With Means To Accommodate Window Accessory; E.g., Automobile-type Door Patents (Class 49/502)
  • Patent number: 12115843
    Abstract: A carrier module for a motor vehicle door assembly having inner and outer panels defining an internal door cavity between the inner and outer panels, with the inner panel having a central opening bounded by an inner periphery and at least one access opening remote from the central opening is provided. The carrier module includes a wall having an outer periphery sized to close off the opening in the inner panel, wherein the wall has at least one access port configured to register with the at least one access opening. Further, the carrier module includes at least one cover configured to close off the at least one access port, wherein the cover is readily removable to allow access to a component within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Edward Fortin, Saikat Bose
  • Patent number: 12054977
    Abstract: A window regulator assembly for an adjustable windowpane of a motor vehicle has a driver with two driver limbs which are connected via a connecting limb and between which a receiving gap for the windowpane is formed. A first driver limb is being configured for guiding the driver along an adjusting path. It being possible for the second driver limb to be moved elastically with respect to the first driver limb, and the second driver limb has a latching element which protrudes into the receiving gap, engages into a pane-side latching opening during insertion of the windowpane into the receiving gap of the driver, and can be moved out of the pane-side latching opening for dismantling of the windowpane. The driver has a locking element for limiting a pivoting path of the second driver limb during its movement with respect to the first driver limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Bamberg
    Inventors: Bert Almes, Jörg Müller, Udo Taubmann
  • Patent number: 12043319
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle door which comprises at least one support part of plastics material and at least two frame parts, wherein the frame parts are connected to one another by way of connection nodes, wherein the connection nodes are able to be produced by insert-moulding, wherein the support part of the same plastics material is simultaneously linked to the connection node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Magna Exteriors GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Götzelmann, Miguel Benitez
  • Patent number: 12011979
    Abstract: A catcher structure of a door beam is provided. A catcher mechanism is composed of an engaging hook connected to a rear end part of a door beam, and an insertion hole provided at a lower end part of a center pillar, which is a member on a vehicle body side. In a state in which a door is closed, the rear end part of the door beam, and the engaging hook and the insertion hole of the catcher mechanism are arranged at positions overlapping with each other when viewed from a vehicle width direction. The engaging hook includes a projection part projecting from the rear end part of the door beam toward an inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the insertion hole opens toward an outer side in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawase, Takafumi Raitoku, Itaru Genpei, Yasuhiro Imamura
  • Patent number: 11912113
    Abstract: A door assembly includes a door that turns between a fully-closed position and a fully-open position to open or close a door opening, and hinges that support a front edge portion of the door and are provided such that the trajectory of the center of gravity of the door when the door turns from the fully-closed position to the fully-open position is curved upwardly in an up-down direction and the highest point of the trajectory is positioned between both ends of the trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Teruaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11904668
    Abstract: A vehicle door assembly, having a first frame component including a window frame for a window opening and two opposing lateral frame for defining a frame cut-out and forming a sill portion connecting the two lateral frame portions to one another, a second frame component for strengthening the window frame, the second frame component fixed on the first frame component, and a door module carrier formed from an organosheet and at least partially closes the frame cut-out. The door module carrier forming an edge portion fixed to the sill portion in a longitudinal direction of the sill portion. The organosheet is a supporting structural component and an edge portion thereof is reinforced by a reinforcing structure injection-moulded onto the organosheet and the edge portion thereof strengthens the sill portion of the first frame component where no portion of the second frame component is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Thienel, Andre Carl, Dominik Hofmann, Siegfried Ordosch
  • Patent number: 11872873
    Abstract: A vehicle door assembly includes an outer door panel that is fixed to an outer periphery of an inner door panel such that the inner door panel and the outer door panel define a door cavity therebetween. A support bracket is attached to a forward area of the inner door panel within the door cavity. A reinforcing panel is attached to the support bracket within the door cavity. A window opening support panel is attached to the support bracket, the reinforcing panel and the inner door panel within the door cavity. A side view mirror is located along an exterior side of the outer door panel. The side view mirror includes at least one fastener that extends through the window opening support panel and the reinforcing panel thereby attaching the side view mirror thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: David Snyder, Christopher Herrala
