Patents Examined by Drew Brown
  • Steering system
    Patent number: 9446781
    Abstract: In a steering system configured such that occurrence of a half lock is suppressed, when a body portion of a tooth member is pressed in a lock operation of locking the position of a steering column, the tooth member is extended to move a pair of second tooth row forming portions away from each other obliquely with respect to a lateral direction of an elongate tilt hole along the outer surface of a fastening side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidenobu Tanaka, Masayuki Nagaoka, Hiromitsu Tomiyama, Atsumune Nagatani
  • Front passenger seat airbag device
    Patent number: 9434344
    Abstract: There is provided a front passenger seat airbag device including a front passenger seat airbag that receives a supply of gas and inflates and deploys in front of a front passenger seat, and that is formed with a vehicle rear-facing first head contact face at a vehicle up-down direction upper portion in an inflated and deployed state, and a center airbag that is integrally formed to the front passenger seat airbag, that receives a supply of gas and inflates and deploys on a vehicle width direction center side of the front passenger seat airbag, and that is formed in an inflated and deployed state with a second head contact face extending from a vehicle width direction center side end portion of the first head contact face toward the vehicle rear, and facing both the vehicle rear and the vehicle width direction outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Fukawatase
  • Airbag and airbag device
    Patent number: 9434345
    Abstract: An airbag comprises an airbag main body formed into a bag by a front panel and a rear panel, a vent hole formed on the rear panel, a vent cover that is attached to an outer surface of the rear panel and opens and closes the vent hole, a tether provided on the vent cover, a vent patch attached to an inner surface of the rear panel, and a tether cover attached to the inner surface of the rear panel, overlapping the vent patch, wherein: the tether is pulled from a slit formed near the vent hole of the rear panel into the interior of the airbag main body and then inserted through an area between the vent patch and the tether cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Teruhiko Hiruta, Kimihiro Koshikawa
  • Drainable section stabilizer sleeve
    Patent number: 9428224
    Abstract: A product comprising a drainable section stabilizer sleeve for a vehicle body structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert N. Saje, John C. Johnson
  • Panel with integral hidden door cover and method of manufacture and materials thereof
    Patent number: 9421937
    Abstract: A panel having a deployable cover for an airbag module is provided. The panel having: an outer layer having a show surface and an inner surface opposite the show surface; a tear seam formed in the outer layer, the tear seam defined by a plurality of holes formed in the outer layer extending from the inner surface towards the show surface, wherein a residual wall thickness of the outer layer is located between each of the plurality of holes and the show surface, wherein the outer layer includes at least one filler material, that exhibits an absorbance of a wavenumber of a laser used to form the plurality of holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: John F. O'Gara, Srimannarayana Kakarala, Donna Hawes
  • Airbag apparatus
    Patent number: 9421940
    Abstract: Provided is an airbag apparatus which prevents the neck of an occupant from being injured. To this end, the airbag apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an airbag which is inflated when gas flows into the airbag, and deployed forward toward an occupant; and a slip panel which is coupled to a front surface of the airbag, and has a folded portion that is unfolded by expansive force of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyo Bae Lee, Dong Jun Kim
  • Independent suspension of a wheel of a two-track vehicle with a scissor-type arm and a spring element
    Patent number: 9409457
    Abstract: An independent suspension of a wheel of a two-track vehicle includes a trailing arm, one of the end portions of which is hinged to a vehicle body of the vehicle and the other end portion of which supports a wheel carrier. A scissor-type arm is hinged to the trailing arm and guides the trailing arm relative to the vehicle body. A spring element supports the trailing arm relative to the vehicle body. The spring element is arranged on the trailing arm in the region of the hinge point of the scissor-type arm to the trailing arm when seen in the direction of the vehicle longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sebastian Gielisch, Martin Ladstaetter, Alfred Pruckner, Dirk Schlichte, Roland Koenig
  • Vehicle occupant protection system
    Patent number: 9409540
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection system includes: an outside airbag; reinforcement cloths that are attached to a reverse surface of a seat cover, in a region at a the vehicle width direction outer side, and a region at a seat front side, of the outside airbag, the reinforcement cloths being attached from an outside splitting portion; an inside airbag; webbings that are secured to a side frame (a frame) of a seat back, with each having an end portion fastened to an inside splitting portion; an outside inflator that supplies a gas for inflation to the seat outside airbag; an inside inflator that supplies a gas for inflation to the seat inside airbag; and a control unit which, at a time of a side crash, actuates the inside inflator later than the outside inflator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke Fujiwara
