Patents Examined by Joselynn Y Sliteris
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Patent number: 8370022Abstract: A suspension system is provided to execute a control for avoiding a state in which an operation of an electric motor which is a power source of an electromagnetic actuator is kept halted at a certain operational position while the motor is generating a motor force. Where a target rotational position of the motor becomes equal to a specific operational position (e.g., a rotational position at which an electrifying current amount of one phase reaches a peak value), a control for shifting the target rotational position by ?? is executed. Where the rotational position of the motor is kept located at the certain position for a time period longer than a prescribed time, a control for changing the rotational position of the motor is executed.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2012Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hirofumi Inoue, Hideshi Watanabe, Takuhiro Kondo
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Patent number: 8360469Abstract: An occupant restraint apparatus for a motor vehicle that includes a cushion configured to inflate to provide restraint to an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the cushion includes an inflatable portion and at least one non-inflatable portion; an inflator configured to provide gas for inflating the inflatable portion of the cushion; and a tether having a first end connected to the cushion and a second anchored end. The cushion includes at least one opening in at least one of the non-inflatable portions and the tether passes through the opening.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2010Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Richard Wiik, Jonathan R. Kibat, Scott D. Thomas
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Patent number: 8360194Abstract: A transfer box for transferring movements and forces from a gearshift lever of a tiltable vehicle cab portion to a gearbox includes a first frame portion mounted on the cab portion, the first frame portion including at least one first journalled lever portion and being connectable to cable ends or push rods connected to the gear shift lever, a second frame portion mounted on a vehicle chassis, the second frame portion including at least one journalled second lever portion and being connected to the gearbox via cable ends or pushrods, wherein the first lever portions and the second lever portions interact to enable movement/force transfer from the cable ends/push rods connected to the first lever portions to the cable ends/push rods connected to the second lever portions. The at least one first and the at least one second lever portions are provided with wedge shaped cooperating portions.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2007Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Volvo Lastvagner ABInventor: Klas Bergström
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Patent number: 8353534Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicular frame, a utility bed, and a passenger restraint assembly. The utility bed is coupled with the vehicular frame and includes a bed floor, a side wall, and a rear scat. The passenger restraint assembly includes a securing member, a belt and a retractor. The securing member is coupled with the utility bed adjacent to the rear seat. The belt includes a first end; a second end, and a securing portion. The securing portion is configured for selective engagement with the securing member. The retractor is coupled with the side wall. The retractor includes a carrier that is coupled with the first end of the belt and is configured to facilitate selective dispensation of the belt.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventors: David W. Arnold, Craig Mitchell, Justin Michael Winter
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Patent number: 8353381Abstract: A transmission cross-member for supporting a vehicle's transmission includes a center portion, a pair of outer portions extending from the center portion and a pair of mounting flanges extending from the respective outer portions and connecting to the rails of the frame of the vehicle, wherein at least one of the mounting flanges is pivotally connected to one of the outer portions.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2009Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Inventor: Scott Melvin
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Patent number: 8348306Abstract: An automotive passenger restraint system of the lapbelt/diagonal shoulder belt type wherein a sensor and lookup table are used to detect the onset of a collision and provide a programmed (a) relocation of the inboard seatbelt anchor point to increase pelvic area restraint and (b) asymmetric airbag deployment.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Atsutaka Tamura
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Patent number: 8328227Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a side airbag apparatus for a vehicle having a seat with a back rest part and a hinge mechanism. The side airbag includes an inner sleeve forming a separation element defining one of a front airbag chamber and a rear airbag chamber within the side airbag. A connecting passage connects the front and a rear airbag chambers adjacent a lower extremity of the separation element. An attaching portion provided on the rear portion of the rear airbag chamber attaches the side airbag to the backrest part. An inflator proximate the attaching portion injects gas into the rear airbag chamber which flows through the connecting passage into the front airbag chamber.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2012Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventor: Hiroyoshi Shimono
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Patent number: 8292312Abstract: A stabilizer bushing is provided which effectively reduces a torsional friction between a bushing body and a stabilizer bar. The stabilizer bushing includes a bushing body 16 made of a tubular elastic body, a sliding member 42 fixed to an inner circumferential surface of the tubular elastic body, and two partition members 26, 26 embedded in and bonded to a radially middle area of the bushing body 16. The partition members 26, 26 divide the bushing body 16 into an inner rubber portion 38 that is thin enough not to be elastically-deformed by a load applied thereto and an outer rubber portion 40 that is thicker than the inner rubber portion 38. Further, each of the partition members 26, 26 includes through holes 36a, 36b, 36c that are located so as to divide the partition member into a plurality of sections both in the axial and circumferential directions.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2011Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignees: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiko Kato, Hiroaki Nagai, Hideo Yanagino, Katsuzo Okada, Kouichi Kobayashi, Yuji Homma, Shinji Hayashi
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Patent number: 8286978Abstract: System to control the trim of motorcycles with three or four wheels, the motorcycle having two couples of front and rear wheels, or one front wheel and a couple of rear wheels, or a couple of front wheels and one rear wheel.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2006Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Quadro Tecnologie S.R.L.Inventor: Luciano Marabese
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Patent number: 8285448Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a suspension system configured to execute a control for avoiding a state in which an operation of an electric motor which is a power source of an electromagnetic actuator is kept halted at a certain operational position while the motor is generating a motor force. Where a target rotational position of the motor becomes equal to a specific operational position (e.g., a rotational position at which an electrifying current amount of one phase reaches a peak value), a control for shifting the target rotational position by ?? is executed. Where the rotational position of the motor is kept located at the certain position for a time period longer than a prescribed time, a control for changing the rotational position of the motor is executed. According to the present suspension system, it is possible to suppress imbalance in heat generation in the motor and to thereby reduce a load to be applied to the motor. Accordingly, a suspension system with high utility is realized.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2007Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hirofumi Inoue, Hideshi Watanabe, Takuhiro Kondo
