Patents Examined by Laura Freedman
  • Patent number: 10647364
    Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed which includes a frame with a viscous isolator, a first pin receptor, a retainer, a cab, and a pin. The first pin receptor includes a base portion mounted to the viscous isolator and a top portion movable within a limited range relative to the frame. The retainer is detachably mounted to the frame such that the top portion of the first pin receptor protruding through an aperture in the retainer, and the base portion of the first pin receptor is below the aperture. A pin is received by the top portion of the first pin receptor and a second pin receptor included in a cab, rendering the cab tiltable relative to the frame about the pin. The aperture of the retainer and the base portion of the first pin receptor are each configured such that the base portion cannot pass through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph F. Tilp, Trisha L. Oyen, Leonard K. Mast, Stephen Lovas
  • Patent number: 10640076
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a first member inflatable to an inflated position in which the first member has a first and a second distal edge spaced from each other along a vehicle-longitudinal axis. The vehicle includes a second member inflatable to an inflated position, the second member in the inflated position being on a cross-vehicle axis that extends through the first distal edge. The vehicle includes a one-way vent permitting fluid flow from the first member to the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Juyoung Lee, Marwan Ahmad Elbkaily, Jonathan Clarke, Eric A. Smitterberg
  • Patent number: 10639952
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension may include a crank bar and first and second lateral links. The crank bar is mounted to an axle assembly and is rotatable relative to the axle assembly about a first axis. The first lateral link may include a first end rotatably coupled to a first bracket fixed to a chassis of the vehicle and a second end coupled to the crank bar for rotation about a second rotational axis. The second lateral link may include a third end rotatably coupled to a second bracket fixed to the chassis and a fourth end coupled to the crank bar for rotation about a third rotational axis. A straight line having an infinite length may intersect the first rotational axis and one of the second and third rotational axes does not intersect the other of the second and third rotational axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Mahindra N.A. Tech Center
    Inventors: Matthew T. Brown, Gurdeep S. Pahwa
  • Patent number: 10639953
    Abstract: An automatic tilting vehicle is provided that includes left and right front wheels supported by knuckles, a steerable rear wheel, a vehicle tilting device, and a control unit. The vehicle tilting device includes a swing member, a tilt actuator for swing the swing member, and a pair of tie rods pivotally attached to the swing member and the knuckles. The control unit calculates a target lateral acceleration of the vehicle, estimates a lateral acceleration of the vehicle caused by the gyro moments of the wheels and calculates a target tilt angle of the vehicle based on a sum of the target lateral acceleration and the lateral acceleration caused by the gyro moments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukihide Kimura, Toshihide Yano, Junrou Yamamoto, Taku Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 10632953
    Abstract: A retainer and an inflator are disposed inside the airbag. The retainer includes a mounting base section, a holding section which extends from the mounting base section and receives and holds an inflator therein, and a second mounting means which protrudes from the mounting base perpendicularly. The inflator includes a cylindrical body provided with a gas release section and, a first mounting means protruding from a region of the body disposed outside the airbag. The retainer further includes a storing dent section which receives the first mounting means of the inflator so as to conform an orientation of the first means to that of the second mounting means and, a pressing section disposed proximate the storing dent section. The pressing section is brought into close contact with a circumferential area of the body of the inflator when the first mounting means of the inflator is secured to a vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Shigemura
  • Patent number: 10632806
    Abstract: The suspension beam or beams of a truck having a shortened bed are modified by bending a distal end of the suspension beam to decrease the distance between a frame mount point and a wheel mount (ball joint) point. The reduction in distance increases the structural support of the suspension sufficiently to eliminate non-uniform tire wear in shortened wheelbase vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Arrow Ford, Inc.
