Patents Examined by Drew Brown
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Patent number: 9212717Abstract: A gas spring assembly (200) with a flexible wall (206) being a rolling lobe (240) with an end member (204) including a side wall (238) and a plurality of corrugations disposed along the side wall. A cover (246) can be secured across a cavity (248) formed in the gas spring end member.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2012Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company LLCInventors: Paul P. Koeske, Stephen C. Street
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Patent number: 9205854Abstract: According to embodiments of the invention, systems, methods and devices are directed to a shopping cart with safety features which prevent or reduce the risk of injury caused to those using the cart as well as those in the vicinity of the shopping cart. A wheelbase of the shopping cart may have a set of wheels. Each wheel may have an airbag stored therein. The airbag may be deployable from any one of the wheels such the wheel is engulfed, fully or partially, within the inflated airbag. A pressure sensor may be attached to each of the wheels. The pressure sensor may constantly monitor the force being exerted in the wheel in order to identify moments when the traction may be comprised or when the cart may be at risk of toppling over. A speed or velocity sensor is attached to the wheelbase to monitor and detect for excessive speeds. The airbags may be inflatable by one or more compressed air or compressed gas cylinders or vessels.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Inventor: Man Lin Lee
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Patent number: 9205856Abstract: The vehicle having a pair of left and right wheels includes a seating section configured such that a driver is able to take a seat by straddling the same, foot placement sections located beneath the seating section to be respectively provided at left and right positions with the seating section interposed therebetween, the foot placement sections being respectively supported by lower arms connected to the wheels, feet of the driver being placed on the foot placement sections, and a grip section gripped with a hand of the driver. Left and right steering may be performed by twisting the feet placed on the foot placement sections by the driver.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kohshi Katoh, Kuniaki Gotou, Eishi Takeuchi
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Patent number: 9205797Abstract: An airbag unit for a motor vehicle safety device includes an inflatable airbag formed of flexible material and provided in a rolled and/or folded package. The package is held under compression by a cover which extends around at least part of the package. The cover is formed from a ductile fabric material including polymeric fibers, at least some of the fibers fused to one another to impart a predetermined stable shape to the unit. A method of packaging the airbag includes providing an inflatable airbag formed of flexible sheet material; rolling and/or folding the airbag and at least partially wrapping it with an initially flexible cover to form an intermediate package, the cover formed from a ductile fabric material including polymeric fibers; simultaneously heating and pressing the intermediate package to form a compressed package in which at least some of the fibers are fused to one another, the compressed package having a stable shape defined by the fused fibers.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT ABInventors: Martin Östman, Mats Berntsson, Karin Ydrén, Magdalena Wingren
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Patent number: 9188198Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing, an input portion including an input gear, an idler portion including an idler gear, and an output portion including an output gear and an output member disposed outside of the housing and substantially coplanar with a drive portion of a rear wheel assembly. The housing can couple to an engine assembly such that rotation of an engine output member rotates the input gear. The input gear can move within the housing between a first position, in which the input gear engages the idler gear and is spaced apart from the output gear to indirectly rotate the output gear in a first direction via the idler gear, and a second position, in which the input gear engages the output gear and is spaced apart from the idler gear to directly rotate the output gear in a second direction. The output member rotates with the output gear.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2014Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Tanom Motors, LLCInventors: Merrill C. Hall, David M. Ankin, Jody L. Rawson, John A. Willes, Sr.
