Editor’s Note: What a difference in business perspective for U.S. aluminum in general and the aluminum extrusion market in particular that a few months make! From April to May last year, during ET ’24 when all signs pointed up, with the global and U.S. aluminum extrusion market expected to grow significantly in the future and now, writing this, at the start of March 2025, the aluminum market is facing big challenges with tariffs on the horizon that threaten U.S. aluminum extruders and customers, especially in the automotive and B&C sectors. Markets as well as jobs are at risk, not to mention the rising costs to consumers, who are most likely to pay the costs of aluminum tariffs. Business press reports almost daily that the auto industry is already buckling up for ominous tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, which would raise the price of the average automobile.
Although the future of U.S. aluminum trade is yet uncertain, over the tumult and shouting, aluminum extrusions find new and promising applications thanks to their many positive physical and mechanical properties incorporated into shapes that exceed the performance and economics of competitive materials.
The patents presented hereafter were recently granted and this selection points to progress made internationally in building and construction, automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. This patent review complements the two published in our January and April 2024 issues as a prelude to ET’24 on aluminum extrusion applications and production solutions. As is our practice for this column, the invention abstracts are presented in descending order of date of issue, rather than in successive links in the extrusion process chain. Copies of all U.S. patents are available on-line at https://www.uspto.gov/patents/search.
— Joseph C. Benedyk, Editor
US12235683 — INFORMATION HANDLING SYSTEM DISPLAY RAPID PANEL ASSEMBLY AND REPAIR — Dell Products L.P. (USA) — An information handling system display has a frame with magnets to couple a display panel in place by the magnets interacting with ferromagnetic material at the rear side of the display panel. Contactless connectors coupled to a scalar board in the frame and to the rear side of the display communicate visual information from the scalar board to the display panel for presentation as visual images. The display panel assembles to the frame by magnetic attraction to have contactless connectors and power interfaces aligned. Repair of the display panel is performed by separating the display panel from the frame magnetic attraction and coupling a replacement display panel in the place of a defective display panel. More specifically, an information handling system is built in a housing having an extruded aluminum main housing portion that contains a keyboard, touchpad and processing components, and having an extruded aluminum lid housing portion with an open face through which a display panel presents visual images.
US12234638 — FORMWORK SYSTEM — Apache Industrial Services, Inc. (USA) — Various implementations described herein are directed to a formwork system used as a tool to help builders construct concrete structures. In one implementation, the formwork system includes aluminum rail side extrusions and aluminum castings made of structural grade aluminum. The aluminum castings and the aluminum extrusions can be assembled by being pressed and riveted together and may be integrated into a shoring deck application.
US12206356 — INTEGRATED SOLAR CARPORT — GM Cruise Holding LLC (USA) — The disclosed technology provides solutions for improving solar carport systems and for improving a solar carport integrated with an aluminum extruded busbar, which can be integrated into a beam or vertical column. Instead of having various cables or wires laid outside, a single busbar 210 can be simply deployed through each beam 102. As part of a structural element, the busbar 210 can support the weight of integrated solar powered carport 100 (e.g., beam 102, solar modules 106, etc.). Aspects of the disclosed technology include an integrated solar carport that includes at least one beam, at least one rail coupled to the at least one beam, and one or more vertical columns configured to support the at least one beam and the at least one rail. Further, the integrated solar carport includes one or more solar modules coupled to at least one beam or the at least one rail and a busbar coupled to each beam of the at least one beam and one of the vertical columns. Methods of manufacturing the integrated solar carport are also provided.
US12206083 — TEMPERATURE CONTROL COMPONENT AND BATTERY PACK — Contemporary Amperex Technology (Hong Kong) Limited (China) — The present application provides a temperature control component and a battery pack. The temperature control component includes a temperature control tube that may be made of a metal material, such as an aluminum profile. The temperature control tube includes: a first side wall; a second side wall, forming a cavity together with the first side wall. At least part of an outer surface of the first side wall is formed into a curved surface concave toward the second side wall; and/or, at least part of an outer surface of the second side wall is formed into a curved concave surface toward the first side wall surface. The temperature control tube 11 may include a first side wall 111, a second side wall 112, a partition wall 113, a first connection wall 114, and a second connection wall 115, where the first side wall 111, the second side wall 112, the partition wall 113, the first connection wall 114, and the second connection wall 115 may be integrally formed with an aluminum extrusion process.
