Hoods Patents (Class 180/69.2)
  • Patent number: 11964697
    Abstract: A body on frame vehicle includes left and right front tubes and a lower support. The left front tube extends above a left front wheel well of the body on frame vehicle and terminates in a forward direction at a left forward end. The right front tube extends above a right front wheel well of the body on frame vehicle and terminates in the forward direction at a right forward end. The lower support includes a lateral portion, left riser portion, and right riser portion. A left end of the lower support extends upward from the lateral portion to form the left riser portion and a right end of the lower support extends upward from the lateral portion to form the right riser portion. The left and right riser portions are affixed to the left and right front tube proximate the left forward end and the right forward end, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Dragan B. Stojkovic
  • Patent number: 11858556
    Abstract: A hood assembly for an agricultural vehicle such as a farm tractor has a first hood panel and a second hood panel pivotably attached to the first hood panel and movable from a first closed position to a second open position relative to the first hood panel. The first hood panel is an elongate body mounted above an engine of the vehicle and having a front end and a rear end joined by two side portions. The second hood panel wraps around the front end of the first hood panel and extends along the two sides thereof to respective pivotal attachments. The attachments have a common pivot axis which traverses the first hood panel in spaced-apart relation to the first hood panel front end. Opening the second hood panel provides maintenance access to a cooling package of the vehicle without opening or disassembling the remainder of the hood assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Bräutigam, Andreas Kleinhenz, Franz Erhard, Thomas Maier, Simon Brack
  • Patent number: 11851108
    Abstract: Vehicle strut braces are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a strut brace including a first portion to removably couple to a cowl of a vehicle, a second portion to removably couple to a first shock tower on a first side of the vehicle and a second shock tower on a second side of the vehicle, and a third portion to removably couple to at least one of (i) a first longitudinal member on the first side of the vehicle and a second longitudinal member on the second side of the vehicle or (ii) an upper front rail on the first side of the vehicle and the second side of the vehicle, the third portion to traverse an axial centerline of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Nydam, Aref Vandadi, Ari Garo Caliskan, Stavros Melabiotis
  • Patent number: 11766989
    Abstract: A hood and bumper assembly of a vehicle includes a hood assembly, and a hinge about which the hood assembly rotates between an open position and a closed position. A bumper bracket is secured to a fixed support of the vehicle, and a bumper is located between the bumper bracket and the hood assembly to absorb an impact force of the hood assembly. The bumper bracket is configured to release from the fixed support when the impact force exceeds a preselected threshold to dissipate the impact force. A bumper assembly for a hood of a vehicle includes a bumper bracket secured to a fixed support of the vehicle, and a bumper positioned between the bumper bracket and the hood to absorb an impact force. The bumper bracket is configured to release from the fixed support when the impact force exceeds a preselected threshold to dissipate the impact force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Vivekananda Kinila, Anandakumar Marappan, Vikram S. Patil
  • Patent number: 11767802
    Abstract: A CPU prompts a user to drive a vehicle to a repair shop by operating a display when an amount of PM deposited in a GPF increases. When a regeneration request for the GPF is input from a shop-side terminal in the repair shop, the CPU performs a regeneration process in a state in which the vehicle stops. The CPU controls a temperature of the GPF such that the temperature at the time of execution of the regeneration process becomes lower when an opening/closing member is in a closed state than when the opening/closing member is in an open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Nose, Yuto Ikeda, Yasuyuki Takama
  • Patent number: 11608118
    Abstract: A pop-up hood apparatus includes a hood, a hood lock mechanism, an actuator for raising, and an auxiliary support section configured to support a side edge portion of the hood from below upon an actuation of the actuator. The auxiliary support section includes a load receiving block configured to support the side edge portion of the hood from below, a biasing member configured to bias the load receiving block upward, a displacement restricting member configured to restrict upward displacement of the load receiving block, and a restriction releasing section configured to release upward displacement restriction of the load receiving block according to upward displacement of the hood lock mechanism. The displacement restricting member is displaced to a position that abuts a lower surface of the load receiving block when the load receiving block that has been released upward displacement restriction is displaced upward by a predetermined amount or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutada Sasaki, Masato Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11603139
