Patents Examined by Barry Gooden, Jr.
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Patent number: 11220236Abstract: A seat belt system for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, the system having seat belt webbing connected to a seat belt retractor that includes (a) a frame; (b) a spool with the seat belt webbing wound around, wherein the spool is rotatably mounted to the frame and configured to rotate in a webbing extraction direction and a webbing retraction direction; (c) an energy absorbing device for absorbing energy when the spool is rotated in the webbing extraction direction after an emergency event has occurred; and (d) a mechanism for selectively cancelling the operation of the energy absorbing device by preventing motion of the spool in the webbing extraction direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2019Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLCInventors: Mark Gray, Steve Reed
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Patent number: 11214219Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag, an inflator and an attachment base. The airbag includes a body portion, and an inflow port portion, into which the distal end side of the inflator is inserted. The attachment base includes a holding plate portion including a pressing portion and a support portion that are provided at positions displaced around an axial center of the inflator so as to surround a periphery of the inflow port portion into which the distal end side of the inflator is inserted. The pressing portion is plastically deformable so as to approach a side of the support portion by being crimped, and the distal end side of the inflator inserted between the pressing portion and the support portion and the inflow port portion are sandwiched between the crimped pressing portion and the support portion, and are held by the attachment base.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2020Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.Inventors: Minoru Ono, Tetsuya Ogata, Naoki Hotta
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Patent number: 11208072Abstract: An ejector for ejecting a combustion product including, an igniter including an ignition charge and an ignition portion, a pyrotechnic agent, and a cup made of metal, the cup including a bottom surface and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being contiguous with a peripheral edge of the bottom surface and disposed to surround the ignition portion, the cup further including an accommodating space accommodating therein the pyrotechnic agent, the bottom surface of the cup including a through hole being defined by a plurality of through-hole peripheral edges, and the adjacent through-hole peripheral edges being connected together at a predetermined connection point, and the through hole including a narrow part, in which a width of the through hole defined by each of parts of the two through-hole peripheral edges of the plurality of through-hole peripheral edges decreases gradually with an increasing distance from a center of the bottom surface toward the peripheral edge of the bottom surface, and the narrow pType: GrantFiled: July 9, 2018Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: DAICEL CORPORATIONInventors: Koji Yamamoto, Mikio Yabuta
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Patent number: 11207938Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for controlling a lift axle of a vehicle. To assist with braking according to an operation of a forward collision avoidance (FCA) system by using the lift axle in an emergency braking situation, the vehicle lift axle control apparatus includes a lift axle actuator that drives the lift axle of the vehicle, an interworking device that interworks with the FCA system, and a controller that controls the lift axle actuator based on information obtained from the FCA system.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2019Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventor: In Ho Seo
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Patent number: 11203240Abstract: Wishbone-style control arm assemblies for a vehicle and methods for assembling the same are disclosed. A control arm assembly includes a first elongated segment having a first connection feature at one end of the first segment. The control arm assembly includes a second elongated segment having a second connection feature at one end of the second segment. Opposite longitudinal ends of the first and second segments may include third and fourth connection features, respectively, that are configured to interface with the vehicle. The first and second connection features are aligned to form an aperture that extends at least partially through the first and segment connection features, through which a bushing is press-fit and then swaged to form a strong connection that reduces or eliminates the need for mechanical fasteners or adhesive bonds.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2019Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Thomas Samuel Bowden, Jr.
