Patents Examined by James A English
  • Patent number: 11718265
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicular airbag device provided with a configuration comprising: an airbag cushion which is formed in a shawl shape so as to surround and restrict the entire upper body around both shoulders of an occupant as well as the abdominal and pelvic regions in the event of a vehicle collision, and deployed toward both side surfaces of the occupant; and a limiting means which is installed in first and second cushions of the airbag cushion deployed at both sides of the occupant, and provides a supporting force and limits the deployment shape of the first and second cushions at the time of deployment of the first and second cushions. According to the present invention, both side surfaces and the front surface of the occupant are efficiently restricted by improving the lateral strength of the airbag cushion to safely protect the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Tae Ik Gwon, Jong Ki Byun, Dae Chang Jung
  • Patent number: 11701935
    Abstract: A vehicle corner system for a dual-axle wheels assembly may include: a sub-frame; a first wheel interface having a first spinning axis about which a first wheel spins when connected to the first wheel interface; a first suspension linkage connected to and being transverse to the first wheel interface and to the sub-frame; a second wheel interface having a second spinning axis about which a second wheel spins when connected to the second wheel interface; a second suspension linkage connected to and being transverse to the second wheel interface and to the sub-frame; and a motion restrainer comprising a spring interconnecting the first suspension linkage and the second suspension linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: REE AUTOMOTIVE LTD
    Inventors: Ran Dekel, Ahishay Sardes, Gil Hacohen, Zohar Goldenstein, Amit Aknin, Gal Zohar, Ran Meir, Ido Gury, Eylon Avigur
  • Patent number: 11697321
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, a first mounting bracket, and a sway bar assembly. The frame includes a first member including a first opening and a second member including a second opening. The first mounting bracket is disposed proximal the first member and includes a first panel and a second panel. The first panel is substantially parallel to a surface of the first member and defines a bar opening that is substantially aligned with the first opening. The second panel extends substantially perpendicular to the first panel and includes an aperture that is substantially aligned with the bar opening. The sway bar assembly includes a bar having a first end and a second end. The bar extends through the first opening and the second opening and is rotatably coupled to the first mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventor: Jason Zuleger
  • Patent number: 11697347
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle instrument cluster, comprising a digital display screen which is intended to be hidden from the vehicle passengers and capable of displaying a source image containing a multitude of indicator modules for the driver of the vehicle, and a panel (20) located below the digital display screen, at least the main central (20A) and upper (20B) portions of said panel being opaque and reflective, the panel (20) being inclined relative to the display screen so as to reflect the source image towards the driver so that the latter perceives, in his/her field of vision, a virtual image located in front of the panel (20), characterized in that the lateral (20C) and lower (20D) portions of the panel (20) are transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
    Inventors: Antoine Lesbroussart, Vincent Laine, Thomas Bouveret, Guillaume Godart
  • Patent number: 11697385
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a crash pad for a vehicle and a manufacturing method thereof. In an embodiment, the crash pad for a vehicle includes: a skin layer configured to form an outer surface of a crash pad including an airbag module; a core layer formed on a lower surface of the skin layer; and a foam layer formed between the core layer and the skin layer, wherein the skin layer has a tensile strength of 15 to 120 kgf/cm2 and an elongation at break of 50 to 700% measured in accordance with JIS K6301 standard, and a bonding strength of 0.25 kgf/cm or more as measured in accordance with ISO 813 standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang Wan Son, Do Hyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 11691507
    Abstract: A motor vehicle including a drive gearbox connected to a drive motor of the motor vehicle, a power take-off connected to an auxiliary output of the drive gearbox, and an auxiliary unit connected to the power take-off. The auxiliary unit is coupled with the power take-off such that the auxiliary unit is disposed below the drive gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Saeta GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Dietsch, Matthias Tamm
  • Patent number: 11685213
    Abstract: A top mount assembly includes an insulator coupled to a vehicle body; an upper housing coupled to the insulator; a lower housing coupled to the upper housing; a bearing arranged between the upper housing and the lower housing; an inner seal member comprising a seal frame coupled to the upper end portion of the lower housing in a radially inward direction of the bearing, a seal base portion coupled to the seal frame and a plurality of inner seal lips. The seal frame includes a sleeve coupled to the upper end portion of the upper housing and a flange extending from an upper end of the sleeve in a radially outward direction. The seal base portion is coupled to the flange of the seal frame. The upper end of the inner seal lips is disposed to be spaced apart from the inner sidewall of the upper housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ILJIN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young No Lim, Se Woong Jeong, Eui Mo Jung