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle front structure capable of, without breaking a lid provided at a thermal insulating cover, reliably closing a bonnet and the lid even if an attempt is made to close the bonnet prior to closing the lid. In the present invention, a thermal insulating cover 10 including a lid 30 that covers the upper side of an engine in an openable and closable manner is provided below a bonnet 1 that covers the upper side of an engine room in an openable and closable manner; the lid 30 is provided with, in the vehicle front-rear direction, a hinge fulcrum 36 on the same rear end side as a hinge fulcrum 4 of the bonnet 1 and is openable and closable independently of the bonnet 1; and the lid 30 includes locking means 40 that is locked to the bonnet 1 when the lid 30 is open and is released from the locking in conjunction with a closing operation of the bonnet 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazumi Okamura, Motoi Aoki, Makoto Shinhama, Minoru Shitamori
  • Patent number: 11535198
    Abstract: A filling apparatus for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, includes a body flap, which forms an outer skin of the vehicle, at least in some sections, and is designed to be pivoted between a first position and a second position which is different from the first position. The body flap has an opening. A device opens and closes the opening by way of a pivotable cover element which is provided at the opening. A filler neck or a container, which is arranged in relation to the opening such that the filler neck or the container, or the container via the filler neck, can be filled with a fluid via the opening when the body flap is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thorsten Hambusch
  • Patent number: 11479304
    Abstract: An energy absorber for interposition between a cover and a covered object includes a generally planar matrix of cells. Each of the cells includes a plurality of generally elongate micro-elements interconnected to form a cell micro-structure, with each cell having a respective energy absorption capacity such that an energy absorption capacity of the energy absorber varies across at least one direction. The cells are configured such that impulse of an object with the cover with the energy absorber sandwiched between the cover and the covered object causes a deceleration vs. time response in the object, beginning with a generally linear rise in the deceleration to a peak deceleration within 5 ms after the beginning of the impulse event, followed by a generally nonlinear decrease in the deceleration over a period of not greater than 15 ms to a final target deceleration of not greater than 10% of the peak deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Hanif Muhammad, Louis G. Hector, Jr., Mark A. Beauregard, Andrew C. Bobel, Michael J. Sigelko
  • Patent number: 11400885
    Abstract: An energy absorbing structure includes a base, a loading platform, a pair of side supports, a center support, and a pair of flexible segments. The loading platform is spaced apart from the base. The side supports project from the base toward the loading platform. The center support projects from the loading platform toward the base. The flexible segments extend from the side supports to the center support and connect the side supports to the center support. The flexible segments have straight edges and curved surfaces disposed between the straight edges. The straight edges extend from the side supports to the center support and are oriented at an oblique angle relative to the base. Each of the curved surfaces faces one of the base and the loading platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Nilesh D. Mankame, Pablo D. Zavattieri, David Restrepo, Gordon Jarrold, Kristiaan Hector
  • Patent number: 11286005
    Abstract: A vehicle hood includes a unitary metallic hood frame including a plurality of embosses having respective curved surfaces and a plurality of openings. The vehicle hood includes a metallic reinforcement material welded to a subset of the respective curved surfaces of the metallic hood frame. The vehicle hood includes a hood skin attached to the hood frame. The selective placement of metallic reinforcement material may reduce deflection of the vehicle hood while reducing weight compared to metal supports or a thicker metallic hood frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryan M. Hahnlen, Amitkumar Patil, Tyler J. Rupp
  • Patent number: 11235713
