Floor (i.e., Underframe) Patents (Class 296/193.07)
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Patent number: 9493195Abstract: A system, machine, device, and/or manufacture that is configured for, relates to, and/or results from, and/or a method for activities that can comprise and/or relate to, extending a floor, such as a floor of deck, patio, platform, and/or a vehicle, such as a trailer and/or truck from a compressed arrangement to an extended arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Inventor: Matthew Alan Willis
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Patent number: 9427942Abstract: A method of making a sandwich-type composite panel having a living hinge from a stack of material is provided. The stack includes first and second reinforced thermoplastic skins heated to a softening temperature and a thermoplastic cellular core disposed between the skins. The first skin is stretchable when heated to the softening temperature. A pressure is applied to the stack after the step of heating to form the composite panel. A portion of the composite panel is crushed at a predetermined location simultaneously with the step of applying to locally compact and separate the cellular core at the predetermined location to form two side portions of the panel and a crushed portion of the panel between the two side portions. The first skin stretches during the step of crushing while remaining intact between the two side portions. The skins bond together at the predetermined location to form the living hinge.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Global IP Holdings, LLCInventors: Darius J. Preisler, Christopher A. Heikkila
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Patent number: 9346375Abstract: A cargo management system including a vehicle load floor and a pair of opposing cargo trim panels supported above the load floor at opposite sides of the load floor within the interior of the vehicle is provided. The load floor has a wood grain finish. The load floor includes a first outer layer, a second outer layer and a core of cellulose-based material positioned between the outer layers and having a large number of cavities. The outer layers are bonded to the core by press molding. The trim panels are compression-molded, composite cargo trim panels supported above the vehicle load floor at opposite sides of the load floor. Each panel includes a base layer and a coverstock sheet bonded to the base layer by press molding. Each coverstock sheet provides its respective trim panel with a wood grain finish.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2015Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: GLOBAL IP HOLDINGS, LLCInventors: Darius J. Preisler, Christopher A. Heikkila, Steven A. Mitchell, Jeffrey P. Schmelzer
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Patent number: 9296426Abstract: A chassis of a motor vehicle including a mechanism for absorbing a frontal impact including two side rails mounted on a front portion of the chassis and arranged on either side of the chassis, a front crossmember mounted under a floor of a passenger compartment of the vehicle in contact with a transmission tunnel arranged on a central axis and extending from the front crossmember towards a rear portion of the chassis. Each side rail includes one end mounted to engage with the front crossmember.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.Inventors: Christian Delord, Herve Gaumont, Thierry Hlubina, Jerome Caillard
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Patent number: 9272737Abstract: A vehicle lower structure includes: a passenger compartment front wall lower portion separating a vehicle-body front portion and a passenger compartment; and a tunnel portion extending toward a vehicle rear side from a central part of the passenger compartment front wall lower portion in a vehicle width direction and projecting toward a vehicle upper side relative to a vehicle body floor. The tunnel portion includes: a rear tunnel constituent portion, a sectional shape thereof perpendicular to an extending direction of the tunnel portion being a semipolygonal shape; and a front tunnel constituent portion, the front tunnel constituent portion being adjacent to a vehicle front side of the rear tunnel constituent portion, a sectional shape thereof perpendicular to the extending direction of the tunnel portion being a semipolygonal section and the number of corners thereof being larger than the number of corners of the rear tunnel constituent portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2014Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroharu Iizuka
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Patent number: 9238485Abstract: A vehicle body lower structure includes: a floor connected to a dashboard panel, extending toward the vehicle rear side; a tunnel provided at a vehicle width direction center portion extending from the dashboard panel through the floor in the vehicle front-rear direction; a dashboard cross member joined to the dashboard panel, spanning in the vehicle width direction between a front end of the tunnel and a vehicle side section; and an under floor brace provided to a front end portion of the tunnel, extending in the vehicle width direction at the opposite side to the cabin, including both ends extending further toward the vehicle width direction outside than the front end portion of the tunnel and are fixed to the dashboard panel, the ends being located in positions facing vehicle width direction inside ends of the dashboard cross member via the dashboard panel.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2015Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hyuga Atsumi, Tetsuo Nuruki, Daisuke Teramoto
