Patents Examined by Amy R Weisberg
  • Patent number: 12077066
    Abstract: A vehicle seating system includes a support feature coupled to a sidewall within a cargo space of a vehicle. A seating assembly is coupled to the support feature. The seating assembly is rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The seating assembly includes a seat base having a proximal end coupled to the support feature and a distal end. The distal end of the seat base is disposed adjacent to the sidewall in the stowed position. The seating assembly also includes a leg support coupled to the distal end of the seat base. The leg support is operable between a storage position and a support position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Robert Allen Bastuba, Jr., Collin Joshua Smith, Robert Charles Shipley, Francisco Edgar Guizar Ramirez, Scott Culver Anderson
  • Patent number: 12077125
    Abstract: An airbag venting device (10) comprises a housing (24) which includes a first flow orifice (18) facing away from the airbag (12) and a second flow orifice (20) facing the airbag (12). The housing (24) has an axial total length (26), the first flow orifice (18) has a first axial opening length (34) and the second flow orifice (20) has a second axial opening length (34). An adjustable closure element (22) assigned to the housing (24), in an open position, releases at least one of the two flow orifices (18, 20). An actuator device (30) interacts with the closure element (22) to release and/or to close the flow orifice (18, 20), and, in doing so, the axial total length (26) of the housing (24) is less than 3 times the length of the longer axial opening length (34) of the two flow orifices (18, 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Gerd Zischka, Jürgen Scherr, Rolf Ruckdeschel
  • Patent number: 12070979
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a suspension structure and a vehicle, and relates to the field of vehicle technologies. In some embodiments, the suspension structure includes a leaf spring assembly, an upper arm, a steering knuckle, and a shock absorber. The leaf spring assembly includes two leaf spring constructions arranged in a front-to-rear direction. Both leaf spring constructions are arranged transversely relative to a body structure, and the middle part of each leaf spring construction is fixedly connected to the body structure; and each of the leaf spring constructions is provided with two free ends in a length direction, and each of the free ends is provided with a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion. One end of the upper arm is rotatably connected to the body structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventor: Shuai Liu
  • Patent number: 12071048
    Abstract: In a seat-rotating device that enables a seat to be rotated on a base member, a rattle-suppressing member operating in association with a lock member, which switches between the locked state in which rotation of an annular rotating member supporting a seat frame is prevented and release of the locked state, is in close contact with both a support member and the annular rotating member when the lock member is at the locked position, and a gap is created between the support member and the annular rotating member when the lock member attains the lock release position. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the seat from rattling when it is in a stationary state and to facilitate rotation by releasing the rattle-preventing state when the seat is rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haruki Mochizuki, Takeshi Akutsu, Takuji Kaneda
  • Patent number: 12071047
    Abstract: An electric rotation device for an automobile seat disclosed in the present invention includes a rotary support, a rotary disc, a fixed disc, a platen, an upper ball assembly, a lower ball assembly, a driving motor assembly, and a semicircular rack. A center of the semicircular rack coincides with a center of rotation of the rotary support. The semicircular rack is meshed with the driving gear. The driving gear in the driving motor assembly is configured to drive, by using the semicircular rack, the rotary support to perform reciprocating rotation in a range of 0-180°. A special-shaped tooth configured to prevent the driving gear from rotating out of the semicircular rack is disposed at each of extreme positions on two ends of teeth in the semicircular rack, so that the driving gear is gradually snapped with the special-shaped teeth to stop further rotation when rotating to the extreme positions on the two ends of the semicircular rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: YANFENG INTERNATIONAL SEATING SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Qingwei Feng
  • Patent number: 12070990
    Abstract: A vehicle door trim interior, including: an armrest; a surface depression located in the armrest, wherein the surface depression is covered with a skin; at least one actuation switch located below the skin and in the surface depression; and a position control switch associated with least one actuation switch, the position control switch only becoming active upon actuation of the at least one actuation switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Brian H. Staser, Tyler R. Bame, Aidano Nascimento, Michael Kobylinski, David Whitehead
