Patents Examined by Laura Freedman
  • Patent number: 12233804
    Abstract: The occupant protection device comprising: a base portion fixed to a ceiling portion of the vehicle; an operation portion connected to the base portion via a hinge and configured to move back and forth between a first position serving as an initial position and a second position used to suppress movement of the occupant when inertial force acts on the occupant, the operation portion configured to align with the ceiling portion at the first position; and a control unit. The operation portion is movable repeatedly from the first position to the second position through the movement control by returning to the first position after having moved from the first position to the second position. The occupant protection device further includes a buffering means configured to buffer a collision impact on the occupant against the operation portion when the operation portion moves to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Daicel Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 12233808
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle roof and an airbag supported by the vehicle roof. The airbag is inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag defines an inflation chamber in the inflated position. The airbag includes a distal end below the vehicle roof in the inflated position. The vehicle includes an inflatable device supported by the vehicle roof. The inflatable device is a thermoplastic elastomer and inflatable to an inflated position. The inflatable device is in the inflation chamber of the airbag when the inflatable device and the airbag are in the inflated positions. The inflatable device includes a distal end in the inflation chamber of the airbag. The distal end of the inflatable device is below the vehicle roof and above the distal end of the airbag in the inflated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq, Zhenyan Gao
  • Patent number: 12227140
    Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a curtain airbag inflatable from a stored condition adjacent a roof of the vehicle to a deployed condition in which the curtain airbag is positioned between a side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant. The apparatus also includes a tether for anchoring the curtain airbag to the vehicle structure. The tether includes a length of woven fabric material having longitudinal slits spaced from each other along the length of the tether. The tether is doubled over onto itself to position the slits overlying each other and to form a loop at the terminal end of the tether. A fastener extends through the aligned slits and being configured to connect the tether directly to the sheet metal of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventors: Fernando Rios, David Loya Cano
  • Patent number: 12227144
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cabin, a brake, a vehicle subsystem, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive an indication that an operator is attempting to exit the cabin and automatically engage the brake in response to the indication to prevent movement of the vehicle. The vehicle subsystem remains operational while the brake is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Archer, Neil Bjornstad, Michael J. Holeton, Patrick D. Martin
  • Patent number: 12221054
    Abstract: An extruded side curtain airbag ramp including a tear-resistant material forming at least one attachment feature and method for manufacturing said extruded side curtain airbag ramp. The airbag ramp according to the present invention incorporates a plurality of extruded materials and provides an easier manufactured product and attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Vintech Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James Schoonover, Robert Rutoski
  • Patent number: 12221158
    Abstract: A spring hanger assembly may be formed pieces shaped to increase the stiffness and strength. The spring hanger assembly may comprise separate pieces, such as an inner section and an outer section. The spring hanger assembly may be attached to a frame using fasteners or hucks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: NORCO INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Bernard F. Garceau, William A. Aske, Leonard D. Yoder
  • Patent number: 12214745
    Abstract: A vehicle sensor device comprising: a weight body housing installed in a body so as to be rotatable around a shaft coupled to the body, a weight body being installed in the weight body housing, a ball assembly for sensing a change in inclination of a vehicle, a sensor housing in which the ball assembly is movably installed, and a sensor lever installed in the sensor housing and rotated by the movement of the ball assembly. The sensor lever is configured to linearly reciprocate, by rotation, a pilot lever provided in a locking device. The sensor lever is installed in the sensor housing to which the ball assembly is coupled. The sensor lever is rotated around a hinge shaft by the movement of the ball assembly according to a change in inclination of the vehicle to linearly reciprocate the pilot lever connected to the sensor lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventor: Chan Ki Moon
  • Patent number: 12194955
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes a housing including a first side wall and a second side wall facing each other, a winding drum configured to wind up a webbing, a locking base, a torsion bar including one end side, which is opposite to the locking base, coupled to the winding drum without being rotatable relative to the winding drum, and the other end side coupled to the locking base without being rotatable relative to the locking base, a pretensioner including: a pretensioner casing attached to the first side wall; and a drive wheel attached to the locking base, a lock member located in the locking base, and a stopper member being screwed onto a male screw of the locking base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: ASHIMORI INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taro Yokoyama, Satoshi Suminaka, Takayoshi Ijiri, Noriko Kurauchi, Eri Fujiwara, Daiki Hijikata
  • Patent number: 12194947
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device includes: a center airbag that is provided at a side portion at a vehicle width direction inner side of a seatback of the vehicle seat, and that inflates and deploys toward a vehicle width direction inner side of an occupant seated at the vehicle seat due to gas ejected from an inflator being supplied to an interior of the center airbag; and a string-like member, one end portion of the string-like member being attached to a seat front side end portion of the center airbag and another end portion of the string-like member being attached to a retracting device, and the string-like member being pulled toward a seat front side due to the string-like member being retracted by the retracting device at a timing at which the occupant is restrained by the center airbag that has been inflated and deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshiya Kudou
  • Patent number: 12187092
    Abstract: A tandem axle suspension system includes a first leaf spring having a first eye end and a second eye end, a second leaf spring having a third eye end and a fourth eye end and an assembly for converting double eye leaf springs of a tandem axle suspension system into slipper springs. That assembly includes a keeper including a first guide track and a second guide track, a first follower adapted for receipt of the first eye end and sliding movement along the first guide track and a second follower adapted for receipt of the third eye end and sliding movement along the second guide track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: RV Ride Control, LLC