  • Patent number: 11876359
    Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to provide a technique capable of holding a wiring member in a bended state. A wiring member integrated module includes: a wiring member, a first base member including an arrangement target part holding a part of the wiring member; and a second base member whose state can be changed from a first state where a part of the wiring member extending from the arrangement target part is held on an extension of the arrangement target part to a second state where the part is held in a bended state with respect to the arrangement target part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Yamaguchi, Housei Mizuno
  • Patent number: 11858322
    Abstract: A frame structure of a vehicle includes: a first member composed of a metal plate, and a second member composed of a metal plate having a thickness thinner than that of the first member, the second member integrally connected to the first member by welding. The connection portion between the first member and the second member has an inclined surface configured to obliquely connect an upper surface of the first member and an upper surface of the second member such that the upper surface of the second member is positioned to be lowered than the upper surface of the first member in a gradual manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Je-Won Choi
  • Patent number: 11780309
    Abstract: A door weather strip includes at least an exterior installation base member installed on a door frame or a door molding, and a seal lip that is formed protruding and extending above and outside in a vehicle width direction from the exterior installation base member and elastically comes into contact with a vehicle body opening peripheral edge when a door is closed, in which a hard portion that is harder than a seal lip main body portion constituting the seal lip is formed between a tip of the seal lip and a root portion between the seal lip and the exterior installation base member and on the vehicle body opening peripheral edge side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinnosuke Hamada, Yoshinobu Yamada, Kentaro Adachi, Yasuyuki Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 11760178
    Abstract: When an exterior portion is provided on an exterior surface of an extrusion-molded portion of a sealing member having the extrusion-molded portion and a mold-formed portion, while appearance is made favorable, the exterior portion is inhibited from being damaged. A glass run 20 includes an upper glass run edge 20a which is extrusion-molded, a rear connecting part 20f which is molded integrally with one end portion of the upper glass run edge 20a, and an exterior portion 29 provided on an exterior surface of the upper glass run edge 20a. A surface Si of the rear connecting part 20g on an outside of a passenger compartment is located further outside than a surface of the exterior portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomonori Miyata
  • Patent number: 11660939
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a door, a latch mechanism and a secondary reinforcement member (an attenuation member). The door has an inner door panel and a reinforcement member installed thereto the inner door panel. The latch mechanism is installed the inner door panel such that in a latching orientation the latch mechanism retains the door in the closed orientation and in a release orientation the door can move to the open orientation. A rearward portion of the reinforcement member is outboard and level with a portion of the latch mechanism. The secondary reinforcement member is fixedly attached to a central area of the reinforcement member spaced apart from the rearward area of the inner door panel and spaced apart from a forward area of the inner door panel. In response to an impact event, the reinforcement member deforms and contacts the latch mechanism preventing movement of the latch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: David Kovie, Mahiuddin Ahmed, Christopher Herrala
  • Patent number: 11634013
    Abstract: A liftgate structure having a structural inner panel with an outside surface and an inner surface having a lower perimeter surface area extending across substantially the entire width of the structural inner panel. The structural inner panel includes a wiper motor housing recess formed on the inner surface. A plurality of brackets are connected to the outside surface of the structural inner panel, where each of the brackets has at least one friendly hole. The liftgate structure further includes a tether having 2 ends each having at least one over molded retainer for connecting the tether to a wiper motor housing positioned within the wiper motor housing recess of the structural inner panel. Additionally the tether is positioned through each of the at least one friendly holes of the plurality of brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA EXTERIORS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Kuntze, Paul Woodson, Riad Chaaya, Mike Pabian
  • Patent number: 11525297
