Patents Examined by Jason D Shanske
  • Patent number: 11975675
    Abstract: An assembly includes a vehicle body including a body side. A front seat and a rear seat are adjacent to the body side. The front seat and the rear seat each include a seat bottom and a seat back that extends upwardly from the seat bottom. A side airbag is mounted to the vehicle body below the seat bottom of the front seat and the rear seat. A tether retractor is mounted to the vehicle body above the seat bottom of the front seat and the seat bottom of the rear seat. A tether extends from the side airbag to the tether retractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Patent number: 11970210
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension arrangement includes a suspension slider assembly including first and second laterally spaced longitudinal frame members configured to be slidably coupled to a first vehicle frame member, first and second gusset members fixed to the first and second longitudinal frame members and each including a relief, a first lateral frame member extending between the first and second longitudinal frame members, the first lateral frame member having ends received within the reliefs, an axle member configured to support a pair of wheel assemblies, and a suspension assembly configured to support the suspension slider assembly from the axle member, the suspension assembly including a spring member positioned between the suspension slider assembly and the axle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SAF-Holland, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Thomas Galazin, Edward Robert Hammer, Jeffrey M. Galla
  • Patent number: 11970127
    Abstract: A vehicle passenger seat airbag device includes: an airbag main body that is stored on a lower side of an instrument panel and that is partitioned by an upper partition member to a lower chamber that restrains lower limbs of an occupant and an upper chamber that restrains an upper body of the occupant; and a flow straightening cylinder that is provided so as to be passed through the upper partition member inside the airbag main body and that distributes gas ejected from an inflator to the lower chamber and the upper chamber. The flow straightening cylinder is provided such that a sectional shape of at least a region passing through the upper partition member is provided in a flat shape with its longitudinal direction in a vehicle width direction when the flow straightening cylinder expands and deploys due to ejection of the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Hioda, Toshimitsu Negishi, Kazuma Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11970066
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electric vehicle comprising a chassis, a front axle and a rear axle spaced apart and coupled to the chassis, and a battery frame assembly coupled to the chassis between the front axle and the rear axle. The battery frame assembly comprises a plurality of transversely extending members and a plurality of longitudinally extending members, wherein the plurality of transversely extending members and the plurality of longitudinally extending members define a matrix of battery pack receptacles configured to receive at least one battery pack. The battery frame assembly is configured to deflect torsionally in response to torsional deflection of the front axle relative to the rear axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Nikola Corporation
    Inventors: Cory Borghi, Saeid Emami, Umran Ashraf, Philipp Konold, Matthias Morath, Cihan Dere, Christian Krug
  • Patent number: 11970836
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile work machine, in particular to an excavator, that comprises an undercarriage having a tracked chassis, a rail mounting, or a wheeled chassis, a superstructure having an attachment fastened thereto, and a slewing ring that rotatably connects the undercarriage and the superstructure to one another. The work machine is characterized by a decentralized energy supply and/or by a decentralized supply network, preferably a DC supply network, and a slip ring for transferring electrical energy between the superstructure and the undercarriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Liebherr-Hydraulikbagger GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Bayer, Dirk Asam
  • Patent number: 11964588
    Abstract: A battery provided in a vehicle and configured to supply electric power is cooled down by coolant the heat of which is exchanged with the heat of external air by a radiator. The radiator is provided near the battery and performs heat-exchange between the coolant and the external air taken in through introduction holes provided on a bottom face of the vehicle. Thus, even in a case where the radiator is provided in a vehicle floor portion so that the battery is upsized, it is possible to restrain a coolant pipe from being elongated. This accordingly makes it possible to improve mountability to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Watanabe, Keisuke Shibata, Kenta Miyahara
  • Patent number: 11964533