    Abstract: A tractor in which a basic shape of a hot-wind blocking plate disposed between a motor unit and an operation unit is commonalized as a sharable element, and cutting of an outer edge portion of the hot-wind blocking plate enables application to various specifications including different sizes of motors and operation units, thus achieving convenience in assembling the tractor, enabling mass production by using the sharable element, enabling an efficient inventory storage, and providing an advantage in costs. The tractor includes: a hot-wind blocking plate disposed between a motor unit and an operation unit, the dimension of the hot-wind blocking plate being adjustable by cutting an outer edge portion of the blocking plate; and an operation unit component mounted in the outer edge portion of the hot-wind blocking plate, a position where the operation unit component is mounted is changeable depending on a specification of the operation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Toshitaka Komiya, Yutaka Matsui, Tomoyuki Kuroda
  • Patent number: 10745140
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device for locking a first cowling and a second cowling of a thrust reverser of an aircraft propulsion assembly. The cowlings are mounted such that each cowl pivots around a longitudinal axis between a closed flight position and an open maintenance position. The locking device includes a telescopic connecting rod having at least one sliding shaft, a locking mechanism on a proximal end of a shaft on the second cowling, and a connecting rod support. The connecting rod support or the tubular element includes two walls each delimiting a hole, and the tubular element of the connecting rod or the connecting rod support has two support fingers which each extend longitudinally on a side of the tubular element into a hole. The holes engage with the support fingers when the cowlings are open and allow free movement of the support fingers in a closed-cowlings configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Safran Nacelles
    Inventors: Vincent Peyron, Serge Bunel, Pascal Soulier, Arnaud Bonny
  • Patent number: 10730441
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body structure defining a front trunk having a front opening. A grille coves the front opening in a closed position and is pivotable about a vertical hinge, or a horizontal hinge along a top edge, secured to the body structure to provide access to the front opening. The grille may include a bin mounted on an inner surface of the grille and pivotable with the grille, a heating/cooling duct or a video display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David Brian Glickman, Stuart C. Salter, Mark A. Wisneski, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Patent number: 10532653
    Abstract: A tractor includes an air cleaner and a passageway arranged to surround the air cleaner. Alternatively, tractor includes a maintenance equipment, an engine, a top plate covering the engine, and a floor section disposed at a position lower than the top plate and in a non-overlapping position with the engine as seen from above. In this tractor, the maintenance equipment is disposed on the floor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Uemura, Taira Ozaki, Masami Hirayama
  • Patent number: 10471935
    Abstract: A vehicular cowl louver assembly, a vehicular windshield assembly and a vehicle. A cowl louver that makes up a portion of the vehicular cowl louver assembly has one or more recesses formed in an upper-facing surface with which to provide storage of an ice scraper. A resiliently-biased clip allows the ice scraper to be selectively removable from the cowl louver to enable a person to scrape ice, snow or other debris from a vehicular windshield. The ice scraper may be returned to the recess after use, where the clip keeps the two secured to one another, even during vehicular movement. In one form, the surface of the ice scraper may be made to form a substantially flush, continuous fit with the portion of the surface of the cowl louver that is adjacent the recess to improve aerodynamic and aesthetic features of the cowl louver assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paxton S. Williams, Scott L. Frederick
  • Patent number: 10464503
    Abstract: An engine hood insulator is provided. The engine hood insulator includes an insulating layer and a plurality of first elastic connecting elements coupled with the insulating layer. The first elastic connecting elements are detachably connected with a plurality of second connecting elements disposed on a lower surface of the engine hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Zhou, Derek Kang, Lina Liu, Fei Fei Xie
  • Patent number: 10330057
    Abstract: An engine air induction system includes an air box and a hood insulator. The air box has an open top and a perimeter seal extending continuously around the open top. The hood insulator has a body including an air box closeout feature providing a continuous interface with the perimeter seal when a hood assembly incorporating the hood insulator is in a closed position. A related method of sealing an open top on an air box of a motor vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Neil Lawson Overgaard, Bryn Arthur Davies, Keith Brown, Martin Hagen
  • Patent number: 10260535
    Abstract: A pressurized gas-powered actuator includes a housing and a piston movably positioned within the housing. The piston has a drive pocket formed therein. A gas generator is positioned exterior of the piston and in fluid communication with the drive pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
