Cowl Patents (Class 296/192)
  • Patent number: 11904944
    Abstract: A front wall module for delimiting a front of a passenger cell in a motor vehicle includes a planar carrier structure which forms a front wall portion where a functional shape for receiving a component is formed in the planar carrier structure and where the planar carrier structure is a cast aluminum structural part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hanno Pfitzer, Rudolf Schilling, Manuel Schurz, Jean-Marc Segaud, Thomas Wolff
  • Patent number: 11794818
    Abstract: A cowl cover apparatus includes a cowl cover that covers a cowl portion, a vertical wall body detachably attached to the cowl cover and being positioned while rising with respect to the cowl cover in a state of being attached thereto. The vertical wall body includes an insertion portion in an end portion in a vehicle width direction. The cowl cover includes a regulation portion into which the insertion portion is partly inserted in the vehicle width direction. The insertion portion is formed to be elastically deformable in the vehicle width direction due to a reaction force from the cowl cover against a load onto the vertical wall body in a predetermined direction intersecting the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masanori Hirano
  • Patent number: 11772457
    Abstract: A cowl grille comprises a member portion which extends in a vehicle width direction below a front windshield so as to receive water dripping from the front windshield, a cover portion which is positioned in front of a member portion and covers over an auxiliary equipment, a partition portion which extends downwardly from the cover portion and partitions a space where an engine is arranged from another space where the auxiliary equipment is arranged, and a cowl seal which extends in the vehicle width direction and contacts a bonnet so as to seal between a vehicle outside space and an engine room. The cowl seal is positioned at a front part of the member portion, and the cover portion is made of a plate member and provided to perform heat insulating between a space positioned above the cover portion and another space positioned below the cover portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hosei Mogi, Atsushi Nakamura, Hidekazu Morikawa
  • Patent number: 11772447
    Abstract: A mounting structure for a compressor assembly of an auxiliary air conditioning system for a vehicle includes a mounting plate that includes a first surface, a second surface, a first plurality of apertures, and a second plurality of apertures. The mounting structure also includes a plurality of mounts disposed at the first surface, the plurality of mounts including a mount attached to the mounting plate via fasteners extending through the first plurality of apertures. The mounting structure also includes a mounting panel of a compressor unit of the auxiliary air conditioning system. The mounting panel includes a main portion having mounting apertures overlapping the plurality of mounts. Fasteners are disposed at the mounting apertures to attach the mounting panel to the mounting plate via the plurality of mounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: PHILLIPS & TEMRO INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: John David Sweazey, Jeffrey James Martell, Eric Graham Ruggles, Donald Joseph Manderfeld
  • Patent number: 11661112
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an instrument panel structure of a vehicle, which is connected to a steering device of the vehicle and configured to mount an in-vehicle device. The instrument panel structure of the vehicle includes an the instrument panel, a hanger beam member, and a bracket. The instrument panel has an instrument panel upper portion, and an instrument panel middle portion located below the instrument panel upper portion and having an opening for placing the in-vehicle device. The hanger beam member is configured to support the instrument panel and extends in a left-right direction of the vehicle and is connected between a left side and a right side of a vehicle body. The bracket is disposed on the hanger beam member and configured to support the in-vehicle device. The in-vehicle device and the instrument panel middle portion are connected to the hanger beam member via the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Chiba, Toru Okinaga, Sho Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11634181
    Abstract: An embodiment cowl drainage structure includes a lower inner member, a lower outer member disposed outside the lower inner member and coupled to the lower inner member so as define a closed space therebetween, and an upper outer member coupled to both the lower outer member and the lower inner member, wherein the upper outer member includes a main hole, and wherein a portion of a space defined between the upper outer member and the lower inner member is configured to communicate fluidly with an outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Song Jae Jeong
  • Patent number: 11590835
    Abstract: An electric powered vehicle includes a motor for driving one or more wheels. The electric powered vehicle may include a body including a dash panel, a cowl disposed along an upper end of the dash panel and at least partly located forward of the dash panel, an electric unit located forward of the dash panel and supported by the body, and a connector connecting the electric unit and an intermediate portion of the cowl to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Ryuno, Yusuke Muroi
  • Patent number: 11584446
    Abstract: A front vehicle-body structure which reduces third-order vibration of a windshield, and improves NVH performance in a vehicle cabin. A front windshield fixed to an edge portion of an opening formed in a vehicle body, a pair of left and right front suspension housings, a cowl forming a lower edge of the opening for the front windshield, and a tower bar coupling each of the left and right front suspension housings with a region around a vehicle-width-direction center portion of the cowl are provided. Node members, each of which locally improves bending rigidity of the cowl, are disposed in two positions in the cowl that divide a bonding surface to a windshield lower edge into generally three equal parts in the vehicle width direction, and the tower bar is fixed between respective positions of the two node members in the cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Hirai, Hiroaki Ishizu, Hidekazu Shiraishi, Kyohei Hirata, Kazuki Yamauchi, Takumi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 11548236