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Patent number: 9221500Abstract: A vehicle includes a pair of longitudinal frame rails and a bed above the frame rails. A plurality of roll-formed aluminum cross-members contact the bed and are disposed between the bed and the frame rails for additional support of the bed. Extruded aluminum spacers are disposed between and in contact with the one of the cross members and one of the frame rails. A crush tube is spin-welded to the spacer and contacts the underside of the bed for additional support to inhibit downward relative movement of the bed. The crush tube is formed with a longitudinal hole extending therethough to receive a fastener that extends from above the truck bed, through the crush tube hole, through the cross-member and spacer, and into the frame rail.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mark Joseph Courtright, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Vincent Chimento, Philip Van Wyk, Lawrence J. Dupuis
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Patent number: 9174683Abstract: The invention includes a floor reinforcement structure for vehicle body providing rigidity to an area around a main and rear floor joint; improving vehicle-body rigidity and rigidity against floor shaking and associated vehicle interior noise; and improving vehicle running stability. A floor reinforcement structure includes: a main floor; rear floor; side sill; a floor tunnel with a hat-like cross-section protruding from the floor and located medially in the main floor in the vehicle width direction and extending in a front-and-rear direction; and a vertical wall at the front of the rear floor extending in a vehicle vertical direction. The vertical wall is continuous with no steps The height of a top face thereof is larger than twice the height of a top face of the side sill, which is more than twice the height of a top face of a rear end portion of the floor tunnel.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2012Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventor: Shinei Mochizuki
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Patent number: 9139234Abstract: To provide a vehicle-body side part structure that can achieve both weight reduction and collision performance. A side sill 3 is constituted of an outer panel 11, an inner panel 12 located on the inside of the outer panel 11 in the vehicle width direction, and a backup panel 13 located on the inside of the inner panel 12 in the vehicle width direction. A backup panel central bulging portion 50 bulging inward in the vehicle width direction is formed in a central portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the backup panel 13, an outer panel bead central portion 22 recessed inward in the vehicle width direction is formed in the outer panel 11, and an inner panel bead central portion 39 recessed outward in the vehicle width direction is formed in the inner panel 12 to increase the rigidity in the vehicle width direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2011Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takeo Mori
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Publication number: 20150145287Abstract: In one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacture of an assembly comprising: forming an assembly by coupling a first component (150) to a second component (110) in spaced apart relationship therewith by means of coupling means (131); providing thermally activated seal means between the components, the first component, second component and seal means being arranged such that a gap exists between the first and second components allowing fluid flow therethrough; and subjecting the assembly to heat thereby to cause the seal means to expand and bridge the gap between the first and second components thereby to form a fluid tight seal between them.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2012Publication date: May 28, 2015Applicant: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITEDInventors: Neil Harwin, Gary Moyce
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Publication number: 20150137558Abstract: A subframe supporting a suspension system is secured to an insert member embedded in a core material of an inclined wall of a dash panel. Since the core material is formed from the corrugated plate having a large number of concave-convex portions extending in the fore-and-aft direction, one apex of the insert member, is oriented in the vehicle width direction, and two sides sandwiching the apex abut against the core material, when a load in the vehicle width direction is inputted from the suspension system into the subframe, it is possible, by absorbing the load by dispersing it from the two sides sandwiching the apex of the insert member toward the core material of the inclined wall of the dash panel, to enhance the support rigidity of the subframe with respect to the inclined wall of the dash panel without complicating the structure of the insert member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2013Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventors: Shotaro Ayuzawa, Shigeto Yasuhara
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Publication number: 20150137559Abstract: A structure for connecting a wheel house panel with a rear floor of a vehicle, which connects the rear floor forming a rear portion of a bottom of the vehicle with the wheel house panel on which shock absorber mounting brackets attached to both sides of the rear floor and supporting a shock absorber are mounted may include a first member bending between a lower end of an inner side of the wheel house panel and a side of the rear floor, with both ends attached to the wheel house panel and the rear floor, respectively, a second member vertically elongated and attached to an outer side of the wheel house panel and disposed behind the shock absorber mounting brackets, and a third member vertically elongated and attached to the outer side of the wheel house panel and disposed in front of the shock absorber mounting brackets.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: In-Bum LEE, Ji-Won Chang
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Publication number: 20150137560Abstract: An assembly including a compression-molded composite component having a sandwich structure with a cellulose-based core and at least one fastener component is provided. The composite component has a first outer layer of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material, a first sheet of thermoplastic adhesive, a second outer layer of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material, a second sheet of thermoplastic adhesive, and a core of cellulose-based material and positioned between the outer layers. The outer layers are bonded to the core by the first and second sheets by press molding. Each fastener component has a fastener part having a length and width and a mounting part mounting the fastener part to the first outer layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2015Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventors: Darius J. Preisler, Christopher A. Heikkila
