Patents by Inventor Perry McConnell

Perry McConnell 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: 11008043
    Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a vehicle frame with a first side member, a front suspension structure and a stop structure. The stop structure is installed to a first side member rearward of the front suspension structure. The stop structure extends outboard from the first side member and includes an upper surface, a lower surface and a main surface. The upper surface and the lower surface are horizontally oriented. The main surface is vertically oriented and includes a first section, a second section and a third section. The first section is attached to the first side member. The second section extends outboard from the first section defining a forward-facing stop surface that extends to a distal outboard end of the stop structure. The third section extends rearward from the second section, with the first section, the second section and the third section defining vertically oriented exterior surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunori Iimi, Takemi Nishikawa, Takao Tani, Hideo Aimoto, Naoki Kamizawa, Joseph Buratto, Perry McConnell, Michael McGory
  • Patent number: 10864943
    Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a vehicle frame and a beam. The vehicle frame has a first side member and a second side member extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and a cross-member extending in a vehicle lateral direction from the first side member to the second side member perpendicular to the first side member and the second side member. A first end of the beam is connected to one of the first side member or the second side member at a location spaced apart from the cross-member. A second end of the beam is connected to the cross-member at a location spaced apart from both the first side member and the second side member such that the beam is angularly offset from the cross-member with an angle of between 35 and 60 degrees defined between the cross-member and the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hartley, Patrick Grattan, Joseph Buratto, Perry McConnell, Michael McGory
  • Patent number: 10526015
    Abstract: A push arm is coupled to a vehicle frame proximate an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member. A rear surface of the push arm is located adjacent to a front suspension structure with a gap defined therebetween. The push arm extends forward and laterally outward such that a front surface of the push arm is located outboard of and spaced apart from a front end of the first side member. An energy absorbing structure is positioned within the gap and is attached to the rear surface of the push arm and is spaced apart from the front suspension structure in a non-impacted state. The energy absorbing structure is configured such that in response to an off-center impact event, impact force to the energy absorbing structure pushes the energy absorbing structure into contact with the front suspension structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Takemi Nishikawa, Kazunori Iimi, Takao Tani, Hideo Aimoto, Naoki Kamizawa, Patrick Dean Grattan, Perry McConnell
  • Patent number: 10377420
    Abstract: An off-center impact reinforcement structure includes a push arm proximate rearward of a front portion of the vehicle frame. The push arm extends in a forward and laterally outboard direction from a front side member. A rear surface of the push arm is located below the first side member. During an initial stage of an off-center impact event in which a stationary barrier directly impacts a front surface of the push arm, impacting forces from the off-center impact event move the rear surface of the push arm into contact with brackets that extend downward from the front side member and transfer through the push arm to brackets and to the vehicle frame. In a second stage, a rear surface of the push arm contacts the vehicle frame as the push arm pivots with the front surface of the push arm moving in a laterally outboard direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazunori Iimi, Takemi Nishikawa, Takao Tani, Hideo Aimoto, Naoki Kamizawa, Christopher Robert Hartley, Patrick Dean Grattan, Joseph Bruno Buratto, Perry McConnell, David James Wozniak, Michael James McGory, Gunnar Mason, Matthew Michael Gapinski
  • Publication number: 20190233011
    Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a vehicle frame with a first side member, a front suspension structure and a stop structure. The stop structure is installed to a first side member rearward of the front suspension structure. The stop structure extends outboard from the first side member and includes an upper surface, a lower surface and a main surface. The upper surface and the lower surface are horizontally oriented. The main surface is vertically oriented and includes a first section, a second section and a third section. The first section is attached to the first side member. The second section extends outboard from the first section defining a forward-facing stop surface that extends to a distal outboard end of the stop structure. The third section extends rearward from the second section, with the first section, the second section and the third section defining vertically oriented exterior surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Kazunori IIMI, Takemi NISHIKAWA, Takao TANI, Hideo AIMOTO, Naoki KAMIZAWA, Joseph BURATTO, Perry MCCONNELL, Michael MCGORY