    Inventors: Larry M. Wilmot, Rachid Hammoud, Joshua D. Van Hooser, Dennis K. Scheer
  • Patent number: 10207749
    Abstract: A method of making a polymeric engine hood assembly for use in a vehicle can include applying heat to a first polymeric sheet, applying heat to a second polymeric sheet, stacking the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, placing the stacked sheets between a first mold half and a second mold half, closing the first mold half and second mold half, applying vacuum to the space between the first polymeric sheet and the first mold half and between the second polymeric sheet and the second mold half, wherein the first polymeric sheet forms an exterior panel and wherein the second polymeric sheet forms a reinforcing structure; and attaching an exterior panel to a fender skin at a junction surface, wherein the reinforcing structure includes a connecting ridge extending transversely across the reinforcing structure, wherein the connecting ridge is configured to accept the junction surface of the exterior panel and the feeder skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen Krijnen, Geert Jan Schellekens, Claire Marie-Annick Martin
  • Patent number: 10167021
    Abstract: A vehicular resin panel structure is provided including a resin inner panel formed in a polygonal shape including a first edge portion, a second edge portion, and an angular portion, and fixed to a vehicle body at plural fixing points including a first fixing point and a second fixing point. The resin inner panel is further provided with a first rib further to an in-plane direction outer side of the resin inner panel than an imaginary line connecting the first fixing point and the second fixing point, and running along a direction intersecting the imaginary line. The first rib runs along a direction intersecting the imaginary line. The vehicular resin panel structure includes a resin outer panel including an outer end portion overlapping with the inner panel adhered to an inner end portion of the inner panel, and having a larger linear expansion coefficient than that of the inner panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Murakami, Junya Kato
  • Patent number: 10155550
    Abstract: A harvesting combine has a forward operator's cab and having a rear, and carrying laterally extending side trim panels from just behind the operator's cab to the rear of the harvesting combine. Deployment arms are pivotally affixed at their proximal ends to the harvesting combine and pivotally affixed to the side trim panels at their distal ends. The deployment arms are generally horizontal when the deployment arms are retracted. The deployment arm distal ends are movable outwardly and upwardly to deploy the side trim panels away from the harvesting combine. A pivoting plank carried by the inside of the side trim panels and deployable from a generally vertical stowed position to a generally horizontal position when the side trim panels have been deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Tribine Industries LLC
    Inventors: Bryan S. Claerhout, Robert A. Matousek
  • Patent number: 10092055
    Abstract: A cover covering an object includes an inner surface of the cover facing the object and spaced from the object, and an outer surface of the cover opposite the inner surface. A local energy absorber is operatively attached to the inner surface of the cover. The local energy absorber includes an energy absorbing core layer operatively attached to the inner surface of the cover and a frangible face sheet layer attached to the energy absorbing core layer facing the object. The frangible face sheet layer is to initiate fracture of the frangible face sheet layer during an impact applied to the outer surface defining an impact event having a duration of less than 20 milliseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Louis G. Hector, Jr., Nilesh D. Mankame, Hanif Muhammad, Anil K. Sachdev
  • Patent number: 10081322
    Abstract: A vehicle shield is provided according to the invention. The vehicle shield is constructed to avoid excessive hood flutter. The shield includes a vehicle shield region and an attachment region. The vehicle shield region is constructed for extending across at least a portion of a vehicle hood for protecting the vehicle hood. The attachment region is constructed for attaching the vehicle shield region to a vehicle. Also provided is a method of installing the shield to a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Lund, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Patelczyk, Mitch Fogle, Chris Morin, Greg Razor, Robert R. Chapman, Luis Serentill
  • Patent number: 10071626
    Abstract: An exhaust after-treatment mounting arrangement is provided that is mounted outside of an engine compartment and has a perforated enclosure allowing air to permeate the enclosure and establish an airflow through the enclosure to maintain part integrity of components of an exhaust after-treatment system with maximum temperature thresholds. Components of the exhaust after-treatment system may be mounted to permit movement of such components relative to upstream and downstream components in the exhaust system. The enclosure is configured to prevent contact of the hot components by operators and/or flammable materials with small venting holes through top surfaces of the enclosure and large vent holes in bottom areas of the box that allow large volumes of air to easily flow into the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Frederic George Kuhn, Karl M. Luebke
