Patents Examined by Keith Frisby
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Patent number: 9545895Abstract: A hood lifting mechanism includes a housing and a piston assembly movably mounted in the housing. The piston assembly has a groove formed therealong. A retainer is coupled to the housing so as to form a cavity therebetween. A locking member is positioned in the cavity so as to be engageable by the groove, for preventing motion of the piston assembly with respect to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Larry M. Wilmot, Rachid Hammoud, Joshua D. Van Hooser, Steven R. Rehak, Jeremy M. Henck
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Patent number: 9533541Abstract: An active suspension apparatus for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a pump configured to control movement of a fluid, an actuator connected with a coil spring, which is connected with a wheel of the vehicle, and configured to receive the fluid from the pump and to compensate for a displacement of the coil spring, a fluid path configured to connect the pump with the actuator, and a valve configured to control a flow of the fluid in the fluid path, wherein, when the actuator is controlled to receive the fluid from the pump, the valve is configured to prevent the fluid from flowing from the actuator to the pump by a pressure of the fluid accommodated in the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2015Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: MANDO CORPORATIONInventor: Tae Ju Kim
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Patent number: 9533537Abstract: A suspension arm (1) for a vehicle including a bearing (4) and a journal (2). The bearing (4) has at least one elastic sub-element (4c) and the bearing (4) is arranged on the journal (2) of the suspension arm (1) and encloses the journal (2). The journal (2) and the bearing (4) are designed to co-operate with one another in such manner that the bearing (4), relative to the journal (2), has a transition fit. The bearing (4) is fixed on the journal (2) of the suspension arm (1) by a fastening element (3).Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Martin Fiechtner, Wolfgang Modinger, Hans-Juergen Wellensiek, Arnold Middelkampf
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Patent number: 9533650Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag for vehicles, having a flat, two-dimensional shape when being in an uninflated, vented condition and a three-dimensional shape in an inflated condition, the gas bag having a main piece with opposite end portions, each of the end portions having an end contour, and two minor pieces which each have a connecting portion with a contour with corresponds to the end contour of the main piece, and which each have a filling portion, the two filling portions having similar shapes and similar dimensions. The invention also relates to a method of sewing this gas bag.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2011Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Yohann Le Norcy, Jean-Christophe Peyre, Ramon Ramos
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Patent number: 9522585Abstract: A polymer composite strut insulator may include a polymer composite bracket made of polymer composite, divided into a mounting fastening portion having an inserter into which mounting bolts are press-inserted to penetrate and a bearing assembling portion, and provided with a central hole at a central portion, an elastic mass cross-linked to the polymer composite bracket in order for the cup hole surrounding the central hole formed at the central portion of the polymer composite bracket to be divided into an upper cup hole and a lower cup hole, the upper cup hole being coupled to an upper cup and the lower cup hole being coupled to a lower cup, and a bearing disposed at the bearing assembling portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2015Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Iljin Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jun-Ho Jang, Hyun-Min Kang, Chang-Kyu Kim, Deok-Woo Yun, Dong-Gyu Lim, Tea-Sung Kwon, Sung-Keun Lee
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Patent number: 9522587Abstract: An active suspension apparatus for a vehicle including: a pump that adjusts a movement of a fluid; and an actuator in which the fluid is supplied to a coil spring and which compensates for displacement of the coil spring, wherein the actuator includes first, second, third, and fourth actuators that are disposed at a left front wheel, a left rear wheel, a right front wheel, and a right rear wheel of the vehicle, respectively, and the pump is capable of simultaneously supplying the fluid to the first and second actuators or to the third and fourth actuators based on driving of a motor.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2015Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: MANDO CORPORATIONInventor: Gil Joon Cho
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Patent number: 9511643Abstract: An end member for a gas spring assembly is dimensioned to receivingly engage an end of a flexible wall. The end member can be formed from polymeric material and can include a side wall receiving the end of the flexible wall. The end member can also include a base wall extending transverse to the side wall and dimensioned to abuttingly engage a jounce bumper of the gas spring assembly. The end member can include a mounting ridge or a mounting channel for engaging an associated structural component. A gas spring assembly including such an end member is also included.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2015Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLCInventors: Michael E. Ratz, Stephen C. Street, Paul P. Koeske
