Integrated Into Bumper Patents (Class 224/489)
  • Patent number: 11884217
    Abstract: A vehicle tool rack for storing and accessing various individual equipment elements carried aboard a vehicle comprises a base and a turntable rotatably carried on the base such that the turntable is rotatable relative to the base. A plurality of tool receptacles are carried aboard the turntable, whereby the turntable is adapted to simultaneously receive a plurality of individual equipment elements. A plurality of circumferentially-spaced base magnets are fixedly carried by the base and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced turntable magnets are fixedly carried by the turntable. The base magnets and the turntable magnets remain spaced from one another. The turntable has a plurality of distinct stable rotational positions relative to the base wherein the turntable magnets interact with the base magnets to resist rotation out of the distinct stable rotational positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: INNOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Bruce Whitehouse, Jaimin Shah, Dennis K. Summers, Joseph Albert
  • Patent number: 11851026
    Abstract: An access panel at and on a cab step of a vehicle is provided for access to a compartment of the vehicle. In some instances, the access panel includes a tread portion and a riser portion such that the access panel has a substantially L-shape. A pair of hinge components are coupled to an internal surface of the access panel such that the access panel can be hingedly displaced between a closed position and an opened position. In the closed position, the access panel covers and protects the compartment within the vehicle, and in the opened position the access panel provides a user or mechanic access to the compartment. The compartment may contain wiring, batteries, gears, etc., that need to undergo routine maintenance, emergency fixes, or diagnostic tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Jordan Michael Fisher, Jon David Polzin, Piotr Stegawski, Nicholas Coe Outlaw
  • Patent number: 11584319
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper for a vehicle includes a bumper frame adapted for installing into one of a front end and a rear end of a vehicle to absorb impact in case of collision, and a function unit provided at the bumper frame. The function unit is incorporated with the bumper frame to form at least one of a flip type storage container, a drawer storage container and a detachable storage container for providing an additional storage to the vehicle, wherein the flip type storage container, the drawer storage container and the detachable storage container are located at different locations of the bumper frame, such that the flip type storage container, the drawer storage container and the detachable storage container are individually operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Xing Wen Luo
  • Patent number: 10857952
    Abstract: A detection apparatus that includes a detection unit configured to detect a peripheral environment of a vehicle and a bracket configured to attach the detection unit to a vehicle body, wherein in a state in which the bracket is attached to the vehicle body with the detection unit, the detection unit includes, on a lower end portion, a connector portion configured to be able to output a detection signal indicating the peripheral environment, and the bracket includes a pair of supporting portions configured to support the detection unit from the lower side on both sides of the connector portion and a bridge portion arranged astride the pair of supporting portions so as not to interfere with the connector portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shingo Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9804261
    Abstract: An automotive radar installation structure that allows a radar main body to be assembled to a vehicle in a simple arrangement and with stable performance, and a fascia retainer to attach a bumper fascia as an exterior part of a bumper to the vehicle. The structure includes a flat solid shape radar main body 122 and a transmission and/or reception surface to transmit/receive radio waves, and a fascia retainer 120 to attach a bumper fascia 108 of a rear bumper 104 of the vehicle to the vehicle main body. The fascia retainer 120 has a fixation portion 150, and a radar installation portion 128 in the vicinity of the fixation portion 150 having a recessed shape to receive the radar main body 122 so that the transmission and/or reception surface 130 faces outward of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventor: Bernald Dechoux
  • Patent number: 9326596
    Abstract: A deployable table for an external spare tire assembly is an apparatus that provides a user with a fold-out shelf while the apparatus is attached to the spare tire assembly or provides the user with a table while the apparatus is detached from the spare tire assembly. The apparatus includes an adapter mount, a dual compression clamp, a central hub, a table frame, a table top, and foldable legs. The adapter mount allows the apparatus to detachably attach to the external spare tire assembly. The central hub is connected normal to the table frame, which is used to support the table top. The table top has a stationary portion and a fold-out portion that is used as the shelf. The foldable legs collapse within the table frame or can extend when the apparatus is used as a table. The dual compression clamp connects the central hub to the adapter mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Inventor: Dan C. Larimer
  • Patent number: 9038876
    Abstract: An exemplary radar mounting device for attaching a component to a vehicle body may include a resilient grommet secured within an opening formed in the component. The device may also have a stud for attachment to the vehicle body. The stud may have a ball portion received within the resilient grommet for attaching the component to the stud. In addition, the device may have a nut fastened to the stud to secure the component to the stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Muhammad Azhar Aleem, Scott Howard Gaboury, Brian Fath, David James Lawor
