Patents Examined by Matthew D Lee
  • Patent number: 11807187
    Abstract: A seatbelt having a receiver having an opening configured to receive a latch-plate, an extended pushbutton at least partially disposed within the receiver, and a magnet at least partially disposed within the extended pushbutton, wherein the magnet is configured to align the latch-plate with the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Minjeur, James L Benigni
  • Patent number: 11801886
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a steering device comprising an end stop device for limiting a steering angle of rotation. The end stop device has a rotation device that has at least one rotary element which is rotatable about a central longitudinal axis of a shaft and/or is rotatable together with the shaft. The end stop device has a locking device which cooperates with the rotation device for stopping a rotational movement of the shaft about the central longitudinal axis and with respect to two directions of rotation oriented opposite each other. In order to be able to reliably absorb and transmit high forces and/or torques when the steering device is in a stop position, the locking device has a locking element, the locking element that limits the steering angle of rotation from being movable by the rotation device at least with a first movement component in the axial direction of the central longitudinal axis of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Büker
  • Patent number: 11801725
    Abstract: A control device for an oscillating axle suspension, in particular a front axle suspension, includes at least of one hydraulic accumulator device (10), a suspension device (12) and a proportional valve (14) having a valve piston (26). The proportional valve (14) is connected to the accumulator and suspension devices (10, 12) via fluid ports (16, 18, 20, 22). The valve piston (26) is actuatable by an electric motor (28), is longitudinally guided in a valve housing (24) of the proportional valve (14) and controls the fluid ports (16, 18, 20, 22) such that, in at least one functional position of the valve piston (26), the axle oscillation is provided while the suspension is blocked and, in at least one further second functional position of the valve piston (26), the suspension is provided while the axle oscillation is blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: HYDAC MOBILHYDRAULIK GMBH
    Inventors: Heinz-Peter Huth, Johannes Merscher
  • Patent number: 11787463
    Abstract: A steering apparatus and an all-terrain vehicle are provided. The steering apparatus comprises a housing provided with a circumferential movement limiting part; an input shaft disposed in the housing; an output shaft disposed in the housing and being in transmission coupling with the input shaft, wherein the output shaft is movable axially in an axial direction of the output shaft in the housing; and a circumferential movement limiting member disposed on the output shaft and being in fit with the circumferential movement limiting part for limiting circumferential movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SEGWAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhen Dong
  • Patent number: 11772589
    Abstract: The single cell partition forms a barrier between front and rear passenger areas of a vehicle, and provides access to a portion of the rear passenger area by occupants of the front passenger area who are not in custody. In addition, the single cell partition protects and secures custodial occupants contained therein from non-custodial occupants present in the additional available space in the rear passenger area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TROY SHEET METAL WORKS, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Bornais
  • Patent number: 11766991
    Abstract: A pretensioner for a seat belt device in a vehicle includes a cable connected to the seat belt device at a first end of the cable. The pretensioner also includes a base frame containing a pipe. A rod is located within the pipe, and one end of the rod is configured to be subjected to pressure from gas provided by a gas generator. A second end of the cable and a second end of the rod are connected to a swage block. The rod is configured to be driven within the pipe in the pretensioning direction by gas from the gas generator when the gas generator initiates in response to an acceleration of the vehicle greater than a predetermined high acceleration thereby causing the swage block to move and pull the cable to thereby cause a corresponding movement of the seat belt device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
    Inventor: Mark Gray
  • Patent number: 11766912
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a height of an electric vehicle with an adjustable suspension system. In one example, a method comprises: during a vehicle stop event, adjusting a height of a skateboard frame of an electric vehicle via an adjustable suspension system, based on at least one sensor input indicative of a desired skateboard frame height. In this way, user activities, including loading and unloading, may be facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Mathilde Charmeau, Ali Idrici, Sylvain Castonguay