    Inventors: Robert F. Mater, Jr., Audreg R. Dismuke
  • Patent number: 12187376
    Abstract: An electric powered personal mobility vehicle that includes at least one front wheel and an electric motor that provides rotational force to a wheel of the vehicle. The electric motor is supported by the vehicle and is powered by a rechargeable battery that is also supported by the vehicle. The vehicle can also include swivel caster wheels each configured to rotate about a wheel axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: RAZOR USA LLC
    Inventors: Robert Chen, Robert Hadley, William Griggs
  • Patent number: 12172595
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle roof, a liftgate rotatably connected to the vehicle roof, and an airbag. The airbag has a first segment supported by the vehicle roof and a second segment supported by the liftgate. The first segment of the airbag defines a first inflation chamber and the second segment of the airbag defines a second inflation chamber. The airbag includes a conduit fluidly connecting the first inflation chamber and the second inflation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Joseph E. Abramczyk, Deepak Patel
  • Patent number: 12172596
    Abstract: An airbag that includes a center chamber extending in a width direction of the vehicle in the vicinity of a lower edge of a windshield, and side chambers extending upward from both left and right end sections of the center chamber at least along an A-pillar, and is configured such that gas supplied from the inflator flows from the center chamber to the side chamber, a folded section is formed at which the side chamber is folded back toward the center chamber to be overlapped in a stowed state of the airbag, a pair of left and right partition panels for partitioning the center chamber and the side chambers are provided in the vicinity of the folded sections, and each of the pair of partition panels is provided with a check valve that prevents backflow of gas from the side chamber to the center chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Akifumi Hanawa, Satoshi Ito, Atsushi Tamura
  • Patent number: 12168415
    Abstract: A deployable restraint system includes an inflatable structure and a tether. The inflatable structure comprises a main chamber and a pair of auxiliary chambers coupled to the main chamber and sealed with respect to the main chamber. The tether is coupled to the inflatable structure via an anchor and configured to guide the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Adam J. Golman, Jesse T. Buehler, Nathaniel J. Dennis
  • Patent number: 12168382
    Abstract: A front frame assembly for a motor vehicle includes a suspension attachment structure fixable to a body cell, one or more attachment elements fixed relative to the suspension attachment structure to allow a suspension of the motor vehicle to be coupled to the suspension attachment structure, and an absorption element to absorb a front crash of the motor vehicle, the absorption element being fixed relative to the suspension attachment structure and extending in a projecting manner relative to the suspension attachment structure along a first straight axis until ending with one end opposite the suspension attachment structure, wherein the assembly comprises a channel extending with continuity through the absorption element and the suspension attachment structure between an inlet opening obtained at the end along the first axis and an outlet opening obtained in the suspension attachment structure along a second axis transversal to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: FERRARI S.P.A.
    Inventor: Daniele Testa
  • Patent number: 12162422
    Abstract: An occupant protection device for a vehicle includes a first bag, a second bag, and a deployment controller. The first bag deploys in front of an occupant of the vehicle. The second bag deploys adjacent to the first bag. The deployment controller selects a first deployment mode in which the first bag deploys or the second bag does not deploy and a second deployment mode in which the first bag and the second bag deploy according to a collision mode. The first bag includes a first air chamber and a second air chamber protruding from the first air chamber toward the second bag. The occupant protection device further includes a deployment restriction member that restricts an amount of protrusion of the second air chamber from the first air chamber. The deployment restriction member is disabled in the first deployment mode and enabled in the second deployment mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi Mashiko, Takehiro Kurihara
  • Patent number: 12151530
    Abstract: A trailer includes: one or more adjustable suspension actuators; an actuator control module configured to actuate the one or more adjustable suspension actuators; and an adjustment module configured to selectively adjust the one or more adjustable suspension actuators while the trailer is moving based on one or more operating parameters of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Cunningham, Adam Golembeski, Derek Rouse
  • Patent number: 12145651
    Abstract: A siderail member for a subframe assembly of a vehicle, including: an elongate body, wherein the elongate body includes a hollow extruded structure including an inboard wall, an outboard wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and one or more internal walls. Optionally, the bottom wall has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the top wall. Optionally, the outboard wall has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the inboard wall. Optionally, the one or more internal walls include a top internal wall and a bottom internal wall forming a plurality of horizontally-disposed cells within an interior of the elongate body. The bottom internal wall has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the top internal wall. The hollow extruded structure is manufactured from an aluminum material. Optionally, the top wall of the hollow extruded structure defines a flexure recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Johan Eklund, Anders Sandahl, Jens Raine, Domenico Macri, Emil Claesson, Per Zachrison, Kaldon Kalasho, Robin Larsson, Martin Granlund, Patrik Ljungbäck
  • Patent number: 12145527
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a vehicle includes a roof airbag device including a roof cushion mounted on a roof of a vehicle body and protruding toward a lower side of a vehicle compartment in a deployed state, a curtain airbag device including a curtain cushion mounted on the vehicle body around a side window to cover the side window in the deployed state, and a coupling unit configured to couple the roof cushion to be supported on the curtain cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Seungkyu Kang, Jong-Hun Choi, Eun Mook Park
  • Patent number: 12139093
    Abstract: An inflatable airbag for a motor vehicle, the airbag comprises a pair of superimposed layers of fabric which are interconnected by a peripheral seam extending around and defining the bounds of a single inflatable chamber between said layers. The inflatable chamber has an inlet region comprising a fluid inlet connected to an inflator. First and second peripherally spaced-apart regions of the peripheral seam are secured to one another such that the inlet region is superimposed with at least one other region of the inflatable chamber to thereby induce an inflated shape to the chamber upon inflation of the airbag by a flow of gas from said inflator, the inflated shape being characterised by least one said other region of the inflatable chamber lying adjacent said inflator upon inflation of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Mateusz Kedziersk, Przemyslaw Siecla