Patents Examined by George D Spisich
  • Patent number: 7896387
    Abstract: An air bag device for automobile comprising a side air bag member arranged at a vehicle body side portion or a vehicle seat in a folded state, expanded by being supplied with a gas upon a vehicle being impacted from the side or rolling over, and which deploys between a passenger seated on the vehicle seat and the vehicle body side portion, and a head portion protection air bag member which deploys in a curtain shape in a downward direction inside of a vehicle compartment up to a position of overlapping a deploying region of the side air bag member in a vehicle width direction, and which has a shape that fits with the deployed side air bag member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Ideue
  • Patent number: 7896371
    Abstract: An all terrain vehicle includes a front wheel, a body frame and a double wishbone type suspension for suspending the front wheel. The body frame has a triangular frame part formed into the shape of a triangle in side view of the vehicle. The triangular frame part includes a first frame extending downward to the front side of the vehicle, a second frame extending downward to the rear side of the vehicle from an upper end of the first frame and a third frame connected to a lower end of the first frame and a lower end of the second frame. The double wishbone type suspension includes an upper arm, which is pivotably supported on the first frame and the second frame so as to be swingable, and a lower arm, which is pivotably supported on the third frame so as to be swingable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuya Matsuura
  • Patent number: 7896373
    Abstract: A trailer-locking pin locating device comprising an elongated body having a first end, a second end, a crossbar located proximal the first end of the elongated body with the crossbar slidably supported by elongated body and positioned at an angle to the elongated body, a securing member connecting the elongated body to a portion of a semi-trailer, a signaling member comprising a rod having a first highly visible end and a second end, a resiliently flexible member connecting the second end of the rod to the elongated body with the highly visible end of the rod extending beyond the second end of the elongated body in a normal condition, a rod holder for supporting the signaling member in a loaded condition, and a trigger mechanism located on the elongated body with trigger mechanism displacing the signaling member from the loaded condition to the normal condition when triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Inventor: Duane Joseph Beimert
  • Patent number: 7891705
    Abstract: A tension cushion air bag includes an outer chamber configured to receive a gas such that the outer chamber has an inflated volume. The outer chamber includes a front panel and a rear panel. The tension cushion air bag also includes an inner chamber formed at least in part by the front panel of the outer chamber and at least in part by a front panel patch mounted to the front panel. The inner chamber includes a non-inflated volume which is formed as a result of the inflated volume of the outer chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Nathaniel J. Dennis
  • Patent number: 7883113
    Abstract: Triangular left and right load transmission members each have a first arm interconnecting a front sub frame and a left or right rear frame, a second arm interconnecting the front sub frame and a left or right side sill, and a third arm interconnecting the left or right side sill and the left or right rear frame. The transmission members each transmit an impact load from the front sub frame to the left or right rear frame via the first arm and to the left or right side sill via the second arm. A cross member spans between the side sills and fixedly connected to the rear frames. Left and right rigid areas are formed by the transmission members, cross member and right rear frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Yatsuda
  • Patent number: 7878287
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for locating a subframe to a vehicle body having a control hole. The device comprises a pin attached to the subframe and extending toward the vehicle body when the subframe is positioned for mounting to the vehicle body. The pin is adapted to engage the control hole to precisely align the subframe and the vehicle body. The invention also relates to a method for locating a subframe to a vehicle body having a control hole. The method comprises providing a pin on the subframe that extends toward the vehicle body when the subframe is positioned for mounting to the vehicle body, and engaging the pin with the control hole to precisely align the subframe and the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Joe L. Buchwitz, Tim D. Smith
  • Patent number: 7878288
    Abstract: An operator control assembly includes an operator manipulable control, and a first armrest movably coupling the operator manipulable control to a frame of a construction vehicle. The first armrest is movable from a first vertical orientation to a second vertical orientation and from a first horizontal orientation to a second horizontal orientation, such that when the armrest is in the second horizontal orientation, the armrest is positioned with in a footprint of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Ales Kostak, Jaroslav Fiser
