Having Headliner Or Liner Support Patents (Class 296/214)
  • Patent number: 11827161
    Abstract: A system of securing a connection of a decorative feature to a magnetic surface is provided. The system includes (a) a decorative feature attached to a substrate; (b) a magnet configured to be positioned within the substrate; and (c) two or more attachment arms extending away from the substrate and overmolding the magnet. The magnet is configured to magnetically secure the decorative feature to a magnetic attachment surface. In an example the substrate is a panoramic ring of a vehicle and the decorative feature is a headliner. The magnet is provided in a magnet bowl that includes an engagement feature to assist in overmolding. An attachment clip is also provided having two or more attachment arms with a magnet assembly overmolded to the clip. A pressure fit clip is provided having two or more attachment arms with a magnet assembly overmolded to the clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Precision Masters Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew R Bachan
  • Patent number: 11801784
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a deployable assist handle configured to be gripped by a user, the deployable assist handle being deployable amongst a plurality of use positions, at least one sensor for sensing a user proximate the vehicle, and an actuator for actuating the deployable assist handle. The vehicle also includes a controller determining one or more characteristics of the user from the sensed data and controlling the actuator to actuate the deployable assist handle to a select use position based on the determined one or more characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Brendan Diamond, Lucretia Williams, Annette Lynn Huebner, David Brian Glickman
  • Patent number: 11794833
    Abstract: A vehicle headliner assembly system is provided. The system includes an articulated mounting robot having multiple degrees of freedom, an assembly jig fastened to the mounting robot, a vehicle headliner coupled to the assembly jig, a gripper provided in the assembly jig and configured to engage the headliner, a pressurization unit provided and configured to pressurize the headliner to couple the headliner to a vehicle body; and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control the mounting robot to move the assembly jig, to control the gripper to attach or detach the assembly jig to or from the headliner, and to control the pressurization unit to couple the headliner to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Young Kyun Mo
  • Patent number: 11780356
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body defining a door opening, a door movable between a closed position closing the door opening in an open position exposing the door opening, and a support structure located proximate to the door opening. The vehicle also includes a deployable assist handle having a handle body configured to be gripped by a user, the handle body being deployable amongst a plurality of positions including at least a first position and a second position, the assist handle comprising a lighting device, wherein the lighting device provides an illumination beam directed to a first region when the handle is in a first position and directed to a second region when the handle is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Ryan Kosior, Lucretia Williams, Annette Lynn Huebner
  • Patent number: 11772552
    Abstract: A vehicle interior lighting assembly includes a roof structure, a headliner and a light source. The roof structure has a lower surface portion located inboard of the outer periphery. The headliner is supported to the outer periphery of vehicle roof structure. The headliner has a central opening defined by an inner edge portion of the headliner. The opening exposes a portion of the roof structure. The inner edge portion of the headliner is spaced apart from the lower surface portion of the vehicle roof structure such that a gap is defined between the vehicle roof structure and inner edge portion of the headliner. The light source is installed to the lower surface portion of the vehicle roof structure such that when the light source is illuminated, light is emitted through the gap between the vehicle roof structure and inner edge portion of the headliner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Young, Nelson Phan
  • Patent number: 11752845
    Abstract: A sunshade system for a vehicle, comprises a sunscreen having at least a main part and two opposed, laterally placed, inwardly folded parts. The sunscreen includes an intermediate part extending in between the main part and the inwardly folded parts each connected to the intermediate part by means of a fold. Two opposed longitudinal guides retain the adjacent inwardly folded part and at least a part of the corresponding intermediate part of the flexible sunscreen. The guides engage the inwardly folded part. Each intermediate part includes a first compressed part extending in longitudinal direction and comprising at least material of the main part. The first compressed part is established under the influence of a compression treatment such that said material in the first compressed part has a thickness smaller than the thickness of the same material in the main part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Bernardus Jacobus Marie Verhaeg, Jose Alberto Garcia Flores
  • Patent number: 11745570
    Abstract: The present invention is a retractable sunshade assembly that can be connected to an open-top of a vehicle that has roll bars. The sunshade assembly includes one or more clamps, a pair of parallel support beams, and a sunshade panel. The one or more clamps fasten to roll bars on a driver side and on a passenger side, The pair of parallel support beams connect onto the clamps, such that the supports panels are horizontally aligned to the respective roll bars and parallel to each other. The sunshade panel is configured to connect to and span between the pair of support beams which serve as a guide for the sunshade panel to retract and extend within. A latch mechanism connected to a handle can be actuated to hold the sunshade panel in a desired location along the pair of support beams, enabling customized levels of sun shading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Lang, Jed L. Firebaugh
