Patents Examined by Maxwell L Meshaka
  • Patent number: 11345307
    Abstract: A torsion shaft for a seat belt retractor assembly, the torsion shaft being connectable at a first location to a spool for receiving a seat belt and connectable at a second location to a locking mechanism, the first and second locations being spaced apart along a length of the torsion shaft, wherein the torsion shaft is configured to deform when a torsion force is applied between the first and second locations during an impact event, wherein the torsion shaft comprises a cavity and a fluid is provided in said cavity so as to support the torsion shaft as the torsion shaft deforms during the impact event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tim Scott, Paul Mark Marable, Barry Grindle
  • Patent number: 11325559
    Abstract: A roof airbag apparatus may include: a first-row deployment part deployed from the front to the rear of a roof so as to cover a front area, when gas is supplied from a gas supply part; a second-row deployment part coupled to a front end of the first-row deployment part so as to communicate with the first-row deployment part, and configured to cover a rear area which is deployed to the rear when the first-row deployment part is deployed; and an auxiliary deployment part coupled to a top or bottom surface of the first-row deployment part so as to communicate with the first-row deployment part, and configured to increase/decrease the top-to-bottom thickness of the first-row deployment part, when deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byung Ho Min, Dong Oh Lee
  • Patent number: 11312429
    Abstract: A motor vehicle having a first portion and a second portion movable relative thereto; the vehicle further includes an actuator arrangement by which the second portion is drivable relative to the first portion; and the vehicle having a control apparatus that is coupled to the actuator arrangement and controls the operation of the actuator arrangement; the actuator arrangement including at least two separate actuators arranged remotely from one another, which are each switchable between an operating state wherein an output member of the actuator outputs a force and/or a motion, and a passive state in which the output member does not, the actuators are synchronously operable in a synchronous operating mode, wherein one actuator, constituting a master actuator, is coupled directly to the control apparatus, and the at least one further actuator is connected to the energy supply of the master actuator only such that the at least one further actuator is supplied with operating energy, and is in the operating state,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Röchling Automotive SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Domenico Solazzo, Peter Dill
  • Patent number: 11299002
    Abstract: A center link has a bolt portion contact pad extending longitudinally and transversely from the bolt portion, forming a bolt portion contact surface extending transversely, and defining a bolt portion contact surface transverse width that is less than the shaft portion transverse width. The center link also has a mushroom head portion contact pad extending longitudinally and transversely from the mushroom head portion, forming a mushroom head portion contact surface, and defining a mushroom head portion contact surface transverse width that is less than the shaft portion transverse width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Ross Paul Wietharn
  • Patent number: 11299004
    Abstract: A sway bar linkage assembly includes a socket joint, a shank extending from the socket joint, a bolt, and a bushing. The shank has a first bore with a first bore diameter and a second bore extending between the first bore and the socket joint. The second bore has a second bore diameter less than the first bore diameter such that a flange extends between the first bore and the second bore. The bolt has a head, a shaft extending from the head and a stud extending between the shaft is included. The shaft has a first diameter and the stud has second diameter less than the first diameter such that a ledge extends between the shaft and the stud. The bushing is compressed a predefined by the bolt when the bolt extends through the bushing and the ledge of the bolt abuts against the flange of the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Motorparts, LLC
    Inventors: Dustin Schrieber, Steven Douglas Schmitt, Glen C. Parker, Andrew Louis Auquier
  • Patent number: 11292517
    Abstract: A tilting car frame comprising a lower center frame including a horizontal member, a first support member, a second support member, and first and second horizontal link members each having a vertical link. A rotation center axis support extends from a center of the horizontal member. A first variable length lever link is slidably connected to the first support member and is facing the rotation center axis support, and a second variable length lever link is slidably connected to an end of the second support member that is facing the rotation center axis support. A rotating member having first and second extension members is rotatably connected to the rotation center axis support, wherein the first extension member is hinged to an end of a first variable length link member, and the second extension member is hinged to an end of a second variable length link member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: DAEPOONG EV MOTORS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Je Woo Yu
  • Patent number: 11293511
