Patents Examined by Faye M. Fleming
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Patent number: 11608020Abstract: In some embodiments, an airbag module may comprise an airbag cover configured to be positioned within a vehicle seat and comprising an opening. The opening may be configured to receive a structural element of the vehicle seat therethrough, such as an armrest mount. The module may further comprise an airbag cushion positioned within the airbag cover and configured to deploy from the airbag cover such that forces from deployment of the airbag cushion are directed applied to the structural element, in some cases directing these forces to the seat frame.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventor: Terry Alan Wheelwright
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Patent number: 11603070Abstract: A seat includes a seat bottom and a seatback rotatable relative to the seat bottom. The seatback is elongated upwardly from the seat bottom along a longitudinal axis of the seatback. An airbag assembly is supported by the seatback in an uninflated position. The airbag includes a housing and an airbag supported by the housing. The housing is moveably engaged with the seatback and moveable relative to the seat along a longitudinal axis of the seatback.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Fernando Lozano Omana, Mariana Victoria Rojas, Dante Arturo Rodriguez Camacho, Jaime Cardenas
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Patent number: 11602968Abstract: A vehicle rigid axle with an axle beam, at the ends of which axle journals or wheel carriers, respectively, are arranged, and with at least two trailing arms rigidly attached to the axle beam and with at least one air spring bellows assigned to the respective trailing arm. At least one component of an electric drive is placed in the hollow body, the drive shaft of which passes through the axle journal. To form at least one axle journal connection section extending between the two trailing arms, a trailing arm connected thereto and a receptacle for at least one component of an electric drive, two shell elements are formed from sheet metal and connected to one another, in particular welded, to form a hollow body surrounding the receiving space. At least one component of the electric drive is mounted in the receiving space.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2022Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Ebert-Consulting GmbHInventor: Jorg Ebert
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Patent number: 11603068Abstract: An airbag apparatus includes two airbags. The airbags are respectively accommodated in side accommodation portions in a seat back. The airbags include two side inflation portions and two front inflation portions. Each airbag further includes a tether. Each airbag includes a non-inflation portion. Each tether includes a pass-through section at which the tether is passed through the non-inflation portion. A portion of each tether between the pass-through section and a distal end is arranged along a rear surface of the front inflation portion. A portion of each tether between the pass-through section and a basal end is arranged along an inner surface of the side inflation portion. The basal end of each tether is configured to be fixed to a rear end of the side inflation portion or the seat back. The distal end of each tether is fixed to a front end of the front inflation portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.Inventors: Yusuke Kawamura, Masaaki Okuhara, Motoyuki Tanaka, Toshihito Yanagisawa, Hitomi Takahashi
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Patent number: 11590921Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle includes a vehicle roof and a vehicle floor spaced from the vehicle roof. The assembly includes a post elongated from the vehicle floor to the vehicle roof. The post being slidable along the vehicle roof and the vehicle floor in a vehicle-longitudinal direction. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the post.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2022Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: S. M. Iskander Farooq, Mohammad Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi
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Patent number: 11584178Abstract: An independent suspension apparatus includes a cross beam mounted on two transversely spaced mounting elements of a trailer. Two axle frames are independently pivoted on the cross beam to extend longitudinally of the trailer to distal ends that support stub axles for mounting wheels thereon. A suspension element is supported on each axle frame to act between the axle frame and the trailer frame to support weight of the trailer thereon. Each axle frame is pivotally supported on the cross beam by two hinges, in which each hinge is laterally spaced from the other hinges. Optional adjustment assemblies of each hinge allow the axle frames to be adjustably aligned relative to the trailer frame. In one embodiment, an abutment member is cantilevered from the cross beam to support an upper end of the suspension element relative to the trailer frame.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2022Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Inventors: Manfred Bosco, Cornelius Wipf
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Patent number: 11584187Abstract: A vehicle suspension system comprising a hydropneumatic strut comprising a fluid interface, where supply of hydraulic fluid to the strut via the fluid interface causes the overall length of the strut to increase, and withdrawal of hydraulic fluid via the fluid interface causes the overall length of the strut to decrease, a first displacement system in fluid communication with the fluid interface, capable of supplying and withdrawing fluid to and from the strut as well as measuring the volume of fluid supplied or withdrawn from the strut, a second displacement system in fluid communication with the fluid interface, and a hydraulic fluid source for selectively supplying or withdrawing hydraulic fluid from the hydropneumatic strut via either of the first or second displacement systems.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: The Dynamic Engineering Solution Pty LtdInventors: Michael Newstead, Max O'Connell, Phillip Kuys, Oscar Fiorinotto