  • Patent number: 11708016
    Abstract: An assist handle assembly for use in an interior of a vehicle is provided. The assist handle assembly includes an assist handle configured to be gripped by a user, a connector configured to secure the assist handle assembly to a structural component in the interior of the vehicle, a proximity sensor assembly coupled to the assist handle for generating a sensed signal indicative of a user gripping the assist handle, and a controller controlling one or more vehicle devices based on the sensed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Jim Baumbick, Annette Lynn Huebner, David Brian Glickman, Benjamin Yilma, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Patent number: 11685330
    Abstract: A roof airbag module includes an airbag configured to inflate and deploy away from a vehicle roof toward a vehicle seat. The airbag module also includes an airbag housing configured to support the airbag in a stored condition in which the airbag is deflated and at least one of rolled and folded. The airbag module also includes an inflator that is actuatable to direct inflation fluid into the airbag to inflate the airbag. The airbag module further includes a module cover connected to the airbag housing and configured to conceal the airbag in the stored condition. The module cover includes a deployment door having an interior surface facing an interior of the housing and engaging the airbag in the stored condition, and an opposite exterior surface comprising a class A surface configured to be in direct view from the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Gould, Gabriela Diaz, David Varcoe
  • Patent number: 11660929
    Abstract: A vehicle headliner air duct assembly includes a headliner having a first surface and a second surface. A radiused edge is defined between the first surface and the second surface. A headliner duct is coupled to the first surface and the second surface of the headliner. The headliner duct defines an inlet. The inlet is disposed on the radiused edge. A connector duct is coupled to a vehicle body and at least partially overlaps the headliner duct proximate to the inlet to form a duct interface. The connector duct defines an outlet disposed on the radiused edge. The outlet is in fluid communication with the inlet via the duct interface. The duct interface is disposed on the radiused edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Alfredo Ivan Trujillo Rolon
  • Patent number: 11648891
    Abstract: A vehicle headliner includes a two-piece headliner body made up of first and second headliner pieces that are secured together in a mechanical joint. Each of the first and second headliner pieces is comprised of a molded polymer substrate having first and second sides and a fabric on the first side. The molded polymer substrate is partially impregnated into the fabric such that the fabric is fused to the first side. The first piece defines an opening for receipt of a console. There is at least one bridge that spans across the opening and has a molded-in attachment feature for securing the console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NYX, Inc.
    Inventor: Yuriy Tsalenko
  • Patent number: 11517060
    Abstract: This invention features magnetic, laundry tolerant, no-sew button adapters that convert traditional shirt buttons into magnetic closures to help people with dexterity limitations. The adapters simply attach to any shirt to help make getting dressed easier and a restore a crucial activity of daily living. Users can simply push the lapels of a shirt together to engage magnetic force, activating the buttons to snap into place. The shirt can be opened easily by pulling the lapels apart to undress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: BUTTONS TO BUTTON, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gina Rae Adams
  • Patent number: 11504900
    Abstract: A method of folding edges of trim parts includes the following steps. Place an inner surface of a substrate against a panel support so that an upper end of the substrate is disposed above a top end of the panel support. Press a backup blade against an outer surface of the substrate beneath the upper end of the substrate. A folder tool of an edge folding apparatus is urged against the inner surface of the upper end of the substrate in a horizontal direction which laterally folds the upper end 96 of the substrate. Remove the backup blade from the outer surface of the substrate. Then urge the folder tool of the edge folding apparatus against the inner surface of the substrate in a vertical direction and downwardly folding the upper end 96 of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Richard Rahm
  • Patent number: 11446991
    Abstract: A collapsible door frame with an extendable fabric cover replaces a factory door for a sport utility vehicle, providing the vehicle for operation without a door while still allowing the drive to assemble and install the collapsible door frame and extend the fabric cover to provide protection from adverse weather conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventor: James Bell
  • Patent number: 11440385
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle having at least one opening in the fixed roof, includes a stationary part for attachment to the roof. It carries at least two guide rails alongside the roof opening. At least one closure having a front and a rear side is supported by an operating mechanism guided on the guide rails. The closure is adjustable between a closed position, in which it closes the roof opening, and an open position in which it is at least partly moved out of the roof opening. The operating mechanism includes at least one first support member adjustably supporting the closure near its front side, and at least adjustable second support members adjustably supporting the closure a distance behind the front side. Each support member includes two separate drive sources to be able to adjust each support member independently in horizontal and vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Anton Martijnszoon Albers, Stephan Christiaan Vervoort, Petrus Antonius Wesseling
