Patents Examined by Darlene P Condra
  • Patent number: 11006805
    Abstract: An inflation mechanism adapted to a robotic device is provided. The inflation mechanism includes a regulating unit and a control unit. The regulating unit includes an inflatable air bag, a pressure detecting unit and a pressure adjusting unit. The inflatable air bag is arranged on a body surface of the robotic device. The pressure detecting unit is coupled to the inflatable air bag for detecting an internal pressure of the inflatable air bag. The pressure adjusting unit is coupled to the inflatable air bag for adjusting the internal pressure of the inflatable air bag. The control unit is coupled to the regulating unit. The control unit processes a signal received from the pressure detecting unit, and determines and controls the pressure adjusting unit to adjust the internal pressure of the inflatable air bag according to a set condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventors: Tien-Sheng Lu, Yu-Chung Wu
  • Patent number: 11008054
    Abstract: A method of preventing a rollover situation for an articulated vehicle, specifically in relation to the forward vehicle section of the articulated vehicle, is disclosed. A corresponding control unit and a computer program for such an articulated vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventor: Roland Kvist
  • Patent number: 11007963
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a vehicle body frame extending in a vehicle body front/rear direction, a front wheel unit and a rear wheel unit attached to the vehicle body frame, a driver's seat disposed upwardly of the vehicle body frame, a ROPS and and an operational tool operable by a driver seated at the driver's seat. The ROPS includes a pair of left and right lower portions fixed to the vehicle body frame and an upper portion supported to the lower portions to be pivotable between a vertical posture and a horizontal posture about a pivot shaft extending in a vehicle body transverse direction, an actuator unit for generating power, and an operational mechanism configured to pivot the upper portion with using the power. The actuator is controlled by the operational tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tada
  • Patent number: 11007969
    Abstract: The invention relates to a one-piece woven airbag, in particular for vehicle restraint systems, with an upper fabric and a lower fabric which are joined together in a single-ply seam area forming the border of the airbag, with tether threads which are woven partially into the upper fabric and partially into the lower fabric and float there between over a defined length, which is characterized by upper limiting threads which are woven into the upper fabric and/or lower limiting threads which are woven into the lower fabric, the limiting threads between upper fabric and lower fabric floating over a defined number of floating tether threads and being attached to attachment points of their fabric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: GLOBAL SAFETY TEXTILES GMBH
    Inventors: Daniel Albiez, Michael Becker
  • Patent number: 11007964
    Abstract: A seat cushion airbag apparatus is applied to a vehicle seat in which a seat cushion includes a cushion part and a support portion. An airbag, including an inflatable portion, is disposed between the support portion and the cushion part. The inflatable portion includes: a rear inflatable portion that inflates on a lower side of buttocks of an occupant; a front inflatable portion that inflates on a lower side of a femur of the occupant; and a connection portion that connects the rear inflatable portion and the front inflatable portion. A tilting plate is disposed between the support portion and the cushion part and is supported to be tiltable in an upper-lower direction by a shaft provided rearward of the front inflatable portion, the tilting plate including a flat pressure receiving portion that receives pressure of inflation gas from a lower side through at least the front inflatable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koki Tanaka, Takashi Iida, Shigeyuki Suzuki, Tadashi Yamada, Yasushi Masuda, Hajime Kitte, Motoyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11001222
    Abstract: Vehicle safety devices, seam tapes for use in safety airbags along with their methods of formation and use are provided. The vehicle safety device can comprise an airbag and a pyrotechnic device positioned within working proximity to an aperture defined in the airbag and configured to fill the interior space of the airbag with a gas upon ignition. The vehicle safety device can also comprise a seam tape positioned over the seam joining a first fabric section and a second fabric section of the airbag. The seam tape can be configured to melt enough to flow into the needle puncture holes formed along the seam upon ignition of the pyrotechnic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: FELTERS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, LLC
    Inventor: Vernon J. Lowe
  • Patent number: 11001146
