Patents Examined by George D Spisich
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Patent number: 7134689Abstract: Combustion residues of a gas generating agent remain in an inflator due to composition of the gas generating agent, temperature difference between combustion gas and pressurized gas isolated by a rupturable plate, collision of the combustion gas against a wall surface and the like. The inflator inflates an air bag with pressurized gas and combustion gas, while satisfying the following requirements: (1) pressurized gas contains an inert gas and substantially no oxygen; (2) in the gas generating agent, a pressure is 0.8 or less; (3) a mole ratio of an amount of pressurized gas and the combustion gas is 1 to 10; (4) a ratio of a mass of pressurized gas and the gas generating agent is 1 to 10; (5) a mass of a gas generating agent is 1 to 30 g; and (6) the pressurized gas is charged at 30,000 to 67,000 kPa.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2002Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Matsuda, Yasunori Iwai, Nobuyuki Katsuda
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Patent number: 7134685Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle seat includes an air bag module having an inflatable air bag, and a trim cover that covers at least a portion of the air bag module. The trim cover further has a deployment seam for allowing the air bag to deploy through the trim cover. The assembly also includes an air bag deployment member for guiding deployment of the air bag, and the deployment member has first and second sections. The first section is connected to the trim cover and extends toward a first side of the air bag module. The second section is connected to the first section at a location proximate the trim cover and extends toward a second side of the air bag module. Furthermore, the second section of the deployment member is not connected directly to the trim cover, and the deployment member is connected to the trim cover on only one side of the deployment seam.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2004Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Bill C. Panagos, Steven A. Schulte
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Patent number: 7131665Abstract: An arrangement for the holding of a steering column to a cross-member of a motor vehicle, in particular for a later screw connection of the steering column and/or of a dashboard holder to the cross-member, includes holding means formed at the steering column and at the cross-member which cooperate in a pre-installation state such that the steering column is held freely suspended at the cross-member.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2003Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Harald Walter Fischer, Andreas Ecker
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Patent number: 7131653Abstract: A support device for motor-vehicle wheel hubs adapted to be mounted between the hub and the body of the rear suspension, consisting of a connection element (12), rotatably connected to the body of the suspension and adapted to rotate on a plane which is basically perpendicular to the ground and parallel to the longer axis of the motor-vehicle, provided with attachments (15) for the hub (16) and connected to an elastic element (20), articulated on the body of the suspension (2, 3) and adapted to control its rotation.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2003Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per AzioniInventor: Valter Asteggiano
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Patent number: 7125047Abstract: A vehicular steering column of a low tilt type is supported to a body at upper and lower portions thereof to be tilted in whole about a hinge joint located on the lower portion, and more particularly to a shock absorbing steering column is designed to allow a steering column to slide forward when a vehicle driver gets a secondary shock against a steering wheel due to a vehicular collision, thereby absorbing a shock. In particular, the steering column is constructed in such a manner that, in order to absorb a shock in case of the vehicular collision, shock absorbing means is provided to a lower supporting structure of the steering column, and thus an initial shock imposed on the driver can be greatly decreased.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2003Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.Inventor: Byeong-Hoon Lee
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Patent number: 7124851Abstract: A seat mounting structure is disclosed for reducing injury to vehicle occupants in side impact collisions. The seat mounting structure may include an inflation module, a linkage system, a sensor system, and a side airbag. The inflation module may include an inflatable structure and inflator or a piston device. The linkage system attaches the seat mounting structure to a seat and may help guide the movement of the seat. The sensor system may include a radar sensor and an optical sensor to help the sensor system anticipate an impending side impact. The seat mounting structure mitigates injury to the occupant by moving the occupant vertically up and laterally toward a centerline of the vehicle, thus increasing the space between the sidewall of the vehicle and the occupant. Additionally, the inflation module may comprise an inflatable structure that stiffens a floor structure of the vehicle upon inflation.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2003Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Bradley W. Smith, Saeed D. Barbat, Donald J. Paxton