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Patent number: 9033405Abstract: A structure for reinforcing a vehicle body panel that constructs a vehicle body, including a keyhole-shaped embossed portion formed by combination of a circular embossed portion and an elongated embossed portion extending from an outer circumference of the circular embossed portion in a radially outward direction of the circular embossed portion. The keyhole-shaped embossed portion is formed to project from one side of the vehicle body panel in a thickness direction of the vehicle body panel toward the other side thereof in the thickness direction thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2011Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Yasurou Hirooka
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Publication number: 20150130221Abstract: A cargo management system including an automotive vehicle seat having a backrest which separates the vehicle interior into a passenger area at the front of the vehicle and a cargo area at the rear of the vehicle is provided. The system includes a vehicle load floor which includes first and second outer layers and a core of cellulose-based material positioned between the outer layers and having a large number of cavities. The outer layers of the load floor are bonded to the core by press molding. The load floor has a wood grain finish. A compression-molded, composite cargo trim panel is secured to the backrest and includes a base layer and a coverstock sheet bonded to the base layer by press molding. The coverstock sheet provides the trim panel with a wood grain finish in an upper compartment of the cargo area.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2015Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: Darius J. Preisler, Christopher A. Heikkila, Steven A. Mitchell, Jeffrey P. Schmelzer
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Publication number: 20150130220Abstract: A cargo management system including a vehicle load floor having a cellulose-based core to compartmentalize a cargo area of the vehicle into an upper compartment and a covered lower compartment is provided. The floor has a wood grain finish. The load floor includes a compression-molded composite panel that includes first and second outer layers of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material, first and second sheets of thermoplastic adhesive and a core of cellulose-based material and positioned between the outer layers. The core has a large number of cavities. The outer layers are bonded to the core by the first and second sheets and by press molding. The first outer layer having a top surface on which a multi-layer sheet is bonded by the press molding. The multi-layer sheet has a substantially planar upper support surface to support cargo in the upper compartment and to provide the load floor with the wood grain finish.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2015Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: Darius J. Preisler, Christopher A. Heikkila, Steven A. Mitchell, Jeffrey P. Schmelzer
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Publication number: 20150130222Abstract: A cargo management system including a vehicle load floor and a pair of opposing cargo trim panels supported above the load floor at opposite sides of the load floor within the interior of the vehicle is provided. The load floor has a wood grain finish. The load floor includes a first outer layer, a second outer layer and a core of cellulose-based material positioned between the outer layers and having a large number of cavities. The outer layers are bonded to the core by press molding. The trim panels are compression-molded, composite cargo trim panels supported above the vehicle load floor at opposite sides of the load floor. Each panel includes a base layer and a coverstock sheet bonded to the base layer by press molding. Each coverstock sheet provides its respective trim panel with a wood grain finish.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2015Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: Darius J. Preisler, Christopher A. Heikkila, Steven A. Mitchell, Jeffrey P. Schmelzer
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Publication number: 20150123419Abstract: A body supporting structure for a vehicle body has a passenger-compartment section, a front-structure section and a rear-structure section. In order to form the body supporting structure, at least one supporting-structure body is configured as a three-dimensional flat structure which extends in all vehicle directions (x, y, z direction) and includes flat elements, the flat elements which extend in different vehicle directions (x, y, z direction) are connected with the formation of soft transitions, the flat elements are configured with cross-sectional areas which are structured depending on the applied loads, and flat elements with low applied loads or non-loadbearing regions are configured with apertures.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2013Publication date: May 7, 2015Applicant: Audi AGInventors: Daniel Werum, Andreas Lehr, Peter Haffner
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Patent number: 9004581Abstract: As a fixing part structure of pipes for a vehicle, in which part of the bottom surface of a floor panel is covered by an under cover and the pipes are arranged in the front-back direction of the vehicle between the under cover and the floor panel, adopted is a configuration in which: a clamp that holds the pipes is fixed to the bottom surface of the floor panel; a cutout is formed in a vertical wall at least a front end edge of the under cover; and the clamp is placed in the cutout. Further, the cutout of the under cover is formed into a shape along the outer shape of the clamp, and a flange is formed along the outer surface of the clamp, in the periphery of the cutout.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventor: Keisuke Tokuda
