Patents Examined by Keith Frisby
  • Patent number: 9358943
    Abstract: A side airbag for installation into a motor vehicle, a vehicle seat with such a side airbag and a motor vehicle with such a vehicle seat are described. The side airbag comprises at least one mounting device for mounting the side airbag on the backrest of the vehicle seat, an outer skin with a first side wall extending forwards, when viewed in the vehicle direction, and a second side wall connected to the first side wall. In order to be able, at as low a cost as possible, to protect the passengers to be protected better against a movement towards the middle of the vehicle, the second side wall extends essentially cross-ways to the vehicle direction when the outer skin is fully deployed and free from external forces, so that at least a third side wall connecting the first two side walls is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Gustav Börjeson, Peter Henricsson, Erik Sandwall
  • Patent number: 9358869
    Abstract: An arrangement for a motor vehicle having an electric or hybrid engine includes a power supply battery and reinforcing elements to protect the battery from external stresses applied to the vehicle in a longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the vehicle, in particular in the event of an impact. The reinforcing elements are separate from the battery and separate from an enclosure of the battery in particular. The battery is attached to the reinforcing elements. First structural elements of the chassis of the vehicle are sandwiched and clamped between the battery and the reinforcing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Guillaume Le Jaouen, Yannick Kerguelen, Thierry Ferron, Luan Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9358949
    Abstract: A belt tensioner for a seat belt system includes a belt shaft housing, a belt shaft pivoted about an axis in the belt shaft housing, a rope reel tightly connected to the belt shaft. A tensioner drive includes a tensioner tube, a deformable plastic element guided to be longitudinally movable in the tensioner tube, a drive pinion and a pull rope which is partly wound onto the rope reel. The plastic element is adapted to engage in the drive pinion and to drive the drive pinion in the tensioning direction. During rotation of the drive pinion the pull rope is wound onto a rope drum of the drive pinion, on the one hand, and is unwound from the rope reel, on the other hand, while the belt shaft rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Betz, Dominik Seitzer, Ruediger Karl
  • Patent number: 9359007
    Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle may include a knuckle assembled to a wheel, and a tie rod having one end assembled to a rack bar moving by operation of a steering wheel, another end assembled to the knuckle, and a linkage apparatus changing a pivot trajectory of the knuckle by moving a rotation center of a pivot trajectory of the tie rod when the vehicle bumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jong-woo Lee
  • Patent number: 9352716
    Abstract: An automobile air bag mounting structure includes a chute defining an opening with a first wall extending from the opening, a cover fully sealing the opening, and a hinge member extending integrally between the first wall and a portion of the cover. The hinge member extends from the first housing wall and to the cover in a direction toward the opening with at least one segment therebetween extending away from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Qiukui Liu, Thomas Junior Luckett, Kenneth J. Kwasnik, Sean Bayle West
  • Patent number: 9352649
    Abstract: An accessory relay for a turbine engine, including a housing in which at least one gear wheel is installed for mechanically driving an accessory mounted on the housing, the gear of the wheel being driven via an input shaft supplying torque required for the mechanical drive, the shaft of the wheel being supported by at least two ball or roller bearings, and passing through at least one of the walls of the housing via an opening positioned opposite the accessory and closed by a first accessory cover attached onto the housing, wherein, for at least one of the gear wheels, the shaft thereof passes through two walls of the housing via openings closed by covers attached onto the housing, and the outer races of the two bearings are supported by the covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignees: SNECMA, HISPANO SUIZA
    Inventors: Julien Viel, Guy Desme, Claude Gallo
  • Patent number: 9352633
    Abstract: An active suspension apparatus for a vehicle includes actuators configured to compensate displacements of coil springs connected to wheels of the vehicle, a first pump configured to supply a fluid to one of the actuators on left and right front wheels of the vehicle among the actuators, and a second pump configured to supply a fluid to one of the actuators on left and right rear wheels of the vehicle among the actuators, in which the fluid contained in one of cylinders of the first pump and the second pump is supplied to at least one of the actuators based on driving of a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tae Ju Kim
  • Patent number: 9352496