    Abstract: A steering console system for a machine includes a longitudinally-extending rail configured to be fastened to a surface of the machine, the rail including a pair of convex-shaped edges, a steering console, and a console carriage slidably connected to the rail, the console carriage including a bracket, a plurality of rollers connected to the bracket, a support arm connected to the bracket to support the steering console, and a vertical pivot connected to the bracket and to the support arm. Each of the rollers has a concave groove configured to roll along the convex shaped edges, and each of the rollers is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation extending approximately normal with respect to the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan J. Nelson, Bradley D. Anderson, Valerio E. D'Ascanio
  • Patent number: 11001120
    Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle having a damper and a first and second springs mounted coaxially around the damper and a preload adjuster for partially compressing at least one of the springs independently of the compression stroke. In one embodiment the preload adjuster is remotely controllable. In another embodiment the shock absorber includes an additional mechanism for preloading at least one of the springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Paul Cox
  • Patent number: 10995799
    Abstract: A steering system is provided. The steering system may include a drive pulley and a ball nut assembly. The drive pulley may be operatively connected to a drive shaft. The ball nut assembly may be driven by the drive pulley via a belt disposed about the drive pulley and the ball nut assembly. The ball nut assembly may include a ball nut and a driven pulley. The ball nut may have an inner surface disposed about a ball screw that defines and extends along a first axis and an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface. The ball nut may define a first groove that extends from the outer surface towards the inner surface. The driven pulley may be disposed about the ball nut and have a retaining member that includes a finger for extending into the first groove to engage the ball nut and driven pulley without separate fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin P. Douglas, Dale P. Wawrzyniec, Conrad G. Vorwerck, Gabriel J. McCoy
  • Patent number: 10995649
    Abstract: A vehicle engine 2 comprises an exhaust system having an exhaust manifold 12 and an exhaust purification device 18. The exhaust manifold 12 is disposed at a predetermined distance from a dash panel 106 constituting a body of the vehicle 100, the exhaust purification device 18 is disposed in a position overlapping a floor tunnel region 114, formed by a floor tunnel of the body, and is disposed below the exhaust manifold 12 and to one side of the center of the engine 2 in the cylinder-array direction, as viewed from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 100. An exhaust purification device introduction passage 17 connecting the exhaust manifold 12 and the exhaust purification device 18 is disposed on the other side of the center of the exhaust manifold 12 in the cylinder-array direction, and extends below the exhaust manifold 12 to be connected to the exhaust purification device 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keishi Kitabatake, Taku Kuramashi, Tamotsu Takamure, Takeshi Nakahira, Yuji Kojima, Amane Tsuda
  • Patent number: 10988158
    Abstract: A robotic surgery cart has a pair of rear wheel assemblies and a pair of front wheel assemblies. A brake assembly for the robotic surgery cart includes a gearbox interposed between and connected to the pair of rear wheel assemblies by rotatable shafts. Elongate actuators extend between and interconnect the rotatable shafts and brake mechanisms for the front wheel assemblies. A pedal lever is rotatably coupled to the gearbox and can rotate clockwise by pressing one portion of the pedal lever and can rotate counterclockwise by pressing another portion of the pedal lever. Rotation of the pedal lever causes the gearbox to rotate the rotatable shafts to substantially lock the pair of rear wheel assemblies, and substantially simultaneously causes a translation of the elongate actuators to actuate the brake mechanisms of the front wheel assemblies, such that the wheels of the front and rear wheel assemblies brake substantially simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Titan Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Angelica Basco de Rosa Payne, Spencer Scott Pratt, Abraham Allen Shipley
  • Patent number: 10981429
    Abstract: A sway bar system is described. The sway bar system includes a sway bar having a first end and a second end. The sway bar system further includes a first electronically controlled damper link which is coupled to the first end of the sway bar. The first electronically controlled damper link is configured to be coupled a first location of a vehicle. The sway bar system also has a second link which is coupled to the second end of the sway bar. The second link is configured to be coupled a second location of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Tsiaras, Rick Strickland
  • Patent number: 10981512
    Abstract: Support devices and their components are disclosed. The support device facilitates access to a vehicle and includes an elongate support member, brackets for mounting the elongate support member to a vehicle, and a step affixed to the elongate support member. The step can be movable relative to the support member after fastening the step to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventor: Robert Crandall
  • Patent number: 10974685