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Patent number: 11577681Abstract: Far-side inflatable airbag assemblies are disclosed to be installed to deploy adjacent an occupant during a far-side collision event or a far-side oblique collision event, and may retain the occupant at the occupant's vehicle occupant position to protect the occupant from collision with structures within the vehicle, as well as from collisions with other occupants of the vehicle. The far-side inflatable airbag assemblies of the present disclosure may be particularly beneficial when installed between vehicle occupant positions of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Terry Alan Wheelwright, Andrew Lawrence Holliday, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Derek John Wiscombe
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Patent number: 11571941Abstract: An air suspension system, comprising a manifold, defining a first and second port, each port defining a receiving region at the second end, wherein the first and second ports are arranged in a common plane, a channel intersecting the first and second port, a cavity intersecting each port, and a pressure sensor port, positioned between the first and second port, defining a sensor insertion axis normal to the common plane, the pressure sensor port separated from the first port, the second port, and the channel by a thickness; a first and second solenoid valve, each solenoid valve arranged within the cavity and coaxially arranged with the first and second ports, each solenoid valve comprising a connector; a pressure sensor arranged within the pressure sensor port, the pressure sensor comprising a connector; and an electronics module arranged parallel the common plane, the electronics module configured to electrically couple to the connectors.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2021Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: AKTV8 LLCInventors: Josh Coombs, Tom Zagotta, Gary Meyers
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Patent number: 11572029Abstract: A side impact cushion device of a motor vehicle contains at least one impact cushion which can be inflated by a gas generator. The impact cushion in an installation state has an upper portion, a central portion and a lower portion. In this case, the upper portion is arranged substantially horizontally in a deployed state, the central portion is formed in the form of a shell surface of a rotationally symmetrical, developable body, the lower portion can be supported on an upper side of an armrest and a rotational axis of the rotationally symmetrical body is oriented vertically in the deployed state.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2021Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Felix Haenel
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Patent number: 11565549Abstract: An axle of a vehicle includes an axle subframe, wherein the axle subframe has at least two longitudinal members oriented approximately in the vehicle longitudinal direction and at least one crossmember oriented at least approximately in the vehicle transverse direction. The axle subframe is attached to a body of the vehicle by at least one axle-subframe bearing, wherein the axle-subframe bearing is additionally supported on the body via a thrust arm. A drive unit is supported on the body and/or on the axle subframe via an assembly mounting. The drive unit is supported with the assembly mounting on the body of the vehicle via the thrust arm.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2019Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventor: Matthias Stangl
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Patent number: 11565649Abstract: A headrest airbag of a vehicle is proposed. The headrest airbag includes an inflator located inside a seatback, and connected to a headrest stay and configured to supply gas through the headrest stay during operation thereof, and an airbag cushion located inside the headrest, and configured to expand when being supplied with the gas through the headrest stay and to be unfolded outside of the headrest.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2022Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.Inventors: Sang Won Hwangbo, Kyu Sang Lee, Jiwoon Song
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Patent number: 11565652Abstract: The present invention provides an external airbag system for a vehicle, the external airbag system including a detection sensor configured to detect an object moving at a rear or lateral side of a vehicle, an airbag cushion provided on a rear frame on which a door of the vehicle is mounted, the airbag cushion being configured to be deployed to extend in a leftward/rightward direction of the vehicle in a state in which the door of the vehicle is opened, and a control unit configured to perform control to deploy the airbag cushion when the detection sensor detects the object.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2022Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.Inventors: Seok Min Lee, Seok Hoon Ko
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Patent number: 11560109Abstract: An airbag apparatus to be applied to a vehicle includes airbags, a pre-crash determiner, an airbag deployment controller, and an airbag contraction controller. The airbags are configured to be deployed forward of a vehicle body front of the vehicle, and are disposed in a vehicle width direction. The pre-crash determiner is configured to establish a pre-crash determination when a probability of a collision with an object is a predetermined value or higher. The airbag deployment controller is configured to deploy the airbags in response to establishment of the pre-crash determination. The airbag contraction controller is configured to control contraction of the airbags individually, and perform side airbag contraction control by contracting one of the airbags that is on one side in the vehicle width direction and in a region where the collision with the object is occurring, and keeping deployed another one or more of the airbags in the region.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2022Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventor: Isamu Nagasawa
