Patents Examined by Nicole Verley
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Patent number: 8919811Abstract: A knee airbag module (200) has an airbag (201), an inflator (206) and a housing (202). The knee airbag module (200) is a self-contained assembly for mounting to a vehicle frame part (108) under the instrument panel (106). The housing (202) contains the airbag (201) and inflator (206) within a hollow interior of the housing formed by a first housing part (300) and a second housing part (302). The first and second housing parts are joined together. The housing (202) includes a deployable door cover (220) formed in the second part that articulates about a hinge (222) as the airbag (201) is inflated. The airbag (201), when inflated, extends upward relative to the lower portion of the instrument panel (106) between the instrument panel (106) and an occupant's knees (120). The door cover (220) is partially separated from the second housing part (302) by a tear seam (320). The hinge (222) is near a portion of the tear seam (320).Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2013Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Julia Langer, Jeannette Wazinski
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Patent number: 8910974Abstract: There is provided an occupant protection device. An air bag device according to the present invention protects an occupant against an impact caused by a collision of a vehicle by inflating and expanding a head protection air bag body and a chest protection air bag body upon the impact which are housed in a center pad of a steering wheel, the occupant protection device including an inflation and expansion mode control unit configured to inflate and expand the head protection air bag body and the chest protection air bag body mutually independently in accordance with a collision mode of the vehicle, and to control inflation and expansion modes of the head protection air bag body and the chest protection air bag body when inflated and expanded.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2012Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Isamu Nagasawa, Noriyoshi Baba, Tetsuya Nakase
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Patent number: 8899619Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a projected member that is accommodated in a seat back, and that is projected and deployed above the seat back when inflated by a gas supply; a lateral deployment member whose upper end side is connected to the projected member, whose lower end side is connected to a front end side of a seat cushion, and that is accommodated in a lateral side of the seat cushion and a lateral side of the seat back; and a tension support member whose one end side is supported by the seat back in a portion separated from the lateral deployment member in a seat width direction and whose other end side is connected to an upper end side of the lateral deployment member or the projected member.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2013Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Osamu Fukawatase
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Patent number: 8894092Abstract: An airbag device capable of preventing a fish-mouth phenomenon and reducing the weight of a retainer is provided. The inner case has a plurality of holding holes for holding the retainer. The retainer has a bottom surface portion for supporting an airbag and an inflator, a side wall portion that is disposed at the outer periphery of the bottom surface portion and that has a height set to H so that the side wall portion hardly receives a pressure of the airbag when the airbag is inflated and developed, and engagement members that are disposed on the side wall portion and that are engageable with the holding holes. The substantially entirety of the retainer is housed in the inner case when the engagement members are engaged with the holding holes.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Shinji Hayashi, Yutaka Kitaike
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Patent number: 8894088Abstract: In exemplary implementations of this invention, a foldable vehicle has a foldable chassis. The wheelbase (and thus the overall footprint) of the vehicle can be reduced when parking, and can be extended when driving on the open road. In exemplary implementations the ability to shorten and lengthen the wheelbase is achieved by using two 4-bar linkages, activated by one or more linear actuators positioned in parallel. The dual 4-bar linkage and linear actuator(s) can provide: (i) the ability to maintain full maneuverability in the vehicle's folded and unfolded state; (ii) a fail-safe static system, and (iii) a rigid but transformable chassis.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2013Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: William Lark, Jr., Nicholas Pennycooke
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Patent number: 8888135Abstract: A flatbed trailer design that uses clamps, or a clamp and an L-bracket, to secure aluminum main beams to their respective suspension hangers without penetrating the lower flange portion of the main beams. Where the main beams are I-shaped, a clamp secures a part of the lower flange portion on each side of the main beam web to a support plate that is welded to the suspension hanger. Where the main beams are L-shaped, a clamp secures a part of the lower flange portion to the support plate that is welded to the suspension hanger; an L-bracket is then used on the other side of the L-shaped main beam to secure the main beam web to the support plate.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2013Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Inventor: Miles A. Reitnouer