    Inventor: Clayton Paul Bounds
  • Patent number: 10632956
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seatback and an airbag unit. The seatback has a front side and a rear side. The airbag unit includes an airbag and an inflator. The airbag unit is carried by the seatback and includes a first portion and a second portion. In an inflated state free of outside forces, the airbag rearwardly extends from the rear side of the seatback such that the first portion includes a first impact surface defining a first impact plane and the second portion includes a second impact surface defining a second impact plane. The first impact plane is oriented generally vertical and the second impact plane oriented generally horizontal. At least one shape defining member may be provided for maintaining the generally horizontal orientation of the second impact plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventor: David W. Schneider
  • Patent number: 10618556
    Abstract: A rear subframe structure is provided with a rear subframe including a front cross member, and a pair of left and right side members connected to the front cross member, and further including a vehicle-body mounting portion formed on both ends of the front cross member. The rear subframe includes a tunnel portion formed in a middle of a lower portion of the front cross member, and a brace extending in the vehicle width direction, and including a tunnel-portion mounting portion on left and right ends thereof. The brace includes a middle downwardly bulging portion bulging downwardly, and an upwardly bulging portion continued outwardly of the middle downwardly bulging portion and bulging upwardly. An inflection point between the middle downwardly bulging portion and the upwardly bulging portion is substantially located on an imaginary line linearly connecting the left and right tunnel-portion mounting portions in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki Tanaka, Katsuyuki Komiya
  • Patent number: 10611427
    Abstract: A front fork of the present invention has: a cylinder in which a damper of one fork leg is connected to an outer tube on a vehicle body side; a piston rod connected to an inner tube on an axle side; and a piston valve attached to the piston rod and movably inserted into the cylinder. A variable throttle for extension-side damping force adjustment is provided in the piston rod. A stroke sensor has a detected element attached to the cylinder, and a detection unit that is attached to the piston rod and detects a displacement of the detected element. A variable throttle for compression-side damping force adjustment is attached to an outer tube on the vehicle body side of another fork leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: KYB CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichiro Awano
  • Patent number: 10603975
    Abstract: Provided is a stabilizer capable of improving ride quality and adjustment stability. To this end, the automobile according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an actuator; a first stabilizer bar which has one end coupled to one end of the actuator; a second stabilizer bar which has one end coupled to the other end of the actuator; and a decoupler which couples at least one of one end of the first stabilizer bar and one end of the second stabilizer bar to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Sung Park, Gyeong Hwi Min
  • Patent number: 10589781
    Abstract: Steering wheel assembly intended for being built into a vehicle dashboard and including a steering wheel and a mounting element which is stationary relative to the dashboard and the steering wheel being movable in rotation with respect to the dashboard. The steering wheel includes a plurality of light-emitting sources spaced apart so that at least one of the light sources cannot be concealed by a hand or by a portion of a hand of a driver of the vehicle. The steering wheel assembly includes a first plurality of sensors capable of picking up the light emitted by at least one light-emitting source, the light-emitting sources and the sensors being configured to form a continuous communication channel between the steering wheel and an instrument panel mounted on the dashboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Pascal Clochard
  • Patent number: 10589773
    Abstract: A vehicle fitted with a steering device including a steering mechanism protected by a steering casing, the steering casing itself being housed in an engine compartment that is separated from the interior of the vehicle by a dashboard, the steering device also including a steering wheel, located in the interior, and to which the steering mechanism is connected by a steering column that extends out of the steering casing and passes through the dashboard, the vehicle including, in order to provide a seal around the steering column, between the steering casing and the dashboard, an elastomeric coupling gasket including, in a single piece, a central first sealing ring that surrounds and clamps around the steering column and a peripheral second sealing ring that is inserted between the steering casing and the dashboard, at a distance from and around the first sealing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventor: Laurent Rey
  • Patent number: 10589707
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus includes an airbag and an inflator. The airbag is configured to be deployed and inflated by the inflation gas at a position forward of a vehicle seat. The airbag includes a main bag member, an auxiliary bag member, and a tether. The main bag member is configured to be attached to a base member located at a position forward of the vehicle seat in the vehicle. The inflation gas is supplied from the inflator to the main bag member. The auxiliary bag member has a smaller volume than the main bag member and projects rearward from the main bag member. The tether extends across a boundary portion between the main bag member and the auxiliary bag member. A communicating portion, which allows communication between the main bag member and the auxiliary bag member, is provided around the tether in the boundary portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ning Zhang, Shiro Ohara, Aviral Shrivatri
