Patents Examined by Michael Britton
  • Patent number: 6135223
    Abstract: A guard cover for a construction machine includes first guard cover (12), the first guard cover covering devices to be inspected from both front and upper surface sides of the devices, the first guard cover capable of being opened and closed vertically, and a second guard cover (13) which becomes contiguous to the first guard cover (12) when closed and which covers devices to be subjected to servicing from a side of the devices, the second guard cover capable of being opened and closed in the transverse direction. According to this construction, the first and second guard covers can be opened each independently, so the devices to be subjected to inspection can be inspected by an operator within an opened range of the first guard cover (12) and the devices to be subjected to servicing can be serviced by a serviceman within an opened range of the second guard cover (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Isao Miyachi, Shintaro Sakitani
  • Patent number: 6116637
    Abstract: An air belt 2B has a bag-like belt potion 10 and a knit cover 12 that surround the bag-like belt portion 10. The bag-like portion 10 has a greater width in the part that fits to the passenger's body between the shoulder and abdomen. The enlarged part of the bag-like portion 10 is folded on top of itself to form a strap-like shape. The knit cover 12 is woven so that it is expandable in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the belt, but virtually not in the longitudinal direction. Upon activation of a gas generator 9 with a buckle 4 engaged with a tongue 5, the air belt 2B inflates. During the inflation, the length of the knit cover 12 shortens in the longitudinal direction of the belt 2B, thereby causing the belt 2B to tightly fit on the passenger's body. This ensures the proper protection of the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takeuchi, Yoji Suyama
  • Patent number: 6113138
    Abstract: A control device in a motor vehicle for detecting an impact and for detecting a rotational movement includes a transversal acceleration pick-up in each half of the vehicle, as defined by the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a longitudinal acceleration pick-up. An evaluation device evaluates longitudinal acceleration and transversal acceleration variables and derives a rotational movement variable from the transversal acceleration variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Hermann, Walter Baumgartner
  • Patent number: 6102413
    Abstract: A snowmobile steering ski has an elongated one-piece blow molded body formed of polyethylene, preferably ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. The top wall of the body has raised portions defining hollow sections with the bottom wall and displays a central recessed area adapted to receive the lower end of a snowmobile steering component. A pair of fixation holes are provided in lateral sides of the recessed area for fixing the steering component to the ski while further fixation holes are provided in the bottom of the recessed area for fixing a wear bar to the under face of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Camoplast Inc.
    Inventors: Omar Khennache, Jerome Chapdelaine, Nelson Beaulieu
  • Patent number: 6098741
    Abstract: A controlled torque steering system 10 for use in an on demand hydraulic assist steering system for a vehicle allows a user to engage a controller 18 for employing a signal processor 16 to delay or ramp down a control output signal for providing a stable controlled torque steering system. Controlled torque steering system 10 allows for the selection of a determined amount of desired assist in steering, including none if so desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Carl G. Gluf, Jr., Edward J. Frank, Irvin B. Rea
  • Patent number: 6099031
    Abstract: A passive restraining system for motor vehicles, which has at least one crash sensor (10 and 10'), which generates a signal indicating an accident and its severity, and optionally forms a structural unit with the central electronics unit (20). In this, the signal from the crash sensor is evaluated. The system moreover has a number of restraining components such as air bags (30) and belt retractors (40) and position and child seat recognition sensors (50) and seat occupation sensors (60) allocated to these for recognition of the respective actual use status of the vehicle seats (70), and one belt position sensor per vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: BSRS Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Bischoff
  • Patent number: 6095561
    Abstract: A gas generator utilizes two segregated propellant container/combustion chambers, each having a plurality of nonazide propellant grains therein, and each having an igniter for separately igniting the propellant grains located within the respective chambers. A perforated insulating tube disposed between the two chambers precludes flame front and thermal propagation from one chamber to another, thus preventing redeployment of an activated airbag. Alternatively, a gas generator may contain two separate inflator subassemblies insulated to prevent heat conduction from one subassembly to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Shahid A. Siddiqui, Rickey Lee Stratton
  • Patent number: 6092824
