Patents by Inventor Ryan C. Harris

Ryan C. Harris 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: 20250038326
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are assemblies for protecting the battery pack of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a pair of side frame members. A battery pack is located between the side frame members. A battery protection plate has an upper surface, an opposite lower surface, a plurality of mounting bosses, and a plurality of openings. The plurality of mounting bosses are coupled to the battery protection plate to the pair of side frame members, and the plurality of openings extend between the upper surface and the opposite lower surface. The plurality of openings are configured to expose at least a portion of the battery pack to an exterior atmosphere so as to allow fluid to drain through the plurality of openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaitlyn A. Cherniuk, Ryan C. Harris
  • Publication number: 20250038332
    Abstract: A battery pack frame is disclosed. A battery pack frame includes a front wall, a rear wall, a pair of sidewalls extending between the front wall and the rear wall, and a bottom plate extending beneath the front wall, the rear wall, and the pair of sidewalls. A plurality of cross members extend between the pair of sidewalls, and each of the plurality of cross members includes an extruded frame having at least one channel that defines a cavity and a reinforcement member positioned within the at least one cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Todd Muck
  • Publication number: 20250038338
    Abstract: A battery pack frame is disclosed. The battery pack frame includes a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of sidewalls that extend between the front wall and the rear wall. A bottom plate extends beneath the front wall, the rear wall, and the pair of sidewalls, and a plurality of cross members extend between the pair of sidewalls. Each of the plurality of cross members further include an upper member and a base member having a channel that defines a cavity for receiving the upper member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Todd Muck
  • Patent number: 12187177
    Abstract: A truck includes a passenger cabin and a truck bed located rearward of the passenger cabin in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The truck bed includes a bed deck and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls. A tailgate replacement extends across a rear opening to the truck bed and between the sidewalls. The tailgate replacement includes vertically-extending support rails and vertically spaced-apart, laterally-extending support rails that extend between the vertically-extending support rails. A slider is connected to the laterally-extending support rails. The slider includes a first connecting portion that slidably engages a first one of the laterally-extending support rails and a second connecting portion that slidably engages a second one of the laterally-extending support rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott L. Frederick
  • Publication number: 20240399949
    Abstract: A storage system includes a storage surface for storing a container thereon. The storage surface defines a storage surface ridge. The storage surface ridge defines a cavity. The storage surface further defines a storage surface valley. The storage surface ridge and the storage surface valley interlock with a bottom surface of the container. The storage system also includes a temperature-regulating medium housed in the cavity. The temperature-regulating medium regulates a temperature of one or more contents of the container when the container is stored on the storage surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: David T. Nakayama, Ryan C. Harris, Peter C. Piper, Matthew K. Killeen
  • Publication number: 20240367498
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided securing a battery pack to a vehicle. Embodiments can comprise an internal cross member secured to a first side of the vehicle's chassis. A cooling plate can be placed on one side of the internal cross member opposite to the first side of the vehicle's chassis where the internal cross member is secured. A hat-shaped section can extend at least partially across a width of the vehicle and secured to a second side of the vehicle's chassis. A structural reinforcement member can partially surround a battery pack of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: RYAN C. HARRIS, KAITLYN A. CHERNIUK, WEILING WANG, TODD MUCK
  • Publication number: 20240343535
    Abstract: Systems and methods of leveling a vehicle are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: provide a plurality of air bag jacks under the vehicle; determine roll and pitch information of the vehicle; determine, using a computing system, an amount of air-adjustment to make for one or more of the plurality of air bag jacks, based on the roll and pitch information, to level the vehicle; and activate, via the computing system, an air compressor to make the determined air-adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: RYAN C. HARRIS
  • Publication number: 20240308598
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a dual-access refrigeration space with conveyance system. The dual-access refrigeration space being accessible from both inside and outside the passenger cabin of a vehicle, and the conveyance system capable of conveying objects within the dual-access refrigeration space. The conveyance of such objects enabling passengers of the vehicle to access refrigerated objects that may have been loaded from an area external to the passenger cab without the passengers needing to exit the vehicle. In some examples, such convention may be reversed such that the refrigeration space within a passenger cabin may be utilized by a user outside the passenger cabin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: PAXTON S. WILLIAMS, RYAN C. HARRIS, Keith O'BRIEN
  • Publication number: 20240308284
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a tow hook assembly for a vehicle. The tow hook assembly includes a tow hook having a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, a translating member configured to be coupled to the tow hook, a hinge disposed between the tow hook and the translating member, a housing configured to house at least a portion of the translating member, and a biasing member disposed within the housing and configured to be coupled to the translating member such that the biasing member is configured to deploy the tow hook. A horizontal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The translating member is configured to translate the tow hook along the horizontal axis, and the hinge is configured to rotate the tow hook about the hinge and radially away from the horizonal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott L. Frederick
  • Publication number: 20240308282
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a tow hook system for a vehicle. The tow hook system includes a sensor configured to detect a collision of the vehicle and an electronic control unit coupled to the sensor. The electronic control unit is configured obtain, from the sensor, the collision detection, and activate a tow hook assembly based on the collision detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott L. Frederick