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an airbag for a vehicle. The airbag safely supports a passenger after deploying forward from behind a passenger in a seat. Additionally, the airbag is able to be changed in position to safely protect a passenger by changing the position even when the position of a seat is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyock In Kwon
  • Patent number: 10967905
    Abstract: A suspension sub frame structure comprises a suspension sub frame provided to extend in a vehicle longitudinal direction and supporting a suspension link, an extension frame provided to extend forwardly from a front end of the suspension sub frame and having lower rigidity against a load applied in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the suspension sub frame, and a cross member provided to extend in a vehicle width direction on an inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the both frames, wherein the cross member is joined to the both frames at a joint area which is continuous in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okamoto, Masaaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10960950
    Abstract: A folding urban mobility vehicle includes a frame, a pair of front wheel assemblies carried by respective front arms articulated to the frame about a first axis, and a rear wheel assembly carried by a rear arm articulated to the frame about a second axis. In a folded configuration of the vehicle the front wheel assemblies are located within the frame and the rear wheel assembly extends within the frame between the two front wheel assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: HYDRA CONSULTING S.R.L.
    Inventor: Mauro Zona
  • Patent number: 10960841
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seatback and an airbag. The airbag includes an upper panel and a lower panel spaced from each other and an intermediate panel disposed therebetween. The upper panel and the lower panel are each uninflatable and each supported by the seatback. The intermediate panel is supported by the seatback and inflatable to an inflated position. The intermediate panel in the inflated position includes a valley elongated in a direction from the lower panel towards the upper panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Krishnakanth E. Aekbote, Tzu-Chen Weng
  • Patent number: 10953946
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a forecarriage of a rolling motor vehicle with three or four wheels, comprising: a forecarriage frame (16); at least one pair of front wheels (10?), (10?) kinematically connected to each other and to the forecarriage frame by a kinematic roll mechanism (20) which enables the same to roll in a synchronous and specular manner; an anti-roll system (100) comprising a rod (110) having a first (111) and a second end (112) opposite each other which connect by means of hinging means (101?, 101?; 102?, 102?) a first (60) and a second anchoring portion (60) of forecarriage 8 directly to each other. At least one of said first and second anchoring portions is subject to roll movements of said two front wheels. The hinging means are configured to passively follow the movements of the two anchoring portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: PIAGGIO & C. S.P.A.
    Inventor: Andrea Raffaelli
  • Patent number: 10953842
    Abstract: A gas generator includes an elongated cylindrical housing, an accommodation chamber defining member arranged in the housing, a gas generating agent, and an autoignition agent. The accommodation chamber defining member includes a cylindrical portion which extends in a direction in parallel to an axial direction of the housing and accommodates the gas generating agent therein. A heat insulating layer is located between the housing and the cylindrical portion. The autoignition agent is arranged in a portion inside the housing in the axial direction of the housing where no heat insulating layer is provided, as being in contact with the housing with a member made of a metal being interposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: NIPPON KAYAKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Imai, Genya Iizuka, Akinori Matsumoto, Masaki Hiraoka, Syouichi Ashida
  • Patent number: 10953848
    Abstract: Variable behaviour control mechanism with a variety of motion characteristics, the mechanism comprising means to measure a plurality of motion characteristics and to activate systems when a threshold of the motion characteristics is reached. The mechanism described is, for example, a vehicle seat belt and the mechanism minimises or prevents unwanted activation of line extension or retraction of the seat belt. A first mechanism is described where activation occurs between at least one primary system and at least one secondary system when a combination of the sensed motion characteristics achieves a threshold. A second mechanism is described where activation occurs between at least one primary system and at least one secondary system when at least one sensed motion characteristic achieves a threshold, the threshold being modified based on at least one further motion characteristic. A method of use of the above mechanisms is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: EDDY CURRENT LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Andrew Karl Diehl, Peter Scott, Benjamin Woods, Lincoln Frost