Patents Examined by Karen Amores
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Patent number: 7594677Abstract: The invention relates a gas bag (5) which is used for a car passenger-protecting system and comprises a gas generator (20) in which at least a part of the envelop of the bag sac is incorporated in the remaining segment of the envelop of the gas bag. The aim of said invention is to obtain a target positioning of said gas bag prior to blowing it. For this purpose, the segment of the envelop (10) forms a narrow filling channel (15) which extends in a predefined discharge direction (70) and can be connected to the gas generator.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2003Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Hans-Peter Sendelbach, Thomas Sievers, Patrick A. David, Martin Breuninger
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Patent number: 7568544Abstract: An occupant protection device for vehicle includes an impact-predicting unit that predicts an impact of a vehicle, a controlling unit that controls activation of plural actuators mounted on the vehicle. The controlling unit sequentially drives, on a basis of at least an output from the impact-predicting unit, the plural actuators in accordance with a predetermined operating order.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2005Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koichi Hirota, Koji Aoki
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Patent number: 7568732Abstract: A folding roll-over protective structure has hinges that may be attached weld-free to the folding legs of the structure. Selectively removable locking pins may be used to lock the structure in its fully upright use position or a collapsed folded position. Strategically located cushions within the hinges take up slack in the system to minimize rattling when the structure is locked in its use position.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2006Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Full Vision, Inc.Inventor: Kenneth G. Schlup, Jr.
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Patent number: 7559572Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle comprising an inflatable curtain having an upper edge and a lower edge. The upper edge is to be mounted within the interior of a motor vehicle. A first portion of an elongate, flexible element such as a cord extends from a mounting point on the lower edge over a pulley to a sliding ring. A second portion of the cord extends from the mounting point through a guide round a lower pulley through the ring to a lower anchoring point. As the inflatable element inflates so the mounting point on the lower edge moves downwardly, and a triangle of tension is created between the upper pulley, the lower pulley and the mounting point.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2003Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Tony Roberts, Stephen Stubbs, Conrad Fricke
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Patent number: 7556272Abstract: A twist axle suspension for an automotive vehicle comprises first and second trailing arms, each having a front end and a rear end joined by an intermediate portion providing a weld site. The front ends of the trailing arms have pivots pivoted to the body of the automotive vehicle and the rear ends of the trailing arms support spring and damped rear wheels of the automotive vehicle. A perforated twist axle having first and second end sections abuts and is welded to the trailing arms at the weld sites. An arcuate apex portion joins the perforated walls to provide the twist axle with a V-shaped cross section having a shear center line disposed above the arcuate portion, the shear center being spaced a selected distance H above the axes about which the trailing arms pivot.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2005Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventor: Jacek Marchel
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Patent number: 7556273Abstract: In a method of making a control arm for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle a blank of steel material having a tensile strength of at least 800 MPa is shaped, using a sheet metal forming process, into a shell body having a center web and plural flank portions extending from the center web in a same direction. The flank portions are connected by a latticed reinforcement made of plastic, without application of a heat treatment process.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2006Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbHInventors: Wolfgang Streubel, Armin Zuber, Wolfram Linnig
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Patent number: 7549659Abstract: A suspension that has particular application for a front axle of a heavy vehicle includes suspension arms that are better able to withstand increased brake torques that are expected to soon be mandated in heavy vehicles. In one embodiment, the suspension includes a plurality of arms pivotally connected to a vehicle frame, and rigidly secured to an axle. By utilizing the plurality of arms, simple spring elements are better able to withstand the increased brake torques.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2006Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLCInventor: Benjamin R. Reineck
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Patent number: 7547044Abstract: A rollover inhibitor to help prevent towed vehicles from rolling over while being towed in high winds. The device features a rotatable elongated member having a wheel on a distal end which engages to a frame mount adapted to engage the frame structure of towed vehicles such as mobile homes. When tipped by the wind, the wheel engaged to the member will prevent over rotation of the trailer around its axis and thereby inhibit the potential for rolling over. The wheel is spaced a distance from the road surface so as to only contact it if the trailer tips past a predetermined point.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2007Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Inventor: Donald E. Cokeley