    Abstract: A window regulator including a panel and a guide rail. The panel may define a speaker aperture that may be configured to receive at least a portion of the speaker. The guide rail may be integrally formed to the panel and configured to carry a slider. The slider may be configured to move along the guide rail to move the window between a first position and a second position. The guide rail may include an aperture-region portion that may extend across the speaker aperture in a first direction. The aperture-region portion may include a first sidewall and a second sidewall that may each extend in a second direction that may be substantially orthogonal to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Bamberg
    Inventors: Jeffrey Murtfeldt, David Smith, Timothy Bellamy
  • Patent number: 11518219
    Abstract: A vehicle may include: a window frame; a window glass pane configured to be manually raised and lowered with respect to the window frame; a hook fixed to an inner surface of the window glass pane; a bracket fixed to the window frame and configured to engage with the hook in a state where the window glass pane is in a fully closed position; and a cover covering a lower end of the bracket. A surface of the bracket may include a portion exposed from the cover, the portion being configured to be in contact with the hook in a state where the bracket engages with the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Toyota, Sho Tsumita, Yoshiyuki Ryuno
  • Patent number: 11511610
    Abstract: A door carrier includes a body formed of a first material, the body including an edge extending around a perimeter of the body. The door carrier includes a seal having a proximal end affixed to the edge and a distal end spaced from the proximal end, the seal being formed of a second material more resilient than the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventor: Paul Dunn
  • Patent number: 11498398
    Abstract: There are provided an outer member, an inner member connected to the outer member, door components including a door glass provided between the outer member and the inner member, and a reinforcement outer member extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction at an upper end portion of the inner member which is positioned on an outward side, in a vehicle width direction, of the door glass. The outer member includes an outer panel and an annular frame member which is joined to an outer peripheral portion of the outer panel by a hemming method, the reinforcement outer member is connected to the inner member at its front and rear end portions, and a seal outer member to seal a gap between the outer member and the door glass is attached to an upper frame portion fastened to the reinforcement outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yukihiro Moriyama
  • Patent number: 11479091
    Abstract: A vehicle door module includes a unitary frame and areas circumscribed by the unitary frame wherein the circumscribed areas are filled with a material comprising a closed cell polymeric foam. The vehicle door module can be made by overmolding or compression molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Brian H. Staser, Ashley Simpson, Lisa Hopman, Thomas Charles Sybrandy
  • Patent number: 11446988
    Abstract: A carrier module for a motor vehicle door assembly having inner and outer panels defining a door panel structure with the inner panel having an opening for selective access to an internal door cavity between the inner and outer panels are provided. The carrier module includes a carrier having an outer periphery configured for attachment to the inner panel to substantially close off the opening with the outer periphery bounding a wall having a variable wall thickness with support regions of the wall having an increased thickness relative to adjacent non-support regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Raymond Edward Fortin
  • Patent number: 11434600
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance door assembly comprises a plastic fishbowl. Typically, laundry treating appliances, such as dryers, have door assemblies comprising glass fishbowls. Utilizing plastic enables a fishbowl to have a sharper radius of curvature than that of a glass fishbowl due to manufacturing constraints of glass. A shaper radius of curvature allows for greater capacity in the treating chamber in a laundry treating appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ethan Harbrecht, Douglas Mikkelsen, Christoph Miller, Joel Sells, Prasath M. Thirukonda
  • Patent number: 11427066
    Abstract: A door structure includes an outer panel and an inner panel. The inner panel is formed from a panel inner member located on an inner side of a vehicle interior and a panel outer member located on an outer side of the vehicle interior. A sealing member which comes into contact with an A pillar serving as a body side member and isolates the inner side of the vehicle interior from the outer side of the vehicle interior is attached to the panel inner member at an overlap portion serving as a junction between the panel outer member and the panel inner member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Hirano, Takayuki Soma, Masahiro Tanigawa
  • Patent number: 11407291
