Patents Examined by Timothy Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 11970897
    Abstract: An engine hood drive for an engine hood system of a motor vehicle includes a drive unit for delivering a torque at a predetermined adjusting angle between a passive position and an active position. A drive lever is connected in a torque-transmitting manner to the drive unit for pivoting between the passive position and the active position and which has an actuating end. A driving slot has a guide receiver for the actuating end of the drive lever. The driving slot is pivotable about a flap hinge for an engine hood at a predetermined flap angle between a closed position and an open position. The driving slot is transferrable in the direction of the open position as a result of a pivoting movement of the drive lever from the direction of the passive position in the direction of the active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Timo Czechtizky
  • Patent number: 11964532
    Abstract: A chassis component (1) for a wheel suspension having at least two pivot points (3, 4), at least one connecting structure (7) which interconnects the pivot points (3, 4) with one another, and at least one sensor (9). The at least one sensor (9) is embodied as a piezoresistive thin film (19) arranged on a section of a surface (8) of the connecting structure (7). A thin film interconnects contact points (15, 16), of at least two conductive sections (13, 14) which are integrated in the connecting structure (7), to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jonas Meier Zu Farwig, Alexander Lundberg, Michael Klank
  • Patent number: 11952055
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electric independent steering apparatus comprising: a first knuckle having one end coupled to the lower end of a strut part, and including an upper support part extending and protruding outwardly from the one end and a lower support part extending and protruding from the other end so as to face the upper support part; a second knuckle which is rotatably disposed on the lower support part inside the first knuckle, has a motor installed therein, and has a driving wheel coupled to the outside thereof; and a harmonic gear which is disposed so as to be rotatable from the upper support part and relatively rotates from the first knuckle together with the second knuckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: Seohan Innobility Co., Ltd., Korea Movenex Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung Ki Oh, Jae Geun Bang
  • Patent number: 11951952
    Abstract: A bicycle retractable bicycle cross bar adaptor includes a bar having a first tube, a second tube and a control unit. The first tube has a first connection end and the second tube has a second connection end which is movably inserted into the first connection end. The second tube includes multiple holes. The control unit includes an inner part, a switch and a sleeve. A switch is pivotably connected to the inner part and the sleeve is mounted to the inner part and the switch. The sleeve includes a flexible tongue to pivot the switch. The switch includes a rod on one end thereof. When the switch is pivoted, the rod is inserted into one of the holes of the second tube to set the length of the bar. When the rod is removed from the hole, the second tube is moved relative to the first tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: KING RACK INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chiu Kuei Wang
  • Patent number: 11946229
    Abstract: A work machine comprises an armrest and a user control operable by the user to control tool or machine functions when the user's arm rests on the armrest. An armrest sensor is configured to sense the presence of the user's arm and to disable the control when the user's arm is removed from the armrest. The control may be mounted on the armrest and the armrest movable between enabling and disabling positions by the weight of the user's arm. A seat sensor may be configured to disable the control when the user leaves the seated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Alessandro Rossi
  • Patent number: 11940041
    Abstract: A power take off unit includes an input gear, an output gear, and an intermediary gear that cooperate to transfer power from a rotational power source to an operating target. The power take off unit has a control module that biases the intermediary gear relative to the input gear and the output gear to reduce gear rattle vibrations associated with intermeshed tooth looseness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Burrell, John Loeffler, Brian L. Rang
  • Patent number: 11925131
    Abstract: An electric work vehicle includes a work device, a battery, a motor drivable on electric power supplied by the battery, a travel device drivable by the motor, and a hydraulic pump positioned next to the motor and drivable by the motor to supply operating fluid to an operating mechanism of the work device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Nakayama, Hironobu Nogami, Norita Tottori, Takefumi Oguri
  • Patent number: 11919750
    Abstract: A crane controller for controlling travel movements of a crane, in particular a portal crane. The crane controller includes control electronics and at least one input device, connected to the control electronics, having a grip part, a main axis of the grip part is swivellable together with the grip part in at least two swivel directions oriented, in particular orthogonally, in relation to one another, and the control electronics are able to generate electrical signals, for actuating at least one actuator of the crane, on the basis of an adjustment of the grip part relative to an original position of the grip part. The grip part has its main axis additionally displaceable in at least two, preferably three, different displacement directions relative to the original position and/or is rotatable about the main axis, and the control electronics generate electrical signals for actuating the at least one actuator of the crane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Hans Kunz GmbH
    Inventors: Roman Beer, David Moosbrugger, Patrick Malouvier
  • Patent number: 11904794
    Abstract: A pet restraint system for a vehicle is provided. The pet restraint system includes a leash configured to connect to a restraint device on a pet, a wearable device comprising one of a collar and a harness configured to be worn on the pet and connected to the leash, a retractor device coupled to the leash and configured to be secured to a support structure on the vehicle, a sensor for detecting an expected condition of the vehicle, and a controller for controlling the retractor to retract or lock the leash based on the determined expected condition of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pietro Buttolo, Stuart C. Salter, Marguerite Lynn Kimball, Benjamin Yilma, Annette Lynn Huebner
  • Patent number: 11890906
    Abstract: Disclosed are a vehicle suspension spring device and a vehicle suspension system having the same. The vehicle suspension spring device includes a leaf spring unit comprising at least one leaf spring disposed in a lateral direction of a vehicle, a pair of first coupling parts provided at opposite ends of the leaf spring unit in a longitudinal direction and rotatably coupled to a pair of axles on which opposite wheels of the vehicle are mounted, and a pair of second coupling parts provided at two points between the opposite ends of the leaf spring unit in the longitudinal direction to be rotatably coupled to a subframe of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION, KOLONGLOTECH. INC, HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Soo Kim, Jae Hun Kim, Young Ha Kim, Woo Bin Song, Dong Won Kim, Jun Sung Goo