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Patent number: 11192572Abstract: A column jacket includes a hollow outer jacket having a pair of clamped portions disposed to sandwich a slit between the clamped portions and a tubular inner jacket having, in an area where the inner jacket is fitted in the outer jacket, an elongated hole extending in an axial direction. A clamping mechanism clamps the pair of clamped portions with a pair of side plates of a fixed bracket. The elongated hole is disposed on any one of a first side and a second side, in the lateral direction, of a vertical plane passing through a central axis of the inner jacket, at a position other than on a straight line that extends in a vertical direction through the central axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2019Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventors: Yusuke Nishimine, Masayoshi Sakuda, Atsumune Nagatani, Daiki Goto, Naohiro Oosono, Yu Myohoji
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Patent number: 11167719Abstract: An advanced four-point seat belt may include: a three-point seat belt to diagonally hold a passenger with a webbing; and a motorized seat belt to allow a tongue of the webbing to maintain a state of being fixed to a side surface of a seat cushion to an initial position. In particular, when a vehicle collision situation is recognized, the motorized seat belt forms an “X” shape webbing confinement state by withdrawing the webbing and another webbing to locate the tongue at a central position of a body of the passenger.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventor: Yong-Woon Song
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Patent number: 11148634Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of enlarging a clearance between an engine room and a hood so as to reduce an impact when a protection target collides with a vehicle body and suitably prevent the collision between the protection target and a windshield lower and/or a wiper. This vehicle body structure includes: a hood provided at a vehicle body; and a shift mechanism by which the hood is moved relative to the vehicle body, wherein the shift mechanism supports the hood movable with respect to the vehicle body and moves the hood upward and rearward with respect to the vehicle body. The vehicle body includes a wiper configured to wipe a front window W and the shift mechanism moves the hood to a position where the hood and at least part of the wiper overlap in a vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Masato Sasaki, Kazutada Sasaki
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Patent number: 11142161Abstract: The invention relates to a belt deflector with a main element (100) that can be attached to the structure of a vehicle, and with a belt support element (200) that is movable relative to the main element (100) and forms a support surface (231) or support edge for a safety belt (20) to be deflected. According to the invention, the belt deflector comprises an intermediate element (300, 400) that is deformed when the movable belt support element (200) is moved relative to the main element (100), in the direction of the intermediate element (300, 400), and because of this deformation is pressed against the safety belt (20).Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2017Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS GERMANY GMBHInventors: Yves Clauss, Heinrich Einsiedel, Gerhard Frey, Peter Linde, Rainer Mangold, Thomas Bertram
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Patent number: 11142238Abstract: A travel stop support bushing includes a body and an extension. The body has a first outer surface that extends between a first body face and a second body face along an axis. The body defines a plurality of fins that are at least partially defined between the first outer surface and the second body face. The extension has a second outer surface that extends between the first body face and an end face.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding CorporationInventors: Dale Wawrzyniec, Joseph B. Rombach, George Arlt
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Patent number: 11111649Abstract: A working machine having a base assembly including a ground engaging structure; an undercarriage connected to the ground engaging structure; a superstructure connected to the undercarriage; a working arm mounted to the superstructure; a connector connecting the undercarriage to the superstructure; and a drive arrangement located in the base assembly for moving the ground engaging structure to propel, in use, the working machine.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2018Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: J. C. Bamford Excavators LimitedInventors: Jonathan Lyle, Peter Jowett, John Griffin, David Price, Nicholas Roberts, Ryan Page, Ian Carswell
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Patent number: 11104295Abstract: In a method for operating a safety system of a motor vehicle, a corresponding safety system, and a motor vehicle equipped with such safety system, status signals from several sensor devices are captured by the safety system, wherein the status signals indicate respective status change of a functional unit of the motor vehicle. Thereafter, a chronological order of the status changes is determined and evaluated to detect a consistency or an inconsistency with the proper application of a seat belt of the motor vehicle. If an inconsistency is detected and it persists over a predetermined period of time, a control signal is transmitted by the safety system to a safety device of the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2018Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: AUDI AGInventors: Wolfgang Michalke, Patricia Stadick, Katharina Kunth, Joachim Scheef
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Patent number: 11104296Abstract: A seat belt system for a vehicle comprises a first seat belt buckle mounted at a first location, a second seat belt buckle mounted at a second location and a seat belt retractor mounted at a third location, a seat belt and a circuit. The third location is spaced along a seat for an occupant from the second location. The seat belt is extendable from the seat belt retractor and has a tongue. The seat belt is extendable to connect the tongue to the first seat belt buckle or the second seat belt buckle. The circuit interconnects the first seat belt buckle, the second seat belt buckle and the seat belt retractor. The circuit is configured to change an operating mode of the seat belt retractor when (1) the seat belt tongue is removed from the first seat belt buckle and/or (2) the seat belt tongue is removed from the second seat belt buckle. An optional indicator can be provided to indicate to the vehicle operator that the operating mode of the retractor has been changed.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2020Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: J.R. Setina Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Terry L. Setina, Adam Sampson