US12203285 — USER ASSEMBLABLE PICKET RAIL PANEL — Fortress Iron, LP (USA) — A user assemblable picket rail panel includes a top rail with a transverse wall, a first side wall and a second side wall each extending from the transverse wall with a plurality of openings disposed spaced apart along a length of the transverse wall. The top rail includes a first locking ledge extending from a first side wall and a second locking ledge extending from the second side wall. A picket plug is configured to be secured to the top rail by the first and second locking ledges and has a picket-insertable portion that is configured to be aligned with one of the plurality of openings in the transverse wall and defines a through hole that is configured to receive a fastener. The rail panel also includes a support picket that is configured to receive the picket-insertable portion of the picket plug and includes a threaded hole that is configured to receive the fastener. A bottom rail is configured to be coupled to the support picket, and the rail panel also includes a plurality of infill pickets that are configured to be coupled to the top rail and the bottom rail. According to an embodiment, the standard picket 16, support picket 14, top rail member 10, bottom rail member 12, and rail cap 24, are all aluminum extrusions.
US12202688 — GANGWAY ASSEMBLY — Safe Rack LLC (USA) — A gangway for use with a container to be accessed is provided. The gangway comprises a fixed platform and a support structure connected to the fixed platform in a manner that allows the support structure to rotate with respect to the fixed platform between a raised stowed position and a lowered deployed position. An end platform is pivotally connected at the distal end of the support structure, the end platform defining an upper walking surface and a bottom surface that engages the top of the container, the height between the bottom surface and the walking surface being no greater than one inch. In some exemplary embodiments, the main tube portion and fins comprise a section of a continuous aluminum extrusion.
US12202324 — BATTERY CASE FOR VEHICLE — Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation (Korea) — A battery case for a vehicle includes a lower panel supporting lower sides of a plurality of battery modules, the lower panel including a sidewall bent and extending upwards from the lower panel, a side member surrounding and supporting the sidewall of the lower panel to protect side surfaces of the battery modules, and a plurality of reinforcing members, each of which is disposed between neighboring ones of the battery modules such that two opposite ends of the reinforcing members are coupled to and supported by the sidewall. Since the base member has the base closed cross-section therein, the base member is preferably formed through aluminum extrusion, and the additional member is preferably formed through aluminum roll forming and is preferably welded to the base member.
US12195961 — FORMWORK SYSTEM — Apache Industrial Services, Inc. (USA) — Various implementations described herein are directed to a bracket of a formwork system to mold liquid concrete into building systems. In one implementation, the bracket includes: a first member having a first plurality of openings; and a second member having a second plurality of openings. The first member and the second member are configured to: be perpendicular to each other and provide lateral adjustment via the first plurality of openings and/or the second plurality of openings. In various implementations the formwork system includes aluminum extrusions and aluminum castings that may be integrated by being pressed and riveted together.
US12187233 — CROSSBAR AND COUPLING MEMBER FOR A CROSSBAR — Thule Sweden AB (Sweden) — Disclosed is a coupling member fixable to an end portion of a crossbar member, which is used on load carriers. The coupling member includes at least two elongate coupling segments configured to be at least partially inserted in longitudinally extending interior spaces of the crossbar member wherein the interior spaces are separated by a common interior wall. Two adjacent coupling segments of at least two elongate coupling segments are fixedly coupled to each other by means of a coupling portion. The coupling portion is configured to hold the elongate coupling segments at a predetermined distance with respect to each other to define a receiving space between the adjacent elongate coupling segments. The receiving space is configured for receiving a portion of the interior wall of the crossbar member. According to a preferable embodiment, the profile of the crossbar member is wing, square, circular or oval shaped and is preferably made by extruding aluminum.
