Patents Examined by Karen Jane J. Amores
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Patent number: 7900963Abstract: A motor vehicle front subframe includes a pair of main longitudinal beams each formed from an extrusion with a flange casting at the rear end and a suspension tower at the other end. Two lower longitudinal beams extend parallel to the main longitudinal beams and are connected by a cross member. Each lower longitudinal beam has a horizontal front flange where it is attached to a corresponding flange face at the lower end of the adjacent suspension tower. Two intermediate longitudinal beams are attached to the suspension towers and to a main cross-member and forward are two crush cans to which is attached a bumper armature. The vehicle has a body with a passenger compartment and vertical pillars just forward of the passenger compartment. Suitable bolts or set screws are then inserted to secure the front subframe to the body and the rear subframe is attached to the body.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2007Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Aston Martin Lagonda LimitedInventor: Peter Jolley
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Patent number: 7891679Abstract: An adjustment arrangement in a suspension hanger assembly that can be used to square the orientation of an axle with the travel direction of the incorporating vehicle. The adjustment arrangement includes a hanger bracket that has a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart hanger legs projecting generally away from the vehicle and each of the hanger legs has an elongate aperture or slot that is mutually aligned, one with the other. A bushing pin is inserted through both elongate apertures with opposite end portions of the pin being similarly positioned in each of the apertures. A substantially squared orientation is established between the hanger bracket and the bushing pin. A pair of adjustment devices are provided, one each, in association with a respective end portion of the bushing pin.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2006Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Volvo Group North America, LLCInventors: Bjorn Svartz, Peter Blonde, Steve Surdhar, Paul Patricio
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Patent number: 7874586Abstract: An airbag folding arrangement for an airbag that includes a housing, an inflation device, and an airbag deployable between a un-deployed and deployed state. The airbag includes a top panel, a bottom panel, a pair of side panels connecting the top panel and the bottom panels, and a crown panel that includes a central portion surrounded by a plurality of outer portions that connect the top panel, the bottom panel, and the pair of side panels. The top panel, bottom panel, and the side panels are radially folded in a direction toward the central portion of the crown panel and the outer portions of the crown panel are rolled in a direction toward the housing and toward the central portion when the airbag is in the un-deployed state such that the central portion is in direct communication with the inflation device.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2008Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Chrysler Group LLCInventor: Kenneth Budowick
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Patent number: 7874393Abstract: A theft deterrent system for an electronic device associated with a motor vehicle is disclosed. The theft deterrent system includes a shield portion, a bracket portion and a fastener. The shield portion and the bracket portion are attached to an electronic device with the fastener. The shield portion prevents substantially immediate removal of a connector from a connecting port of the electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2008Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Golam Ahmed, Jack Alan Strahm, Jr.
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Patent number: 7866680Abstract: A land vehicle includes a wheeled axle that is operable to be selectively self-steering. The axle includes a ground wheel that is operable to be selectively locked into a straight-ahead position so that self-steering is restricted. The land vehicle also includes a wheel lockout indicator system that is operable to sense when the ground wheel is locked in the straight-ahead position and can alert an operator by confirming that the ground wheel has been locked in the straight-ahead position.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2008Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Jeffery A. Baldauf, Robert J. Waggoner
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Patent number: 7866690Abstract: An air belt apparatus that can reduce the required tolerance level of a pipe is provided. Gas supplied from an inflator 12 flows into a bag body 16 through a pipe 18 so as to inflate a lap bag 15. The inflator 12 is connected to a gas inlet 16a of the bag body 16 via the pipe 18. The gas inlet 16a is cylindrical, and the pipe 18 is inserted in this cylindrical gas inlet 16a so as to extend beyond an inner end of the gas inlet 16a.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2006Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Yasuo Itoga