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Patent number: 9186945Abstract: A cam adjustable shim assembly includes a bushing defining a bushing opening. The bushing opening extends longitudinally along a bushing axis to define a bushing bore. The cam adjustable shim assembly further includes a cam disposed in the bushing bore. The cam defines a cam bore extending longitudinally along a first cam axis offset relative to the bushing axis such that the cam bore is eccentric relative to the bushing bore. The cam adjustable shim assembly further includes a bolt at least partially disposed within the cam bore along a first cam axis. The bolt is engaged with the cam bore such that rotation of the bolt about the first cam axis causes the cam to rotate within the bushing about the bushing axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2014Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: James L. Luttinen, Steven A. Lamouria
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Patent number: 9187055Abstract: A vehicle airbag includes an airbag main body and an auxiliary airbag portion. A tether is located in the airbag main body. The rear end of the tether is connected to the boundary area between the airbag main body and the auxiliary airbag portion or to a part in the vicinity of the boundary area. The front end of the tether is connected either to a side wall portion closer to the auxiliary airbag portion or to the front wall portion of the airbag main body. The part of the front end of the tether that is connected to the front wall portion is farther from a side wall portion farther from the auxiliary airbag portion than the area in the front wall portion of the airbag main body onto which the part connected to the rear end of the tether is projected forward.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2014Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.Inventors: Vinay V. Genthikatti, Linhuo Shi
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Patent number: 9186944Abstract: A cam adjustable shim assembly includes a bushing defining a bushing opening. The bushing opening extends along a first axis. The cam adjustable shim assembly further includes a cam disposed in the bushing opening and a bolt at least partially disposed within the cam. The bolt extends along a second axis. The second axis is offset relative to the first axis such that the bushing opening is eccentric relative to the bolt. The bolt is fixed to the cam such that rotation of the bolt about the second axis causes the cam to rotate within the bushing about the first axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2014Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: James L. Luttinen, Steven A. Lamouria
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Patent number: 9187058Abstract: An airbag device includes: an airbag; an inflator; a gas discharge state switching member; and a tether belt which is one example of a connecting member. The gas discharge state switching member is switched over from a gas discharge state to a gas non-discharge state by being pulled into the inside of the airbag. The tether belt connects the gas discharge state switching member and a portion of an inner peripheral portion of the airbag to each other. An arranged position of the gas discharge state switching member, a position where the tether belt is connected to the inner peripheral portion of the airbag, and a passing line of the tether belt are disposed at portions which avoid a portion of the airbag which comes into contact with an occupant in a regular posture state when the airbag receives the occupant.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2013Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: ASHIMORI INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventors: Naoki Yamaji, Satoshi Yamashita
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Patent number: 9180901Abstract: When an adjustment lever 32 is rotated in order to adjust the position of a steering wheel 1, the adjustment lever 32 is prevented from vigorously rotating, which prevents making the driver who operates the adjustment lever 32 feel discomfort. An expandable damper 35 that provides resistance to the rotation of the adjustment lever 32 is provided between a protrusion 34 that rotates together with the adjustment lever 32 centered around an adjustment rod and an extending portion 37 that is provided on a support-plate portion 15c. The expandable damper 35 has a cylinder portion 38 and a damper rod 39 that are combined so as to be able to displace relative to each other in the axial direction by way of grease 40.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2013Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: NSK LTD.Inventors: Seiichi Moriyama, Daisuke Terasawa
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Patent number: 9180835Abstract: Axial forces on the shins of small-bodied occupants and medium-bodied occupants may be suppressed or prevented, and protective performance of the knee areas of large-bodied occupants is assured. A vehicle knee airbag device is equipped with a knee airbag main body portion that is formed in a thin bag shape and that inflates and expands from below to above along a design surface of an instrument panel floor when gas is supplied thereto. A protection portion of the knee airbag main body portion has a size capable of covering both knees of an occupant, from small-bodied occupants to large-bodied occupants. A U-shaped lower tether is disposed in an upper portion of the interior of the protection portion; vertical direction dividing portions of the lower tether extend to the upward side from portions that correspond with both knees of medium-bodied occupants.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2011Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Osamu Fukawatase, Makoto Ozeki
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Patent number: 9174603Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant. The protection device includes a front panel having a portion presented toward the occupant when the protection device is in an inflated condition. A vent includes at least one opening for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device and has an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition. A tether has a first segment connected to the vent and the front panel of the protection device for actuating the vent and a second segment connected to the front panel and a rear portion of the protection device. Tear stitching connects portions of the second segment of the tether to form a slackened portion of the tether. The tear stitching remains intact such that the first segment is slackened and the vent in the non-actuated condition in response to initial deployment of the protection device below a predetermined degree.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Patrick Landis