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Patent number: 9004582Abstract: In a floor structure of a vehicle body center section, a floor side member is provided at lower portions of a main floor panel, a vertical wall is formed at a front side of a rear floor panel, a rear seat is installed on the rear floor panel, a rear seat leg extends downward along the vertical wall, a lower end portion of the rear seat leg is mounted to a portion of the rear floor panel, a rear seat leg reinforcement member that extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction is disposed on each of upper portions at both left and right sides of the floor panels, a rear end portion of the reinforcement member is connected to the lower end portion of the rear seat leg, and a front end portion of the reinforcement member is connected to the main floor panel and the floor side member.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventors: Kentaro Jojiki, Yu Hashiba, Keisuke Kawai
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Publication number: 20150091333Abstract: An understructure for a motor vehicle includes two side members and multiple cross members fastened to the side members in each case via adapters. The adapters each include two identical shells which are each connected at the face end to a cross member and side member and to one another alongside.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Udo Mildner, Lothar Teske
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Patent number: 8991905Abstract: A vehicle body rear floor structure characterized as follows is provided. The front end of a rear floor panel in a vehicle longitudinal direction includes a front wall extending between a pair of side sills. The front wall forms an arc whose central part in a vehicle width direction projects upward from the floor. The front wall lower end is joined to a rear end of a main floor panel. A cross member forms an arc whose central part in the vehicle width direction projects upward from the floor, and extends along the front wall with the central part of the cross member in the vehicle width direction placed on a floor tunnel. The cross member ends, in the vehicle width direction, are joined to the side sills and main floor panel. The cross member central part in the vehicle width direction is joined to the floor tunnel.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventor: Shinei Mochizuki
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Publication number: 20150084377Abstract: A vehicle load floor assembly includes a vehicle seat that has a seatback that pivots between upright and stowed positions. A cargo floor extends rearward from the seat. A first panel pivotally couples with an upper portion of the seatback and pivots to a raised position away from the seatback in a forward stowed position. A second panel pivotally couples with the first panel and is pivotally deployable rearward to define a support surface together with the first panel that engages the cargo floor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: Bhavani Thota, Michael James Whitens, Babak Shahmehri
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Publication number: 20150084376Abstract: Disclosed is a structure of a floor panel which includes a rear floor panel that is provided in a vehicle body, and has a storage portion for a spare tire; a rear crossmember that is installed on a front side of the rear floor panel so as to extend in a lateral direction of the vehicle body, and is joined to the rear floor panel; a rear end panel that is installed on a rear side of the rear floor panel 10 so as to extend in the lateral direction of the vehicle body, and is joined to the rear floor panel 10; and a bead portion that is formed in the rear floor panel while having a lengthwise direction of the vehicle body as a longitudinal direction of the bead portion, and extends to an installation region of the rear crossmember.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventor: Takayoshi Shigihara
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Patent number: 8985680Abstract: An underbody for a motor vehicle is provided. The underbody has a ladder frame with side members and cross members. The side members and the cross members bound at least one opening, and each comprises an upper shell and a lower shell. The upper shells are interconnected into an upper ladder and the lower shells into a lower ladder.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2013Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Udo Mildner
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Publication number: 20150076865Abstract: An anchorage device for anchoring a portable seat is disclosed. The anchorage device includes a shackle with two legs and a mounting plate equipped with two sockets receiving end of the legs. The shackle and mounting plate are laser welded in such a manner that the legs of the shackle are directly connected to the mounting plate and lie at the most surface-flush with the bottom side of the mounting plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Bernd Pohl, Franz-Josef Ringel
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Patent number: 8979179Abstract: A floor structure of a motor vehicle body having a floor panel is provided. The floor structure comprises a seat connection portion which with respect to a front foot well portion is formed in vehicle vertical direction and a support structure provided below the floor panel with two longitudinal structures running in vehicle longitudinal direction and spaced from one another in vehicle transverse direction. Below the seat connection portion a cross member structure formed in one piece and corresponding to the total area of the seat connection portion is connected to the longitudinal structures located opposite in vehicle transverse direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Udo Mildner, Karsten Bohle