  • Publication number: 20190185059
    Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a vehicle frame and a beam. The vehicle frame has a first side member and a second side member extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and a cross-member extending in a vehicle lateral direction from the first side member to the second side member perpendicular to the first side member and the second side member. A first end of the beam is connected to one of the first side member or the second side member at a location spaced apart from the cross-member. A second end of the beam is connected to the cross-member at a location spaced apart from both the first side member and the second side member such that the beam is angularly offset from the cross-member with an angle of between 35 and 60 degrees defined between the cross-member and the beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Kazunori Iimi, Takemi Nishikawa, Takao Tani, Hideo Aimoto, Naoki Kamizawa, Christopher Hartley, Patrick Grattan, Joseph Buratto, Perry McConnell, David Wozniak, Michael McGory, Gunnar Mason, Matthew Gapinski
  • Patent number: 10150509
    Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a frame and a diagonal structure. The frame has a first side member, a second side member and a cross-member that extends in a vehicle lateral direction between the first and second side members. The cross-member is perpendicular to the first and second side members. The diagonal structure has a beam with a rear end that extends to an area of the second side member rearward of the cross-member. An angle of between 35 and 60 degrees is defined between the cross-member and the beam of the diagonal structure. The rear end of the beam is supported to the second side member by a rear attachment bracket such that the rear end of the beam is spaced apart from the second side member with a rear gap being defined between the rear end of the beam and the second side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Perry McConnell, Christopher Robert Hartley, Patrick Dean Grattan, Joseph Bruno Buratto, Michael James McGory
  • Patent number: 10093358
    Abstract: A front suspension structure has a front portion on a first side member of a vehicle frame and a rear portion on the first side member rearward of the front portion. A front wheel is supported by a wheel support structure that is pivotally mounted to a front suspension structure of the first side member. A stop structure is installed to the first side member at the rear portion of the front suspension structure. The stop structure extends in an outboard direction of the first side member. The stop structure has a stop surface that defines an angle relative to the vehicle longitudinal direction between 110 and 130 degrees. In response to an impact event to a front area of the front wheel, the front wheel pivots relative to the wheel support structure moving a rear area of the front wheel into contact with the stop surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Takao Tani, Takemi Nishikawa, Kazunori Iimi, Hideo Aimoto, Naoki Kamizawa, Joseph Bruno Buratto, Perry McConnell, Michael James McGory
  • Patent number: 10093357
    Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a vehicle frame and a push arm. The vehicle frame includes surfaces that define an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member. The surfaces extend from the first side member to the first cross-member with an upper surface of a mid-section of the first cross-member being vertically spaced apart from an upper surface of the first side member. The push arm is coupled to the vehicle frame proximate the intersection. A rear surface of the push arm faces and is adjacent to a front area of the intersection. A main body of the push arm extends forward and laterally outboard from the rear surface such that the front surface is located laterally outboard of the first side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Bruno Buratto, Christopher Robert Hartley, Perry McConnell
  • Publication number: 20180201324
    Abstract: A push arm is coupled to a vehicle frame proximate an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member. A rear surface of the push arm is located adjacent to a front suspension structure with a gap defined therebetween. The push arm extends forward and laterally outward such that a front surface of the push arm is located outboard of and spaced apart from a front end of the first side member. An energy absorbing structure is positioned within the gap and is attached to the rear surface of the push arm. The energy absorbing structure is spaced apart from the front suspension structure in a non-impacted state. The energy absorbing structure is configured such that in response to an off-center impact event, impact force to the energy absorbing structure pushes the energy absorbing structure into contact with the front suspension structure, such that the energy absorbing structure deforms and absorbs impact energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Takemi NISHIKAWA, Kazunori IIMI, Takao TANI, Hideo AIMOTO, Naoki KAMIZAWA, Patrick Dean GRATTAN, Perry MCCONNELL
  • Publication number: 20180194403
