Cowl Patents (Class 296/192)
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Publication number: 20110148148Abstract: A cowl cover assembly for a vehicle includes a first fender and a cowl cover having a first lateral end and a second lateral end. A first coupling structure disposed on the first lateral end of the cowl cover. The first coupling structure has a groove that is engageable with the first fender for rigidly connecting the cowl cover to the first fender.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Vinod Desai
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Publication number: 20110148149Abstract: A front portion structure of a saddle-ride type vehicle capable of avoiding restrictions of a headlight and performing a sufficient air guide. A lens of the headlight is provided with lens-side recess portions recessed toward the rear of the vehicle. The recess portions are provided so as to continue to lower open ends of a gap between the front cowl and a windscreen.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuhito HAYASHI, Hirotsugu UENO, Hiroaki TSUKUI, Manabu ICHIKAWA, Takahiro OYAMA
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Patent number: 7946645Abstract: A vehicular body front portion structure includes a cowl panel and a dash panel that extends below the cowl panel. The cowl panel has a concave body with an opening formed on the upper side when viewed from the side of the vehicle body. The concave body is formed from a front plate portion, a bottom plate portion, and a rear plate portion. The cowl panel is spot-welded to the front plate portion. A drainage groove that extends in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body is provided in a front end portion of the bottom plate portion. An in-groove recessed portion, which is recessed from the drainage groove on the lower side of the concave body and which inhibits the dash panel from detaching from the cowl panel, is formed in the bottom of the drainage groove.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2009Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Norimasa Yano
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Publication number: 20110115257Abstract: A mounting structure of a front body frame in a vehicle, wherein, by improving the mounting structure between a body shell and a chassis around an engine compartment in the vehicle, it may secure the stability of the vehicle as well as the rigidity of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2010Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventor: Yong Kew KIM
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Publication number: 20110084518Abstract: A vehicle front body structure includes a chassis number marking section on which a chassis number or vehicle identification number (VIN) is applied by stamping. The chassis number marking section is provided on a cowl assembly and disposed above a damper base to which an end of the cowl box is secured.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2010Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideaki Yamagishi, Kenji Koyama
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Patent number: 7918494Abstract: An assembly type cowl top cover for covering a cowl groove defined between a hood and windshield glass. The assembly type cowl top cover includes a cover body having one end which is coupled to a vehicle body adjacent to the hood; and a plurality of fastening hooks detachably coupled to the other end of the cover body at regular intervals to support the windshield glass from beneath.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2008Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp.Inventor: Kwang Yong Jang
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Patent number: 7918484Abstract: A seal system (9) for sealing an opening (4) which leads into an interior space of a motor vehicle that receives a steering housing (8). The seal system (9) has at least one guide channel (14) that opens into a receiving region (17) for receiving at least one lug (10) which is arranged on the steering housing (8), with the result that the seal system (9) can be connected in a frictionally locking manner to the steering housing (8) through a locking element (24) in the receiving region (17).Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2008Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Ford Global TechnologiesInventors: Markus Braun, Joachim Heidel, Birger Assmann, Dirk Sickert
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Publication number: 20110068607Abstract: A cowl brace for supporting a cowl upper and a cowl lower of a windshield assembly is disclosed. The cowl brace includes an upper portion comprising a plurality of upper legs extending in an upper direction. The plurality of upper legs are spaced-apart from each other in a vehicle widthwise direction for connection to the cowl upper. A lower portion of the cowl brace extends in a lower direction for connection to the cowl lower. A continuous body portion of the cowl brace extends in the vehicle widthwise direction connecting the upper portion and the lower portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North AmericaInventors: Kyle Andrew Ott, Aaron Richard Steinhilb
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Publication number: 20110049933Abstract: A cowl-top cover 6 is provided which is arranged across a lower end part 2a of a front window panel 2, a rear end part 3a of a front hood 3, and an upper end part 4a of a dash panel 4, of a vehicle. The cowl-top cover is formed by a seal loading portion 8 supporting the rear end part 3a of the front hood 3 with a sealing member 7, a longitudinal wall portion 9 formed so as to extend downwardly LWR from a rear end part 8a of the seal loading portion 8, and a panel loading portion 10a supported at the upper end part 4a of the dash panel 4. The longitudinal wall portion 9 is comprised of: a first oblique face portion 12 formed at a predetermined angle ?1 at a rear portion side PR on the basis of a perpendicular line 11 with the rear end part 8a of the seal loading portion 8 being a start point 5; and a second oblique face portion 13 bent and formed at a front side FR of the first oblique face portion 12.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.Inventors: Daisuke Serizawa, Daisuke Takei