US12179810 — RAIL VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH AN END WALL, A DOORWAY, AND FOOTPLATE CATCHERS — Bombardier Transportation GmbH (Germany) — A rail vehicle has a carbody shell having an end wall and a usable space. The end wall includes a doorway for providing access to the usable space, and at least two footplate catchers for preventing a set of footplates arranged adjacent to the footplate catcher from entering the usable space, such as in the event of a crash. The carbody shell can be made of hollow aluminum extruded members having faces and ribs connecting the faces. The carbody shell denotes elements such as roof sections, sidewall sections, end wall sections and roof sections, which separate an interior, usable space, from an external environment. The usable space can be a passenger compartment or a vestibule of the rail vehicle. The end walls comprise hollow aluminum extrusions, the cavities within the hollow extrusions can receive the footplate catchers.
US12179053 — FIRE TRAINING PROPS AND METHODS FOR USING FIRE TRAINING PROPS — Flashpoint Fire Equipment, Inc. (Canada) — Fire training props and methods of using fire training props are provided. The props may be suitable for table-top training and include an enclosure; at least one internal panel positioned within the enclosure and defining a plurality of internal volumes within the enclosure; a transparent top panel positioned on the top of the enclosure; at least one side aperture and a side aperture cover in at least one of the sides of the enclosure; and at least one panel aperture having an aperture cover in the at least one internal panel. When a source of visible fluid, for example, smoke, is introduced to the enclosure, a flow of the visible fluid in the enclosure can be monitored by a user through the transparent top panel. Aspects of the invention are uniquely adapted for training firefighters and other first responders on the dynamics of fire, for example, in an engaged structure. In one aspect, elongated horizontal and vertical support members 62 may be aluminum extrusions assembled with appropriate fasteners. For example, in one aspect, horizontal and vertical support members 62 may comprise aluminum “T-slot” framing extrusions.
US12172245 — EXTRUDED WELD JOINT BACKING INSERT — FCA US LLC (USA) — The present disclosure relates to automotive battery case assemblies and, more particularly, to an extruded weld joint backing insert to enable welding of adjoining aluminum hollow profile structural extrusions of the assemblies. A welding backing insert (20) includes a body (22), a retention member (24) and an insertion member (26). The retention member (24) includes at least one leg (28) being deflectable to enable insertion into a hollow profile structural extrusion (14). At least one leg (28) tries to return to its original position exerting a force on the hollow profile structural extrusion (14) to retain the backing insert (20) in the hollow profile structural extrusion (14). The insertion member (26) projects from the body for inserting into a second hollow profile structural extrusion (14). A gap-control joint spacer (50) projects from the body to provide a gap between adjacent hollow profile structural extrusions.
US12145328 — SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ROTARY TENSIONING OF FIBROUS PREFORMS — Rohr, Inc. (USA) — A shape forming tool for pre-carbonization compression of a fibrous preform is provided, comprising a female forming tool, a first plug, a second plug, and a wedge, each configured to be received by a die recess of the female forming tool. A first tapered surface of the wedge is configured to engage the first plug and the second tapered surface of the wedge is configured to engage the second plug. In response to the first tapered surface of the wedge engaging the first plug and the second tapered surface of the wedge engaging the second plug, the first plug and the second plug, respectively, are configured to move laterally towards opposing sides of the female forming tool and/or vertically toward a bottom side of the female forming tool to compress the fibrous preform into a shaped body. In various embodiments, support frame 118 comprises aluminum extrusions comprising a T-slotted profile.
US12128272 — EXERCISE MACHINE — Pilates Equipment Ltd (United Kingdom) — A pilates reformer machine has a frame with a longitudinal central aluminum extruded spine (2) extending between a first support member (4a, 4b) and a second support member (6a, 6b), a carriage (8) supporting a platform (9) moveable along the spine, at least one retention spring housed within the spine and attached to the carriage, the at least one retention spring being selectively attachable to the frame by buttons (12), the carriage being provided with sides that wrap around sides of the spine and engage with an underneath of the spine, the carriage further including a plurality of wheels receivable within tracks formed within the central spine. A leg exerciser (30) and foot bar (20) may be included in the machine.
US12120994 — METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN HORTICULTURAL LIGHT FIXTURE — Scynce LED LLC (USA) — A method and apparatus for a horticultural light fixture that utilizes a metallic extrusion with multiple heat pipes to distribute heat to multiple heat sink fins. The heat sink fins utilize a geometrical shape that facilitates increased air flow into an interior of the horticultural light without the use of forced air. A printed circuit board assembly may attach to an aluminum extrusion 2404 that may run the full length of horticulture light 2300 via mechanical means (e.g., screws and alignment tabs). Furthermore, an optic array (e.g., optic array 2304A) may be attached to horticulture light 2300 in such a way as to apply pressure to a full length of the PCBA (not shown) such that heat generated along the full length of the PCBA may be conducted onto corresponding portions of extrusion 2404.