  • Patent number: 10017213
    Abstract: A vehicle panel structure includes a metal outer panel configuring an outer panel of a vehicle, a metal reinforcing member that is disposed at an end portion of the outer panel and that is joined to the outer panel further toward an inner side of the vehicle than the outer panel, and a resin inner panel that is disposed further toward the inner side of the vehicle than the reinforcing member and that is joined to the reinforcing member so as to form a closed cross-section between the inner panel and the reinforcing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tanaka, Yoshitsugu Mukaiyama
  • Patent number: 9972896
    Abstract: An engine monitoring system for an aircraft engine having a nacelle extending annularly thereabout and a sensor positioned radially inward therefrom. The system includes an engine control device coupled communicatively to the sensor and configured to receive engine data from the sensor and/or receive instruction data from a transmitter device positioned radially outward from a nacelle radially outward surface. The system also includes a composite panel including at least a portion of the nacelle and a ground plane positioned radially inward from the nacelle radially outward surface, the composite panel including an antenna coupled communicatively to engine control device and a radome positioned radially outward from ground plane. The antenna is configured to at least one of receive engine data from the engine control device and transmit engine data to a receiver device, and receive instruction data from the transmitter device and transmit instruction data to the engine control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Selaka Bandara Bulumulla, David Patrick Calder, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno, Andrew Michael Roach
  • Patent number: 9950744
    Abstract: A vehicle hood assembly includes a hood outer panel, a hood inner panel coupled to and positioned below the hood outer panel in a vehicle vertical direction, where at least a portion of the hood inner panel is spaced apart from the hood outer panel in the vehicle vertical direction such that the hood outer panel and the hood inner panel define a gap between the hood outer panel and the hood inner panel, and a reinforcement strap coupled to at least one of the hood outer panel and the hood inner panel, the reinforcement strap including a base portion and a rippled portion that extends outward from the base portion in the vehicle vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah T. Hammer, Aaron R. Steinhilb
  • Patent number: 9890966
    Abstract: A fender has an air-conducting device with air-conducting lamellae fastened in a holding frame. The air-conducting device has, in the fender, an outer opening into which the air-conducting lamellae project. An air mass flowing into the wheel arch or the fender is conducted to the outside by the air-conducting lamellae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Benjamin Mueller, Christoph Bauernfeind
  • Patent number: 9868472
    Abstract: A bonnet inner panel includes a central protrusion portion protruding upward in a vehicle elevational view and a rear protrusion portion located in back of the central protrusion portion, which are arranged side by side in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a deep-drawn groove is provided between the both protrusion portions to extend in a vehicle width direction, and a hinge reinforcement is provided to extend from a position beside the rear protrusion portion to a position at a rear end of the central protrusion portion, passing through beside the deep-drawn groove. Thereby, the hinge support rigidity of the rear portion of the bonnet having the central protrusion portion can be increased, so that occurrence of any improper deflection or vibration caused to the bonnet by the traveling vibration, the traveling-air pressure or the like can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohji Takada, Kozo Ishizuka, Hirokazu Yamauchi, Akira Miyake, Yousuke Inamitsu, Hideaki Fujii, Takashi Hamada, Soukichi Kikuchi, Atsushi Koriyama, Tsuyoshi Nishihara, Izumi Sadanaga
  • Patent number: 9821755
    Abstract: A hinge for a hood of a vehicle includes a first bracket, a member coupled to and rotatable relative to the first bracket, and a second bracket coupled to and rotatable relative to the member. An actuator includes a base connected to the first bracket and a rod moveable relative to the base. The rod moves from a retracted position to an extended position in contact with the second bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: S. M. Iskander Farooq, Srinivasan Sundararajan, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Sudip Sankar Bhattacharjee, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Patent number: 9783152