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Patent number: 7891727Abstract: A configuration is provided for the handling and/or processing of a vehicle cowling part together with an add-on part. The parts are coordinated with each other prior to the handling and/or processing and temporarily fixed at a distance from each other by a fastening device and then can be handled and/or processed together, and after the handling and/or processing they are fixed onto each other in the final position. For quick and easy temporary fixation and final fixation, in which no additional securing aids are required, it is proposed that the fastening device is configured as a snap connection with a temporary fixation and a final fixation and makes a single piece with the vehicle cowling part and/or the add-on part.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2007Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AGInventors: Gert Rogner, Andrea Kunz
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Patent number: 7883141Abstract: A vehicle body structure capable of reliably preventing water intrusion into an engine room is provided. For that purpose, there is provided a deck garnish (4), which is disposed so as to occlude a space between an upper surface of a lower part of a windshield (2) and a lower surface of a rear part of an engine hood (3) of a vehicle (1), and which extends in a vehicle width direction. On this front deck garnish (4), formed are: a stepped portion (42) inclined toward a front side of a vehicle body at a lower rear end of the engine hood (3); and drain grooves (43) formed at a front end of the stepped portion (42) so as to have a bag-shaped cross section and configured to communicate with a bottom portion of a deck panel (5).Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2006Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Naohisa Izawa
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Patent number: 7854473Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes: a lower dashboard; an upper dashboard frontward extending from an upper end portion of the lower dashboard, both the lower and upper dashboards partially defining an engine compartment; damper housings disposed on a right side and a left side of the engine compartment, with right and left ends of the upper dashboard being joined to the respective damper housings; and a stiffener extending in a vehicle width direction which is fixed to an upper portion of the upper dashboard, wherein the stiffener is integrally formed of: a first transversal element connecting an upper portion of the right damper housing and an upper portion of the left damper housing; a second transversal element extending in the vehicle width direction and positioned rearward relative to the first transversal element; a plurality of longitudinal elements each connecting the first transversal element and the second transversal element.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2008Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideyuki Kuroita, Yoshinori Fukushi
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Publication number: 20100301636Abstract: A vehicular body front portion structure includes a cowl panel and a dash panel that extends below the cowl panel. The cowl panel has a concave body with an opening formed on the upper side when viewed from the side of the vehicle body. The concave body is formed from a front plate portion, a bottom plate portion, and a rear plate portion. The cowl panel is spot-welded to the front plate portion. A drainage groove that extends in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body is provided in a front end portion of the bottom plate portion. An in-groove recessed portion, which is recessed from the drainage groove on the lower side of the concave body and which inhibits the dash panel from detaching from the cowl panel, is formed in the bottom of the drainage groove.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2009Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Norimasa Yano
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Patent number: 7805815Abstract: The present invention discloses a clip for attaching an object to a sheet having an aperture spaced apart from a leading edge of the sheet. The clip includes a base with a generally planar lower member, the lower member having a leading edge and a trailing edge. The base also has a generally planar upper member extending across the lower member, the upper member also having a leading edge, a trailing edge and an opening between the upper member leading edge and trailing edge. The trailing edge of the upper member is attached to and extends from the base proximate the trailing edge of the lower member. The upper member also includes a spring located proximate to the trailing edge of the upper member and extending into the opening in a generally leading edge direction. The finger spring is operable to apply a force in a generally leading edge direction onto a sheet edge of a sheet inserted and located between the lower member and the upper member.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2007Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Philip Joseph Babian, Paxton S. Williams
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Publication number: 20100201157Abstract: A motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to a bulkhead for separating a vehicle interior space from an engine bay. The entire bulkhead in its upper area at a first bending point bends toward the front side of the vehicle (=forward), to then extend upwardly from there in a forward-arched area, where it forms a window support for a windshield. The bulkhead has an air inlet opening in a forwardly arched area that is connected with the vehicle interior space to supply air to the latter.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2008Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Christoph Daab, Karl-Heinz Arndt, Norbert Ranker