  • Patent number: 11400801
    Abstract: A shading blind for a roof window of a motor vehicle having two guide rails, a roller blind element which has two lateral, flexible guide structures with which it is guided in the guide rails, and a receiving space for the roller blind element, the roller blind element being adjustable between an extended position in which it is largely located outside the receiving space, and a retracted position in which it is largely located in the receiving space, wherein the receiving space has a length which is approximately half of the adjustment path between the extended and the retracted positions, the height of the receiving space is such that when the roller blind element is deflected in the receiving space by approximately 180°, the guide structures are only elastically deformed and a rear edge of the roller blind element is permanently attached in the receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Roof Systems Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Roeder, Thomas Becher, Christian Biewer, Franz Adelmann
  • Patent number: 11390148
    Abstract: A rollo assembly for use in a vehicle with an opening, includes a shaft, a screen wound on/off said shaft where a forward end is provided with a beam and opposite channels guide edges of the screen and ends of the beam. Drive cables are provided with connecting members for drivingly engaging respective counter connecting members provided at ends of the beam. The shaft, beam and screen are combined into a detachable unit which, when the screen is substantially fully wound onto the shaft and the cables assume a position in which the connecting members at least partially protrude from a longitudinal end of the channels, can be moved relative to said channels for connecting or disconnecting the counter connecting members to or from the connecting members. A support maintains the connecting members of the cables, when maximally protruding from said longitudinal end of the channels, in a well-defined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Eduardus Christianus Henricus Van Boxtel, Jur Johannes Maria Custers, Peter Christiaan Leonardus Johannes Manders, Marcel Johan Christiaan Nellen
  • Patent number: 11345221
    Abstract: A shade device includes: guide rails extending in parallel to each other in a first direction as one direction; a winding shaft extending in a second direction as a direction orthogonal to the first direction on one end side of both of the guide rails in the first direction; a light-shielding sheet having one end portion coupled to the winding shaft; a rod extending in the second direction and coupled to the other end portion of the light-shielding sheet; sliding members attached to both of the end portions of the rod in a longitudinal direction and slidably supported by both of the guide rails; and guide members are attached to both of the end portions of the rod in the longitudinal direction, slidably supported by both of the guide rails, and fixed in a state where both of the side edges of the light-shielding sheet are folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Aisin Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 11318822
    Abstract: A shading device for a vehicle, having a roller blind web and a winding shaft for winding unwinding the roller blind web in an extension direction. The guide rails are arranged opposite one another and each have a guide channel extending in the extension direction, wherein the roller blind web is guided in a displaceable manner in the extension direction on opposite sides in the guide channels of the guide rail while being wound and unwound and extends between the guide rails such that the roller blind web is guided out of each guide channel along a deflection region in the direction of the respectively other guide channel, wherein the roller blind web bears on the associated guide rail in the respective deflection region, wherein in that each guide rail is configured in the deflection region such that at least partial linear contact is formed by the roller blind web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Marian Riegger, Bernhard Braun
  • Patent number: 11286703
    Abstract: An electromotive drive arrangement for a transparent sunroof and a sun blind, arranged beneath the sunroof, of a vehicle, comprising one motor/gearing unit for actuating the sunroof and one motor/gearing unit for actuating the sun blind, wherein the motor/gearing units are fitted at the edge of the roof cut-out for the sunroof, characterized in that the two motor/gearing units are combined into one motor/gearing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Rajesh Jayaraj, Gunther Helm, Levente Gyerko
  • Patent number: 11257508
    Abstract: Different embodiments of methods and apparatus to produce audio output signals are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic speaker outputting ultrasonic signals can be transformed into first audio output signals, which are directional. A non-ultrasonic speaker can output second audio output signals. The embodiment can be configured to output the first audio output signals or the second audio output signals in a vehicle. Another embodiment can be configured to output the first and the second audio output signals together. Yet another embodiment can be configured to be personalized to hearing characteristics of a user, or to depend on sound level of an environment of the user. One embodiment can include a directional speaker attached to a vehicle, with its output steerable towards a user in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwok Wai Cheung, Peter P. Tong, C. Douglass Thomas
  • Patent number: 11241943
