US 12,227,142 B2
Active grille shutters for vehicles including integrated pedestrian guards
Jasvir Singh, Novi, MI (US); and Spencer Boyd, III, Walled Lake, MI (US)
Assigned to Nissan North America, Inc., Franklin, TN (US)
Filed by Nissan North America, Inc., Franklin, TN (US)
Filed on Sep. 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/375,080.
Application 18/375,080 is a continuation of application No. 17/885,182, filed on Aug. 10, 2022, granted, now 11,807,186.
Prior Publication US 2024/0051491 A1, Feb. 15, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60R 21/34 (2011.01); B60K 11/08 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 21/34 (2013.01) [B60K 11/085 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle comprising:
an active grille shutter;
a reinforcement member positioned axially forward of the active grille shutter and configured to absorb impact forces;
a pedestrian guard formed unitarily with the active grille shutter from a single piece of material such that the pedestrian guard extends axially forward of the reinforcement member; and
a fascia concealing the pedestrian guard, wherein the pedestrian guard extends into the fascia such that the fascia and the pedestrian guard collectively define a front-most surface of the vehicle.