Patents Examined by Karen A Beck
  • Patent number: 11633998
    Abstract: A suspension strut for a vehicle comprises: a first connector for connecting to a first point on the vehicle; a second connector for connecting to a second point on the vehicle; and a damper assembly adapted to provide a damping force as fluid flows through the damper assembly during relative compression between the first point and the second point, wherein the damper assembly comprises a side wall and a damper aperture in the side wall, wherein the damper aperture is open throughout operation of the strut to allow fluid to flow through the damper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS PLC
    Inventors: Liam Bradley Widdrington, Andrew James Kittley, Philip Alner Wilby
  • Patent number: 11628790
    Abstract: A column cover unit may include: a column cover configured to cover a steering column of a vehicle and comprising a first cover portion and a second cover portion, wherein a boundary between the first cover portion and the second cover portion extends from a front end of the column cover at a front portion of the vehicle toward a rear portion of the vehicle; and a contact member configured to separate the first cover portion and the second cover portion from each other at the boundary by contacting the column cover when the column cover is moved toward the front portion of the vehicle with the steering column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shotaro Inoue, Yutaka Kondoh
  • Patent number: 11628792
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat cushion including a cover, a frame and a pad, a plurality of parts of the cover being restrained to the frame and the pad; a cushion airbag device mounted in a front portion in the seat cushion and configured to inflate and deploy an airbag at a time of a frontal collision of a vehicle; and a restraint release part provided in a part of the cover positioned at at least one side in a seat front-rear direction with respect to the cushion airbag device among the plurality of parts of the cover. The restraint release part is configured to release the restraint of the part of the cover with an inflation pressure of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiichi Kondou, Mitsuyoshi Ohno, Shohei Funaki, Hiroyuki Tomita, Takashi Iida, Shigemi Mase
  • Patent number: 11618406
    Abstract: An occupant protection system includes a first airbag device, a second airbag device, and an airbag control processor. The first airbag device includes a first bag. The first bag is configured to be deployed along a side surface of a compartment of a vehicle upon a side impact of the vehicle. The second airbag device includes a second bag. The second bag includes a shoulder pressing part. The shoulder pressing part is configured to be deployed between a seat back and a shoulder, of an occupant, on an outer side in a vehicle width direction. The airbag control processor is configured to control deployment and non-deployment of the shoulder pressing part of the second airbag device in accordance with a state of the side impact of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isamu Nagasawa, Junichi Oorai, Takuya Tamura
  • Patent number: 11603075
    Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioner system for use in a seatbelt retractor assembly having a spindle and a frame includes a housing adapted for being mounted to the frame and having an interior cavity, a pretensioner tube including a body portion and an exit portion, and having a first tube end in fluid communication with a gas generator and a second tube end in fluid communication with the interior cavity of the housing, a pinion being rotatably mounted in the housing and fixedly coupled to the spindle adapted for taking up seatbelt webbing during pretensioning, a pretensioner rod disposed inside the pretensioner tube, and a stopper disposed between the gas generator and the pretensioner rod. Further, the exit portion of the tube is formed to neck down such that the exit portion is configured to prevent the stopper from passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Jon E. Burrow, Daniel Robert Murphy
  • Patent number: 11603021
    Abstract: Disclosed are a seat frame assembly and a method of manufacturing the same whereby adhesion of a reinforcing material attached to a seat frame is improved to secure rigidity of the seat frame and process speed is improved. According to one embodiment disclosed herein, seat frame assembly includes: a frame configured such that a portion of each of opposite sides is bent forward, and supporting an upper body of an occupant; and side members joined to the opposite sides of the frame, respectively, each of the side members including a groove formed in a surface being in close contact with the frame, wherein a portion of the frame that is surface-joined to each of the side members is provided with a protrusion inserted into the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Daechang Seat Co., Ltdā€”Dongtan
    Inventors: Chan Ki Cho, Hyun Chul Woo, Kyoung Min Cho, Hun Yeong Jun
  • Patent number: 11597638