US12117043 — AIR-FLOATING GUIDE RAIL — Toyo Nano System Corporation (Taiwan) — An air-floating guide rail device includes a guide rail unit, a slider unit, and a linear motor unit. The guide rail unit includes a guide rail body made of an aluminum extrusion and two air-floating block sets made of a material different from that of the guide rail body and each including top and side air-floating blocks. The slider unit includes a main sliding seat and two lateral sliding seats connected integrally to the main sliding seat and each having first and second guiding surfaces transverse to each other and disposed respectively adjacent to corresponding top and side air-floating blocks, and first and second air guiding passages connecting the first and second guiding surfaces to the external environment. The linear motor unit includes a stator and a mover mounted fixedly to the main sliding seat and movable relative to the stator for driving linear movement of the slider unit relative to the guide rail unit.
US12145009 — DAVIT ASSEMBLY — Sayfa R&D Pty LTD (Australia) — This invention relates generally to a davit assembly for elevated rope access for building construction and maintenance work where workers are required to construct and maintain building façades and equipment mounted on the external face of a structure. A davit assembly comprises a vertical structural column connecting a horizontal structural beam between a longer forward beam portion and a shorter rearward beam portion thereof, an angled support brace tensioned between a lower region of the structural column and an end of the shorter rearward beam portion and a primary rigging anchor slidably engaging the forward beam portion. The structural beam and column may be manufactured from aluminum extrusions and a structural connector therebetween may be made of high tensile stainless steel, thereby designed to support and lift or lower the significant cantilevered load applied to the rigging anchor.
US12112964 — CHIP CARRIER, CHIP TESTING MODULE, AND CHIP HANDLING MODULE — Chroma ATE Inc. (Taiwan) — The invention provides a chip carrier, a chip testing module and a chip handling module. The chip carrier for carrying a plurality of chips comprises a main body with an upper surface and a lower surface. The main body has a plurality of air guide holes, and two ends of each air guide hole are respectively exposed on the upper surface and the lower surface. A part of the air guide holes is defined as a first group, and the air guide holes of the first group are connected. The main body and heat sink body of the chip carrier can be an integrated aluminum extrusion structure.
US12085993 — INFORMATION HANDLING SYSTEM COUPLING DEVICE — thaProducts L.P. (USA) — An information handling system coupling device inserts into an opening of first and second portions that overlap to couple the portions together, such as a main housing and hinge, a lid housing and hinge, and a tray disposed in a main housing interior. First and second magnetic elements insert into the opening with like poles aligned to repel each other and provide room to fit a third magnetic element between them having opposing poles to attract the first and second elements into an assembly. Protrusions, such as an I-shape, extend from the assembly into recesses of the opening to engage the coupling device in place within the opening. More specifically, an information handling system is built in a housing having an extruded aluminum main housing portion that contains a keyboard, touchpad and processing components, and having an extruded aluminum lid housing portion with an open face through which a display panel presents visual images. The aluminum extrusion produces an elongated tube form with openings at each end that are closed with a cover after assembly of the components within the housing portion. The system and method improve repair, reuse, and recycling of information handling systems and peripherals.
US12047034 — ERGONOMIC SOLAR MODULE FRAME WITH CABLE MANAGEMENT FLANGE — TECSI Solar, Inc. (USA) — A solar module system includes a frame, a microinverter, and an adapter assembly for connecting the microinverter to the frame. The frame typically made of an aluminum extrusion or other suitable material includes a body, a mounting flange extending from a bottom of the body at an edge, and a cable management flange extending from an interior surface of the body. The cable management flange and the mounting flange define a cable cavity therebetween for retaining at least one cable. The adapter assembly includes an adapter including a microinverter attachment projection coupled to the microinverter, a frame attachment extension, and a side wall extending therebetween.