    Abstract: A roof-storage-type sun visor includes a housing located inside a roof of a vehicle. The housing has a storage recess therein and a sun visor unit configured to be disposed along the storage recess. The sun visor unit includes a sun visor located so as to correspond to a windshield glass and includes multi-stage rails located at opposite sides of the sun visor. The sun visor is configured to be withdrawn outside the storage recess along the multi-stage rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, Yong San Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Ho Hwang, Dae Ig Jung, Seung Hyeok Chang, Min Ho Cho, Hyung Jin Kim, Sang Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 11077819
    Abstract: To provide an emblem having a high engagement force and a cover body for an airbag apparatus provided with the emblem by means of a simple configuration. Emblem body has pin. Pin has shaft section provided with rib and enlargement section formed to be enlarged on the distal end side of shaft section. Pin is inserted through an opening section formed in a cover main body section. Back plate has hole section into which pin is inserted. Back plate has elastic piece section formed at the inner edge of hole section and elastically deformable in the insertion/removal direction of pin with respect to hole section. Elastic piece section abuts against rib of shaft section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kyohei Ide
  • Patent number: 11059447
    Abstract: Emblem body includes emblem main body section and pin projecting to emblem main body section and inserted through opening section. Pin has shaft section continuous with emblem main body section, enlargement section formed to be enlarged on the distal end side of shaft section, planar section formed in a planar shape along a direction intersecting with the protrusion direction of pin in enlargement section, and linear section linearly formed at a position different from planar section along a direction intersecting with the protrusion direction of pin in enlargement section. Back plate is provided with elastic piece section against which planar section and linear section abut from the direction opposite to the protrusion direction of pin at least during airbag inflation deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kyohei Ide
  • Patent number: 11034311
    Abstract: A bracket assembly comprises a body that includes a base that has a first end and a second end. The bracket assembly further includes a receiving member that is coupled to the first end of the base, and an engagement portion that is defined by the second end of the base. A support is operably coupled to the engagement portion between a raised position and a lowered position, and includes a retention tab that is proximate to the engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jorge Adolfo Miranda Nieto, Martín Mauricio Camacho Carrillo
  • Patent number: 11014434
    Abstract: A sunshade device includes: a roll shade having a shade; a rod provided in a front end portion of the shade; two guide rails each configured to guide the shade; two first sliding members each having a slider attached to a corresponding one of opposite ends of the rod and guided by a corresponding one of the guide rails; and two second sliding members each having a shade support portion configured to support a shade corner portion and guided by a corresponding one of the guide rails, wherein the slider and the shade support portion are arranged in a direction crossing an advancing and retreating direction of the shade, and at least a portion of the slider and at least a portion of the shade support portion are disposed on a lateral side of the rod in a lateral direction along the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hinako Kobayashi, Naoto Kamioku, Kazuhiko Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 10974579
    Abstract: A vehicle roof having at least one transparent section, a roof-attached support section and a roller blind assembly for selectively shading the transparent roof section at least partially. The blind assembly including at least one roller blind unit having a web to be wound up to form a reel and one lateral bearing unit on either side of a vertical longitudinal roof center plane. The reel disposed between two lateral bearing units and the roller blind assembly having a bearing shell on top of which the at least one roller blind unit is fastened via the lateral bearing units which is fixed to the at least one support section from below. Each bearing units has a bearing pedestal fixed to the bearing shell and a roller blind guide element displaceable as against the bearing pedestal in a pre-installation position and fixed to the roof-attached support section in an installation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Mathias Mueller, Guenter Tirpitz
  • Patent number: 10967810
    Abstract: A roof structure includes a roof panel constituting a roof of a vehicle, a roof headlining constituting a ceiling of a vehicle cabin, and a stiffening board disposed between the roof panel and the roof headlining. The stiffening board is attached to a lower face of the roof panel by adhering at plural adhesion portions. Steps are formed at the stiffening board between the respective plural adhesion portions so as to widen a space between the stiffening board and the lower face of the roof panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kai Aizawa, Masayuki Okano
  • Patent number: 10960740
    Abstract: An open roof construction includes a rollo screen and a winding shaft. The screen includes a screen edge which is attached to a stationary member. An operating beam on an opposite edge is movable parallel to the opening in correspondence with the amount of screen wound on or off the winding shaft. The screen has two longitudinal edges which, when the screen is wound off, are brought into engagement with holding members extending alongside the longitudinal edges of the roof opening. The holding members each comprise at least a groove having an elongated opening. An edge area near each edge of the screen is insertable into the respective groove together with a locking member clamping the screen in the groove. The locking member, the edge area of the screen and the groove having a shape and/or dimension preventing the locking member from unintentionally leaving the groove through the entrance opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B. V.