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Patent number: 8973979Abstract: A motor vehicle bodywork has a floor assembly with an upwardly convex and downwardly open longitudinal center tunnel and two side sills parallel thereto. Floor elements are disposed between the longitudinal center tunnel and the side sills. A driver side and a passenger side are each provided with at least one front and one rear seat crossmember, seen in the direction of travel. The seat cross-members extend in the transverse direction of the vehicle and rest on the associated floor elements. It is important that the driver side and/or passenger side seat cross-members are each connected to each other in their upper regions via a plate-like thrust element.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2008Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventors: Ali Oezkan, Klaus Bohnert, Gernot Jenisch
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Patent number: 8967699Abstract: A structural blast tunnel for a military vehicle includes a frame member that includes an elongated curved portion having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion disposed between the first end and the second end. The structural blast tunnel also includes a first mounting interface coupled to the first end and extending along the longitudinal axis of the frame member. The first mounting interface is configured to receive one of a front sub-frame and a standard frame of a vehicle. The structural blast tunnel finally includes a second mounting interface coupled to the second end and extending along the longitudinal axis of the frame member. The second mounting interface is configured to receive one of a rear sub-frame and a standard frame of a vehicle, and the frame member forms a structurally rigid section configured to direct blast energy outwards towards the first and second end. The structural blast tunnel may also include a secondary shield that increases the blast performance of this system.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Oshkosh CorporationInventors: Micah C. Richmond, Kristopher J. Krueger, David J Pelko
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Patent number: 8960776Abstract: A vehicle frame assembly, system and method includes a vehicle frame assembly having a variable length longitudinal frame component. The longitudinal frame component is formed at a first length when used on a first vehicle type and formed at a second length when used on a second vehicle type.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2009Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Eric Boettcher, Ceby Philip
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Publication number: 20150047197Abstract: The invention relates to a device (100) for attaching an apparatus onto a panel including at least one mortise, characterized in that it includes: a clamping member (102) including a clamping jaw (105) shaped so as to be capable of engaging with a first surface opposite the panel; and an anchoring dowel (108) rotatably secured to the clamping member (102) and including an anchoring jaw (109) capable of engaging with a second coupling surface of the panel, the clamping member (102) being capable of being translatably moved relative to the anchoring dowel (108) between: a position for blocking the attachment device (100), in which the clamping jaw (105) and the anchoring jaw (109) engage so as to attach the attachment device (100) to the panel; and a position for installing the attachment device (100), in which the clamping jaw (105) is shaped so as to be capable of passing through the attachment mortise of the panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2013Publication date: February 19, 2015Inventor: Mathieu Deloubes
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Publication number: 20150042128Abstract: A floor panel comprises: an article storage portion formed to protrude downwardly at a position spaced apart from each of two frame members on vehicle widthwise opposite sides thereof; and a pair of right and left lateral coupling portions each provided between a respective one of the frame members and the article storage portion. A storage bottom of the article storage portion has an upwardly or downwardly convex curved surface, and a storage wall of the article storage portion is configured such that each of right and left upper ends thereof is located below a corresponding one of two joint sections between respective ones of the lateral coupling portions of the floor panel and respective ones of the frame members. At least one of the pair of lateral coupling portions is formed by a downwardly inclined planar or curved surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2012Publication date: February 12, 2015Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventor: Miho Kowaki
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Publication number: 20150035319Abstract: A grommet assembly for sealing an opening through a floor pan and a reinforcement panel that are spaced apart is disclosed. The grommet assembly also seals around cooling lines that pass through the grommet assembly. The grommet assembly defines hollow sealing legs having extended and inverted positions in which the cooling lines are sealed when the hollow sealing legs are in the inverted position. The grommet assembly seals on the floor pan and is attached to the reinforcement panel. A mounting bracket for the grommet is disclosed having recessed and slotted apertures to aid in receiving the mounting post and aligning the grommet in the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2013Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David D. Fabricatore, Emin Oker, Elizabeth Louise Dearie