    Abstract: A machine includes a chassis having a first end and an opposing second end, an axle pivotally coupled to the first end of the chassis, a first actuator coupled to the first end of the chassis, and a second actuator coupled to the first end of the chassis. The chassis defines a longitudinal center axis. The axle is configured to rotate about the longitudinal center axis. The first actuator is positioned on a first lateral side of the longitudinal center axis. The first actuator is extendable to selectively engage a first contact point on the axle. The second actuator is positioned on an opposing second lateral side of the longitudinal center axis. The second actuator is extendable to selectively engage a second contact point on the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Ignacy Puszkiewicz, Jihong Hao
  • Patent number: 11597392
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to perform a tank turn. An example vehicle includes a first wheel and a second wheel, the first wheel located on an end of a first axle, the second wheel located on an end of a second axle, the end of the first axle opposite to the end of the second axle, a first suspension coupled to the first wheel, a second suspension coupled to the second wheel, and a controller to drive the first axle in a first direction, drive the second axle in a second direction, the first direction different from the second direction, and decrease a first suspension load of the first suspension and a second suspension load of the second suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 11590920
    Abstract: Seat centric airbag restraint systems having pelvis restraint features, along with related methods. In some implementations, a first seat-mounted airbag cushion may be deployed along a first side of a vehicle occupant and a second seat-mounted airbag cushion may be deployed along a second side of the vehicle occupant. A first pelvis restraint chamber may be deployed below the first seat-mounted airbag cushion at an angle relative to the first seat-mounted airbag cushion and towards a first upper thigh of the vehicle occupant. The first pelvis restraint chamber may inhibit forward translation of the vehicle occupant within a vehicle seat by tensioning the pelvis region of the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Schneider, Harry Park
  • Patent number: 11590919
    Abstract: An airbag module for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a curtain airbag and a mounting bracket. The curtain airbag includes a mounting tab configured to receive a fastener for connecting the curtain airbag to the vehicle. The mounting bracket is configured to cooperate with the mounting tab to facilitate the connection of the curtain airbag to the vehicle via the fastener. The mounting bracket includes a generally planar body portion and a fastening structure that extends transversely from the body portion. The mounting tab includes overlying layers of material that help define a pocket configured to receive the mounting bracket. The mounting tab includes a first fastener opening configured to receive the fastening structure so that the fastening structure extends through the first fastener opening with the body portion positioned in the pocket. The fastening structure is configured for installation in the vehicle structure to initially support the airbag module in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventors: Richard Patton, Dylan Moran, Avadhoot Paranjpe
  • Patent number: 11584189
    Abstract: A bush for vehicles and a method for assembling the same, may include an elastic body closely attached to an external surface of an internal structure, a bearing configured such that the elastic body is coupled to an internal surface of the bearing, a housing coupled to an external surface of the bearing to come into sliding contact with the bearing and mounted on a target object on which the housing is to be mounted, and seals mounted between both end portions of the bearing and both end portions of the housing to seal a sliding contact surface between the bearing and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Sang Min Lee
  • Patent number: 11584460
    Abstract: An automated guided vehicle includes a main frame (1) and a sub-frame (2); wherein, a driving wheel assembly (11) is mounted on the main frame (1), a driven wheel assembly (21) or a driving wheel (11) is mounted on the sub-frame (2), and the main frame (1) is hinged to the sub-frame (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: HANGZHOU HIKROBOT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaochen Zou, Yonghai Wu, Hao Liu
  • Patent number: 11584180
    Abstract: A strut bearing assembly for a vehicle includes: an insulator coupled to a vehicle body; a first case disposed to face the insulator; a second case rotatably coupled to the first case; a friction reduction unit disposed between the first case and the second case, and configured to reduce friction between the first case and the second case; and a coupling unit disposed in the insulator and the first case, melted by heat, and coupling the insulator and the first case to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD., ILJIN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Soo Song, Byung Hwan Kim, Tae Ho Hong
  • Patent number: 11584329
    Abstract: A seat airbag apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. A side cushion is deployed so as to protrude forward from a seatback in order to protect the lateral sides of an occupant, and a front cushion is deployed so as to protrude from the side cushion to the front of the occupant in order to protect the front side of the occupant. The deployment of the side cushion and the front cushion is limited by an upper dual-surface tether structure, formed by an upper-side surface tether and an upper-front surface tether, and a lower dual-surface tether structure, formed by a lower-side surface tether and a lower-front surface tether, thereby increasing force with which movement of the occupant is restricted, thus further enhancing an occupant protection effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Il Chang Sung, Sang Won Hwangbo, Choong Ryung Lee