    Abstract: A vehicle structure comprising a body including a wheel house, a fender and an energy absorption member. The fender has an exposed A-side surface and an opposed B-side surface, with the fender including a laterally inner edge extending fore-and-aft that defines a portion of a hood opening, and the B-side surface adjacent to the laterally inner edge spaced from the wheel house in a vertical direction to define a crush gap. The energy absorption member is located in the crush gap between the wheel house and the fender, with the energy absorption member having a fender attachment flange secured to the B-side surface of the fender adjacent to the laterally inner edge, a body attachment flange secured to the wheel house, and an energy absorbing portion extending between the fender attachment flange and the body attachment flange, with the energy absorbing portion being curved in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Voss, Leonard J. Brohl, Jr., Anil A. Masih, Carl B. Corman, William C. Bliss
  • Patent number: 9783236
    Abstract: The technology relates to vehicle panels. The vehicle panel may comprise a top layer and a bottom layer. The top and bottom layers may be bonded together. The bond of the top and bottom layer may be a weld. One or more energy absorbing layers may be positioned between the top layer and the bottom layer. The one or more energy absorbing layers may be comprised of one or more energy absorbing materials. The energy absorbing layers may be aluminum honeycomb and polyurethane foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Daniel Lynn Larner, Atul Gupta, Thomas Daniel
  • Patent number: 9764771
    Abstract: A cowl top garnish includes a protruding portion that protrudes upward, with its top being situated at an upper position when a vehicle body is viewed in a lateral cross-sectional view. The protruding portion has a front segment that is disposed in along the width of the vehicle and extends from the top in a lower forward direction, and a rear segment that extends from the top in a lower backward direction. The protruding portion is an element having flexibility that allows the front segment and the rear segment to spread when a load acts on the protruding portion from above the top. The front segment has a projecting portion that projects toward the rear segment. The rear segment has a load receiving portion onto which the projecting portion abuts to receive the load when the load acts on the front segment in the backward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: MORIROKU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Hiwatashi
  • Patent number: 9764690
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-propelled ground milling machine, comprising a drive engine arranged in an engine compartment and an engine compartment enclosure which covers the engine compartment at least partly to the sides and to the top. A part of the engine compartment enclosure is a cover which is adjustable between a covering position and a maintenance position. At the same time, a maintenance platform is provided which is movable between a stowage position and a maintenance position. When the maintenance platform is in the maintenance position, an operator standing on the floor surface of the maintenance platform can carry out maintenance work in the engine compartment of the self-propelled ground milling machine. The self-propelled ground milling machine preferably is a road milling machine, more particularly a large milling machine, a surface miner, a stabilizer or a recycler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Thelen, Moritz Starkmeth
  • Patent number: 9738052
    Abstract: A resin-laminated board includes a front-side sheet and a backside sheet layered on each other with a hollow part interposed therebetween. The backside sheet is recessed toward the hollow part to provide a plurality of first recesses and a plurality of second recesses. The front-side sheet and the backside sheet are connected to each other with plural ribs by welding bottoms of the first recesses and the second recesses to the front-side sheet. The resin-laminated board has a thin-plate part having the first recesses with small depth and a thick-plate part having the second recesses with large depth, and the first recesses and the second recesses are arranged at substantially the same pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: KYORAKU CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Matsubara, Tadatoshi Tanji
  • Patent number: 9683348
    Abstract: It is a technical problem to provide an engine device that includes an exhaust gas purification device, which can be efficiently arranged in an engine installation space. The engine is arranged on the lower side of an operating seat, and a flywheel housing is arranged in such a manner as to be positioned on the front portion side of a traveling machine body, and the exhaust gas purification device is arranged on the upper side of the rear of the engine. Also, the engine is coupled with an air cleaner that draws in fresh air on the left side thereof. Furthermore, a hood includes a hood cover configured to be openable/closable in the rear thereof and covers the upper portion of the exhaust gas purification device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masataka Mitsuda