  • Patent number: 11878563
    Abstract: A multipoint link for an undercarriage of a vehicle, having a core element formed from a foamed material and at least one roving of bundled continuous filaments wound around the core element, the at least one roving winding around the core element in at least one layer forming an outer layer of the multipoint link. The recesses serving to guide the at least one roving to be laid by winding are incorporated in the surface of the core element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Müller, Jens Heimann, Andre Stieglitz, Carsten Sohl, Valentin Hörtdörfer
  • Patent number: 11867143
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for implementing a vehicle safety lock assembly are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Guadalupe Ramon Gil Vera
  • Patent number: 11859658
    Abstract: A steering system includes an arm, a knuckle, a joint, and a steering sensor. The arm defines a first passage. The knuckle has a knuckle arm defining a second passage. The joint has a ball portion and a shaft portion extending. The ball portion is disposed within the first passage and the shaft portion is disposed within the second passage. The ball portion defines a conical recess that has an opening at an upper end of the ball portion and terminates inside the ball portion with a pocket. The steering sensor has a driveshaft extending along a longitudinal axis into the conical recess. The driveshaft includes a head that engages with the pocket. The ball portion is configured to pivot within the first passage relative to the longitudinal axis and the head. The joint and the driveshaft are configured to rotate together about the longitudinal axis as the knuckle is turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Richard D. Kerner, Thomas J. Paulson
  • Patent number: 11850902
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing a strut suspension system configured to improve a steering property by reducing steering frictional resistance when a steering wheel is rotationally manipulated and having a relatively simple mechanical structure to reduce the number of components and manufacturing costs and to secure a large space for installing main components such as an engine and the like. Disclosed is a strut suspension system configured to absorb impact and vibrations transferred to a vehicle body from a road surface through a wheel. The strut suspension system includes a strut provided between the vehicle body and the wheel and to which a knuckle arm connecting a steering system of a vehicle to the wheel is connected to be relatively rotatable when the steering system performs steering and a stabilizer link having one end connected to a stabilizer bar configured to increase roll rigidity of the vehicle body and the other end coupled to prevent the strut from rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: CTR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sun Min Seo
  • Patent number: 11840303
    Abstract: A self-propelled, one-wheeled vehicle includes a suspension system configured to dampen up-and-down motion of a board relative to the axle of a central wheel assembly when the vehicle encounters obstacles (e.g., bumps) on a riding surface. Illustrative suspension systems include a shock absorber and a swingarm that couple the axle to the board. The suspension system may be disposed completely below a foot deck of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: FUTURE MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Kyle Jonathan Doerksen, Matthew Michael O'Brien
  • Patent number: 11840188
    Abstract: A component for a vehicle interior configured to provide a moveable panel/door is disclosed. The component may comprise a structural substrate and a reinforcement for the panel at a hinge area. The reinforcement may comprise a stitch pattern to reinforce the hinge area during movement of the panel. The stitch pattern may comprise thread sewn into the structural substrate. The stitch pattern may be pressed into a surface of the structural substrate. The structural substrate may comprise a compression-formed component, a generally rigid fiber mat, or a fiber panel. The stitch pattern may be concealed at an exterior surface of the component by a cover. The component may comprise at least one of an instrument panel, a door panel, a trim panel, a trim component, etc. A vehicle interior/trim component comprising a structural substrate with a reinforcement to provide a door/opening for airbag deployment is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Shanghai Yanfeng Jinqiao Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jennifer A Stroebe, Michael G. Zimmer
  • Patent number: 11840141
    Abstract: A vehicle drive train assembly includes a propeller shaft and a nut. The nut has a first part and a second part. The first part is movable with respect to the propeller between an uninstalled position and an installed position of the nut. The second part is stationary with respect to the propeller shaft in the uninstalled position and the installed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodrigo Javier Buendia Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11833950
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a trailer, including: a chassis and a plurality of positioning assemblies, each positioning assembly including a positioning arm configured to move between a first position in which the chassis is in a lowered position and a second position in which chassis is in a raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: FUTURA IP LIMITED
    Inventor: Glen Reid
  • Patent number: 11833877
    Abstract: A spring damper apparatus for a vehicle, with a hydropneumatic system, via which a wheel of the vehicle can be braced spring-mounted and damped on a body of the vehicle. The hydropneumatic system includes a first chamber delimited at least partially by a partition element, in which a fluid acting on the partition element is accommodated. In addition, the hydropneumatic system includes a second chamber separated from the first chamber by the partition element and delimited by the partition element, in which a gas forming a gas spring and acting on the partition element is accommodated. In addition, the hydropneumatic system includes a housing in which the fluid is accommodated. In addition, the hydropneumatic system includes a piston shiftably accommodated in the housing and acting on the fluid, via which piston the wheel can be braced on the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Walter Schmidt, Michael Gradl
  • Patent number: 11827298
    Abstract: A vehicle knuckle (1) includes a main body portion (10) for supporting an axle, a strut connecting portion (11) for connecting a strut, and an arm portion (12) for connecting the main body portion (10) and the strut connecting portion (11) and having a space (18) inside. The arm portion (12) includes a sidewall portion (120) for connecting the main body portion (10) and the strut connecting portion (11), and has a first through hole (17a) communicating with the space (18), at a coupling portion (12a) with the main body portion (10). The sidewall portion (120) is free of a through hole communicating with the space (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA RIKEN
    Inventors: Cakrawala Anang, Tadaaki Kanbayashi, Shuichi Kusama