  • Patent number: 12071087
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for preventing headwind debris from collecting on travel direction-facing housing surfaces of a vehicle by creating protective “air cushions” in front of the travel direction-facing housing surfaces. These air cushions may divert headwind air away from the travel direction-facing housing surfaces, ensuring that headwind debris does not collect on them. Examples may create these protective air cushions by propelling high pressure air through perforated surfaces in a contrary direction to headwind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Manuel Ludwig Kuehner, Hiroshi Yasuda, Guillermo Pita Gil, Jaime S. Camhi
  • Patent number: 12065010
    Abstract: A work vehicle, comprises: an operation section occupiable by an operator; a cabin accommodating the operation section; left and right suspension mechanisms via which a body of the work vehicle supports a left portion and a right portion of the cabin; and left and right lateral rods configured to allow the cabin to move upward and downward relative to the body and restrain the cabin from moving leftward and rightward relative to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takumi Kuribayashi
  • Patent number: 12065097
    Abstract: A control device for a gas generator for controlling a volumetric flow of a fluid, which is stored under pressure, for filling an airbag of a motor vehicle, with a valve arrangement. To reduce a response time of a main valve piston, the valve arrangement has a means for controlling a fluid pressure in a control chamber, wherein the means for controlling a fluid pressure is configured to bring or hold the fluid pressure in the control chamber to/at a pressure which lies in a predefined tolerance range around an activation pressure of the main valve piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Müller, Matthias Bleeck
  • Patent number: 12065024
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body including a truck bed at least partially defining a cargo area, a vehicle interior with passenger seating, and a multi-component hard top assembly configured to selectively and removably couple to the vehicle body to provide an enclosed configuration at least partially enclosing the vehicle interior. The multi-component hard top assembly includes a rear window assembly configured to selectively and removably couple to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Michael S Boyle, Joshua Hall, Robert Rizzo, Cole T Schaenzer, Christopher J Allen, Jimmy L Suder, Jeffery E Long, Robert H Perkins, Mikil L Sockow, David C Fischer
  • Patent number: 12065068
    Abstract: A vehicle console includes a housing having at least one cupholder, a deployable shelf located proximate to the housing and movable between a recessed position in thermal communication with the at least cupholder and an extended position extending outward from the housing. The deployable shelf has a thermally conductive surface, and a heater operatively coupled to the thermally conductive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Dustin Shedlarski, Micah Jones, Hussein H. Berry
  • Patent number: 12060019
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure including a left and right pair of front side members, a bumper reinforcement and a power unit. The bumper reinforcement includes a first breakage initiation point at a position at one vehicle width direction side relative to a vehicle width direction center position of the vehicle, and a second breakage initiation point at a position at the other vehicle width direction side. The first breakage initiation point is a region at which bending yield strength is lower than other regions of the bumper reinforcement. The second breakage initiation point is a region with lower bending yield strength than the other regions but higher bending yield strength than the first breakage initiation point. The bumper reinforcement includes a bumper reinforcement main body with a chamber structure and a bracing member inside the bumper reinforcement main body at the vehicle width direction center position of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naohiro Saito, Junichi Takayanagi, Ryoichi Hayashi, Atsushi Ono, Atsuo Koga
  • Patent number: 12060029
    Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag having an exhaust hole and a flap member that can close off the exhaust hole. The flap member includes a flap main body and a coupling member. The leading end of the coupling member is coupled with an opening/closing control device. The flap main body closes off the exhaust hole from an inner peripheral face side of the airbag. A width on the base portion side is set to be greater than a width of the exhaust hole. Whole of the base portion side is joined to the peripheral edge of the exhaust hole in the airbag. The flap main body covers the exhaust hole in a region between straight lines that connect one end each of a joint region on the base portion and a region on the leading end to which the coupling member is caused to be coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Suzuki, Koji Kawamura, Takenori Ozaki
  • Patent number: 12059979
