Patents Examined by Laura B. Rosenberg
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Patent number: 7159686Abstract: A universal anchor for a vehicle, comprising: a magnet being fixedly secured to an anchor portion defining an opening; a flux deflector movably mounted to the anchor for movement in a range defined by a first position and a second position, the flux deflector effectively blocking said opening when said flux deflector is in said first position; a magnet fixedly secured to the anchor; a sensing switch configured to detect the magnetic field of the magnet, wherein the magnetic field is increased as the flux deflector moves from the first position towards the second position, the sensing switch providing a detectable signal when the magnetic field is increased.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2003Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Daniel A. Martinez, Arquimedes Godoy, Jose L Almaraz, Juan C Lozano
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Patent number: 7159880Abstract: A connection strut of a chassis of a passenger car or utility vehicle for the connection between the chassis and the wheel carrier, preferably an axle strut or a chassis control arm, with an elongated basic body and at least two mount supports arranged at the end for introducing and leading out forces. The basic body has a composite between a flat metal insert and a plastic structure forming the rest of the contour. The plastic structure is formed by encasement of the metal insert. The rest of the contour is defined here as the difference between the final contour of the force connection strut and the portion that is formed by the metal insert.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2002Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Frank Budde, Jochen Kruse, Stefan Schönhoff
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Patent number: 7159894Abstract: A roof rail air bag assembly includes an air bag module having an air bag inflator and an air bag with a plurality of cushion retention tabs. Also included in the assembly are an inflator bracket and a plurality of snap-in clips. The bracket is attached to the air bag inflator; the snap-in clips are attached to the cushion retention tabs and to the bracket with threaded fasteners. The air bag assembly is positioned within the vehicle by an operator standing outside the vehicle, and each of the snap-in clips are inserted into openings in the vehicle roof rail. Removing the air bag module for service is accomplished by removing each of the threaded fasteners while the snap-in clips remain permanently attached to the vehicle roof rail.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2002Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Jeffrey W Ronne, Jeffrey J Schultz
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Patent number: 7156200Abstract: A frame for a tracked skid steer loader machine or multi-terrain loader machine is provided having a structural design that enables the loader machine to be modularly assembled using a variety of pre-assembled components, namely a lower frame assembly, an upper frame assembly and an undercarriage. The lower frame assembly includes a pair of recessed channels formed on a base portion of the lower frame assembly and extending the width of the lower frame assembly. The undercarriage includes right and left track assemblies connected by a pair of crossmembers. Each recessed channel is engagingly associated with a respective crossmember of the undercarriage, thereby allowing for the modular assembly of a loader machine when the recessed channels of the lower frame assembly are mounted over the crossmembers of the undercarriage. An upper frame assembly may be mounted on the lower frame assembly before or after the lower frame assembly is mounted onto the undercarriage.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2001Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Caterpillar S.A.R.L.Inventors: Brian R. Dershem, Reid W. Waitt
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Patent number: 7156417Abstract: An automotive side impact assembly 10 is provided. The automotive side impact assembly 10 includes a door assembly 18 having a door body portion 20 and a window opening portion 22. The door body portion 20 and said window opening portion 22 meet to form a beltline 24. A window assembly 26 is positioned within the window opening portion 22 and extends into the door body portion 20 when in a window closed condition 28. An automotive seat assembly 12 is positioned adjacent said door assembly 18. A side-impact air bag assembly 32 is positioned within the automobile 14 such that the side air-bag 32 is deployed between the door assembly 18 and the automotive seat 12. The side-impact air bag assembly 32 has a deployed condition in which a side air-bag 32 is deployed during a collision.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2003Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Zheng James Peng
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Patent number: 7150458Abstract: It is a purpose in a divided stabilizer to increase the springy lengths of the two stabilizer components. The stabilizer components (1, 1?, 2, 2?) have respective rotary parts (4, 4?, 5, 5?) attached and the rotary parts in turn have respective rotary wings (14, 16) attached. A cover flange (8?) is formed at the outer rotary part (4?). An outer rotary wing (14) is radially inwardly directed and attached to the outer rotary part (4?). An inner rotary wing (16) is radially outwardly directed and is attached to the inner rotary part (5?). A second stabilizer part (2, 2?) is attached to the inner rotary part (5?), wherein the outer rotary part (4?) with the outer rotary wing (14) moves relative to the liner rotary part (5?) with the inner rotary wing (16) up to the point where the outer rotary wing (14) contacts the inner rotary wing (16). The rotary wings (14, 16) are rotatable relative to each other up to a predetermined angle. The stabilizer is coordinated in parallel to an axle of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2001Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Assignee: ZF Lemforder Metalwaren AGInventors: Klaus Reichel, Winfried Krüger, Stefan Beetz, Christian Klasen