    Abstract: An off-center impact reinforcement structure includes a push arm proximate rearward of a front portion of the vehicle frame. The push arm extends in a forward and laterally outboard direction from a front side member. A rear surface of the push arm is located below the first side member. During an initial stage of an off-center impact event in which a stationary barrier directly impacts a front surface of the push arm, impacting forces from the off-center impact event move the rear surface of the push arm into contact with brackets that extend downward from the front side member and transfer through the push arm to brackets and to the vehicle frame. In a second stage, a rear surface of the push arm contacts the vehicle frame as the push arm pivots with the front surface of the push arm moving in a laterally outboard direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Kazunori IIMI, Takemi NISHIKAWA, Takao TANI, Hideo AIMOTO, Naoki KAMIZAWA, Christopher Robert HARTLEY, Patrick Dean GRATTAN, Joseph Bruno BURATTO, Perry MCCONNELL, David James WOZNIAK, Michael James MCGORY, Gunnar MASON, Matthew Michael GAPINSKI
  • Patent number: 9988091
    Abstract: A vehicle frame has a first side member, a second side member and a cross-member. The first and second side members extend in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The cross-member extends in a vehicle lateral direction between the first and second side members. The cross-member is fixed to the first side member and the second side member. A mid-portion of the cross-member has a first upright wall and a second upright wall spaced apart from one another defining a hollow area therebetween. A bulkhead is installed within the cross-member between the first upright wall and the second upright wall. The bulkhead has a plurality of surface sections that extend between the first upright wall and the second upright wall and perpendicular to the first upright wall and the second upright wall. The bulkhead is configured to restrict movement of the first upright wall relative to the second upright wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Perry McConnell, Christopher Robert Hartley, Patrick Dean Grattan
  • Publication number: 20180118267
    Abstract: An off-center impact reinforcement structure includes a push arm and a first diagonals structure installed to elements of a frame of a vehicle structure. The push arm is coupled to the frame proximate an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member and extends in a forward and laterally outboard direction from the intersection. The first diagonal structure extends rearward and laterally inboard from proximate the intersection toward a section of a second side member rearward of the first cross-member. The off-center impact reinforcement structure is configured such that during an off-center impact event in which a stationary barrier impacts against a front surface of the push arm during forward movement of the vehicle frame, impacting forces from the impact event are transferred through the push arm to the vehicle frame at the intersection and from the intersection to the first diagonal structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Kazunori IIMI, Takemi NISHIKAWA, Takao TANI, Hideo AIMOTO, Naoki KAMIZAWA, Christopher Robert HARTLEY, Patrick Dean GRATTAN, Joseph Bruno BURATTO, Perry MCCONNELL, David James WOZNIAK, Michael James MCGORY, Gunnar MASON, Matthew Michael GAPINSKI
  • Publication number: 20180118268
    Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a vehicle frame and a push arm. The vehicle frame includes surfaces that define an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member. The surfaces extend from the first side member to the first cross-member with an upper surface of a mid-section of the first cross-member being vertically spaced apart from an upper surface of the first side member. The push arm is coupled to the vehicle frame proximate the intersection. A rear surface of the push arm faces and is adjacent to a front area of the intersection. A main body of the push arm extends forward and laterally outboard from the rear surface such that the front surface is located laterally outboard of the first side member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph Bruno BURATTO, Christopher Robert HARTLEY, Perry MCCONNELL
  • Publication number: 20180118273
    Abstract: A vehicle frame has a first side member, a second side member and a cross-member. The first and second side members extend in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The cross-member extends in a vehicle lateral direction between the first and second side members. The cross-member is fixed to the first side member and the second side member. A mid-portion of the cross-member has a first upright wall and a second upright wall spaced apart from one another defining a hollow area therebetween. A bulkhead is installed within the cross-member between the first upright wall and the second upright wall. The bulkhead has a plurality of surface sections that extend between the first upright wall and the second upright wall and perpendicular to the first upright wall and the second upright wall. The bulkhead is configured to restrict movement of the first upright wall relative to the second upright wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Perry MCCONNELL, Christopher Robert HARTLEY, Patrick Dean GRATTAN
  • Publication number: 20180118266
