Patents by Inventor Matthew C. Tier

Matthew C. Tier 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: 11539104
    Abstract: A system for reducing the likelihood of a battery short during a collision of a vehicle includes a metallic structure coupled to a portion of the vehicle. The system further includes a battery located proximate to the metallic structure and having a positive terminal. The system further includes an insulator coupled to the metallic structure such that it is located between the metallic structure and the positive terminal of the battery and configured to resist contact between the metallic structure and the positive terminal of the battery in response to the collision of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Tier, Valerie Schnabelrauch, Ziwei Zeng, Ryan A. Mikolaizik, Donald Maynard
  • Publication number: 20210328205
    Abstract: A system for reducing the likelihood of a battery short during a collision of a vehicle includes a metallic structure coupled to a portion of the vehicle. The system further includes a battery located proximate to the metallic structure and having a positive terminal. The system further includes an insulator coupled to the metallic structure such that it is located between the metallic structure and the positive terminal of the battery and configured to resist contact between the metallic structure and the positive terminal of the battery in response to the collision of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew C. Tier, Valerie Schnabelrauch, Ziwei Zeng, Ryan A. Mikolaizik, Donald Maynard
  • Patent number: 10752186
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body including a quarter panel assembly. The quarter panel assembly includes an inner quarter panel and an outer quarter panel located outboard of the inner quarter panel forming a volume therebetween. The outer quarter panel has a vent opening extending therethrough. A quarter vent assembly is connected to the outer quarter panel covering the vent opening. An exterior fascia covers the quarter vent assembly such that an air gap is provided between the quarter vent assembly and the exterior fascia. A service hole cover is located in the volume between the inner quarter panel and the outer quarter panel. The service hole cover includes a cover body and a noise reduction flange at a bottom of the cover body that extends inboard toward the inner quarter panel at the vent opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Tier, Koh Mizutani, Marc Siciliano, Jason T. Huang, Michael Camilleri, Robert Porcs
  • Publication number: 20200156564
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body including a quarter panel assembly. The quarter panel assembly includes an inner quarter panel and an outer quarter panel located outboard of the inner quarter panel forming a volume therebetween. The outer quarter panel has a vent opening extending therethrough. A quarter vent assembly is connected to the outer quarter panel covering the vent opening. An exterior fascia covers the quarter vent assembly such that an air gap is provided between the quarter vent assembly and the exterior fascia. A service hole cover is located in the volume between the inner quarter panel and the outer quarter panel. The service hole cover includes a cover body and a noise reduction flange at a bottom of the cover body that extends inboard toward the inner quarter panel at the vent opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Tier, Koh Mizutani, Marc Siciliano, Jason T. Huang, Michael Camilleri, Robert Porcs
  • Patent number: 10131222
    Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments associated with a bracket for mounting a snorkel to one or more roof rack attachment points of a vehicle. In one embodiment, the bracket comprises a vehicle mounted portion and a snorkel mount portion. The vehicle mounted portion comprises one or more mounting holes. Additionally, values for one or more characteristics of the mounting holes are selected based, at least in part, on the one or more roof rack attachment points. The snorkel mount portion is coupled to the vehicle mounted portion. The snorkel mount portion comprises one or more snorkel attachment holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Tier, Scott L. Frederick, Stephen E. Freeman, Jakin C. Wilson, Greg Bernas
  • Publication number: 20180319270
    Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments associated with a bracket for mounting a snorkel to one or more roof rack attachment points of a vehicle. In one embodiment, the bracket comprises a vehicle mounted portion and a snorkel mount portion. The vehicle mounted portion comprises one or more mounting holes. Additionally, values for one or more characteristics of the mounting holes are selected based, at least in part, on the one or more roof rack attachment points. The snorkel mount portion is coupled to the vehicle mounted portion. The snorkel mount portion comprises one or more snorkel attachment holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew C. Tier, Scott L. Frederick, Stephen E. Freeman, Jakin C. Wilson, Greg Bernas
  • Patent number: 10099607
    Abstract: A vehicle utility light assembly is disclosed in which an elongated body portion functions to be stowable in a first position within a vehicle body panel. The elongated body portion further functions to be vertically-releasable from the first position to a second position, and being operable to selectively illuminate the vehicle body panel from above by a light source of the elongated body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paxton S. Williams, Matthew C. Tier
  • Patent number: 10053891
    Abstract: A device and process for a vehicle accessory lock are disclosed. The vehicle accessory lock includes a plunger housing defining a plunger bore and mountable through a door jamb. A security plunger, being spring-loaded, is received by the plunger housing. The security plunger, responsive to a closing force imparted by a hinged door surface against the security plunger, being operable to extend and engage a plunger receiver defined by a vehicle accessory to produce a locked vehicle accessory state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paxton S. Williams, Matthew C. Tier
  • Patent number: 9266569
    Abstract: A rear corner vehicle roof structure includes a rear structural pillar and a small cap-like reinforcement member. The rear pillar includes a vertically elongated base portion which transitions into a bifurcated upper end portion forming a longitudinally extending stub arm which is affixed to an associated side roof rail and a laterally extending stub arm which is affixed to an associated rear roof header. The reinforcement member includes a central bridge portion trifurcated to form extensions conforming to the pillar upper portion, the longitudinally extending stub arm and the laterally extending stub arm. The reinforcement member further includes peripherally flanged web segments disposed between circumferentially adjacent pairs of the pillar base portion, longitudinal and lateral stub arms. The flanged web segments are affixed to opposed continuous flange portions of the upper end portion and configured to support the central bridge portion in a spaced relation from the upper end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. Tew, Jonathan R. Young, Matthew C. Tier
  • Patent number: 7416232
    Abstract: An embodiment of a vehicle step assembly includes a brace defined, at least in part, by a generally horizontal surface. The generally horizontal surface selectively transmits the weight of a user to the vehicle. The assembly further includes a fascia having an aperture. The brace is positioned, at least partially, at a generally lateral side portion of the vehicle rearward of a rearmost operational wheel. The fascia at least partially encloses a portion of the lateral side portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Tier, Jason S. Thorson