Patents Examined by Brian J McGovern
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Patent number: 11912126Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The lock mechanism can restrict the operation of the pedal lever. The actuator switches between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted. The ECU includes a lock operation determination unit and an actuator control unit. The lock operation determination unit resumes the locked state by the drive of the actuator after a release from the locked state due to the step-on operation of the pedal lever during the automatic drive control in the locked state, when (i) the automatic drive control is continued or (ii) a resuming of the automatic drive control is detected.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yuusuke Yoshida, Soichi Kinouchi, Takuto Kita, Hideyuki Mori
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Patent number: 11897330Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The pedal lever operates in accordance with a step-on operation. The lock mechanism is capable of restricting the operation of the pedal lever. The lock mechanism can switch a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is free from restriction by the lock mechanism. The ECU includes a locking operation determination unit, an actuator control unit, and an information acquisition unit. The locking operation determination unit determines switching of a locking operation by the lock mechanism. The actuator control unit controls a driving operation of an actuator. The locking operation determination unit locks the pedal lever when the vehicle is traveling on a specific position in an automatic driving mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yuusuke Yoshida, Soichi Kinouchi, Hideyuki Mori, Takuto Kita
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Patent number: 11866153Abstract: The invention relates to a force application device for a control stick of an aircraft, said control stick comprising a control lever that is connected to at least one motor comprising a drive shaft that can be rotated about an axis, the force application device comprising: a first pin connected to the shaft, a housing, an electromagnet, a movable actuator comprising a magnetic material, a coupling device comprising an input gear connected to the housing and an output gear comprising a second pin, and means for clamping the first pin and the second pin which comprise a first tooth and a second tooth, said device having an operating configuration in which the electromagnet is active and the output gear is positioned at a distance from the input gear, and a blocking configuration in which the electromagnet is inactive and the gears are meshed.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2019Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSEInventors: Corentin Le Roux, Mickael Werquin, Yannick Attrazic
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Patent number: 11853097Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The pedal lever operates according to a step-on operation. The lock mechanism can restrict an operation of the pedal lever. The actuator switches between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted. The ECU includes an actuator control unit and a vehicle drive force control unit. The actuator control unit controls a drive of the actuator. When, during a travel of a vehicle in the locked state, (i) a disturbance is detected and (ii) the locked state is released, the vehicle drive control unit suppresses a vehicle drive force according to an opening degree of the pedal lever than a no disturbance situation.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Soichi Kinouchi, Yuusuke Yoshida, Takuto Kita, Hideyuki Mori, Shinji Komatsu
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Patent number: 11840304Abstract: A bicycle handlebar stem or stem/handlebar assembly has an inclined linear travel approximately 45 degrees from horizontal. This inclined path mimics a rider's natural arm inclination and pitching moment. 45 degrees is nearly ideal for most dropped bar road bicycles but different style bicycles may have an ideal angle between 30 and 60 degrees.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Inventor: Christopher William Huber
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Patent number: 11813939Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever that performs an operation in accordance with a step-on operation, a lock mechanism configured to restrict the operation of the pedal lever, and an actuator configured to switch between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted by the lock mechanism. A controller includes a locking operation determination unit that determines switching of a locking operation by the lock mechanism, an actuator control unit that controls a driving operation of the actuator, and an information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle speed information. The locking operation determination unit locks the pedal lever when a vehicle is traveling in an automatic driving mode and when a vehicle speed is equal to or more than an activation-determination lower limit value.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2022Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yuusuke Yoshida, Soichi Kinouchi, Takuto Kita, Hideyuki Mori
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Patent number: 11815930Abstract: A system for actuating a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal of a vehicle by hand. The system includes a planetary gear train having a sun gear, a ring gear, and planetary gears meshed with both the sun gear and the ring gear. The planetary gears are mounted to a carrier. A carrier flange is in cooperation with the carrier to rotate with the carrier. A sun gear flange is in cooperation with the sun gear. Rotation of the sun gear flange rotates the sun gear. A lever is mounted adjacent to the sun gear flange. An accelerator actuation assembly is connected to the lever and configured to couple with the accelerator pedal. A brake actuation assembly is connected to the carrier flange and configured to couple with the brake pedal.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2023Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Kyle Patrick Nolan, Victor Wong, Cameron Tyler Knight
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Patent number: 11809211Abstract: A foldable pedal apparatus of a vehicle includes a pendant-type configuration provided with a pedal arm and a pedal pad. The pedal pad rotates with respect to the pedal arm when the rotation motor operates so that the pedal pad pops up to protrude toward a driver or hide to block the exposure to the driver.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia CorporationInventor: Eun Sik Kim
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Patent number: 11794578Abstract: An integrated control apparatus for driving a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a lever housing mounted in an interior space of the vehicle; a joystick lever coupled to the lever housing and configured to be rotatable in a forward-backward direction and a leftward-rightward direction; and a gentle acceleration lever coupled to the joystick lever and configured to be rotatable in the forward-backward direction. When the gentle acceleration lever is operated, a gentle acceleration signal of the vehicle is generated, and when the joystick lever is operated, one of a sudden acceleration signal, a deceleration signal, a steering signal, or a braking signal of the vehicle is generated.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2021Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia CorporationInventor: Won Jin Jeong
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Patent number: 11796179Abstract: A cooking appliance may include a panel provided with a through hole; a knob assembly installed at the panel; and a valve disposed inside of the panel.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2021Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventor: Haemin Kim
