Door Frame Or Shell Patents (Class 296/146.5)
  • Patent number: 11801796
    Abstract: A garnish configured to enable use of a common door for a two-door vehicle and a four-door vehicle. The garnish may have a body. The body may be directly mountable onto a carriage of the two-door vehicle between an outer panel and a rocker panel of the two-door vehicle. The body may have an edge that is flush to a rear edge of the common door when mounted. The body may have at least two edges forming approximately a 90-degree angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Croyle, Blaine Benson, Peter C. Piper, Luke W. Garnaut
  • Patent number: 11560184
    Abstract: Embodiments provide an aerodynamic toolbox assembly comprising a toolbox coupled to a tractor trailer and an aerodynamic fairing assembly coupled to the toolbox. At least one fairing component extends beyond a selected surface of the toolbox to facilitate aerodynamic air flow past the toolbox during normal operation of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: FLOWBELOW AERO, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua Butler, Chris McKulsky
  • Patent number: 11529851
    Abstract: A lightweight and simplified vehicle door assembly is provided with four main components, an upper frame positioned about the window, an inner frame structure, an outer body panel, and a composite reinforcement component. The composite reinforcement component provides an all-in-one solution for a side impact cross beam, as well as an upper door reinforcement, a front door pillar reinforcement, and a rear door pillar reinforcement. The composite reinforcement component acts to reinforce the overall door structure, offers resistance to a side impact that limits the intrusion into the passenger compartment, and offers resistance to a frontal impact by maintaining the spacing between the vehicle A and B pillars (for a front door) and pillar C and D for a back door. A coupe vehicle door in which there is no window frame may be reinforced with the composite reinforcement component. The composite reinforcement component may have continuous or chopped fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: TEIJIN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Philippe Bonte, Marc-Philippe Toitgans, Dominique Boyer, Nicolas Godard
  • Patent number: 11331987
    Abstract: A vehicle door assembly include an inner door panel, a first hinge and a guard beam. The inner door panel has a first edge portion and a second edge portion. The first edge portion has a first hinge attachment location and a second hinge attachment location with the first hinge location having a first opening and a second opening. The first hinge is dimensioned and configured to attach to the first hinge attachment location of the inner door panel. The guard beam has a first end and a second end. The first end has a first fastener and a second fastener rigidly and non-movably attached thereto. The first fastener is inserted through the first opening and the second fastener extends through the second opening in the first hinge attachment location, the first and second fasteners further fastening to the first hinge thereby attaching the first hinge to the door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Luke Cordes
  • Patent number: 11318821
    Abstract: A vehicle door enables introduction of a plastic resin through penetration holes formed in the reinforcement bracket that is inserted into the window frame portion in injection molding of the door module assembled between the door trip and the door panel to improve structural bonding force and at the same time assure structural rigidity by forming various ribs and bosses to thereby prevent separation of the reinforcement bracket due to torsion, and particularly, prevents deformation by strengthening bending strength by filling a plastic resin in a space formed between ribs in a portion where structural strength is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, DUCKYANG IND. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dongmin Jeon, Sae Hoon Oh, Hi Su Cho
  • Patent number: 11235644
    Abstract: There are provided a vehicle-body frame member forming an opening portion for entrance at a vehicle side part and a front side door provided so as to open and close the opening portion. The vehicle-body frame member comprises a side sill, the front side door comprises a door panel portion provided with an inner lower portion which overlaps with the side sill in a vehicle wide view and reinforcement portions provided at two side-portions of a peripheral part of the door panel portion which are continuous and include the inner lower portion such that the reinforcement portions overlap with the vehicle-body frame member in a vehicle side view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eri Kaiki, Masanori Honda, Tomohito Okuyama, Ryuji Nonaka, Hideaki Fujii, Noboru Shouno, Daisuke Nakayama, Isamu Kizaki, Yuichi Sugimura, Taei Shibahara, Kaori Suzuki, Orie Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11148732
    Abstract: The invention relates to an industrial vehicle cab (5) defining a driver compartment and having a front wall and two side walls, said walls including rigid body components (20, 20a). The cab (5) comprises a side door (15) for entering the driver compartment, a step (11) arranged on a side wall for allowing the driver to climb up to/get down from the driver compartment, and a lighting system (30) for illuminating the step (11). The lighting system (30) is fastened on at least one body component (20). The lighting system (30) is located forward of the step (11) and along at least a portion of the step (11) in the vertical direction, and it is arranged to provide a light beam (31) towards at least part (41) of the step (11) and towards an area (42) of the ground at the bottom of the step (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: Olivier Hermann