    Abstract: A utility vehicle is equipped with a R.O.P.S. enclosing a passenger space, a cargo bed disposed behind the passenger space, and a screen disposed between the passenger space and the cargo bed. The screen is divided into an upper screen and a lower screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji Takahashi, Yoshinori Tsumiyama
  • Patent number: 9347544
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transmission mounting structure. A transmission case is constructed by connecting a clutch case, a case main body, and an end case, which are split in the direction of a rotational center axis. The clutch case and the case main body are provided with projecting portions. The projecting portions are connected by co-fastening bolts. Fixtures are secured to the projecting portions by mounting bolts, which are installed from the direction of the rotational center axis. The transmission is installed to a vehicle through the intermediary of supports. The projecting portions are co-fastened by the mounting bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Ashimori, Mitsuo Kimura, Yoshimi Hirano
  • Patent number: 9347360
    Abstract: Disclosed is a structure for preventing the heat of a muffler from being diffused, which prevents the heat generated by the muffler from being diffused into the peripheral components in the engine room and discharges the heat through the engine hood to the outside. The structure for preventing the heat of the muffler for a construction machine includes a plurality of frames mounted on the bottom of the engine room outside the muffler, a shield supported by the frames so as to surround the outside of the muffler to form a shielding area, and a detachment means formed on one side of the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventor: Sang-Deuk Kim
  • Patent number: 9346417
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a roof structure, a pillar structure extending below the roof structure, and an airbag mounted to and extending along the roof structure. The airbag is deployable from a stowed orientation to a deployed orientation. A trim panel is mounted to and extends along the pillar structure. The trim panel is disposed beneath the airbag when the airbag is in the stowed orientation, and the airbag overlays the trim panel when the airbag is in the deployed orientation. A trim deployment structure is connected to the pillar structure and is configured to pivot a trim panel about a pivot structure after deployment of the airbag to the deployed orientation such that the trim panel engages the deployed airbag to move the deployed airbag in an inboard direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Sitko
  • Patent number: 9342091
    Abstract: A control grip is disclosed for off-road vehicles that functions as a combined stabilizing support and multi-function implement control device for the vehicle operator. The control grip includes a structural frame providing a mounting base with upright supports for a grab bar. The control grip mounts various control switches, which can vary in quantity, configuration, position and function depending on the work vehicle type. In one configuration, a pair of control switches are mounted at the distal end of the control grip, one switch positioned for manipulation by the operator's thumb for controlling a first range of motion of the implement, and a second switch positioned to be manipulated by the operator's thumb and/or index finger for controlling the implement's second range of motion. The control switch placement enables the operator to actuate one or both of the switches while maintaining a firm grip on the grab bar during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Giovanni A. Wuisan, Daniel R. Klein, Joseph F. Tilp
  • Patent number: 9333937
    Abstract: Airbag covers with stress relief features are disclosed. An airbag cover includes a cover face that opens during deployment and one or more sidewalls extending from the cover face to engage a housing of an airbag assembly. One or more tear seams formed in the airbag cover are rupturable upon expansion of the airbag to form the cover face as a hinged door that opens. Excess force can cause a tear seam to propagate through a stop, creating a risk that a portion of the airbag cover will separate from itself or the housing. Stress relief features are disposed in a sidewall to dissipate excess deployment energy and limit undesired breakage of the airbag cover or continued tearing of the tear seam beyond a tear seam stop. The stress relief features disclosed include tear seams and slits oriented transverse to front cover tear seams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Hock, Mark Hatfield
  • Patent number: 9321317
    Abstract: A vehicle component with at least two connection points, a structural component that extends between the connection points and rigidly connects them with one another. The structural component comprises at least one insert made of a ductile material and at least two connection zones that support or form the two connection points, at least one of the zones comprises plastic. The structural component comprises at least one intermediate section that connects the two connection zones rigidly to one another and comprises the insert or is formed by the insert, this section is more ductile than at least one of the two connection zones and, in relation to a mechanical overload of the structural component, forms a locally delimited weak-point or region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: John Gleason, Dirk Adamczyk
