Patents Examined by Jason D Shanske
  • Patent number: 11945431
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a braking controller individually controlling braking forces of braking devices for left and right front and rear wheels, a side collision detector detecting a side collision against a vehicle, and a yaw behavior detector detecting yaw behavior of a vehicle body. If the yaw behavior detected after the side collision is such that a rear of the vehicle body shifts away from a collision side relative to a front thereof, the braking controller executes yaw amplification control to cause the braking device for the collision-side front wheel to generate a braking force larger than the remaining wheels. If the detected yaw behavior is such that the front shifts away from the collision side relative to the rear, the braking controller executes the yaw amplification control to cause the braking device for the collision-side rear wheel to generate a braking force larger than the remaining wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiichi Shiraishi, Takashi Takeda, Shintaro Ikeda, Satoru Akiyama
  • Patent number: 11939017
    Abstract: A suspension is provided for coupling a front wheel with a chassis of an off-road vehicle. The suspension comprises upper and lower suspension arms that each includes two inboard mounting points to the chassis and one outboard rod-end joint to a spindle assembly coupled with the front wheel. A ball comprising each outboard rod-end joint is fastened by way a bolt between a pair of parallel prongs extending from the spindle assembly. The upper suspension arm is configured to facilitate coupling a strut between the lower suspension arm and the chassis. A steering rod is coupled with the spindle assembly by way of a steering rod-end joint that is disposed forward of a drive axle, thereby decreasing leverage of the front wheel on the steering rod and substantially eliminating bump steer that may occur due to rough terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Robby Gordon
  • Patent number: 11938882
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for helping to protect occupants of a vehicle seat in the event of a collision. The vehicle seat includes a base with a bottom cushion, a backrest with a back cushion, and a side rest having a side cushion that extends upward from the bottom cushion and forward from the back cushion. The apparatus comprises a deployable restraint stored in a pre-deployment condition in the side rest. The deployable restraint comprising an airbag and an inflator for inflating and deploying the airbag. When inflated to a deployed condition the restrain cushions the occupant against impacts with the side rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventor: Rico Scott Bertossi
  • Patent number: 11938803
    Abstract: A battery container, a battery pack, and a vehicle are provided. The battery container includes a battery compartment and a first beam. The battery compartment is configured to accommodate a plurality of batteries. The batteries are arranged along a first direction. The first beam extends along the first direction and forms a first side wall of the battery compartment. A first adhesive receiving groove is recessed from an inner wall of the first beam. The first adhesive receiving groove extends along the first direction. The first adhesive receiving groove is configured to be filled with a connection adhesive to connect the first beam to the batteries. The inner wall of the first beam is a side wall of the first beam facing the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: CALB Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fangfang Pan, Fanming Kong, Ruisheng Tian, Xincheng Cao
  • Patent number: 11938811
    Abstract: A vehicle power transfer unit assembly includes an input shaft, a shift collar, an outer cam ring, and an inner cam ring. The shift collar is engaged with the input shaft and operable between a first position and a second position. The outer cam ring is disposed around a portion of the shift collar. The outer cam ring includes an inner surface defining a plurality of levels. The inner cam ring is engaged with the shift collar and disposed radially inward from the outer cam ring. The inner cam ring includes a jaw engageable with the plurality of levels. The shift collar is moved from the first position to the second position when the jaw is moved from engagement with one of the plurality of levels to engagement with another of the plurality of levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Lei Yang, Brent Peura
  • Patent number: 11938887
    Abstract: Problem: To more effectively restrict movement of the airbag in an expanded and deployed state in the event of a vehicle collision, and improve the performance of restraining a passenger using an airbag. Resolution Means: A passenger restraining device of the present invention is provided with an airbag and tensile cloth. The tensile cloth is deployed to the outside of a seat by expansion and deployment of the airbag, and pulled from an upper surface of a seat back portion to a seat cushion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Saito, Tetsuya Matsushita
  • Patent number: 11932124
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle includes at least one wheel driven by a motor, a vehicle body including a floor panel, a battery pack arranged on the lower side of the floor panel and configured to supply power to the motor, at least one wire harness extending in a front-rear direction of the electrically driven vehicle between the floor panel and the battery pack, and a harness cover extending in the front-rear direction of the electrically driven vehicle along the at least one wire harness and interposed between the at least one wire harness and the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyosuke Kawase, Ryo Kimura, Kazuya Kushibiki