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Patent number: 9174600Abstract: An impact absorbing device includes a plate and a panel having a panel thickness. An intermediate portion has a portion thickness and extends between the plate and the panel. The intermediate portion defines a chamber between the plate and the panel. A port is in communication with the chamber. The portion thickness is less than the panel thickness. The impact absorbing device is movable to a deployed position to contact an occupant during a collision. Since the portion thickness is less than the panel thickness, the intermediate portion expands more quickly, providing an impact surface for the occupant.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2014Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, Robert William McCoy, James Chih Cheng
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Patent number: 9168977Abstract: A driven wheel suspension system for a vehicle (100) having a chassis (12) suspended from a driven wheel (10) is disclosed. The suspension system includes a suspension mechanism including a driven wheel carrier member (11) rotatably connected to the driven wheel (10). The suspension mechanism is configured to isolate the movement of the driven wheel 10 from the movement of the chassis (12). The driven wheel (10) is movable a distance relative to the chassis (12) which defines a suspension travel. The driven wheel suspension system further includes a drive train including a looped power transmission element configured to transmit power between the driven wheel (10) and a power source mounted on the chassis (12). An idler member (31) is rotatably mounted on an idler carrier member (20) that is movable relative to both the chassis (12) and driven wheel earner member (11).Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Inventor: Hugh McLeay
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Patent number: 9168942Abstract: The vehicle a pair of left and right wheels includes a seating section configured such that a driver is able to take a seat by straddling the same, foot placement sections located beneath the seating section to be respectively provided at left and right positions with the seating section interposed therebetween, the foot placement sections being respectively supported by lower arms connected to the wheels, feet of the driver being placed on the foot placement sections, and a grip section gripped with a hand of the driver. Left and right steering may be performed by twisting the feet placed on the foot placement sections by the driver.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2014Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kohshi Katoh, Kuniaki Gotou, Eishi Takeuchi
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Patent number: 9156424Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for packing or deploying airbag cushions, such as driver side airbag cushions, to improve unfolding kinematics and/or otherwise improve performance. In some implementations of methods for packing an airbag cushion, a first portion of an airbag cushion may be compressed and then secured in a compressed configuration using a first wrap. A second portion of the airbag cushion may then be compressed and secured in a second compressed configuration using a second wrap. The resulting airbag cushion assembly may be configured to separate the wraps sequentially, rather than simultaneously, during inflation of the airbag cushion.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2013Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: ChangSoo Choi, Brian Joseph Borton
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Patent number: 9156502Abstract: A vehicle bonnet safety assembly, the vehicle comprising: a bonnet; a windscreen; a chassis, to which the bonnet is hingedly joined by means of actuators; the assembly further comprises: an elongated guide fixedly mounted, and supported along its length, on the bottom side of the bonnet; a sliding member provided inside the elongated guide to slide along the length of the elongated guide until it engages a stop coupled to the elongated guide; whereas the sliding member is mounted in the elongated guide such that it is prevented from sliding out and sliding back the elongated guide thereby creating a field of visibility on the road for a driver when the bonnet flips over the windscreen.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Advanced Digital Broadcast S.A.Inventor: Jaroslaw Micewicz
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Patent number: 9150173Abstract: An embracing mechanism for vehicle wheels including: a forward-pushing base disposed in front of a wheel, a backward-pulling base disposed behind the wheel, and a downward-pressing base disposed above the wheel. The forward-pushing base is connected to the backward-pulling base via an upper transmission box and a lower transmission box. The lower transmission box is provided with a front resistant spring and a rear resistant spring. The downward-pressing base is hinged to the forward-pushing base and the backward-pulling base via hinge parts, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2014Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Inventor: Shenli Chen
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Patent number: 9150241Abstract: Construction of a tilt steering apparatus is provided that is capable of preventing the occurrence of unpleasant noise during height adjustment of a steering wheel 1, and maintains sufficient durability and smooth operation. The tilt steering apparatus of the present invention is provided with stoppers 65 in at least two locations in a buffer member 21 c that are rotationally symmetric about the center axis of an adjustment rod 14, and that when a driven-side cam 15b is rotated as the axial dimension of a cam apparatus 47 is expanded or contracted, controls rotation of the driven-side cam 15b so that a convex engaging portion 39c does not collide with the front-side edge or rear-side edge of a vertically long hole 35b.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2013Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Youhei Nakazato, Kou Yamamoto, Noritomo Narita
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Patent number: 9150175Abstract: A vehicle front end assembly includes a radiator assembly, a fascia component overlapping the radiator assembly, and a grill laterally aligned with the radiator assembly. The grill and radiator assembly define an airflow space longitudinally therebetween. The vehicle front end assembly further includes an airbag coupled between the fascia component and the radiator assembly, and the airbag is disposed outside of the airflow space in both deflated and inflated configurations.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2014Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Iskander Farooq, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Dean M. Jaradi