  • Patent number: 11124051
    Abstract: A carrier module for a motor vehicle door assembly having inner and outer panels defining a door panel structure with the inner panel having an opening for selective access to an internal door cavity between the inner and outer panels is provided. The carrier including an outer periphery configured for attachment to the inner panel to substantially close off the opening, and at least one reinforcement member fixed to the carrier, the at least one reinforcement member being formed of a material having a resistance to loading that is greater than a resistance to loading of a material of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Philip Grella
  • Patent number: 10994645
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground engaging members and a frame supported by the plurality of ground engaging members. The frame assembly extends generally along a longitudinal axis of the utility vehicle. The utility vehicle further includes a front seating section coupled to the frame. The front seating section is configured to support an operator and a first passenger. Additionally, the utility vehicle includes a rear seating section coupled to the frame. The rear seating section is configured to support a second passenger and a third passenger. The rear seating section has an angled panel configured as a dead pedal for the second and third passengers, and a portion of the rear seating section extends forwardly into the front seating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron D. Deckard, Phillip B. Swain
  • Patent number: 10967717
    Abstract: Provided is a door structure including: a door installed capable of opening and closing a door opening part of a vehicle body; a decorative member attached to a surface of the door which faces an outside of a vehicle; and a sealing member arranged along an end part of the door which faces an outside of the door, and sealing the door opening part, wherein the sealing member includes a thick part which becomes thicker toward an inside of the door, and which is inserted into a gap formed between the end part of the door which faces the outside of the door and an end part of the decorative member which faces the outside of the door, and the sealing member is biased toward an inside of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sasaki, Yoichi Katayama
  • Patent number: 10857858
    Abstract: This door inner panel is a door inner panel formed of a metal sheet and includes a first panel portion having a first top sheet portion and a first standing wall portion connected to the first top sheet portion, a second panel portion having a second top sheet portion disposed with a gap with the first top sheet portion of the first panel portion and a second standing wall portion connected to the second top sheet portion, a flange portion connected to the first standing wall portion and the second standing wall portion, and a flat sheet portion disposed between the first panel portion and the second panel portion, the first standing wall portion and the second standing wall portion respectively have a level difference portion, and both ends of the flat sheet portion are integrated with the flange portion or the level difference portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichiro Otsuka, Atsushi Ono, Yoshiyuki Kaseda, Yoshiaki Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 10843538
    Abstract: A vehicle-door assembly including at least a window pane that is adjustable by a vehicle window lifter, wherein the window pane, in a closed state, is flush with upper and/or lateral body parts that bound a window opening to be closed by the window pane of a vehicle door, a door-frame support which defines a door case beneath the window opening, the window pane configured to be lowered into said door case in order to be opened, the door-frame support having at least two lateral frame parts that are located opposite one another above the door case at the window opening, a first frame-side guide element for laterally guiding the window pane at one of the lateral frame parts, and a second frame-side guide element for laterally guiding the window pane at the other of the lateral frame parts, and first and second pane-side guide elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Bamberg
    Inventors: Matthias Heppner, Ian Freymuth
  • Patent number: 10836240
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a vehicle door changeable back and forth between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the vehicle door is provided by an inner module coupled to an outer module. In the second configuration, the vehicle door is provided by the inner module without the outer module. A door providing method includes providing a vehicle door in a first configuration using an inner module coupled to an outer module. The method further includes providing the vehicle door in a second configuration using the inner module without the outer module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Duncan Whipps, Tuan Quoc Nguyen, Jonathan Szczupak, Gregory Patton
  • Patent number: 10814802