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Patent number: 8888127Abstract: A protective device (10) for protecting an occupant (7) of a vehicle (1), said protective device comprising an airbag (11) and inflation means (12) for inflating said airbag (11), the inflation means (12) being connected to the airbag (11) via a feed pipe (13) for feeding inflation fluid for the purpose of inflating the airbag (11) under predetermined conditions. This protective device further comprises expulsion means (20) for expelling said fluid, which expulsion means co-operate with at least one water detection means (15) so as to act when water is detected to remove said fluid resulting from inflation of the airbag (11), said airbag (11) being provided with a peripheral elastic strap (50) for optimizing the deflation of said airbag (11) when said expulsion means (20) allow said fluid to be removed from the airbag (11).Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2012Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Airbus HelicoptersInventor: Tomas Santana-Gallego
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Patent number: 8882149Abstract: A steering device is provided that includes an aluminum-alloy column bolted with a steering lock apparatus, that prevents destruction of a flange to be bolted, and that prevents the bolt from being loosened by applying shock to a bolt head section through the use of a special tool. A counterbore is formed so deep that a slant plane is higher than a top end of a disk-shaped member of a bolt. A thief can hardly apply shock to the disk-shaped member of the bolt using a special tool. It is difficult to rotate and loosen the bolt. A vehicle can be prevented from being stolen by removing a steering lock apparatus from an outer column.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2010Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Yuuichi Tomaru, Shinji Okada, Daiki Orihara
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Patent number: 8882148Abstract: A steering system includes a steering column which supports rotatably a steering shaft to which a steering wheel is connected and a pair of support mechanisms which support the steering column so as to tilt relative to a vehicle body. Each of the support mechanisms includes a support bracket having a column-side fastened portion and a body-side fastened portion, a fulcrum bolt, and a bush. A fastening hole through which a fastening bolt is inserted to fasten the support bracket to a fixed member is formed in the body-side fastened portion. Each of the support mechanisms includes an elastic member which can be compressed in an axial direction of the fulcrum bolt, and the support bracket is configured to oscillate relative to the steering column by the elastic member being compressed.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignees: JTEKT Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshihide Ohara, Tatsuhiro Yamamoto, Hiroshi Kawakami, Toru Suzuki
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Patent number: 8882136Abstract: A side paneling system for a pillar of a motor vehicle is provided. The system includes a side paneling part for covering the pillar and an airbag arranged between the side paneling part and the pillar, at least one connecting element for releasably connecting the side paneling part to the pillar so that with an airbag (10) activating itself the side paneling part can move away from the pillar with the airbag, a catch band that is indirectly or directly connected to the side paneling part, so that the side paneling part is indirectly or directly fastened to the pillar with the catch band even with an activated airbag and the released connecting element. The side paneling part is in two parts with a first part and a second part, so that only the second part can move away from the pillar with the airbag.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Carsten Glaser, Thorsten Best
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Patent number: 8882137Abstract: An airbag for a motor vehicle includes a support structure moveable from a stowage position into a restraint position and a covering that surrounds a restraint volume of the airbag formed by the support structure in its restraint position. The covering is an element that is separate from the support structure and joined to the support structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2011Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Daimler AGInventors: Ralf Bogenrieder, Christian Burczyk, Andreas Hirth, Friedrich Reiter
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Patent number: 8876152Abstract: An inflatable restraint assembly includes a vehicle pillar and a pillar trim component that is attached to the vehicle pillar, the pillar trim component having an upper end. A curtain airbag module has an inflatable curtain portion that is disposed in a stowed configuration prior to deployment and moves to a deployed configuration subsequent to deployment. A guide ramp is disposed between the inflatable curtain portion of the curtain airbag module and the upper end of the pillar trim component. A headliner has an outboard portion that is sandwiched between the guide ramp and the upper end of the pillar trim component prior to deployment of the inflatable curtain portion of the curtain airbag module.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2013Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventor: James Zucal
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Patent number: 8870217Abstract: An airbag housing for a vehicle and a manufacturing method thereof may include a main body receiving an airbag configured to expand upon collision of the vehicle and an inflator expanding the airbag, and including an end being open such that expansion of the airbag spreads in one direction, and a door portion coupled with the main body at the end of the main body to form a closed space therebetween in which the airbag and the inflator may be disposed, wherein the door portion may be open by the expansion of the airbag, wherein the door portion may be formed by combining a stiffness portion with a ductile portion, a ductility of which may be higher than a ductility of the stiffness portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2013Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hyun Kim, Hong Sik Chang, Bock Cheol Lee, Young-Seok Kim