  • Patent number: 9663149
    Abstract: A vehicle hood includes an inner panel, an outer panel coupled to the inner panel, and an insert disposed between the outer panel and the inner panel. The insert is formed of a material that is brittle relative to a material of the outer panel. The insert includes a plurality of strips connected to each other. Each strip is elongated along and disposed adjacent to the outer panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Sushil Shastry, Randall R. Frank, Laike Misikir, Luis Jesus Chavela Guerra, Kevin Greene
  • Patent number: 9643658
    Abstract: Modified vehicle hoods and methods of modifying truck hoods are provided herein. The modified vehicle hoods are narrowed in width compared to the original truck hood. The modified width of the modified hood may be less than the horizontal width between the forward support posts of a hauler rack, allowing the modified hood to be opened without contacting the support posts. Methods of modifying truck hoods include marking each of the pair of fenders of the vehicle with cut lines, cutting the pair of fenders to remove excess hood material, and then attaching a pair of fender panels to the pair of cut vehicle fenders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Fontaine Modification Company
    Inventor: Dan R. Jaynes
  • Patent number: 9499209
    Abstract: A solar-activated body panel for a vehicle includes outer and inner panels with an internal cavity defined therebetween. The internal cavity includes first and second portions that correspond to first and second heat gain portions, respectively, on the outer surface, wherein the first heat gain portion retains solar energy at a first heat gain rate and the second heat gain portion retains solar energy at a second heat gain rate, the first heat gain rate being greater than the second heat gain rate. A thermal material is disposed on the outer surface, wherein when solar energy is radiated onto the outer surface, the first heat gain portion absorbs heat at the first heat gain rate and, in turn emits heat to the thermal material to alter the thermal material and define a predetermined indicia on the outer surface and within the thermal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Randall R. Frank, Greg B. Zinn, Michael J Gardynik, Christopher Pope
  • Patent number: 9371043
    Abstract: A vehicle trim panel is provided including a body. The body has a storage compartment, a first access opening to the storage compartment biased in a first direction and a second access opening to the storage compartment biased in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kathleen M. Parlow, Anthony Michael Zingalie
  • Patent number: 9343243
    Abstract: An actuation device (11) for an explosion-proof housing (10) in compliance with the ignition protection category “pressure-proof encapsulation”. The actuation device (11) has an actuation unit (15) with a manually actuatable actuation element (16), and an actuation device (11) having a switch unit (14) with a switch element (14) for switching an associated electrical contact. The actuation unit (15) is located outside the housing (10), whereas the switch unit (13) is located in the interior space (12) of the housing (10). An adapter device (22) mechanically connects the actuation unit (15) and the switch unit (13) and comprises at least one adapter plunger (38) that is supported so as to be movable in axial direction (A) in order to transmit the movement of the actuation element (16) via the adapter plunger (38) to the switch element (14). The adapter plunger (38) is arranged in an adapter channel (39) so as to be axially shiftable while forming a gap (53) that is resistant to ignition transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: R. Stahl Schaltgeräte GmbH
    Inventor: Elena Kondrus
  • Patent number: 9278719
    Abstract: A vehicle including a housing. The housing includes an outer portion, an inner portion, an air-flow channel, a plurality of air inlets, an air outlet, and a spoiler surface or a spoiler. The air-flow channel is disposed between the outer portion and the inner portion of the housing. The air inlets are disposed on the outer portion of the housing, and the air outlet is disposed at a rear of the outer portion of the housing. The air-flow channel communicates with the air inlets and the air outlet. The spoiler surface or the spoiler is disposed on a bottom of the outer portion of the housing, a top of the inner portion of the housing, or both the bottom of the outer portion and the top of the inner portion of the housing, for extending path of the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: Xiaoyi Zhu
  • Patent number: 9272735
    Abstract: An opening-closing body structure for a vehicle can improve build state of a vehicle opening-closing body. Reinforcement beads extending in three directions from stopper contact portions are formed at an inner hood panel. The three reinforcement beads are each formed at a position that is not on the same straight line as any other reinforcement bead. The reinforcement bead extends from the stopper contact portion toward the hood front side and is connected to an outer peripheral bead. The reinforcement beads are coupled to a framework portion by coupling beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Iwano
