Patents Examined by Karen Beck
  • Occupant protection system
    Patent number: 11548468
    Abstract: An occupant protection system for protecting a vehicle occupant sitting in a seat includes a seatbelt that includes a lap belt for arresting the pelvis of the occupant, and an airbag that is stored in the lap belt. The airbag as deployed includes a main inflatable portion for protecting an upper body of the occupant, and a head protecting portion that is located in a vicinity of an upper end of the main inflatable portion for protecting a head of the occupant. The head protecting portion includes a front inflatable portion for covering a front side of the head, and a pair of side inflatable portions that extend rearward from left and right ends of the front inflatable portion for covering sides of the head. Each of the side inflatable portions is configured to be deployed in such a manner that a space is formed between itself and the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoyuki Tanaka, Takeki Hayashi, Yasushi Masuda, Yuji Sato
  • Airbag apparatus for vehicle
    Patent number: 11541837
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an airbag apparatus for a vehicle. In order to attain the purpose, the airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises: a mounting board positioned in front of a rider; and an airbag module which is installed on the mounting board and, when a vehicle collides, restrains and protects the rider by means of inflating and expanding an airbag cushion toward the rider. Therefore, when the vehicle collides, the airbag cushion is inflated and expanded from the mounting board and thus the rider can safely be protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Seung-Jin Lee, Dong-Young Kim
  • Working vehicle
    Patent number: 11541951
    Abstract: A working vehicle includes an operator seat, an armrest arranged on a side of the operator seat, and a speed shifter to change a traveling speed. The armrest includes an operation lever to be swung back and forth to cause the speed shifter to perform acceleration and deceleration, and an operation switch to be pressed to cause the speed shifter to perform acceleration and deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kosaki, Takuya Inamori, Yoshihiko Kuroshita, Michita Kono, Yuji Imanaga
  • Steering shaft for a steering system of a motor vehicle, method for assembling such a steering shaft, steering system for a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle
    Patent number: 11535293
    Abstract: A steering shaft for a steering system of a motor vehicle, having at least two steering shaft elements, via which a steering wheel is mechanically connectable to a steering gear of the steering system, and having at least one joint, via which the steering shaft elements are connected to one another in a torque-transmitting manner and so they are pivotable relative to one another around the pivot axis. At least one securing element, which secures the steering shaft elements relative to one another against pivot movements extending around the pivot axis both in a first pivot direction and also in a second pivot direction opposite to the first pivot direction and releases the steering shaft elements for a pivot movement relative to one another taking place around the pivot axis in at least one of the pivot directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Thomas Klinger, Ruben Goldberg
  • Military vehicle
    Patent number: 11535212
    Abstract: A military vehicle includes a chassis, a front axle coupled to the chassis, a rear axle coupled to the chassis, and a suspension system. The suspension system include a front suspension assembly and a rear suspension assembly. The front suspension assembly is positioned between the chassis and the front axle. The rear suspension assembly is positioned between the chassis and the rear axle. Each of the front suspension assembly and the rear suspension assembly includes a first spring, a second spring, a first hydraulic damper, and a second hydraulic damper. The first hydraulic damper and the second hydraulic damper of at least one of the front suspension assembly or the rear suspension assembly are cross-plumbed to provide a hydraulic body roll control function and eliminate the need for an anti-roll bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Don Verhoff, Gary Schmiedel, Chris Yakes, Rob Messina, Brian Wilkins, Kent Schulte, Daniel R. Seffernick, Joseph Holda, Michael Peotter, David McGraw, Anthony Seefeldt, Dave Pelko, Jesse Gander, Jerry Reineking, Jesse Steinke
  • Method and system for estimating vehicle body tilt
    Patent number: 11529838
    Abstract: Vehicle body tilt, representing a difference between a vehicle body frame of reference and a wheel-base frame of reference, is determined by obtaining information from sensor assemblies for the vehicle body and for the wheel-base. Navigational solutions are generated for the sensor assemblies using motion sensor data from the assemblies and absolute navigational information. Correspondingly, vehicle body tilt is determined based at least in part on the vehicle body navigation solution and the wheel-base navigation solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacques Georgy, Christopher Goodall, Abdelrahman Ali, Amr Al-Hamad, Anas Mahmoud, Billy Cheuk Wai Chan, Medhat Omr
  • Occupant protection system
    Patent number: 11524648
    Abstract: An occupant protection system for protecting a vehicle occupant sitting in a seat includes a seatbelt that includes a lap belt for arresting the pelvis of the occupant, and an airbag disposed in the lap belt. The airbag is coupled to the lap belt in such a manner as to be movable relative to the lap belt in a left and right direction, and includes a main inflatable portion that is deployable in front of upper body of the occupant, and a positioning inflatable portion that protrudes from a lower end region of the main inflatable portion. The positioning inflatable portion includes a contact surface that contacts and is supported by an environmental member which is disposed in a circumference of the lap belt at airbag deployment, whereby helps align a center in the left and right direction of the main inflatable portion generally with that of the upper body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoyuki Tanaka, Takeki Hayashi, Yasushi Masuda, Yuji Sato