  • Vehicle side airbag device and manufacturing method of side airbag
    Patent number: 9409542
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vehicle side airbag device including: a side airbag, housed inside a side support section of a vehicle seat, that inflates and deploys toward a vehicle front side upon being supplied with gas from an inflator, the side airbag including: a bag body that is formed in a bag shape; a front-rear left-right partitioning cloth that partitions the bag body into a front bag section and a rear bag section, and that partitions the rear bag section into a left and a right chamber in a row along a vehicle width direction in an inflated and deployed state of the bag body; and a tether, provided at at least one chamber of the left or the right chamber, that bears tension in the inflated and deployed state, and that restricts inflation of the at least one chamber toward the vehicle front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke Fujiwara
  • Airbag and airbag device
    Patent number: 9403504
    Abstract: A vent hole communicating with an air chamber is opened in an airbag main body. A cover is disposed outside the air chamber of the airbag main body with respect to the vent hole. One end of the tether is connected to the cover via the vent hole, and the other end is connected to the airbag main body. If the tether is not pulled by the airbag main body, the vent hole is reliably opened to discharge gas to the outside. If the tether is pulled by the deployed airbag main body, the cover is partially drawn into the vent hole so that the cover is ensured to be in tight contact with the edge of the vent hole so as to reliably seal the vent hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Umehara, Tomoki Takahashi, Chiari Saito
  • Engine mount assembly
    Patent number: 9403558
    Abstract: An engine mount assembly includes a frame member and a cradle member. The frame member defines a frame hole and the cradle member defines a cradle hole. A bolt fixedly mates the frame member to the cradle member. The bolt has a bolt body, which is disposed within the frame hole and the cradle hole, and a bolt flange oriented downward relative to the vehicle. A well is defined by the frame hole or the cradle hole. The well is a volume around the bolt body capable of retaining water in contact with the frame member and or cradle member. A washer, having an interior hole and a perimeter edge, is disposed between the bolt flange and the well. At least one channel is defined in the washer and provides fluid communication between the well and the perimeter edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. Pohl, Kenneth J. Hsu, William A. Morris, Frederick M. Marquardt
  • Energy absorbent slider stop and rear underride protection system
    Patent number: 9403499
    Abstract: A vehicle impact energy absorption arrangement includes a vehicle frame, a slider suspension arrangement coupled to the vehicle frame and including an axle member, and a spring member biasing the axle member, and an impact force absorbing arrangement that includes a mounting member coupled to the vehicle frame, first and second pivot members each pivotably coupled to the mounting member, and an elastically deformable biasing member positioned between each of the pivot members and the mounting member, wherein each of the pivot members is configured to pivot and elastically deform the at least one biasing member when impacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: SAF-HOLLAND, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Hicks
  • Shifter cable assembly of a vehicle
    Patent number: 9403433
    Abstract: A shifter cable assembly of a vehicle includes a vehicle panel selected from a floor panel and a dash wall panel. A transmission is disposed on a first side of the vehicle panel. A shift member is disposed on a second side of the vehicle panel opposite the first side. A mounting bracket is rigidly attached to the vehicle panel. A sealing grommet has a sealing portion sandwiched between the mounting bracket and the vehicle panel. A shifter cable is received by a conduit portion of the sealing grommet. A first end of the shifter cable is connected to the transmission, and a second end of the shifter cable is connected to the shift member. A damper member is connected to the mounting bracket. The damper member is configured to reduce application to the mounting bracket of vibration generated by the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Knight, Christopher Gleason
  • Vehicle subframe
    Patent number: 9399488
    Abstract: A vehicle subframe includes, at the bottom of a main body section, a lateral expansion section, a left vertical expansion section, a right vertical expansion section, and a concavity. The lateral expansion section joins a left front joining section and a right front joining section, and expands below the concavity. Of the left vertical expansion section, the front end is joined to the left end of the lateral expansion section, and the left vertical expansion section is inclined with a downward slope from the rear side of the main body section towards the front end. The right vertical expansion section is formed in a left-right symmetrical manner with respect to the left vertical expansion section, and the front end is joined to the lateral expansion section. The concavity is encircled by the vertical expansion sections and the lateral expansion section, and is formed in a concave shape facing upwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Imanishi