  • Patent number: 9233718
    Abstract: A striker reinforcement plate for support of a striker member on an automotive vehicle body. The plate has a first substantially planar face, including at least two holes for receiving mating bolts or screws. A flange extends from multiple edges of the face substantially perpendicular to the face. The flange includes mounting tabs extending outwardly and substantially perpendicular to the flange. The mounting tabs are provided for mating with an automotive vehicle pillar. The face of the striker reinforcement plate mates with a rear surface of a striker stiffener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Savio Rozario, Warren A. Day, Aron K. Madsen, Brian Timothy O'Hara, Adam Rompage, Brandon Koester
  • Patent number: 9156503
    Abstract: A mounting structure of a fender side cover, which is mounted between fenders disposed on both sides of a vehicle, a car body, and a hood hinge may include a hinge pin extending in a vehicle width direction on a side portion of the hood hinge, a rear mounting portion formed at a rear of the fender side cover and mounting the fender side cover to the hinge pin so as to be rotationally and laterally movable, and a front mounting portion formed on a front side of the fender side cover and inserted into a fender through-hole formed in the fender to couple the fender side cover to the fender, in which the fender side cover is mounted on the fender regardless of the type of the hood hinge and is moved along with the fender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: O-Sung Kwon
  • Patent number: 9156502
    Abstract: A vehicle bonnet safety assembly, the vehicle comprising: a bonnet; a windscreen; a chassis, to which the bonnet is hingedly joined by means of actuators; the assembly further comprises: an elongated guide fixedly mounted, and supported along its length, on the bottom side of the bonnet; a sliding member provided inside the elongated guide to slide along the length of the elongated guide until it engages a stop coupled to the elongated guide; whereas the sliding member is mounted in the elongated guide such that it is prevented from sliding out and sliding back the elongated guide thereby creating a field of visibility on the road for a driver when the bonnet flips over the windscreen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Digital Broadcast S.A.
    Inventor: Jaroslaw Micewicz
  • Patent number: 9045171
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a fixed hood covering a rear area of an engine compartment housing an engine and an engine accessory, a swing axis extending through the rear area of the engine compartment in a transverse direction of the vehicle, and a swing hood swinging around the swing axis between a closed position and an open position. The swing hood tucks the fixed hood inside the swing hood and thus covers the fixed hood in the open position, and covers a front area and a middle area of the engine compartment and overlaps with a front end portion of the fixed hood in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuaki Nogami, Hiroyuki Tada, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Kazutomo Miyaguchi, Eiji Sato, Akira Minoura, Hironori Tsuchihashi, Osami Fujiwara, Seiya Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9027685
    Abstract: Latch assemblies and children's products that include the latch assemblies are disclosed herein. The children's products may include a children's ride-on vehicle. The children's ride-on vehicle may include a vehicle body, a plurality of wheels, and a hinged assembly that is coupled to the vehicle body. The hinged assembly may include a base member, a hinged member, and a latch assembly that is configured to selectively retain the hinged assembly in a closed orientation. The latch assembly may include a female member, a male member that is configured to be selectively interconnected with the female member, and a guide structure. The guide structure may be configured to direct the male member and the female member into an aligned orientation from which the male member may be received within the female member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Howell, Christopher G. Gromek
  • Patent number: 8991537
    Abstract: A collapsible hood bumper for a vehicle having a hood generally includes a housing and a bumper head. The housing has a wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface, a base, and an opening defining an interior chamber. The bumper head has a main body, and is configured to receive a force from the hood of the vehicle. The bumper head is normally in an upright position in which the bumper head extends through the opening of the housing. However, the bumper head is collapsible from the upright position to a compressed position in which the bumper head is substantially disposed within the interior chamber of the housing. The bumper head is configured to be resettable from the compressed position to the upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Peter M. Snede, David M. Kileen, David Waskie