    Abstract: A push arm is coupled to a vehicle frame proximate an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member. A rear surface of the push arm is located adjacent to a front suspension structure with a gap defined therebetween. The push arm extends forward and laterally outward such that a front surface of the push arm is located outboard of and spaced apart from a front end of the first side member. A energy absorbing structure is positioned within the gap and is attached to the rear surface of the push arm. The energy absorbing structure is spaced apart from the front suspension structure in a non-impacted state. The energy absorbing structure is configured such that in response to an off-center impact event, impact force to the energy absorbing structure pushes the energy absorbing structure into contact with the front suspension structure, such that the energy absorbing structure deforms and absorbs impact energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Takemi NISHIKAWA, Kazunori IIMI, Takao TANI, Hideo AIMOTO, Naoki KAMIZAWA, Patrick Dean GRATTAN, Perry MCCONNELL
  • Publication number: 20180118274
    Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a frame and a diagonal structure. The frame has a first side member, a second side member and a cross-member that extends in a vehicle lateral direction between the first and second side members. The cross-member is perpendicular to the first and second side members. The diagonal structure has a beam with a rear end that extends to an area of the second side member rearward of the cross-member. An angle of between 35 and 60 degrees is defined between the cross-member and the beam of the diagonal structure. The rear end of the beam is supported to the second side member by a rear attachment bracket such that the rear end of the beam is spaced apart from the second side member with a rear gap being defined between the rear end of the beam and the second side member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Perry MCCONNELL, Christopher Robert HARTLEY, Patrick Dean GRATTAN, Joseph Bruno BURATTO, Michael James MCGORY
  • Publication number: 20180118270
    Abstract: A front suspension structure has a front portion on a first side member of a vehicle frame and a rear portion on the first side member rearward of the front portion. A front wheel is supported by a wheel support structure that is pivotally mounted to a front suspension structure of the first side member. A stop structure is installed to the first side member at the rear portion of the front suspension structure. The stop structure extends in an outboard of the first side member. The stop structure has a stop surface that defines an angle relative to the vehicle longitudinal direction between 110 and 130 degrees. In response to an impact event to a front area of the front wheel, the front wheel pivots relative to the wheel support structure moving a rear area of the front wheel into contact with the stop surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Takao TANI, Takemi NISHIKAWA, Kazunori IIMI, Hideo AIMOTO, Naoki KAMIZAWA, Joseph Bruno BURATTO, Perry MCCONNELL, Michael James MCGORY
  • Patent number: 9956992
    Abstract: An off-center impact reinforcement structure includes a push arm and a first diagonals structure installed to elements of a frame of a vehicle structure. The push arm is coupled to the frame proximate an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member and extends in a forward and laterally outboard direction from the intersection. The first diagonal structure extends rearward and laterally inboard from proximate the intersection toward a section of a second side member rearward of the first cross-member. The off-center impact reinforcement structure is configured such that during an off-center impact event in which a stationary barrier impacts against a front surface of the push arm during forward movement of the vehicle frame, impacting forces from the impact event are transferred through the push arm to the vehicle frame at the intersection and from the intersection to the first diagonal structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazunori Iimi, Takemi Nishikawa, Takao Tani, Hideo Aimoto, Naoki Kamizawa, Christopher Robert Hartley, Patrick Dean Grattan, Joseph Bruno Buratto, Perry McConnell, David James Wozniak, Michael James McGory, Gunnar Mason, Matthew Michael Gapinski
  • Patent number: 9956991
    Abstract: A push arm is coupled to a vehicle frame proximate an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member. A rear surface of the push arm is located adjacent to a front suspension structure with a gap defined therebetween. The push arm extends forward and laterally outward such that a front surface of the push arm is located outboard of and spaced apart from a front end of the first side member. A energy absorbing structure is positioned within the gap and is attached to the rear surface of the push arm. The energy absorbing structure is spaced apart from the front suspension structure in a non-impacted state. The energy absorbing structure is configured such that in response to an off-center impact event, impact force to the energy absorbing structure pushes the energy absorbing structure into contact with the front suspension structure, such that the energy absorbing structure deforms and absorbs impact energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Takemi Nishikawa, Kazunori Iimi, Takao Tani, Hideo Aimoto, Naoki Kamizawa, Patrick Dean Grattan, Perry McConnell