    Abstract: An apparatus for changing positions of a seat for vehicles includes mechanisms for adjusting the height of the seat for vehicles, adjusting reclining of the seat for vehicles, changing the seat for vehicles into a knee rest posture and changing the seat for vehicles into a relaxed comfort are integrated into one structure. Accordingly, a user selectively implements adjustment of the height of the seat for vehicles, adjustment of reclining of the seat for vehicles, change into the knee rest posture, and change into the relaxed comfort posture, etc., through operation of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Hyun Kyu Moon, Sang Do Park, Deok Soo Lim, Tae Jun Kwon, Min Seok Kim, Du Go Jung, Chan Ho Jung, Bong Ku Kim
  • Patent number: 12059939
    Abstract: A corner module apparatus for a vehicle includes a driving unit configured to provide driving power to a wheel of the vehicle; a braking unit, coupled with the driving unit, configured to apply or release braking power; an upper arm module, connected to the driving unit, adjustable to vary a camber angle of the wheel; a lower arm module, connected to the driving unit, configured to absorb road surface impact while the vehicle moves; and a steering unit configured to support the upper arm module and the lower arm module, and adjust a steering angle of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae Heon Lee
  • Patent number: 12060106
    Abstract: Disclosed is a structural member for an automobile body includes: a hat channel member that has a top sheet portion, a pair of side wall portions extending via first corner portions, and a pair of flange portions extending via second corner portions; and a joining member that has a pair of joining portions and a top sheet facing portion, wherein a first bead extending in the longitudinal direction is formed on the top sheet portion, and wherein two or more second beads extending in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction are formed on the pair of side wall portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 12060107
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a chassis for an off-road vehicle that includes A-pillar supports. The chassis is a welded-tube variety of chassis that includes a front portion and a rear portion that are joined to an intervening passenger cabin portion. A front canopy is coupled to the front portion and reinforces the chassis during loading forces due to front struts. Each of the A-pillar supports includes a vertical brace disposed between the front canopy and a side brace of the vehicle. The vertical brace extends downward from the front canopy, adjacently to an A-pillar and a hinge pillar, to the side brace. The frontward stay extends forward from substantially a midpoint of the vertical brace to a joining of the A-pillar and the hinge pillar. The A-pillar supports reinforce the front canopy and provide structural integrity to a front of the passenger cabin portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Inventor: Robby Gordon
  • Patent number: 12060122
    Abstract: A modular frame for a track system is disclosed. The modular frame includes an upper frame member operatively connectable to an axle of a vehicle and removably connectable to a first lower frame member. The first lower frame member is configured to connect with at least one of a support wheel assembly and an idler wheel assembly, and connection of the upper frame member to the first lower frame member confers a first lower frame member-specific function to the track system. Another modular frame, track systems having the modular frames, tensioners and track systems having the tensioners are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: SOUCY INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Martin Allen, Vincent Morin, Yves Sauvageau, Manuel Lemelin
  • Patent number: 12054028
    Abstract: A system that a crossbar that is pivotally connected to a first structure and is pivotally connected to a second structure. The system also includes a first actuator that is located near the first structure and is connected to the crossbar. The system also includes a second actuator that is located near the second structure and is connected to the crossbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Troy A. Carter, James J. Dowle, Jonathan L. Hall
  • Patent number: 12054113
    Abstract: An automotive crashworthiness energy absorption part provided at a front part or a rear part of an automotive body and absorbing crashworthiness energy by undergoing axial crush when receiving input of a crashworthiness load from a front or a rear of the automotive body includes: a tubular member configured to absorb crashworthiness energy by undergoing axial crush, the tubular member including a top portion and side wall portions continuous with the top portion; and resin coated or patched on first outer surfaces including at least outer surfaces of the top portion and the side wall portions of the tubular member. The coated or patched resin has a thickness of 8 mm or less after being heated, forms at least part of a peripheral wall portion of a closed cross section space, and is bonded to the first outer surfaces with an adhesive strength of 10 MPa or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Higai, Tsuyoshi Shiozaki, Yoshikiyo Tamai