Patents Examined by Barry Gooden, Jr.
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Patent number: 11603157Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, at least three wheels including a front wheel and a rear wheel, a fuel tank above the engine, a seat rearward of the fuel tank, a canister positioned lower than the fuel tank, and a vent hose to supply air therethrough into the canister to desorb the adsorbed fuel evaporative emission from the canister. An upstream end of the drain hose is connected to the vent hose. A downstream end of the drain hose is positioned lower than the canister.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masahiro Yoshida, Kenta Higashiyama
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Patent number: 11603069Abstract: Airbag covers having emblems and related methods for coupling emblem elements to airbag covers. In some implementations, a fastening member coupled to an emblem element may be inserted through an opening formed within an airbag cover. The emblem element may be secured to the airbag cover by reshaping at least a portion of the fastening member using a LASER welding process.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventor: Mark S. Hatfield
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Patent number: 11603072Abstract: A dual stage inflator for an inflatable vehicle safety device includes a second stage combustion cup having a first member and a second member. The first and second members are formed separately from one another and cooperate to define an interior for receiving a second stage gas generant material.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey Daniel Williams
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Patent number: 11603066Abstract: A damper assembly configured to mount an airbag module to a steering wheel including a steering wheel armature includes a damper element configured to engage the steering wheel armature and to extend through an opening in the steering wheel armature. The damper assembly also includes a pin configured to be connected to the airbag module and a cap structure configured to extend through the opening in the steering wheel armature. The cap structure is configured to receive the pin for axial movement so that the airbag module can move axially relative to the steering wheel armature. The damper element isolates the airbag module, the pin, and the cap structure from the steering wheel armature.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.Inventor: Jeffery Harvey
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Patent number: 11603073Abstract: An outside protection apparatus includes: an outside airbag device including an expandable member expandable rearward from a front portion of a body of a vehicle so as to be overlaid on a hood of the body, and an inflator that expands the expandable member; a collision detector that predicts or detects a collision between the body and a outside person outside the vehicle; and a controller that expands the expandable member when the collision detector predicts or detects a collision. The expandable member includes: a front bag portion expandable at the front portion of the body so as to be overlaid on the hood; a rear bag portion expandable in a location closer to rear than the front bag portion; and a tensile member coupled together with the rear bag portion to the body. The rear bag portion is expandable by the tensile member to stand on the hood.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventor: Isamu Nagasawa
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Patent number: 11597424Abstract: A control system for a steering wheel includes a steering wheel switchable between a rotational condition and a non-rotational condition. The control system also includes a steering gear operatively coupled to a plurality of road wheels of a vehicle, the steering wheel and the steering gear electrically coupled to each other. The control system further includes a controller in operative communication with the steering wheel and the steering gear, the controller configured to control the steering gear independent of the steering wheel when the vehicle is in an autonomous vehicle driving condition, the steering wheel being in a retracted position during the autonomous vehicle driving condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2019Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATIONInventors: Frank P. Lubischer, Richard K. Riefe
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Patent number: 11590819Abstract: An air suspension system includes an air supply system block including one or more air spring valves, where the one or more air spring valves are disposed within the air supply system block, the air supply system block having a valve block housing. The system further includes the air supply system block pneumatically coupled with one or more air springs, and at least one reservoir coupled with the air supply system block, at least one motor and pump disposed within the air supply system block. The air suspension further includes fast down leveling valves disposed within the air supply system block.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Letizio, Gerald Geck, Daniel Goodrich, Matthew Tuhro
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Patent number: 11590914Abstract: A safety system for a vehicle includes a work table, an airbag, and a controller that includes a processor. The work table is disposed in an extended position and is movable to a reaction position and a stowed position. The processor is configured to receive information indicative of a vehicle event. The processor is further configured to send a command to deploy the airbag based on the information indicative of the vehicle event. When deployed, the airbag expands to abut a bottom surface of the work table and move the work table from the extended position to the reaction position such that the bottom surface of the work table in the reaction position serves as a reaction surface for the airbag.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Arturo Llamazares Domper, Adam J. Golman, Nicholas A. White, Jesse T. Buehler
