Hammer, Brian L. Tew, John P. Kim, Mark Clauser
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Publication number: 20210339694Abstract: Disclosed is a device for distributing crash energy within a vehicle. The device includes a member insertable into an end of a bumper beam of a vehicle, where a first portion of the inserted member occupies an unsupported end of the bumper beam. A second portion of the inserted member is fixedly attached to the bumper beam and to a left frame rail or a right frame rail of the vehicle, and a third portion of the inserted member occupies a portion of the bumper beam between the left frame rail and the right frame rail.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2020Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Jeremiah T. Hammer, Brian L. Tew, John P. Kim
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Publication number: 20210138858Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling wheel motion during a collision are provided. A retaining member may be connectable between a vehicle frame and a wheel assembly to control motion of the wheel assembly during a collision of a vehicle with an object. The retaining member may include one or more of a first attachment point connecting the retaining member to the vehicle frame, a second attachment point connecting the retaining member to the wheel assembly, a retaining member routing, and/or one or more break-away connections attaching the retaining member to the vehicle frame and/or to the wheel assembly. The first and second attachment points, retaining member routing, and/or break-away connections may be selected to control motion of the wheel assembly within a preferred path to control loading between the object and the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2019Publication date: May 13, 2021Inventors: Jeremiah T. Hammer, John P. Kim, Mark Clauser
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Publication number: 20210078637Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for improving lateral crash pushing and distributing crash energy within a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a first frame cross member extending laterally between a left hand frame rail and a right hand frame rail of a vehicle, and a second frame cross member, aft of the first frame cross member, extending laterally between the left hand frame rail and the right hand frame rail. The apparatus further comprises an outrigger projecting outward laterally from the first frame cross member and an impact member selected from the left hand frame rail or right hand frame rail; and a connection arm projecting diagonally from a distal end of the outrigger to a connection point on the second frame cross member, beneath the impact member, such that when an impact force travels longitudinally into the outrigger, the impact force is distributed to both the first frame cross member through the outrigger and the second frame cross member through the connection arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2019Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Jeremiah T. Hammer, Brian L. Tew, John P. Kim, Mark Clauser
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Publication number: 20200062150Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat cushion frame, a seat back frame, a bracket, a pin actuator, a sensor, and an electronic control unit. The seat back frame is pivotally connected to the seat cushion frame about a pivot axis. The bracket is fixed to the seat cushion frame. The bracket includes a cam surface, and a distance between the cam surface and the pivot axis varies along the cam surface. The pin actuation includes a pin. The pin actuator is fixed to the seat back frame. The pin actuator is configured to move the pin from a disengaged position to an engaged position. The electronic control unit determines whether the sensor detects the front collision of the vehicle and controls the pin actuator to move the pin from the disengaged position to the engaged position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2018Publication date: February 27, 2020Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Suk Jae Ham, Preston Jerome Lemanski, Yosuke Ota, John P. Kim, MaryEllen Claire Hunt
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Patent number: 10569677Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat cushion frame, a seat back frame, a bracket, a pin actuator, a sensor, and an electronic control unit. The seat back frame is pivotally connected to the seat cushion frame about a pivot axis. The bracket is fixed to the seat cushion frame. The bracket includes a cam surface, and a distance between the cam surface and the pivot axis varies along the cam surface. The pin actuation includes a pin. The pin actuator is fixed to the seat back frame. The pin actuator is configured to move the pin from a disengaged position to an engaged position. The electronic control unit determines whether the sensor detects the front collision of the vehicle and controls the pin actuator to move the pin from the disengaged position to the engaged position.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2018Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Suk Jae Ham, Preston Jerome Lemanski, Yosuke Ota, John P. Kim, MaryEllen Claire Hunt
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Patent number: 9302715Abstract: A vehicle including a side support extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a cross member extending transverse to the side support, and a reinforcement gusset coupled to the side support and the cross member, where the cross member and the reinforcement gusset define an interrupted interface in which one of the cross member or the reinforcement gusset includes a recessed portion and the opposite of the cross member or the reinforcement gusset includes an extended portion, and the recessed portion and the extended portion have complementary shapes and are detached from one another.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: John P. Kim, Jonathan R. Young, Yuuichi Tsunoda
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Patent number: 9296427Abstract: Vehicle structures for dissipating energy associated with a collision are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a side support that extends between a front suspension mount and a rear suspension mount of the vehicle. The side support includes a targeted energy absorption portion that defines a high-strength region of the side support. The vehicle also includes a cab mounting bracket coupled to the side support and extending outward from the side support. The cab mounting bracket includes a rearward attachment position on the side support and the rearward attachment position of the cab mounting bracket is positioned proximate to the high-strength region of the side support. The vehicle further includes a wheel assembly that is coupled to the front suspension mount and is positioned forward of the cab mounting bracket in a vehicle longitudinal direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2014Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: John P. Kim, Jonathan R. Young, Palani Palaniappan, Toshiyuki Kasai, Masahiro Onoda, Shinpei Matsumoto
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Publication number: 20160068198Abstract: A vehicle including a side support extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a cross member extending transverse to the side support, and a reinforcement gusset coupled to the side support and the cross member, where the cross member and the reinforcement gusset define an interrupted interface in which one of the cross member or the reinforcement gusset includes a recessed portion and the opposite of the cross member or the reinforcement gusset includes an extended portion, and the recessed portion and the extended portion have complementary shapes and are detached from one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2014Publication date: March 10, 2016Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: John P. Kim, Jonathan R. Young, Yuuichi Tsunoda
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Publication number: 20160068191Abstract: Vehicle structures for dissipating energy associated with a collision are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a side support that extends between a front suspension mount and a rear suspension mount of the vehicle. The side support includes a targeted energy absorption portion that defines a high-strength region of the side support. The vehicle also includes a cab mounting bracket coupled to the side support and extending outward from the side support. The cab mounting bracket includes a rearward attachment position on the side support and the rearward attachment position of the cab mounting bracket is positioned proximate to the high-strength region of the side support. The vehicle further includes a wheel assembly that is coupled to the front suspension mount and is positioned forward of the cab mounting bracket in a vehicle longitudinal direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2014Publication date: March 10, 2016Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: John P. Kim, Jonathan R. Young, Palani Palaniappan, Toshiyuki Kasai, Masahiro Onoda, Shinpei Matsumoto