Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.

Kenichi Kitayama

Steven Ray Thiele

Matthew Plett

Michael A Schrader

Matthew Weyand Schmitt

Yasunori Watanabe

Masatoshi Mori

Robert H Bator

Shigeyuki Nagai

Stephen Russell

Eiji Suzuki

Kozo Kusumoto

Toshihisa Omori

Shawn Lee Tarr

Katsutoshi Ando

Yoichiro Inaba

Kurt Johansen

Marc Lamarre

Takeshi Shimizu

Christopher Todd Walker

Masahiro Ishikawa

Andrew Keenan Swayne

Kazumi Miyake

Christopher J Mampe

John Barlow, Jr

Kenneth M Hartlaub

Robert Zummallen

Kris Lemmon

Robert G ZumMallen

Joel Romig

Yoshitaka Higuchi

Thomas H Croyle

Henry DiCato

Danny C Cheung

Masaya Kuroiwa

Matt Wolfe

Skye Malcom

Trent Bozzo

Pete Cardimen

Mitsuharu Kan

Edward Moran

A resin molding apparatus provided with a first mold and a second mold for pressing a flat thermoplastic resin sheet into a molded article, wherein the molded article has a shape provided with a flat plate part and a concave-convex part continuous with the flat plate part, and a heating part is provided to locally heat a concave-convex molding region corresponding to the concave-convex part in the thermoplastic resin sheet when the thermoplastic resin sheet is pressed.

Resin molding apparatus

A press molding apparatus includes two dies and press-molds a heated stampable sheet into a predetermined shape by using the two dies. The press molding apparatus includes a movable core provided in at least one of the two dies. The movable core is disposed at an inward side of an edge portion of a cavity. When receiving a pressure greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the movable core moves in such a direction that the cavity increases in volume.

Press molding apparatus and press molding method

A vehicle body includes a side sill connected by overlapping a plurality of plates. In an area of the side sill positioned in a door opening, a step garnish covers at least a portion of such area. The step garnish is formed of a hard resin garnish main body and a soft resin garnish end part. The garnish main body covers from the upper surface of the side sill through a lateral surface that includes a sealing contact part. The garnish end part is integrally formed with an end of the garnish main body, and covers at least the sealing contact part. The thickness of the garnish end part gradually decreases from a proximal end formed integrally with the garnish main body towards the distal end. Such arrangement improves appearance of the door opening and sealing characteristics of the area surrounding the door opening.

Structure for vehicle body lateral section

A first outer panel has: a first general surface; and a first flange section having an end section of the first general surface recessed more than the first general surface. A second outer panel has: a second general surface having a surface flush with the first general surface; and a second flange section that is recessed from the second general surface and is joined overlapping with the first flange section. A joint that is recessed more than the first and second general surface is formed in the joined section. A filler substance is provided in the joint, and the section from the first general surface to the second general surface is formed in a continuous surface.

Side outer panel for vehicle

A vehicle body () includes: a coupling recess () that couples an outer bottom member () with an outer top member () of an outer panel () of a vehicle body pillar (); and a door seal cover () that covers the coupling recess (). The door seal cover () comprises: a U-shaped body part () that has a U-shaped cross section and serves as a central portion; a U-shaped top lip () that extends upward from the body part (); and a U-shaped bottom lip () that extends downward from the body part (). A front top leading end (), a front bottom leading end (), a back top leading end (), and a back bottom leading end () of seal contact surface sections (), which are firmly attached to door-side seal members (), are formed at step-free thicknesses.

Vehicle body side structure

The center pillar outer member () of a center pillar () which supports a roof () is halved into a center pillar outer upper section () and a center pillar outer lower section (). The center pillar outer member () is provided with a connection recess () at which the center pillar outer lower section () is joined to the center pillar outer upper section (), and is also provided with a seal member () which covers the connection recess (). The seal member () continues to the front upper seal () and the rear upper seal (), respectively, of a front door opening seal () and a rear door opening seal (), the front and rear upper seals () extending along a roof side rail ().

