Patents Examined by Caitlin Anne Miller
  • Patent number: 11702024
    Abstract: To improve workability when attaching an airbag module disposed in a side portion of a vehicle seat from a seat back side. A vehicle seat (S) includes: a side frame (13) which constitutes a side portion of a seat back frame (10); a bracket (20) which includes an attachment portion (21) attached to a side surface of the side frame (13) on a seat inner side and a back protrusion portion (22) protruding backward from the attachment portion (21); and an airbag module (30) which includes a retainer (34) fixed to the back protrusion portion (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuro Yamada, Atsushi Yamabe
  • Patent number: 11702032
    Abstract: A vehicular belt tactile apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a buckle, a belt configured to be fastened to the buckle and at least one air pouch disposed at a portion of the belt that contacts the body of an occupant when the belt is fastened to the buckle. An air controller generates a control signal when the belt is fastened to the buckle. The buckle includes an air supply unit that is configured to inject air into the at least one air pouch through the belt or to discharge air from the at least one air pouch in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Mo Lee, Jung Keun Yoo, Joong Kwan Kim, Kaang Dok Yee
  • Patent number: 11691474
    Abstract: A system for filling a tank of a suspension system with hydraulic fluid includes: a module configured to turn on an external pump and pump hydraulic fluid into the suspension system, where the external pump is separate from the suspension system and is configured to pump hydraulic fluid into the suspension system via a port fluidly connected to a hydraulic line of the suspension system; and a fill module configured to, after operating the external pump, operate a pump of the suspension system and pump hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic line into the tank of the suspension system thereby filling the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: DRiV Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Boon, Stein Slootmaekers, Nandish Calchand, Bert Vandersmissen
  • Patent number: 11685332
    Abstract: An airbag system for a vehicle body includes an inflator and an airbag wherein the inflator is mounted on the vehicle body. The airbag includes a plurality of mounting portions, an inflatable main portion and a supplemental portion integral to the inflatable main portion at an upper edge of the inflatable main portion. The inflatable main portion includes an outboard interface side and an inboard engagement side while the supplemental portion includes an outboard vehicle side and an inboard interface side which is disposed adjacent to a portion of the outboard interface side of the inflatable main portion. The inflatable main portion is configured to deploy inboard of a vehicle window while the supplemental portion is configured to deploy between an upper region of the inflatable main portion and an upper vehicle rail thereby urging an upper region of the inflatable main portion toward an inboard direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Passive Safety Systems US Inc.
    Inventors: Young Kim, Jason Bare
  • Patent number: 11685189
    Abstract: An axle assembly is provided for a working machine. The axle assembly includes an axle having first and second ends, the first end having a first wheel mount for pivotably mounting a first wheel to the axle and the second end having a second wheel mount for pivotably mounting a second wheel to the axle. The assembly has a steering arrangement for pivoting the first and second wheel mounts relative to the axle, the steering arrangement having a linkage connected to the first and second wheel mounts and configured to pivot the first and second wheel mounts relative to the axle. The steering arrangement also includes an actuator configured to actuate the steering linkage in order to effect pivoting of the first and second wheel mounts, and the actuator is directly connected to the steering linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: J.C. BAMFORD EXCAVATORS LIMITED
    Inventor: Christopher Jack Streat
  • Patent number: 11673528
    Abstract: Airbag inflator system including a housing defining a flow passage leading into an interior of an airbag). A gas generator is arranged in connection with the housing. An activation system provides a signal to the gas generator to cause generation of gas. An aspirator is arranged between the reverse flow valve and the outlet end region and includes an inlet portion alongside the reverse flow valve and an aspiration portion partly separated from the inlet portion to define at least one opening in flow communication with the gas generator. The aspirator is preferably configured to generate gas flow in accordance with the Prandtl-Meyer effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Automotive Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: David S Breed, Gennadii A Voropaiev, Nina F Yurchenko, Yuriy A Paramonov, Andriy I Koshil
  • Patent number: 11661102
    Abstract: An independent suspension system for a vehicle includes: a steering unit configured to be controlled to adjust the steering angle of a wheel, a shock absorber engaged with the wheel and configured to absorb impacts applied to the wheel and including a first shock absorber and a second shock absorber, each of which arranged in a forward-rearward direction on opposite side surfaces of the wheel, and a link unit disposed between the shock absorber and the steering unit in order to vary the distance between the wheel and the steering unit. The link unit includes a first upper arm disposed between the first shock absorber and the steering unit, a second upper arm disposed between the second shock absorber and the steering unit, and at least one ground clearance adjustment unit engaged with the first and second upper arms in order to vary the distance between the first and second upper arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Jeong Hwan Park