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Patent number: 7118127Abstract: An air-bag is disclosed which has a vent hole formed therein. The periphery of the vent hole has first and second opposed part, wherein a tuck is formed in the air-bag. The tuck is formed in the region of the first part of the vent hole periphery such that the second part of the vent hole periphery extends past the first part in a direction extending substantially outwards from the interior volume of the air-bag, when the air-bag is inflated.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2004Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventor: Marcus Damm
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Patent number: 7100943Abstract: A gas bag module comprises a gas bag with a gas bag wall having a front wall serving as an impact surface for an occupant, where, in an inflated state of said gas bag, the front wall has a centric orifice as a transition to an indentation. The indentation is formed by restraining a center section of the gas bag wall during inflation and preventing the center section from moving freely. The orifice is surrounded by a stabilizer defined by a closed ring in a region of the orifice and the stabilizer is a part separate from the gas bag wall.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2004Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbHInventors: Ralf Koch, Philipp Ritter
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Patent number: 7097185Abstract: A suspension cross member has a bulkhead interposed between an upper member plate and a lower member plate in such a manner as to extend longitudinally rearward from a disconnection initiating point on a forward arm side along an inner side of the upper member plate and an inner side of the lower member plate. The bulkhead is joined to the upper member plate and the lower member plate, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2003Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinji Kato, Shigeki Hama
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Patent number: 7097205Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly for a vehicle comprises an upper shroud portion (8) which is adapted to receive a steering column (1, 2), a lower guide portion (7) which is adapted to support the shroud portion (8) and be secured to a mounting bracket (14) fixed relative to the chassis of the vehicle, a connecting pin (13) which projects through an elongate opening provided in the fixed bracket (14), an opening in the lower guide portion (7) and an elongate opening in the upper shroud portion (8), a toothed rail member (19) which is connected to the upper-shroud portion by an energy absorbing device (22), and an operating lever (17) which is operatively connected to the connecting pin (13).Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2004Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignees: TRW Lucas Varity Electric Steering Limited, Lucas Automotive Gmbh, TRW DAS A.S.Inventors: Eckart Op Den Camp, Jiri Nevrkla, Michael Appleyard, Petr Bachel, Josef Pivny, Petr Navratil
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Patent number: 7083198Abstract: A tilt steering apparatus for a vehicle includes a lower steering shaft of which the low end is mounted with a steering gear, an upper steering shaft of which the upper end is mounted with a steering wheel. A universal joint joins a top end of the lower steering shaft with a lower end of the upper steering shaft and a lower column member is fixed to a vehicle body to support the lower steering shaft to be moveable. An upper column member supports the upper steering shaft to be moveable and a tilt lock mechanism that tilt locks the upper column member to the lower column member is provided. The tilt lock mechanism includes a fixed gear attached to the lower column member and a moveable gear attached to the upper column member so as to be moveable. A female gear is provided on the upper column member and a feed screw bar is mounted to the female member to lock the moveable gear to the fixed gear by pressing the moveable gear.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2003Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Hyundai Mobis, Co., Ltd.Inventor: Byeong-Hoon Lee
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Patent number: 7083013Abstract: A self-leveling and balancing vehicle composed of a base and a moving and driving mechanism installed on the base, the mechanism having two longitudinal moving seats installed on the guiding rails fixed on the base, a connecting frame extending to and connecting the two moving seats, and two sector gears installed on the two moving seats. A driving motor and a sensor are installed on the connecting frame, two level driving gears installed on two ends of the driving shaft and engaged with the two sector gears, a balance gear box installed on the driving shaft and having an output shaft extending to the connecting frame, and two driven gears installed on two ends of the output shaft and engaged with the racks fixed on the base.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Inventor: Chen Wen Chuan
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Patent number: 7083195Abstract: A suspension for a vehicle is provided. The suspension includes, for example, a frame and a releasable locking assembly. The releasable locking assembly has, for example, a first assembly movably coupled to the frame, a second assembly movably coupled to the frame, and wherein movement of the frame relative to the first and second assemblies causes the first and second assemblies to engage each other to limit further movement of the frame in at least a first direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2003Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Invacare CorporationInventors: Gerald Goertzen, William A. Null, Jr.
