Patents Examined by Laura Freedman
  • Patent number: 11820422
    Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a jacket pivotable about a rake axis. The steering column assembly also includes a pin having a rake adjustment lever operatively coupled to a first end of the pin, the rake adjustment lever on a first side of the jacket, the pin moveable along a first axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. The steering column assembly further includes a cam assembly operatively coupled to the rake adjustment lever and the pin and located on the first side of the jacket. The steering column assembly yet further includes a teeth locking mechanism operatively coupled to the pin and located on the first side of the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt D. Dubay, Anthony R. Talhelm
  • Patent number: 11820192
    Abstract: A stabilizer includes a main body cylinder portion which is elastically deformable; and a pair of connection portions respectively connected to a pair of left and right suspension devices. Each of the pair of connection portions is provided with a fixed shaft portion which is solid and fixed to the main body cylinder portion. The fixed shaft portion includes a fitting portion fitted into the main body cylinder portion and a large diameter portion connecting the fitting portion and a connection portion of the pair of connection portions and formed to have a diameter larger than that of the fitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Inaba, Junichi Nakayama, Yuichiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 11814005
    Abstract: A curtain airbag apparatus which can smoothly expand an airbag cushion even with a low gas ejection pressure of an inflator. A curtain airbag apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an outer cushion provided on an upper side of a pillar constituting a vehicle along a forward and backward direction of the vehicle to be expandable; a plurality of inner cushions which are fixed to an inner side of the outer cushion along the forward and backward direction of the vehicle to be spaced apart from each other and are independently expandable; and inflators disposed in the plurality of inner cushions, respectively, so as to eject gas into the inner cushions so that the inner cushions are expanded by generation of the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kwang Soo Cho
  • Patent number: 11813938
    Abstract: An auxiliary power take-off assembly in a motor vehicle transmission, which has a torque converter, a transmission input and a transmission output. The auxiliary power take-off assembly includes: an input shaft at the transmission input, and which is permanently connected to a drive motor of the motor vehicle by way of the pump shaft of the torque converter; a transmission output shaft at the transmission output; a transmission chain, which includes an input element and an output element and the output element of which can be connected to an auxiliary assembly to be driven; and a switching element, which is operatively arranged between the input shaft and the input element of the transmission chain, to selectively connect the input shaft to the output element. The output element is arranged on an output shaft, which is mounted in a bearing cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Epple, Michael Trübenbach, Hermann Lanz, Sylva Rother, Mario Holder
  • Patent number: 11814003
    Abstract: A head protecting airbag device includes an airbag that is folded and stored on an upper edge side of a window on an interior vehicle side; an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag; and an attachment bracket that attaches the inflator to a body side on the upper edge side of the window. The inflator has a substantially cylindrical outer shape of which an axial direction is disposed substantially along a front-rear direction. The attachment bracket includes a holding portion that is formed by being curved in a substantially arc-shaped cross section, is disposed so as to partially cover an outer peripheral surface of the inflator, and is configured to be capable of holding the inflator using connecting means, and an attachment piece portion that is formed so as to extend from an end edge of the holding portion on an exterior vehicle side and that is attached to the body side by using attachment means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Sato
  • Patent number: 11787474
    Abstract: A rigid suspension tower structure includes a sus-tower for supporting a damper, and a bracket for mounting a component to be secured to the sus-tower. The sus-tower includes a curved side wall portion joined to a front side frame of a vehicle body and extending upward, and a top portion supporting the upper end of the damper. The side wall portion has a pair of mounting portions made of bulging portions. The mounting portions are formed on mutually different sides in a vehicle front-rear direction with a virtual line interposed therebetween, the line being formed by intersecting the side wall portion and a plane that extends parallel to a vehicle width direction and passes through the central axis of the damper. The bracket straddles the line and is secured to the mounting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Narahara, Yusuke Desaki
  • Patent number: 11780399
    Abstract: An emblem assembly arranged in an airbag cover coupled with a vehicle structure such as a steering wheel in a motor vehicle includes an electronic unit, a decorative unit, and a control device. The electronic unit is held by the airbag cover and has at least one light source. The decorative unit is arranged in the airbag cover and attached to the electronic unit such that the decorative unit covers at least a part of the electronic unit. The control device is electrically connected to the electronic unit and is adapted to control illumination of the decorative unit. Further, at least one light source of the electronic unit is adjusted by the control device arranged in the vehicle structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Hatfield
  • Patent number: 11780326
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members configured to contact a ground surface, and a powertrain assembly operably coupled to the ground-engaging members. The utility vehicle also includes a frame supported by the ground-engaging members and extending along a longitudinal axis of the utility vehicle. The utility vehicle further includes a tunnel member coupled to the frame and extending along the longitudinal axis. The tunnel member is positioned at a first height from the ground surface. Additionally, the utility vehicle includes a cargo portion supported by the frame and positioned generally rearward of the tunnel member. The cargo portion has a cargo surface substantially aligned with the tunnel member and positioned at a second height from the ground surface. The first height is approximately equal to the second height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Adam J. Schlangen, Jason K. Raska, Aaron D. Deckard
  • Patent number: 11772594
    Abstract: Proposed is an airbag for a vehicle, the airbag includes a cushion provided on a roof of the vehicle and deployed when gas is injected, first binding parts each formed in a structure protruding from the cushion and provided with a hole configured to bind with a bracket, first fixing parts each provided on the cushion and configured to wrap and fix the cushion, a bracket configured to support the cushion in combination with the cushion, and second binding parts each formed in a structure protruding from the bracket and provided with a hook to restrain the bracket and the cushion through the hole of a corresponding one of the first binding parts, so that the bracket supports the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byung Ho Min