  • Patent number: 10589588
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a transverse link for a wheel suspension of a vehicle that includes at least one wheel-side attachment structure and at least one structure-side attachment structure. The wheel-side and structure-side structures are connected to each other by a connection structure which extends therebetween. The connection structure and/or at least one of the attachment structures is/are produced by a generative production method. At least one of the attachment structures is constructed as a generatively produced bushing which has an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve. The sleeves are connected to each other by a fold-like structure. The present disclosure further provides a method for producing such a transverse link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rainer Souschek, Raphael Koch, Daniel Mainz, Theo Kueppers
  • Patent number: 10589590
    Abstract: A stabilizer includes a stabilizer main body, and eyes formed on both ends of the stabilizer main body. Through-holes are formed in fastening surfaces of the eyes, respectively. The stabilizer main body is covered with a main body coating film. The eye is covered with an eye coating film whose thickness is less than a thickness of the main body coating film. An inner surface of the through-hole is covered with an inner surface coating film. An incomplete coating portion is formed at a part of the inner surface of the through-hole in a circumferential direction. The incomplete coating portion is located on an extension of a straight line connecting a center of the through-hole and the center of gravity of the stabilizer main body in a side view of the stabilizer main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuharu Sakurai, Yoshihiro Koshita, Akihiko Nishikawa, Akifumi Otani
  • Patent number: 10577010
    Abstract: A telescoping steering column is constructed to be mounted to a vehicle structure. The telescoping steering column includes a plurality of jackets in telescopic relation to one another along a telescopic axis, an electric motor, at least one leadscrew, first and second thread sets, and first and second nuts. The plurality of jackets include a first jacket and a second jacket. The electric motor is rigidly fixed to one of the plurality of jackets. Then at least one leadscrew is rotationally driven by the electric motor. The first and second thread sets are carried by the at least one leadscrew. The first and second nuts are threaded upon the respective first and second thread sets, and attached to the respective first and second jackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Derocher, Todd M. King, James E. Rouleau, Donald A. Buzzard, Melvin L. Tinnin
  • Patent number: 10569732
    Abstract: An arm rest attachable to a seat for a vehicle occupant to sit on includes a pair of side members, a pair of front members, and an airbag. The side members are at left and right sides of the vehicle occupant, extend in a front-rear direction, and are coupled to the seat. The front members are in front of the vehicle occupant and extend inward in a width direction of the seat from the side members. The airbag deploys toward the vehicle occupant from at least one of the pair of side members or the pair of front members. The airbag includes a lateral abutment unit that abuts on the side members and a front abutment unit that abuts on the front members. The airbag has a substantially-triangular cross section taken in a substantially horizontal direction, the cross section including the lateral abutment unit and the front abutment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 10570002
    Abstract: Provided is a forklift capable of recognizing an approximate weight of an object to be conveyed supported by a fork without adding special parts. A control unit includes a storage unit which stores load/time information indicating a relationship between a delay time required for an angle of rear wheels to reach an angle corresponding to an angle of the steering wheel and a weight of the object to be conveyed supported by the fork at that time, a delay time detection unit which detects the delay time required for a steering angle of the rear wheels to reach the angle corresponding to the angle of the steering wheel, and a weight identifying unit which identifies the weight of the object to be conveyed supported by the fork on the basis of the delay time detected by the delay time detection unit and the load/time information stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Goshima
  • Patent number: 10569646
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle includes tanks configured to store a fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell, the tanks being respectively disposed in front of and behind the motor drive unit such that a longitudinal direction of each of the tanks corresponds to a width direction of the fuel cell vehicle. The tanks are disposed such that respective end portions of the tanks on a side on which the high-voltage wiring portion is positioned are outside the high-voltage wiring portion in the width direction of the fuel cell vehicle and the respective end portions of tanks overlap a tire-wheel assembly in a front-rear direction of the fuel cell vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuhito Mori, Masanori Miyakawa, Keijiro Ohshima, Daiki Nishiumi
  • Patent number: 10562479
    Abstract: Aspects hereof relate to an operator protection apparatus having at least one over-center linkage. In some aspects, an operator protection apparatus can be raised and lowered by an operator from a seated position, for example, on a terrain working vehicle. Additionally, the at least one over-center linkage may automatically lock in the operator protection apparatus in a raised position. Accordingly, a mechanical force is then required to overcome the lock, and allow the operator protection apparatus to return to a lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: EXCEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Harlan John Bartel, Brian L. Nebel, Royce A. Steinert