    Abstract: Techniques for providing universal interfaces between parts of a transport structure are disclosed. In one aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for joining first and second parts of a transport structure includes an additively manufactured body having first and second surfaces. The first surface may connect to a first part such as, for example, a panel. The second surface may include a fitting for mating with a complementary fitting on a second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jon Paul Gunner
  • Patent number: 11535302
    Abstract: There are provided a cowl provided to support a front windshield in an inclined state where a rear side of the front windshield is located at a higher level than a front side of the front windshield and forming a lower edge of an opening portion for arranging the front windshield and a bonnet provided in front of and above the cowl. An upper portion of the cowl comprises a first face portion to which the front windshield adheres and an inclined second face portion which extends obliquely rearwardly-and-downwardly from the first face portion, and a front end of the first face portion is positioned on a rearward side, in a vehicle longitudinal direction, of a rear end of the bonnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susumu Kuroda, Hiroshi Sogabe, Shunsuke Hirai, Kazuki Yamauchi, Minoru Sunada, Ryo Asahi
  • Patent number: 11518444
    Abstract: The present invention provides a front end structure in which cooling performance can be improved. A front end structure according to an aspect of the present invention includes a frame portion 41 that surrounds an outer circumferential part of a heat exchanger and supports the heat exchanger; a duct portion 42 that is connected to an inner circumferential edge of the frame portion 41 and guides outside air, which is taken in through a first introduction port 61, in at least an up-down direction through a space between the duct portion 42 and a front surface of the heat exchanger; and a division portion 43 that is provided in at least one of the frame portion 41 and the duct portion 42 and partitions the heat exchanger into a heat exchange area in which outside air is able to pass through in a front-rear direction and a support area which is positioned on a side circumferentially outward from the heat exchange area and is supported by the frame portion 41.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kimihito Hayakawa, Kohki Sugawara, Shuichi Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 11505032
    Abstract: An air handling system of a vehicle includes a main housing interchangeable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The main housing has a primary portion configured to convey a cold air flow and a warm air flow therethrough. A secondary portion is interchangeable between a first plenum in the first configuration of the main housing and a second plenum in the second configuration of the main housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Wayne Schnaidt, Jayanthi R. Iyer, Dennis Vermette
  • Patent number: 11492048
    Abstract: A front fender cover attachment assembly for a vehicle includes a windshield molding, a hook assembly, a front fender cover, and an engaging member. The windshield molding is configured to receive a windshield. The hook assembly is connected to an end of the windshield molding. The front fender cover is configured to engage the hook assembly of the windshield molding. The engaging member is connected to the front fender cover and configured to engage the hook assembly. A free end of the hook assembly extends in a vehicle inboard direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Kowaczyk, Kyle Gunther
  • Patent number: 11362454
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus that includes a vehicle battery terminal having a first terminal and a second terminal. The apparatus also includes a bracket having a first region aligned with the first terminal and a second terminal region aligned with the second terminal. The first and second regions space apart the first terminal and the second terminal. The apparatus also includes a post and a shield. The post extends from the bracket to partially surround the first terminal. The shield has a cover plate and a frame extending outwardly from the cover plate. The frame is provided to protect the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Salter, Zeljko Deljevic, Michael John Huddy, David Brian Glickman, Lizardo Amador
  • Patent number: 11314251
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a general purpose operating system (GPROS) that shows particular usefulness in the robotics and automation fields. The operating system provides individual services and the combination and interconnections of such services using built-in service extensions, built-in completely configurable generic services, and ways to plug in additional service extensions to yield a comprehensive and cohesive framework for developing, configuring, assembling, constructing, deploying, and managing robotics and/or automation applications. The disclosure includes GPROS extensions and features directed to use as an autonomous vehicle operating system. The vehicle controlled by appropriate versions of the GPROS can include unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) applications such as a driverless or self-driving car. The vehicle can likewise or instead include an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) such as a helicopter or drone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Perrone Robotics, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Perrone
  • Patent number: 11247539
    Abstract: A molding includes a first molding portion having an upper surface bonded to an inner side surface of a windshield, a second molding portion, and a third molding portion extending from the second molding portion so as to extend along an imaginary extension of an outer side surface of the windshield. The third molding portion is formed in a rectangular shape in longitudinal section and has an upper surface disposed at a lower position than the imaginary extension of the outer side surface of the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: AGC INC.