  • Patent number: 11932194
    Abstract: An airbag inflator includes a lower pressure vessel supporting an initiator assembly, a booster can centrally mounted in the lower pressure vessel and secured to the initiator assembly, and an energetics canister secured over the booster can such that the energetics canister is positioned radially between the lower pressure vessel and the booster can. An energetics cover encloses a circumferential space between the booster can and the energetics canister. A flow diverter closes the booster can and includes inlet vent openings downstream of the energetics cover. An upper pressure vessel positioned over the flow diverter and engaging the lower pressure vessel includes an exit orifice sealed with a rupturable membrane. A manifold is secured over the upper pressure vessel. The inflator increases combustion efficiency and lowers gaseous effluents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: ARC TECHNOLOGY HOLDING LIMITED
    Inventors: James M. Rose, Brian Thomas, Brad Hight, J. Scott DiGangi, Kenneth J. Young
  • Patent number: 11932099
    Abstract: A method for mounting a battery system to a chassis floor of an electrical vehicle is provided, wherein the battery system is adapted for providing electrical power for driving rolling movement of said electrical vehicle, and wherein a plane extends through and parallel to said chassis floor with a first side of said plane facing in a downward direction during use of the electrical vehicle, the method including: fixing a plurality of battery modules to the chassis floor at the first side of said plane, each battery module including electrical terminals; subsequently electrically connecting the electrical terminals of the battery modules to each other to form the battery system; and fixing a cover plate to the chassis floor such that the cover plate covers the battery modules. A vehicle chassis and a vehicle including such a chassis are provided as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Klas Persson, Simone Vizzini
  • Patent number: 11933079
    Abstract: A door lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, comprising a locking mechanism consisting substantially of a catch and at least one pawl. Each locking mechanism component is mounted on a base in a rotatable manner about an axis. Additionally, a fixed support body is provided for at least one locking mechanism component. According to the invention, the locking mechanism component is designed to be rotatable about a bearing pin at a distance from the support body during a normal operation and comes into contact with the support body solely in the event of a crash with a simultaneous deformation of the bearing pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Holger Schiffer, Michael Scholz, Thomas Schönenberg, Ömer Inan, Peter Szegeny
  • Patent number: 11932073
    Abstract: A telehandler comprising: a chassis; an axle supporting the chassis; a pivotal connection between the axle and the chassis; and a chassis positioning system. The pivotal connection is configured to enable rotation of the chassis relative to the axle for varying a chassis-axle tilt angle defined between a longitudinal axis of the axle and the chassis. The chassis positioning system comprises: a chassis angle sensor configured to measure an angular position of the chassis relative to gravity; an actuator configured to rotate the chassis relative to the axle at the pivotal connection; and a control system configured, in a first mode, to control the actuator to thereby control the chassis-axle tilt angle based on the measured angular position of the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Jonathan Mountford-Lister
  • Patent number: 11933406
    Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure is directed to a steering system comprising a housing in which a steering rack is movably arranged and extends out of the housing on at least one side of the housing, the steering rack being connected with a tie rod via a ball joint, wherein the connection is covered by a protective bellows defining a central axis and the bellows further comprising a first end defining a first opening around the central axis, a second end defining a second opening around the central axis, and several annular folds arranged along the central axis between the first end and second end, and wherein the bellows comprises a plurality of skirts arranged along the central axis and extending away from the bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering LLC, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Nicholas LaGana
  • Patent number: 11932069
    Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle is shown. The suspension system may have first and second airbags stacked upon each other. By adjusting a height difference between the first and second airbags while maintaining the same collective height of the first and second airbags, the spring rate of the collective first and second airbags are changed while maintaining the same collective height of the first and second airbags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL AIR, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel Zachary Ratcliff
  • Patent number: 11932097