  • Publication number: 20240227474
    Abstract: A vehicle including a cross member and a tow hook assembly. The tow hook assembly is coupled to the cross member and includes a housing, a tow hook, and a shear pin. The housing includes an arcuate interior. The tow hook is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. The tow hook includes a retaining block and a receiving member having a distal portion extending from the retaining block and a leading portion extending from the distal portion. The shear pin is positionable to extend through the housing. When the tow hook is in the extended position and a force exceeding a predetermined threshold is applied to the leading portion of the receiving member, the shear pin shears to permit the retaining block of the tow hook to move along the arcuate interior of the housing and position the tow hook into the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott L. Frederick
  • Patent number: 11981290
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with an integrated and removable traction device, such as a tread board. The traction device may be integrated into a bumper of the vehicle. When mounted/installed on the bumper, the traction device can act as a cover to a storage unit implemented in the bumper. When removed, the traction device can be placed under a wheel of the vehicle to provide increased traction on certain surfaces. By integrating the traction device into the vehicle's bumper area, the traction device need not occupy, e.g., interior storage space of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott L. Frederick
  • Publication number: 20240131884
    Abstract: A vehicle including a cross member and a tow hook assembly. The tow hook assembly is coupled to the cross member and includes a housing, a tow hook, and a shear pin. The housing includes an arcuate interior. The tow hook is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. The tow hook includes a retaining block and a receiving member having a distal portion extending from the retaining block and a leading portion extending from the distal portion. The shear pin is positionable to extend through the housing. When the tow hook is in the extended position and a force exceeding a predetermined threshold is applied to the leading portion of the receiving member, the shear pin shears to permit the retaining block of the tow hook to move along the arcuate interior of the housing and position the tow hook into the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott L. Frederick
  • Patent number: 11958346
    Abstract: A tonneau cover for a vehicle has a topside and an underside. The tonneau cover also includes a rail system attached to the underside. The tonneau cover also includes a ramp system. The ramp system is slidably engaged with the rail system and is configured to slide out from the underside along the rail system such that a rear end of the ramp system engages a ground surface to create a rampway between the topside and the ground surface. The ramp system can be used to load large cargo onto the topside of the tonneau cover. The ramp system is also removable from the rail system and attachable to an end of a truck bed of the vehicle such that the ramp system can be used to load cargo into the truck bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott Louis Frederick
  • Patent number: 11858408
    Abstract: A truck includes a passenger cabin and a truck bed located rearward of the passenger cabin in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The truck bed includes a bed deck and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls. A compressor unit is located between an inner sidewall panel and an outer sidewall panel of one of the sidewalls. A truck bed cover covers the truck bed. A bladder is connected to an underside of the truck bed cover. The compressor unit connected to the bladder and configured to inflate the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott L. Frederick
  • Publication number: 20230398923
    Abstract: A truck includes a passenger cabin and a truck bed located rearward of the passenger cabin in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The truck bed includes a bed deck and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls. A tailgate replacement extends across a rear opening to the truck bed and between the sidewalls. The tailgate replacement includes vertically-extending support rails and vertically spaced-apart, laterally-extending support rails that extend between the vertically-extending support rails. A slider is connected to the laterally-extending support rails. The slider includes a first connecting portion that slidably engages a first one of the laterally-extending support rails and a second connecting portion that slidably engages a second one of the laterally-extending support rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott L. Frederick
  • Publication number: 20230398924
    Abstract: A truck includes a passenger cabin and a truck bed located rearward of the passenger cabin in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The truck bed includes a bed deck and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls. A compressor unit is located between an inner sidewall panel and an outer sidewall panel of one of the sidewalls. A truck bed cover covers the truck bed. A bladder is connected to an underside of the truck bed cover. The compressor unit connected to the bladder and configured to inflate the bladder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott L. Frederick
  • Publication number: 20230365075
    Abstract: The application generally relates to an apparatus comprising a tailgate protector having a base disposed atop a first portion of a tailgate, a support arm extending from a first edge of the base, and one or more mounting elements disposed within the base, wherein the one or more mounting elements are configured to removably couple an attachment via one or more attachment mounting elements includes in the attachment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: RYAN C. HARRIS, Scott L. Frederick
  • Patent number: 11801737
    Abstract: A tonneau cover for a vehicle can include a panel and a table. The panel can define a cavity. The table can be modifiable between a stowable configuration and a standing configuration. In the stowable configuration, the table is configured to stow inside the cavity. In the standing configuration, the table is configured to stand on a ground surface when removed from the cavity. In the stowable configuration, the table may be configured to further rigidify the panel such that a user of the vehicle can store cargo on top of the tonneau cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott Louis Frederick
  • Publication number: 20230278482
    Abstract: Apparatuses described herein relate to improving the prevention of cargo movement during vehicle travel. In one embodiment, an apparatus for securing cargo within a vehicle includes a bladder coupled to an underside of a cover that extends over a cargo area, where the bladder faces the cargo area. The apparatus includes a supply device coupled with the bladder via a connecting member to expand the bladder into contact with the cargo within the cargo area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Ryan C. Harris, Scott L. Frederick