  • Wheel suspension for the rear axle of a vehicle
    Patent number: 9399378
    Abstract: A wheel suspension for the rear axle of a vehicle includes a wheel carrier that is steerable in a pivoting range for mounting a wheel, and a plurality of control arms for articulating the wheel carrier to the body of the vehicle, and further a damping device for damping a movement of the wheel carrier relative to the vehicle body. The damping device is connected to the wheel carrier by way of a wheel carrier connection, wherein the wheel carrier connection is arranged in an attachment area of the wheel space of the wheel defined by the pivoting range of the wheel carrier, which, of all areas of the wheel space facing the vehicle body, has the greatest direct distance to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Ruben Goldberg, Hans-Jürgen Langhoff, Marco Isliker
  • Self-assisting robot and method for transferring a paraplegic user to and from a wheel chair
    Patent number: 9393698
    Abstract: A self-assisting robot for assisting a paraplegic user is disclosed which comprises a platform having a plurality of wheels, a robotic arm, an inclination sensor, operable to measure the inclination angle formed between said platform and a road in front thereof, a saddle configured to be adjusted up and down to fit the height of a user, a controller panel connected to said saddle, a processor operable to control the operations of the self-assisting robot, and a kneeling seat connected to and move with the robotic arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ton Duc Thang University
    Inventor: Duy Hoang Vo
  • Rear wheel suspension device
    Patent number: 9387740
    Abstract: A rear wheel suspension device includes a knuckle configured to support a rear wheel, a trailing arm and upper arm and lower arm configured to link the knuckle to a vehicle body, and an actuator configured to drive the knuckle in the general width direction of the vehicle, so as to adjust the rear wheel camber angle and toe angle. The knuckle is linked to the suspension arms via linking portion enabling turning of the knuckle in a direction of changing the rear wheel camber angle and toe angle. A turning axis defined by the linking portion is tilted with respect to longitudinal direction of the vehicle such that the front portion thereof in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is tilted outward in plan view, and is tilted upward in side view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Yamada, Yoshimitsu Akuta, Akira Kanehara
  • Steering system
    Patent number: 9381934
    Abstract: An electric steering system includes a steering wheel and a first housing in which a steering shaft is arranged and rotatably mounted to a motor vehicle. A locking device is provided to lock the steering shaft at conclusion of a rotation as limitation of a steering angle input. The locking device includes a second housing which is connected in fixed rotative engagement with the first housing, and a locking bar configured for engagement in the steering shaft and arranged in the second housing such as to impact the steering shaft, when the steering shaft moves in relation to the second housing in the event of a crash, and to deform the first housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Pfeiffer Ulrich, Koch Tilo, Wilding Werner, Tuschkan Alwin, Schulz Benjamin, Lorenz Stephan, Klinger Thomas, Nagl Martin
  • Suspension systems for flexible frame vehicles
    Patent number: 9380772
    Abstract: A flexible frame for a high clearance agricultural vehicle has left and right frame rails, an axle suspended beneath the frame rails, and a suspension system coupling the axle to the frame rails. Left and right vertical mounts are coupled to the frame rails. Upper and lower torque rods couple the axle to the vertical mounts with brackets. The suspension system also has a cross torque rod having a left end coupled to an inward facing bracket on the left vertical mount and a right end coupled to an inward facing bracket on the right vertical mount. Each of the upper, lower and cross torque rods are coupled to its respective torque rod brackets with rotatable joints. The rotatable joint permits angular rotation of the torque rod about its torque rod bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Tony Becker, Nathan Low
  • Method and apparatus for deployment of an air bag
    Patent number: 9376076
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the deployment of a passive inflatable restraint system wherein driver and passenger air bags are employed each having two independently actuatable gas generators of the same or different sizes which are activated in a fixed time sequence. The sequence is timed to provide an initial low inflation rate to just open the airbag container and initially deploy the airbag followed by a higher gas flow rate to complete filling of the cushion. An electronic control unit containing a control algorithm and connected to external sensors monitors vehicle decelerations, detects impacts, and determines if impact severity warrants deployment of an airbag for occupant protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Y. Yoon, David R. Little