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Patent number: 11590926Abstract: A drive arrangement for adjusting a front hood of a motor vehicle including a first drivetrain for producing a first drive movement between a flap-side drive connection and a body-side drive connection and when the first drivetrain is in a normal state the first drive movement opens the flap from a closed position to an open position. A second drivetrain for producing a second drive movement between a flap-side drive connection and a body-side drive connection to open the flap from the closed position to a collision position so that by means of the second drive movement of the second drive the first drivetrain changes from a normal state to a bypass state, in which a first strand component of the first drivetrain moves relative to a second strand component of the first drivetrain.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2019Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Inventors: Sebastian Pfeifer, Matthias Rauscher, Rocco Di Benedetto
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Patent number: 11584334Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system for a seat of a vehicle. The system includes a first arm portion mountable on a first side of the seat, the first arm having an engaging portion; and a second arm portion mountable on a second side of the seat, the second arm having an engaging portion, the engaging portion of the first arm portion being engageable with the engaging portion of the second arm portion to restrain an occupant on the seat. At least one of the first arm portion and the second arm portion is adjustable relative to the seat.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: APV CORPORATION PTY LTDInventors: Harrison Luke Penfold, Cameron Scott Hickling, Harry Charles William Hickling, Christopher Thomas Sweetman, Douglas Lewis Moss Keesing
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Patent number: 11584333Abstract: A seat belt installation apparatus having a seat belt installation anchor fixed to a vehicle body and having a lower end portion of a seat belt installed at one side thereof; and a cover configured to shield the anchor and a rotation prevention bead formed on a bottom surface of the vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT ABInventors: Sang-Hun Park, Gu-Hyun Jeong, Hyeon-Ki Hong
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Patent number: 11584332Abstract: In the present invention, a seatbelt device is provided with: a seat state determination unit that determines the state of a seat; a movable support section that supports a seatbelt within a range of possible movement on a seat back; a movement mechanism that, with a motor, moves the movable support section within the range of possible movement; and a motor control unit that controls the motor in accordance with the usage state of the seat determined by the seat state determination unit. Due to this configuration, the position of the seatbelt is made optimal for an occupant, and the comfort of the occupant is thus improved.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2017Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihisa Sugamata, Naotoshi Takemura, Kazuo Imura, Yusuke Nakamura
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Patent number: 11584335Abstract: A movable anchorage system for a seat belt, having a lockable slide mechanism comprising a slide extending in a longitudinal direction of adjustment, a slider system comprising at least one body configured to move in translation along the slide while being guided by the slide, the body incorporating an anchorage device for the seat belt, an actuator configured to ensure the movement of the slider system along the slide, a mechanism for locking the position of the slider system in the slide.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'AutomobileInventors: Semir Hammadi, Fabrice Camus, Roland Faure
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Patent number: 11584461Abstract: Systems and methods for reporting on vehicle characteristics determined by the control system of a multi-speed automatic transmission of a vehicle are provided. The control system may output a vehicle mass alert based on a relationship between a vehicle mass threshold and a determined vehicle mass satisfying a condition. The control system may output a vehicle road grade alert based on a relationship between a vehicle road grade threshold and a determined vehicle road grade satisfying a condition.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2017Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.Inventors: Brent Maurer, Gijsbert van Gelder, John A. Byerly
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Patent number: 11584328Abstract: An assembly includes an airbag, a trim panel, and an airbag container having a sidewall defining a cavity receiving the airbag. The airbag container has an opening through which the airbag is deployable. A flexible membrane cover extends over the opening. A spacer portion is coupled to the membrane cover. The spacer portion is configured to extend proud of the sidewall. The spacer portion resides within a gap between the trim panel and the airbag container and touches the trim panel to resist deflection of the trim panel.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Michal Swiniarski, Tim Scott