  • Patent number: 7871082
    Abstract: Anti-roll system especially for a vehicle, comprising system control means, a tank (4) and a pump (3) for a hydraulic fluid, and two or more stabilizers, each stabilizer comprising an actuator (5, 6) which is arranged to control the relevant stabilizer's moment in dependency of the hydraulic pressure at the actuator's terminals. Each actuator has either one or both of its terminals (A, B) connected to a first terminal (I) of a pressure control module (8) which has a second terminal (II) connected to the tank's inlet side and a third terminal (III) to the pump's outlet side. The control means and each control module are arranged to supply a fluid pressure at its first terminal under control of said control means. The pressure control modules (8) may comprise a series connection of two pressure control valves (1, 2) e.g. pressure relief or limitation valves. As an alternative the pressure control modules (8) comprise a three-way pressure control valve (9), e.g. a three-way pressure reduction valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-natuurwetenschaffelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Jozef Zuurbier, Albertus Clemens Maria Van Der Knaap
  • Patent number: 7871084
    Abstract: A telescopic actuator includes a motor, an input flange rotated by the motor, a male screw member coupled to the input flange, a female screw member threadedly engaged with the male screw member, an output rod coupled to the female screw member, the output rod being moved in an axial direction thereof to output a thrust force when the input flange is rotated, and a housing inside which the male screw member and the female screw member are accommodated. The input flange is supported by the housing such that a relative movement of the input flange with respect to the housing is allowed in a radial direction but restricted in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiko Hakui, Kotaro Yamaguchi, Masanori Watanabe, Atsushi Yuta, Hajime Kajiwara
  • Patent number: 7861811
    Abstract: An implement drive arrangement for a wheel axle assembly pivotally connected to a housing. A drive element is supported on the axle for rotation with the wheel generally about the wheel axis. The housing rotatably supports a driven element for rotation about an axis generally fixed in relation to the housing. A free-floating connecting element is rotatably supported between the drive element and the driven element to facilitate relatively unimpeded pivoting of the axle and wheel relative to the housing. The connecting element has two degrees of freedom offset at 90° to one another and aligned radially relative to the axis of rotation to accommodate axle pivoting while assuring smooth transfer of power from the wheel to the driven element as the angular relationship changes between the axle and housing with movement of the wheel over irregular ground surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Rogerio Kroth, Ademar Gelbhar
  • Patent number: 7862085
    Abstract: A vehicle frame includes first and second lower rails and first and second upper rails operatively interconnected. Cross members horizontally interconnect the lower rails and the upper rails, and stanchions vertically interconnect the upper rails and the lower rails. The frame provides improved stiffness and strength at a reduced mass compared to the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technologies Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Weizhang S. Xu, John K. Catterall, Zhijun Zheng, Rajan R. Chakravarty, Vesna Savic, Yul Woong Hyun, Donald R. Jones, Gary M. Banasiak, Arun M. Joshi, Ronald Kurtz
  • Patent number: 7857333
    Abstract: A stabilizing arrangement (100) characterized by a mounting member (32), at least one forward truck (34) supporting a forward pair of surface engaging members (36), and at least one rear truck (38) supporting a rear pair of surface engaging members (40), each truck (34, 38) allowing biased rotation about a central axis thereof, the forward truck (34) being mounted on the mounting member (32) such that it projects forwardly thereof and the rear truck (38) being mounted on the mounting member (32) such that it projects rearwardly thereof, and whereby the mounting member (32) is supported substantially between the trucks (34, 38) and pairs of surface engaging members (36, 40). A suspension and steering arrangement is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: AV International Corporation
    Inventor: Aldo Contarino
  • Patent number: 7854289
    Abstract: The invention relates to a front hood arrangement on a vehicle, comprising a hinge mechanism that is located in the rear relative to the direction of travel and is embodied as a quadruple joint with a long and a short pull rod. The hinge mechanism allows the front hood to be swiveled during normal opening and closing while allowing the same to be raised in the rear zone during a collision of the vehicle. Such a hinge mechanism is provided with a spring element which actuates an adjusting lever during a collision while the adjusting lever acts directly upon the front hood and rests thereupon either directly or via intermediate elements. The joints of the quadruple joint located at the front hood end are hingedly fixed to a swiveling lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Kirchhoff GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Gust