  • Systems and methods for determining vehicle characteristics
    Patent number: 11524543
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a sprung mass including a cabin coupled to a chassis, tractive assemblies each including at least one tractive element, springs coupling the tractive elements to the sprung mass, each spring imparting an upward force on the sprung mass, load sensors each configured to provide a signal indicative of the force imparted by one of the springs, and a controller operatively coupled to the load sensors. The controller is configured to determine a weight of the sprung mass using the signals from the load sensors and monitor at least one operational condition of the vehicle. The controller is configured to determine whether or not to disable determination of the weight based on the at least one operational condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Deepak Shukla, Ron Zhang, David Hansen
  • Vehicle frame assembly
    Patent number: 11524721
    Abstract: An assembly includes a pair of frame rails, each of the frame rails elongated along a vehicle-longitudinal axis and having a front portion, a rear portion, and an elevated portion above and between the front portion and the rear portion. The assembly includes a cross-support fixed to at least one of the frame rails at the elevated portion and extending along a cross-vehicle axis from one of the frame rails toward the other of the frame rails. The assembly includes a bracket fixed to the frame rail at the elevated portion and fixed to the cross-support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marwan Ahmad Elbkaily, Tushar B. Kamble, Juyoung Lee, Gargi Tandra, Daniel Joseph McCarthy, Jeremiah James Smith
  • Vehicle suspension position adjustment arrangement
    Patent number: 11518452
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension position adjustment arrangement including a frame member having a plurality of apertures, and a trailing arm having a first end pivotally coupled to a slide member and a second end biased away from the frame member. A locking pin movable between an unlocked position where the locking pin is withdrawn from one of the apertures and the slide member is free to slide along the frame member, and a locked position where the locking pin engages one of the apertures preventing the slide member from sliding along the frame member, and a plurality of sensors spaced along the frame member, wherein a single sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to sense both the locking condition of the locking pin and the location of the locking pin along the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SAF-Holland, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy L. Schutt, Ahmad Nizam Mohamad Jembari, Thomas D. Stoll
  • Vehicle center airbag
    Patent number: 11505158
    Abstract: A vehicle center airbag may include a main cushion and a plurality of sub-cushions. The main cushion is mounted on a lateral surface of a seat back and is deployed in a forward direction, being positioned beside a passenger when a side collision occurs. The sub-cushions are configured to communicate with the main cushion and are deployed upwards from the top portion of the main cushion. When the sub-cushions are deployed, they extend in a forward-backward direction of the vehicle and are positioned above the torso of the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Ho Choi, Yoon Suk Lim
  • Work vehicle
    Patent number: 11498632
    Abstract: A work vehicle including: a first link having one end portion supported by a vehicle body so as to be pivotable; a second link having one end portion pivotally coupled to the other end portion of the first link so as to be pivotable, and another end portion that supports a travel wheel; a first hydraulic cylinder capable of changing a swing posture of the first link; and a second hydraulic cylinder capable of changing a swing posture of the second link relative to the first link. The action of the first hydraulic cylinder is controlled such that a swing position of the first link is located at a target position, based on the result of detection performed by a position detection sensor, and the action of the second hydraulic cylinder is controlled such that thrust has a target value, based on the results of detection performed by pressure sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Ishikawa, Minoru Hiraoka
  • Compressor for shock absorber
    Patent number: 11498381
    Abstract: A compressor for a shock absorber is provided, including a stretching mechanism and a clamping mechanism. The stretching mechanism includes a first main body and a second main body. The first main body is movably connected with the second main body. The clamping mechanism includes a first abutting assembly and a second abutting assembly which are configured to clamp the shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SHIFUKANG INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shang-Yuan Huang
  • Seat airbag for vehicle
    Patent number: 11479202
    Abstract: A seat airbag for a vehicle is provided. The seat airbag is installed at a lateral side of a seat back to allow a cushion thereof to inflate forward. A front part of the cushion is divided into a head chamber disposed at an upper level, a chest chamber disposed at an intermediate level and a pelvis chamber disposed at a lower level. The airbag includes first to third tethers, which form a single cord connecting the chambers to one another, and are provided in the airbag to protect a passenger while surrounding the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyock In Kwon