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Patent number: 7150462Abstract: In a wheel guide arrangement of a steered motor vehicle wheel which has control arms and a steering knuckle, and wherein the steering knuckle includes a reception structure for a wheel mount and also connecting areas for the mounting of stubs of ball joints connected to the wheel control arms, the connecting areas are disposed at different distances from the wheel axis and the ball joints are arranged between the connecting areas and the wheel axis of rotation, that is, above the connecting areas.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2004Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Joachim Bortz, Andreas Gaupp, Wolfgang Mödinger
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Patent number: 7147246Abstract: Method for controlling deployment of an airbag into a passenger compartment of a vehicle including detecting a position of an occupant whose forward-facing surface will be the surface which interacts with the airbag upon its deployment, determining a desired amount of gas within the airbag during inflation of the airbag based at least in part on the detected position of the occupant, and adjusting the amount of gas within the airbag during inflation of the airbag to provide the airbag with the desired amount of gas during its inflation. Adjustment of the amount of gas within the airbag may entail varying the amount of gas being directed into the airbag based on the morphology of the occupant (inflow control) and/or controlling the outflow of gas from the airbag based on the morphology of the occupant (outflow control).Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2005Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Automotive Technologies International, Inc.Inventors: David S. Breed, Wilbur E. Du Vall, Wendell C. Johnson
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Patent number: 7147247Abstract: An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle (10) has an airbag (11), which is folded and stored in a part of a vehicle, inflate and deploy in front of the occupant's knees by gas supplied from an inflator (12), so as to protect the occupant's knees. The airbag (11) has in its inside a tether (11c) (gas flow dividing portion whose front and rear end portions are connected to front and rear walls (11a, 11b) of the airbag (11), both walls being arranged in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, so as to appropriately regulate a longitudinal thickness (D) of the airbag (11)) for dividing a gas flow from the inflator (12) in right and left directions of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2002Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tatsuya Hayakawa
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Patent number: 7147245Abstract: An airbag module, in particular for a frontal airbag, has an inflator, an airbag and at least one substantially tape or cord shaped measuring element. A first end of the measuring element is connected to an inside surface of the airbag and the second end of which is substantially arranged in a storage device for the measuring element. Between the first and the second ends of the measuring element is located a measuring device for the measurement of the advance movement distance, the advance movement velocity and/or the advance movement time of the measuring element. A tensioning device for the measuring element is arranged between the measuring device and the second end of the measuring element, or at the second end, to tighten the measuring element between its first end and the measuring device prior to the deployment of the airbag.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2003Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Stefan Flörsheimer, Rolf Sawall
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Patent number: 7140457Abstract: A transmission mechanism and a pressure oil supply system therefor are provided for use in work vehicles provided with a work device externally of the body of the vehicle at longitudinal one side thereof, the transmission mechanism being simple in construction and serving to shorten the overall length of the vehicle while holding a transmission shaft interconnecting a PTO shaft and an input shaft for the work device close to a horizontal. A work vehicle provided with a work device in front of the vehicle body comprises a transmission 30 disposed between a differential gear unit 10 and an HST 20 and providing a travel cooperative mechanism, a PTO shaft projecting from the housing of the HST 20, and a PTO cooperative mechanism disposed in the housing for dividedly deriving power for the PTO shaft from the travel cooperative mechanism for the transmission of the power.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2004Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshitaka Ishimaru, Shusuke Nemoto, Shigenori Sakikawa, Kenichi Takada
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Patent number: 7140638Abstract: An inflator (14) includes a structure (50, 70, 90) that helps define a chamber (42) from which inflation fluid flows. The structure (50, 70, 90) includes an end cap (90) having a side wall (92). A closure member (104) is rupturable to release inflation fluid from the chamber (42). An initiator (230) is actuatable to rupture the closure member (104). A filter retainer (170) includes a side wall (172) that defines a cavity (176). The side wall (172) of the filter retainer (170) includes a rim portion (196) that forms a terminal end of the side wall. A filter assembly (120) is positioned in the cavity (176) of the filter retainer (170). First segments (260) of the rim portion (196) are deformed to clamp the filter assembly (120) to the filter retainer (170). Non-deformed second segments (262) of the rim portion (196) engage an inner surface (264) of the side wall (92) of the end cap (90). The second segments (262) help position the end cap (90) and the filter retainer (170) coaxially with each other.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2004Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Czeslaw C. Falkowski, Ahmad K. Al-Amin
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Patent number: 7134683Abstract: An occupant protection device having an inflatable airbag for protecting a vehicle occupant in the rear compartment of a vehicle. The airbag being designed is fastened in the roof region of the vehicle so that, when inflated, the airbag at least partially covers both the side wall and/or the side window of the vehicle and also the rear window and/or the rear wall of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2003Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignees: Takata-Petri AG, BMW AGInventors: Udo Bendig, Manuela Boin, Georg Rasch, Heinrich Einsiedel, Julius Schluppkotten