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Patent number: 7543832Abstract: Various embodiments of variable rate stabilizer bars are disclosed, including apparatus, vehicle, and kit implementations. Embodiments may have first and second stabilizer bar members. Each stabilizer bar member may be adapted to be operatively coupled to a respective, opposite ground-engaging element of a vehicle. Each stabilizer bar member may be configured to experience a torque about their longitudinal axis upon movement of the respective ground-engaging element relative to the vehicle when operatively coupled to the ground-engaging elements. Embodiments may have a torque transfer regulator, which may be operatively coupled to both stabilizer bar members. The torque transfer regulator may be configured to transfer a portion of the torque experienced by one of the stabilizer bar members to the other stabilizer bar member. Some embodiments may provide for active control of the degree of torque transfer from one ground-engaging element's suspension system to the other.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2006Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Stephen L. Nelson, Louis J. Brady, Jeffrey D. Bennett, Geoffrey G. White
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Patent number: 7537073Abstract: A hinge for connecting a hood, especially an engine hood, to a vehicle body, having a least one hinge carrier arranged on the vehicle body, at least one hinge arm arranged on the hood and at least one connecting part for the pivotable connection of the hinge arm to the hinge carrier. The connection of the hinge arm to the hinge carrier is released in the event of an accident by removal and/or destruction of the connecting part. The connecting part is configured to be removed and/or destroyed by forces acting in a direction of a pivot axis of the hinge, in the event of an accident.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2003Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Takata-Petri AGInventors: Ingo Kalliske, Dieter Markfort, Markus Felke
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Patent number: 7516983Abstract: A gas generator, including a housing made of metal and including an initiator shell and a closure shell; at least one combustion chamber formed in the housing and configured to be packed with a gas generant that generates a high temperature gas by burning; at least one filter member arranged around the at least one combustion chamber; at least one igniter located in the housing and configured to ignite and burn the gas generant in the at least one combustion chamber; and a plurality of gas discharge holes formed in the housing and configured to discharge gas generated in the at least one combustion chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2003Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Nippon Kayaku Kabushiki-KaishaInventors: Akihiko Suehiro, Takayoshi Dosai, Tetsuo Saito, Tameo Kawakami, Eishi Sato
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Patent number: 7513532Abstract: This patent discloses a device to adjust tension in a shoulder belt of a vehicle. The device may include a front cover and a back cover placed within the front cover to form a cover opening. A spring may be secured to an interior of the back cover by the spring anchor, where the spring may be a coiled internal power spring. The device may have a band having a first band end and a second band end, where the first band end may contain hook fasteners and the second band end may contain loop fasteners such that, when brought together, the hook fasteners and loop fasteners may be secured to each other to form a band loop. The device may have a cord connected between to the first band end and the spring and configured to extend through the cover opening.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2006Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Inventors: Thomas E. Vaughns, Sr., Bessie M. Vaughns
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Patent number: 7503587Abstract: A seat belt facilitator for use with a passenger restraint system having a belt webbing, a latch plate coupled to the belt webbing, and a buckle assembly adapted to be releasably coupled to the latch plate. The facilitator includes a latch plate receiving region adapted to releasably couple the facilitator to the latch plate. The facilitator further includes a web coupling region adjacent the latch plate receiving region and adapted to slidably couple the facilitator to the belt webbing. Additionally, the facilitator includes a handle region separated from the receiving region at least by the web coupling region. The facilitator is adapted to enable a user to couple the latch plate to the buckle assembly from a position remote from the buckle assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2005Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Inventor: Dan Earl Corcoran
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Patent number: 7500535Abstract: A control device for a construction machine according to the present invention is configured so that in the construction machine provided with an automatic stop function which automatically stops an engine by an engine controller upon a predetermined automatic stop condition being met, and a hydraulic lock function which sets a hydraulic actuator locked in an inactive state by a hydraulic lock controller, there is provided a restart switch, where after an automatic stop of the engine, when the restart switch is operated, a restart command is transmitted to the engine controller via a route independently of that of an engine switch and independently of a hydraulic unlock condition, and the engine is restarted.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2004Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiki Kamon, Yoshiyasu Umezu, Tomohiko Asakage, Norihiko Hayashi