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Patent number: 8267425Abstract: An air bag system for a vehicle including an air bag in a folded state and installed in a vehicle. The air bag is inflated and expanded by gas from an inflator, which introduces gas into the air bag. A vent hole is formed in at least one base fabric piece of the air bag so as to establish a communication path between an inside and an outside of the air bag through which gas may be discharged from the inside toward the outside of the air bag. A blocking member is supported on the base fabric piece to block up the vent hole. A guide portion is provided to slidably support the blocking member and to restrict the position of the blocking member relative to the vent hole. A sliding resistance increasing portion is provided on at least either one of the guide portion and the blocking member, so as to increase a sliding resistance between the guide portion and the blocking member when the blocking member slides.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2010Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yusuke Chida, Makoto Nagai, Hiroyuki Nozaki
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Patent number: 8267428Abstract: An energy absorber for a vehicle includes an elongate member having lateral and longitudinal axes. The elongate member may include one or more channels which are oriented to have walls which extend in the general direction of the lateral axis. An upper surface of at least one of the channels may have an engagement feature that may be configured to engage a stationary member of a vehicle when an impact force brings the engagement feature into contact with the stationary member. The channels may be configured to deform and collapse to absorb at least some of the impact force.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2009Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America, IncInventors: Todd DePue, Arun Chickmenahalli, Michael W. Cass, Robert Adams
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Patent number: 8246073Abstract: An airbag arrangement for a vehicle occupant restraint system is provided. The airbag arrangement comprising an airbag folded into an airbag package, a cover that may be evacuated and encloses the airbag package, a gas generator for inflating the airbag, a receptacle formed by a section of the cover enclosing the airbag package and in which at least one section of the gas generator is housed. The airbag comprising an opening, which forms an inlet to an inflatable area of the airbag and in which the receptacle is arranged at least sectionally or into which the receptacle projects. The gas generator is formed as a tubular gas generator. The opening has a hollow cylindrical area in which the receptacle is arranged, or the opening is formed as a hole in an airbag layer which forms a chamber of the airbag.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2009Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Takata AGInventors: Oliver Glöckler, Peter Baumgartner
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Patent number: 8226119Abstract: An occupant restraint device includes an inflatable airbag cushion, a tether including a first end connected to the airbag cushion and a second end connected to a tether control mechanism. The tether control mechanism including a tether payout mechanism and a tether length adjustment mechanism. The tether length adjustment mechanism controls a length of tether available for payout by the tether payout mechanism, and the tether payout mechanism is operationally decoupled from the tether length adjustment mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2009Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Ke Dong, Jenne-Tai Wang
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Patent number: 8226118Abstract: The airbag cushion has a passive venting system that remains open or transitions to a closed position depending on the impact of the airbag with an occupant and the position of the occupant. The venting system self closes upon deployment when an occupant is not out of position but remains open when an occupant is out of position. The venting system self closes due to cushion membrane tension.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2009Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventors: Larry D. Rose, Jeffrey D. Williams, John C. Newkirk
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Patent number: 8196956Abstract: A pressure vessel for a gas generating system is provided. The vessel is formed from a material and has a first portion and a second portion. A property of the material along the first portion has a value within a first range, and the same property of the material along the second portion has a value within a second range different from the first range.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2010Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: TK Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Krupp, Bruce A. Stevens
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Patent number: 8172029Abstract: A saddle-riding vehicle mounted with a V engine between a front wheel and a rear wheel, the V engine having a front cylinder portion extending obliquely forwardly and upwardly from a crankcase and a rear cylinder portion extending obliquely rearwardly and upwardly from the crankcase. A main switch is disposed between the front cylinder portion and the rear cylinder portion, and also an intake system is disposed between the front cylinder potion and the rear cylinder portion, wherein the main switch is fixed to the intake system. The main switch is disposed efficiently in terms of space utilization.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2009Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kenta Nakamura
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Patent number: 8136839Abstract: An apparatus for providing counterweight to a vehicle on an inclined surface. In one embodiment, a control unit may engage a motor, which rotates a weight such that it is positioned to act as a counterweight for a vehicle on an inclined surface. In another embodiment, when an inclinometer detects the vehicle is positioned on an inclined surface, logic circuitry engages motor, causing a weight to rotate to a position such that it acts as a counterweight for the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2009Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Inventor: David Bourn
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Patent number: 8113540Abstract: A driver airbag assembly may include an airbag cover including a switch insert hole, a cushion module provided in back of the airbag cover and engaged with the airbag cover, a mounting plate coupled to the airbag cover in the back thereof to support a rear end portion of the cushion module between the airbag cover and the mounting plate, and having a wing which extends laterally, and a remote control switch unit having a main body disposed between the airbag cover and the mounting plate, a switch part disposed in the main body and exposed to outside of the airbag cover through the switch insert hole, and a subsidiary body interposed and secured between the main body and the wing of the mounting plate and slidable laterally along the main body to be removable from a predetermined position of the main body.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Byung Woo No
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Patent number: 8079608Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel suspension system for a motor vehicle, having a lower link for the fastening of a wheel which is coupled to a chassis underframe and is supported on the body via a spring. The chassis underframe is mounted on the body via elastic bearings and has an annular mounting on which the spring plate of the spring is supported before the wheel suspension system is installed. In the fitted state, the spring plate is pressed out of the mounting by the body and is therefore decoupled from the chassis underframe.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2008Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Joerg Weshendorff