    Abstract: A door structure includes an outer panel and an inner panel. A panel outer member of the inner panel includes a front longitudinal side portion extending in an upper-lower direction at a front end portion of the panel outer member, a rear longitudinal side portion extending in the upper-lower direction at a rear end portion of the panel outer member, a lower side portion that joins a lower end portion of the front longitudinal side portion to a lower end portion of the rear longitudinal side portion, connecting members that connect the front longitudinal side portion to the rear longitudinal side portion in a front-rear direction, and reinforcement members provided separately from the connecting members and joined to the connecting members in such a way as to extend in the front-rear direction along the connecting members and to form closed cross-sections in spaces with the connecting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Hirano, Takayuki Soma, Masahiro Tanigawa
  • Patent number: 11390146
    Abstract: A door sash structure according to an embodiment includes a sash, a mirror attachment member, and an outer reinforcement attachment member. The sash is configured to guide a front end edge of a door glass of a vehicle while the door glass moves upward or downward. The mirror attachment member is configured to allow a door mirror to be attached thereto, and is fixed to the sash. The outer reinforcement attachment member is configured to allow at least one of a door outer panel and an outer reinforcement extending along the door glass on a side adjacent to an outside of the vehicle of the door glass to be attached thereto, and is fixed to an outer surface of the mirror attachment member that faces the outside of the vehicle, and separated from the sash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Kimura, Takashi Kameyama
  • Patent number: 11305622
    Abstract: A stabilization device stabilizes the region at the tip of a mirror triangle seal which is secured to a cover of the mirror triangle of a frameless vehicle door of a motor vehicle in the vehicle transverse direction. The stabilization device includes a fastening element for securing to the cover of the mirror triangle and a contact element for contacting the inner face of the tip of the seal. The contact element can be arranged and fixed so as to protrude upwards in the vehicle vertical direction such that the seal remains fixed to the cover when the vehicle door is opened despite a force acting inwards, which force is exerted onto the tip of the seal by a vehicle door window pane which is pretensioned inwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Kerschbaum
  • Patent number: 11241945
    Abstract: A molding configured not to be misaligned with a predetermined mounting position provides a vehicle with good appearance, avoids in advance interference with other parts when a door is opened or closed, and reduces wind noise while the vehicle is running. An end cap having a locking part is crimped to a rear end of a molding. An upper glass run has, at its rear end, an insertion slot into which the locking part is inserted. The locking part is inserted in the insertion slot and locked to the rear end of the upper glass run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignees: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd., MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Takeda, Hirotaka Takaya, Kyohei Yukita, Naoyuki Takeshita, Shinsuke Hirao
  • Patent number: 11148511
    Abstract: The vehicle door assembly includes an outer panel which has a rocker sill area and a beltline area. A reinforcement member, which is made of one or more pieces, is attached with the outer panel along at least a portion of an outer periphery of the outer panel. The door assembly further includes a module which is made as a single integral piece and is fixedly attached with the reinforcement member. The module has an inner beltline reinforcement and supports a pair of window channels and a window regulator for controllably raising and lowering a window between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: David N. Plentis, Darren A. Womack, Warren E. Young
  • Patent number: 11125002
    Abstract: A carrier module for a motor vehicle and door assembly therewith is provided. The carrier module includes a pair of carrier members, each extending lengthwise between opposite first and second ends. The carrier members are operably coupled to one another via at least one cable, wherein at least one of the carrier members is formed of plastic material and includes at least one of, a plurality of weight reduction through openings bounded by strength and rigidity enhancing walls, at least one non-planar side having weight reduction, strength and rigidity enhancing undulations, and a plurality of strength and rigidity enhancing ribs bounding weight reduction recessed pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Milos Pavlovic, Vesna Pavlovic
  • Patent number: 11097455
    Abstract: A method for producing a thermoplastic panel, including the steps of providing a rotary injection tool exhibiting a die cavity and featuring at least one lifter component within the cavity. The tool is positioned to orient the cavity in a first configuration during which a first shot injection molding of a doghouse is conducted onto a receiving location of the lifter component. The cavity is open and the tool rotated to reposition the cavity in a second configuration, following which a second shot injection molding operation is conducted for forming a skin of the panel in communication with the first shot doghouse clip. Following this, the mold is opened and the finished part removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: U.S. Farathane Corporation
    Inventor: John Klinkman
  • Patent number: 11085210