    Abstract: A vehicular door includes a resin outer panel and a resin inner panel mounted on a vehicular interior side of the resin outer panel, and the resin inner panel includes a resin body member that configures an interior design surface of the vehicular door and a resin reinforcing member that is arranged on a vehicular exterior side and on a peripheral portion of the resin body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei Migaki, Takahisa Onishi
  • Patent number: 10807449
    Abstract: A convertible door assembly includes (a) an upper door section, defining a window opening, (b) a lower door section, (c) a releasable locking feature, retaining the upper door section to the lower door section, and (d) a window. The window is displaceable between a raised position, closing the window opening and a lowered position, concealed within an internal door cavity formed in the upper door section and the lower door section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Adrian Nania
  • Patent number: 10801203
    Abstract: A linear wall or ceiling panel comprising and formed from a woven or non-woven fibrous material. Preferably, the material is thermoformable and non-woven and comprises at least one of the group consisting of: bi-core polyester fibers; two different types of fibers having different melting points; a mixture of bi-core polyester fibers and non-bi-core (single core) polyester fibers. The panel is preferably shaped to provide means for mounting the panel to a carrier. Optionally, an end portion may be provided to cover the open longitudinal end of the linear panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Michiel Jacobus Johannes Langeveld, Lars Vejen-Jensen
  • Patent number: 10773577
    Abstract: A vehicle rear door made of resin includes an inner panel having a rear window opening, a lower outer panel including an edge portion which is secured to the inner panel along a periphery portion of the rear window opening, a rear window glass attached to the edge portion of the lower outer panel on an exterior side of a passenger compartment, and an interior trim attached to the interior panel on an interior side of the passenger compartment. An edge portion of the interior trim is secured to a rib of the inner panel disposed at a front edge of the inner panel along the peripheral portion of the rear window opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KYUSHU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Chiba, Takayuki Okubo, Kiyokazu Nitta
  • Patent number: 10723209
    Abstract: A resin back door includes a resin inner panel, a resin lower outer panel, and a metal reinforcing member disposed in a hollow space defined by the inner panel and the lower outer panel. In the resin back door, the reinforcing member has an annular shape extending along an outer peripheral edge of the inner panel, and includes right and left reinforcing members and a lower-side reinforcing member which are separated from each other and fixed to the inner panel with an adhesive leaving a gap. The reinforcing members are connected by using right and left corner connecting members and an upper connecting member to constitute the reinforcing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KYUSHU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Chiba, Takayuki Okubo, Kiyokazu Nitta, Keigo Nakamura, Yoshito Fujimoto, Yuuki Katou
  • Patent number: 10562380
    Abstract: A convertible vehicle door assembly includes a gate subassembly including an electrical panel, latch handle and is secured by hinges and a latch to a vehicle static structure. An outer door subassembly is removably secured to the gate subassembly by at least one quick connect mechanism. The outer door includes a window assembly operable by the electrical control panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Bernard Marchetti
  • Patent number: 10493830
    Abstract: A vehicle door for a motor vehicle, including a support structure, an inner shell fixed to the support structure, and an outer panelling fixed to the inner shell. The inner shell is formed and connected to the support structure in such a way that it is a load-bearing component, thereby increasing the overall rigidity of the vehicle door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Bernhard Hofer, Peter Trummer
  • Patent number: 10427623
    Abstract: A vehicle door trim panel having a vehicle occupant-facing A-side and a vehicle door structure-facing B-side, and includes a first storage pocket partially open to the A-side and fully-closed to the B-side disposed along a first portion of a length of the vehicle door trim panel and a second storage pocket that is substantially fully closed to the A-side and fully closed to the B-side disposed adjacent to the first storage pocket along a second portion of the length of the vehicle door trim panel. The first portion of the length and the second portion of the length are adjacent to one another and do not overlap. The second storage pocket is open laterally to the first storage pocket. The second storage pocket includes a B-side interior portion and a B-side periphery portion. At least some of the B-side periphery portion has a tiered configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Fernando A. Siqueira, Adelchi R. Tiboni, Edson B. Cantarino
  • Patent number: 10293671
    Abstract: A set intended to be part of a motor vehicle trunk lid includes: a panel and at least one reinforcement defining an opening, a first glue line intended to fasten a rear window of the trunk lid on the panel, the rear window defining a thickness direction, the reinforcement including a body, and an end extending along the first glue line, the end forming a flexible blade intended to be received in a housing formed by the panel and the rear window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: AUTOMOTIVE EXTERIORS EUROPE