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Patent number: 7770964Abstract: A spring strut mounting for holding an upper end of a spring strut of a motor vehicle contains a spring strut dome with an articulation point for articulatedly connecting the upper end of the spring strut. The spring strut mounting further has a lower dome carrier which can be connected to a longitudinal member of the motor vehicle, and an upper dome carrier which can be connected to an A pillar of the motor vehicle, with the upper dome carrier engaging over the articulation point.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2007Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AGInventors: Matthias Herntier, Siegfried Walter, Leszek Wrobel
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Patent number: 7766417Abstract: A vehicle cowl structure includes a cowl box including a closed cross-section, an inclined holding surface configured to hold a lower end portion of a windshield, an upper wall extending toward an interior of a vehicle cabin from an upper end of the holding surface, a vertical wall extending downward from an inside end of the upper wall, a bottom wall extending toward a front portion of the vehicle from a lower end of the vertical wall, and a recessed portion formed on the upper wall extending in a direction of the width of the vehicle, wherein the recessed portion is depressed toward an inside of the cowl box and is smoothly curved from the windshield holding surface to the vertical wall.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2008Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoko Kannan, Hiroyuki Iwanami, Tatsuzo Tomita
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Patent number: 7766420Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a vehicle body front-part structure which can efficiently disperse an impact load acting on the front part of a vehicle. In the vehicle body front-part structure in accordance with the present invention, a portion 6a of a radiator support supporting an upper part of a radiator arranged in the front part of a vehicle 2 is connected to a skeleton 9 of the vehicle body by a pair of first radiator support supporting members 4 which support it from both sides in the vehicle width direction, and second radiator support supporting members 11, 12 which are arranged on the inner side of the pair of first radiator support supporting members 4 in the vehicle width direction and support it from the backside.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2006Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroto Maruyama, Naoya Kosaka, Koji Tamakoshi
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Publication number: 20100187862Abstract: A structure of mounting a cowl top cover which has a back end portion mounted to a lower end portion of a front windshield panel is disclosed. The structure includes: a surface portion disposed at the back end portion of cowl top cover, the surface portion covering a surface of lower end portion of front windshield panel and extending in a vehicular widthwise direction; a plurality of clip portions disposed at back end portion of cowl top cover, the lower end portion of front windshield panel being clamped between the clip portions and the surface portion in a plurality of places along the direction in which the surface portion extends; and a thin plate portion disposed at back end portion of cowl top cover, wherein the thin plate portion connecting plurality of clip portions with each other is thinner than surface portion and is spaced apart from front windshield panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2010Publication date: July 29, 2010Applicant: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.Inventors: Takenori KURATA, Hirofumi HARADA, Fumihiko KIMURA, Toshiyuki TERADA, Takahiro MURATA, Manabu FUJISAWA, Naoki KOBAYASHI
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Patent number: 7740307Abstract: A unitary cowl top ventilator component has a body of rigid, polymeric material which defines a structural member of the component. A first body of polymeric material is fusion bonded to a first portion of the structural member to provide a windshield seal, and a second body of polymeric material is fusion bonded to a second portion of the structural member to provide a hood seal. In some instances the hood seal is a bulb-type seal, and in other instances it is a blade seal.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2008Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Inventors: Guido Benvenuto, Robert DeSantis, A. Tony Facconio, Patrick Martyn
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Patent number: 7717497Abstract: A vehicle having a cowl tray and a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is provided with one or more coolant-to-air heat exchangers near the intake opening of the HVAC system or attached to the cowl tray, in order to prevent an accumulation of snow and ice from blocking the flow of intake air into the HVAC system and interfering with the windshield wiper system. The accumulation of snow and ice in the HVAC intake is a problem commonly experienced by vehicles having the HVAC intake located near the base of the vehicle windshield, due to turbulent precipitation.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2006Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLCInventors: Harl Donley, Diane K. Bollinger, Kevin D. Campbell, Joaquin J. Hernandez, Lenora G. Hazen