    Abstract: A bushing includes a cylindrical body and a flange extending from the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body has an inner face defining a bore. The flange includes an outer rim and a face extending radially between the bore and the outer rim. At least one groove is formed in the face. The at least one groove extends from a first end intersecting the bore to a second end adjacent the outer rim such that grease supplied to the bore of the bushing is able to flow through the at least one groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: K.M. GEHMAN INCORPORATED
    Inventor: K. Marlin Gehman
  • Patent number: 11273682
    Abstract: In a suspension system in which the oil chambers of two dampers are connected, the responsiveness of the dampers can be adjusted. A suspension system has a left damper, a right damper, and an intermediate unit. A case of the intermediate unit has an intermediate oil chamber connected to an oil chamber of the left damper and the oil chamber of the right damper and an intermediate gas chamber. The intermediate oil chamber and the intermediate gas chamber are partitioned by a diaphragm. The intermediate unit has a capacity adjustment mechanism including a movable portion of which the position can be changed. The capacity adjustment mechanism adjusts the capacity of the intermediate gas chamber by changing the position of the movable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiko Kubota
  • Patent number: 11267304
    Abstract: The suspension system includes a stabilizer bar which has an opening. The suspension system also includes a linkage, which includes a rod-shaped link and a pair of bushings that are made of a compressible material. The link presents male threads which extend to an end face and a stop out which is spaced from the end face, and the link extends through the opening of the stabilizer bar. One of the bushings is disposed on the rod-shaped link between the stop out and the opening of the stabilizer bar, and the other bushing is disposed on the link between the opening of the stabilizer bar and the locking nut. A locking nut is threadedly engaged with the link such that the end face of the link contacts a closed end of the locking nut. The bushings are partially compressed against the stabilizer bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Motorparts, LLC
    Inventors: Brennan James Sugg, Steve Schmitt, Eric M. Kopsie, Russell Andert
  • Patent number: 11247732
    Abstract: In a suspension support bracket including a bracket body including a suspension attachment portion configured such that a shock absorber of a suspension device of a vehicle is attached to the suspension attachment portion, the bracket body is constructed of a single metal plate, and thickness dimensions of a region of the suspension attachment portion of the bracket body and a periphery of the suspension attachment portion are larger than a thickness dimension of another region adjacent to the region of the suspension attachment portion and periphery of the suspension attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Asai, Ryuichi Okumoto
  • Patent number: 11225288
    Abstract: A suspension having a first link member that is coupled to a front wheel and a second link member that is located on a rear side of the first link member is mounted to a suspension housing. The suspension housing has a first supporting part that supports the first link member and a second supporting part that is provided on a rear side of the first supporting part and supports the second link member. The front frame has a first fixing portion to which the first supporting part is fixed and a second fixing portion to which the second supporting part is fixed, and the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are provided at positions different from each other in a vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeaki Watanabe, Kuniyoshi Tashiro, Hiroki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11220765
    Abstract: A seatbelt webbing includes an auxetic portion elongated along an axis. The auxetic portion includes a plurality of segments rotatably connected to each other at hinges. The hinges are spaced along the axis and are transverse to the axis. The auxetic portion includes a plurality of strands. Each strand is embedded in at least two of the hinges. When tensile force above a predetermined level is applied to the auxetic portion by a vehicle occupant, e.g., the chest of the vehicle occupant, the auxetic portion both stretches along the axis and widens transverse to the axis, i.e., has a negative Poisson ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, Robert William McCoy, Mark Allan Lippman
  • Patent number: 11214228
    Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag formed with a discharge portion. The discharge portion includes: an opening portion; a tack portion around the opening portion; and a regulating belt portion disposed on a peripheral edge of the opening portion to regulate opening and closing of the opening portion. When the inflation of the airbag is completed, the tack portion is maintained in a folded state by the regulating belt portion due to tension acting on the regulation belt portion, so that a closed state of the opening portion is capable of being maintained, and when the tension does not act on the regulating belt portion, the folded state is released and the opening portion is brought into an open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keita Suzuki, Takuya Hiraiwa, Shinichi Ishida
  • Patent number: 11192417
