Patents by Inventor Luke W. Garnaut

Luke W. Garnaut 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: 11801796
    Abstract: A garnish configured to enable use of a common door for a two-door vehicle and a four-door vehicle. The garnish may have a body. The body may be directly mountable onto a carriage of the two-door vehicle between an outer panel and a rocker panel of the two-door vehicle. The body may have an edge that is flush to a rear edge of the common door when mounted. The body may have at least two edges forming approximately a 90-degree angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Croyle, Blaine Benson, Peter C. Piper, Luke W. Garnaut
  • Patent number: 11780377
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a roof assembly including a roof having an outer facing surface and a roof ditch that extends below the outer facing surface. The roof ditch extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction between a front windshield and a rear window. A roof ditch sealer is located at least partially within the roof ditch. A mounting bracket for mounting a vehicle accessory is located in the roof ditch. The mounting bracket may include sealer dam portions that extend downward at opposite sides of a mounting surface of the mounting bracket to provide end stops for the roof ditch sealer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: David A Zofcin, Kaitlyn A. Cherniuk, Arthur Henry Whitney, Luke W. Garnaut
  • Publication number: 20230242050
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided related to a brace applied to a vehicle b-pillar. The brace may achieved reduced noise and vibration in the vehicle cabin. The brace may also achieve improved safety by preserving increased survival space for a passenger seated near the b-pillar in a side impact collision. The brace may include a base portion and two legs connected to the base portion at opposing sides. The based portion may include a first edge connected to a first side of the b-pillar and a second edge connected to a second side of the b-pillar. The legs may each connected a rocker at a distal portion. The shape of the brace may enable routing of force, energy, and/or load from the b-pillar to the rocker via the base portion and legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Arthur Henry WHITNEY, Christopher Paul SHEEHY, Luke W. GARNAUT
  • Publication number: 20230234516
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a roof assembly including a roof having an outer facing surface and a roof ditch that extends below the outer facing surface. The roof ditch extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction between a front windshield and a rear window. A roof ditch sealer is located at least partially within the roof ditch. A mounting bracket for mounting a vehicle accessory is located in the roof ditch. The mounting bracket may include sealer dam portions that extend downward at opposite sides of a mounting surface of the mounting bracket to provide end stops for the roof ditch sealer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Zofcin, Kaitlyn A. Cherniuk, Arthur Henry Whitney, Luke W. Garnaut
  • Publication number: 20230061567
    Abstract: A garnish configured to enable use of a common door for a two-door vehicle and a four-door vehicle. The garnish may have a body. The body may be directly mountable onto a carriage of the two-door vehicle between an outer panel and a rocker panel of the two-door vehicle. The body may have an edge that is flush to a rear edge of the common door when mounted. The body may have at least two edges forming approximately a 90-degree angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Nicolas A. Croyle, Blaine Benson, Peter C. Piper, Luke W. Garnaut