    Abstract: An anti-rollback assembly adapted or adaptable for use in combination with a wheelchair. The anti-rollback assembly includes a one-way brake assembly automatically immobilizing the wheelchair against rearward movement when the occupant attempts to rise from or sit in a seat member of the wheelchair, yet at the same time does not prevent the wheelchair from moving in a forward direction. Conversely, when the occupant is fully seated in the seat member, the one-way brake assembly is disengaged so that the wheelchair can move freely in forward or rearward directions. The assembly can be retrofitted onto existing wheelchairs, and is adjustable to fit various size wheelchairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: 210 Innovations LLC
    Inventors: James K. Ritchie, James A. Marquis
  • Patent number: 6092819
    Abstract: A suspension system for wheeled vehicles, in particular, trailers and especially semi-trailers. The suspension system includes a platform with a top seat supported above an arcuate bottom saddle. The bottom saddle of the platform is designed for resting on an axle of a vehicle such that the top seat is positioned above the axle. Upper and lower pivot arms are provided each having a pair of opposite ends. A first end of each of the pivot arms is pivotally coupled to the platform. A hanger member has a top plate and a side brace downwardly extending from the top plate of the hanger member. The top plate of the hanger member has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The side brace of the hanger member is coupled to the proximal portion of the top plate. The top plate of the hanger member is positioned above the top seat of the platform. The top plate of the hanger member is designed for attachment to a support frame of a trailer. A second end of each of the pivot arms is pivotally coupled to the side brace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Timbren Industries Incorporated
    Inventors: Jerry Overby, Arnold J. Heron
  • Patent number: 6089342
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle body structure including a deformable passenger compartment front wall to which longitudinal forwardly extending frame members are connected and on which a pedal support block is mounted which is tilted backwardly and upwardly when the front wall is deformed by crash impact forces transmitted through the longitudinal frame members to the front wall, pedals pivotally mounted on the pedal support block have projections extending backwardly and having end portions guided by a guide surface so as to pivot the pedal arms forwardly when the pedal support block is tilted backwardly and upwardly by frontal impact forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Daimler Chrysler AG
    Inventors: Martin Muller, Engelbert Wolpert
  • Patent number: 6086098
    Abstract: An energy-absorbing deformation profile for a motor vehicle such as a knee protection device for an underside of a center console area has a rigid linkage profile section for fastening the deformation profile on a center console cross member. The linkage profile section is designed so that it can be deformed while absorbing energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Friedrich Reiter, Joerg Hensel, Alban Bossenmaier, Georg Bauer, Juergen Bair
  • Patent number: 6082759
    Abstract: An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device module (10) for a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (20) having a first panel portion (24) which inflates in a first direction (A), a second panel portion (26) which, when the vehicle occupant protection device (20) is inflated, is deployed in a second direction (B) transverse to the first direction (A). A cover (60) for the vehicle occupant protection device (20) has a tear seam (66) which tears during inflation of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The tear seam (66) defines a first door (82) in the cover (60). The first door (82) swings open in the second direction (B) during inflation of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (20). A connection (90) connects the second panel portion (26) to the first door (82) to cause the first door to pull the second panel portion in the second direction (B) as the first door swings open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Ernst M. Faigle, Diane D. Ford, Thomas H. Vos
  • Patent number: 6082764
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraining system includes: a occupant restraining unit for restraining an occupant in a vehicle for his protection; a collision-recognition detecting unit for detecting whether or not the occupant recognizes an impending vehicle collision in advance; and a control unit for controlling the restraining operation of the occupant retraining unit depending on the result of the detection by the collision-recognition detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makito Seki, Mitsuo Shimotani, Minoru Nishida
  • Patent number: 6082761
    Abstract: A side air bag device has an air bag and a substantially cylindrical inflator for supplying inflation gas to the air bag. The air bag includes a cloth bag and is installed in a vehicle interior in a folded state along the edge of a door opening. The air bag deploys so as to cover the door opening when it inflates. The air bag has a substantially cylindrical tubular gas inflow portion. This gas inflow portion is connected to the inflator so that it covers the inflator. The gas inflow portion is clamped to the outer circumferential surface of the inflator. With a side air bag device according to the invention it is not necessary to use a long pipe that from the inflator and it is possible to increase the freedom of installation of the device and also reduce its weight and cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignees: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisaaki Kato, Toshinori Tanase, Yasuo Ochiai, Hiroshi Yasuda, Hiroki Nakajima