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Patent number: 11560112Abstract: A vehicle seat device includes: a detection unit that detects a side collision in a vehicle; a seat that is provided in a vehicle cabin so that the seat can be located at a center portion of the vehicle cabin in a vehicle width direction and that can face at least one of a front side and a rear side in a vehicle front-rear direction; a restraint portion that is provided on a seat side portion and that is movable between a retracted position in which the restraint portion does not face a seated occupant seated in the vehicle width direction, and a facing position in which the restraint portion faces the occupant in the vehicle width direction; and a movement control unit that positions the restraint portion at the facing position when the seat is located at the center portion and the detection unit detects the side collision.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2021Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mitsuyoshi Ohno, Masashi Hotta
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Patent number: 11560017Abstract: An axle assembly for a vehicle. A movable housing is movably positioned within a closed channel defined by a central housing. The movable housing moves the axle assembly between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. A mounting assembly may be coupled to and spaced from the movable housing and slidably positioned adjacent the central housing. A steering actuator is coupled to a steering arm and the mounting assembly such that the steering actuator moves as a unit. A track assist bracket may be fixedly coupled to the central housing and define a gap sized to slidably receive a mounting plate of the mounting assembly. A bushing may be disposed on each wall of a telescoping portion of the movable housing. A bellows may be provided to enclose exposed portions of the bushings in the extended configuration. Methods of adjusting the track of the axle assembly are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: AxleTech International IP Holdings, LLCInventors: Amy Danielle Langlitz, Christopher G. Baillie, Jay DeVeny, Wallace F. Bisoski
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Patent number: 11560054Abstract: A method for operating a drive-train of a vehicle, such as a municipal or agricultural utility vehicle, having at least one drive machine, a vehicle transmission with at least two gears, at least one drive axle and at least one auxiliary power take-off. The method includes controlling or regulating a supply of normal power from the drive machine as a function of a normal torque characteristic. Depending on the operating situation, supplying additional power to the at least one drive axle and/or to the at least one auxiliary power take-off. The supplied additional power is controlled or regulated as a function of operating situation dependent torque characteristics which are called up as a function of the selected gear at the time.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2020Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Alexander Stöbich
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Patent number: 11560111Abstract: An all thermoplastic olefin (TPO) airbag system for an automotive vehicle including a TPO airbag module housing coupled with a TPO airbag cover or chute, the system being particularly suitable as a front airbag system, and method of making the same. The airbag module housing may couple with the chute through a plurality of projections and windows, or through bolts.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2020Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: MCPP Innovation LLCInventors: Mark Sherman, Steve Cummings, Tim Mccollum, Steve Gregory
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Patent number: 11554819Abstract: A walk-behind tractor has an increased ground clearance to define a plant receiving space that has a greater height than a conventional walk-behind tractor having a straight axle. The walk-behind tractor has trailing drop arms from a frame that carry wheel axles that result in an elevated height of a driveshaft. The elevated driveshaft increases the ground clearance for taller plants to pass therebeneath during operation of the walk-behind tractor which would otherwise be too tall to pass below a conventional straight axle walk-behind tractor.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2020Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: TILMOR LLCInventors: Glenn M. Steiner, Chad R. Badger, Douglas L. Zehr
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Patent number: 11554734Abstract: A vehicle safety system includes an actuatable restraint for helping to protect a vehicle occupant and a controller for controlling actuation of the actuatable restraint in response to a vehicle rollover event. The controller is configured to execute a discrimination algorithm comprising at least one classification metric that utilizes at least one of vehicle pitch rate (P_RATE) and vehicle roll acceleration (D_RATE) to discriminate at least one of a ramp rollover event and a soil rollover event from an embankment rollover event. The discrimination algorithm determines a classification of the vehicle rollover event as one of a ramp rollover event, a soil rollover event, and an embankment rollover event. The controller is also configured to select a deployment threshold for deploying the actuatable restraint. The deployment threshold corresponds to the classification of the vehicle rollover event.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2020Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Charles A. Bartlett, Huahn-Fern Yeh