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Patent number: 9505369Abstract: A lateral partition divides the interior of an airbag main body into an upper inflation chamber including a first section and a lower inflation chamber including a second section. The upper inflation chamber is located above the second section of the lower inflation chamber. An upper restricting portion is provided in a bridging manner in the first section. The upper restricting portion has a front-rear length that is shorter than a circumferential length in a front-rear direction of the first section. The upper restricting portion is tensioned in the front-rear direction when the upper inflation chamber is inflated. The upper restricting portion restricts an inflated dimension in the front-rear direction of the upper inflation chamber such that an inflated dimension of the first section in a lateral direction of the automobile is greater than an inflated dimension of the lower inflation chamber in the lateral direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2015Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.Inventors: Takashi Iida, Norihisa Taya
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Patent number: 9499119Abstract: In a driver seat airbag apparatus, an airbag includes a belt member and a vent mechanism. The belt member includes two connecting sections extending from opposite sides of a cover portion for covering a vent hole. The vent mechanism includes an outer panel that has a vent hole and is located outside of the cover portion, an inner panel that has an inner opening and is located on an inner side of the cover portion, and a guide. The connecting sections run through the guide and move toward the vent hole for letting the cover portion open the vent hole. The guide holds the connecting sections such that the connecting sections serve as the tethers. A joint of the tethers to the driver side wall is located toward a center of the driver side wall relative to the vent hole as viewed from a side of the driver side wall.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.Inventors: Naohiko Ishiguro, Mikine Hayashi
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Patent number: 9493206Abstract: A transformable folding electric scooter comprises a motor engine, a connecting frame, and a boarding plate. The connecting frame comprises a handle frame disposed upright and having a handle at a top portion thereof, a front frame extending forward from a lower portion of the handle frame and connected to the motor engine foldably at a first folding position provided on the motor engine, and a rear frame extending rearward from the lower portion of the handle frame. The boarding plate comprises a front plate portion connected to a lower portion of the rear frame fixedly, and a rear plate portion connected to the front plate portion foldably at a second folding position provided between the front plate portion and the rear plate portion of the connecting frame. The rear plate portion is folded upward with respect to the front plate portion at the second folding position.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Inventor: Steve Oh
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Patent number: 9487178Abstract: A head-protecting airbag device includes an airbag that is inflatable in such a manner as to separate an inboard side wall and an outboard side wall while unfolding downward from a housing. The airbag includes a front inflatable shielding region that covers an inboard side of a window and includes a sub inflatable region that is inflatable later than the main inflatable region. The sub inflatable region includes a supportive inflatable region that is supported by a vehicle body member which is disposed below a beltline. The airbag is stored in the housing such that a front lower corner of the sub inflatable region is folded inward on a crease extending obliquely rearward and downward from the front edge to the lower edge of the airbag before the airbag is subjected to a vertical size reducing folding that brings the lower edge as unfolded flatly close to the upper edge.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2013Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignees: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji Kawamura, Taizo Suemitsu, Atsushi Kashio, Mitsuhiro Hamada
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Patent number: 9487234Abstract: A system used to control the orientation of a vehicle's suspension. The system includes a control system receiving input data from a plurality of sensors concerning the relative motion, speed, and orientation of the vehicle. The control system is configured to process the input data and actively control the orientation of the suspension system by selecting a suitable driver speed and tilt angle according to external conditions.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2012Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Mystery Designs, LLCInventors: Lawayne Matthies, Mark D. Siegel, John D. Nickles
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Patent number: 9481336Abstract: The disclosure relates to a vehicle steering arrangement comprising a steering wheel and a torque transmitting steering column arrangement arranged to connect the steering wheel with front wheels of a vehicle. The steering arrangement comprises at least a first steering column part connected to the steering wheel and a second steering column part connected to the front wheels. The first and second steering column parts are connected to each other by a decoupling device adapted to decouple the first and second steering column parts from each other when an accident is detected so that the second steering column part can rotate in relation to the first column part. The disclosure also relates to a vehicle comprising such a steering arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventors: Fredrik Heurlin, Harald Hasselblad