    Inventors: Eiji Oki, Takafumi Inoue, Takashi Kawahara, Takashi Shimada
  • Patent number: 11225134
    Abstract: A plenum assembly for a vehicle includes a plenum body, a plenum grid coupled to the plenum body, the plenum grid including a grid surface having a plurality of grid openings and a separation member extending from the grid surface toward the plenum body, and a vent port including a side surface extending from the plenum body and a domed surface formed integrally with the side surface, the vent port including an edge defining a vent port opening in the side surface such that a flow of air passes through the vent port and through the plurality of grid openings in the grid surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Roberto Golisano, Antonio Giulio Marino, Rosalino Massimiliano Alletto
  • Patent number: 11203382
    Abstract: A cowl top structure is provided along a lower edge of a front glass in a vehicle width direction. The cowl top structure includes a raised section, a fragile section and a drainage passage. The raised section is formed on a left end portion of a cowl top. The fragile section is formed on the raised section. The drainage passage is provided in a surrounding of the raised section and formed to drain water to an outer side of a vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Akizuki, Junichi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 11198475
    Abstract: Included are a cowl top arranged in a front portion of a vehicle, and extending in a vehicle width direction; a front pillar arranged in a side portion of the vehicle, and extending such that the front pillar becomes located higher toward a rear; and a garnish extending frontward from a front end part of the front pillar, and curving to a vehicle width inner side to be connected to a vehicle width outer end part of the cowl top. The cowl top includes a vertical wall part extending in the vehicle width direction and in a vehicle up-down direction in the vehicle width outer end part, and a first locking part provided to a vehicle width inner end part of the garnish is locked in a front-rear direction with a long hole provided to the vertical wall part, and extending in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyo Miyanaga
  • Patent number: 11155142
    Abstract: A hood air intake and water separation system includes a first separation chamber having a first inlet fluidly coupled to a hood intake vent of the vehicle, a first outlet, and at least one first drain opening. The first separation chamber is configured to separate water and air ingested through the intake and direct the separated water through the at least one first drain opening and direct the separated air through the first outlet. A second separation chamber includes a second inlet fluidly coupled to the first separation chamber first outlet, a second outlet, and at least one second drain opening. A third chamber includes a third inlet fluidly coupled to the second separation chamber second outlet, and a third outlet. The first and second separation chambers are configured to direct ingested water away from an airpath to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas O Kaltsounis, Chad J Vermeulen
  • Patent number: 11001310
    Abstract: A structural instrument panel member for an instrument panel assembly of a vehicle comprises a cross beam, a steering column support, a first and second HVAC duct, and a first dash panel mount. The cross beam mount has a first surface, a first side, a second side and a first, second, third, fourth and fifth walls. The cross beam mount is fastened to a cross beam of the vehicle. The steering column support extends from the first side of the cross beam mount. The first and second HVAC duct each have a first end and a second end. The first HVAC duct is disposed on the second side of the cross beam mount and the second HVAC duct is disposed adjacent the first HVAC duct. The first dash panel mount extends from the first HVAC duct and fastened to a dash panel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Simon A. Kehimkar, Brennon L. White, Marcus J. Baker, Paul J. Wolcott
  • Patent number: 11002963
    Abstract: A head-up display device includes a casing provided inside an instrument panel. The casing includes an upper case constituting an upper part of the casing and provided with a fragile portion that is configured to be broken when an impact load is input to the casing from an upper side in a vehicle up-down direction, and a lower case constituting a lower part of the casing, provided with a light source unit configured to emit image information, and having a rigidity higher than that of the upper case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taichi Minei, Shigeto Muramatsu, Yasunobu Nagata, Norihisa Nomura, Takashi Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 10994786
    Abstract: Provided is a structure for a front part of a vehicle, including a vehicle main body, a pair of suspension support portions, and a cowl member connected to the pair of suspension support portions. The cowl member has: an inner part connection portion which has a shape extending continuously in a vehicle width direction between the pair of suspension support portions and which interconnects respective inner parts of the pair of suspension support portions in the vehicle width direction; and a water drain portion which is provided backward of the inner part connection portion in a front-rear direction of the vehicle and drains water toward a side part of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction. The inner part connection portion has a thickness larger than a thickness of the water drain portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: KOBE STEEL, LTD., MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatoshi Yoshida, Tadashi Yamazaki, Ryotaro Hirata