    Inventor: Suyanto Teri Wahiyu Ten-Jet-Foei
  • Patent number: 10953732
    Abstract: A structure of an electric sunshade and a sunroof may include glass sleds which both open and close a sunroof glass by sliding in a longitudinal direction along mechanism rails disposed at both sides of a roof panel of a vehicle, wherein a front sled and a rear sled are rotatably coupled to both end portions of each of glass sleds, respectively, main cable devices which are connected to a driving motor by a cable, and movable along the mechanism rails, and separately include a cable protrusion slidably accommodated in glass grooves formed in lateral surfaces of the front sled, the rear sled, and the glass sled, and sunshade sleds which are selectively coupled to the main cable devices, and slide to open or close the sunshade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corpoation, Webasto Donghee Holdings
    Inventors: Jeong Hoon Park, Seong Min Gwak, Su Yun Choi
  • Patent number: 10800460
    Abstract: A vehicle roof panel that is tunable with respect to the occurrence of vibration and the resonant frequency of vibration is provided. A frequency gain associated with the vehicle roof panel has been determined to be a function of the ratio between the width of roof beads impressed upon a roof panel and a gap between adjacent roof beads. When the ratio is between approximately 0.5 and 4.7, the frequency gain associated with the vehicle roof linearly follows values of the ratio. Accordingly, varying the width of the roof beads and/or the gap between adjacent roof beads such that the ratio remains between approximately 0.5 and 4.7, results in the vehicle roof panel being tunable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Inventors: Lucas A. Jaramillo, Arthur H. Whitney
  • Patent number: 10787132
    Abstract: A ceiling material for a vehicle includes a ceiling interior material facing a vehicle cabin inner surface of a roof panel for a vehicle, and a reinforcement member arranged on an upper surface of the ceiling interior material on the side of the roof panel. The reinforcement member may include a rod-like member and supporting members for respectively supporting at least two sections in a slidable manner in a longitudinal direction of the rod-like member. Each of the supporting members includes a fitting portion which allows the rod-like member to be fitted from a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: HOWA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Toba
  • Patent number: 10744960
    Abstract: An interior trim assembly of a vehicle extends along width and height directions. The interior trim assembly includes a headliner having a substrate and a cover together defining a folded portion. A first cross-section of the folded portion along the width direction includes first and second cover portions and a first substrate portion of the substrate positioned between the first and second cover portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fu Shibao, Xue Zhi Jin, Xu Wei
  • Patent number: 10723388
    Abstract: A vehicle roof structure is provided that includes a vehicle body and a roof. The vehicle body comprises a first material, and the roof comprises a second material that is different than the first material. The roof includes a flange. An insert is positioned between the vehicle body and the roof to maintain a gap between the vehicle body and the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Christopher Hinz
  • Patent number: 10703324
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a floor and a seat supported by the floor. The vehicle includes a roof. The vehicle includes a base supported by the roof and movable relative to the roof. The vehicle includes an airbag supported by the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Anna Miller Hill, Paul Alan Forgette, Jeffrey Charles Paddock, Benjamin Yilma, Robert Ralph Armitage, Brian Robert Spahn
  • Patent number: 10696144
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sun blind system for a motor vehicle, having two guide rails, in each of which a guide band is received, and a flat blind body which is connected to the two guide bands, wherein a receiving channel is provided on each guide rail for the corresponding guide band, said channel having two guide sections which are connected together by a deflecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: ROOF SYSTEMS GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Adelmann, Dirk Eis
  • Patent number: 10632883
    Abstract: A vehicular seat bracket assembly is provided that includes a bracket body comprising a plurality of retention features and a forwardly disposed tab, each configured to couple the bracket body to a seat pan. The bracket assembly also includes a plurality of clasps on the body configured to couple the body to a lateral support member of a seat. The plurality of clasps also includes a plurality of flexing members configured to dissipate variations in seat loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Diego Santillan gutierrez, Fernando Paisano, Federico Perez Lecuona, Ignacio Bautista
  • Patent number: 10625690