  • Patent number: 11766979
    Abstract: A safety airbag assembly having a safety airbag comprising a bag, and an elastic connection member for connecting the safety airbag to a body frame of a vehicle, wherein the bag is provided with a protruding sheet connected to the elastic connection member, the elastic connection member is configured to be in a curvilinear shape formed by connecting a plurality of sections end to end, and the plurality of sections of the elastic connection member comprise hook-like first ends, hook-like second ends, and middle portions located between the first ends and the second ends, with the middle portions being con-figured to be connected to the protruding sheet of the bag, and the first ends and the second ends being configured to suspend the bag connected to the middle portions on the body frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Liang Wang, Kan Wang, Xiang Fei
  • Patent number: 11766982
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to deployable structures, such as airbag systems, for vehicles. A system is disclosed for reducing likelihood of injury to a passenger in a collision. The system may include a seat configured to accommodate the passenger and an airbag system. At least a portion of the airbag system may be incorporated into a vehicle prior to deployment of the airbag system. The airbag system may include an airbag and a locking feature. The locking feature may be configured to lock the airbag with a locking portion of a vehicle when the airbag system has been deployed. The locking feature may be attached to the airbag. Aside from airbags, other confining structures, such as nets, shades, curtains, etc., may also be used as deployable structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Daniel Lynn Larner, Thomas Daniel, Courtney McCool, Atul Gupta, Peter Craig Lombrozo
  • Patent number: 11760302
    Abstract: An airbag includes: a bag main body: and regulating units configured to regulate an expansion completed shape of the bag main body. The bag main body has an expansion completed shape as a substantially square cylindrical shape, where a hollow portion which penetrates substantially along a left-right direction is provided and a circumference of the hollow portion is surrounded by an upper expansion portion and a lower expansion portion and a front expansion portion and a rear expansion portion. The regulating units are arranged at a plurality of horizontally symmetrical locations centered on a center of the bag main body on the left-right directional side and each of the regulating units is configured to straddle the hollow portion when viewed from a lateral side in the left-right direction and at least an upper edge side and a lower edge side are connected to the bag main body side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Suzuki, Motoyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11752964
    Abstract: An airbag device, including: a gas generator that generates expansion gas; an airbag that expands and deploys by the expansion gas to restrain an occupant; and a gas rectifying member provided inside the airbag so as to cover the occupant side of the gas generator, and that controls the flow of the expansion gas. The gas rectifying member is formed from a flat panel including a portion bilaterally symmetrical to a line connecting 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock (X axis) when a plane parallel to a rim of the steering wheel is regarded as a clock face, and has a configuration where a lower opening portion for discharging the expansion gas in a 6 o'clock direction is formed by stitching left and right edge portions of the panel together, and the occupant side of the gas generator is covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Kazuki Morita, Kazuo Yagai
  • Patent number: 11745691
    Abstract: A device for coupling a curtain airbag to a vehicle body, the device including a bracket made of a metallic material and having an upper end installed on a vehicle body and disposed adjacent to a roof of a vehicle, and a lower end extending downward and having a through-hole, and a connection tab having a lower end coupled to a curtain airbag, having a main body extending upward, and having an upper end extending upward, penetrating the through-hole of the bracket, and coupled to the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ju Kyung Kim
  • Patent number: 11745799
    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: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: NORCO INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Bernard F. Garceau, William A. Aske, Leonard D. Yoder
  • Patent number: 11745690
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a curtain airbag cushion, the apparatus including an intermediate connection tab and a strap sewn onto a curtain airbag cushion, a mounting plate coupled to the intermediate connection tab, and a ramp bracket assembled with the mounting plate and fixedly coupled to a vehicle body together with the mounting plate, in which the mounting plate and the ramp bracket are assembled as a coupling hook of the mounting plate passes through a hook hole of the ramp bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ju Kyung Kim
  • Patent number: 11745692
    Abstract: A curtain airbag apparatus for a vehicle is configured to connect a curtain airbag cushion to a vehicle body by a cushion restriction device including a tether carriage and a cushion tether to reinforce a restriction force of the deployed curtain airbag cushion, and to reinforce restriction on movement of an occupant during a side collision by use of the curtain airbag cushion having the reinforced restriction force to prevent the occupant from being thrown through a vehicle side window during a side collision even when a panorama window is used as the side window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Kyu Kang, Jae Deok Byeon, Eun Mook Park
  • Patent number: 11738614
    Abstract: A bushing, for use with a control arm, has first and second mating segments that can be mated and assembled to form a central portion to be received within a circular opening in the control arm and the central portion has an outer diameter corresponding to the diameter of the circular opening. Each segment includes a cap or head portion having a diameter dimensioned to abut against one of the surfaces of the control arm and has a central bore. A bushing sleeve has a length equal to a axial length of the assembled bushing and an outer diameter incrementally greater than the diameter of the central bore so that the sleeve can be press fit within the bore to immobilize the segments when they are in contact with the control arm and become resistant to separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: RESEARCH & MANUFACTURING CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: John P. Musci, Carlos Guerreiro, Joe Berta, Alan Lambert
  • Patent number: 11731579
    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: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Vintech Industries Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Schoonover, Robert Rutoski
  • Patent number: 11724659
    Abstract: A knee air bag reduces an injury to occupant's legs by employing a slim crash pad design. The air bag includes a first cushion that is deployed from an inner side of a crash pad toward an occupant to fill a space below the crash pad and a second cushion that is deployed between the first cushion and the occupant to support occupant's legs while being supported on the first cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Hyo Shub Shin, Yu Ji Son