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Publication number: 20100052364Abstract: A vehicle cowl box structure is provided basically with an air inlet, an air outlet, an air passageway and a flow restriction device. The air inlet is arranged to receive outside air. The air outlet is arranged to convey the outside air to a vehicle HVAC system. The air passageway extends between the air inlet and the air outlet to convey the outside air from the air inlet to the air outlet. The flow restriction device is disposed in the air passageway at a point between the air inlet and the air outlet. The flow restriction device is configured and arranged to automatically decrease airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet as the airflow through the air inlet increases.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2008Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicant: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Sean Cavanaugh
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Publication number: 20100001552Abstract: A mounting structure for a cowl crossbar includes a front pillar, a cowl crossbar provided on an inside portion of the front pillar, and a cowl crossbar mounting member for mounting the cowl crossbar on the inside of the front pillar. The cowl crossbar mounting member includes guide pins provided on a inner side of the front pillar, a cowl crossbar bracket supported by an end of the cowl crossbar and having guide portions for guiding the guide pins, and a pipe bolt fastened to the end of the cowl crossbar through the cowl crossbar bracket. The cowl crossbar is mounted on the front pillar by using the cowl crossbar mounting member so that the cowl crossbar is engaged to the side of a vehicle in a straight line.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2008Publication date: January 7, 2010Applicant: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Sun Ho KIM
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Publication number: 20100001551Abstract: A body cover structure of a motorcycle includes an upper cover arranged at a position above a front wheel operatively attached to a lower end of a front fork steerably supported by a head pipe at a front end of a body frame, and a pair of right and left cowls that cover at least a portion of a fuel tank mounted on the body frame. The upper cover includes a covering portion for covering a portion of a fuel tank, and each overhanging portion including a ridge line portion that ranges to a lower end of the upper cover, when viewed in a side view, is provided with a respective cowl connected to the upper cover with a portion of each cowl overlapped with the rear of the upper cover, such that the overhanging portion extends outwardly beyond the upper cover in a vehicle-width direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2009Publication date: January 7, 2010Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kei Fukuyama, Takamasa Kojima
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Publication number: 20090261621Abstract: A vehicle cowl structure is provided. A cowl part is disposed between a lower end of a front glass of a vehicle and a rear end of a front hood. The cowl part has a tow-layer structure which has a metallic cowl panel having a design surface and a resinous cowl cover disposed below the metallic cowl panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2009Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicant: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventor: Yoshitaka USUDA
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Patent number: 7604285Abstract: A post-mounting structure of a cowl complete panel is provided, which includes a front pillar part having a side outer panel, and a cowl complete having a cowl top panel and a cowl side inner member, wherein a side shape of an outside of the cowl top panel is formed to correspond to a side shape of a compartment side of the side outer panel, and a forward parting line of a rear side of the cowl side inner member is formed ahead of a front parting line of a front side of the side outer panel, to form a specified space between the forward parting line of the rear side of the cowl side inner member and the front parting line of the front side of the side outer panel.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2009Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Do Hoi Kim
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Publication number: 20090256396Abstract: A post-mounting structure of a cowl complete panel is provided, which includes a front pillar part having a side outer panel, and a cowl complete having a cowl top panel and a cowl side inner member, wherein a side shape of an outside of the cowl top panel is formed to correspond to a side shape of a compartment side of the side outer panel, and a forward parting line of a rear side of the cowl side inner member is formed ahead of a front parting line of a front side of the side outer panel, to form a specified space between the forward parting line of the rear side of the cowl side inner member and the front parting line of the front side of the side outer panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2009Publication date: October 15, 2009Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventor: Do Hoi KIM
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Publication number: 20090195027Abstract: A windshield support structure for a vehicle is provided, in particular an automobile, which includes, but is not limited to a front bulkhead and a windshield support connected thereto. The windshield support is supported on the front bulkhead by means of at least one support disposed on the windshield support and the front bulkhead. A method is also provided for producing a windshield support structure, and at least one support is disposed on a front bulkhead and on a windshield support.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2009Publication date: August 6, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Gerald HECK, Klaus MEINHARDT, Phi-Cong NGUYEN, Jurgen VOLLHARDT
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Publication number: 20090189413Abstract: A windshield device for a motorcycle includes a front cowl located at a front side of the vehicle body to cover a vehicle body; a windscreen disposed at an upper part of the front cowl so as to be vertically movable; an air introducing port for introduction of air from the front side being formed between a lower end of the windscreen and a front surface of the front cowl; and an air guide for guiding the air introduced through the air introducing port to flow rearwards along a rear surface of the windscreen, wherein the air guide is firmly attached to the rear surface of the windscreen.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2008Publication date: July 30, 2009Inventors: Kenichi Misaki, Takefumi Okubo, Hiroshi Tatsumi, Kenji Tako, Kanji Hayashi
