Patents Examined by Matthew James O'Neill
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Patent number: 11964533Abstract: In a fastener structure for a vehicle, a height adjustment spacer is interposed between first and second vehicle body frames fixed with a bolt and a nut. The nut has a first insertion hole through which a bolt is screwed, and is fixed to a surface of the first vehicle body frame. The height adjustment spacer has a second insertion hole through which the bolt is inserted, and is disposed in contact with another surface of the first vehicle body frame. The bolt is inserted through an attachment hole of the second vehicle body frame, the second insertion hole, an attachment hole of the first vehicle body frame, and the first insertion hole. On a contact surface between the height adjustment spacer and the first vehicle body frame, a protrusion and a recess are provided to surround an entirety of the second insertion hole, the second insertion hole respectively.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2023Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Kouji Takahashi, Tsuguo Nakazawa, Satoshi Ueda, Jun Shimizu
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Patent number: 11958535Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a modular front drivetrain comprising a single assembly that may be installed onto and removed from a vehicle. The modular front drivetrain comprises a modular chassis supporting a transaxle, a front differential, and a steering gear for operating front wheels of the vehicle. The transaxle, the front differential and drive axles convey torque from an engine onboard the vehicle to the front wheels. A spindle assembly is coupled with each front wheel of the vehicle and pivotally joined with the modular chassis by way of a front suspension system. Steering rods coupled with the spindle assemblies horizontally rotate the front wheels according to operation of a steering wheel onboard the vehicle. The modular front drivetrain advantageously facilitates replacing an entire drivetrain and suspension assembly quickly and easily in the event of a part failure during racing applications.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2020Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Inventor: Robby Gordon
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Patent number: 11958428Abstract: The present invention is an airbag device equipped in a vehicle seat having a seat cushion forming a seat surface and a seatback forming a backrest, containing: an inflator; and an airbag that is stowed in the seatback and deployed by the expansion gas discharged from the inflator. The airbag includes a pair of left and right side chambers that deploy from the side parts of the seatback forward and an upper chamber that is provided continuously with the side chambers and deploys above the head of the occupant. The airbag, from a state of being spread out before stowing, is rolled or folded and compressed in a long rod shape in a direction intersecting a longitudinal direction. The location corresponding to the upper chamber of the long rod-shaped airbag is stowed in a stowing part at the rear surface of the headrest at the upper part of the seatback.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2020Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Takayuki Shimizu, Atsushi Nakashima
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Patent number: 11958331Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a rear suspension assembly which has a trailing arm generally extending longitudinally. The trailing arm includes a joint along a longitudinal length of the trailing arm. Also, the rear suspension assembly includes an upper radius rod extending in a generally lateral direction relative to a centerline of the vehicle. Additionally, the rear suspension assembly includes a lower radius rod extending in a generally lateral direction relative to the centerline of the vehicle. The rear suspension assembly further includes a suspension member configured to control toe of the at least one rear ground-engaging member.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2022Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Alex R. Scheuerell, David D. Helgeson, Aaron S. Norton
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Patent number: 11952040Abstract: An embodiment vehicle body for an electric vehicle includes a fender apron upper part and an A pillar part positioned at a rear portion of the fender apron upper part, wherein a first load path is formed in a length direction of the vehicle body on an upper part of the fender apron upper part, wherein a second load path is formed in a vertical direction of the vehicle body along a connection portion of the fender apron upper part and the A pillar part, wherein a third load path connecting the first load path and the second load path is obliquely formed in a lower part of the fender apron upper part, and wherein a charging hole is formed between the first, second, and third load paths.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATIONInventors: Jiwoong Park, Byeongcheon Lee
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Patent number: 11945272Abstract: A vehicle suspension system may include a vehicle chassis, a centerless wheel which may include a wheel rim and a tire, and a natural active suspension assembly which may operably couple the centerless wheel to the vehicle chassis via the wheel rim. The natural active suspension assembly may support the vehicle chassis at a substantially constant distance away from a ground plane by generating reactive torque to counteract displacement of the centerless wheel normal to the ground plane by moving a support location between the natural active suspension assembly and the wheel rim.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Larry Dean Elie
