Patents Examined by Paul N. Dickson
  • Patent number: 12036942
    Abstract: Methods and systems for preventing serious injury or vehicle damage resulting from collisions between automotive vehicles and people, animals, or other objects are described. In some instances, the system may comprise an object detection system configured to detect a human prior to impact with an automotive vehicle comprising the object detection system, and further configured to send a first activation signal upon detection of the human; a first actuator attached to the automotive vehicle; and a protection plate operatively connected to the first actuator and mounted on a structural component of the automotive vehicle; where upon receipt of the first activation signal by the first actuator, the protection plate is deployed from a non-vertical orientation into a vertical orientation and is vertically-positioned between a level of a front bumper of the automotive vehicle and a surface on which the automotive vehicle is traveling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Revathi Krishnamoorthy, Mark Lennard Taylor, Henning Wigger, Kevin Wheldon, Andres Meana, Shanmugha Kuppuraj
  • Patent number: 12017499
    Abstract: A suspension device for an in-wheel motor may include: a buffer part coupled to a vehicle body, and configured to absorb shock; an arm part coupled to the vehicle body, disposed at each of a top and bottom of the vehicle body, and coupled to the buffer part; a support part coupled to the arm part, and configured to be movable upward and downward; one or more connection parts rotatably mounted on the support part, provided as a pair of connection parts, and configured to serve as a steering axis; and a fixing part mounted on the connection part, rotated in connection with the connection part, and coupled to an in-wheel motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jin Wook Joo
  • Patent number: 12011962
    Abstract: An example vehicle frame disclosed herein includes a convex surface to face the ground when the vehicle frame is in a first operating position and face away from the ground when the vehicle frame is in a second operating position, the vehicle frame rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame between the first and second operating positions, and a concave surface opposite the convex surface, the concave surface to face away from the ground when the vehicle frame is in the first operating position and face the ground when the vehicle frame is in the second operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Harmon, Hussain Z. Tajmahal, Marielle Conrad, Benjamin Jordan Curtis, David Earl Ooms, Yejin Han
  • Patent number: 12005777
    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: June 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Drach, Erik S. Ellifson, Aaron J. Rositch, Devon C. Palmer
  • Patent number: 12005852
    Abstract: An apparatus for tensioning an occupant restraint harness coupled to an occupant seat mountable in a motor vehicle, wherein the occupant restraint harness includes first and second lap webs securable about an occupant of the seat, may include a web tensioning device configured to be attached to a rear side of the occupant seat, the web tensioning device having an actuated state and an unactuated state, and a mechanical movement converter configured to be attached to the rear side of the occupant seat and having an input operatively coupled to the web tensioning device, a first output coupled to the first lap web and a second output coupled to the second lap web, the mechanical movement converter responsive to a transition of the web tensioning device from the unactuated state to the actuated state to simultaneously apply tension to the first and second lap webs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Chris P. Jessup
  • Patent number: 12005754
    Abstract: A method for lowering a vehicle chassis to a required vertical position, the vehicle including only two sets of running gear, namely a front set of running gear and a rear set of running gear, each wheel of the sets of running gear being associated with a parking brake, the method including the following successive steps: when the chassis is in its high running position, actuating the parking brake only for all of the wheels of one of the two sets of running gear; lowering the chassis to its low position resting on the ground; and actuating the parking brake for all of the wheels of the other of the two sets of running gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventor: Valery Cervantes
  • Patent number: 11999213
    Abstract: A chassis component (1, 32) has a first end section (2), a second end section (3), and a connecting section (4) between the two end sections (2, 3), with at least one bearing (9, 10) in one of the two end sections (2, 3). A sensor device (13) has a sensor housing (14, 33) with a first sensor element (16). To improve and/or enable the arrangement of the sensor device (13) and/or the sensor housing (14) on the chassis component (1, 32), the two end sections (2, 3) and the connecting section (4) of the chassis are made as a one-piece profile (5) open on one side along its length, such that the open profile (5) forms an at least partially free inside space (17), and where the first sensor element (16) is located within the inside space (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Artur Berger, Sebastian Meindl, Tim Holthaus
  • Patent number: 11993328
    Abstract: A lifting arrangement for lifting a wheel axle of a vehicle comprising a first elongated member extending along a first axis comprising a vehicle frame coupling portion for connecting the lifting arrangement to a vehicle frame of the vehicle during use, a second elongated member extending along a second axis comprising a wheel axle coupling portion for connecting the lifting arrangement to the wheel axle of the vehicle during use, wherein the vehicle frame coupling portion and the wheel axle coupling portion are offset from each other by a length and wherein the lifting arrangement is arranged to adjust the length between a maximum length and a minimum length by axially moving the second elongated member along the second axis relative the first elongated member, wherein the lifting arrangement further comprises an engaging device for axially moving the second elongated member along the second axis relative the first elongated member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Anders Olsson, Yogesh Ramachandra, Simon Wassenius, Calixthe Mattei
  • Patent number: 11993217
    Abstract: A side airbag device with a base member for an inflator to be easily fixed thereto, and a method for manufacturing same is provided. The side airbag device includes: an airbag; an inflator configured to supply the airbag with gas; a base member configured to accommodate the airbag and the inflator, and to be fixed to a vehicle body; an outer covering member configured to cover at least a front side of the base member to form a front-facing interior surface; and a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket includes an inflator fixing portion to which the inflator is fixed and a base member fixing portion which is located in a position different from a position of the inflator fixing portion and fixed to the base member. The base member includes, at a left or right side portion thereof, a bracket fixing portion to which the mounting bracket is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamabe, Daisuke Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 11987959