  • Patent number: 10829060
    Abstract: A vehicle body trim assembly includes a trim member. The trim member includes a fender attachment structure, a windshield trim attachment structure and a cowl cover attachment structure. The trim member, including each of the fender attachment structure, the windshield trim attachment structure and the cowl cover attachment structure, is formed as a single, unitary, monolithic element molded from a rigid material and a section made of a flexible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fujiki, Satoshi Sakurai, Fumio Tejima, Bobby Fuentes
  • Patent number: 10793100
    Abstract: A resin cowl grille is provided to cover an upper portion of a cowl box. The cowl grille includes an upper wall portion and a front wall portion separated from the upper wall portion and provided with a bending promotion portion for inducing bending deformation upon action of load from above. The front wall portion includes a body portion and attachment piece portions extending backward from the body portion and fastened to a front portion of the upper wall portion. A weak portion for load in an upper-to-lower direction is formed by the attachment piece portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakamura, Junji Kishimoto, Hiroshi Mizuguchi
  • Patent number: 10766434
    Abstract: A side cowl top cover includes a cover body and a hook formed so as to expand at an upper portion of the cover body in order to be engaged with the end flange. The cover body includes: a vertical wall that extends upwardly from a lower side of the windshield; and an extended portion extended from an upper end of the vertical wall toward the front fender. The hook includes: a holder placed at a predetermined gap relative to an end face of the extended portion and extended substantially in parallel with the end face of the extended portion; and a vertical rib extended in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the holder extends, and interconnecting a bottom surface of the extended portion and a bottom surface of the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: MORIROKU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Kenta Shinohara
  • Patent number: 10723392
    Abstract: A vehicle member join structure includes a sheet-shaped first member made of a lightweight metal, a sheet-shaped second member made of a ferrous metal, a rivet made of a ferrous metal and including a shaft that penetrates the first member and a head that remains at an outer surface of the first member, the shaft being welded to the second member so as to connect the first member and the second member together, and a waterproof section that prevents water ingress by covering a region where the rivet and the first member contact each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ayaka Kagami, Soshiro Murata, Yasuhide Matsuo, Yasushi Azuma
  • Patent number: 10683039
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure comprising a cowl top garnish arranged along a windshield, wherein the cowl top garnish comprises an upper portion extending along the windshield, a side portion extending downward from an end portion of the upper portion in a vehicle width direction, and a drain recessed downward along an end portion of the upper portion on a front side of a vehicle body and extending in the vehicle width direction, the drain comprises an open end at an end portion in the vehicle width direction, and the side portion comprises a drain rib extending from the open end in rear and lower directions of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Anegawa, Takatsugu Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 10676136
    Abstract: A cross-car beam, includes a plastic beam body 22, defining a first end 24 and a second end 26 spaced from the first end 24 along a first direction D1, such that the plastic beam body 22 is elongate in the first direction D1. The plastic beam body 22 further defines a cross-sectional shape 28 along, a plane P1 that is normal to the first direction D1. The cross-car beam 20, may further include a metallic beam body 42 configured to be coupled to the plastic beam body 22. The metallic beam body 42 defining a first end 44 and a second end 46 spaced from the first end 44 along a direction, for example the first direction D1 when the metallic bean body 42 is coupled to the plastic beam body 22, such that the metallic beam body 42 is elongate in the first direction D1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: SABIC Global Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Vineet Kapila, Mark Turner, Anil Tiwari, Matthew Delaney, Amit Kulkarni, Paul Michael Atkinson
  • Patent number: 10654526