  • Patent number: 11753102
    Abstract: A saddle-ride type vehicle includes a retainer that is provided behind a head pipe; an inflator; and an airbag that is housed in the retainer, inflates by gas discharged by the inflator, and is deployed in front of an occupant. The airbag is housed in the retainer in a state of being folded bilaterally asymmetrically with respect to a horizontally central portion of the airbag in a cross section in a vehicle top view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kei Takahashi, Takashi Sato, Yutaka Aikyo
  • Patent number: 11752820
    Abstract: A releasable alignment clip secures a primary leaf spring to one or more secondary leaf springs of a suspension of a vehicle. The releasable alignment clip prevents separation of the primary leaf spring from the secondary leaf spring during normal operation while permitting relative sliding. The releasable alignment clip has a minimum separation force such that in response to a collision forcing a wheel forwardly, the releasable alignment clip deforms and permits separation of the primary leaf spring from the secondary leaf spring to avoid the primary leaf spring from breaking between the alignment clip and a point of attachment to the vehicle. The releasable alignment clip may have a reduced thickness, notches, or one or more perforations to achieve the minimum separation force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Allison Yard, Matthew Gapinski, Yu Zhang, Jeff Mazur, Mike Bristol
  • Patent number: 11752971
    Abstract: Various implementations include a child restraint anchoring system. The system includes one or more anchors configured for coupling to a support frame of a vehicle seat. The one or more anchors are automatically movable from a retracted position to an extended position. The one or more anchors are closer to the support frame in the retracted position than in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC
    Inventor: Len Cech
  • Patent number: 11745812
    Abstract: Provided is a running device including a frame (11) and a first wheel part (15) and a second wheel part (35) arranged with an appropriate distance therebetween along a running direction (R). The first wheel part (15) includes a first left support arm (17) and a first right support arm (26) arranged on the frame (11) in a manner to be swingable within a plane extending along the running direction (R). The second wheel part (35) includes a second support arm (36) arranged on the frame (11) in a manner to be swingable within a plane perpendicular to the running direction (R). The first left support arm (17) has first left wheels (19, 21) respectively on both sides thereof, and the first right support arm (26) has first right wheels (28, 30) respectively on both sides thereof. The second support arm (36) has a second left wheel (38) and a second right wheel (40) respectively on both sides thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: DMG MORI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Nagasue, Ryota Maeda, Masaaki Nakagawa, Hideaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11745556
    Abstract: A Retrofittable Air Suspension Brackets assembly comprises an air spring retained between an Upper Air Spring Mount and a Lower Air Spring Bracket. The Upper Air Spring Mount is attached to Upper Frame Brackets that are held in place by two U-Bolts, which also secure the Lower Air Spring Bracket and a Cradle Structure which limits movement of the vehicle frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Wheel Pros LLC
    Inventors: Reno Heon, Dustin Heon
  • Patent number: 11718345
    Abstract: A lower body for a vehicle includes front and rear main bodies each including pipes, a pair of first longitudinal members extending in a forward/rearward direction and spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction, a first transverse member extending in the transverse direction and connecting the first longitudinal members, and mounting parts each having an outer side to which the first longitudinal members and the first transverse member are coupled, and a pair of lower body main members connecting the outer sides of the mounting parts and two opposite sides of upper ends of the front and rear main bodies spaced apart from each other, the pair of lower body main members each having a pipe shape and extending forward and rearward to constitute upper side members of the front and rear main bodies and defining an overall length of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Won Oh Kim, Seok Ju Gim, Ji Ae Yong, Ho Yeon Kim, Chui Hee Heo, Tae Gyu Park
  • Patent number: 11712964
    Abstract: A suspension element includes a housing, a first joint, and a second joint. The housing is configured to couple a tractive element assembly to a vehicle. The housing has a first end configured to engage a portion of the vehicle and a second end configured to interface with the tractive element assembly. The first joint includes a first actuator and a first resilient member. The first actuator is configured to facilitate linear extension and retraction of the suspension element. The second joint includes a second actuator and a second resilient member. The second actuator is configured to facilitate rotational movement of the suspension element. The first resilient member and the second resilient member are configured to support a static load of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Drach, Erik S. Ellifson, Aaron J. Rositch, Devon C. Palmer
