Patents Examined by Darlene P Condra
  • Patent number: 10864877
    Abstract: A passenger protection apparatus includes a seat, an activation member, a first detector, a second detector, and a controller. The seat has a seat cushion on which a passenger can sit. The activation member is configured to be activated upward in the seat cushion. The first detector is configured to detect or predict a collision of a vehicle. The second detector is configured to detect a sitting state of the passenger sitting on the seat cushion. The controller is configured to control activation of the activation member. The activation member can change an activation point at which the activation member is activated upward. When the first detector detects or predicts a collision of the vehicle, the controller sets the activation point on a basis of the sitting position detected by the second detector, and activates the activation member upward in the seat cushion at the determined activation point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 10864791
    Abstract: A suspension for a wheeled vehicle include an axle with a mid-section and an end comprising an upper portion and a lower portion defining a space therebetween, a leaf spring having forward and rear ends attached to vehicle structure and a mid-section retained in the space and secured between the upper and lower portions, and a closure element attached to the axle end and at least partially closing an outboard end of the space. The upper and lower axle portions may be formed integrally with the axle mid-section or may be a separately-formed component secured to the axle. The space tapers from a greater vertical dimension at the outboard end thereof to a smaller vertical dimension at an inboard end thereof, and the leaf spring mid-section is wedged into the space. An intermediate element is disposed between the mid-section and at least one of the upper and lower axle portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Gerhards, Alberto Girelli Consolaro, Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Rainer Souschek
  • Patent number: 10864878
    Abstract: A passenger protection apparatus for vehicle includes an airbag and a regulating member. The airbag is capable of deploying forward or upward from a side of a seat on which a passenger sits. The regulating member is capable of regulating deployment of the airbag. The regulating member connects a side of a seat back to a side of a lower part of the seat, and is configured to contact an outside of the airbag in a seat width direction to regulate a deployment direction of the airbag to deploy the airbag inward in the seat width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 10858032
    Abstract: A steering column assembly includes an upper jacket. The assembly also includes a lower jacket operatively coupled to the upper jacket, the upper and lower jackets telescopingly movable relative to each other in an automated manner, the upper and lower jackets moveable in a rake direction over a first range of rake positions and over a second range of rake positions that is outside the first range of rake positions. The assembly further includes a clamp load controlling component in contact with the lower jacket to apply a first clamp load on a jacket interface between the upper and lower jackets while the lower jacket is within the first range of rake positions, the clamp load controlling component applying a lower clamp load on the jacket interface while the lower jacket is in the second range of rake positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Derocher, Leslie E. Edmundson, Jeremy M. Zemla
  • Patent number: 10851521
    Abstract: A hydraulic excavator (1) includes a hydraulic pump (22) driven by an engine (20), an electromagnetic proportional valve (24) for hydraulic pump that adjusts pump torque of the hydraulic pump (22) in response to a pump torque target value (Tp), a hydraulic actuator operated by a delivery pressure of the hydraulic pump (22), a motor generator (30) connected to the engine (20), and a controller (26) configured to calculate the pump torque target value (Tp). The controller (26) acquires a pump torque adjustment amount (Qadj) based on a deviation (?AH) between a current integrating value (AH1) acquired by integrating a value of a current flowing into the motor generator (30) when the hydraulic actuator is driven and a current integrating reference value (AH0).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taiki Aizawa, Shinji Nishikawa, Kouichi Shibata
  • Patent number: 10843634
    Abstract: A cover for an operator console of a machine includes a first section rotatably coupled to the operator console. The first section selectively rotates between a first position and a second position about a rotational axis. The cover also includes a second section rotatably coupled to the operator console and the first section. The second section selectively rotates between a third position and a fourth position about the rotational axis. The second section is also adapted to engage with the first section during rotation of the second section from the third position to the fourth position to rotate the first section from the first position to the second position. The second section is further adapted to engage with the first section during rotation of the second section from the fourth position to the third position to rotate the first section from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Burger, Johnson David Sugidharan, Michael S. Hemry, Brian D. Nagel, Cody Conrad Lynne, Mike P. Siers, Jaya Kumar Karani