  • Patent number: 11685446
    Abstract: An electric vehicle frame strut tower to body structure interface bracket is disclosed. An example electric vehicle disclosed herein includes a frame, a battery pack supported by the frame, a body coupled to the frame, a strut tower coupled to the frame to support the body and absorb road surface impacts on the electric vehicle, and a strut tower interface bracket to couple the strut tower to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Gary E. Sheaffer, II, Steve William Gallagher, Joshua Jacob Clement
  • Patent number: 11685338
    Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioner system for use in a seatbelt retractor assembly having a spindle and a frame includes a housing adapted for being mounted to the frame and having an interior cavity, a pretensioner tube having a first tube end in fluid communication with a gas generator and a second tube end in fluid communication with the interior cavity of the housing, a pinion being rotatably mounted in the housing and fixedly coupled to the spindle adapted for taking up seatbelt webbing during pretensioning, and a pretensioner rod disposed inside the pretensioner tube. Further, the pretensioner rod has a proximal end disposed towards the gas generator and a distal end disposed away from the gas generator. In addition, the housing is formed with at least two levels including an inboard portion and an outboard portion to store the pretensioner rod after pretensioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Jon E. Burrow, Daniel Robert Murphy
  • Patent number: 11685210
    Abstract: A jounce bumper assembly can be used in a suspension system for an automotive vehicle. The assembly can contain a jounce bumper having a longitudinal axis, a bottom portion, and a tip portion spaced apart from the bottom portion in the axial direction, where the jounce bumper is resiliently deformable between an uncompressed basic state and an axially compressed state. The assembly can also contain a support member for supporting the jounce bumper, the support member having a wall section which can be arranged around the bottom portion and resiliently deformable with the jounce bumper in the axial and radial direction. The assembly can further contain at least one stiffening element associated to the wall section and configured to locally limit the radial deformation of the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: BASF Polyurethanes GmbH
    Inventor: Sadiq Al-Dahhan
  • Patent number: 11679836
    Abstract: A foldable electric scooter and a manufacture method of the same. The foldable electric scooter includes a main body assembly, a front fork assembly located at the front end of the main body assembly, a rear fork assembly located at the rear end of the main body assembly, a telescoping plate assembly located on top of the front fork assembly and a handlebar assembly located on top of the telescoping plate assembly. The foldable electric scooter has a double headset design that increases a rake angle for more steering stability while still keeping the steering upright for an upright holding of the handlebars. The foldable electric scooter is manufactured by stamping of flat plate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Armando Luis Cordero
  • Patent number: 11673607
    Abstract: A rear axle supporting frame for mounting a drive unit of a transportation vehicle including a first longitudinal beam and a second longitudinal which extend substantially along a longitudinal vehicle axis, as well as a first cross-beam and a second cross-beam which extend substantially along a transverse vehicle axis, the first cross-beam being located in front of the second cross-beam when viewed in a direction of travel. At least one bearing holder into which a bearing of the drive unit is pressed is provided on the rear axle supporting frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventors: Wolfgang Viereck, Wolfram Halupka, Bert Diedrichs
  • Patent number: 11673523
    Abstract: A method of using a support accessory rack includes aligning a first mounting portion of the support accessory rack with a first pin of a rollover protective structure. The method includes aligning a second mounting portion of the support accessory rack with a second pin of a second rollover protective structure. The method includes actuating the first pin to secure the first mounting portion to the rollover protective structure. The method further includes actuating the second pin to secure the second mounting portion to the rollover protective structure. The method includes pivoting a rotating support member of the support accessory rack away from the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion, and supporting the rotating support member onto a lateral bar of the rollover protective structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventors: Richard Turner, Carolyn Turner
  • Patent number: 11673445
