Patents Examined by Drew J. Brown
  • Patent number: 11820310
    Abstract: An apparatus for resisting entry of objects through a panel. The apparatus includes a weakened portion that extends laterally across a width dimension of the panel. The apparatus includes a stop structure spaced from the weakened portion that extends laterally across the width dimension of the panel to limit deformation. A bottom edge of the panel is configured to rotate about an axis extending along the weakened portion to abut the stop structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Alexander M. Zoellner, Arturo Llamazares Domper, Christopher D. Jones, David E. Kingman, Derek C. Scott, Jesse T. Buehler, Rikard Fredriksson, Stephen B. Lynch
  • Patent number: 11820195
    Abstract: A frame structure of a commercial vehicle having an independent suspension system may include: a front outrigger mounted at lower front ends of wheel housings along a wide direction of a vehicle; a rear outrigger mounted at lower rear ends of the wheel housings along the width direction, wherein the wheel housings are arranged between the front and rear outriggers in a vehicle body length direction; a center reinforce unit mounted on an inner lower side of the wheel housing and disposed between the wheel housings, the center reinforce unit configured to connect the front and rear outriggers along the vehicle body length direction; a side reinforce unit mounted on an inner side of the wheel housing and connected to the center reinforce unit; and a lower reinforce unit configured to be connected to the center reinforce unit and coupled to the first suspension mounting assembly through the rear outrigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Yong Woo Moon
  • Patent number: 11814006
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a vehicle, in which a lateral tether is disconnected or a front tether is disconnected, in the event of a collision accident, depending on whether a passenger seated in a passenger seat is in a normal seating state or a relaxed seating state, such that a deployed airbag cushion may effectively protect not only a passenger seated in the passenger seat in the normal seating state but also a passenger seated in the passenger seat in the relaxed seating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seok Min Lee, Dong Young Kim, Ga Ram Jeong, Jae Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 11814097
    Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly is disclosed, which comprises a collapsible steering column shroud that supports a collapsible steering shaft. The steering shaft has a first end for connection to a steering wheel of a vehicle a mounting bracket that supports the steering column shroud relative to the vehicle. The mounting bracket comprises a fixed portion secured to a fixed part of a vehicle body and a releasable portion secured to the steering shaft. The releasable portion is also secured to the fixed portion of the mounting bracket by one or more frangible connectors. The connectors are adapted to break in the event of a crash to permit the releasable portion and the steering shaft to move relative to the fixed portion. The fixed portion includes a first anvil which has a rounded nose that faces towards the steering wheel, and a guide part which is offset from the first anvil in a direction away from the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Steering Systems Poland Sp. Z.o.o.
    Inventors: Pawel Ponikiewski, Artur Wojtalik, Dawid Klimek, Lukasz Dudzic
  • Patent number: 11807301
    Abstract: A side-by-side vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle may include a rear, independent trailing arm suspension system and a drive train. The drive train may include an output from a power train coupled to a jack shaft to drive the vehicle. The jack shaft may be positioned entirely below the power train. A brake and sprocket may be positioned along the jack shaft. Additionally, the power train may be adjustably mounted to a frame of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Rodriguez, John M. Nutter, Marc P. Vanderhoof, Michael D. Schneider
  • Patent number: 11807058
    Abstract: A suspension for a vehicle, includes a coil spring interposed between a vehicle body and an axle. An end turn portion on at least one end of the coil spring is covered by a viscoelastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuneo Yamaguchi, Hidenori Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 11807325
    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: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventor: Robby Gordon
  • Patent number: 11807293
    Abstract: An adjustment drive for a steering column for a motor vehicle may include a housing that is able to be connected to the steering column, in which a gear wheel that is able to be rotatingly driven by a motor is mounted in a bearing assembly so as to be rotatable about a spindle axis, and on which a threaded spindle that engages in a spindle nut is axially supported in a direction of the spindle axis. To enable less complexity in manufacturing and assembling, an energy absorbing installation is disposed between the threaded spindle and the housing. When repositioning the threaded spindle relative to the housing in the direction of the spindle axis, the energy absorbing installation is configured to absorb kinetic energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Huber, Jean-Pierre Specht, Tim Bayer
  • Patent number: 11801884
    Abstract: Vehicles, steering systems, and steering assemblies of a vehicle are provided in the present disclosure. According to one embodiment, a steering system includes a track oriented substantially in a side-to-side direction with respect to the vehicle. The side-to-side direction may be substantially horizontal with a ground surface and substantially perpendicular with a forward-facing direction of the vehicle. The steering system also includes a steering wheel adapted to slide laterally along the track. In another embodiments, the present disclosure provides a vehicle comprising a steering wheel assembly adapted to be positioned in laterally variable locations with respect to the vehicle, whereby the steering wheel assembly is further adapted to enable a driver to manually operate the vehicle from a left-hand side of the vehicle and from a right-hand side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Niklas Palm, Jonas Göthlin
  • Patent number: 11801892
    Abstract: A vehicle with a base frame to which at least two sprung suspensions, in particular sprung wheel suspensions, for driven, non-driven, steerable or non-steerable contact elements, for example wheels, are attached which can be steered by means of a steering knuckle and are located on both sides of the longitudinal direction of travel, in each case transversely to the direction of travel, a tilt frame, tiltable in a tilt axis with respect to the base frame. A steering tube is rotatably attached to the tilt frame in the steering axis and automatically tilts with the tilt frame, at least one track rod connected to the track rod actuating element, and a linear or rotary track rod actuating element rotatable over a guide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventor: Werner Krammel
  • Patent number: 11801898