  • Patent number: 10843653
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, which is provided in a vehicle equipped with a head portion protecting airbag that protects a head portion of a vehicle occupant at a time of a side collision, includes: a head portion restraining portion that is provided at an upper portion side of a seatback so as to be able to tilt rearward from an upright state, and that restrains a head portion of a vehicle occupant, wherein, when the seatback is tilted rearward beyond a predetermined angle with respect to a vertical direction, the head portion of the vehicle occupant can be protected due to at least a side portion that is at a vehicle transverse direction outer side of the head portion restraining portion covering a side of the head portion of the vehicle occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mitsuyoshi Ohno
  • Patent number: 10843670
    Abstract: A work machine includes a power generator configured to generate power to propel the machine, a brake system, an operator seat, one or more sensors, and a controller. The operator seat is rotatably mounted to the machine. The one or more sensors are configured to generate one or more signals indicative of an orientation of the operator seat relative to a direction of travel of the machine. The controller is coupled to the machine and communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors. The controller is configured to determine that the operator seat is out of alignment with the direction of travel based on the one or more signals and automatically actuate the brake system if the operator seat is out of alignment with the direction of travel for more than a first threshold time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Petersen, Rolf af Klinteberg, Kyle D. Hendricks, Bryan J. Downing, Jeremy W. Lee, Mathew J. Hedrington
  • Patent number: 10843651
    Abstract: A monument mounted airbag system for arresting passenger movement during a sudden acceleration/deceleration event of a moving vehicle includes an airbag assembly including at least one airbag on a first portion of a monument structure, the airbag assembly having a housing at least partially defined by a space between an external member and the monument structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: SCHROTH SAFETY PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Mark Edward Deevey, Bryant Earl Williams, Stephen Bryant Adkins, Ahad M. Zadeh, Brian Hansen
  • Patent number: 10836340
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus inflates to be spread such that a front side and both sides of at least one occupant are surrounded. The airbag apparatus includes an airbag's bag body that has the first bag body, the second bag body, and the third bag body which are integrally formed and inflate to be spread on one side, the front side, and the other side of the occupant; and an energy absorbing portion that causes an upper portion of the first bag body and an upper portion of the third bag body to be coupled to a vehicle body, generates a load reaction force for supporting the airbag's bag body when the occupant is restrained, and allows the airbag's bag body to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Obayashi, Seiji Kobata, Masahiro Sato
  • Patent number: 10836230
    Abstract: A RevoKnuckle-type suspension for a wheeled vehicle has a hub mounted to a bearing carrier for rotation relative thereto about a steering axis, and a shock absorber connected non-rotatably to the bearing carrier. The shock absorber has an outer cylinder having an axially-extending guide hole defined therein, and a piston and attached piston rod retained for axial reciprocation in the guide hole. The guide hole and at least one of the piston and the piston rod retained therein have respective complementary-shaped, non-circular cross-sectional shapes which engage one another to resist axial rotation of the piston and/or the piston rod within the guide hole. The carrier is therefore restrained against rotation relative to the vehicle sprung structure without the need for any additional component(s) such as a control arm or stabilizer, as required in a traditional RevoKnuckle-type suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralf Hintzen, Thomas Gerhards
  • Patent number: 10836227
    Abstract: A gear arm assembly for a vehicle includes gear arm housing having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, the gear arm housing from the intermediate portion to the first end defining a first arm segment, and the gear arm housing from the intermediate portion to the second end defining a second arm segment. The assembly further includes a plurality of gears meshed together in series and housed within the gear arm housing, the plurality of gears including an intermediate gear within the intermediate portion of the gear arm housing. The assembly further includes a first wheel hub connected to a first gear of the plurality of gears at the first end of the gear arm housing, and a second wheel hub connected to a second gear of the plurality of gears at the second end of the gear arm housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Inventor: Marcin Dyna
  • Patent number: 10821794
    Abstract: A suspension structure of a utility vehicle includes: a shock absorber; a knuckle; and an upper arm and a lower arm which connects the knuckle to a vehicle body frame of the utility vehicle, wherein a recessed portion which is recessed downward is formed on the upper arm, and a lower end of the shock absorber is supported by the recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakashima, Takashi Hisamura
