Naipaul D Ramoutar

US Patent:

8602146, Dec 10, 2013

Filed:

Apr 10, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/443106

Inventors:

Gerritt B. Meyers - Ypsilanti MI, US
Jonathan R. Young - Dundee MI, US
Jesse Buehler - Ypsilanti MI, US
Naipaul Ramoutar - Ann Arbor MI, US
Taichi Yamashita - Northville MI, US

Assignee:

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Erlanger KY

International Classification:

B60R 16/04

US Classification:

180 685

Abstract:

A battery attachment bracket and method of assembly for protecting a battery of a motor vehicle from damage during a rear impact. The battery attachment bracket connects the battery to support structure of the motor vehicle in an area subject to deformation during a rear impact. The battery attachment bracket is formed by a body member extending from a battery-engaging surface to a vehicle-support-engaging surface. The vehicle-support-engaging surface has a bolt-receiving aperture, and a notch cut-out adjacent to the bolt-receiving aperture located in a vehicle-front direction with respect to the bolt-receiving aperture to define a narrowed portion of the battery attachment bracket. A gusset having an angled surface is located on a vehicle-front-facing surface of the battery attachment bracket. The gusset resists deformation of the battery attachment bracket and promotes separation of the battery attachment bracket from the support structure of the motor vehicle adjacent the bolt-receiving aperture.

US Patent:

8613461, Dec 24, 2013

Filed:

Apr 12, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/445191

Inventors:

Jonathan Richard Young - Dundee MI, US
Taichi Yamashita - Northville MI, US
Naipaul Deo Ramoutar - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Erlanger KY

International Classification:

B60G 7/02

US Classification:

280124109

Abstract:

A frame structure is adapted to absorb energy from frontal impacts and extends under a front portion of the body frame. The frame structure includes a rear sub-frame located below and in front of a pair of side frame under-members, and a tether is connected between the pair of side frame under-members and the rear sub-frame for prolonging proximity of the rear sub-frame with the side frame under-members. A noise-vibration, ride and handling bracket can be modified to define the tether. The tether attaches to the pair of side frame under-members at two outboard locations and to the rear sub-frame at the two inboard locations positioned forward of the outboard locations. The tether attaches to the pair of side frame under-members providing a limited degree of rotary displacement away from the side frame under-members.

US Patent:

8646790, Feb 11, 2014

Filed:

Apr 12, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/445157

Inventors:

Jonathan Richard Young - Dundee MI, US
Taichi Yamashita - Northville MI, US
Jesse Thomas Buehler - Ypsilanti MI, US
Naipaul Deo Ramoutar - Ann Arbor MI, US
Gerritt Benjamin Meyers - Yspilanti MI, US

Assignee:

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Erlanger KY

International Classification:

B60G 7/02

US Classification:

280124109

Abstract:

A frame structure is adapted to absorb energy from frontal impacts and extends under a front portion of the body frame. The frame structure includes a rear sub-frame located below and in front of a pair of side frame under-members, and at least one ramp connected to the pair of side frame under-members for directing rearward sliding movement of the rear sub-frame and attached structures downwardly beneath a battery assembly. A catching surface engages a steering gear to improve energy absorption during frontal impacts. A reinforcement bracket attached to the pair of side frame under-members defines a pocket for temporarily catching the rear sub-frame providing an energy absorption path before releasing the rear sub-frame to slide past. A tether is connected between the pair of side frame under-members and the rear sub-frame for holding the rear sub-frame against the ramp to increase energy absorption.

US Patent:

8646791, Feb 11, 2014

Filed:

Apr 12, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/445169

Inventors:

Jonathan Richard Young - Dundee MI, US
Taichi Yamashita - Northville MI, US
Naipaul Deo Ramoutar - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Erlanger KY

International Classification:

B60G 7/02

US Classification:

280124109

Abstract:

A frame structure is adapted to absorb energy from frontal impacts and extends under a front portion of the body frame. The frame structure includes a rear sub-frame located below and in front of a pair of side frame under-members, and a reinforcement bracket attached to the pair of side frame under-members to facilitate formation and control a deformation shape in an energy absorption pocket in the side frame under-member during a frontal impact for temporarily restraining the rear sub-frame before releasing the rear sub-frame to slide past the reinforcement bracket. The energy absorption pocket is formed in the side frame under-member forward of and outboard of the reinforcement bracket during a frontal impact prior to the rear sub-frame be released from B-point bolt connections to the side frame under-members.