  • Patent number: 8998050
    Abstract: A bicycle carrying system includes a first bicycle wheel mount device, a second bicycle wheel mount device, and one or more straps. The first bicycle wheel mount device couples on a vehicle bumper at a first location on the vehicle bumper. The second bicycle wheel mount device couples on a vehicle bumper at a second location on the vehicle bumper. The straps secure a frame of the bicycle to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: Ryan Battle
  • Patent number: 8678461
    Abstract: A storage apparatus for a vehicle may include a rear back beam installed to be drawn out from a rear bumper while sliding to a rear side of the vehicle, and a pair of left and right storage boxes installed to be seated on the rear back beam and extending while sliding in a traverse direction of the vehicle when the rear back beam may be drawn out to the rear side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dong Eun Cha, Seung Mok Lee, Hun Soo Kim, Hoo Taek Cho, Jeong Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8596507
    Abstract: A storage apparatus for a vehicle may include a rear bumper having a back beam mounted under an inner space thereof, and a storage case provided in a space above the rear bumper, having a portion exposed to the outside formed so as to coincide with an outer surface of the rear bumper, and drawn-out/drawn-in by being slid to the outside in a state in which a load is supported above the back beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Seung Mok Lee, Nae Ung Jang, Hee Chan Yang, Dong Eun Cha, Nam Cheol Kim, Kwang Jae Choi, Jo Han Kim, Yong Won Jeong, Seung Hwan Lee, Cheol O Kim, Ki Tae Kim, Myung Eun Kim, Hun Soo Kim, Hoo Taek Cho, Jeong Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8573660
    Abstract: A safety apparatus of a rear bumper storage box for a vehicle includes a storage box that does not rotate upward but rotates downward toward a ground surface when a rear low-speed collision accident occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dong Eun Cha, Seung Mok Lee, Jeong Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8418902
    Abstract: A telescopic bicycle carrier installed on a vehicle so as to be able to load a bicycle outside the vehicle, may include a guide rail located inside a bumper of the vehicle and fixed to an end of a body of the vehicle, a guide frame slidably installed on the guide rail along a lengthwise direction of the vehicle, a pair of expansion brackets installed on lateral sides of the guide frame and slidable toward or away from each other with respect to the guide frame in a widthwise direction of the vehicle through the guide frame, bicycle wheel fixtures pivotally installed on the pair of expansion brackets to fix wheels of the loaded bicycle, and bicycle body fixtures pivotally installed on the pair of expansion brackets to fix a body of the loaded bicycle, wherein the pair of expansion brackets may be received inside the bumper along with the guide frame in a retracted state where the expansion brackets slide toward each other into the guide frame, and may be extracted from the bumper along with the guide frame if
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dong Eun Cha, Seung Mok Lee, Sung Won Kim, Hun Soo Kim, Hoo Taek Cho
  • Patent number: 8302829
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bicycle carrier for a vehicle, which is housed in the rear bumper of the vehicle to be concealed and when necessary is drawn out from the rear bumper to carry a bicycle. The bicycle carrier includes a front frame positioned in a rear bumper of the vehicle and secured to a rear end of a vehicle body. A central frame perpendicularly passes through the front frame. A rear frame is secured to a rear end of the central frame. A folding unit couples each of opposite ends of the front frame with each of opposite ends of the rear frame and is folded to vary a distance between the front frame and the rear frame. A bicycle wheel support is provided on the folding unit. A bicycle body support is provided on the central frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Seung Mok Lee, Hee Chan Yang, Dong Eun Cha, Nam Cheol Kim, Kwang Jae Choi, Ju Yong Park, Jo Han Kim, Yong Won Jeong, Kwang Sup Jeong, Jeong Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8261473
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sign carrier apparatus specifically designed to be inserted into a vehicle hitch assembly to transport signs. Alternatively, the present invention provides for a free standinged receiver hitch, or free standing receiver hitch for storing the sign carrier apparatus when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventors: Joshua A. Bey, Sarah R. Bey
  • Publication number: 20090266857
    Abstract: A carrier for real estate signs is mounted on the back of a motor vehicle to allow signs to be carried outside the vehicle rather than inside the vehicle. This keeps the dirty or wet signs from soiling the vehicle. The carrier may be mounted to a trailer hitch. The carrier has two ends to capture the two ends of the sign. The ends are adjustable relative to one another, preferably by sliding them apart or together. One end, such as a retaining end, has holes to allow the sign legs to pass through, and thereby retain the signs from sliding off the other end, such as the channel or tray end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventor: Gerry Dennis
  • Patent number: 7597222