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure comprises a windshield and a cowl top garnish provided along a lower end portion of the windshield. The cowl top garnish includes a first shield glass abutment portion abutting against a back surface of the windshield and engaging portions engaging with engaged portions provided in the vehicle body. The engaging portions are provided in at least part in a direction along the lower end portion of the windshield. The first shield glass abutment portion occupies a range wider than a range where the engaging portions are provided. The engaging portions are provided at positions farther away from the back surface of the windshield than the first shield glass abutment portion, and engage with the engaged portions in a direction from the back surface to a front surface of the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Anegawa, Takatsugu Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 10639968
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an air supply arrangement for a vehicle, the air supply arrangement comprising an air supply duct, an ionising member located in the air supply duct and a passive collecting member located in the air supply duct downstream of the ionising member, wherein a shortest path length of an air flow between the ionising member and the collecting member is in the range of from 20 to 70 centimeters (cm), preferably in the range of from 25 to 50 cm. The disclosure further relates to an external portion of such an air supply arrangement and a vehicle with such an air supply arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Anders Lofvendahl, Stefan Winter, Alexander Warda, Erik Andersson
  • Patent number: 10618566
    Abstract: Provided is an automobile front body structure configured such that a reinforcement member is joined to a cowl panel. The cowl panel includes an upper surface portion, a forwardly bulging portion, a rearwardly bulging portion, and a lower surface portion. The reinforcement member includes a reinforcement member body which has a substantially squared U-shaped section which is bent and extends along the cowl panel, a first joint portion and a second joint portion. The reinforcement member body includes a wide portion of a substantially squared U-shaped section which is wide in the vehicle width direction and extending along the forwardly bulging portion, and a narrow portion such that a substantially squared U-shaped section is narrowed in the vehicle width direction toward the vehicle lower side. A sectional depth of the narrow portion is larger than a sectional depth of the wide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeru Nakauchi, Nobuyuki Nakayama, Takayuki Nakamae
  • Patent number: 10569805
    Abstract: A frame assembly for a vehicle can include a cross member, a longitudinal member and a gusset. The cross member can extend along a transverse direction of the vehicle. The cross member can include a bend. The longitudinal member can extend along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The gusset can be connected to the longitudinal member and the cross member at the bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dakota D. Kirtland, Matthew L. Taracko
  • Patent number: 10549786
    Abstract: A cowl cover includes a cover-body portion that covers a cowl portion between a windshield and a vehicle-body member; and a lid body to be detachably attached to the cover-body portion. The cover-body portion includes a cover-body-side engagement portion and the lid-body includes a lid-body-side engagement portion that is to be engaged with the cover-body-side engagement portion. The cover-body-side engagement portion and the lid-body-side engagement portion are configured such that an engagement amount between the cover-body-side engagement portion and the lid-body-side engagement portion increases when a load is applied from an outside to the lid-body-side engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasumasa Horimizu, Atsushi Ihara
  • Patent number: 10464444
    Abstract: A connection element for connecting vehicle parts to each other comprises: a fastening section operative to be fastened to a first vehicle part, the fastening section comprising a planar face having a first side for abutting the first vehicle part and a second side opposite the first side, the fastening section further comprising a wall section protruding from the planar face at said second side and at least partially bordering the planar face at said second side; a drainage opening formed in the planar face and being surrounded by an edge, the drainage opening being operative to drain liquid from the second side of planar face towards the first side; and an indentation at least partially formed on the planar face in the vicinity of the drainage opening, the edge of the drainage opening extending across the indentation such that the edge of the drainage opening in the region of the indentation is raised towards said second side of the planar face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Coburg
    Inventors: Leo Ioppolo, Sean Sabo
  • Patent number: 10421416
    Abstract: A trim panel such as an end panel for an instrument panel of a motor vehicle, has a body including an exposed face and a flange that interfaces with an elastomeric seal on the motor vehicle. At least one tubercle is provided on that flange. A method of installing a trim panel on a motor vehicle adjacent to an elastomeric seal is also disclosed. Tubercles on the flange gently push the elastomeric seal away from the flange during installation protecting the surface of the elastomeric seal from marring or other damage during the installation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Robert D. Bedard
  • Patent number: 10315702