    Abstract: An arrangement for connecting a link (1) of a chassis to a wheel carrier (2) by way of a ball sleeve joint (3). The link (1) has an link eye (1a), the ball sleeve joint (3) has a ball sleeve (7), and the wheel carrier (2) has two bearing eyes (4, 5). A sensor is located on the link eye (1a) and a signal generator is located on the ball sleeve (7). The sensor and signal generator form an angle measuring device. The ball sleeve (7) is connected to the bearing eyes (4, 5) via a threaded pin (6). An anti-rotation unit (9, 10) is provided between the ball sleeve (7) and the wheel carrier (2) in order to fix a defined angular position of the ball sleeve (7) with respect to the wheel carrier (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Julian Stratmann, Florian Bäumer, Josef Holtheide, Felix Kallass, Thorsten Sander
  • Patent number: 11167609
    Abstract: A vehicle axle with a centrally arranged drive unit and a wheel suspension which has a wheel carrier for holding a wheel, a lower wheel-guiding control arm for the articulated connection of the carrier to a vehicle body, a camber link that connects the carrier to the body and steering unit for steering the wheel. The carrier and control arm are connected directly, in a first connection area, and indirectly via an integral link, in a second connection area, so that the carrier can pivot relative to the control arm about a steering axis. The control arm can be connected to the body in forward and rear areas, and has a rotational axis that extends obliquely relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. All connection areas of the control arm are positioned outside the centrally arranged drive unit relative to the transverse direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Klaus Wallgren, Knut Heidsieck
  • Patent number: 11167720
    Abstract: A seatbelt buckle assembly is configured for attachment to a vehicle seat frame in a manner that permits a strap of the assembly to pass through narrow openings or gaps of the seat frame before a fastener is used for the attachment. A collar having a flange and a sleeve can be used to retain other buckle assembly components to the strap without the aid of the fastener. The assembly is particularly useful with fold-flat seats where the seatbelt buckle must fold together with the seat back and then be returned to a use position when the seat is unfolded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Morrow, Emmanuel Pellerin
  • Patent number: 11167610
    Abstract: A wheel suspension (1) for a motor vehicle that has a wheel carrier (2) for holding a wheel (3), a wheel-guiding control arm (4) for the articulated connection of the wheel carrier (2) to a body (6), and steering member (8) for steering the wheel (3). The wheel carrier (2) and the wheel-guiding control arm (4) are directly connected, in a first connection area (20), and indirectly connected, in a second connection area (21), by an integral link (5) so that, relative to the wheel-guiding control arm (4), the wheel carrier (2) can pivot about a steering axis. The wheel suspension is characterized by a chassis element (12) that is articulated on a body side and is directly connected to the wheel carrier (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Klaus Wallgren, Knut Heidsieck
  • Patent number: 11167611
    Abstract: A wheel suspension having at least one chassis suspension link, a first track rod and a second track rod. A deflecting lever connects the first track rod and the second track rod to one another and the deflecting lever is mounted on the at least one chassis suspension link. To produce a simple structure of the bearing system, the bearing system is in the form of a slide bearing which is accommodated by a bearing section of the at least one chassis suspension link, in which a fastener, that connects the deflecting lever and the at least one chassis suspension link, is fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Peter Kontermann, Alexander Neu, Andreas Pasch, Alfons Nordloh
  • Patent number: 11154802
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an expanded metal filter for use with an automotive safety device, such an inflatable airbag system. The expanded metal filter is composed of a plurality of expanded metal layers, wherein when a first expanded metal layer is turned over or inverted the peaks of the first expanded metal layer conform to valleys of a second expanded metal layer, and valleys of the first expanded metal layer conform to peaks of the first expanded layer whereby the first and second expanded layers nest together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: Isaac Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11135891
    Abstract: A stabilizer bushing including: a stabilizer bar; and two semi-tubular elastic half bodies each including an intermediate plate fitting of semicircular arc shape embedded therein. The elastic half bodies are bonded to an outer circumferential surface of the stabilizer bar such that two circumferential end faces thereof are mutually butted. The plate fitting is embedded in an axial direction. A notch-shaped recess is provided in a corner of axial ends of the circumferential end faces of each elastic half body. The recess extends in a radial direction of the elastic half body and opens onto an inner circumferential surface thereof, and a corner of axial ends of circumferential end portions of the plate fitting is exposed at the recess. A bottom corner of the recess extending in the radial direction of the elastic half body has a curved-concave inner surface shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Toru Matsushita