Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Dustin Lee Hinders

Dakota D Kirtland

Travis Barkey

Daniel Thomas Sellars

Matthew Lee Taracko

Dustin M Schroeder

Jacob O Borth

Luke M Upah

Joseph H Korte

Jason Owens

Michael J Hokes

Stephen L Paulos

Kirk M Rausch

Lee N Bowers

Robert T Wilson, Iii

Henry D Wolf

AshaLatha Papa

Scott R Harvey

A bearing assembly can support a rotating shaft on a vehicle structure and can include a rolling element bearing that has an inner race configured to be press fit on the rotating shaft. An outer race can surround the inner race and be configured to be mounted on the vehicle structure. A plurality of rolling elements can be located between the inner race and the outer race. A retaining ring can be configured to be press fit on the rotating shaft and abut the inner race when the rolling element bearing and the retaining ring are press fit on the rotating shaft. The press fit between the retaining ring and the rotating shaft can contribute to the press fit between the inner race and the rotating shaft such that the retaining ring and the rolling element bearing together distribute a load input by the rotating shaft to the vehicle structure.

Bearing assembly including a retaining ring and driveshaft assembly including a retaining ring

A frame assembly for a vehicle can include a fixed frame assembly, a removable frame assembly and a bracket. The fixed frame assembly can include a rear frame member extending along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The removable frame assembly can be selectively removed and attached to the fixed frame assembly. The removable frame assembly can include a tubular frame member extending along the rear end of the fixed frame assembly, and can be configured to deform in a predictable and predetermined controlled manner if a load or kinetic energy input to the tubular frame member is greater than a first predetermined threshold. The bracket can be connected to the tubular member and the rear frame member, and the bracket can be configured to deform in a predictable and predetermined controlled manner if a load or kinetic energy input to the bracket is greater than a second predetermined threshold.

Modular frame assembly for a vehicle and vehicle having same

A motor vehicle includes a frame body defining a cabin area and an engine area. The engine area is primarily accessible from the cabin area during installation of the engine assembly. A seat frame is removably attached to the frame body in the cabin area, and a seat assembly is removably attached to the seat frame. A method of installing the engine assembly during the assembly of the motor vehicle includes the steps of lowering the engine assembly into the cabin area of the frame body, moving the engine assembly along a longitudinal axis into the engine area of the frame body, lowering the engine assembly onto an engine mount in the engine area of the frame body, attaching the seat frame to the frame body in the cabin area, and attaching the seat assembly to the seat frame.

Removable seat frame for engine installation

An apparatus for connecting a stabilizer bar to a vehicle includes a support for attaching to the vehicle. The support defines a space for receiving a bushing through which the stabilizer bar can extend. The support includes tabs to which a heat shield can be attached. The heat shield is spaced apart from the bushing to define a gap between the heat shield and the bushing to protect the bushing from heat emitted from the vehicle exhaust system or engine.

Apparatus for attaching a stabilizer bar to a vehicle

A motor vehicle includes a frame, a first pair of wheels connected to the frame, a second pair of wheels connected to the frame, a motor supported by the frame and operatively connected to at least one of the pair of wheels, a cockpit in the frame, a first seat disposed in the cockpit, a bed in the frame longitudinally rearward of the cockpit, the bed having at least one side wall, a second seat disposed in the bed, the second seat having a seat base and a seat back, the seat back having a storage position and a seating position, and a lateral retention member fixed to the at least one side wall of the bed, at least a portion of the lateral retention member being disposed higher than the seat base and forward of the seat back of the second seat when in the seating position.

Lateral retention member

A motor vehicle includes a frame, a first pair of wheels connected to the frame, a second pair of wheels connected to the frame, a motor supported by the frame and operatively connected to at least one of the pair of wheels, a cockpit in the frame, a first seat disposed in the cockpit, a bed in the frame longitudinally rearward of the cockpit, the bed having at least one side wall, a second seat disposed in the bed, the second seat having a seat base and a seat back, the seat back being foldable between a storage position and a seating position, and a lateral retention member fixed to the at least one side wall of the bed, at least a portion of the lateral retention member being disposed higher than the seat base and forward of the seat back of the second seat when in the seating position.

Some embodiments are directed to a vehicle frame assembly configured to accommodate different first and second suspension system configurations via mounting fixtures. The vehicle frame assembly can include a main frame assembly, and a frame assembly connected to and extending away from the main frame assembly. Multiple mounting locations can be provided on at least one of the main frame assembly and the frame assembly, each of the mounting locations being configured to accommodate one of the mounting fixtures. The mounting locations can include a first set configured for use with the first suspension system configuration, and a second set configured for use with the second suspension system configuration.

Growing community of inventors

Lakeview, OH, United States of America

Dustin Lee Hinders