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Patent number: 8939498Abstract: A vehicle floor tub is generally designed for attachment to a vehicle floor panel and may have a variety of uses. In one embodiment, the vehicle floor tub may include a sound damping patch applied to the base of the tub for improved vibration or sound damping purposes, thermal insulation, added structural integrity, etc. The vehicle floor tub may include a main panel, a sound damping patch, and an adhesive layer that are formed together from a main blank, a sound damping blank, and an adhesive layer. The sound damping patch may include one or more forming features located near complex stress regions. In one embodiment, the vehicle floor tub may be sized and configured to be a vehicle seat tub that is located in the floor of a vehicle and accommodates a folded or collapsed vehicle seat; in another embodiment, the vehicle floor tub may accommodate a spare wheel.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2010Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Shiloh Industries, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan W. Fisk, Stephen A. Fetsko
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Publication number: 20150020388Abstract: On variation may include using a plurality of node structures to assemble a uniframe.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventors: Edward D. Moss, Peter M. Parlow, Robert N. Saje, Giles D. Bryer, Jonathan J. Andrews
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Patent number: 8936301Abstract: A vehicle load floor assembly includes a vehicle seat that has a seatback that pivots between upright and stowed positions. A cargo floor extends rearward from the seat. A first panel pivotally couples with a rear portion of the seatback and pivots to a raised position away from the seatback in the stowed position. A second panel couples with the first panel and is deployable rearward to engage the cargo floor with the first panel in the raised position to define a support surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Bhavani Thota, Michael James Whitens, Babak Shahmehri
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Patent number: 8926006Abstract: An underbody structure for at least two motor vehicles, in particular for at least two passenger cars having a first and a second wheelbase, is provided. The underbody structure comprises a middle underbody structure and a rear underbody structure with laterally arranged side members, between which at least one connecting profile is arranged. The connecting profile is connected to the side members and to a floor of the middle underbody structure to form a first overlap region for the first wheelbase and a second overlap region for the second wheelbase. The first and the second overlap region have an at least approximately same width.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2012Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Udo Mildner, Stefan Gloger, Stanislaw Klimek
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Patent number: 8925991Abstract: A reinforced frame structure for a vehicle is provided. The frame structure includes a frame portion having a first portion and a pair of wall portions extending therefrom. A first reinforcement is rigidly coupled to the wall portions, and the first portion, the wall portions, and first reinforcement combine to define an enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2011Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ari Garo Caliskan, John Edward Huber, Michael M Azzouz, Satish Ganti
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Publication number: 20150001885Abstract: A product comprising a mixed material vehicle underbody which may reduce or prevent noise from entering into the occupant compartment of a vehicle and a method for making the same.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2013Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventors: Robert N. SAJE, Artur WYSZYNSKI, Terry A. SWARTZELL, John C. JOHNSON, Peter M. PARLOW, Chad CROMWELL
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Publication number: 20150001886Abstract: A product comprising a lateral beam system which may include a 4-bar beam having a first bend forming a constant sweep across the length of the lateral beam creating a vertical arc and a second bend forming a constant sweep across the length of the lateral beam creating a horizontal arc and which may also include a plurality of brackets which may be attached to the 4-bar beam and wherein the lateral beam system may be attached to a vehicle at an angled toward the front of the vehicle and a method of making the same.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Robert N. Saje, John C. Johnson, Terry A. Swartzell, Kevin J. Lindsey
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Publication number: 20140367999Abstract: A front floor panel for an automotive body as a lightweight sheet can be reliably press-formed without a press forming loads becoming excessively large, can have desired stiffness, and noise and vibration characteristics for all directions since there is little stiffness anisotropy. The front floor panel includes a floor tunnel formed in a center in an automotive width direction to be oriented to a longitudinal direction, upright flanges disposed left and right formed at a left and right end portions in the automotive width direction to be joined to side sills, and a left and right plane portions formed between the upright flanges disposed left and right and a left and right longitudinal wall portions of the floor tunnel. In loop-shaped areas including outer edge portions of the plane portions, convex-concave parts in specific shapes are formed, and remaining areas excluding the loop-shaped areas are formed into flat sheet shapes.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2012Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventors: Toru Yonebayashi, Toshiya Suzuki, Yoshiaki Nakazawa, Masaya Takahashi
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Publication number: 20140367998Abstract: A load floor for a vehicle includes a first facing layer and a substrate layer. The first facing layer presents a first inner surface. The substrate layer presents a first outer surface and a second outer surface in opposition to the first outer surface. The substrate layer defines a plurality of cells that extend between the first outer surface and the second outer surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2013Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventors: Sergio Lavastida, Adrian Rodriguez