US12042049 — FOLDABLE BED ASSEMBLY — Ulife Healthcare Inc. (Taiwan) — A foldable bed assembly includes first and second frame units and two hinge units. The first frame unit includes two first longitudinal frames, and a first transverse frame. The second frame unit includes two second longitudinal frames and a second transverse frame. The second frame unit is pivotable relative to the first frame unit and convertible between a normal state, where the first transverse frame is spaced apart from the second transverse frame, and a folded state, where the second longitudinal frames are respectively overlaid on the first longitudinal frames and the first transverse frame is overlaid on the second transverse frame. In one embodiment, each of the first and second longitudinal frames 11, 21 is integrally formed by aluminum extrusion to reduce manufacturing cost.
US12030392 — VEHICLE BODY LOWER STRUCTURE — Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Japan) — A vehicle body lower structure includes a battery case, a side sill, and a case-mounting frame. The case-mounting frame can be easily formed by cutting a piece of a long aluminum extrusion and has a frame main body portion and a battery case reception flange. The battery case reception flange extends to an inward side in a vehicle width direction from the frame main body portion and is joined to a lower surface of the bottom wall of the battery case. A battery support frame extending in a vehicle body forward-rearward direction and supporting a battery is fixed to the bottom wall of the battery case. A recessed portion protruding downward is provided between a joint portion with respect to the battery case reception flange and a joint portion with respect to the battery support frame in the bottom wall of the battery case.
US12024881 — TELESCOPING WALL GAP FILLER ASSEMBLY — Gordon Sales, Inc. (USA) — The present invention relates to the architectural and building construction industries, and more particularly to structures designed to fill gaps between walls and windows, partition walls and perimeter walls, and the like, for purposes of privacy and reduction of sound transmission from separated spaces. A gap filler assembly for filling or covering a gap between an interior partition wall and an exterior wall of a building. Two slidingly engaged frame members, each can be an aluminum extrusion, define an interior cavity that has a variable volume. Disposed within the interior cavity is a biasing member configured to exert a force on a first frame member in a direction away from a second frame member for compressing the frame members between the interior partition wall and the exterior wall. The biasing member may be a spring or an expanding foam sound insulation.
US12021485 — INSERTION RAIL FOR A SOLAR MODULE MOUNTING SYSTEM — Kloeckner Metals Corporation (USA) — An insertion rail for a solar panel mounting system is provided. The insertion rail, which may be an aluminum extrusion, has a mounting wall configured for connection to the solar panel mounting system, wherein the mounting wall is posited at a lower end of a first side of the insertion rail, a vertical leg coupled to the mounting wall at at least one location, wherein the vertical leg is positioned at a second side of the insertion rail, and at least one mating section located at an upper end of the insertion rail. The mating section has an upper tab, a lower tab and the upper tab and lower tab are configured to receive and secure a solar panel integrally therewith using an interference fit.
US12016278 — IRRIGATION SYSTEM FOR VERTICAL GROW TOWER CROP PRODUCTION FACILITY — MJNN LLC (USA) — An irrigation system for a vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled conditions, such as lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a grow tower conveyance system that moves vertical grow towers to select positions along a grow line. An irrigation line having apertures at the select positions provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers, while a gutter structure captures excess solution. In a closed loop system, the excess solution returns to a recirculation tank. The grow line may be an aluminum extrusion with the bottom section including an upward facing groove.
US11993316 — VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE — Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation (Korea) — The present disclosure relates to a vehicle body structure capable of improving stiffness of a vehicle body by firmly connecting a front side member, a front pillar, and a side sill. A vehicle body structure includes: a front pillar; a front side member located in front of the front pillar and extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a side sill connected to a bottom end of the front pillar; and a rear lower member connecting the front side member, the side sill, and the front pillar, where the rear lower member includes a front connection portion connected to a rear portion of the front side member, and a rear connection portion connected to a lower portion of the front pillar and a front portion of the side sill, and the rear connection portion includes an upper engagement wall joined to the front pillar, and a lower engagement wall joined to the side sill.
US11982123 — ADJUSTABLE DOOR — Meshtec International Co., Ltd. (Thailand) — A door which is adjustable in length and breadth is defined by an outer sash having a generally rectangular configuration. A hinge side of the sash nests within a U-sweep member running along its length. The U-sweep member interfaces with the sash through a step adjust adaptor secured to a hinge side member of the sash and extending along at least one of its inner and outer faces. The step adjust adaptor interfaces with the U-sweep member through a series of spaced apart detents which may be ridges and grooves to provide incremental adjustment of the breadth of the door. An L-sweeper is securable to a bottom member of the sash and is adjustable to vary a length (height) of the door. The sash, U-sweep and step adjust adaptor may be aluminum extrusions.