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Patent number: 7854448Abstract: An airbag arrangement for restraining an occupant of a motor vehicle. The vehicle roof is bounded by lateral roof edge regions extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and also bounded by a front window cross member extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A first section of the folded-up airbag can be arranged along a lateral roof edge region. A second section can be angled away from the first section transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, wherein the second section of the airbag is arranged along a longitudinal side of the front window cross member. The airbag can be disconnected from the vehicle body in the region of the second section or be connected releasably thereto when the airbag is deployed. Therefore, when the airbag is deployed, the entire second section can be deployed freely.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2008Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignees: Takata-Petri AG, Bayerische Motoren Werke AGInventors: Oliver Gloeckler, Georg Rasch, Heinrich Einsiedel, Ralf Passmann
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Patent number: 7841610Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis body, a footrest member pivoted to a front end of the chassis body, a rear wheel assembly joined on the chassis body, a seat, a front wheel assembly in front of the footrest member, and a steering device; the seat is pivoted on an upper end of a supporting mechanism, which is pivoted on the chassis body, and can be moved between a raised in-use position and a lowered not-in-use one; the steering device includes a telescopic part, and is pivoted on a pivotal component protruding from an axle of the front wheel assembly to be movable between a raised in-use position and a lowered not-in-use one; an auxiliary wheel assembly is arranged in front of the footrest member and above the front wheel assembly so that the vehicle can be moved on the auxiliary wheel assembly when it is in a folded configuration.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2008Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Inventor: Arthur Wang
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Patent number: 7837224Abstract: A motor vehicle has a head-protecting side airbag disposed in a region of a lateral roof strut. The airbag is covered by a panel which can be pierced by the side airbag when the need arises. The panel merges laterally into a headliner which covers the vehicle roof on the inside facing the passenger compartment. It is essential for the invention that at least one fastening assembly is provided which is arranged at the transition of the panel to the headliner and fixes both the panel and the headliner to the roof strut.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AGInventors: Olaf Benkler, Benno Gayer, Klaus Luik
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Patent number: 7828304Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus or device for jacking an individual axle of a truck or a truck trailer having an air line. The device includes a valve in fluid communication with the air line, a first air bag in fluid communication with the valve, and a second air bag in fluid communication with the first air bag.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2007Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Altair Engineering, Inc.Inventors: James Meredith Amrine, Jr., James W. Grant
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Patent number: 7828108Abstract: A vehicle, including an independent rear suspension and a rear drive mechanism including a pair of dual offset joints mounted in a sprocket hub. Each dual offset joint is connected to a half shaft coupled to a wheel. A driven sprocket is connected to the sprocket hub at a location offset from a centerline of the vehicle. An external chain coupled to a drive sprocket coupled to the vehicle's engine and the driven sprocket to transfer rotational movement of the drive sprocket to the driven sprocket, thereby causing rotation of the sprocket hub, the dual offset joints, the half shafts, and the wheels.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2006Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Polaris Industries, Inc.Inventors: Adam J Schlangen, Jeffrey D Bennett, Brian T Utter, Stephen L Nelson
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Patent number: 7823908Abstract: An airbag module assembly is provided which may be used with a steering wheel unit that controls the gap between a driver airbag cover and adjacent steering wheel features. The airbag module assembly includes an airbag housing for enclosing an airbag in communication with an inflator. The airbag module assembly also includes an airbag cover that is coupled to a cover suspension module, which in turn is coupled to the steering wheel unit. The cover suspension module includes a biasing element disposed within a housing and a locating feature extending from the housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Richard Matsu, David Palm, Vern Phillips
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Patent number: 7823914Abstract: An airbag assembly, airbag mounting assembly, and method of assembling an airbag mounting assembly are disclosed. The airbag assembly comprises an airbag and an airbag mounting assembly. In one embodiment, the airbag mounting assembly comprises a mounting bracket, a connecting member, and a wrapping member.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Blake Cheal, Howard Jackman
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Patent number: 7819220Abstract: The present invention relates to all terrain vehicles having at least a pair of laterally spaced apart seating surfaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to trail compliant side-by-side all terrain vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2006Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Richard Larry Sunsdahl, Aaron David Deckard, Marcus Johannes Tullemans, Richard E. Eck, Jason Carl Plugge, Alan A. Meyer, Laurie Jean Rengel, Geoffrey G. White, Thomas Samuel Parks McCoubrey, Brian Michael Safranski