  • Patent number: 11713079
    Abstract: A chassis frame module for an electric vehicle may include a chassis frame including a pair of side frames, a pair of inclined frames connected to front ends of the respective side frames, respectively, and a distance between the pair of inclined frames decreases toward the front, a front frame connected to the inclined frames, and a rear frame connected to rear ends of the pair of side frames, a battery disposed between the pair of side frames, and a plurality of wire assemblies disposed between the side frame and the battery and in a longitudinal direction of the side frame, and being configured to house a wire in an internal space thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Jin Woo, Kyoung Hoon Shin, Hyoun Young Oh
  • Patent number: 11713072
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a steering knuckle, which has good rigidity and reliability. The steering knuckle includes: a wheel support portion for supporting a wheel; a damper support portion for supporting a damper; and an arm portion for connecting the wheel support portion and the damper support portion. The damper support portion is cylindrical and has a mounting hole through which the damper is inserted, and the arm portion includes a pair of side walls connecting the damper support portion and the wheel support portion and a bottom wall connected between the side walls, and the bottom wall is connected with the side walls at the middle portion in the vertical direction of the side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nasu, Koji Takami, Kenichi Hibino
  • Patent number: 11707960
    Abstract: An air suspension strut for a motor vehicle comprises an air spring having an air spring cover and a rolling piston. A shock damper is integrated with the air spring and has a damper tube and a piston rod receivable within the damper tube. A rolling bellows is secured between the spring cover and the rolling piston thereby delimiting a variable volume pressure chamber filled with compressed air. The rolling bellows rolls on the rolling piston with a rolling fold being formed. A damper bearing is accommodated in a bearing socket of the air spring cover and connected to the piston rod. The damper bearing comprises a supporting piece, an elastomer body, and a sleeve. A closure element inserted in the bearing socket above the damper bearing. An elastic element arranged between the sleeve and the closure element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Ralf Pielock, Andreas Nessel
  • Patent number: 11701937
    Abstract: A suspension apparatus for a vehicle may include: a member part including a side member part extended in a first direction and a cross member part extended in a second direction; a pair of knuckle parts spaced apart from each other in the second direction, and coupled to and supported by a wheel; and a posture maintenance part supported by the member part, having both sides connected to the pair of knuckle parts, respectively, and configured to absorb shock applied from a road surface and adjust a relative height between the pair of knuckle parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Ha Kim, Jong Sung Park
  • Patent number: 11697391
    Abstract: A system includes a pillar and a seatbelt retractor. The system includes a D-ring supported by and vertically movable relative to the pillar. The system includes a webbing extending from the seatbelt retractor and through the D-ring, The system includes an actuator operatively coupled to the D-ring to vertically move the D-ring relative to the pillar. The system includes a computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to determine that the seatbelt retractor in a nuisance locked state, and in response determining that the seatbelt retractor is in the nuisance locked state, command the actuator to move the D-ring vertically downward relative to the pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 11691592
    Abstract: A CPU of an ECU is configured to compute an estimated acceleration that is estimated to be applied to a vehicle and a remaining time that is taken from present time to acceleration occurrence time at which the estimated acceleration occurs from a road surface condition detected by a road surface condition detection unit and a vehicle status detected by a vehicle speed determination unit and a steering angle velocity determination unit. The CPU is configured to, when the remaining time becomes shorter than or equal to a predetermined value, drive a retractor motor. The webbing is retracted before an occupant moves with an acceleration that is applied to the vehicle, so the occupant is held in a normal seated position. The retractor motor is driven when the time that is taken from present time to acceleration occurrence time becomes shorter than or equal to the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Fukuta