Structure for side portion of vehicle body

A door assembly for a vehicle comprises a vehicle door having an outside door panel, and a handle that is moveably mounted to the vehicle door. A latch actuator is operatively connected to the handle. Movement of the handle moves the latch actuator to an open position to allow opening of the door. An internal door part is connected to the outside door panel. The internal door part includes a contact area internally offset from the outside door panel. A counterbalancing member is cooperatively associated with the handle. During a crash condition causing deformation of the door and intrusion of the handle, the counterbalancing member engages the contact area of the internal door part to prevent the handle from moving the latch actuator to the open position.

Device for prevention of door opening during roll-over

A window opening device for use in an automobile door. The device including a motor having a drive gear comprised of a tooth region and a head region. The diameter of the head region is greater than the diameter of the tooth region. A sector gear engages the tooth region and the head region overlaps the sector gear. A first lever arm has a drive end engaging the sector gear and a window end engaging a window. The motor is secured to a body plate configured for mounting to a door. The body plate includes an opening through which the drive gear passes to facilitate engagement with the sector gear.

Window regulator assembly including a mechanism for securing a lift arm to a drive mechanism

A door frame for a vehicle includes a door frame, a window regulator mounted to the door frame for opening and closing a window pane, and a door lining mounted to the door frame. A plurality of mounting apertures is defined in the door frame, including at least one first mounting aperture for mounting the window regulator and at least one second mounting aperture for mounting the door lining. An isolating aperture is defined in the door frame between the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture for isolating the at least one second aperture from the at least one first aperture to thereby reduce lateral forces imparted to the door frame from the window regulator from transferring to the door lining.

Door frame assembly and method

An automotive vehicle comprising a body panel including a flange defining an opening. The opening is shaped to receive a component selected from a door, a trunk or a tailgate. The component includes a main body panel and an interior lining having a substantially coplanar region facing the flange when the component is in a closed position. An elongated resilient sealing member is secured to the coplanar region of the component. The sealing member includes a base engaging the interior lining and a tubular body projecting from said base opposite the lining. An arm extends from an edge of the base and overlaps the interior lining.

Automotive vehicle passage seal

A closure assembly is mounted on a vehicle and moveable between a closed position and at least one open position. The closure assembly includes a closure structure mounted to an associated vehicle for movement between the closed position and the at least one open position. A first lock assembly is selectively locking the closure structure to the associated vehicle. A second lock assembly is selectively locking the closure structure to the associated vehicle. One of the first and second lock assemblies includes a latch that requires overstroking to lock the latch in a latched position.

Overstroke latch assembly

A spoiler assembly for a rear hatch closure assembly on a vehicle includes a base member extending laterally across the hatch closure assembly, a latch mounted to the base member, and a shell member secured to the base member to cover and conceal the latch.

Spoiler for rear hatch closure assembly

A rise-up panoramic roof provided on a roof opening of a body of a vehicle comprises a frame member and a lift assembly. The frame member has a forward portion and a rear portion. The forward portion is hingedly connected to the vehicle body such that the frame member does not slide relative to the body. The frame member is configured to hold a roof panel. The lift assembly is configured to move the frame member between a closed position where the rear portion of the frame member closes the opening of the vehicle body and a raised, open position where the frame member is raised from the vehicle body and the rear portion is located above the opening.

Rise up panoramic roof for a vehicle

A vehicle closure assembly includes a vehicle body defining an opening, a latch assembly mounted to the vehicle body, a track mounted to the vehicle body, a slidable closure movable with respect to the vehicle body for selectively covering the opening, and a roller and striker assembly connected with the slidable closure for movement with the slidable closure. The roller and striker assembly includes a roller riding on the track and a striker for cooperating with the latch assembly. The roller moves with respect to the track to allow the slidable closure to move with respect to the vehicle body. The striker engages with the latch assembly to preclude movement of the slidable closure with respect to the vehicle body.

Integrated roller and striker assembly for a vehicle

A roller assembly for a sliding vehicle closure includes a bracket secured to an associated sliding vehicle closure and a ball-type roller secured to the bracket at a location spaced apart from the associated sliding vehicle closure. The ball-type roller is fixed in position relative to the associated sliding vehicle closure during opening and closing thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Dublin, OH, United States of America

Kenichi Kitayama