Patents Examined by Nicole T Verley
  • Patent number: 11897417
    Abstract: A system includes a coupler with a first arm and a second arm. The first and second arms configured to couple to a roll cage. A first end may include a first recessed portion and a first aperture. A third end may include a second recessed portion and a second aperture. The first and third ends may contact each other and be secured together via a first fastener that passes through the first aperture and the second aperture. Further, the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion may receive a second fastener therebetween that may receive a latch plate of a safety belt or safety harness to maintain it in an upward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Izac Hillam
  • Patent number: 11891008
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle pillar. The vehicle includes a vehicle roof supported by the vehicle pillar. The vehicle includes an airbag supported by the vehicle roof. The airbag has a first side portion, a second side portion spaced cross-vehicle from the first side portion, and a front portion extending from the first side portion to the second side portion. The vehicle includes a pyrotechnic device supported by the vehicle pillar. The pyrotechnic device is coupled to one of the first side portion or the second side portion of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 11891114
    Abstract: A steering column has a cylindrical front-side column and a cylindrical rear-side column having a front-end portion that is connected to a rear-end portion of the front-side column. The steering shaft has a front-side shaft rotatably supported inside the front-side column, a rear-side shaft rotatably supported inside the rear-side column and has a rear-end portion to which the steering wheel is attached, and a universal joint connecting the rear-end portion of the front-side shaft and the front-end portion of the rear-side shaft. The front-end portion of the front-side column is always arranged above a portion of the extension line of the center axis of the rear-side column which exists at the same location in the front-rear direction as the front-end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: NSK, LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 11884231
    Abstract: A deflector for a diffusor of a gas generator of an airbag module is disclosed. The deflector comprises a substantially tubular deflector base body and a gas discharge device connected thereto, wherein the gas discharge device has a substantially rectangular base and two outflow regions on opposite sidewalls so that gas can flow substantially in opposite directions along the longitudinal axes of the tubular deflector base body out of the interior of the gas discharge device to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Airbag Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Weber
  • Patent number: 11884226
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a passenger compartment for at least one vehicle user and has at least one sensor device for detecting a location of the vehicle user in the passenger compartment. At least one retaining device is used to fix the vehicle user in his/her location. A control device is provided to activate the at least one retaining device according to a signal of at least one impact sensor of the motor vehicle. The at least one retaining device is designed to fix the vehicle user in a location in the passenger compartment different from a vehicle seat of the motor vehicle. A method operates such a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maximilian Amereller, Florian Ober, Sascha Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 11878760
    Abstract: A tilt warning device is operable to alert a two-wheeled vehicle operator of potential dismount or accident. The warning device comprises of a warning rod that is operable to generate sparks when the two-wheeled vehicle undergoes excessive tilt when driving around corners at higher-than-normal speeds. When undergoing excessive tilt, the sparks generated by the warning rod direct the operator to move the two-wheeled vehicle upright from its current orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventor: Joe Acree
  • Patent number: 11877545
    Abstract: A stabilizing apparatus for stabilizing a mobile irrigation tower of a pivot irrigation system includes a pair of outrigger arms which extend from opposite sides of the irrigation tower. The outrigger arms are able to move between an extended position and a retracted position. The distal ends of the out rigger arms present ground engaging elements adapted for low friction passage across a farm ground surface. When the outrigger arms are in the extended position, the ground engaging element of each arm is in contact with or at least in close proximity to the farm ground surface at a location which is spaced transversely away from the irrigation tower. If the outrigger arms are in the extended position and if the irrigation system is subjected to a high velocity wind, the ground engaging elements will engage the farm ground surface and resist overturning movement of the irrigation tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventor: Wesley Allen Bainter
  • Patent number: 11873021
    Abstract: A steering column may include a casing unit in which a steering spindle is mounted rotatably about a longitudinal axis extending in a longitudinal direction, and casing tubes that are adjustable telescopically relative to one another in the longitudinal direction. A roller guide with at least one bearing support can be displaced radially on a first of the casing tubes, and in which at least one roller is mounted rotatably about a roller axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis. The roller can roll via its outer circumference in the longitudinal direction on a second of the casing tubes. A pretensioning device interacts with the bearing support to pretension the roller against the second casing tube. The bearing support may be guided on the first casing tube with an oblique inclination relative to the longitudinal axis, and the pretensioning device may apply an axial force to the bearing support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventor: Thomas Raich
  • Patent number: 11872952
    Abstract: A collision damage reduction device to be applied to a vehicle provided with a door and a side sill includes an airbag and a door beam. The airbag is deployed from a container disposed on a lower side of the door to a region on a vehicle-widthwise outside of the door. The airbag includes a first air chamber and a second air chamber. After being deployed, the first air chamber has an upper end disposed higher than the door beam and a lower end disposed lower than an upper end of the side sill, at least within a range in which its position in a vehicle front-rear direction overlaps with a seating surface of a seat. The second air chamber extends across a lower part of the first air chamber and the container, and has a lower internal pressure than the first air chamber after being deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 11872950
    Abstract: An airbag having an outer skin having an inner side and an outer side is described. The outer skin has an inflator attachment region in which an opening structure for an inflator is provided. The airbag is a part of an airbag assembly further having a flange and an inflator extending through the opening structure and being attached to the flange. In order to provide the possibility of an easy and automatable mounting process, the opening structure having at least two basically radially extending cut-outs, so that the attachment region has at least two flap sections being separated by the cut-outs. These flap sections can be pulled apart during the mounting process, such that the inflator can be attached to the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Naga Borusu, Michal Lawniczak, Andreas Kalous, Steven Pavlovich, Jakub Kwiecien
