Patents Examined by Darlene P Condra
  • Patent number: 11077896
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments, aspects and features an oscillating track system that includes an oscillating track lock subsystem. The oscillating track system may include a track operable to rotate around a housing structure that is configured to receive an axle. While in operation, i.e. while the track is being rotated around the housing, the oscillating track system may be able to oscillate about the axle and, in doing so, incline or decline to accommodate undulating terrain. Advantageously, when stopped, the degree to which the oscillating track system has oscillated around the axle may be locked in place via an oscillating track lock subsystem comprised within the oscillating track system, thereby providing stability to the heavy equipment that includes the oscillating track system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Teletrax Equipment, LLC
    Inventor: Tim Ourada
  • Patent number: 11077815
    Abstract: A vehicle seat equipped with a side airbag device includes: an inflator disposed on an outer side in a vehicle width direction relative to a side frame; an inner chamber housed inside the side part, and is configured to inflate and deploy toward a part of an occupant on the outer side in the vehicle width direction upon receiving supply of a gas from the inflator; an outer chamber housed inside the side part, and is configured to inflate and deploy toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction and a vehicle front side relative to the inner chamber upon receiving supply of the gas; and a diffuser housed inside the side part and configured to supply the gas into the inner chamber from a first supply port formed in a peripheral wall of the diffuser when the inflator is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Osamu Fukawatase, Takamichi Komura, Takeharu Sugishima, Takayuki Shimizu, Mitsuo Nogami, Yuto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11072307
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body having two pillars spaced from each other. The body includes a rocker extending from one pillar to the other pillar. An airbag is fixed to the rocker and inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag extends outboard of the rocker in the inflated position. The airbag includes a first chamber and a second chamber substantially fluidly separated from each other. The first chamber extends farther outboard of the rocker in the inflated position than the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Rahul Arora, Srinivasan Sundararajan, Robert William McCoy
  • Patent number: 11065929
    Abstract: A low suspension arm strut coupling is provided for a suspension of an off-road vehicle. The suspension comprises a lower suspension arm that is hingedly coupled between a chassis of the off-road vehicle and a spindle assembly that is coupled with a front wheel. An upper suspension arm is hingedly coupled between the chassis and the spindle assembly. A strut is coupled between the lower suspension arm and the chassis. A lower pivot couples the strut to the lower suspension, and an upper pivot couples the strut to the chassis. The upper and lower pivots provide a lower center of gravity of the off-road vehicle and a relatively smaller shock angle. The lower suspension arm is reinforced to withstand forces due to movement of the front wheel and operation of the strut in response to travel over terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventor: Robby Gordon
  • Patent number: 11066037
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inflator holder (14) for an airbag module (10) comprising a holder bottom part (20) in which an inflator receiving hole (18) is formed and comprising a holder sidewall part (22) which delimits, together with the holder bottom part (20), a receiving compartment (26) for an inflator (12) open on a discharge side (28) opposed to the holder bottom part (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Jochen Weiss, Sergey Hauer, Hans-Peter Bausch
  • Patent number: 11066039
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inflator holder (14) for an airbag module (10) comprising a holder bottom part (20) in which an inflator receiving hole (18) is formed and comprising a holder sidewall part (22) which delimits, together with the holder bottom part (20), a receiving compartment (26) for an inflator (12) open on a discharge side (28) opposed to the holder bottom part (20). The inflator holder (14) includes a filter grid (24) for exhausting gas fastened on the inflator holder (14) which filter grid at least partially delimits the receiving compartment (26) on the discharge side (28). In addition, the invention relates to an airbag module (10) comprising an airbag (16), an inflator (12) and said inflator holder (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Issler, Simon Schmid, Martin Burkhardtsmaier
  • Patent number: 11052941
    Abstract: A rod-end front suspension is provided for an off-road vehicle. The rod-end front suspension comprises a spindle assembly that is pivotally coupled with an upper suspension arm by way of a first rod-end joint and pivotally coupled with a lower suspension arm by way of a second rod-end joint. A steering rod-end joint coupled with the spindle assembly pivotally receives a steering rod. An axle assembly coupled with the spindle assembly conducts torque from a transaxle to a wheel coupled with the spindle assembly. Each of the first and second rod-end joints comprises a ball rotatably retained within a casing. The ball is fastened within a recess between parallel prongs extending from the spindle assembly. A threaded shank extending from the casing is threadably fixated with the suspension arm, such that the spindle assembly may be moved with respect to the casing and the suspension arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventor: Robby Gordon