    Abstract: A door structure for a vehicle, comprising: a latch connected to a cable portion extending from an inner handle and configured to fix a door to a vehicle body; and a bracket attached to a door inner panel, wherein at least a part of the bracket overlaps the latch in a vehicle width direction and is located toward the outside of the vehicle with respect to the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toyohisa Amagai, Suguru Akaki
  • Patent number: 11052733
    Abstract: A vehicle door assembly includes a door housing configured for covering a vehicle access opening. A frame member is disposed within the door housing. A module includes an intrusion beam coupled to the frame member and removable from the door housing. The module is configured to accept attachment of a module hinge and a module latch to provide a secondary door assembly. A modular vehicle door assembly and a method of assembling a door assembly to a vehicle are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ranil Patel, Timothy Bearup, Stephen Thomas Kozak, Colleen Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10988005
    Abstract: A vehicle door structure includes a mirror retainer having a main body, which is joined to the front end of an outer reinforcement with a part of the main body overlapping with the outer reinforcement. The mirror retainer includes an upper leg, which has a first facing surface facing a lower leg and is joined to the inner panel. The lower leg has a second facing surface facing the upper leg and is joined to the inner panel. A reinforcing member is connected to the first facing surface and at least one of a main body inner surface and the second facing surface so as to reinforce the mirror retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayuki Tomeki
  • Patent number: 10988006
    Abstract: A door of a vehicle may include a door internal panel; a door external panel mounted outside a passenger compartment with respect to the door internal panel, detachably coupled to the door internal panel, and made of a lightweight material than the door internal panel; and a reinforcement member mounted between the door external panel and the door internal panel and fastened to the door external panel and the door internal panel to increase rigidity, reducing weight and cost of the door of the vehicle and easily replacing the door external panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Duckyang Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dongmin Jeon, Kwang Seub Kim
  • Patent number: 10894518
    Abstract: A door trim installed in a vehicle includes an upper board and a lower board. The upper board includes a mounting boss. The lower board includes a body and a mounting flange. The body defines a lower portion of the door trim. The mounting flange extends upward from an upper edge of the body and includes a mounting hole. The mounting flange is disposed behind a back face of the upper board. The mounting boss protrudes from the back face of the upper board toward the mounting hole of the mounting flange. The mounting hole includes a through hole portion and a slot portion. The mounting boss is inserted in the through hole portion. The slot portion extends from a front section of a hole edge of the through hole portion toward a front of the vehicle to communicate with the through hole portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomonari Masuda, Mitsuaki Eshima
  • Patent number: 10821813
    Abstract: A vehicle door assembly includes a door housing configured for covering a vehicle access opening. An intrusion beam is within the door housing. A module is received on the intrusion beam and removable from the door housing. A module hinge assembly is attachable to the module. A module latch assembly is attachable to the module for securing the module to extend across the vehicle access opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Colleen Hoffman, Ranil Patel, Timothy Bearup, Stephen Thomas Kozak
  • Patent number: 10766443
    Abstract: A bumper panel for preventing opening car doors from being damaged from hitting other objects has a design that can be interchanged. The bumper panel may have a design cover that slips over the rigid panel portion having resilient material layer over a rigid panel. The design cover may have an open end to enable the cover to slip over the rigid panel portion and may have mount apertures that align with mount fixtures when configured over the rigid panel. A design cover may be reversible and may have different designs on the inside various sides and surfaces of the design cover. As many as four designs may be displayed depending on the orientation and configuration of the design cover over the rigid panel. A bumper panel may be suspended from mount fixtures or retained along a wall or other object by mount brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Meyer, Laurie McCarthy-Meyer
  • Patent number: 10730371
    Abstract: A vehicular door includes an inner panel and an outer panel that is mounted on a vehicular exterior side of the inner panel such that they are mounted to and separated from each other by sliding. The outer panel is mounted to the inner panel while the first outer side stopper and the first inner side stopper being fit to each other and the second outer side stopper and the second inner side stopper being fit to each other. In the relative sliding of the inner panel and the outer panel in the lateral direction, the first outer side stopper, the second inner side stopper, the second outer side stopper, and the first inner side stopper are arranged such that the first outer side stopper is not contacted with the second inner side stopper or the second outer side stopper is not contacted with the first inner side stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei Migaki, Takahisa Onishi