    Abstract: There are provided a hinge pillar extending in a vehicle vertical direction, an apron reinforcement extending forward from the hinge pillar, a connecting member provided below the apron reinforcement and connecting the hinge pillar and the apron reinforcement in a brace shape, a dash panel provided in back of the connecting member and extending in a vehicle width direction, a wheel house provided in front of the dash panel, and an apron rear panel provided on an inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of and closely to the connecting member and connecting a rear portion of the wheel house and the dash panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Nakamura, Keizo Kawasaki, Hidenori Matsuoka, Kenji Maruyama
  • Patent number: 10308462
    Abstract: A plate configured to contact a web includes a first region having a first characteristic and a second region having a second characteristic different than the first characteristic. The plate has a substantially arcuate wall with an inner surface and an outer surface. A plurality of vacuum holes extends between the inner and outer surfaces and are configured to be in fluid communication with a vacuum source. A vacuum region is adapted to contact the first region of the web and a reduced-vacuum region is adapted to receive the second region of the web. The plurality of vacuum holes are configured such that, when attached to the vacuum source, a vacuum pressure at the vacuum region is greater than a pressure at the reduced-vacuum region so that the first region of the web is held against the plate with a greater force than the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Dean Abney, Paul Douglas Beuther, Kevin Gerald Dolan, David John Enz
  • Patent number: 10239563
    Abstract: A stiffening assembly for a vehicle cowl panel includes a pair of cooperating C-shaped brackets. Each of the pair of cooperating C-shaped brackets comprises cooperating bracket arms adapted for holding opposed ends of the pair of cooperating C-shaped brackets at varying distances from one another. Each of the pair of cooperating C-shaped brackets comprises a pair of parallel bracket arms which align with one another when the stiffening assembly is attached to the cowl panel. Cowl panel and instrument panel assemblies incorporating one or more stiffening assemblies and vehicles incorporating the cowl panel and instrument panel assemblies are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Sreenivas Kuchibhatla
  • Patent number: 10220884
    Abstract: A cowl cover arrangement for a motor vehicle has a cowl cover which adjoins a lower end of a front pane and extends in the direction of a width of the motor vehicle. The cowl cover arrangement further has a first wall for collecting water flowing from the front pane over the cowl cover. The cowl cover arrangement further has a second wall for collecting water flowing over or through the first wall. At least one water outlet discharges the water collected by the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Florian Kahl, Andreas Huber
  • Patent number: 10196093
    Abstract: A vehicle front portion structure includes a cowl having an outside air introduction duct and a cowl louver. The cowl louver includes an outer plate portion and an inner plate portion disposed below the outer plate portion and covering the outside air introduction duct from the upper side of the vehicle. An outside rib protruding from the outer plate portion toward the inner plate portion and an inside rib protruding from the inner plate portion toward the outer plate portion are disposed in an intake space. A virtual straight line passing through an end portion of the intake space on a front side of the vehicle and an end portion of the intake space on a rear side of the vehicle intersects with at least one of the outside rib and the inside rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohito Muraki, Kenichi Yamashita, Takahiro Hashimitsu
  • Patent number: 10092871
    Abstract: An assembly for an air conditioning system may include an air filter for filtering drawn-in fresh air. The air filter may be arranged in a fresh air path and may separate a raw side from a clean side of the fresh air path. A water path for discharging water separated from the fresh air may be disposed at the raw side of the air filter. The water path may include a water filter for filtering the separated water. The water filter may separate a raw side from a clean side of the water path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Mahle Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Florian Klein
  • Patent number: 10086881
    Abstract: A front vehicle body structure is provided. The front vehicle body structure includes fender apron upper members that extend longitudinally and disposed in left and right sides of the front vehicle body in a width direction, respectively. Front pillar members traversely extend and are disposed in the left and right sides of the front vehicle body in the width direction, respectively. A cowl upper cross reinforcing member extends in the width direction. Further, front pillar upper members longitudinally extend and are disposed in left and right sides of the front vehicle body in the width direction, respectively, and are disposed rearward of the longitudinal direction and upward of the transverse direction against the fender apron upper member. Further, a joint is coupled with front ends of the fender apron upper members, the front pillar members, the front pillar upper members, and the cowl upper cross reinforcing member, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Heeju Kim, Yoonkyoung Han, Mun Soo Cha
  • Patent number: 10071769
