Patents by Inventor Luke M. Upah

Luke M. Upah 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: 10723389
    Abstract: A front frame assembly for mounting a front suspension and wheel assembly of a vehicle can include a pair of longitudinally extending frame members, a pair of upwardly extending frame members, and a transverse bracket frame member extending transversely from and connected to each of the upwardly extending frame members. The transverse bracket can include mount structures for connecting to various vehicle components, such as a pair of dampers, a radiator, hood cushions, and a headlight assembly. The transverse bracket can be locate in an upper portion of the vehicle engine compartment, and extending above a top most position of the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Luke M. Upah, Dakota D. Kirtland, Daniel T. Sellars
  • Patent number: 10583861
    Abstract: A vehicle frame assembly can include a lower frame member extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a pillar member extending upwardly away from the lower frame member, and a first frame member including a first end connected to the lower frame member and a second end connected to the pillar member. The pillar member can extend upwardly along a vertical direction of the vehicle. The first frame member can include an inward bend located between first end and the second end such that the first frame member can extend upwardly from the lower frame member along the vertical direction of the vehicle from the first end of the first frame member to the inward bend and the first frame member can extend from the inward bend rearwardly along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and outwardly along a transverse direction of the vehicle toward the pillar member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthew L. Taracko, Luke M. Upah
  • Patent number: 10532772
    Abstract: A front frame assembly for mounting a front suspension and wheel assembly of a vehicle can include lower frame members, first frame members, second frame members, a cross frame member, a plate, and a steering rack assembly. The pair of first and second frame members can be connected to and can extend upwardly from a respective one of the lower frame members. The pair of second frame members can be connected to the respective one of the lower frame members and a respective one of the first frame members. The cross frame member can be connected to and extend from each of the first frame members. The plate can be connected to and can extend from the each of the first frame and second members and the cross frame member. The plate can include a ridge. The steering rack housing can be mounted to the bottom surface of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Luke M. Upah, Daniel T. Sellars, Dakota D. Kirtland
  • Patent number: 10525781
    Abstract: A mounting assembly for a suspension and wheel assembly of a vehicle can include a pair of frame members, a final drive assembly, and a pair of suspension brackets. The frame members can be spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction of the vehicle and can extend upwardly along a vertical direction of the vehicle. The final drive assembly can extend between the frame members. Each of the suspension brackets can connect a respective suspension member to a respective one of the frame members. The suspension brackets can be connected to the frame members and to the final drive assembly such that a lateral load input to one of the suspension brackets is transferred to a different one of the suspension brackets through the final drive housing, and then to the respective one of the frame members to which the different one of the suspension brackets is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Luke M. Upah, Daniel T. Sellars, Dakota D. Kirtland
  • Publication number: 20190375463
    Abstract: A front frame assembly for mounting a front suspension and wheel assembly of a vehicle can include a pair of longitudinally extending frame members, a pair of upwardly extending frame members, and a transverse bracket frame member extending transversely from and connected to each of the upwardly extending frame members. The transverse bracket can include mount structures for connecting to various vehicle components, such as a pair of dampers, a radiator, hood cushions, and a headlight assembly. The transverse bracket can be locate in an upper portion of the vehicle engine compartment, and extending above a top most position of the radiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Luke M. UPAH, Dakota D. KIRTLAND, Daniel T. SELLARS
  • Patent number: 10479408
    Abstract: A front frame assembly for mounting a front suspension and wheel assembly of a vehicle can include lower frame members, first frame members, second frame members, a cross frame member and a plate. The pair of first and second frame members can be connected to and can extend upwardly from a respective one of the lower frame members. The pair of second frame members can be connected to the respective one of the lower frame members and a respective one of the first frame members. The cross frame member can be connected to and extend from each of the first frame members. The plate can be connected to and can extend from the each of the first frame and second members and the cross frame member. The plate can include a ridge configured to cause the plate to buckle in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle under predetermined conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Luke M. Upah, Daniel T. Sellars, Dakota D. Kirtland