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Patent number: 11577683Abstract: A gas generator, includes an igniter, a housing provided with a gas discharge port, and including a combustion chamber to burn a gas generating agent, the igniter being shifted from a center of a cluster of the gas generating agent, an isolating part surrounding at least a portion of the cluster of the gas generating agent, and forms, between the isolating part and a predetermined area, a gas flow space serving and a plurality of communicating parts that are provided in the isolating part and connect the combustion chamber and the gas flow space, a portion of the plurality of communicating parts allowing a combustion product generated by combustion of the gas generating agent disposed proximal to the igniter to flow into the gas flow space, and another portion of the plurality of communicating parts allowing a combustion product flowing through the gas flow space to flow out toward the gas generating agent disposed distal to the igniter.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2018Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: DAICEL CORPORATIONInventors: Koji Yamamoto, Tomoharu Miyamoto
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Patent number: 11560169Abstract: A steering column system includes a steering column shaft. Also included is a steering input device coupled to the steering column shaft. Further included is an energy absorbing mechanism operatively engaged with at least one of the steering column shaft and the steering input device. Yet further included is a column adjustment assembly configured to translate the steering column shaft between a retracted position and a driving position. Also included is at least one signal indicating whether the steering column shaft is in the retracted position or the driving position, and when the steering column shaft is in the retracted position, directional control of a vehicle is automated and the energy absorbing mechanism is in a non-operational state, and when the steering column shaft is returned to the driving position as indicated by the at least one signal, the energy absorbing mechanism is in an operational state.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2018Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding CorporationInventors: Frank P. Lubischer, Richard K. Riefe
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Patent number: 11555613Abstract: A gas generator includes, a housing provided with a gas discharge port, an ignition chamber, accommodating an igniter and a transfer charge, provided on an end portion of the housing, a combustion chamber disposed within the housing and accommodating a gas generating agent, a rupturable closing member partitioning the combustion chamber from the ignition chamber and including a rupturable portion ruptured upon an actuation of the gas generator, and an inner tube extending from the closing member toward the gas discharge port inside the combustion chamber. The inner tube defines outside thereof a space containing the gas generating agent, and defines inside a hollow space. The inner tube is provided with a plurality of through holes. The inner tube includes one end communicating the hollow space with the ignition chamber to transfer the transfer charge in a burning state toward an opposite end when the rupturable portion is ruptured.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2018Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: DAICEL CORPORATIONInventor: Kenji Fukumoto
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Patent number: 11554748Abstract: According to one aspect, a system that supports an undeployed airbag is arranged to enable the airbag to be substantially cradled while undeployed, and to enable the airbag to be deployed in a manner that substantially protects a vehicle panel positioned over the airbag from being severely damaged when the airbag deploys. Such a system may enable the undeployed airbag to be attached to the vehicle panel such that the panel may deform upon deployment of the airbag to substantially absorb some deployment energy. The absorption of some deployment energy may effectively reduce the likelihood of a person being injured, or an object being severely damaged, upon contact with a deploying or deployed airbag.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2021Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: NURO, INCInventor: Marshall Dickens Haltom
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Patent number: 11554744Abstract: The invention relates to a cover cap (10) for an airbag module (12), especially for a driver airbag module, comprising a front panel (14) including an outer face (16) as well as an opposed inner face (18) which in the assembled state of the airbag module (12) faces a folded airbag (20), and an emblem (22) which is arranged and fastened at the inside of the front panel (14), wherein in the area of the emblem (22) the front panel (14) has an emblem opening (24) through which the emblem (22) is visible from the outer face (16) of the front panel (14), wherein the front panel (14) includes a tear line (26) along which the cover cap (10) tears upon activation of the assembled airbag module (12), and wherein the tear line (26) opens into the emblem opening (24) at an edge point (28) of the emblem opening (24). Furthermore, the invention also includes an airbag module (12) comprising said cover cap (10).Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2019Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: DALPHI METAL ESPANA S.A.Inventors: Andreas Joachim Maria Jonietz, Luis Barandela Iglesias, Victor Jose Gonzalez Horta, Pedro Pereiro Coto