    Abstract: In a fastener structure for a vehicle, a height adjustment spacer is interposed between first and second vehicle body frames fixed with a bolt and a nut. The nut has a first insertion hole through which a bolt is screwed, and is fixed to a surface of the first vehicle body frame. The height adjustment spacer has a second insertion hole through which the bolt is inserted, and is disposed in contact with another surface of the first vehicle body frame. The bolt is inserted through an attachment hole of the second vehicle body frame, the second insertion hole, an attachment hole of the first vehicle body frame, and the first insertion hole. On a contact surface between the height adjustment spacer and the first vehicle body frame, a protrusion and a recess are provided to surround an entirety of the second insertion hole, the second insertion hole respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Takahashi, Tsuguo Nakazawa, Satoshi Ueda, Jun Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11964566
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle including a chassis a body assembly coupled to the chassis, the body assembly defining a refuse compartment, an electric energy system, and an auxiliary power system comprising a reservoir to hold a hydraulic fluid, and a hydraulic pump powered by an electric motor, wherein the hydraulic pump pressurizes the hydraulic fluid to power one or more actuators, and wherein at least one of the electric energy system or the auxiliary power system is configured to provide power to a carry can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua D. Rocholl, Derek A. Wente, John T. Kellander, Cody D. Clifton, Vincent Hoover, Zachary L. Klein, Clinton T. Weckwerth, Skylar A. Wachter, Chad Smith, Mike Bolton, Shawn Naglik
  • Patent number: 11964590
    Abstract: A battery provided in a vehicle and configured to supply electric power is cooled down by coolant the heat of which is exchanged with the heat of external air by a radiator. The radiator is provided near the battery and performs heat-exchange between the coolant and the external air taken in through introduction holes provided on a bottom face of the vehicle. Thus, even in a case where the radiator is provided in a vehicle floor portion so that the battery is upsized, it is possible to restrain a coolant pipe from being elongated. This accordingly makes it possible to improve mountability to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Watanabe, Keisuke Shibata, Kenta Miyahara
  • Patent number: 11964719
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle having a breakaway tie rod. The tie rod has a longitudinal axis oriented substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and includes a rod portion and a receiver portion. The rod portion includes a proximal ball joint disposed at the proximal end and a male coupling section disposed at the distal end. The receiver portion includes a female coupling section disposed at the proximal end, a distal ball joint disposed at the distal end, and a narrowing feature disposed between the proximal end and distal end. The male coupling section of the rod portion is received into the female coupling section of the receiver portion, forming a connection, and the distal end of the rod portion is disposed proximate to the narrowing feature. The narrowing feature is configured to fracture when subjected to a threshold force substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremiah T. Hammer, Brian L. Tew, Kristofer L. Karch, Nikhil V. Bhosale, John Kim, Donald Federico, Sato Koki, Isao Kohno
  • Patent number: 11958331
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a rear suspension assembly which has a trailing arm generally extending longitudinally. The trailing arm includes a joint along a longitudinal length of the trailing arm. Also, the rear suspension assembly includes an upper radius rod extending in a generally lateral direction relative to a centerline of the vehicle. Additionally, the rear suspension assembly includes a lower radius rod extending in a generally lateral direction relative to the centerline of the vehicle. The rear suspension assembly further includes a suspension member configured to control toe of the at least one rear ground-engaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Alex R. Scheuerell, David D. Helgeson, Aaron S. Norton
  • Patent number: 11961987
    Abstract: Described herein are battery modules and methods of fabricating thereof. In some examples, a battery module comprises an enclosure, separated into two enclosure portions and a thermal portion, positioned between the two enclosure portions. Two enclosure portions are in part defined by side walls, which can be tapered. The thermal portion comprises two thermal walls, which are operable as the bottoms of the two enclosure portions and form a thermal cavity between these thermal walls. In some examples, the enclosure is a monolithically cast component. Alternatively, the enclosure can be partially cast with one thermal wall welded thereafter to a cast subassembly. The battery module also comprises two sets of batteries, each positioned into a corresponding enclosure portion. Each battery set is interconnected with an interconnecting assembly, positioned between the battery set and the corresponding cover, for this enclosure portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Harbinger Motors Inc.