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Patent number: 11945431Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a braking controller individually controlling braking forces of braking devices for left and right front and rear wheels, a side collision detector detecting a side collision against a vehicle, and a yaw behavior detector detecting yaw behavior of a vehicle body. If the yaw behavior detected after the side collision is such that a rear of the vehicle body shifts away from a collision side relative to a front thereof, the braking controller executes yaw amplification control to cause the braking device for the collision-side front wheel to generate a braking force larger than the remaining wheels. If the detected yaw behavior is such that the front shifts away from the collision side relative to the rear, the braking controller executes the yaw amplification control to cause the braking device for the collision-side rear wheel to generate a braking force larger than the remaining wheels.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2021Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Eiichi Shiraishi, Takashi Takeda, Shintaro Ikeda, Satoru Akiyama
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Patent number: 11945517Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle includes a front subframe having two frame rails and a control arm connector on each frame rail. The assembly includes a panel supported on the frame rails and spaced vehicle-rearward of the control arm connector. The panel extends cross-vehicle from one of the frame rails to the other of the frame rails. The panel includes a channel elongated along the vehicle-longitudinal axis. The assembly includes a vehicle component spaced vehicle-rearward of the panel. The channel is aimed at the vehicle component.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Matthew Arthur Titus, Jack Wiley Cooper, Thomas Joseph Ciccone, Erik Christensen, Brett Clarke Peters
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Patent number: 11938882Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for helping to protect occupants of a vehicle seat in the event of a collision. The vehicle seat includes a base with a bottom cushion, a backrest with a back cushion, and a side rest having a side cushion that extends upward from the bottom cushion and forward from the back cushion. The apparatus comprises a deployable restraint stored in a pre-deployment condition in the side rest. The deployable restraint comprising an airbag and an inflator for inflating and deploying the airbag. When inflated to a deployed condition the restrain cushions the occupant against impacts with the side rest.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.Inventor: Rico Scott Bertossi
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Patent number: 11932069Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle is shown. The suspension system may have first and second airbags stacked upon each other. By adjusting a height difference between the first and second airbags while maintaining the same collective height of the first and second airbags, the spring rate of the collective first and second airbags are changed while maintaining the same collective height of the first and second airbags.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: UNIVERSAL AIR, INC.Inventor: Daniel Zachary Ratcliff
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Patent number: 11919358Abstract: A carrying mobile robot includes a frame, a suspension system disposed at the bottom of the frame, and a lifting mechanism disposed on the frame. The suspension system includes two suspension mechanisms disposed on the left and right sides, each of which includes a supporting beam, a driving wheel, a connecting member and a first driven wheel. The first driven wheel and the driving wheel respectively support the front and rear ends of the supporting beam, and the connecting member is connected to the supporting beam and located between the driving wheel and the first driven wheels. The lifting mechanism includes a plurality of lifting members, a first driving system for driving the lifting member and a transmission system for transmitting the driving force of the first drive system to the lifting members.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: SUZHOU UMORE ROBOTICS CO., LTD.Inventor: Lei Ye
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Patent number: 11912097Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an all-terrain vehicle including a frame; a trailing arm, an upper tie rod and a lower tie rod. A front end of the trailing arm is connected to the frame. An inner end of the upper tie rod is connected to the frame and an outer end of the upper tie rod is mounted at a rear end of the trailing arm. An inner end of the lower tie rod is connected to the frame and an outer end of the upper tie rod is mounted at the rear end of the trailing arm. The lower tie rod is located below the upper tie rod. An included angle between the upper tie rod and the lower tie rod being a, and a satisfies a relationship: 0°<a<5°.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: SEGWAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Zhen Dong, Mingtang Chen, Weigang Que
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Patent number: 11904648Abstract: Suspension systems for recreational vehicles are disclosed. The suspension systems may include at least one adjustable member coupling a sway bar to respective suspensions. The suspension systems may include a torque actuator associated with a sway bar.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Jonathon P. Graus, David D. Helgeson, Kyle W. Olson, Justin T. Anderson, Jacob P. Horky, Kevin P. Blair