  • Patent number: 11046139
    Abstract: A strut mount and bearing assembly includes a strut mount having upper and lower ends, a central bore for receiving a shock absorber end and an annular upper race surface between the upper and lower ends and extending circumferentially about the bore. The upper end is fixedly connectable with a vehicle body and has a flat attachment surface disposeable against a vehicle surface of the vehicle body. A first bearing race is disposed on the mount and a spring seat having a second bearing race is movably coupled with the strut mount. The seat also has a lower end with spring engagement surface and a second bearing race is disposed on the seat spaced axially from the first bearing race. Rolling elements are disposed between the first and second bearing races to form a bearing. The various components are formed and sized to make an axially compact assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Mathieu Hubert, Thomas Lepine, Massimo De Francisco
  • Patent number: 11040693
    Abstract: A vehicular protection device includes a protection device that protects a protection target that comes into collision with a vehicle, a measuring device that captures an image of the protection target and measures a distance between the protection target and the vehicle, and a controller that activates the protection device in different modes based on whether the protection target includes a predetermined vehicle on which to ride. The protection device includes an airbag device that deploys an airbag toward a front of the vehicle, and a pop-up device that moves a hood provided in a front upper section of the vehicle, and the controller activates the pop-up device without activating the airbag device if the protection target includes the vehicle on which to ride, and activates the airbag device and the pop-up device if the protection target does not include the vehicle on which to ride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Umezawa, Hiroyuki Asanuma, Yasuaki Gunji, Osamu Ito
  • Patent number: 11034408
    Abstract: A position adjusting arrangement for use in a vehicle includes a seat for supporting a rider, a rear wheel and a front wheel, a steering arrangement including a handle bar for allowing the rider to control the steerable wheel, and a hub for interconnecting the components of the wheeled vehicle. The position adjusting arrangement includes an adjustable seat support arrangement movably connected to the hub, an adjustable handle bar support arrangement movably connected to the hub, and a releasable position locking arrangement configured to lock the position of the components of the vehicle relative to the hub. The hub may include a first portion and second portion, wherein the first and second portions are moveably connected to one another, such as by pivoting, sliding, or a combination of pivoting and sliding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: LiteCycle, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Michael
  • Patent number: 11034409
    Abstract: A suspension assembly for a vehicle includes a swing arm having a proximal end configured to be pivotally connected to a frame of the vehicle, and a distal end configured to support a ground-engaging member of the vehicle. The suspension assembly also includes a rocker link pivotally connected to the swing arm about a rocker link pivot axis from which first and second portions of the rocker link extend in divergent directions. The suspension assembly also includes a linking arm configured to be pivotally connected to the frame, and pivotally connected to the first portion of the rocker link. The suspension assembly also includes a shock absorber that is at least one of: pivotally connected to the linking arm, and configured to be pivotally connected to the frame. The shock absorber is pivotally connected to the second portion of the rocker link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Sebastien Hebert, Emile Maltais-Larouche
  • Patent number: 11034323
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seat including a seatback. An airbag is supported by the seatback and is inflatable to an inflated position. A tether is connected to the airbag. A pyrotechnic device is supported by the seat and connected to the tether. As the airbag inflates to the inflated position, the pyrotechnic device pulls the tether to position the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: S.M. Iskander Farooq, Mohammad Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi, Anil Kalra
  • Patent number: 11027587
    Abstract: A gearing arrangement for an actuator device for height adjustment of a vehicle body is provided, having a drive wheel and an output wheel, which are rotatably connected to each other by a tooth system formed on each. A blocking element is arranged on the output wheel to block a rotational movement, and a guide track having a blocking stop integrated therein and at least one deflection position; the guide track is connected to a pin section, which is movable to a limited degree and which is provided in order to be guided along the guide track upon rotation of the output wheel and to block a rotational movement of the output wheel upon penetrating into the blocking stop. By using the at least one deflection position, the rotative position of the blocking element can be detected during guiding of the pin section by the at least one deflection position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hartmut Krehmer
  • Patent number: 11027696
    Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system includes a retractable seat belt buckle, one or more buckle sensors, and a control unit. The control unit is communicatively coupled to the one or more buckle sensors and one or more drive systems of a vehicle. The retractable seat belt buckle is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The one or more buckle sensors are positioned to sense a position of the retractable seat belt buckle and output a signal indicative of the position of the retractable seat belt buckle. The control unit receives the signal from the one or more buckle sensors, determines the position of the retractable seat belt buckle based on the signal from the one or more buckle sensors, and transmits a stop signal to the one or more vehicle drive systems to cause the one or more vehicle drive systems to prevent motion of the vehicle when the retractable seat belt buckle is positioned in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Lauren Abro
  • Patent number: 11027586
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle suspension member securing a strength against external force in a vehicle longitudinal direction. A lower arm includes an arm body, a front bush support part, a rear bush support part, a ball joint support part, a first rib, a second rib, and a third rib. The third rib is disposed in a lateral part connecting the ball joint support part to the rear bush support part. An S-shaped rib center curve of the third rib intersects with a straight line at an intersection. |(1?S2/S1)|?0.2 is satisfied, where S1 is area of a first region defined by the rib center curve and the first straight line, and S2 is area of a second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Hosoi, Hajime Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11027695
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor comprising a frame (10), a belt reel (12) rotatably arranged within the frame, a blocking mechanism (18) by which the belt reel (12) can be blocked within the frame (10), and a load limiter (14) which is detachably coupled to the belt reel (12), characterized in that for coupling the load limiter (14) at least one load-transmitting bar (28) is used which is arranged at the belt reel (12) and is retained in a coupling position by a support ring (32), wherein the support ring (32) can be moved from a supporting position to a release position by means of an actor (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Daeuber, Stefan Eisele, Martin Roehrle
  • Patent number: 11021127
    Abstract: A seating assembly for a vehicle comprises: a seatback; an airbag having a stowed position and an inflated position, the airbag being configured to inflate from the stowed position to the inflated position in response to the vehicle impacting an object; a head restraint coupled to the seatback, the head restraint including a forward position, a rearward position, and a locking mechanism preventing the head restraint from moving from the forward position to the rearward position after taking the forward position; and as the airbag inflates from the stowed position to the inflated position, the airbag forces the head restraint from the rearward position to the forward position. As the airbag inflates from the stowed position to the inflated position and forces the head restraint to the forward position, the airbag does not contact the one or more support bars and does not force the seatback to change position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Fredriksson, Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Benjamin Yilma, Michael Steven Medoro
  • Patent number: 11014519
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for triggering an occupant protection device in a vehicle with a parking brake, wherein for the case in which a deceleration of the vehicle is demanded by operating the parking brake while travelling, the occupant protection device is triggered automatically and displaced from an initial position into a protective position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Baehrle-Miller
  • Patent number: 11014420
    Abstract: A vehicle that can reduce change in the toe angle of a rear wheel in a toe-out direction at the time of a braking force being provided by the vehicle. A coupling point between a vehicle frame and a trailing arm is defined as a first coupling point. A coupling point between the trailing arm and a lateral arm is defined as a second coupling point. A coupling point between the lateral arm and a frame rear section is defined as a third coupling point. A straight line connecting the first coupling point and the second coupling point is defined as a first straight line. A straight line connecting the second coupling point and the third coupling point is defined as a second straight line. With those definitions, an angle between the first straight line and the second straight line in a plan view of the vehicle is 90 degrees or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Sawai, Masahiro Yoshida, Kenta Higashiyama, Masahide Shimbori
  • Patent number: 11008061
    Abstract: A tri-mode collapsible scooter includes: a deck; a stem; handlebars; a head tube; a neck hinge; a deck hinge; a wheelset; a neck control; and a deck control. The deck includes: a front deck section; a rear deck section; and a deck hinge interposed between the front deck section and the rear deck section. The neck control is configured to release the neck hinge for transition between an open neck position and a closed neck position. The deck control is configured to release the deck hinge for transition of the deck between an open deck position and a closed deck position. The deck hinge occupies the open deck position and the neck hinge occupies the open neck position in a ride mode; and the deck hinge occupies the closed deck position and the neck hinge occupies the closed neck position in a tow mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Trio Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Newby, S. K. Kershner