  • Patent number: 9321324
    Abstract: Preventing high-voltage components which constitute an electric instrument stored in a case from being exposed, dropping out, or scattering to an outside from the case even when the case of an air-conditioning unit has a significant impact. Therefore, a vehicle air-conditioning unit is provided with a protecting structure for preventing the electric instrument from scattering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignees: VALEO JAPAN CO. LTD., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori Omi, Takafumi Uehara, Fujio Arai, Takuya Furutani
  • Patent number: 9315103
    Abstract: A multifunction operation tool includes a swing body swingably supported in a front/back direction of a vehicle body and implementing acceleration control on a transmission by swinging in a forward direction and implementing deceleration control on the transmission by swinging in a rearward direction. A grip body arranged on a free end portion of the swing body. A grip part arranged on a first lateral area of the grip body in a transverse direction of the vehicle body and having a convex surface. A vertical lateral surface arranged on a second lateral area of the grip body and which is a lateral surface of the grip part. An operator-facing surface arranged on the second lateral area of the grip body and extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle body from a bottom edge of the vertical lateral surface. Operation switch groups are arranged on the vertical lateral surface and the operator-facing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Teruhito Yamauchi, Motonari Inaoka
  • Patent number: 9316158
    Abstract: This gearbox to be assembled to a turbomachine portion and driven by a power take-off radial shaft thereof, includes several branches, the essential advantage of which is to allow a great amount of pieces of equipment to be driven to be accommodated, without implying a significant overall size in any dimension, since the gearbox remains close to the turbomachine and the pieces of equipment can be distributed on a large surface area. The housing (5) is divided into portions (27, 28) assembled to each other at the bends, in order to reduce its manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: HISPANO SUIZA
    Inventors: Jordane Peltier, Stéphane Prunera-Usach
  • Patent number: 9309967
    Abstract: A gear shift mechanism in which operability of an operation pedals for steplessly changing gears in both forward and reverse direction, and a vehicle with the gearshift mechanism. This gearshift mechanism includes a gearshift shaft to which a pedal boss is fitted that is located on the base end side of a pedal arm of a forward pedal, an intermediate link that is connected to a pedal boss that is located on the base end side of a pedal arm of a reverse pedal via a connection member, and a link shaft to which a link boss of the intermediate link is fitted. the pedal boss of the forward pedal is fixed to the gearshift shaft and the pedal boss is unable to rotate relatively to the gearshift shaft, which a pedal boss located on the right side of the pedal boss is able to rotate relatively to the gearshift shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Iida, Masahiro Hanafusa, Taihei Daiyakuji
  • Patent number: 9308890
    Abstract: A seat belt system for a vehicle that is reversible between a 3-point arrangement and a 4-point arrangement is provided. The seat and seat belt arrangement includes a seat having a centerline, a seat back and a seat base. The seat and seat belt arrangement further includes a pair of shoulder belts, a pair of moveable shoulder belt guides and associated moveable retractors. A pair of lap belts is also provided. A buckle assembly is also provided to which the shoulder belts and lap belts are attached. Lap belt retractors are provided. One of the retractors is selectively movable between a retracted position in which the buckle assembly is to one side of the centerline and non-retracted position in which the buckle assembly is generally on the centerline. In the retracted position the moveable guides are moved away from the centerline while in the non-retracted position the moveable guides are moved toward the centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen William Rouhana
  • Patent number: 9302644
    Abstract: A seat belt system for a vehicle that is reversible between a 3-point arrangement and a 4-point arrangement is provided. The seat and seat belt arrangement includes a seat having a centerline, a seat back and a seat base. The seat and seat belt arrangement further includes a pair of shoulder belts, a pair of moveable shoulder belt guides and associated moveable retractors. A pair of lap belts is also provided. A buckle assembly is also provided to which the shoulder belts and lap belts are attached. Lap belt retractors are provided. One of the retractors is selectively movable between a retracted position in which the buckle assembly is to one side of the centerline and non-retracted position in which the buckle assembly is generally on the centerline. In the retracted position the moveable guides are moved away from the centerline while in the non-retracted position the moveable guides are moved toward the centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen William Rouhana