    Abstract: A vehicle ceiling connecting arrangement for attaching a vehicle ceiling to a vehicle structure of a vehicle. The vehicle ceiling connecting arrangement comprising a vehicle structure connection portion and a ceiling attachment element, wherein the vehicle ceiling connecting arrangement is configured to assume a ceiling attachment state in which a portion of the vehicle ceiling is sandwiched between a first surface of the vehicle structure and a ceiling clamping surface of the ceiling attachment element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Creet, Niclas Mjörnestål, Hans Larsson, Magnus Bergman
  • Patent number: 10618386
    Abstract: An electric sunshade and sunroof structure may include cable assembly connected to a drive motor via a cable, sliding longitudinally along each of guide slide assemblies disposed on rails provided on both sides of a roof panel of a vehicle, thus opening or closing a sunshade, and moving integrally with the guide slide assembly to open a sunroof glass, a sunshade guide lever provided on the sunshade and selectively coupled with the cable assembly to move the sunshade, and a guide slide lever provided on a rear end portion of the guide slide assembly and selectively coupled with the cable assembly to move the sunroof glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Webasto Donghee Holdings
    Inventors: Jeong Hoon Park, Seong Min Gwak, Su Yun Choi
  • Patent number: 10604104
    Abstract: A deployable containment system of a vehicle includes a pair of guide channels that surround an opening facing one of a forward direction of travel of the vehicle and a backward direction of travel of the vehicle. Each of the guide channels has a first end and a second end. A housing is mounted to the first ends of the guide channels. A shield is configured to: deploy from the housing; travel along the guide channels toward the second ends of the guide channels; and cover at least a portion of the opening, An actuator is configured to, in response to being triggered, deploy the shield from the housing and move the shield along the guide channels toward the second ends of the guide channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sadanand N. Raikar, Jeffrey J. Schultz, Jeffrey W. Ronne, Stephen J. Cassatta, Mukesh Amin
  • Patent number: 10583864
    Abstract: A body frame structure that constitutes a side and a top of a vehicle includes: a pillar inner that extends in a vehicle vertical direction on the side of the vehicle; and a rail inner that extends along a boundary line between the side and the top of the vehicle. In an overlapping portion with the pillar inner, the rail inner is formed with a rail bead that is projected to a vehicle outer side. In an overlapping portion with the rail bead, the pillar inner is formed with a pillar bead in such a shape that offsets the rail bead to the vehicle outer side so that the pillar bead is located in a recess of the rail bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Inamoto, Toshiaki Nakajima
  • Patent number: 10583719
    Abstract: A roof structure includes: a roof panel 11; a sunroof unit 13; a roof lining 10; and a roof lamp 17. The roof panel 11 has a sunroof opening 12. The room lamp 17 has a cover part which is mounted on a vehicle body while penetrating an insertion hole 18 of the roof lining 10 and designed to cover an edge part of the insertion hole 18 from inside the vehicle compartment. The sunroof unit 13 has a sunroof frame 14 which is mounted so as to extend substantially along an edge part of the sunroof opening 12. The sunroof frame 14 is provided integrally with a displacement restriction part which is designed to restrict upward displacement of the edge part of the insertion opening 18 of the roof lining 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taiga Marukawa, Tadashi Masuda
  • Patent number: 10570559
    Abstract: A laundry drying apparatus provided herein may include a cabinet that includes an upper cover, a drum provided in the cabinet, an air supply unit configured to supply air to the drum and recover air from the drum, a reception unit configured to define an upper surface of the cabinet with the upper cover, and a reception space provided in the reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seonil Heo, Yonghyun Kim
  • Patent number: 10549612
    Abstract: A tilting sunroof structure may include a roll blind sled connected to a motor via a cable to slide in a longitudinal direction along a mechanism rail to open a roll blind, the mechanism rail being provided on an edge portion of a roof panel of a vehicle; a pushrod assembly allowing the roll blind sled to work in concert with a tilting sled located on the mechanism rail; and a timing assembly located on an end portion of the pushrod assembly to be selectively fastened to the roll blind sled to move the tilting sled, wherein the roll blind sled moves in a backward direction of the vehicle along the mechanism rail to be fastened to the timing assembly, and the roll blind sled fastened to the timing assembly moves further to tilt a sunroof window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors corporation, Webasto Donghee Holdings