    Inventor: Jerome Verbrugghe
  • Patent number: 10227097
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a reinforcement or brace that can be installed on the tailgate of a vehicle. The reinforcement can provide structural support for heavier mounted objects, such as tires, as well as allowing for different attachment points. Advantageously, the tailgate hinge does not need to be removed or replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Lund Motion Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Smith
  • Patent number: 10179501
    Abstract: A door structure for a vehicle may include an external panel that forms an external side surface of the vehicle; a reinforcement beam that is engaged with the external panel; an internal panel of a reinforced plastic material that is engaged with the reinforcement beam; and a fastener that fixes the internal panel and the reinforcement beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyeokji Lee, Gon Kim, Jeong Hyeon Kim, Jae Hyuk Cheong, Rae Sung Park, In Jea Lee, Hee Min Ha
  • Patent number: 10040112
    Abstract: A springback-reduced part formed by performing a springback reduction on a press-formed part that is formed by a press forming of a blank sheet made of a metal sheet. The springback-reduced part is formed by setting each element of an analytic model of the press-formed part to a stressed state that causes a springback, performing an optimization analysis for shape to detect a portion of the press-formed part that highly contributes to the rigidity thereof, applying a rigidity improving means on a specific portion of the press-formed part on the basis of the detected portion, and performing the press forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takanobu Saito
  • Patent number: 9994092
    Abstract: A panel structure includes a first panel that is made of resin and has a first flange portion, and a second panel that is made of resin and has a second flange portion that overlaps the first flange portion and is joined to the first flange portion by an adhesive, and an abutting portion that abuts against a tip end portion of the first flange portion. The second panel forms a closed sectional shape (a hollow chamber) with the first panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 9981535
    Abstract: Upright bead sections extending in a door vertical direction and having recessed shapes indented toward a vehicle cabin inside are formed at the two vehicle width direction end portions of a resin door inner panel. Side reinforcement portions of metal hinge reinforcements are disposed inside the recessed shapes of the upright bead sections, and extend in the door vertical direction. The side reinforcement portions include bent plate portions having bent plate shapes running along locations of the upright bead sections from the outside sidewall portions to recessed bottom wall portions. The side reinforcement portions are each joined to the respective outside sidewall portion through an adhesive layer, and are each joined to the respective recessed bottom wall portion through an adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichiro Ueno, Hiroshi Kanda
  • Patent number: 9981534
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a vehicle component for a vehicle can comprise: a carrier comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion; a cavity, wherein the cavity comprises a bottom cavity wall, cavity side walls, and a top portion of the cavity having an upper cavity wall; an insert covering at least a portion of the cavity and attached to the upper cavity wall, the bottom cavity wall, and/or the cavity side walls; and a cover attached to the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Tim Willem Joseph Leonard Dassen, Davy Wilhelmus Anna Brands, Claire Marie-Annick Martin, Angel Stoyanov Yanev, Geert Jan Schellekens
  • Patent number: 9963179
    Abstract: A vehicle resin back door installation method includes: a vehicle body-side positioning step of attaching first positioning jigs to a vehicle body, and forming first sloping surfaces; a back door-side positioning step of attaching second positioning jigs to a back door, and forming second sloping surfaces; a temporary placing step of bringing the second sloping surfaces into contact with the first sloping surfaces, at the same time temporarily placing the back door on the vehicle body, and centering the back door in the vehicle width direction with respect to the vehicle body; an attaching step of attaching the back door to the vehicle body; and a detaching step of detaching the first positioning jigs from the vehicle body and detaching the second positioning jigs from the back door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ayukawa
  • Patent number: 9931914
    Abstract: A bonding structure of vehicle members includes a first member formed of resin in a shape of a panel and in which a ridge line is formed by an angular portion divided with respect to a curvature of other portion of a surface thereof, a second member formed in a shape of a panel with resin or metal having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than the first member, an outside bonding portion provided on an outer edge side of the first member to bond together the first member and the second member, and an inside bonding portion provided inside of the outside bonding portion in a plane direction of the first member and bonds together the first member and the second member, at least one of plural apexes in a proximity of the outside bonding portion overlapping the ridge line when viewed from outside of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mutsumi Kawashima, Miho Mizukoshi, Yasuyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9868339