  • Patent number: 11866093
    Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a lower jacket. The steering column assembly also includes an upper jacket in telescoping engagement with the lower jacket. The steering column assembly further includes an energy absorbing strap assembly operatively coupled to the upper jacket. The energy absorbing strap assembly includes an energy absorbing strap having a first leg portion, a second leg portion and a curved portion connecting the first leg portion and the second leg portion, the first leg portion coupled to the upper jacket. The energy absorbing strap also includes a control bracket defining a slot sized to receive the curved portion of the energy absorbing strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Anspaugh, Randy W. Jones, Chet A. Hickmott, Shenbing Wen
  • Patent number: 11866089
    Abstract: A rake assembly for a steering column includes a pin adapted to move along a first axis between a locked position and an unlocked position, a first tray fixed to a support structure, the first tray comprising an exterior surface, at least one set of teeth extending from the exterior surface, and a wall at an edge of the set of teeth and extending from the exterior surface at least partially along a length of the set of teeth, and a rocker tray comprising an inner surface, and at least one set of teeth extending from the inner surface, the at least one set of teeth of the rocker tray are adapted to mesh with the set of teeth of the first tray when in the locked position and un-mesh when in the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Shenbing (Assur) Wen, Hongwei (Kevin) Song, Michael P. Anspaugh, Donald A. Buzzard
  • Patent number: 11866092
    Abstract: A rake assembly for a steering column includes a pin adapted to move along a first axis between a locked position and an unlocked position, a first tray fixed to a support structure, the first tray including an exterior surface and an extension, at least one set of teeth defined on the exterior surface, the extension extending from an edge of the set of teeth formed in the exterior surface and at least partially along a length of the set of teeth, the extension including an upper surface spaced apart from the exterior surface to define a step, and a rocker tray including an inner surface, at least one set of teeth defined on the inner surface and adapted to mesh with the set of teeth of the first tray when in the locked position and un-mesh when in the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Super Su, Shenbing (Assur) Wen, Donald A. Buzzard, Michael P. Anspaugh
  • Patent number: 11845490
    Abstract: An alignment assembly that includes a body that defines a bolt aperture and at least one pin aperture. A control arm is proximate the body and includes a bushing with a bushing aperture. A bolt extends through the bushing aperture and the bolt aperture. The bolt has a front portion and an end portion opposing the front portion. A flag nut is coupled to the end portion and includes a plate with at least one aperture. At least one pin extends through the at least one pin aperture and the at least one aperture. A position of the pin at least partially determines a position of the control arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jared Shroyer, Shane Edward Foley, Bojun Song, Geoff Lawrence Gordon, Grant Warr
  • Patent number: 11840187
    Abstract: A retaining cover that encapsulates a cushion which is stowed in a bulk stowed form in front of the regular seating position of the vehicle having a side surface retaining part wound around a side surface of the cushion in stowed form, a cloth-like part provided in a manner traversing vertically across the upper surface of the cushion in stowed form, and a weak part provided at a prescribed location on the cloth-like part that divides the cloth-like part to an upper piece and lower piece due to the expansion pressure of the cushion. If the cushion expands and deploys with the occupant in close proximity, the upper piece of the cloth-like part is sandwiched in between the cushion and the occupant, such that the upper piece restrains the upward deployment of the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Kazuki Morita, Keitoku Miyagi
  • Patent number: 11840274
    Abstract: A system protects a steering column from debris. The system includes a pair of arms moveable between a closed configuration and an open configuration, and a vertical member configured to move toward a lower position when the steering column is positioned thereon. The vertical member is coupled to the pair of arms such that the pair of arms move toward the closed configuration and facilitate protecting the steering column from the debris when the vertical member is moved toward the lower position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Benjamin MacArthur, Thien Phung, Dave Kelly
  • Patent number: 11840189
    Abstract: To reduce an amount of rear protrusion of a vehicle seat equipped with an airbag module configured to deploy rearward, in a vehicle seat provided with a seat cushion and a seat back, the seat back includes: a seat back frame including a pair of left and right side frames extending in a vertical direction and an upper frame connecting upper ends of the side frames to each other; an airbag module supported by an upper half of the seat back frame via a bracket; and a skin member covering the seat back frame, the bracket, and the airbag module from a rear side thereof, wherein a part of the skin member corresponding to the airbag module is provided with a frangible portion configured to open upon inflation of an airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideki Usami
  • Patent number: 11833989
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle structure an airbag deployment location and an external skin layer that covers the airbag deployment location. An object detection sensor is located on or covered by the external skin layer of a vehicle component and located within an object detection zone. The object detection sensor is configured to provide a signal to a controller upon detecting an object within the object detection zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenan Kurtovic
  • Patent number: 11827267
    Abstract: A steering device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a column unit, a front bracket, a rear bracket, and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes a rod supported by the column unit so as to be movable in a vertical direction in tilt guide holes in an unlocked state, and an operation portion that is fixed to a first side end portion of a rod in a right-left direction and that is used to operate of the rod. The first through-hole includes a first straight portion and a first tapered portion. The second through-hole includes a second straight portion and a second tapered portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Akaishi, Yasushi Yokokura, Daichi Okumura
  • Patent number: 11820318
    Abstract: Disclosed is an airbag device which varies and deploys a shape of an airbag cushion according to an attitude of a seat and a posture of a passenger to safely protect the passenger. In particular, the airbag device includes: a first tether of which one end is connected to an airbag housing, a second tether which includes a first portion connected between the other end of the first tether and a front surface of the airbag cushion, and a second portion connected between the other end of the first tether and the airbag housing to have a margin length, and a tether cutter provided to cut the first tether and configured to perform one deployment mode of a first deployment mode and a second deployment mode according to whether first tether is cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Se Ho Kim, Eung Man Kim, Kap Seong Jung, Yong Tae Kim