US11975832 — FLOW BODY FOR AN AIRCRAFT HAVING A SOLID TRAILING-EDGE COMPONENT — Airbus Operations GMBH (Germany) — A flow body for an aircraft, in particular for a wing leading edge device, is proposed, the flow body having a curved front skin having a leading edge and at least one trailing-edge component coupled with at least one spanwise edge of the front skin, wherein the trailing-edge component comprises a constant cross-sectional profile that tapers in a chordwise direction to form two spanwise flow surfaces that end in a trailing edge, and wherein the trailing-edge component is designed for providing a flush transition between the front skin and at least one of the two spanwise flow surfaces. The trailing-edge component may be made in a separate manufacturing process and subsequently combined with the front skin. This allows the elimination of a more complex trailing-edge assembly and its replacement by a single part trailing edge. It may be a part made of aluminum in an extrusion process.
US11953263 — EXTRUDED ALUMINUM STICKER FOR SPACING WOOD — Imagineering Werks, LLC (USA) — This disclosure generally relates to stickers used to stack lumber for drying, and more specifically relates to an extruded aluminum sticker. A sticker for spacing wood is extruded from an aluminum alloy. The sticker can have different configurations. In a first configuration, the sticker has a width about the same as its height, with longitudinal ridges on all sides that grip wood when wood is stacked on the sticker. In a second configuration, the sticker has a width significantly greater than its height, with longitudinal ridges on the top and bottom surfaces, and with smooth side surfaces. The longitudinal ridges have a height within a specified range and are spaced at a distance peak-to-peak within a specified range. The ridges provide good grip of lumber stacked on the sticker yet do not easily plug with wood fibers through repeated use. The extruded aluminum sticker is very rugged and can be used for hundreds or even thousands of drying cycles.
US11940136 — ULTRA-THIN NARROW-BEZEL PANEL LIGHT — Xiamen PVTECH Co., Ltd. (China) — An ultra-thin narrow-bezel panel light includes a base plate and a bezel surrounding the base plate. The base plate includes a plurality of side walls and an accommodating portion between the side walls, and the height of the base plate is 18~26 mm. Each of the side walls has a connecting side and the side walls are installed and fixed on the bezel via the connecting sides thereof, such that the overall height of the panel light can be reduced to 20~28 mm. Thus, the panel light can be ultra-thin, low-cost, and have a narrow bezel. In some embodiments, the bezel 2 is made of aluminum and the cross section of the bezel 2 is approximately L-shaped. In some embodiments, the bezel 2 can be square (rectangular) formed by four frame strips. The bezel 2 may be an integrally formed frame made by the aluminum extrusion process or a frame formed by combining the four frame strips with each other.
US11938798 — OPENABLE STRUCTURE FOR A SUBSTRUCTURE — European Trailer Systems GMBH (Germany) — The invention relates to an openable structure for a substrate, such as a lorry, trailer, semitrailer, railway wagon, dumper truck or container, comprising a tarpaulin framework to which, for example, a tarpaulin made of weather-resistant material or a plurality of hinged couplable wall elements can be connected, wherein the tarpaulin framework has a plurality of slides which are shiftable along at least one guide, wherein the guide comprises a longitudinal member element along which the slides are shiftable. An openable structure permitting smooth opening and closing of the structure is provided according to the invention in that the longitudinal member element is arranged adjustably at least in sections in a direction transversely with respect to the shifting direction of the slides. In a favorable embodiment the support frame and longitudinal beam are made of an extruded aluminum body with a plurality of interconnectable section parts.
US11936058 — ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY PACK HAVING BOTTOM STRIKE SHIELD — Rivian IP Holdings, LLC (USA) — An electric vehicle battery pack with a strike shield affixed to its bottom. The strike shield provides structural support to withstand ground strikes without damaging the batteries within the battery pack. The strike shield is a mixed material sandwich bottom plate structure having a composite top layer, a middle core with one or more hollow members adhesively connected or welded together, or a single integrated structure with elongated stiffeners and/or a base member with elongated channels for stiffness, and a composite bottom layer. In some embodiments, the hollow members can be high strength aluminum extrusions and can also each have a substantially rectangular cross section.
