Patents by Inventor Michael Kowaczyk

Michael Kowaczyk 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).

  • Publication number: 20230294774
    Abstract: A hood hinge assembly for a vehicle hood includes a support bracket and a hinge arm. The support bracket is configured to be fixed to a vehicle body structure. The hinge arm is movably connected to the support bracket. The hinge arm is movable about a pivot axis between a first position in which the vehicle hood is closed and a second position in which the vehicle hood is fully open. A stop tab is connected to the support bracket. The stop tab prevents movement of the hinge arm beyond the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Michael KOWACZYK, Nicholas BULSKI
  • Patent number: 11492048
    Abstract: A front fender cover attachment assembly for a vehicle includes a windshield molding, a hook assembly, a front fender cover, and an engaging member. The windshield molding is configured to receive a windshield. The hook assembly is connected to an end of the windshield molding. The front fender cover is configured to engage the hook assembly of the windshield molding. The engaging member is connected to the front fender cover and configured to engage the hook assembly. A free end of the hook assembly extends in a vehicle inboard direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Kowaczyk, Kyle Gunther
  • Patent number: 10875581
    Abstract: A vehicle trunk lid assembly includes an inner trunk panel, an upper outer trunk panel and a lower outer trunk panel. The inner trunk panel has a generally horizontal portion and an upright portion. The upright portion extends downward from the horizontal portion with the trunk lid assembly in a closed orientation. The upper outer trunk panel has a main section that extends horizontally and a contoured section that extends downwardly from a rearward area of the main section. The main section is attached to the horizontal portion of the inner trunk panel. The lower outer trunk panel is attached to at least a lower section of the upright portion of the inner trunk panel, a lower edge of the upper outer trunk panel and a lower edge of the inner truck panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Sakurai, Michael Kowaczyk
  • Publication number: 20200172170
    Abstract: A vehicle trunk lid assembly includes an inner trunk panel, an upper outer trunk panel and a lower outer trunk panel. The inner trunk panel has a generally horizontal portion and an upright portion. The upright portion extends downward from the horizontal portion with the trunk lid assembly in a closed orientation. The upper outer trunk panel has a main section that extends horizontally and a contoured section that extends downwardly from a rearward area of the main section. The main section is attached to the horizontal portion of the inner trunk panel. The lower outer trunk panel is attached to at least a lower section of the upright portion of the inner trunk panel, a lower edge of the upper outer trunk panel and a lower edge of the inner truck panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Satoshi Sakurai, Michael Kowaczyk
  • Patent number: 8979181
    Abstract: A cover includes a top portion that spans a width of a roof ditch of a vehicle. The cover includes a cover attachment section and a molding attachment section. The cover attachment section couples the cover at a fixed position relative to the vehicle. A molding member extends in a lengthwise direction along the roof ditch between the first and second wall surfaces. The molding member includes an attachment member and an attachment projection. The attachment member mates with the molding attachment section of the cover to form a lengthwise movement connection that retains the cover to the molding member with a predetermined amount of movement along the lengthwise direction of the roof ditch. The attachment projection extends under a lateral side of the cover with an upper surface of the top portion of the cover facing an underside of the molding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert T. Slack, Michael Kowaczyk
  • Publication number: 20140117723
    Abstract: A cover includes a top portion that spans a width of a roof ditch of a vehicle. The cover includes a cover attachment section and a molding attachment section. The cover attachment section couples the cover at a fixed position relative to the vehicle. A molding member extends in a lengthwise direction along the roof ditch between the first and second wall surfaces. The molding member includes an attachment member and an attachment projection. The attachment member mates with the molding attachment section of the cover to form a lengthwise movement connection that retains the cover to the molding member with a predetermined amount of movement along the lengthwise direction of the roof ditch. The attachment projection extends under a lateral side of the cover with an upper surface of the top portion of the cover facing an underside of the molding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Robert T. SLACK, Michael KOWACZYK
  • Patent number: 8646834