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Publication number: 20090178870Abstract: A vehicle can include a horn able to produce an effective sound volume. The vehicle can be a motorcycle. The horn of the motorcycle can be positioned relative to parts of the motorcycle in such a way that an effective sound volume can be produced by the horn, while obstruction by the horn of cooling airflow is reduced or eliminated. In particular, at least a part of the horn can be displaced laterally from front forks of the motorcycle, in a position where the horn overlaps with an inner panel of a cowl of the motorcycle in a front view.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2008Publication date: July 16, 2009Applicant: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kuniyuki TAKAHASHI, Katsumitsu WAKAMATSU
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Patent number: 7552964Abstract: In a front windshield support structure of a vehicle, a windshield support 17 supports the lower end of a front windshield 18 in the upper portion of a reinforcing part 16 of a dashboard upper part 14. The windshield support 17 includes a front-side member 21 and a rear-side member 20 whose upper portions supporting the front windshield 18 are connected to each other and whose lower portions are connected to the dashboard upper part 14. The front-side member 21 is bent into a chevron shape in cross section such that a vertically intermediate part thereof projects forward. The rear-side member 20 is bent into a chevron shape in cross section such that a vertically intermediate part thereof projects rearward. Together, the front-side member 21 and the rear-side member 20 form a box-shaped cross section.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2008Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoji Saito
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Patent number: 7552502Abstract: A wiper apparatus has an operation lever of which one end portion is rotatably equipped, a wiper arm is attached to another end portion of the operation lever, and a covering member which covers a base portion side of the wiper arm and the operation lever, in which an operation hole is formed in a vertical wall of the covering member to allow a base portion of the wiper arm to penetrate through.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2005Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mamoru Kagawa, Tomohiro Ohe, Masaomi Tottori
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Publication number: 20090152897Abstract: An assembly type cowl top cover for covering a cowl groove defined between a hood and windshield glass. The assembly type cowl top cover includes a cover body having one end which is coupled to a vehicle body adjacent to the hood; and a plurality of fastening hooks detachably coupled to the other end of the cover body at regular intervals to support the windshield glass from beneath.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2008Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp.Inventor: Kwang Yong Jang
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Patent number: 7546893Abstract: Describe is a front wall module for a motor vehicle. The front wall module forms at least one area of a front wall that defines the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The front wall module contains functional units, such as the fan for ventilating the passenger compartment or the like. The front wall module has a capping piece that is connected to two longitudinal beams of the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2003Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbHInventors: Peter Rahmstorf, Lydia Creutz, Eric Schaetzel, Siegfried Müller, Klaus Vornhof
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Publication number: 20090146459Abstract: A cowl structure including a cowl box having a partition panel joined to both rear and bottom walls thereof inside the cowl box. The partition panel constitutes, together with the rear and bottom walls, a hollow member portion extending in a vehicle width direction. An outside air introducing port is provided in the cowl box, for introducing outside air into the cowl box outside of the member portion. A communication port is provided in the partition panel, for allowing the inside and outside of the member portion to communicate with each other inside the cowl box. An air supplying port is provided in the rear wall at a location spaced upward from the bottom wall, for allowing the inside of the member portion and a vehicle compartment to communicate with each other. The communication port and the air supplying port overlap each other in the vehicle width direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2008Publication date: June 11, 2009Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Hidekazu Saitou
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Patent number: 7540557Abstract: In a windshield glass support structure, a lower end of a windshield glass is supported at an upper end of a cowl portion across the entire width in the vehicle width direction. The cowl portion is open toward the front of a vehicle body with a cowl outer which forms an upper portion of the cowl portion and a cowl inner which forms a lower portion of the cowl portion. Braces which form a closed cross-section with the cowl portion connect the cowl outer with the cowl inner at positions dividing the cowl portion into three substantially equal parts in the vehicle width direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2006Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Gou Shimura