    Inventors: Phil Gow, Kenneth Kawanishi, Phillip John Weicker, Cody Rhebergen, John Henry Harris, III, Vu Phan, Michael Carl Fricke, Daniel McCarron, Deborah Bourke
  • Patent number: 11958428
    Abstract: The present invention is an airbag device equipped in a vehicle seat having a seat cushion forming a seat surface and a seatback forming a backrest, containing: an inflator; and an airbag that is stowed in the seatback and deployed by the expansion gas discharged from the inflator. The airbag includes a pair of left and right side chambers that deploy from the side parts of the seatback forward and an upper chamber that is provided continuously with the side chambers and deploys above the head of the occupant. The airbag, from a state of being spread out before stowing, is rolled or folded and compressed in a long rod shape in a direction intersecting a longitudinal direction. The location corresponding to the upper chamber of the long rod-shaped airbag is stowed in a stowing part at the rear surface of the headrest at the upper part of the seatback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimizu, Atsushi Nakashima
  • Patent number: 11958350
    Abstract: An electric vehicle battery pack with a reinforced cover to better support vehicle cabin loads such as seat submerge loads, seat pitch loads, and the like. The cover has a number of reinforcing members affixed thereto and positioned over cross members of the battery pack frame. Loads imposed by the cabin are thus transferred to the reinforcing members and then to the rigid cross members. In this manner, battery packs of embodiments of the disclosure better support cabin loads applied thereto, improving their strength and better protecting more delicate components within the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Ajay Korada, Vignesh Sekar, Randy R. Frank, Piyush Khater
  • Patent number: 11958534
    Abstract: An underframe structure for a motor vehicle, the underframe structure comprising a floor (12), and at least two longitudinal side members (14) respectively disposed on each side of the floor (12); the floor (12) is divided into at least one front unit (16) and one rear unit (18) fixed to a transverse heel board (24). The underframe structure also comprises a lateral reinforcement part (26) which comprises at least one elongate body extending from the heel board towards the closest side member, the lateral reinforcement part is fixed on one side to the heel board (24), and on the other side to the front unit (16) of the floor (12) or to a side member (14) in the region of the front unit (16) of the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
    Inventors: Damien Bessette, Raymond Ma
  • Patent number: 11958352
    Abstract: A retrofit mining haul truck includes a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell/battery-based powerplant in place of a carbon fuel-based powerplant. The retrofit mining haul truck includes a frame, a tray coupled to the frame, and a deck coupled to the frame forward of at least a portion of the tray. A battery system is mounted to the deck of the retrofit mining haul truck. A hydrogen storage system (HSS) is installed in an engine bay volume of the retrofit mining haul truck. The engine bay was configured to contain a combustion engine (e.g., a diesel engine) prior to retrofitting the retrofit mining haul truck. At least a portion of a fuel cell system is installed in a wheel pocket of the retrofit mining haul truck. The wheel pocket was configured to contain a diesel tank prior to retrofitting the retrofit mining haul truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: First Mode Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua M. Sweere, Spencer M. Anunsen, Larissa Y. Kunz, Harlan Thomas Kuo, Alexis R. HUmann, David T. Gerhardt, Krunal Desai, Peter Illsley, Clara Sekowski, Sarah Balles
  • Patent number: 11962154
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electric power dispatching system and an electric power dispatching method. The electric power dispatching system has a plurality of accommodating spaces, a DC bus, an AC/DC power conversion device, and an energy control center. The swappable battery pack in each accommodating space is coupled to the DC bus, and the AC/DC power conversion device is coupled between the DC bus and a power grid. The electric power dispatching method includes centrally storing a plurality of swappable battery packs from different electric vehicles; and controlling the AC/DC power conversion device and each swappable battery pack located in each accommodating space by an energy control center to designate a part of the swappable battery packs located in the accommodating spaces to participate in a first power dispatch task so as to provide power dispatch to the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Chih-Chan Ger
  • Patent number: 11958349
    Abstract: A structure of an electric or hybrid vehicle includes a floor, a battery container secured beneath the floor, and a compressed foam plate arranged between the battery container and the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: RENAULT s.a.s., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sofiane Amaanan, Charles Zhang
  • Patent number: 11958326
    Abstract: An actuator whose total length can be reduced is provided. An actuator (2) includes: a casing (7); a hollow shaft (8) rotatably supported by the casing (7) via a bearing (9a, 9b), the hollow shaft (8) including a bottom portion (8b); a screw shaft (14) coupled to the bottom portion (8b) of the hollow shaft (8), the screw shaft (14) sharing a common center line with the hollow shaft (8); and a nut (15) threadedly connected to the screw shaft (14). The nut (15) is capable of moving in an axial direction of the screw shaft (14) to enter between the hollow shaft (8) and the screw shaft (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Oshida, Takashi Sakuyama, Tetsuhiro Nishide, Hiroshi Kaneshige, Sho Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11958535
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a modular front drivetrain comprising a single assembly that may be installed onto and removed from a vehicle. The modular front drivetrain comprises a modular chassis supporting a transaxle, a front differential, and a steering gear for operating front wheels of the vehicle. The transaxle, the front differential and drive axles convey torque from an engine onboard the vehicle to the front wheels. A spindle assembly is coupled with each front wheel of the vehicle and pivotally joined with the modular chassis by way of a front suspension system. Steering rods coupled with the spindle assemblies horizontally rotate the front wheels according to operation of a steering wheel onboard the vehicle. The modular front drivetrain advantageously facilitates replacing an entire drivetrain and suspension assembly quickly and easily in the event of a part failure during racing applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Robby Gordon