US Patent:

8646792, Feb 11, 2014

Filed:

Apr 12, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/445176

Inventors:

Jonathan Richard Young - Dundee MI, US
Taichi Yamashita - Northville MI, US
Naipaul Deo Ramoutar - Ann Arbor MI, US
Gerritt Benjamin Meyers - Ypsilanti MI, US

Assignee:

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Erlanger KY

International Classification:

B60G 7/02

US Classification:

280124109

Abstract:

A vehicle frame structure is adapted to absorb energy from frontal impacts. The frame structure extends under a front portion of the body frame. The frame structure includes a rear sub-frame located below and in front of a pair of side frame under-members, and a catching surface connected to the pair of side frame under-members for engaging the rear sub-frame and attached structures. A steering gear is attached to the rear sub-frame. The catching surface interacts with the steering gear to promote additional crushing energy absorption during sliding movement of the rear sub-frame relative to the catching surface during the frontal impact. The catching surface can be formed on ramps attached to the pair of side frame under-members. A tether can prolong crushing contact of the rear sub-frame with respect to the catching surface.

US Patent:

20130270860, Oct 17, 2013

Filed:

Apr 12, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/445138

Inventors:

Jonathan Richard Young - Dundee MI, US
Taichi Yamashita - Northville MI, US
Jesse Thomas Buehler - Ypsilanti MI, US
Naipaul Deo Ramoutar - Ann Arbor MI, US
Gerritt Benjamin Meyers - Ypsilanti MI, US

Assignee:

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Erlanger KY

International Classification:

B62D 21/15
B21D 53/00

US Classification:

29618709, 298972

Abstract:

A vehicle frame includes an inverter protection brace extending between front and rear sub-frames located below and in front of side frame members. A gusset of the brace strongly connects to the front sub-frame to load a beam section without overloading the bolts, and a bolted connection attaches to the rear sub-frame. The brace deforms forward of the bolted connection creating a safety cage around an inverter during frontal impacts. A reinforcement bracket attaches to the side frame members to define a pocket for temporarily catching the rear sub-frame. Ramps connect to the reinforcement bracket allowing sliding of the rear sub-frame rearward, and direct movement downwardly beneath a battery assembly. A catching surface defined on a ramp engages at least one rear sub-frame attached structure. A tether connects between the pair of side frame under-members and the rear sub-frame for improving the interaction of the rear sub-frame against the ramps.

US Patent:

20160144813, May 26, 2016

Filed:

Jan 22, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/602803

Inventors:

- Erlanger KY, US
Yizhou Fan - Ann Arbor MI, US
Palani Palaniappan - Ann Arbor MI, US
Naipaul Ramoutar - Ann Arbor MI, US
Manikandan Baby Mony - Saline MI, US

Assignee:

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Erlanger KY

International Classification:

B60R 19/34

Abstract:

Bumpers and vehicles that include bumpers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a bumper includes a bumper beam assembly, the bumper beam assembly including a beam, the beam including a front side that is oriented to face forward in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a bumper extension portion that is coupled to the beam and positioned at an outboard end of the bumper beam assembly, the bumper extension portion including a front side that is oriented face forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction, a top side that is oriented transverse to the front side, and a bottom side that is oriented transverse to the front side, and a reinforcement bracket that is coupled to the bumper extension portion, where the reinforcement bracket includes a front side that extends across the front side of the bumper extension portion.

US Patent:

20160137231, May 19, 2016

Filed:

Jan 22, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/004173

Inventors:

- Erlanger KY, US
Maurice P. Silva - Gaithersburg MD, US
Jonathan R. Young - Saline MI, US
Adam D. Holmstrom - Pinckney MI, US
Naipaul D. Ramoutar - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Erlanger KY

International Classification:

B62D 25/08

Abstract:

Vehicle structures for dissipating energy associated with a collision are described herein. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a first side support extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a second side support extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction and spaced apart from the first side support in a vehicle lateral direction that is transverse to the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a cross-vehicle stabilizing structure extending between the first side support and the second side support, the cross-vehicle stabilizing structure including a first joint portion coupled to the first side support, the first joint portion including a stiffness-reducing portion positioned within a perimeter of the first joint portion, a second joint portion coupled to the second side support, and a cross-vehicle stabilizer portion coupled to the first joint portion and the second joint portion.