  • Patent number: 11577568
    Abstract: A rotation induction device for a vehicle includes: an upper case member composed of a synthetic resin material and having a piston rod disposed therethrough; a lower case member composed of a synthetic resin material, disposed under the upper case member, and having the piston rod disposed therethrough; a center plate composed of a synthetic resin material, disposed between the upper and lower case members such that the piston rod passes through the center plate, and configured to induce either one or both of the upper and lower case members to rotate; and a stress distribution part formed on the center plate, and configured to distribute stress caused by a vertical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd., ILJIN Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Byung Joon Choi, Jun Mo Kang, Byung Hwan Kim, Tae Ho Hong
  • Patent number: 11572033
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rider holder for an amusement ride (14), comprising a holding portion (16) for holding a rider, a restraining device (24) which can be moved between an open position, in which the rider can access the holding portion (16), and a closed position, in which the held rider in the holding portion (16) can interact with the restraining device (24), a lockable securing device (32) which, in a locked state, fixes the restraining device (24) in the closed position and, in an unlocked state, releases the restraining device (24), and a control unit (52) which has detection means (55), by means of which it can be redundantly determined in a fail-safe manner whether the securing device (32) is in the locked or unlocked state, wherein the control unit (52) generates corresponding state signals. The invention further relates to a vehicle having at least one such rider holder for an amusement ride and to a method for operating such a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MACK RIDES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Markus Becherer, Stephan Schrade
  • Patent number: 11565920
    Abstract: A leveling system for a lift device includes a control system. The control system has programmed instructions to acquire operation data regarding operation of the lift device, fluidly couple a first leveling actuator and a second leveling actuator based on the operation data, acquire an update regarding the operation data, fluidly decouple the first leveling actuator and the second leveling actuator based on the update regarding the operation data, and selectively control the first leveling actuator and the second leveling actuator to (i) selectively reposition a first tractive element and a second tractive element relative to each other about a longitudinal axis defined by the lift device and (ii) selectively reposition the first tractive element and the second tractive element about a first lateral axis defined by the lift device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Jihong Hao, Ignacy Puszkiewicz
  • Patent number: 11565169
    Abstract: Devices and methods of transport are disclosed. Various embodiments include structural aspects related to steering and changing the direction of conveyances including features which utilize leaning or shifting of weight as part of turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Leverage Design Ltd.
    Inventor: Mark Timothy Kortschot
  • Patent number: 11560114
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an airbag apparatus that includes a pair of main cushions installed to respective left and right sides of a seat back and deployed forward when gas is delivered to an internal filling chamber, to restrain a passenger from sides, and a pair of auxiliary cushions coupled to respective front ends of the main cushions while in communication with the main cushions and deployed laterally at one ends thereof to restrain the passenger from a front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Choong Ryung Lee, Sang Won Hwangbo
  • Patent number: 11554745
    Abstract: An airbag module (10) comprises an airbag (14) and an elongate inflator (12) having at least one laterally projecting fastening bolt (36), wherein the airbag (14) comprises a cushion portion (24) and an insertion portion (26) for receiving the inflator (12) in an inserting direction (R), wherein the insertion portion (26) is arranged, with the airbag (14) being not inflated and flatly spread, on a side of the cushion portion (24) and includes one boundary (30) close to the cushion portion (24) and one boundary (32) remote from the cushion portion (24). The flatly spread airbag (14) has a front peripheral portion (20) and an opposed rear peripheral portion (22). The insertion portion (26) is wider than a diameter (d) of the inflator (12) and has at least one hole (38) for the fastening bolt (36) of the inflator (12) to pass through. The insertion portion (26) is angled toward the insertion opening (28) on the side remote from the cushion portion (24) opposed to the adjacent rear peripheral portion (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignees: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Gerd Zischka, Marco Wahl