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Publication number: 20090108630Abstract: A vehicle cowl may comprise a receiving portion formed as a local depression, and one or more openings formed on sides of the receiving portion. The vehicle cowl may be configured to be disposed rearward of a front wheel of a vehicle, the one or more openings to face rearward and the local depression to extend rearward when the vehicle cowl is in place on the vehicle. The receiving portion may be configured to receive and/or deflect an object or substance splashed or thrown up by the front wheel, such as water, mud or road debris, in a position rearward of the front wheel. Moreover, air can flow through the one or more openings on the sides of the receiving portion, to cool heat-generating parts such as the radiator and engine. The vehicle may be a motorcycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2008Publication date: April 30, 2009Applicant: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kouta Nakao, Kuniyuki Takahashi
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Publication number: 20090108629Abstract: A vehicle cowl may be arranged on a side portion of a vehicle, and include a duct that extends in a vehicle width direction. The duct may have an inside opening and an outside opening. The inside opening may face inward, toward the vehicle body, and the outside opening may face outward from the vehicle. The cowl may further include a panel for covering a portion of the outside opening. The panel may be arranged so that, when the vehicle is viewed from the front, a portion of the outside opening left uncovered by the panel is shielded by a forward part of the panel, and thus not visible. The vehicle may be a motorcycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2008Publication date: April 30, 2009Applicant: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kuniyuki Takahashi, Katsumitsu Wakamatsu
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Publication number: 20090058139Abstract: A vehicle body structure capable of reliably preventing water intrusion into an engine room is provided. For that purpose, there is provided a deck garnish (4), which is disposed so as to occlude a space between an upper surface of a lower part of a windshield (2) and a lower surface of a rear part of an engine hood (3) of a vehicle (1), and which extends in a vehicle width direction. On this front deck garnish (4), formed are: a stepped portion (42) inclined toward a front side of a vehicle body at a lower rear end of the engine hood (3); and drain grooves (43) formed at a front end of the stepped portion (42) so as to have a bag-shaped cross section and configured to communicate with a bottom portion of a deck panel (5).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2006Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventor: Naohisa Izawa
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Publication number: 20090026805Abstract: Disclosed is a unitary cowl top ventilation component for a motor vehicle. The component includes structural and elastomeric portions molded into a single unitary body. Also disclosed are methods for making the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2008Publication date: January 29, 2009Inventors: Guido Benvenuto, Robert Desantis, A. Tony Facconio, Patrick Martyn
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Publication number: 20080284208Abstract: A vehicle cowl structure includes a cowl box including a closed cross-section, an inclined holding surface configured to hold a lower end portion of a windshield, an upper wall extending toward an interior of a vehicle cabin from an upper end of the holding surface, a vertical wall extending downward from an inside end of the upper wall, a bottom wall extending toward a front portion of the vehicle from a lower end of the vertical wall, and a recessed portion formed on the upper wall extending in a direction of the width of the vehicle, wherein the recessed portion is depressed toward an inside of the cowl box and is smoothly curved from the windshield holding surface to the vertical wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2008Publication date: November 20, 2008Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoko Kannan, Hiroyuki Iwanami, Tatsuzo Tomita
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Publication number: 20080252103Abstract: A service panel is provided for a motor vehicle that is designed for closing an opening between an apron and a hood and for being mounted on the suspension strut top mountings of the motor vehicle. The service panel is equipped with an integrated strut top mounting brace. A motor vehicle is also provided with an apron for separating a passenger compartment from an engine compartment and a service panel designed for closing an opening between an apron and a hood and for being mounted on the suspension strut top mountings of the motor vehicle. The service panel is equipped with an integrated strut top mounting brace.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2008Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Ralf-Dieter BECHTOLD, Uwe WAWERS
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Publication number: 20080246311Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a cowl extending in a vehicle transverse direction at an upper rear section of an engine compartment, an air inlet to introduce outside air into a vehicle cabin from the cowl, a fluid discharge channel provided at the bottom of the cowl, the fluid discharge channel inclined to guide fluid entering the cowl to a drain opening disposed at a transverse end of the cowl, a one-way valve disposed inside the cowl at a position corresponding to the drain opening, the one-way valve including a flapper operable to open and close the drain opening in response to a differential pressure generated when air flows through the air inlet and a frame comprising a valve opening corresponding to the drain opening, wherein the one-way valve covers the drain opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2008Publication date: October 9, 2008Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Katsuya Hagino, Youhei Ogawa, Michio Kudou