    Abstract: A front vehicle body reinforcing structure may include a dash panel, a front side member extending along a length direction of a vehicle for coupling to a lower part of the dash panel, a fender apron member extending along the length direction of the vehicle and coupled to an upper part of the dash panel, a front shock absorber housing having a lower part coupled to the front side member and an upper part coupled to the fender apron member, a cowl cross member extending along a width direction of the vehicle for coupling to the upper part of the dash panel and having both ends overlapping and coupled to the front shock absorber housing along the width direction, and a front shock absorber housing side member adhered to an inner surface of the front shock absorber housing, and having an upper part coupled to the cowl cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Do Hoi Kim, Chang Ho Park, Ji Woong Park, Chan Young Kang, Hae Woong Kim, Min Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 10011305
    Abstract: A motor vehicle is disclosed with a windshield, a hood and an air and water guiding arrangement that extends from the base of the windshield underneath the hood. A base plate of the air and water guiding arrangement features at least one air passage opening underneath the hood. A transverse wall, in which passages for air are recessed, rises from the base plate along a rear edge of the hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Fabian Kempfer, Younes Chlyeh
  • Patent number: 10000166
    Abstract: An arrangement for a motor vehicle including a dividing wall disposed between an engine compartment and a passenger compartment of the vehicle, a water container to collect the water running over the windscreen of the vehicle, and at least one collector to collect an overflow of water contained in the water container. The at least one collector is made up of a component forming an integral part of the dividing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Christian Delord, Thierry Hlubina
  • Patent number: 9963027
    Abstract: A windshield glass peripheral structure is provided including a molding that couples a windshield glass with a cowl louver. The molding includes an attachment portion that is attached to an inner side of an upper end portion of the cowl louver, an interposing portion that is interposed between and seals between a lower end portion of the windshield glass and an upper end portion of the cowl louver, and has a leading end at a vehicle outer side making contact with a lower edge portion of the windshield, glass, and a joining portion. The joining portion extends in a vehicle width direction following, the lower end portion of the windshield glass, is formed with a water drainage portion cut out from a vehicle up-down direction upper end portion of the joining face further toward a vehicle width direction outer side than a wiper unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masato Sekishiro
  • Patent number: 9950680
    Abstract: A wire harness assembling method includes a step (a) of attaching an interference suppressing member to at least a part of an elongated reinforcement, the reinforcement being arranged on a back side of an instrument panel of a vehicle and extending in a width direction of the vehicle; and a step (b) of arranging a wire harness so that the wire harness faces the reinforcement with the interference suppressing member interposed between the wire harness and the reinforcement, the step (b) being performed after the step (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hosei Mizuno, Hiroki Hirai, Masaaki Tabata
  • Patent number: 9914340
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body, a cowl and a first cowl attachment. The vehicle body defines an engine compartment and a passenger compartment that is located rearward of the engine compartment. The cowl includes a top wall extending in a vehicle lateral direction between the engine and passenger compartments. The top wall has a first end wall at a first end and a second end wall at a second end. The first end wall has a plurality of first air receiving apertures. The first cowl attachment has a baffle wall part and a cowl extension part. The first cowl attachment is fixedly attached to the first end wall such that the baffle wall part is adjacent to the air receiving apertures. The cowl extension part extends in a vehicle lateral direction from the baffle wall part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Bowers
  • Patent number: 9889892
    Abstract: An attachment for connecting a chassis structure to a hollow beam of a body structure includes a tube nut, a bulkhead, and a bolt. The bulkhead has a cavity surface configured to conform to a cylindrical outer surface of the tube nut. The bulkhead is disposed within the hollow beam and is attached to at least two walls of the hollow beam and to the tube nut. A first portion of the cylindrical outer surface of the tube nut is disposed in close proximity to the cavity surface of the bulkhead. A bottom surface of the tube nut contacts an inner surface of a bottom wall of the hollow beam. The bolt extends from the chassis structure, through a hole formed in the bottom wall of the hollow beam, and into the tube nut to connect the chassis structure to the body structure. The attachment may include a second bulkhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Travis W. Walker, Darek G. Villeneuve, Terry A. Swartzell, Daniel C. Dokter