  • Patent number: 10723206
    Abstract: A door module for a motor vehicle door having a module carrier which is formed substantially by organic sheet, a longitudinally extending channel which is formed integrally in the organic sheet of the module carrier, an insertion opening which extends along the direction of extent of the channel and via which a reinforcement element of the motor vehicle door is insertable into the channel, and at least one functional element which is fixed to the module carrier and which crosses the channel and thereby partially covers the longitudinally extending insertion opening thereof. In the organic sheet of the module carrier, there is formed an elastically deformable bending region which enables the channel to be bent open at least in sections, and/or enables the channel to be bent away from the functional element, in order to open up the insertion opening of the channel for the insertion of the reinforcement element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO. KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT, BAMBERG
    Inventors: Matthias Fischer, André Lehnhardt, Norman Hümmer, Michael Jahn, Hans Herzog, Michael Thienel, Gerhard Hofmann, Thomas Haubold
  • Patent number: 10723207
    Abstract: It is provided a module carrier for a door module of a motor vehicle door, wherein at least one functional element is to be fixed to the module carrier. The module carrier is formed substantially by an organic sheet and is delimited by an encircling outer edge with at least one sealing element. On the module carrier, there is provided a multiplicity of interfaces firstly for fixing the module carrier to a door structure of a motor vehicle door and secondly for connecting the at least one functional element and/or further components of the door module to the module carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO. KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT, BAMBERG
    Inventors: Matthias Fischer, André Lehnhardt, Norman Hümmer, Michael Jahn, Hans Herzog, Michael Thienel, Gerhard Hofmann, Raimund Aschmutat, Werner Stammberger, Michael Bernert
  • Patent number: 10689788
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance door assembly comprises a plastic fishbowl. Typically, laundry treating appliances, such as dryers, have door assemblies comprising glass fishbowls. Utilizing plastic enables a fishbowl to have a sharper radius of curvature than that of a glass fishbowl due to manufacturing constraints of glass. A shaper radius of curvature allows for greater capacity in the treating chamber in a laundry treating appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ethan Harbrecht, Douglas Mikkelsen, Christoph Miller, Joel Sells, Prasath M. Thirukonda
  • Patent number: 10583716
    Abstract: Provided is an exterior structure of a vehicle door that includes a first exterior member and a second exterior member which are attached to the vehicle door and overlap each other as viewed from the vehicle exterior side. The first exterior member creates a clearance between the vehicle door and a portion of the first exterior member which overlaps the second exterior member. The vehicle door exterior structure is provided at the overlapping portions between the first exterior member and the second exterior member with an alignment portion which determines the position of the first exterior member in the vehicle interior and exterior directions via the second exterior member. The alignment portion makes it possible to properly align the overlapping portions of the two exterior members in the vehicle interior and exterior directions, thus making it possible to raise the quality of the vehicle door exterior structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayasu Bito
  • Patent number: 10486510
    Abstract: A vehicle passenger door comprises: (a) an interior door trim panel; (b) a bracket connected to the interior door trim panel comprising: an elongated middle portion; a first end portion; and a second end portion opposite the first end portion; wherein both the first and second end portions have a first width at a first point and a second width wider than the first width at a second point parallel to the first width, the first point being closer to the elongated middle portion than the second point; and (c) an integrated window regulator carrier comprising: a vertical channel recessed into an interior facing side; a first receiver receiving the first end portion of the bracket disposed at a first side of the vertical channel; and a second receiver, opposing the first receiver, receiving the second end portion of the bracket at a second side of the vertical channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Bowman
  • Patent number: 10435905
    Abstract: A bumper panel for preventing opening car doors from being damaged from hitting other objects has a design that can be interchanged. The bumper panel may have a design cover that slips over the rigid panel portion having resilient material layer over a rigid panel. The design cover may have an open end to enable the cover to slip over the rigid panel portion and may have mount apertures that align with mount fixtures when configured over the rigid panel. A design cover may be reversible and may have different designs on the inside various sides and surfaces of the design cover. As many as four designs may be displayed depending on the orientation and configuration of the design cover over the rigid panel. A bumper panel may be suspended from mount fixtures or retained along a wall or other object by mount brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Meyer, Laurie McCarthy-Meyer