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Patent number: 8857551Abstract: A rear suspension of a three-wheeled car with two front wheels and one rear wheel installed in the car body frame may include a pair of roll links that may be connected to the front wheels and twists as the car turns, and a roll connector that pivots around a shaft as the roll links twist, and a knuckle assembly, which may be joined to a rear wheel, installed in the rear end of the car body frame, and connected to a roll connector so that it turns left and right as the roll connector turns, wherein the knuckle assembly turns in the same direction the front wheels turn.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2013Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Sang-Hoon Lee, Jae-Kil Lee
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Patent number: 8844943Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic control suspension (ECS) system for vehicles. The ECS system includes a strut assembly which is coupled to a vehicle body and a lower portion of which is inserted through the housing to absorb the rocking from the wheel. The system further includes a vehicle height control module at a lower portion of the strut assembly, wherein the control module includes a spiral guide groove formed in the strut assembly and a guide member fitted into the guide groove. The guide member is rotated using a motor to move the guide member along the guide groove to cause the strut assembly to be moved vertically to control the height of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Jong Min Kim, Sung Bae Jang, Bo Min Kim, Dae Sik Ko
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Patent number: 8827287Abstract: An axle control element of a motor vehicle has a torsion spring system connected to a wheel control element via a rotary spring arm and fixedly supported on the vehicle body via a controllable actuator. The torsion spring system has a torsion spring rod nested inside a torsion spring tube. An actuator unit is spaced apart from the torsion spring system and is fixed on the vehicle body and a pivotally controllable drive lever is connected to the actuator unit. The drive lever is connected to a torsion spring tube, and an output lever is connected to a torsion spring rod and directly or indirectly via a coupling to the wheel control element. Alternatively, the drive lever is connected to a torsion spring rod, and the output lever is connected to a torsion spring tube and directly or indirectly via a coupling to the wheel control element.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Audi AGInventor: Wilfried Michel
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Patent number: 8820781Abstract: An attachment structure for driver seat airbag devices that enables smoother operation of a horn switch. The attachment structure includes: an armature connected to a steering mechanism of the vehicle; and a housing that accommodates the airbag module and that is positioned with respect to the armature. The housing includes positioning pins for implementing relative positioning in XY directions with respect to the armature at a plurality of locations and first openings for implementing positioning in a Z direction at a plurality of locations. The armature is provided with a plurality of second openings through which the positioning pins of the housing are inserted and with a plurality of protrusions that are inserted through the first openings of the housing. The position of Z-direction lower edge sections of the first openings of the housing lies within a range of the depth of the second openings of the armature.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2011Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Shinsuke Sato, Masaru Narita, Yasutaka Hiraoka
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Patent number: 8814202Abstract: A curtain airbag mitigating possible occupant ejection from a vehicle. The curtain airbag includes a serial main chamber that is capable of being inflated and deployed along a vehicle cabin side face; a delay chamber that is positioned at a front end section of the serial main chamber and that is inflated and deployed so as to overlap an A1 impact point below an A-pillar of the vehicle; and an ace tab that fixes the upper edge of the delay chamber to the A-pillar. The ace tab is provided at a position overlapping a straight line LS that is provided on the shortest way from the A1 impact point to the A-pillar, as viewed from inside the vehicle cabin.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2011Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Tetsuya Matsushita, Atsushi Nakashima
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Patent number: 8814204Abstract: In an automobile seat, a portion of a side airbag is disposed further toward a vehicle front side than an inflator. Therefore, the side airbag can be expanded toward a vehicle front side of an outer-side side support portion, i.e., toward a side of a waist portion of a passenger. Moreover, because the inflator is disposed at a vehicle front side of an outer-side side frame, the inflator can be set close to a center of a waist of a passenger for which restraining by the side airbag is desired. Further, because the side airbag and the inflator are not structures that are disposed so as to interpose the outer-side side frame 20B therebetween, ease of assembly into a seatback is good.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2011Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Osamu Fukawatase
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Patent number: 8814201Abstract: A knee airbag assembly is operable to restrain at least one leg of an occupant of a vehicle. The assembly includes an inflator, a housing, and an airbag that moves between a stowed state and a deployed state. The inflator is operable to selectively inflate the airbag to move the airbag from the stowed state to the deployed state. The airbag is housed within the housing in the stowed state, and the airbag extends from the housing in the deployed state. The airbag defines a package width when in the stowed state, and the airbag defines a deployed width when in the deployed state. A ratio of the package width to the deployed width is between approximately 0.8 and 1.0.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Chrysler Group LLCInventor: James Webber