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a side door for a vehicle, includes: a structure comprising a shell comprising a shell support beam positioned across a main body portion of the shell, wherein the shell support beam comprises substantially unidirectional fiber strip sections; wherein the shell comprise a inner shell and a outer shell; and wherein the side door has a score of at least 4 points in a side impact test conducted according to European New Car Assessment Protocol (Euro NCAP) Side Impact Testing Protocol Version 5.2 (November 2011).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Warden Schijve, Harold van Aken
  • Patent number: 9849760
    Abstract: A vehicle has a resin back door including a skeleton portion that is closed in cross-section and a glass plate supported by the skeleton portion. A skeleton side portion includes an inner wall portion defining an innermost peripheral surface of the skeleton portion, an outer wall portion disposed between the inner wall portion and the glass plate, and an intermediate wall portion with one end connected to a vehicle outer side end portion of the inner wall portion and another end connected to a vehicle transverse direction inner side end portion of the outer wall portion. The intermediate wall portion is curved to have a convex shape at an intermediate location thereof, and the convex shape protrudes toward an exterior of the closed cross-sectional skeleton portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Adachi
  • Patent number: 9776480
    Abstract: A door frame includes: a column, wherein the column includes: an outer member; and an inner member, which is attached to the outer member and of which at least a part is located at an inner side of the vehicle, wherein the outer member includes: a base portion; and a first bent portion that is bent at an end portion of the base portion and extends to the inner side of the vehicle, wherein the inner member includes: a side portion that has faces, which respectively face the base portion and the first bent portion, and wherein the first bent portion of the outer member is welded to the side portion of the inner member in a state where a gap is formed between the base portion of the outer member and the face of the side portion of the inner member, which faces the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yamazaki, Katsumasa Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 9662999
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a vehicle comprising a front seat section and a rear seat section. The front seat section comprises a driver seat and a utility space located at the side of the driver seat. The rear seat section comprises multiple seats and rear doors on either side of the rear seat section. The front seat section comprises a single front door comprising a front door surface at the side of the front seat section adjacent the driver seat, and a fixed surface element located at the opposite side of the front seat section facing towards the front door surface of the single front door, such that the utility space comprises the fixed surface element. The utility space is accessible to a person sitting in the rear seat section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tisha Johnson, Todd Levy, Patrik Lundgren, Axel Ernstsson, Thomas Christiansson, Robin Page
  • Patent number: 9610829
    Abstract: A hybrid multi-material outerbelt reinforcement assembly includes a metal body having a first leg and a second leg oriented at an angle with respect to the first leg. The second leg is integrally connected to the first leg defining a junction. A polymeric material reinforcing rib has a rib end contacting the junction and has a rib body extending away from the junction and bisecting the angle between the first leg and the second leg. The reinforcing rib has a rib length extending for substantially an entire length of the metal body. Flanges are integrally connected to the reinforcing rib, each having a first flange portion and a second flange portion each contacting the metal body to mitigate against a torsional rotation of the metal body that increases or decreases the angle of the second leg with respect to the first leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: DURA OPERATING, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Brion Stachewicz, Alex Wayne Martin, Suhant Prajwal Reddy Ranga
  • Patent number: 9573630
    Abstract: A pick-up truck tailgate is disclosed that is constructed of components made of aluminum alloys. A hinge reinforcement and hinge plate reinforce a lower corner of the tailgate. A transversely extending reinforcement, including a U-shaped body, is provided within the tailgate that reinforces the central portion of the tailgate. An access panel is provided on the inner panel of the tailgate and includes a hem and fasteners that are assembled to the inner panel through holes formed inboard of the hem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Gray, Jeffrey Alan Firzlaff, Vince Chimento, Joshua Hemphill, Robert Reiners, Kevin Laws, Gerald E. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 9499032