  • Patent number: 10427636
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a frame, a first pair of wheels connected to the frame, a second pair of wheels connected to the frame, a motor supported by the frame and operatively connected to at least one of the pair of wheels, a cockpit in the frame, a first seat disposed in the cockpit, a bed in the frame longitudinally rearward of the cockpit, the bed having at least one side wall, a second seat disposed in the bed, the second seat having a seat base and a seat back, the seat back having a storage position and a seating position, and a lateral retention member fixed to the at least one side wall of the bed, at least a portion of the lateral retention member being disposed higher than the seat base and forward of the seat back of the second seat when in the seating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael J Hokes, Joseph H Korte, Dustin L Hinders, Matthew L Taracko, Stephen L Paulos, Kirk M Rausch, Jacob O Borth, Luke M Upah
  • Publication number: 20190276085
    Abstract: A vehicle frame assembly can include a lower frame member extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a pillar member extending upwardly away from the lower frame member, and a first frame member including a first end connected to the lower frame member and a second end connected to the pillar member. The pillar member can extend upwardly along a vertical direction of the vehicle. The first frame member can include an inward bend located between first end and the second end such that the first frame member can extend upwardly from the lower frame member along the vertical direction of the vehicle from the first end of the first frame member to the inward bend and the first frame member can extend from the inward bend rearwardly along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and outwardly along a transverse direction of the vehicle toward the pillar member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew L. TARACKO, Luke M. UPAH
  • Publication number: 20190225042
    Abstract: A mounting assembly for a suspension and wheel assembly of a vehicle can include a pair of frame members, a final drive assembly, and a pair of suspension brackets. The frame members can be spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction of the vehicle and can extend upwardly along a vertical direction of the vehicle. The final drive assembly can extend between the frame members. Each of the suspension brackets can connect a respective suspension member to a respective one of the frame members. The suspension brackets can be connected to the frame members and to the final drive assembly such that a lateral load input to one of the suspension brackets is transferred to a different one of the suspension brackets through the final drive housing, and then to the respective one of the frame members to which the different one of the suspension brackets is connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Luke M. UPAH, Daniel T. SELLARS, Dakota D. KIRTLAND
  • Publication number: 20190225041
    Abstract: A front frame assembly for mounting a front suspension and wheel assembly of a vehicle can include lower frame members, first frame members, second frame members, a cross frame member, a plate, and a steering rack assembly. The pair of first and second frame members can be connected to and can extend upwardly from a respective one of the lower frame members. The pair of second frame members can be connected to the respective one of the lower frame members and a respective one of the first frame members. The cross frame member can be connected to and extend from each of the first frame members. The plate can be connected to and can extend from the each of the first frame and second members and the cross frame member. The plate can include a ridge. The steering rack housing can be mounted to the bottom surface of the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Luke M. UPAH, Daniel T. SELLARS, Dakota D. KIRTLAND
  • Publication number: 20190225270
    Abstract: A frame assembly for a vehicle can include a main frame assembly defining a passenger compartment, and a front frame assembly. The front frame assembly can include a pair of front frame members extending upwardly, and a pair of intermediate frame members spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction of the vehicle. Each of the intermediate frame members can be connected to a respective one of the front frame members. Each of the intermediate frame members also can be connected to a cross member of the main frame assembly, and can include a bend such that each of the intermediate frame members buckles in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle if a load or kinetic energy applied to each of the intermediate frame members in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Luke M. UPAH, Daniel T. SELLARS, Dakota D. KIRTLAND, Matthew L. TARACKO
  • Publication number: 20190217894