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Patent number: 7083172Abstract: A method for controlling roll/yaw motions of a vehicle includes the steps of deciding whether an anti-roll control is required or not by comparing a roll rate of the vehicle with a predetermined threshold roll rate, executing the anti-roll control if the roll rate is larger than the predetermined threshold roll rate, deciding whether an anti-yaw control is required or not by comparing a difference between an actual yaw rate of a vehicle and a desired yaw rate with a predetermined threshold yaw rate and executing the anti-yaw control if the difference between the actual yaw rate and the desired yaw rate is larger than the predetermined threshold yaw rate. During the anti-roll control, both right and left front wheel dampers and both right and left rear wheel dampers are hard-controlled at the same time. Further, during the anti-yaw control, both right and left front wheel dampers are hard-controlled and both right and left rear wheel dampers are soft-controlled.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2003Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Mando CorporationInventor: Youseok Kou
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Patent number: 7080843Abstract: A decoupled anti-roll system comprising a left anti-roll bar fastened at one end to a left suspension arm, a right anti-roll bar fastened at one end to a right suspension arm, a clutch mounted to connect or separate the left and right anti-roll bars, oil pressure generating apparatus configured to generate oil pressure during a vehicle roll, an accumulator connected to the oil pressure generating apparatus, and actuators for activating the clutch via the oil pressure generated from the oil pressure generating apparatus to connect or separate the left and right anti-roll bars, whereby the left and right anti-roll bars are connected to each other only when a vehicle rolls, thus improving a car's ride and steering.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2003Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Jin-Hyuck Heo
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Patent number: 7059441Abstract: A mount frame includes a first frame unit having a first rear frame portion which is provided with an anchoring member and a gripped member. A second frame unit has a second front frame portion provided with a seat post, an anchored member which is disposed to be journalled on the anchoring member about a rotational axis. Thus, the second frame unit is rotatable relative to the axis to facilitate assembly of the first rear frame portion and the second front frame portion. A gripping member is disposed on the second front frame portion to confront the gripped member. A tightening unit is disposed to push the gripping member to abut tightly against the gripped member.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2004Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Kwang Yang Motor Co. Ltd.Inventor: Jui-Tien Chen
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Patent number: 7048287Abstract: An air suspension anti-roll stabilization system includes air suspension devices, such as at least one pair of air bags air spring mounted upon an axle via leaf spring suspension arms of an associated vehicle on respective opposed sides of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, with the axle being located at least partially with respect to the frame or chassis of the vehicle by means of a pair of leaf spring arms which are located on respective opposed sides of the longitudinal vehicle axis and of which each has one end mounted pivotally to the vehicle frame or chassis, wherein anti-roll means is connected rigidly between the part of longitudinal leaf spring suspension arms.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2003Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Detroit Steel Products Co., Inc.Inventor: John Bolland Reast
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Patent number: 7036621Abstract: A pedestrian collision detecting apparatus for motor vehicles is provided which works to distinguish between impacts with pedestrians and other sorts of impacts using a combination of a collision duration for which a sensor continues to sense a physical impact arising from collision with an object and a time-sequential change in locations of collisions of the vehicle with objects, thereby ensuring the reliability of detection of a pedestrian-vehicle collision and allowing the size and production costs of the apparatus to be minimized to improve the mountability of the apparatus in motor vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2003Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Tetsuya Takafuji, Yoshiyuki Hattori
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Patent number: 7032912Abstract: A suspension stop for a motor vehicle wheel assembly comprising a fixed member adapted to be fixed to the chassis (2) of the vehicle and a rotating member adapted to be fixed to the suspension spring (4) so as to be rotationally moved under the effect of the forces exerted by the spring. The stop includes a device for measuring the vertical forces applied to the vehicle wheel. The device includes a pulse-generating coder (11) fixed to one of the members, a sensor (12) fixed to the other member which is able to detect these pulses so as to determine the angular position of the rotating member with respect to the fixed member, and a calculation device able, from this position, to calculate the corresponding vertical force applied. A method of measuring the vertical forces applied to a wheel associated with the chassis (2) of a vehicle by such a stop is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2003Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: S.N.R. RoulementsInventors: Christophe Nicot, Olivier Blanchin
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Patent number: 7017688Abstract: A half-track vehicle includes a frame, first and second beams having forward and rearward wheels attached thereto, and first and second suspension systems. The frame includes a first side and a second side, and the first suspension system suspends the first beam from the frame adjacent the first side of the frame and the second suspension system suspends the second beam from the frame adjacent the second side of the frame. Each suspension system includes at least one element, such as a trailing arm, and A-arm, and a transverse suspension member, that is attached to one of frame and an associated one of the first and second beams in a manner that permits three degrees of rotational movement and that transmits motive force from the first and second beams to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2003Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Lee N. Bowers, Mark Kohls, Philip Tsiaras