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Patent number: 7500686Abstract: A chassis arrangement for a vehicle having one left stabilizer half (5) for tying to a left gear guide of an axle, one right stabilizer half (9) for tying to a right gear guide of the axle and one actuator (10) for swinging the stabilizer halves (5, 9), the actuator (10) having one housing (11) connectable or connected with the vehicle superstructure (2); one left input unit (15) for swinging the left stabilizer half (5) relative to the housing (11); one right input unit (19) for swinging the right stabilizer half (9) relative to the housing (11); and one clutch arrangement (12, 23, 33) for blocking the input units (16, 19). By adequate control of the input units (15, 19) and clutch arrangement (12, 23, 33), an active stabilizer position, a passive stabilizer position and a level regulating or pitch compensating position are adjusted by lifting the axle.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2005Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Martin Münster
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Patent number: 7497468Abstract: An airbag inflation deflection device and airbag module is disclosed. The deflection device may be a deflection hood that covers a portion of the airbag inflator, and is positioned adjacent inflator exit ports to initially deflect inflation gas away from an intended occupant position. The airbag module also includes a housing that may have side wells on either side of the inflator, in which the deflection hood initially deflects the inflation gas. The housing and deflection hood in combination may direct a majority of the inflation gas into the lateral portions of the airbag instead of into the center portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2005Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Changsoo Choi, Timothy A. DePottey
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Patent number: 7490849Abstract: In an airbag device, a decorative member is prevented from being scattered with a simple structure at the time of expansion of an airbag. That is, a concave part of the airbag cover (50) on which the decorative member is mounted is connected to an unmoved connection member while freely separable from other portions at the time of expansion of an airbag. To that end, there are formed, on the inner faces of the airbag cover (50), a circular tear line Lc for partitioning the concave part (52) and a plurality of tear lines L1˜4 extending outward from the tear line Lc in the radial direction thereof for forming each of opening pieces (50a). Further, attachment pieces (50b) of respective opening pieces (50a) are fastened to plastic deformable attachment parts of a base plate by screws. With this structure, the concave part of the airbag cover can be immovably held at the time of spread of the airbag.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2005Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Taniyama, Naoki Yamaji, Seiichiro Kamura, Hidetaka Azuma, Kou Sasaki
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Patent number: 7484745Abstract: The invention concerns a brinelling bushing joint assembly having a brinelling bushing sleeve with a brinelling feature that mates with a bracket. This joint assembly may be particularly advantageous when employed to connect a vehicle frame to a vehicle suspension.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2006Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Peter J. Soles, John T. Monaghan, Keith E. Olson
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Patent number: 7475895Abstract: A hydraulic system for use in a motorized vehicle including a pressure source, a valve fluidly coupled to the pressure source, and an actuator fluidly coupled to the valve. The actuator includes an outer casing and a piston slidably received in the outer casing such that the piston defines a piston chamber and a rod chamber in the outer casing. The actuator includes a rod coupled to the piston on a side of the piston facing the rod chamber. The valve is configured such that when the valve is in an open position the valve provides fluid communication to the rod chamber and provides fluid communication to the piston chamber. Fluid flowing through the valve to the rod chamber passes through a restricted orifice having cross sectional area that is smaller than the cross sectional area of any orifice that would be passed through by fluid flowing through the valve to the piston chamber.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2005Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Scott A. Stacey, Vincent G. Pichon, Jason A. Mc Clelland, Mike W. Hilton
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Patent number: 7448643Abstract: A method for processing a textile sheet material includes sealing a sheet material in a sealing region. The sealing region comprising at least one partial region of the surface of the sheet material. The method also includes introducing a seam into the sheet material and cutting the sheet material along a cutting line. The textile sheet material may be used to produce covers for airbags used in vehicle seats.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2006Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbHInventors: Juergen Kuettner, Manfred Zimmer, Anja Hartmann, Beatrice Derner