    Abstract: A battery unit for a vehicle is provided. The battery unit includes a lower case having two battery compartments arranged in a direction toward opposite sides of the vehicle, respectively, and a connecting portion bent to be convex upwardly between the two battery compartments. A reinforcing structure is disposed on the connecting portion. Two battery modules are installed in the two battery compartments, respectively and a power wire is electrically connected to at least one of the two battery modules and extends from one of the two battery compartments to the other one of the two battery compartments through the connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sang Wan Kim, Kyung Ho Kim, Hyeon Su Jin
  • Patent number: 11926207
    Abstract: A trailer mountable power storage and distribution system is provided. The power storage and distribution system includes a battery assembly and an auxiliary component assembly. The battery assembly includes a housing configured to be mounted to a chassis assembly of a trailer unit. The auxiliary component assembly is configured to be mounted to the chassis assembly of the trailer unit. The auxiliary component assembly has a thermal management component and a power distribution module. The thermal management component is configured to remove heat from the battery assembly. The power distribution module is configured to electrically connect the battery assembly to a load disposed on a tractor configured to tow the trailer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Hexagon Purus North America Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan J. McKibben, Jordan Foster
  • Patent number: 11926286
    Abstract: A retractable vehicle step is attachable to a vehicle or truck. The vehicle step facilitates access to a cargo hold, interior, or roof of the vehicle. Advantageously, the vehicle step may provide clearance space relative to a tailgate of the vehicle by displacing a stepping member of the vehicle step in a generally lateral direction. The vehicle step desirably has a covered and protected biasing mechanism for transitioning between retracted and extended positions of the stepping member. Advantageously, the vehicle step may be pulled out from under the vehicle by the foot of a user. Another advantage is that the vehicle step is readily attachable to the vehicle using already existing connection members, thereby generally eliminating or mitigating the need for customized retrofitting and avoiding undesirable installation cost and time. Finally, the vehicle step may be configured into at least two different arrangements for attachment to a vehicle utilizing the same components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Lund Motion Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Horst Leitner, Anthony Smith
  • Patent number: 11929479
    Abstract: Power supply device includes a plurality of secondary battery cells, a pair of end plates that cover both end faces of battery stack in which the plurality of secondary battery cells are stacked, a plurality of fastening members that fasten end plates to each other, a plurality of pressing parts that press upper surfaces of the plurality of secondary battery cells respectively, and buffer interposed between pressing parts and the upper surfaces of secondary battery cells. Buffer includes a plurality of covers made of resin, and a connecting part, having flexibility, for connecting two of the plurality of covers. Buffer is configured such that each of the plurality of covers is disposed on the upper surface of corresponding one of secondary battery cells, and each of pressing part abuts on the upper surface of the corresponding cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Go Yamashiro, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11926275
    Abstract: A cockpit module of a purpose built vehicle includes a crash pad, a steering wheel positioned in the crash pad, and a table, accommodated in the crash pad, including an extension structure configured to insert into and withdraw from the crash pad. A portion of the table extends from the crash pad in a rearward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Whoan Park
  • Patent number: 11929517
    Abstract: A battery pack assembly includes, among other things, a tray, a lid secured to the tray to provide an enclosure having an interior, at least one battery module disposed within the interior, a cross-member disposed within the interior adjacent to the at least one battery module, and a stanchion secured to the cross-member. The stanchion disposed entirely within the interior. The assembly further includes a fastener that extends through an opening in the lid to engage the stanchion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Langley, Dave Moschet, Micah Smith, Melissa Kathryn Christensen, Brent Zapczynski, Michael Luchtman, Saravanan Paramasivam
  • Patent number: 11919358
    Abstract: A carrying mobile robot includes a frame, a suspension system disposed at the bottom of the frame, and a lifting mechanism disposed on the frame. The suspension system includes two suspension mechanisms disposed on the left and right sides, each of which includes a supporting beam, a driving wheel, a connecting member and a first driven wheel. The first driven wheel and the driving wheel respectively support the front and rear ends of the supporting beam, and the connecting member is connected to the supporting beam and located between the driving wheel and the first driven wheels. The lifting mechanism includes a plurality of lifting members, a first driving system for driving the lifting member and a transmission system for transmitting the driving force of the first drive system to the lifting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: SUZHOU UMORE ROBOTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Lei Ye