  • Patent number: 11661099
    Abstract: A handwheel actuator for a steer by wire system may include a feedback actuator and a column for operably coupling a handwheel to the handwheel actuator. The column includes a column shaft extending from a first end of the column to a second end of the column. The feedback actuator is operably coupled to the second end of the column and provides tactile feedback to an operator responsive to movement of the handwheel. The feedback actuator includes a torsion bar coaxial with the column shaft. The column shaft is supported relative to a housing of the column by a first column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the first end of the column and a second column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the second end of the column. The torsion bar extends into the column shaft past the second column shaft bearing and is operably coupled to the column shaft via a removable fastener disposed at a portion of the torsion bar that extends past the second column shaft bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Erik William Soderlind, Steven Bryan Amburgy, Taras Palczynski
  • Patent number: 11654964
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a control switch that is configured to generate an operation signal, and a controller that is electrically connected to the control switch to receive the operation signal therefrom, and that is configured to, in response to receipt of the operation signal, transmit a control signal to a tilting mechanism for making the tilting mechanism operate in one of a locked state and an unlocked state. After the vehicle is powered on, the controller is further configured to, when the controller has continuously received the operation signal for a predetermined reception time, determine that the control switch is abnormal, stop transmitting the control signal and control a warning unit to output a warning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wei-Xiang Liao
  • Patent number: 11649008
    Abstract: A three wheeled vehicle is provided that can include a frame, a steerable front wheel secured to a front end of the frame, a first trailing wheel arm having a first rear wheel secured thereto and a second trailing wheel arm having a second rear wheel secured thereto, and a central suspension joint secured to the frame on which the first and second trailing wheel arm is rotatably secured on either side of the frame. Further, the vehicle can include a horizontal linkage pivotably connected on the frame at the midsection beneath the first and second trailing wheel arms and linked to an underside of the first and second trailing wheel arm between the first wheel and the central suspension joint proximal to a first end of the horizontal linkage and between the second wheel and the central suspension joint proximal to a second end of the horizontal linkage, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventor: Scott D. Walls
  • Patent number: 11642928
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle suspension may comprise a spring and a first spindle operably coupled with the spring in a spindle axial direction. A stop body may be operably coupled to the first spindle in a cylinder axial direction. The stop body may be configured to limit an axial length of travel of the suspension relative to the first spindle. The first spindle may be a steering spindle or a suspension spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Wubben, Joshua J. Fausch, Daniel C. Jordan
  • Patent number: 11643044
    Abstract: A grille assembly for a vehicle is disclosed and includes a forward frame portion, an aft frame portion, and a plurality of spring portions coupling the forward frame portion to the aft frame portion such that the forward frame is movable relative to the aft frame portion. A front end assembly for a vehicle is also disclosed that includes a bolster assembly and an active grille shutter system supported relative to the bolster assembly. The disclosed active grille shutter system includes a plurality of spring portions coupling forward and aft frame portions such that the forward frame is movable relative to the aft frame. Vanes are supported by at least one of the forward and aft frame portions and are rotatable for controlling airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David Brian Glickman, Sean Terence Coghlan, Darshan Arun Nayak, James Alan Acre, Aaron Peter Klop
  • Patent number: 11643056
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus that includes a brake operation portion that applies a brake to a vehicle, the brake operation portion allowing a manual brake operation by a hand of a driver of the vehicle, the brake operation portion including a brake operation body and a grip portion to be gripped by the hand of the driver, the grip portion being provided at an upper end of the brake operation body, and a shift-down switch that shifts-down the vehicle is provided on the grip portion, the shift-down switch allowing a manual shift-down operation by the hand of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka Sakuragi, Masaaki Aoki, Keiichi Yamasaki, Katsuhisa Maedo, Shigeru Takenaka, Kenichi Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 11634166