    Abstract: A system for reducing risk of fuel leakage of a vehicle during a collision includes a vehicle main body configured to support and at least partially enclose a passenger. The system further includes a fuel inlet box configured to house a fuel inlet. The system further includes a rear bracket coupled to the vehicle main body at a location aft of the fuel inlet box. The system further includes a center shaft coupled to the rear bracket and extending forward from the rear bracket. The system further includes a forward bracket coupled to the vehicle main body at a location forward relative to the rear bracket and coupled to the center shaft, the forward bracket configured to deform in response to a rear collision of the vehicle to actuate the fuel inlet box in order to reduce the likelihood of a fuel leak from the fuel inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Mitch J. Gerczak, Mark D. Clauser, Brian L. Tew
  • Patent number: 11794686
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes an airbag stored within an onboard compartment and inflatable by an onboard inflator. When inflated, the airbag extends from an outer surface of the vehicle, and has a shape that is recognizable, to a sensor on an approaching second vehicle, as at least a portion of a solid structure of the vehicle. The airbag is also configured to absorb at least some energy from a collision between the vehicle and the approaching second vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph T. Conners
  • Patent number: 11794516
    Abstract: An in-wheel motor unit may include: a rim member having a tire installed along an outer circumference thereof; a spoke connected to the rim member and rotated with the rim member; a motor part located in a mounting space formed by the rim member and the spoke, and configured to generate rotational power through power supply, and rotate the spoke; a knuckle part connected to the motor part and configured to support a suspension part; and a hub part having one side fixed to the spoke and the other side connected to the knuckle part, and configured to rotatably support the spoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kyeong Ho Shin
  • Patent number: 11794844
    Abstract: Riding-saddle motor vehicle including a front frame which extends along a longitudinal direction having at least one front wheel, a rear frame having a pair of rear wheels mounted on opposite sides of a rear wheel axis, a motor unit mounted on board the front frame and adapted to provide a driving torque to the pair of rear wheels and/or the front wheel, where the motor unit is connected to the rear wheel axis by means of an articulated transmission joint adapted to allow a relative rotation, around the longitudinal direction, between the front frame and the rear frame, and transmit a driving torque to the pair of rear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: PIAGGIO & C. S.P.A
    Inventor: Andrea Raffaelli
  • Patent number: 11794545
    Abstract: A suspension system for liftable steerable axles has at least one steering knuckle; at least one pistonless bellows air spring actuator (ie., damper air spring); and a steering axle structure that has, at each end, a kingpin housing boss, a kingpin fixed into the kingpin boss, and a pair of steering knuckles that rotate around the kingpin and are supported by the kingpin housing; wherein the steering knuckles are connected at the bottom of each other side to side by a tie rod assembly that respond to each others rotational inputs. The lift axle suspension system further has x-rod control arms (or that is, the respective upper and lower control arms of each side are relatively X-configured or X-disposed relative each other) for improved lateral stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: Jason M. Klein, Kevin Schlack
  • Patent number: 11794682
    Abstract: A curtain airbag for a vehicle comprising: an airbag main body, an air chamber defined by the airbag main body; and a strip-shaped component, abutting the airbag main body. The strip-shaped component is electrically conductive, and is configured to deform or break when the airbag main body is twisted so that resistance of the strip-shaped component changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Liyan Wei, Enwei Jin
  • Patent number: 11794808
    Abstract: A control assembly for use with a vehicle having a pivot arm for controlling output of the vehicle includes a bracket, a yoke attached to the pivot arm, and a shaft engaged to the yoke and extending into the bracket. The pivot arm is rotatable about a first axis of rotation between a neutral position and a plurality of forward positions and a plurality of reverse positions. When in the neutral position, the pivot arm may also rotate about a second axis of rotation between an operative position and a stopped position, and a switch may be engaged when the pivot arm is rotated to the stopped position. A return to neutral assembly may provide a return force to the pivot arm when it is rotated about the first axis of rotation away from the neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Nathan W. Bonny
  • Patent number: 11794681
    Abstract: A driver seat airbag device, provided with a steering wheel and an airbag module. The steering wheel includes a variant rim with a central upper part thereof omitted, and a cover member that covers the module installation surface at the center of the rim and the airbag module. The cover member includes a frontal region on an occupant side of the airbag module, an upper region on the upper side of the airbag module, and a tear line that enables the frontal region and the upper region to open up as cover doors. The tear line extends continuously from at least the center of the frontal region to at least the center of the upper region. The cover doors open to the left and right respectively from near the center of the frontal region and upper region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Abe, Kazuki Morita, Hiroyoshi Shimono
  • Patent number: 11789009
    Abstract: Embodiments include breath intoxicant monitoring systems and methods of operating a breath intoxicant monitoring system. In an embodiment, a breath intoxicant monitoring system, includes a first detection element, a second detection element, and a control module. The first detection element can be operable to detect a level of an intoxicant in a user's breath and to provide a continuous signal indicating the level of intoxicant. The second detection element can be operable to detect a level of the intoxicant. The second detection element includes a different type of element than the first detection element. The second detection element can have greater accuracy than the first detection element. The control module to selectively operate the second detection element based on the signal received from the first detection element, and to indicate whether the level of intoxicant in the user's breath exceeds a threshold. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Consumer Safety Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Ruland, Douglas Edward DeVries
  • Patent number: 11787450
    Abstract: A level control system adjusts the level of a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, and includes at least one level control cylinder and a level control piston. The level control piston is at least partly received in the level control cylinder in a movable manner. The level control cylinder has a collar-shaped shoulder, and the level control system has a first fixing disc which is connected to the level control piston in order to transmit a lifting movement. At least one spacer element is arranged between the collar-shaped shoulder of the level control cylinder and the first fixing disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventors: Ulrich Wermund, Mark A. Sterrett, Jurgen Muhr, Eduard Nies