  • Device and method for preventing driving under influence
    Patent number: 11458839
    Abstract: A device and a method for preventing driving under influence, may include a first measuring device configured for detecting alcohol in indoor air of a vehicle, and a processor connected to the first measuring device, wherein the processor performs a first check of checking a presence or an absence of the alcohol in the indoor air through the first measuring device before a driver boards the vehicle, performs a second check of checking the presence or the absence of the alcohol in the indoor air through the first measuring device after the driver boards the vehicle, and determines whether there is a possibility that the driver is drunken based on the results of performing the first check and the second check.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sang Kyung Seo, Eung Hwan Kim, Gyun Ha Kim, Dae Yun An
  • Occupant protection apparatus
    Patent number: 11440497
    Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus includes an airbag, an upper holder, and a tension member. The airbag is disposed along side surfaces of a seat from an upper part of the seat into space under a seat surface. The upper holder is configured to hold an upper part of the airbag and disposed between and above shoulders of an occupant to sit on the seat in a right-to-left direction. The tension member is configured to, upon deployment of the airbag, apply a tensional force to a lower part of the deploying airbag to pull the lower part in a direction opposite to a side surface on which the airbag is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Method and system of deploying ignition interlock device functionality
    Patent number: 11427083
    Abstract: A method and a system of deploying an ignition interlock device (IID). The method comprises receiving a time series of breath alcohol content (BrAC) measurements that are unitarily sourced from a pre-identified user, each BrAC measurement of the time series including an alveolar breath component and an interferent breath component; estimating a dissipation rate of alcohol attributable to the pre-identified user in accordance with the time series of BrAC measurements; determining, responsive to estimating the dissipation rate of alcohol, at least a subset of the BrAC measurements as being based on the alveolar breath component but not the interferent breath component; and performing one of triggering and not triggering the IID into a lockout state based on the at least a subset of the BrAC measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Consumer Safety Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Amanda Renee Mallinger, Jennifer Ringgenberg, Usha Rani Chintala, Douglas Robert Bruce, Sujitha Chandra Mohan
  • Torso stabilization restraint
    Patent number: 11414036
    Abstract: A torso stabilization restraint configured to restrain a user in a seat, includes an inflatable first module, an inflatable second module, an inflatable third module, and connectors arranged on one or more of the modules. The connectors are configured to reversibly connect a) the first module and the second module, and b) the second module and the third module when the first, second, and third modules are inflated. When the first, second, and third modules are inflated and connected, the torso stabilization restraint and the seat combine to exert radially inward directed pressure on a torso of the user. The first and second modules are deployable from a seat. The second module is deployable from a seat belt, is arranged between the first and second modules, and is configured to couple to the first and second modules when the modules are inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Craig A. Markusic
  • Vehicle seat
    Patent number: 11414041
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: an outside cover; an inside cover; a side airbag module; a side frame; an outside reinforcement cloth that covers a seat width direction outer side of the side airbag module; and an inside reinforcement cloth that is disposed between the side frame and the side airbag module, that covers a seat width direction inner side of the side airbag module, that includes one seat front-rear direction end portion separated into seat upper and lower sides and fixed to the side frame in a manner that avoids the fixing portion, that includes another seat front-rear direction end portion joined to the inside cover at the join portion, and that is configured to transmit tension to the join portion during inflation and deployment of the side airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Toba, Kazuhito Kashima, Kensuke Yoshiga, Yukinori Mikita, Shota Nakajima
  • Method for operating a power take-off shaft of an agricultural tractor with an attachment hoist
    Patent number: 11400809
    Abstract: A method for operating a power take-off shaft of an agricultural tractor with an attachment hoist includes providing a power take-off shaft spatially assigned to the attachment hoist, a hoist controller and a control unit. The method also includes detecting an operating state of the power take-off shaft via a first sensor and an upper operating position of the attachment hoist via a second sensor. The method further includes restricting the upper operating position to a first maximum value by the control unit if the first sensor detects that the power take-off shaft is not operating, and restricting the upper operating position to a second maximum value by the control unit if the first sensor detects that the power take-off shaft is operating, where the second maximum value is less than the first maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Abhijeet Hingne