  • Patent number: 10406893
    Abstract: A door inner support panel for a vehicle door assembly includes a header section with a window frame for receiving a windowpane. A shell section is attached to the header section and mounts to a door frame of a body of a vehicle. The shell section has a hardware frame for mounting a hardware module. The hardware frame includes: a mounting interface on the an inboard surface of the shell section for coupling to an outboard surface of the hardware module; a mounting interface on a flanged surface of the shell section for sealingly attaching to a peripheral surface of the hardware module; and a mounting interface on the outboard surface of the shell section for coupling to an inboard surface of the hardware frame. A method of making the door inner support panel is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Terrence P. Costigan
  • Patent number: 10358105
    Abstract: A shock absorbing structure of a vehicle door including a vehicle body panel with a service hole includes a door trim and a shock absorber. The door trim covers the vehicle body panel from an interior side of a vehicle. The shock absorber is mounted to the vehicle body panel to cover the service hole. The shock absorber includes a shock absorbing portion that is inserted in the service hole. The shock absorbing portion is disposed such that an end of the shock absorbing portion on an exterior side of the vehicle is disposed more to the exterior side of the vehicle than the service hole and between the vehicle body panel and the door trim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10358018
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes a door box with first and second walls and a second wall and a window frame module, in which a window frame, a first window shaft reinforcement and a second window shaft reinforcement are connected into a structural unit. The first window shaft reinforcement features a groove that accommodates an upper edge of the first wall. An upper edge of the second wall is covered by the second window shaft reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Marcus Lange
  • Patent number: 10350974
    Abstract: A vehicle door structure includes an outer door panel made of resin, etc. The outer door panel has an attenuated portion. The attenuated portion is provided along a boundary line that divides the outer door panel into at least a first region that includes the outer door handle and other regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nagaishi, Yukihiro Hamada
  • Patent number: 10344939
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting assembly includes a light housing having a first part and a separate second part. A first light assembly provided in the first part includes a first lens having a first light pipe, a separate second lens having a second light pipe, first and second light sources for illuminating the first and second lens, a first reflector adjacent the first lens, and a second reflector adjacent the second lens. A second light assembly provided in the second part includes a third lens having a third light pipe, a separate fourth lens having a fourth light pipe, a third light source for illuminating the third and fourth lens, a third reflector adjacent the third lens and defining a first channel receiving a portion of the third lens, and a fourth reflector adjacent the fourth lens and defining a second channel receiving a portion of the fourth lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nathan M. Fisher, Peter W. Fehrenbach, Matthew T. Krites
  • Patent number: 10308100
    Abstract: An intermediate shell for a motor vehicle door, in particular a side door of a motor vehicle, is disclosed. The intermediate shell is produced at least in regions from a light metal blank by massive forming, preferably by forging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Michael Bendiks, Juergen Boesselmann
  • Patent number: 10300770
    Abstract: A door beam for a vehicle may include a beam portion having a rod shape which extends along a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, a front mounting portion disposed at a front end portion of the beam portion to mount the front end portion of the beam portion to the door, and a rear mounting portion disposed at a rear end portion of the beam portion to mount the rear end portion of the beam portion to the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Naresh K, Si Yun Kim
  • Patent number: 10207569
    Abstract: Vertical frame portions provided at both side portions of a door frame are a light-metal casting, plural connecting frames, which are a light-meal hollow extrusion molding, connect the vertical frame portions, the vertical frame portions are provided with protrusion portions which engage with inward connecting frames in a longitudinal direction, plural attachment portions which attach the outward connecting frames and the vertical frame portion are provided at different points in the longitudinal direction, and an outward connecting frame is provided with an upper rib which engages with an engagement recess portion provided at an upper portion of a door outer panel formed in a non-planar shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yukihiro Moriyama