IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,151,744
Granted Patent B2
US 12,151,744 · App. 17/890,470 · Granted Nov 26, 2024

Pillar channel seals and vehicles including same

Inventors: Adam D. Holmstrom (Pinckney, MI); Paxton S. Williams (Milan, MI)
Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.; Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
B62D25/04B60R13/07B60R13/08B60R13/0815B62D25/07B62D29/002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,151,744
App. No.
17/890,470
Granted
Nov 26, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle includes a vehicle body comprising a pillar having a pillar channel extending therethrough. A pillar channel seal includes a seal body located in the pillar channel. The seal body has a pass-through opening sized to receive a drain hose. A moveable plug is movably attached to the seal body that is configured to cover the pass-through opening in a closed configuration. An expandable foam is carried by the moveable plug.

Claims (20)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body comprising a pillar having a pillar channel extending therethrough; and

a pillar channel seal comprising:

a seal body located in the pillar channel, the seal body having a pass-through opening sized to receive a drain hose;

a moveable plug movably attached to the seal body that is configured to cover the pass-through opening in a closed configuration; and

an expandable foam carried by the moveable plug.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the expandable foam is an integral part of the moveable plug.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the expandable foam is configured to expand at a preselected temperature to fill a gap between the moveable plug and the seal body when the moveable plug is in the closed configuration.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a drain hose that passes through the pass-through opening, the drain hose placing the moveable plug in an open configuration at least partially removed from the pass-through opening.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the expandable foam is configured to at least partially fill a gap between the moveable plug and the drain hose.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the seal body comprises a ledge portion that is located adjacent walls of the pillar channel, the ledge portion comprising expandable foam.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the expandable foam carried by the ledge portion is configured to expand at the predetermined temperature to cover a gap between the ledge portion and at least one of the walls of the pillar channel.

8. A pillar channel seal configured to be located in a pillar channel of a vehicle, the pillar channel seal comprising:

a seal body having a pass-through opening sized to receive a drain hose;

a moveable plug movably attached to the seal body that is configured to cover the pass-through opening in a closed configuration; and

an expandable foam carried by the moveable plug.

9. The pillar channel seal of claim 8 , wherein the expandable foam is an integral part of the moveable plug.

10. The pillar channel seal of claim 8 , wherein the expandable foam is configured to expand at a preselected temperature to fill a gap between the moveable plug and the seal body when the moveable plug is in the closed configuration.

11. The pillar channel seal of claim 8 , wherein the seal body comprises a ledge portion that is configured to be located adjacent walls of the pillar channel, the ledge portion comprising expandable foam.

12. The pillar channel seal of claim 11 , wherein the expandable foam carried by the ledge portion is configured to expand at a predetermined temperature to cover a gap between the ledge portion and at least one of the walls of the pillar channel.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2025
From: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 070278/0492 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2022
From: HOLMSTROM, ADAM D.; WILLIAMS, PAXTON S.
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.; TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 060842/0843 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240059356A1 · Feb 22, 2024