    Abstract: A front frame assembly for mounting a front suspension and wheel assembly of a vehicle can include lower frame members, first frame members, second frame members, a cross frame member and a plate. The pair of first and second frame members can be connected to and can extend upwardly from a respective one of the lower frame members. The pair of second frame members can be connected to the respective one of the lower frame members and a respective one of the first frame members. The cross frame member can be connected to and extend from each of the first frame members. The plate can be connected to and can extend from the each of the first frame and second members and the cross frame member. The plate can include a ridge configured to cause the plate to buckle in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle under predetermined conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Luke M. UPAH, Daniel T. SELLARS, Dakota D. KIRTLAND
  • Patent number: 10336372
    Abstract: A frame assembly for a vehicle can include a main frame assembly defining a passenger compartment, and a front frame assembly. The front frame assembly can include a pair of front frame members extending upwardly, and a pair of intermediate frame members spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction of the vehicle. Each of the intermediate frame members can be connected to a respective one of the front frame members. Each of the intermediate frame members also can be connected to a cross member of the main frame assembly, and can include a bend such that each of the intermediate frame members buckles in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle if a load or kinetic energy applied to each of the intermediate frame members in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Luke M. Upah, Daniel T. Sellars, Dakota D. Kirtland, Matthew L. Taracko
  • Patent number: 10189428
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to a mounting assembly for connecting a bumper assembly and radiator assembly to a vehicle. The mounting assembly can include a first frame member extending along a vertical direction of the vehicle, a transverse frame member extending in a transverse direction of the vehicle and connected to the first frame member, a bumper bracket configured to connect the connector member of the bumper assembly to each of the first frame member and the transverse frame member. The bumper bracket can include a flange extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and the flange can be configured to engage the radiator assembly if the radiator assembly is mounted on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel T. Sellars, Luke M. Upah, Dakota D. Kirtland
  • Publication number: 20180001855
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a frame, a first pair of wheels connected to the frame, a second pair of wheels connected to the frame, a motor supported by the frame and operatively connected to at least one of the pair of wheels, a cockpit in the frame, a first seat disposed in the cockpit, a bed in the frame longitudinally rearward of the cockpit, the bed having at least one side wall, a second seat disposed in the bed, the second seat having a seat base and a seat back, the seat back having a storage position and a seating position, and a lateral retention member fixed to the at least one side wall of the bed, at least a portion of the lateral retention member being disposed higher than the seat base and forward of the seat back of the second seat when in the seating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Michael J. HOKES, Joseph H. KORTE, Dustin L. HINDERS, Matthew L. TARACKO, Stephen L. PAULOS, Kirk M. RAUSCH, Jacob O. BORTH, Luke M. UPAH
  • Patent number: 9764768
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a frame, a first pair of wheels connected to the frame, a second pair of wheels connected to the frame, a motor supported by the frame and operatively connected to at least one of the pair of wheels, a cockpit in the frame, a first seat disposed in the cockpit, a bed in the frame longitudinally rearward of the cockpit, the bed having at least one side wall, a second seat disposed in the bed, the second seat having a seat base and a seat back, the seat back being foldable between a storage position and a seating position, and a lateral retention member fixed to the at least one side wall of the bed, at least a portion of the lateral retention member being disposed higher than the seat base and forward of the seat back of the second seat when in the seating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael J Hokes, Joseph H Korte, Dustin L Hinders, Matthew L Taracko, Stephen L Paulos, Kirk M Rausch, Jacob O Borth, Luke M Upah
  • Publication number: 20170247058
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a frame, a first pair of wheels connected to the frame, a second pair of wheels connected to the frame, a motor supported by the frame and operatively connected to at least one of the pair of wheels, a cockpit in the frame, a first seat disposed in the cockpit, a bed in the frame longitudinally rearward of the cockpit, the bed having at least one side wall, a second seat disposed in the bed, the second seat having a seat base and a seat back, the seat back being foldable between a storage position and a seating position, and a lateral retention member fixed to the at least one side wall of the bed, at least a portion of the lateral retention member being disposed higher than the seat base and forward of the seat back of the second seat when in the seating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Michael J. HOKES, Joseph H. Korte, Dustin L. Hinders, Matthew L. Taracko, Stephen L. Paulos, Kirk M. Rausch, Jacob O. BORTH, Luke M. Upah