  • Patent number: 10823231
    Abstract: A damping member support for non-torsional force bypass around a torsional damping member includes a damping member engagement portion configured to be coupled to the torsional damping member and an intermediate portion configured to transmit a non-torsional force between a shaft and the torsional damping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Bradley A. Merrill, Allan N. Schott
  • Patent number: 10821945
    Abstract: An outrigger pad assembly includes a base having a bottom surface for engaging an underlying support surface and a top surface opposite to the bottom surface, a force sensor mounted to the base, and an interface body. The interface body includes a lower cavity at least partially defined by a first inner sidewall, an upper cavity at least partially defined by a second inner sidewall, and a coupling body having a latch configured for selective with an outrigger jack. The force sensor is disposed in the lower cavity in sliding contact with the first inner sidewall such that the interface body is movable relative to the force sensor. The outrigger pad assembly may be part of an outrigger assembly of a lifting vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Manitowoc Crane Companies, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen J. Schoonmaker
  • Patent number: 10822028
    Abstract: A steering system includes a mounting bracket, a drag link elongated from a first end rotatably coupled to the mounting bracket to a second end, a steering arm rotatably coupled to the second end, and a telescoping shaft rotatably coupled to the drag link. The drag link includes a housing and a rack slidable in the housing. The telescoping shaft is operably coupled to the drag link to slide the rack relative to the housing when the telescoping shaft rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joe L. Buchwitz, Christopher Sells, John Wesley Stanley, Vijay Bokil
  • Patent number: 10821793
    Abstract: Provided are a suspension bush and a suspension device that are able to achieve both steering operability and stability of a vehicle at the time of turning. A projection portion is formed on the outer circumference of an inner cylinder. A guide is formed on the inner circumference of an outer cylinder. In the guide, a slit is formed along an extending direction that includes: a component, in a parallel direction, which runs parallel with an axial line; and a component in a circumferential direction around the axial line. The projection portion is disposed in the slit, and a threaded mechanism is formed by the projection portion and the slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuji Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10814826
    Abstract: An airbag includes first and second inner tethers, first and second vent holes formed on left and right sides of the airbag, and first and second opening/closing members capable of opening/closing the first and second vent holes. A first opening/closing tether has a first end portion coupled to the first opening/closing member and a second end portion coupled to the first inner tether, and a second opening/closing tether has a first end portion coupled to the second opening/closing member and a second end portion coupled to the second inner tether. When an occupant contacts the airbag, at least one of the first and second inner tethers is deformed to move at least one of the first and second opening/closing tethers toward the corresponding vent hole and cause at least one of the first and second opening/closing members to open the corresponding vent hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Yutaka Baba, Kazuki Morita, Hiroyoshi Shimono
  • Patent number: 10807428
    Abstract: A slipper and/or eyed leaf-spring vehicle suspension system is provided with a compliant oversized pivot bushing and a torque rod or control arm, respectively. Each of the torque rod or control arm are provided with at least one over-sized eye bushing-housing into which the compliant oversized pivot bushing is compressed into. The compliant oversized pivot bushing has an elastomeric annulus mounted on a rigid sleeve wherein compliant oversized pivot bushing has an overall outside diameter that is greater to much greater than its width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Inventors: Jason M. Klein, Kevin Schlack
  • Patent number: 10807847
    Abstract: Vehicles, systems and methods for providing articulating two section vehicles with tracks, and a front body attached superstructure with telescopic forklift, for use on all terrain condition applications. The vehicle can include front and rear track assemblies that can tilt up and down while traveling over different ground surfaces. Each of the track assemblies can have rotatable articulating/oscillating track wheels which can traverse different contoured surfaces. The right and left tracks on both the front and rear track assemblies can separately extend outward and inward from underneath the vehicles to add stability to the vehicles. The cab can be raised and lowered to add greater visibility for the operator. Hydraulics can be used for raising and lowering the extendable boom and operator cab, as well as controlling the body articulating hinge, the articulating tracks and the tilting controls for the front track assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Teletrax Equipment, LLC
    Inventors: Tim Ourada, Terri Ourada