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Patent number: 7407220Abstract: A vehicle front structure including: a closed-section cross member connected to a pair of front pillars; a closed-section hood ledge extending frontward from a portion of a corresponding one of the front pillars, where the cross member is connected to the corresponding one of the front pillars; and a strut housing provided on an inner side in a vehicle transverse direction of and adjacent to the hood ledge. The hood ledge is provided with two gussets dividing an internal space thereof into sections in the longitudinal direction of the hood ledge, and an intermediate portion of the hood ledge between the two gussets is located forward of the cross member and rearward of the strut housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2007Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Junya Kanagawa, Hideyoshi Takashima, Itaru Nakamura
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Publication number: 20080169679Abstract: A vehicle having a body structure that defines a front portion of a passenger compartment. The vehicle includes first and second closure frame structures and a roof structure that interlocks with the first and second closure frame structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2007Publication date: July 17, 2008Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANYInventor: Gregory Thomas Hedderly
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Publication number: 20080150326Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a vehicle body front-part structure which can efficiently disperse an impact load acting on the front part of a vehicle. In the vehicle body front-part structure in accordance with the present invention, a portion 6a of a radiator support supporting an upper part of a radiator arranged in the front part of a vehicle 2 is connected to a skeleton 9 of the vehicle body by a pair of first radiator support supporting members 4 which support it from both sides in the vehicle width direction, and second radiator support supporting members 11, 12 which are arranged on the inner side of the pair of first radiator support supporting members 4 in the vehicle width direction and support it from the backside.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2006Publication date: June 26, 2008Inventors: Hiroto Maruyama, Naoya Kosaka, Koji Tamakoshi
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Publication number: 20080116721Abstract: In a windshield glass support structure, a lower end of a windshield glass is supported at an upper end of a cowl portion across the entire width in the vehicle width direction. The cowl portion is open toward the front of a vehicle body with a cowl outer which forms an upper portion of the cowl portion and a cowl inner which forms a lower portion of the cowl portion. Braces which form a closed cross-section with the cowl portion connect the cowl outer with the cowl inner at positions dividing the cowl portion into three substantially equal parts in the vehicle width direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2006Publication date: May 22, 2008Inventor: Gou Shimura
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Publication number: 20080093147Abstract: A detachable cover for a motorcycle cowling that can be easily switched with a service part is described. The cover includes a cover front edge section that is formed so as to form a generally continuous surface with at least a portion of an outer periphery edge section of a head light, and a cover rear section that is removably attachable to the cowling and that extends to the rear from the cover front edge section when attached to the cowling. A motorcycle that easily allows external appearance to be changed to satisfy a user's requirements is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2007Publication date: April 24, 2008Inventor: Toru Tanaka
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Patent number: 7357446Abstract: A cowl-top cover for a vehicle having a bonnet hood, a windshield and a well disposed therebetween, is provided with a fixation portion fixed to a body panel of the vehicle on a side of the bonnet hood; an engaging portion including a bottom, the engaging portion being configured to conceal and slidably pinch an end portion of the windshield so that a space portion is defined by the end portion and the bottom; and a main body portion linking the fixation portion with the engaging portion and covering the well, the main body being configured to be deformed by an applied impact force and allow sliding movement of the engaging portion in a direction where the bottom moves toward the end portion of the windshield.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2005Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiro Sakai, Takenori Kurata, Akihiro Ishikawa, Motomu Koyama, Kazuo Matsuyama
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Publication number: 20080067835Abstract: The invention relates to a support crossbeam for an instrument panel to be assembled between two side elements of a frame of an automotive vehicle next to a front part of an interior. The crossbeam integrates several anchoring and supporting configurations for the steering column, several airbags, fuse boxes, ventilation system elements, sound equipment, among others, and is obtained by pressure die-casting of a light metal alloy, such a magnesium alloy, in an elongated single part extending between first and second ends. This single part has an open cross-section general profile, adapted to be demolded in a transverse direction of the crossbeam, with at least one tubular portion with a cross-section closed in at least one of said first or second ends, adapted to be demolded in the longitudinal direction of the crossbeam.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2004Publication date: March 20, 2008Inventors: Francesc Perarnau Ramos, Rafa Saez de Ramon, Albert Mas Burillo, Oscar Inigo Griera, Angel Inigo