    Inventors: Jeong Hoon Park, Su Yun Choi
  • Patent number: 10525874
    Abstract: A structure for fixing a sunroof lighting module is formed by coupling a panel cover, a light guide, and a fixing clip. The structure for fixing the sunroof lighting module includes: a sunroof which is positioned at an opening of a roof of a vehicle; and a lighting module which is positioned on at least one end of the sunroof, in which the lighting module includes: an upper panel cover and a lower panel cover which are configured to surround a light source; and a light guide unit which is coupled to one end of the upper panel cover to face the light source, and the light guide unit includes: a light guide which is configured to transmit light emitted from the light source; and a fixing clip which is configured to fix the light guide and the upper panel cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Webasto Donghee Holdings
    Inventors: Hoo Sang Park, Chang Min Park
  • Patent number: 10399417
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a roofing system suitable for off-road vehicles. The roofing system includes a front panel that connects to a front, first lateral member of a roll cage of the vehicle and extends rearward over a front passenger seat to a rearward, second lateral member of the roll cage. The roofing system includes a rear panel that overlaps and connects to the front panel at a lateral seam including a channel and a seal between the front panel and the rear panel. The same front panel may be used on multiple models of vehicle. The rear panel may be sized according to the model of the vehicle. When different rear panels are used, each rear panel may include the same features along a front edge for forming a seam with the common front panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Michael V. Peterson, Joseph H. Korte, Jacob O. Borth, Robert T. Wilson, III, Mustafa Soncag
  • Patent number: 10363867
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises a circuit disposed on a trim panel. The illumination apparatus comprises at least one light source formed by plurality of LEDs in a semiconductor ink. The illumination apparatus further comprises at least one proximity sensor disposed proximate a surface of the trim panel and configured to selectively activate the at least one circuit. The trim panel is configured to receive at least one edge of a window of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Annette Lynn Huebner, Cornel Lewis Gardner
  • Patent number: 10336011
    Abstract: A method for producing a sandwich component, in particular an inner trim component for a motor vehicle, is disclosed. The method begins with a core layer made from a foamed plastic and a cover layer which includes reinforcing fibers and plastic fibers. The plastic of the core layer has a first melting temperature which is higher than the second melting temperature of the plastic fibers of the cover layer. By the core layer being arranged on the cover layer, a multilayer composite is created. This multilayer composite can be further processed into a semi-finished product. The multilayer composite or the semi-finished product is then heated in a heating device to a temperature which is lower than the first melting temperature but therefore higher than the second melting temperature. Then the heated multilayer composite or the semi-finished product is formed in a forming tool in order to produce the sandwich component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Hubert Bieder, Tobias Blumenstock, Benno Stamp, Roman Wittig
  • Patent number: 10207459
    Abstract: A working method for an end portion of a plate member includes heating and pressing the end portion of the plate member formed of a thermoplastic resin in a thickness direction to form a thin portion, folding the thin portion such that a pressed surface is positioned inside to move an outer peripheral end of the thin portion as an end portion on an outer peripheral side of the plate member to the vicinity of a main body portion of the plate member to which an inner end of the thin portion as an end portion on an inner side of the plate member is connected, and pressing the outer peripheral end of the thin portion in the thickness direction to move the outer peripheral end thereof further inward than a surface of the main body portion in the thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignees: MITSUIYA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Hasegawa, Wataru Minoura, Takuji Ono, Sachiko Nishi
  • Patent number: 10195985
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided herein. The vehicle includes a headliner including a cover. A first luminescent structure is disposed on the cover and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by a light assembly. The light assembly is disposed below the headliner. A controller is configured to activate the light assembly. The light assembly independently illuminates various portions of the luminescent structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Carol C. Kordich, Paul Kenneth Dellock, James J. Surman, Julian Lopacki