    Abstract: A vehicle back door structure including: a back door panel made of resin having, in at least a part of a peripheral edge thereof, a recessed portion equipped with a pair of side walls and a bottom wall that interconnects vehicle front sides of the pair of side walls, with a step portion, that has one side-wall side positioned at a vehicle rear side of another side-wall side, being formed in the bottom wall; and a reinforcement rib that is formed integrally with a vehicle rear side surface of the bottom wall, that straddles the step portion, and that bridges the pair of side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koki Ikeda, Tatsuya Ayukawa
  • Patent number: 9469180
    Abstract: A vehicular resin back door includes: an inner panel made of resin, the inner panel including: a front edge portion that extends in a vehicle width direction, and right and left edge portions that extend in a vehicle body front-rear direction, the front, right and left edge portions configuring an opening. The vehicular resin back door also includes: (i) a front portion outer panel that extends in the vehicle width direction and is attached to the front edge portion to form a first chamber; (ii) right and left side portion outer panels that extend in the vehicle body front-rear direction and are respectively attached to the right and left edge portions to form second chambers; and (iii) front joint portions at which vehicle width direction outside end portions of the front portion outer panel and front end portions of the side portion outer panels overlap and are joined together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 9409531
    Abstract: A vehicle interior panel includes an adjustable locator. The adjustable locator is operable to move a panel body after the panel body is mounted to a vehicle body and enables alignment of an aesthetic feature line with a complimentary feature line of an adjacent vehicle interior panel. A post of the adjustable locator can engage a receiver of the vehicle body at a fixed location while a working surface of the adjustable locator exerts a force on a reaction surface of the panel body to move the panel body. The adjustable locator can include gear teeth, a cam surface, ratcheting features, an adjustment rotor, or any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brenton Bailo, Michael Twork, Stephen Jones
  • Patent number: 9399491
    Abstract: A joint structure for a vehicle body member, the vehicle body member including at least two panel members, the at least two panel members constituting part of a vehicle body and being formed of a steel plate, the joint structure includes: spot-welds formed by spot-welding the at least two panel members to each other at a predetermined spot interval such that a predetermined clearance is formed between the at least two panel members; a laser-weld formed by laser-welding the at least two panel members to each other between the spot-welds; and an electrodeposition coating film portion that covers a surface of each of the at least two panel members, at least part of the electrodeposition coating film portion filling the clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Watanabe, Norimasa Koreishi
  • Patent number: 9326053
    Abstract: A trim panel assembly for a vehicle incorporates a flat panel speaker. The trim panel defines an interior surface of a passenger compartment of the vehicle and has a speaker aperture with a peripheral edge. A diaphragm panel is disposed in the speaker aperture with a trim face and a rear face. A flexible surround joins the diaphragm panel to the aperture edge so that the diaphragm panel is movable along an axis of the speaker aperture and so that vibrations from the diaphragm panel to the trim panel are damped. An exciter receives audio signals for reproduction. The exciter has an actuator suspended in a housing. The actuator is fixed to the rear face of the diaphragm panel. A support bracket spans the speaker aperture and has first and second ends affixed to a rear side of the trim panel and an intermediate point affixed to the housing of the exciter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Marc D. Nedelman
  • Patent number: 9315091
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly comprises a structural component that defines a portion of a vehicle body and a garnish member. The structural component is formed of a first metal. The garnish member is formed of the first metal and is fixedly attached via welding or hemming directly to the structural component in a same welding station of a vehicle assembly line as the assembly of the structural component. The garnish member includes a body having an outer surface which defines an exterior surface of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: John E. Werling
  • Patent number: 9283737
    Abstract: In a joining process for the cohesive connection of at least two components, a profile component is cohesively connected to a component of areal form. Formed into the component of areal form is at least one stamped portion, the height of which is formed so as to correspond to a minimum layer thickness of the cohesive connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Robin Ndagijimana, Simon Fleischheuer, Harald Mund, Wolfgang Pellenz
  • Patent number: 9272606
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a side door for a vehicle, includes: a structure comprising a plastic shell comprising a shell support beam positioned across a main body portion of the shell, wherein the shell support beam comprises substantially unidirectional fiber strip sections; wherein the plastic shell comprise a plastic inner shell and a plastic outer shell; and wherein the side door has a score of at least 4 points in a side impact test conducted according to European New Car Assessment Protocol (Euro NCAP) Side Impact Testing Protocol Version 5.2 (November 2011).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Warden Schijve, Harold van Aken