    Abstract: A support structure for an airbag apparatus includes an airbag apparatus having a bag holder, a supporting member having a shaft portion, a slider, an annular damper holder, and an annular elastic member. The shaft portion extends in a front-rear direction, while being passed through the bag holder. The shaft portion includes a flange at the rear end. The slider is fitted around the shaft portion to be slidable in the front-rear direction. The damper holder covers part of the slider in the front-rear direction. The elastic member includes protrusions that protrude rearward from the elastic member so as to contact the flange, thereby partially filling a gap between the elastic member and the flange. The protrusions extend radially with an axis of the supporting member serving as a center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Matsuo Nagata, Yuki Nonoyama
  • Patent number: 11633996
    Abstract: A double-wishbone type of suspension device for a vehicle comprises a forked-shaped upper arm, a forked-shaped lower arm, and a connecting rod which connects a front-side arm portion of the upper arm and a rear-side arm portion of the lower arm, wherein the connecting rod comprises an upper rod which is rotatably connected to the upper arm, a lower rod which is rotatably connected to said lower arm, and a resilient bush which connects the upper rod and the lower rod in an expandable manner in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumitaka Andou, Norio Asano, Masaya Hiramatsu, Koji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11623491
    Abstract: Disclosed are a shock absorber and an automobile. The shock absorber includes a shock absorber cylinder and an air spring arranged around the shock absorber cylinder. The air spring includes a damping spring and a piston. A free end of the damping spring is supported at a free end of the piston. A support is disposed between the piston and the shock absorber cylinder. The free end of the piston is supported on the shock absorber cylinder by the support. In the shock absorber according to the invention, the piston and the shock absorber cylinder can be connected in a simple way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: NIO TECHNOLOGY (ANHUI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tian Yang, Qunfei Yao, Zhenqiang Wu
  • Patent number: 11591000
    Abstract: A steering apparatus assembly, having a steering axis, about which the steering apparatus assembly can rotate in is disclosed. The steering apparatus assembly comprises a first element and a second element. The two elements are connected to one another by a first and second joints. The first joint comprises a resilient locking element, which is deflectable in a direction transverse to the steering axis to disengage the first joint. The second joint is deflectable by an axial load acting on the assembly elements away from one another. A wedge is provided having a wedge length transverse to the steering axis and a variable wedge height in the direction of the steering axis. The wedge length and length and a wedge inclination angle are matched to one another such that both the first joint and the second joint can be undone by a linear movement of the wedge in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Safety Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Haas
  • Patent number: 11590817
    Abstract: A cantilever bushing assembly anchors the central torsional section of a vehicular stabilizer bar in a cantilevered manner relative to a vehicle understructure. The bushing assembly comprises a bracket having a pocket centered on a pocket axis that coincides with a longitudinal axis of the stabilizer bar. Two plastic outer cans are cooperatively slidable into the pocket. Each outer can has an anti-rotation lobe received in respective keyways formed in the pocket. A rubber buffer is bonded to each outer can. Each rubber buffer has a frusto-cylindrical inner bearing surface that forms an arcuate portion of an interior bushing diameter. The inner bearing surface is post-vulcanization bonded to the central torsional section of the stabilizer bar. An arched rate plate is embedded within each rubber buffer. The rubber buffers compress in the area of the inner bearing surfaces and constrict about the central torsional section of the stabilizer bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Zhongli North America Inc.
    Inventor: Dean Juriga
  • Patent number: 11584188
    Abstract: A stabilizer unit for a vehicle and a method for manufacturing such a stabilizer unit, the stabilizer unit comprising a stabilizer bar, at least one bearing including a flange, made of plastic material, including at least one retaining portion and one groove including a cradle portion, wherein the stabilizer bar passes through the groove of the flange and is secured to the flange by means of a vulcanized elastomer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventors: Pascal Boudier, Touria Achtioui, Jacky Rhein, Maud Villette
  • Patent number: 11584440
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicular device comprising a tether. The tether is anchored at a first point to the frame of the vehicle, and at a second point to the knuckle of a front wheel of the vehicle, wherein the knuckle couples the front wheel to the frame. The locations of the first anchor point and second anchor point, along with the length of the tether and the routing of the tether within the vehicle, are selected such that in a collision event between the front wheel and a barrier, when the knuckle becomes separated from the frame, the motion of the front wheel is constrained to exert force on both the barrier and the frame of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremiah T. Hammer, Mark Clauser