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Publication number: 20140368000Abstract: A rear subframe comprises: a pair of right and left side member segments; and a front cross member segment and a rear cross member segment each coupling the side member segments together. The rear cross member segment has: a central portion; and a front branch portion and a rear branch portion branched forwardly and rearwardly from each of vehicle-widthwise outer ends of the central portion, while extending in the vehicle width direction. Each of the side member segments has a bent portion with its axis extending in a curved manner between a coupling portion between the front branch portion and the side member segments, and a coupling portion between the rear branch portion and the side member segments. The bent portion has a wall thickness set to be less than that of a region of the side member segment located forward of the bent portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2013Publication date: December 18, 2014Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventor: Katsuyuki Komiya
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Publication number: 20140353956Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Eric D. Bjerketvedt, Jordy A. Reed, Ricky G. Jaeger, Phillip B. Swain, Gordon J. Steinmetz, Daniel L. Goffman, Andy T. Ives, Curtis C. Carruth
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Patent number: 8899652Abstract: A Wheeled vehicle comprises a chassis and a combatants' compartment for protection from an explosion, where the combatants' compartment is formed with an internal space and a bottom area sector attachable to the chassis and where the compartment has a plurality of inner beams that are formed with anchoring means along their lengths and installed in the combatants compartment's inn space and a plurality of outer beams attached to the chassis, where the anchoring means pass through openings formed in the bottom area sector of the combatants' compartment and protrude outwards from it for connecting the inner beams to the outer beams.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2010Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.Inventors: Alon Brill, Gil Hazan, Asher Levy
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Publication number: 20140346815Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic field shield for electromagnetic fields, preferably in the frequency range of 50 Hz to 200 kHz, essentially comprising a composite sheet formed from at least three layers arranged one above the other, wherein at least one of the layers is made of electrical steel sheet or electrical steel strip. In order to provide at low cost such a magnetic field shield that has low weight and good shielding effect, it is proposed that at least one of the layers is made of sheet steel and at least one of the layers is made of plastic and/or elastomer, wherein the at least one layer made of plastic and/or elastomer integrally bonds together the at least one layer made of electrical steel sheet/electrical steel strip and the at least one layer made of sheet steel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2012Publication date: November 27, 2014Inventors: Andreas Keutz, Dorothee Dorner, Andreas Jansen, Florian Herget, Andreas Breidenbach, Lothar Patberg
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Patent number: 8894130Abstract: A vehicle lower section structure is obtained that has a simple structure and is capable of increasing the rigidity and strength of a framework structure that is long in the vehicle front-rear direction. A vehicle lower section structure includes: an upper panel including a pair of respectively vehicle-downwards facing joining faces that are separated from each other in the vehicle width direction; a lower panel that with the upper panel configures a framework structure that is long in the vehicle front-rear direction and has a closed cross-section by the joining faces of the upper panel being joined to vehicle-upwards facing joining faces of the lower panel; and a seat rail that is long in the vehicle front-rear direction and is fixed to a portion of the upper panel that configures an upper wall of the closed cross-section of the framework structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroaki Iwamoto, Koki Ikeda, Yasuyuki Hihara
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Publication number: 20140327271Abstract: It is a subject of the present invention to ensure foot space for an occupant and lower a side portion of a floor portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2011Publication date: November 6, 2014Inventors: Fumihiko Kishima, Kazuya Koizumi
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Patent number: 8876198Abstract: A device and a method for fastening, clamping, or adjusting a molding part to a body-mounted part are provided. To allow the absorption of large tensile forces, a tensioning element designed as a tension strut is provided, which includes at least one oblong element made of fiber-reinforced plastic. The length of the tensioning element is adjustable between two end positions via a bracing device.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2011Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thiemo Adolf Erb, Norbert Schwan, Ralf Habrik
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Patent number: 8875834Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a frame having a first frame rail and a second frame rail. The first and second frame rails are spaced apart by a distance and are substantially parallel to one another. The vehicle structure also includes a vehicle body attached to the frame. The vehicle structure also includes a cradle mounted under the vehicle body to each of the first and second frame rails and configured to support a vehicle drivetrain subassembly. The vehicle structure additionally includes a panel attached to each of the first and second frame rails and the cradle, and configured to stiffen the vehicle structure.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2013Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Liviu Octavian Sirbu, Benjamin W Michajlyszyn