    Abstract: A shovel includes a lower traveling structure, an upper swing structure mounted on the lower traveling structure via a swing mechanism, an image capturing device attached to the upper swing structure to capture an image of an area surrounding the upper swing structure, and a display device. The display device is configured to display the image captured by the image capturing device such that distortion in a part of an edge of the upper surface of the upper swing structure is reduced compared with distortion in another part in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takuma Seki
  • Patent number: 11987205
    Abstract: In this buckle device, when a second wind of a belt is pulled out from a spool, a load at which the belt is permitted to be pulled out is small, whereas slide resistance of the belt with respect to a slide face is large. When a first wind of the belt is then pulled out from the spool, the belt pull-out permitting load is large, whereas the slide resistance of the belt with respect to the slide face is small. This enables variation in a load at which extending of a buckle body is permitted to be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Ryuji Yamaguchi, Yoshio Mizuno
  • Patent number: 11987202
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a seat belt presenter (1) for a seat belt system of a motor vehicle with a presenter arm with a guide component for a seat belt (3) of the seat belt system arranged on said arm, a drive system driving the presenter arm in an extension movement from a parked position into a presenting position, and a housing on which the presenter arm is guided, wherein the housing is formed by a hollow section with an elongate first chamber (23), in which the presenter arm is arranged, and the first chamber (23) has a shape determining the course of the extension movement in the direction of the extension movement of the presenter arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Marcel Rettig, Ronald Jabusch
  • Patent number: 11987954
    Abstract: A shovel includes a lower traveling body, an upper traveling body turnably mounted on the lower traveling body, a hydraulic actuator, an operating apparatus configured to be operated to operate the hydraulic actuator, an object detector configured to detect an object within a predetermined area around the shovel, a gate lock lever configured to switch the operating apparatus between an enabled state and a disabled state, and a control device. The control device is configured to switch the operating apparatus between the enabled state and the disabled state separately from the gate lock lever, and to disable the operating apparatus in response to determining that the object is present within the predetermined area based on the output of the object detector while the operating apparatus is switched to the enabled state by the gate lock lever, during the standby state of the shovel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: SUMITOMO(S.H.L.) CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11981381
    Abstract: An actuator (1) for a rear axle steering system of a vehicle includes a thrust rod (2) which is longitudinally displaceable within a housing (3). The thrust rod (2) has a rotation lock (4) having a guide element (5) which is guided in the axial direction in a single-part or multi-part slide rail (6) arranged on the housing (3). An elastomer ring (7) is arranged between the slide rail (6) and the housing (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Benjamin Wuebbolt-Gorbatenko, Daniel Faber, Alexander Hausmann, Simon Mersmann
  • Patent number: 11981196
    Abstract: Ride-on equipment includes a pair of front wheels, a pair of rear wheels, a main frame, a subframe pivotally coupled to the main frame about a pivot axis, a power source, and a transaxle assembly. The power source is coupled to and supported by the main frame and includes a drive pulley. The transaxle assembly is configured to pivot with respect to the power source, is operably coupled to the pair of rear drive wheels, and includes at least one driven pulley. The drive pulley and the at least one driven pulley are operably coupled by a belt such that the at least one driven pulley of the transaxle assembly is configured to be driven by the drive pulley of the source via the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Mark J. Melone, James F. Marshall, Richard Smith, Mark Lynch, Travis Rasch, Erik Slegelis, Steven J. Weber, Denis Oswald
  • Patent number: 11980115
    Abstract: A protective frame position control system includes a wheel protective frame for a working vehicle. The wheel protective frame is mounted on a wheel via at least one bearing aligned with a center of rotation of the wheel, and a position guide 55 is associable with an upper cast of a suspension via a pin 56 to prevent rotation of the wheel protective frame and also maintain a position of the wheel protective frame at any height of the suspension of the working vehicle. The position guide comprises includes a geometry oriented vertically and compatible with a path travelled by a first end of a damping element, which is associated with the center of rotation of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Thiago Kato Perez
  • Patent number: 11981394
    Abstract: A coupled steering tilting and embedded independent shock absorption swing arm system (STS) system of a personal mobility vehicle, for example, but not limited to, a three-wheeled trike configuration, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: GENEV LIMITED
    Inventor: Tong Yu Chee
  • Patent number: 11981281
    Abstract: The invention relates a vehicle seat group (10) for a vehicle (100) having at least two vehicle seats (12, 14, 16, 18), a table (22) and a vehicle occupant restraint system (20) having at least one restraint element, wherein at least two vehicle seats (12, 14, 16, 18) of the vehicle seat group (10) can be aligned toward each other in their seat length direction (S), wherein the table (22) is arranged between the vehicle seats (12, 14, 16, 18), in particular at a center console (30), wherein at least one restraint element of the vehicle occupant restraint system (20) is disposed in and/or at the table (22). In addition, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising such vehicle seat group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Loreen-Marie Binder, Sina Chlod, Lisa Wagner
  • Patent number: 11975600
    Abstract: An electric truck that travels by electric power supplied from a battery includes a ladder frame including a pair of side rails, where the side rails face each other in a vehicle width direction, and a power supply unit including the battery, where the power supply unit is disposed between the side rails and is connected to the side rails. The side rails each have flanges having a predetermined width provided at each edge of a respective web. At least one of the flanges at a location facing a corner of the power supply unit as viewed in the vehicle width direction has a narrowed flange portion having a width smaller than the predetermined width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Daimler Truck AG
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kimura, Shigeru Okonogi
  • Patent number: 11970042
    Abstract: A suspension assembly for a vehicle may have a first end for pivotal mounting to a structural member of the vehicle and a second end opposite the first end for attachment of a damping arrangement and a stub axle. The suspension assembly may include first and second shell components that are welded together to form a substantially hollow body between the first and second ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: AL-KO INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD
    Inventors: Jibu John, John Lizza