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Patent number: 7124854Abstract: A transmission device of a vehicle is equipped with a shaft, a driven wheel with internal gear teeth defined thereon mounted to the shaft center thereof, and a small driving gear with outer gear teeth defined thereon in mesh with the internal gear teeth of the driven wheel wherein, depending on the position of the shaft, the small driving gear is located at the offset center of the driven wheel therein to serve as a main source of power supply. When the small driving gear, carrying the total weight and load of the vehicle, is rotated forwards and upwards at the driven wheel therein in eccentric manner, the outer gear teeth of the small driving gear tend to climb upwards therewith along the internal gear teeth of the driven wheel thereof to rotate the driven wheel therewith, effectively converting the gravity force into dynamic driving power to reduce the output of power requirement for more efficient and economical use thereof.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2003Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Inventor: Jui Tien Huang
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Patent number: 7124852Abstract: A motorcycle has an engine and other components that are controlled based upon output from an acceleration sensor. The motorcycle also has an alarm system that uses the same acceleration sensor to detect vibrations indicative of a potential theft of the vehicle. Various routines of controlling a fuel pump and operation of the engine are disclosed based upon the sensed operating characteristics of the motorcycle.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2001Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takahiko Hasegawa
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Patent number: 7121577Abstract: A door for an airbag module having an inflatable cushion, the airbag module being adapted to be used in a vehicle having an instrument panel with an airbag module opening, the door having an inner surface and an outer surface adapted to match the instrument panel, comprising: a first member depending away from the inner surface of the door, the first member being movably secured to the airbag module and remains secured to the module during deployment of the inflatable cushion; a second member depending away from the inner surface of the door, the second member being received within a flange opening of the airbag module; and a plurality of latch hooks depending away from the inner surface of the door, the plurality of latch hooks being configured to engage an opening in the airbag module, wherein the first member, the second member and the plurality of latch hooks are each configured to allow movement of the door in three separate directions with respect to the airbag module and wherein the second member and tType: GrantFiled: March 19, 2003Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David P. Schenck, Ryan T. Pinsenschaum, Mark T. Winters
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Patent number: 7118132Abstract: A seat belt pretensioner includes a pretensioner main body disposed at a side of a seat cushion, a moving member connected to an end of a seat belt, a wire for connecting the pretensioner main body with the moving member, and a containing cover for covering the moving member and the wire. The pretensioner main body generates a tension force by reacting with a deceleration of a vehicle exceeding a constant value, the pretensioner main body. The wire transmits the tension force therethrough to the seat belt to pull the seat belt into the pretensioner main body. The containing cover includes a lower portion attached to the pretensioner main body and an upper portion having a through port for allowing the end of seat belt to pass therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2004Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tsutomu Terasaki
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Patent number: 7111854Abstract: A sub-frame assembly for use with a vehicle having wheels such as a trailer is provided. The sub-frame assembly comprises two or more frame members, one or more cross members, and two or more stub torsion axle assemblies. Each of the stub torsion axle assemblies have a torsion arm, a spindle extending from the torsion arm for mounting one of the wheels, and a distal end extending from the stub torsion axle assembly for mounting to the frame assembly. The frame assembly may further comprise one or more shim plates for reception between the cross member and the distal end of the stub torsion axle assembly for allowing adjustment of the toe angle of the wheel assembly. In addition, the stub torsion axle assembly may be rotatably mounted to the cross member whereby the camber angle of the wheel assembly may be adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2003Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: Dexter AxleInventors: James C. Tuthill, John C. Poague
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Patent number: 7108279Abstract: An airbag arrangement for a vehicle having a driver's airbag is disclosed. The airbag arrangement has an airbag module having an airbag between the steering wheel and the instrument panel of the vehicle. In the event of a crash, the airbag is deployed between the steering wheel and the instrument panel and, as a result, supports the steering wheel. The effect achieved by this is that the driver's airbag is better positioned with regard to the vehicle occupant, since deformation of the steering wheel by the forces acting on the driver's airbag in the event of a crash is prevented or reduced by means of the airbag. The inflated airbag can extend as far as the windshield of the vehicle. As a result, the forces introduced into the steering wheel in the event of a crash are also conducted away into the windshield. In addition, contact of a vehicle occupant not wearing his/her seatbelt with the can be prevented by suitably defining the size of the inflated airbag.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2003Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Takata-Petri AGInventor: Volker Rensinghoff
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Patent number: 7100926Abstract: Roll stabilizer for the chassis of a motor vehicle having an actuator (3) arranged between stabilizer halves (1, 2) and rotating them relative to one another around a rotational axis, when necessary. The actuator (3) is provided with a failsafe device (34), which connects the two stabilizer halves (1, 2) in a torque proof manner, when necessary.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2005Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KGInventors: Jürgen Osterlänger, Manfred Kraus