The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 11, 2023
Filed:
May. 08, 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
Paxton S. Williams, Milan, MI (US);
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
Abstract
A vehicle including a rear bumper having an upper surface, a power source, and a heating element in communication with the power source is provided. The heating element extends in a vehicle lateral direction and along substantially an entire portion of the upper surface of the rear bumper. The heating element may operable when a tailgate is in a closed position. Thus, debris, such as ice, dirt, and the like, accumulating on the upper surface of the rear bumper may be melted by the heating element prior to the tailgate opening. The heating element may be configured to heat substantially an entire portion of the upper surface of the rear bumper. The heating element may be configured to heat upon a condition being satisfied such as, for example, a vehicle start operation or outside temperature being below a predetermined threshold.