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Patent number: 9475453Abstract: A seat belt arrangement includes a seat belt having a first end portion secured to the seat at a first lower attachment point, and a second end portion mounted on a reel secured to the vehicle frame; a lower deflection member slidably attached to the seat belt and equipped with a locking element intended to be removably locked in a second lower attachment point on the seat; an upper deflection system attached to the seat belt between the lower deflection member and the reel, and in which the seat belt may slide. The upper deflection system is arranged on a pivotal arm mounted on the vehicle frame so as to be able to automatically pivot about a pivot axis relative to the vehicle frame when the seat moves vertically, in order to keep the length of the torso portion of the seat belt, between the upper deflection system and the lower deflection member, and the seat belt tension substantially constant.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2012Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Volvo Truck CorporationInventor: Paolo Ballarin
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Patent number: 9469329Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a frame assembly that includes a supplemental beam portion, and a main beam portion adjacent the supplemental beam portion. The main beam portion includes a central portion as well as left and right portions disposed at opposing sides of the central portion. The central portion defines a recessed portion that is shaped such that the left and right portions each define in aggregate a relatively larger cross-sectional area than the central portion. The recessed portion is configured to enable the central portion to be able to at least partially enclose a steering column assembly. A mounting assembly is configured to mount the steering column assembly to the main beam portion with the central portion at least partially enclosing the steering column assembly. The mounting assembly also enhances stiffness of the central portion to thereby at least partially counteract stiffness lost based on the recessed portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2015Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Anthony John Leanza
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Patent number: 9469270Abstract: A leg airbag apparatus can restrain occupant legs from moving obliquely forward in an offset collision and in the leg airbag apparatus, an airbag inflates and deploys early without using a high-output inflator, and an automobile includes the leg airbag apparatus. An airbag includes a body part that inflates in front of an occupant, and a projecting part that projects only outward in a vehicle body width direction from at least an upper portion of the body part. In an inflated state of the airbag, a length from an occupant center line of the airbag to an outer end of the projecting part in the vehicle body width direction is longer than a length to an inner end in the vehicle body width direction. The projecting part is protruded to the vehicle body rear side by being pulled by an outer tether.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: TAKATA CORPORATIONInventor: Kazuhiro Abe
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Patent number: 9470595Abstract: A crash pressure sensor assembly includes a housing and an inlet arm extending from the housing, the inlet arm having a through bore. The housing is secured to a dividing panel so that a main portion of the housing is located on a first side of the dividing panel and the inlet arm extends through to a second side of the dividing panel. A pressure sensor is located in the housing so as to be on the first side of the dividing panel. The pressure sensor senses air pressure on the second side of the dividing panel via the through bore of the inlet arm and provides an electrical signal indicative of the sensed pressure. An electrical connector provides an electrical connection to the pressure sensor within the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLCInventor: Mark W. Ramsay
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Patent number: 9463771Abstract: Various embodiments of restraint system pretensioning devices for use in land, air, and sea vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a seat unit for use in a military land vehicle or helicopter includes a stroking device that enables the seat to move downwardly in response to sudden movement. The seat unit also includes a seat belt or harness that extends around the occupant in the seat. Sudden movement of the seat in response to an explosion or hard landing causes a pretensioning assembly to automatically pretension the seat harness.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: AmSafe, Inc.Inventors: Todd J. Humbert, Michael J. Walton
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Patent number: 9458596Abstract: An industrial machine includes a frame, an elongated member, an attachment, a plurality of fluid lines, and a cartridge. The frame includes a boom and a fluid source. The elongated member is movably coupled to the boom and includes a first end and a second end. The attachment is pivotably coupled to the first end of the elongated member. The plurality of fluid lines is coupled to the second end of the elongated member and is in fluid communication with the fluid source. The cartridge is removably coupled to the elongated member. The cartridge includes a housing and a plurality of conduits supported within the housing. The conduits are in fluid communication with the plurality of lines.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2013Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Harnischfeger Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Christopher S. Jones
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Patent number: 9457647Abstract: Vehicles are disclosed which have a lower center of gravity than existing all-terrain, amphibious, and unmanned ground vehicles due to the location of propulsion units and other vehicle components inside the wheels of the vehicle. The vehicles can climb over large obstacles yet are also able to corner at high speeds. The vehicles can be configured for direct manual operation or operation by remote control, and can also be configured for a wide variety of missions.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2015Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: PAHA DESIGNS, LLCInventor: Benjamin Meager