  • Patent number: 7845666
    Abstract: A swinging hub is disclosed for adjusting the camber of at least one wheel mounted for rotation about one of a two oppositely extending axles via a camber adjustment mechanism including an actuator coupled to the at least one axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Eric S. Lynch, Anthony P. Beach
  • Patent number: 7828307
    Abstract: A stabilizer arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle with a stabilizer (1), which is connected to the vehicle chassis and which is connected, on each side of the vehicle, to a spring-mounted wheel carrier part with a piston-cylinder unit (4, 4?). Each of the piston-cylinder units (4, 4?) includes at least one piston (8), which is movably arranged in a cylinder (7) and which splits the cylinder into a first and a second cylinder chamber (7a, 7b). The cylinder chambers are separate from one another. The piston-cylinder units (4, 4?) are respectively connected in an articulated manner, at one end, to an end of the stabilizer 1 and, at the other end, to a spring-mounted wheel carrier part. The piston (8) has a connecting line (14) that connects the first and second cylinder chambers. The respective connecting line (14) has a nonreturn valve (15), which acts in one direction. The piston (8) can be moved into at least one end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Jens Vortmeyer
  • Patent number: 7806221
    Abstract: A vehicle protection system 7 contains an airbag system 8 employing a plurality of sets of airbags 118a-118c external to the vehicle 9. Each set 118a-118c contains one or more airbags 118 wherein the plurality of sets 118a-118c are sequentially operated based on initial collision data, and then based on operating parameters such as pressure differentials over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Indu B. Mishra
  • Patent number: 7789418
    Abstract: An air bag assembly comprising: an inflator for providing a source of inflation gas, and an air bag having a first end and a second end and a first side and a second side, the air bag configured to have a first inflatable chamber proximate the first end, a second inflatable chamber proximate the second and a non-inflatable region therebetween; the air bag including an inlet communicated with the inflator, the air bag further including a plurality of joints or seams, which connect selective regions of the first and second sides together thereby controlling the inflatable volume of the air bag, a top portion of each of the plurality of joints or seams located a determinable distance from a top of the air bag to form within the air bag an integral gas flow path or channel, the inlet generally positioned spaced from a top of the air bag and generally located between the first inflatable chamber and second Inflatable chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Pongdet P. Wipasuramonton, Jeffrey Young, Chang-Hwan Ju, Prabhakar Padiyar
  • Patent number: 7779954
    Abstract: A readily transportable and rapidly deployable vehicle immobilization device is provided. The exhaust of an internal combustion engine is obstructed, resulting in choking off and stopping of the engine. In an aspect, a plug is provided having an extension fixed to the plug for human grasping, and facilitating insertion into an end of a vehicle exhaust pipe. In an aspect the plug expands upon being heated and is adhesive to the exhaust pipe for at least partially sealing the exhaust pipe. In another aspect, a length of adhesive material is attached to the front of a pursuing vehicle and engages an end of an exhaust pipe of a fleeing vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventor: Jeffrey Wax
  • Patent number: 7780194
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of an air bag, more particularly a one-piece woven (OPW) air bag, comprising single layer and double layer areas, a top and bottom outer surface and a coating in at least certain areas. The invention is characteristic in that the single layer area is sealed in such a way that said areas are substantially impermeable to fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Global Safety Textiles GmbH
    Inventors: Birgit Tröndle, Thomas Eschbach, Michael Becker
  • Patent number: 7770923
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a structure of an inflater inside cylinder for an air bag for a vehicle, which lengthens the discharge course for gas generated from the inflater inside cylinder, thus preventing injury or damage due to high-temperature and high-pressure gas, and which is convenient to manufacture, is light, and has a low manufacturing cost thereof. According to the present invention, the air bag includes an outside cylinder and an inside cylinder, each having in a circumferential surface thereof a plurality of holes. In this case, the inside cylinder includes at least two cylindrical embossed steel plates, the plurality of holes being formed in embossed parts of the cylindrical embossed steel plates, which protrude outward or inwards from circumferential surfaces of the embossed steel plates so as to extend a gas discharge course. A mesh net is provided between the at least two cylindrical embossed steel plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Dae Ah Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee Sok Woo