  • Patent number: 6082750
    Abstract: The closed joint leaf spring mounting assembly for a mobile vehicle with a body and at least two axles may have a suspension bracket configured to be permanently fixed upon an axle housing for enclosing one of the axles and to include a plurality of vertical throughbores therein, a leaf spring having conformed surface to be congruous with areas of the suspension bracket including the throughbores, and including vertical throughbores therein which align with and form a continuation of the throughbores in the bracket, and a plurality of connectors, such as cap screws, for engagement within the aligned throughbores of the spring end and bracket for securing the structures together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Navistar International Transportation Corp
    Inventors: Michael B. Merkler, Mark N. Sanders, Vish N. Gurudutt, David C. Merriman
  • Patent number: 6079733
    Abstract: A trim piece construction for an air bag installation in which a scrim sheet is bonded onto the inside of the trim piece at the air bag location, and having one or more unbonded sections folded onto one or more air bag canister sides and attached thereto. The scrim sheet overlaps a deployment door panel and is bonded to surrounding regions to restrain relative movement by attachment to the canister. Fragmentation of the door panel is reduced by bonding of the sheet to the door panel. The door panel hinge is held in position to avoid windshield impact as the door panel hinges open when the air bag deploys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: TIP Engineering Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Towler
  • Patent number: 6079513
    Abstract: A steering apparatus for a vehicle comprising a calculating means for calculating a target value for the reaction force torque on the basis of a self-aligning torque term which is based on a detected value of a vehicle speed and a detected value of an actual moved position of a steering mechanism, an elastic resistance torque term which is proportional to a deviation between a detected value of the steering operating angle of a steering operating means mechanically not connected to the steering mechanism and a detected value of the actual moved position, and an inertial resistance torque term which is proportional to a time varying amount of the deviation, and the reaction force of the steering operating means is controlled by driving a reaction force motor on the basis of the calculated target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignees: Koyo Seiko Co., LTD, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Nishizaki, Shiro Nakano, Hiroshi Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 6079735
    Abstract: An inflatable lateral head protection system of a passenger car, having an air bag which, via its end sections, is fastened to suitable points, particularly to the A-column as well as to the C-column. In the non-inflated condition, the air bag is covered following the course of the roof member between the A-column and the C-column. Various alternatives are provided for fastening the air bag on the roof member and for the covering. Either separate covering parts may be provided, they may form a preassembly unit together with the air bag, or the headlining of the vehicle interior may be constructed correspondingly in order to accommodate the air bag which is fastened, for example, via a VELCRO.TM. fastener system, to the roof member and which may be situated in a protective hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Fallmann, Joerg Stavermann
  • Patent number: 6070893
    Abstract: A wheel retention system for use on the chassis of a large motor vehicle such as a tractor-trailer. Three support members are removably secured to the chassis and the support members support a retaining member positioned proximate to and parallel with the outer sidewalls of the wheels of the vehicle, forming a perimeter around the wheels. A pair of cylindrical sleeves axially and rotatably mounted upon the retaining member, the sleeves being positioned to confront a rotating wheel upon dislodging of the wheel from the chassis. The pair of support members comprise square tubing and completely pass from one side of the chassis to the other side of the chassis. The middle portion of each support member comprises an axle-retaining portion to trap an axle of the vehicle, should the axle disengage from the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventors: Robert J. Thorndyke, Wendell E. Thorndyke
  • Patent number: 6062597
    Abstract: Ducts 66 are housed in a housing 46 of a buckle 12. When plugs 20 of a tongue 10 are inserted into plug receiving bores 48, gas outlets 72 of ducts 66 engage plugs 20. Check doors 50 that open and close are arranged on the plug receiving bores 48 of the buckle 12. Check covers 74 including flexible pieces 76 are arranged at tips of the ducts 66 and are open by gas pressure. When a gas generator 16 is actuated with the tongue 10 separated from the buckle 12, gas is discharged downward from gas relief ports 60. The check doors 50 and the check covers 74 prevent the entrance of foreign matters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Yoji Suyama