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a roof ditch that is defined by a recessed support surface, first and second wall surfaces that extend longitudinally along sides of the recessed support surface. A cover includes a top portion that spans a width of the roof ditch between respective top edges thereof. The cover includes a cover attachment section and a molding attachment section. The cover attachment section couples the cover at a fixed position relative to the vehicle body panel. A molding member extends in a lengthwise direction along the roof ditch between the first and second wall surfaces. The molding member includes an attachment member mating with the molding attachment section of the cover to form a lengthwise movement connection that retains the cover to the molding member with a predetermined amount of movement along the lengthwise direction of the roof ditch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: David Coakley, John-Paul LaPorte, Michael Kowaczyk, Adam Jones
  • Patent number: 8641118
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a roof ditch and an elongated molding member that convers the roof ditch. Each of a plurality of fastening members extends upward from a recessed support surface of the roof ditch to a level that is below upper edges of first and second wall surfaces of the roof ditch. The molding member includes a main section and a plurality of attachment structures. The main section and the attachment structures are formed unitarily as a single monolithic element. The main section is located between upper edges of the first and second wall surfaces and laterally conceals the roof ditch. The attachment structures extending from the main section into the roof ditch and including a bottom wall defining an opening fixedly receiving a corresponding one of the fastening members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: David Coakley, John-Paul LaPorte, Michael Kowaczyk
  • Patent number: 8567838
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a roof ditch and an elongated molding member. The roof ditch is defined by a recessed support surface and first and second wall surfaces extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the recessed support surface. The molding member includes a plurality of roof attachment portions securing the molding member longitudinally along the roof ditch. The molding member includes a top portion, a first lateral side extending downward from the top portion along the first wall surface of the roof ditch and a second lateral side extending downward from the top portion along the second wall surface of the roof ditch. The first and second lateral sides include a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart stabilizing projections extending downward from bottom edges of the first and second lateral sides into contact with the recessed support surface of the roof ditch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: David Coakley, Michael Kowaczyk
  • Publication number: 20130234474
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a roof ditch that is defined by a recessed support surface, first and second wall surfaces that extend longitudinally along sides of the recessed support surface. A cover includes a top portion that spans a width of the roof ditch between respective top edges thereof. The cover includes a cover attachment section and a molding attachment section. The cover attachment section couples the cover at a fixed position relative to the vehicle body panel. A molding member extends in a lengthwise direction along the roof ditch between the first and second wall surfaces. The molding member includes an attachment member mating with the molding attachment section of the cover to form a lengthwise movement connection that retains the cover to the molding member with a predetermined amount of movement along the lengthwise direction of the roof ditch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: David Coakley, John-Paul LaPorte, Michael Kowaczyk, Adam Jones
  • Publication number: 20130234462
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a roof ditch and an elongated molding member that convers the roof ditch. Each of a plurality of fastening members extends upward from a recessed support surface of the roof ditch to a level that is below upper edges of first and second wall surfaces of the roof ditch. The molding member includes a main section and a plurality of attachment structures. The main section and the attachment structures are formed unitarily as a single monolithic element. The main section is located between upper edges of the first and second wall surfaces and laterally conceals the roof ditch. The attachment structures extending from the main section into the roof ditch and including a bottom wall defining an opening fixedly receiving a corresponding one of the fastening members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: David Coakley, John-Paul LaPorte, Michael Kowaczyk
  • Publication number: 20130234461
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a roof ditch and an elongated molding member. The roof ditch is defined by a recessed support surface and first and second wall surfaces extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the recessed support surface. The molding member includes a plurality of roof attachment portions securing the molding member longitudinally along the roof ditch. The molding member includes a top portion, a first lateral side extending downward from the top portion along the first wall surface of the roof ditch and a second lateral side extending downward from the top portion along the second wall surface of the roof ditch. The first and second lateral sides include a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart stabilizing projections extending downward from bottom edges of the first and second lateral into contact with the recessed support surface of the roof ditch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: David Coakley, Michael Kowaczyk