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain proactive damping system includes a plurality of proactive damping structures mounted on a powertrain structure with each proactive damping structure includes a magneto rheological elastomer (MRE). An electromagnet is associated with each proactive damping structure. A control unit includes a processor circuit. A sensor obtains vibration data regarding the powertrain structure. A LIDAR sensor is mounted on the vehicle and is electrically connected with the control unit. The LIDAR sensor provides data to the control unit indicative of upcoming road surface conditions to be experienced by the vehicle. Based on data from at the sensor and the LIDAR sensor, the processor circuit is constructed and arranged to control voltage to the electromagnets to selectively adjust a rigidity of the associated proactive damping structure so as to control vibrational effects on the powertrain structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorge de Jesus Rodriguez Mauricio, Cesar Alejandro Santana Castaneda, Luis Javier Del Real Ibanez
  • Patent number: 11673443
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an electric heavy-duty vehicle. In one example, a system for the vehicle may include a wheel hub assembly coupled to a frame of the vehicle via a first wishbone arm and a second wishbone arm, and an air spring coupled at opposite ends to a first link and a second link, each of the first link and the second link being pivotably coupled to the frame of the vehicle, the second link further being pivotably coupled to the first wishbone arm. The air spring may be positioned above the wheel hub assembly with respect to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Guillaume Desourdy, Jason Soares
  • Patent number: 11667323
    Abstract: A steering column may include an actuating unit in which a steering shaft is mounted rotatably, a holding unit that is connectable to a body of a motor vehicle and that adjustably supports the actuating unit, a locking element that is coupled movably to the holding unit for axial locking of the actuating unit, a spring element that exerts a prestressing force on the locking element, a securing element for fixing the spring element, and a counterbearing. The locking element, the securing element, and the counterbearing may form a three-point arrangement in which the spring element is fixed. The spring element may be supported on one side on the locking element and on the other side on the counterbearing. The securing element may be arranged between the locking element and the counterbearing and may prestress the spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: René Marco Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11667190
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a power transmission unit having a differential device for transmitting power to left and right axles and a power transmission mechanism for transmitting power to the differential device, and a transmission shaft for transmitting power to the power transmission unit. The power transmission mechanism includes a first gear mechanism to which power from the transmission shaft is transmitted and a second gear mechanism for transmitting power from the first gear mechanism to the differential device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Yasuda, Hiroshi Takagi, Takashi Kuramoto
  • Patent number: 11667327
    Abstract: The present invention provides embodiments of modified upper and lower control arms for attachment to the steering knuckle that came with the vehicle, or for attachment to a modified steering knuckle of an embodiment of the invention, such that the steering knuckle, and in particular the wheel hub opening of the steering knuckle, are located at positions that are closer to the front of the vehicle than the positions provided by the control arms that came with the vehicle. The forward position of the wheel hub relative to the position provided by the factory or stock control arms moves the wheel and tire forward by the same distance, thereby allowing much larger wheels and tires to be mounted on the vehicle which do not rub against or interfere with the wheel well, fender or body mount, thereby increasing the approach angle of the vehicle for use in off-road climbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Marlin Crawler, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Czajkowski
  • Patent number: 11661117
    Abstract: A foldable vehicle may include a chassis comprising a static support, a dynamic chassis frame that includes at least two substantially opposite frame parts and a folding mechanism for decreasing or increasing a distance between the at least two substantially opposite frame parts across a lateral axis of the vehicle between a folded state and an unfolded state; and a controller to control the folding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: City Transformer Ltd.
    Inventors: Asaf Formoza, Udi Meridor, Oran Levintant, Ani Dwilanski
  • Patent number: 11661099
    Abstract: A handwheel actuator for a steer by wire system may include a feedback actuator and a column for operably coupling a handwheel to the handwheel actuator. The column includes a column shaft extending from a first end of the column to a second end of the column. The feedback actuator is operably coupled to the second end of the column and provides tactile feedback to an operator responsive to movement of the handwheel. The feedback actuator includes a torsion bar coaxial with the column shaft. The column shaft is supported relative to a housing of the column by a first column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the first end of the column and a second column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the second end of the column. The torsion bar extends into the column shaft past the second column shaft bearing and is operably coupled to the column shaft via a removable fastener disposed at a portion of the torsion bar that extends past the second column shaft bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Erik William Soderlind, Steven Bryan Amburgy, Taras Palczynski