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Patent number: 11897543Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery system arranged in a central region. The battery system includes corners corresponding to corners of an end of the vehicle, and respective chassis components are arranged at each corner. Respective shear brackets are affixed to the vehicle frame to a respective chassis component. The shear brackets are configured to absorb energy from the chassis components during deceleration events. The chassis components may include a knuckle configured to engage with the frame at an interface, to which the shear bracket may be added. Each shear bracket is formed from metal, such as sheet metal, and includes mounting features such as holes or studs to affix to the frame. The shear brackets are configured to limit intrusion of the chassis components into the battery system by absorbing energy. A bolt or fastener affixing a chassis component to the frame is strengthened by the shear bracket.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2021Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLCInventors: Allen Orchard, Jiacheng Huang, Vamsi Charan Pulugurtha
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Patent number: 11897304Abstract: A stabilizer bar support structure of an off-road vehicle includes a vehicle body frame having a seat base frame that supports a seat and a support frame that supports the seat base frame, a stabilizer bar that couples right and left suspensions to each other and is supported on the support frame, and a bracket attached to the support frame. The stabilizer bar is attached to the support frame through the bracket. The bracket receives the load of the seat base frame through the support frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Kawasaki Motors, Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Hisamura, Yusuke Nakashima
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Patent number: 11891109Abstract: According to the present embodiments, locking and unlocking can be smoothly performed even when gears for fixing a steering column during a telescoping operation of the steering column are not properly engaged, a collapse motion for absorbing impact can be smoothly performed even when a vehicle collision occurs in a state in which the gears are not properly engaged, impact is absorbed at the minimum and maximum of strokes so as to enable the prevention of noise generation during the telescoping operation, and the number of components can be reduced and assembly process can be simplified.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2019Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATIONInventor: Sunghun Park
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Patent number: 11884318Abstract: A steering device including a steering column supporting a steering shaft to be coupled to a steering wheel. The steering column is sandwiched between a bracket including a first support plate and a second support plate with a tightening shaft penetrating the first support plate and the second support plate and including a male thread at an end of the tightening shaft on a side close to the second support plate having a nut attached thereon. An operation lever is disposed between the nut and the second support plate and penetrated by the tightening shaft. A case including a bottom surface facing an end surface of the tightening shaft is attached to the operation lever, and a coil spring coming into contact with the bottom surface and the tightening shaft.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: NSK LTD.Inventors: Shin Mihara, Osamu Kurihara
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Patent number: 11878737Abstract: A fastening assembly for fastening an axle support on a vehicle body. The axle support is screwed onto the vehicle body on multiple attachment points. On at least one of the attachment points, a bearing bracket for mounting a unit for the axle drive is arranged between the axle support and the vehicle body and also screwed on. A method for installing and fastening an axle support on a vehicle body in the mass production of motor vehicles is further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2021Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignees: AUDI AG, DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AGInventors: Gilbert Schantl, Thomas Artner, Hans-Peter Frensch, Marek Bujak, Thomas Wittenschläger, Stefan Rugies, Thomas Achleitner
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Patent number: 11878561Abstract: A wheel suspension arrangement including a suspension spring, at least one control member arranged to control a stiffness of said suspension spring. The control member is displaceable relative to said suspension spring between a retracted position, in which the control member does not interfere with an operation of the suspension spring, and an advanced position, in which it interferes with the operation of the suspension spring in a way that the stiffness of said suspension spring is increased. The wheel suspension arrangement further includes a biasing means configured to bias said control member towards said retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2021Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH & DEV. CO., LTD.Inventors: Linus Hallberg, Martin Edberg
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Patent number: 11872865Abstract: A multi-link motor vehicle axle for the attachment of a wheel carrier to a motor vehicle body. The axle includes a first link plane and a second link plane. A first transverse link and a second transverse link are assigned to the first link plane. The second link plane includes a trapezoidal link which is attached by way of a first coupling link to the wheel carrier and by way of a second coupling link to the motor vehicle body. A longitudinal link of the multi-link motor vehicle axle is formed, which longitudinal link is connected, at its longitudinal link end facing away from the second link plane, to the motor vehicle body. The longitudinal link is attached, by way of its longitudinal link end facing toward the second link plane, to the trapezoidal link.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2021Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Inventors: Stefan Zeretzke, Stefan Sabath, Andreas Munzert, Marcel Krawietz, Jens Kemna