    Abstract: An apparatus for carrying a spare tire is described. The apparatus is a spare tire assembly configured to interface with a vehicle hitch. The apparatus comprises a hitch receiver, a bumper frame, a spare tire holder, an adjustable bolt, and an adjust come. The hitch receiver is configured to interface with the hitch from a vehicle. The bumper frame is fixedly coupled to the hitch receiver. The bumper frame is on a horizontal axis. The spare tire holder is rotatably coupled to the bumper frame with a hinged element that is configured to swing vertically about the horizontal axis. The hinged element also includes an aperture or hole, which receives a locking pin that locks the spare tire holder in an upright position. The adjustable bolt and adjustable cone are configured to receive different size spare tires. When the spare tire holder is in a downward position, the user can have access to a cargo box. In one illustrative embodiment, the cargo box has a utility rack and includes doors that swing outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Inventors: Darrell Bishop, Debra Sue Bishop
  • Publication number: 20090242600
    Abstract: A protective rear accessory bumper and integrated spare tire carrier for use on a host land vehicle providing protective features designed to minimize vehicle damage in rear-end vehicular collisions, and also providing rapid access to, and stowage of, a spare tire, by means of a pivoting tire carrier assembly, allowing a single person to change a heavy tire too heavy for the person to lift by hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: James M. Helms, Mark R. Barie
  • Publication number: 20080142559
    Abstract: The present invention is an integrated external bicycle rack that can be stored quickly and easily within the vehicle when not in use. The bicycle rack can hold up to two bicycles and other objects, and can be equipped on any type of vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, the bicycle rack includes two support bars which extend rearward of the vehicle from the vehicle's rear frame rail. In another exemplary embodiment, the bicycle rack includes two support bars within a rack frame which is mounted to the vehicle frame, and the two support bars selectively extend rearward of the vehicle. Once the support bars are extended, then one or more load floor panels are relocated from within the vehicle and mounted to the support bars. The load floor panels include attachment device which are used to secure bicycles and the like to the load floor panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Stephen T. Lim, Aaron J. Schnepp, Louis A. Rhodes, Todd McKinzie
  • Patent number: 7121597
    Abstract: A bicycle-holding apparatus is concealable in a bumper shell. The bicycle-holding apparatus can be switched between a concealed position and an exposed position. In the concealed position, the bicycle-holding apparatus is collapsed and concealed in the bumper shell. In the exposed position, the bicycle-holding apparatus is exposed from the bumper shell and can be extended in order to hold a bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventor: Louis Chuang
  • Patent number: 6889880
    Abstract: A vehicle cargo rack is provided with a sill connected to the vehicle, at least one rotatable joint mounted on the sill, and at least one arm coupled to the at least one joint and configured to hold cargo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfonso E. Albaisa, John Cupit
  • Patent number: 6607346
    Abstract: A swivelling spare wheel carrier for a vehicle is provided which improves rear access to the vehicle body and the tailgate opening. The spare wheel carrier is connected to the vehicle body by a swivel joint. A swivelling axis of the swivel joint is disposed such that, by means of the spare wheel carrier, the spare wheel is movable from a travel position, in which it is behind the tailgate, into a rear access position, in which the spare wheel held by the spare wheel carrier is disposed at least in part with a region overlapping a rear part of a longitudinal side of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: ORIS Fahrzeugteile Hans Riehle GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Dunsch, Joerg Riehle, Hans Riehle
  • Patent number: 6564599
    Abstract: A tailgate limiter for restricting a pickup truck tailgate from being opened. A vertical post is removably mounted in a base which is mounted to the truck. The post impedes the tailgate from opening, thereby preventing theft of objects in the truck bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventors: Mark T. Eagleson, Curt M. Luburgh
  • Patent number: 6447032
    Abstract: A brush guard attachment equipped with a centrally disposed, forwardly disposed pivotally mounted tote rack mounted to a front end of a vehicle protects the vehicle front end against brush damage. The attachment protects the vehicle against impacting damage when the tote rack is used in a toting position. The tote rack is positioned forwardly from protective brush rails and pivots from a pair of projecting vertical support members to a toting position when in use and non-toting position when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: Raymond L. Howell, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20020017543
    Abstract: In order to improve a spare wheel holding device for a vehicle body having a hatchback with tailgate, comprising a spare wheel carrier, which holds a spare wheel and is capable of swivelling about an axis relative to the vehicle body, in a way that improves rear access to the vehicle body and hence to the tailgate and enables said spare wheel holding device to be fixed as easily as possible to the vehicle body, it is proposed that the spare wheel carrier is connected to the vehicle body by a swivel joint, the swivelling axis of which is disposed in such a way that the spare wheel carrier the spare wheel is movable from a travel position, in which it is behind the tailgate, into a rear access position, in which the spare wheel held by the spare wheel carrier is disposed at least with a part-region overlapping a rear part of a longitudinal side of the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: Oris Fahrzuegteile Hans Riehle GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Dunsch, Joerg Riehle, Hans Riehle