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Patent number: 11772699Abstract: Provided is a vehicle steering wheel cover that is easy to be produced and that does not take much time to be attached to a steering wheel. The vehicle steering wheel cover is a ring-shape tube, and is provided with a slit formed so as to be fitted to the steering wheel along the inner circumference inside the ring-shaped tube. The hardness of material of a part of the tube is lower than the hardness of material of the other parts thereof.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: THE MITA CO., LTD.Inventor: Masato Zukoshi
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Patent number: 11772553Abstract: A steering wheel is provided. A steering wheel of a vehicle capable of autonomous driving includes a grip unit having a rim shape and held by a driver to steer the vehicle, an illumination unit provided in each of a left portion and a right portion of the grip unit in a circumferential direction of the grip unit, and a control unit configured to control the illumination unit to light up in a hold induction pattern for inducing holding by the driver according to a situation of the vehicle and a vehicle state pattern for guiding the driver through a state of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: KOMOS CO., LTD.Inventors: In Chul Yoo, Hyeoung Seok Song, Won Woo Chi, Jeong Su Oh, Ihn Joo Jae
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Patent number: 11766934Abstract: A foldable pedal apparatus for a vehicle is configured so that a pedal pad is pop up in a manual driving mode in which a driver drives the vehicle himself or herself so that operation by the driver is possible, the pedal pad is hidden in an autonomous driving situation so that operation by the driver is impossible, and a gear device transmitting power of motors generates a boosting force to implement a foldable function of the pedal pad.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, Kyung Chang Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Eun Sik Kim, Ji Soo Kim
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Patent number: 11760405Abstract: A handle in which a sensor layer capable of detecting grip is disposed on a gripping portion that is gripped at a time of steering. The gripping portion includes a core material, a covering layer formed of urethane foam, which is disposed by die-molding so as to cover a periphery of the core material, the sensor layer, and a protective layer covering the sensor layer. The sensor layer is formed of a mold coat agent formed of a urethane-based paint containing a conductive material. The mold coat agent is applied to a die surface of a molding die of the covering layer. At a time of molding the covering layer, the sensor layer formed of the mold coat agent is disposed on a surface side of the covering layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuichi Tsunekawa, Toshihiko Asai, Norio Umemura, Akira Nakiri
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Patent number: 11755053Abstract: A pedal installation structure for a vehicle, the pedal installation structure including: a pedal provided at a front portion of a vehicle cabin interior, the pedal having a pedal pad to which stepping force is applied and that is supported so as to be able to pivot around a shaft portion provided along a vehicle transverse direction; a harness connected to the pedal, the harness having, at a vehicle longitudinal direction front side of the pedal, a surplus length portion by which slack is obtained; and a guiding member that guides the harness such that the harness is routed at an outer side of the pedal pad, as seen in a plan view.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Koju Kurihara
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Patent number: 11753797Abstract: A working vehicle includes a vehicle body, a cabin on the vehicle body, a clutch pedal in the cabin, a clutch on the vehicle body, a clutch operator to engage and disengage the clutch, a linkage including first and second ends, the first end being connected to the clutch operator, and a linkage lock to interlock the clutch pedal with the second end of the linkage so that vibrations of the cabin are reduced or prevented from being transmitted to the clutch.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Takuya Tanigawa, Kenichi Aoyama, Michitaka Tanaka, Hitoshi Omachi, Megumi Sawai, Daisuke Inaba
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Patent number: 11745784Abstract: A steering wheel 1 includes a rim section having a rim section main body section and a covering member that covers at least a part of the rim section main body section. The steering wheel 1 includes a decorative section attached to the rim section. The rim section main body section includes an attaching section to which the decorative section is attached in a direction intersecting a direction in which the rim section main body section extends. The covering member includes one split body and the other split body for covering one part and the other part of the rim section main body section with the attaching section as a reference. The one split body and the other split body are configured such that at least parts of end portions and facing each other in the attaching section have shapes complementary to each other.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.Inventors: Iwao Asano, Takahiro Suwama
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Patent number: 11746886Abstract: A transmission capable of being assembled as a coolerless transmission and a transmission having an oil cooler includes a housing and a lubrication system. The oil passage system includes an oil passage having an oil outlet opening extending out of the housing and an oil inlet opening extending into the housing. A bypass flow passage is disposed in the housing in communication with the oil outlet opening and the oil inlet opening. In a coolerless configuration a pair of plugs are inserted in the oil outlet opening and the oil inlet opening, respectively, to close off the oil outlet opening and the oil inlet opening so that oil flows from the oil outlet opening to the oil inlet opening through the bypass flow passage. In a transmission configuration having an oil cooler, an exterior oil cooler is connected to the oil outlet opening and the oil inlet opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies, LLCInventors: Adam Christopher Maurer, Graeme Andrew Jackson
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Patent number: 11726519Abstract: Described herein is a positioning spring configured to rotatably engage with a rotatable shaft. The rotatable shaft is configured to rotate relative to the positioning spring. The positioning spring comprises a first compliant lobe positioned at a first radial position. The first compliant lobe is configured to engage with one or more detent surfaces of the rotatable shaft to resist rotation of the rotatable shaft and to bias the rotatable shaft in one or more angular positions. The first compliant lobe is configured to flex upon engagement of the first compliant lobe with the rotatable shaft at a surface position out of contact with the detent surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Brent Carper, Eric P. Huelsmann
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Patent number: 11698099Abstract: A cable release comprises a control handle, at least one retractable latch pin, and cables connected from the handle to the latch pins. The handle assembly includes a cup with a non-round orifice at one end. A rod within the cup passes through the handle allowing it to spin, so twisting the handle does not cross up its attached control lines. The latch pin assembly includes another cup and a set screw so that a stop tube may be inserted adjustably to establish a gap length between the stop tube and the retractable latch pin in the cup. A spring between the stop tube and a flange of the pin extends the pin when not pulled into a retracted position by the handle. Varying pin lengths and stop tube gaps allows a single pull of the handle to effect simultaneous or sequential releases of articles retained by the pins.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2023Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Inventor: James Bruce McMenamy