US11936026 — TEMPERATURE CONTROL COMPONENT AND BATTERY PACK — Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (China) — The present application provides a temperature control component, made of an aluminum profile to ensure strength and thermal conductivity, which includes a first side plate, a second side plate and a first buffer plate. A cavity is formed by the second side plate and the first side plate; the first buffer plate is disposed between the second side plate and the first side plate to divide the cavity into multiple channels, and at least part of the first buffer plate extends obliquely from the first side plate towards the second side plate. The first and second side plates, first buffer plate, and first and second connection plates can be integrally formed with an aluminum extrusion process. The present application also provides a battery pack, which includes the temperature control component described above.
US11910569 — HEAT SINK AND HEAT DISSIPATION DEVICE — Cooler Master Co., Ltd. (Taiwan) — The disclosure provides a heat sink and a heat dissipation device that are capable of effectively dissipate heat generated by the CPU and other heat sources therearound. The heat sink includes a cylindrical body and a plurality of fins made by aluminum extrusion. The fins are connected to and protrude from the cylindrical body. At least a part of the plurality of fins each include a first protrusion portion and a second protrusion portion, a distal edge of the first protrusion portion is located farther away from a central axis of the cylindrical body than a distal edge of the second protrusion portion. In addition, the disclosure also provides a heat dissipation device having the heat sink.
US11873028 — FRONT VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE — Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation (Korea) — An embodiment front vehicle body structure includes a fender apron upper member, a front side member coupled to a front portion of the fender apron upper member, and a front pillar unit coupled to a rear portion of the front side member and a rear portion of the fender apron upper member, the front pillar unit including an aluminum material. A front vehicle body structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include front side members combined with a front part of each fender apron upper member respectively, and front pillar units coupled to the rear portion of each of the front side member and the rear portion of each of the fender apron upper member and made of aluminum material.
US11858553 — REAR VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE — Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation (Korea) — The present disclosure has been made to provide a rear vehicle body structure capable of reducing the number of components used to mount a rear suspension spring on a vehicle body and reducing a weight and cost of the vehicle body. A rear vehicle body structure includes two opposite rear side members to which wheelhouse panels are respectively coupled and aluminum die cast spring seats positioned respectively at lower sides of the two opposite rear side members. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the two opposite rear side members 10, which may be aluminum extrusions, extend in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body from a rear portion of the vehicle body and are respectively disposed at two opposite left and right sides in the vehicle width direction.
US11851823 — RAIL SYSTEM — Horstkemper Maschinenbau GmbH (Germany) — A rail system (1) has a rail (20), a support device (10) for the rail (20), and a clamping device (40) for fixedly clamping the rail (20) in the support device (10). The clamping device (40) fixedly clamps the rail (20) in the support device (10) only in an operating situation. In the operating situation, a holding device (30) is arranged between the clamping device (40) and the rail (20) and releasably clamps the rail (20) in an installation situation in a predetermined position in the support device (10). In the preferred embodiment, the support device 10, holding device 30, and clamping device 40 are made of aluminum extrusions while the rail 20 is made of hardened and ground steel 10f53. Different materials may be used for manufacturing these components in other embodiments.
US11751358 — ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CAGE ASSEMBLY AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR THEREWITH — All Best Precision Technology Co., Ltd. (Taiwan) — An electrical connector cage assembly includes a connector casing, a heat sink, and an attaching part with surface of the base. The fins extend above a marginal area of the top surface to form an open slot with the marginal area. The open slot has two end openings and a side opening extending to the end openings. The attaching part passes through the open slot and protrudes from the end openings to be detachably engaged with the connector casing to detachably fix the base onto the connector casing. Therein, the attaching part is separable from the heat sink from the side opening. An electrical connector includes a circuit board, an electrical connector base, and the electrical connector cage assembly. The electrical connector base is electrically connected onto the circuit board and exposed from the connector casing. the plurality of first fins 1644 and the first base 1642 are integrally formed as a single part (e.g. by aluminum extrusion process).