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Patent number: 11105069Abstract: A vehicle including an engine, the engine being selectably operably couplable to ground engaging motive means, the vehicle including a foot throttle for selectively controlling power delivery from the engine, a hand throttle for selectively controlling power delivery from the engine and an operator seat being moveable between a front facing position and a rear facing position, the vehicle including a static operating mode in which: the operator seat faces forwards, the engine is decoupled from the ground engaging motive means and/or a park brake is on, and, the foot throttle is the default throttle the vehicle further including an excavation mode in which: the operator seat faces rearwards, the engine is decoupled from the ground engaging motive means and the hand throttle is the default throttle.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: JC Bamford Excavators LimitedInventors: Michael McKee, Matt Cook
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Patent number: 11104294Abstract: Energy absorbing means on an autonomous ground robot, which is intended for delivering packages in an uncontrolled and unprotected environment, include elastically deformable padding, crushable material, and spring-loaded or like mechanical devices.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2018Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Brett Skaloud, Andrew Stubbs
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Patent number: 11072306Abstract: The invention relates, among other things, to a gas generator for generating a driving gas for a vehicle safety device, wherein the gas generator comprises: an ignition device; fuel which, after ignition using the ignition device, generates the driving gas; an at least partially tubular carrier element, in the tube interior of which a combustion chamber for the fuel is located; an injection-moulded body which fixes the ignition device in the connection hole and is located with an inner portion inside the carrier element and with an outer portion outside the carrier element; a feed pipe which is connected to a pipe end of the carrier element and which conveys the driving gas out of the combustion chamber; and a lid sealing the combustion chamber.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2018Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Germany GmbHInventors: Hans-Jürgen Divo, Jochen Benz, Christine-Martina Ganso, Roland Schnabl, Gerhard Klingauf
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Patent number: 11066031Abstract: An airbag device for a driver's seat may include: a housing mounted on a steering part; an inflator mounted on the housing; and a cushion accommodated in the housing, deployed by gas supplied from the inflator, and having a cushion front part and a cushion rear part, wherein the cushion front part is configured such that an upper portion thereof is expanded and deployed and deployment of a lower portion thereof is partially restricted when the cushion is deployed, and the cushion rear part is disposed opposite the cushion front part to partially restrict the deployment of the lower portion of the cushion front part.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2019Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jung Geun Choi
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Patent number: 11066036Abstract: A far side airbag apparatus for a vehicle for installation at a side of a frame of a backrest of a seat directed toward an inner center portion of the vehicle such that the far side airbag is expanded and deployed between at least two backrests arranged widthwise along the vehicle. The far side airbag includes an inner part directed toward an occupant seated in a direction opposite to a collision side of the vehicle upon vehicle collision and an outer part directed toward the inner center portion of the vehicle upon vehicle collision. When a vehicle collision occurs, for example, when a side inclination collision of the vehicle occurs, the occupant seated in opposition to the collision side of the vehicle may be prevented from abruptly moving toward the front portion and the inner center portion of the vehicle out of the protection range of the far side airbag. Thus, collision between occupants seated on a driver seat and an occupant seat can be effectively prevented.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2017Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT ABInventors: Tae Ik Gwon, Par Sandinge, Mats Berntsson, Jong Ki Byun
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Patent number: 11066119Abstract: A folding scooter frame (100) includes a front vehicle frame (110), a rear vehicle frame (120) and a folding seat support frame (8). The front vehicle frame (110) and the rear vehicle frame (120) are pivotally connected. The folding seat support frame (8) includes a linkage rod (81) and a frame body, wherein a front end of the linkage rod (81) is connected with the front vehicle frame (110), a rear end of the linkage rod (81) is pivotally connected with the frame body, and the linkage rod (81) is able to swing as the front vehicle frame (110) is folded and thus drives the frame body to fold. The folding scooter frame (100) has the advantages of quick and convenient folding operations.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2017Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: DONGGUAN PRESTIGE SPORTING PRODUCTS CO., LTD.Inventor: Zhao Zhang
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Patent number: 11059447Abstract: Emblem body includes emblem main body section and pin projecting to emblem main body section and inserted through opening section. Pin has shaft section continuous with emblem main body section, enlargement section formed to be enlarged on the distal end side of shaft section, planar section formed in a planar shape along a direction intersecting with the protrusion direction of pin in enlargement section, and linear section linearly formed at a position different from planar section along a direction intersecting with the protrusion direction of pin in enlargement section. Back plate is provided with elastic piece section against which planar section and linear section abut from the direction opposite to the protrusion direction of pin at least during airbag inflation deployment.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.Inventor: Kyohei Ide