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Patent number: 7819428Abstract: A frame structure is provided in which a sub-frame is fixed to a rear portion of a vehicle body frame, and serves as a suspension-supporting portion of the vehicle body frame. In the sub-frame, a rear member extends between a sub-frame upper pipe and a sub-frame lower pipe. The rear member includes a rear upper arm supporting portion and a rear lower arm supporting portion, for supporting proximal ends of an upper arm and a lower arm of a rear suspension. The frame structure hereof improves accuracy and rigidity of the suspension-supporting portion of the vehicle body frame, and provides a simplified structure as compared to conventional frame structures.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2007Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuichiro Tsuruta, Masahiro Yamaguchi, Jin Osada
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Patent number: 7810819Abstract: The invention relates to a method for damping vibrations on chassis bearings of motor vehicles, and a device for implementing the process. A process and a device are to be presented with which outstanding vibration damping and vibration isolation and noise insulation can be achieved over a wide frequency range with consideration of the driving states and roadway conditions which occur in motor vehicles. For this purpose it is proposed that the driving state of the motor vehicle and/or the roadway conditions are detected by way of sensors and that the at least one chassis bearing is modified to different characteristics to change its stiffness and/or damping depending on the detected parameters.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2004Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Stephan Lamers, Thomas Conrad, Matthias Muller, Wolfgang Unger, Josef Wenger, Roland Hudler
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Patent number: 7806222Abstract: A collision detector for a vehicle that defines a width direction is disclosed. The collision detector includes a back plate for coupling to the vehicle. The collision detector also includes a plurality of chamber members coupled to the back plate. Each of the chamber members defines a chamber space therein. Also, the collision detector includes a pressure sensor for detecting pressure in at least one of the chamber spaces to thereby detect collision of the vehicle. The chamber members are provided across the width of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2007Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Hisashi Takahashi, Takatoshi Tanabe
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Patent number: 7793971Abstract: In a strut type shock absorber (1), a lower cap (2) is welded onto an inner circumferential surface of an outer shell (3) at a step (16) formed in a retreated position from an axial tip of the outer shell (3). The axial tip of the outer shell (3) is welded onto the inner circumferential surface of a knuckle bracket (6) which holds the outer shell (3). Since welding of the lower cap (2) onto the outer shell (3) and welding of the knuckle bracket (6) onto the outer shell (3) are conducted at different positions, the lower cap (2) is welded onto the outer shell (3) without suffering from blowholes irrespective of the material forming the knuckle bracket (6), and as a result, a weld bead (17) having a high degree of air-tightness is formed.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2007Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Taku Sakashita, Masaru Fukushima, Masahiro Miwa
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Patent number: 7789416Abstract: An air bag module cover structure is applied to a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped air bag module. The three side surfaces of the air bag module that do not face the vehicle front side are provided with tear lines at upper portions thereof.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2006Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tadanori Horiuchi, Takeshi Kuroe, Satoshi Iijima
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Patent number: 7789425Abstract: An apparatus for stabilizing a stationary trailer comprises a adjustable length leg member, which may comprise the jack stands or landing gear which come as originally installed equipment on the trailer. Alternatively, the adjustable length leg members may comprise various types of jacks which are later attached to the bottom of the trailer. The apparatus further comprises a ground engaging base plate which is attached to the end of the adjustable length leg member. The ground engaging base plate comprises attachment means for one or more stabilizer members. The first end of the stabilizing member attaches to the ground engaging base plate and the second end of the stabilizing member attaches to an attachment member depending from the bottom of the trailer. The attachment member is adapted to slidably receive the second end of the stabilizing member. The attachment member comprises locking means for engaging the stabilizing member and locking the stabilizing member with respect to the attachment member.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2006Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Inventor: Paul Hanscom