  • Patent number: 9266411
    Abstract: A door frame is provided with a first fixed portion and a second fixed portion to which one end and the other end of a beltline reinforcement, with respect to the lengthwise direction thereof, are fixed, respectively; the first fixed portion is provided with a lengthwise-direction position limit portion which is positioned on an extension of the beltline reinforcement in the lengthwise direction thereof and faces against the one end of the beltline reinforcement, the second fixed portion is provided with a thickness directional position limit portion which overlaps the other end of the beltline reinforcement in the door thickness direction, and the lengthwise-direction position limit portion and the thickness directional position limit portion are fixed to the corresponding ends of the beltline reinforcement by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Shimizu, Shigenobu Ohsawa, Jiro Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 9162635
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle door which is mounted via a hinge (14) to an upper edge portion of a door opening portion (12) that is formed on a vehicle body and which is pivotable in an up-down direction and which includes a door body (15) formed of metal, a decorative member (18) that is attached to a vehicle outer side of a lower portion of the door body (15), an outer plate portion (30) which is mounted on the decorative member (18) and disposed to be spaced apart from a vehicle outer side surface of the door body (15) and which has a predetermined width in the up-down direction and extends over a substantially overall width in a door width direction, a bottom plate portion (31) which is mounted on the decorative member (18) and extends from a lower end of the outer plate portion (30) to a vehicle inner side so as to be directed to a position lower than a lower end of the door body (15), and a protruding plate portion (32) which is provided on the decorative member (18) and protrudes upward f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hazawa, Shigeki Tanimoto, Takayuki Hira
  • Publication number: 20150137554
    Abstract: A vehicle door provides for the decoupling of the load path by a cut-out area formed in the door inner sheet-metal. In an impact event the front or lower portion of the door inner sheet-metal is pushed inboard while the cut-out area prevents the dragging of the rear or upper portion of the door inner sheet-metal. The cut-out area of the inner door sheet-metal is preferably elongated or can be another shape. It may be a close- or open-ended slot. A stiffening bead may be formed in the inner door sheet-metal adjacent the cut-out area. To provide a seal against water or debris an adhesive material such as water-proof tape is positioned over the cut-out area. A door beam may be provided. A door spacer block may be positioned between the door beam and the door inner sheet-metal. Door trim padding may be provided over the inner door sheet-metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shakeeb Rehman, Nitesh Chandrakant Jadhav, James Joseph Franko, Maggie Walker
  • Patent number: 9016760
    Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle includes a seat extending in a vehicle width direction and capable of accommodating a driver and at least one passenger, and a door provided on a lateral side of a vehicle body and openable and closable for allowing the driver and the passenger to enter and exit the vehicle. The door is open at an upper part thereof so that in a side view of the vehicle, a face of the driver or passenger is visible from the outside. A top edge of the door has a first region overlapping the driver or the passenger and a second region other than the first region. The top edge is higher at the first region than at the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kosuke Kuroda, Jun Tomiyama, Erik Dunshee
  • Publication number: 20150108786
    Abstract: A door system for a service vehicle. The door system comprises a door frame that includes a plurality of elongated frame members, an interior panel coupled to the door frame, and a plurality of connectors for coupling the interior panel to the door frame. Additionally, each of the frame members comprises an attachment flange having a longitudinal groove and a series of longitudinally spaced insert openings. The insert openings extend entirely through the attachment flange and open into the longitudinal groove. As such, the connectors extend through the insert openings to secure the interior panel to the door frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Eric Fisher
  • Publication number: 20150108785
    Abstract: The problem to be solved is to provide a door frame and a method of manufacturing the same, with reducing manufacturing cost. A door frame has a rear sash (vertical sash) (41) for supporting door glass and has a lock-device mounting bracket (door-frame component) (70) attached by welding to the rear sash (41) and having formed therein through-holes (70e, 70d) for welding. Weld beads (73, 75) are formed between the rear sash (41) and the wall surfaces of the through-holes (70e, 70d) for welding, the through-holes (70e, 70d) being formed in the lock-device mounting bracket (70).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Yokota