Patents Examined by Paul N. Dickson
  • Patent number: 11613314
    Abstract: A weight sensing assembly for a semi-trailer truck enabling balancing of a load includes a sensing module, which is one of a plurality thereof. The sensing modules are mountable to wheels of the semi-trailer truck so that each axle has a sensing module engaged to outside wheels thereof. The sensing module obtains a pressure measurement of a tire engaged to the wheel and transmits it to an electronic device. Programming code on the electronic device enables it to utilize a pressure change, upon positioning of a load upon the semi-trailer truck, to determine a weight that is positioned upon an associated axle. The electronic device calculates adjustments to positions of a sliding fifth wheel and of sliding tandems of the semi-trailer truck to obtain positions thereof that will achieve a legal weight distribution of the load. The electronic device presents, upon a screen thereof, the adjustments to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Taibi Khayyi Hammou
  • Patent number: 11608105
    Abstract: A dust cap for a steering system is disclosed. A dust cap for a steering system, which has an accommodation hole for accommodating a pinion shaft and of which the lower part is coupled to a rack housing, according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a floor surface which extends from the upper part toward the outer side of the accommodation hole; a first rim forming a lateral wall on the edge of the floor surface; a second rim forming an intermediate wall between the first rim and the accommodation hole; and one or more slits insert-formed from the second rim toward the floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ilkwon Heo
  • Patent number: 11608026
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, an energy absorbing member for a vehicle includes an engine cover adapted to be mounted beneath a vehicle hood and to overlie at least part of an engine, and an upper member coupled to the engine cover. The upper member is cantilevered to the engine cover wherein the upper member has a base coupled to the engine cover and a free end spaced from the base, and the upper member is flexible and a first portion of the upper member spaced from the base and including the free end is movable relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Jayachandran Rajangam, Milind S Parab, Sreenath Mallela, Sathiya Narayanan, Nagendra Kumar VR, Naresh Mohan
  • Patent number: 11607910
    Abstract: An axle oscillation stop for a construction machine includes a body portion defining a first aperture. The axle oscillation stop also includes a first plate that defines a first through-aperture. The axle oscillation stop further includes a second plate that defines a second through-aperture. The axle oscillation stop includes a dowel pin adapted to removably couple the body portion with a frame of the construction machine. The dowel pin is at least partially receivable within the first aperture. The axle oscillation stop also includes a first fastening device adapted to removably couple the first plate with the frame. The first fastening device is at least partially receivable within the first through-aperture. The axle oscillation stop further includes a second fastening device adapted to removably couple the second plate with the frame. The second fastening device is at least partially receivable within the second through-aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Rajendra Vavilala, Brian C. Howson, William James Hurst
  • Patent number: 11608126
    Abstract: A support system for a vehicle includes a base and at least a first and a second support arm. Each of the first and the second support arms include a base end pivotally coupled to the base through a respective hinge assembly. Each of the first and the second support arms further include a distal end opposite the base end. The support system also includes a respective wheel assembly coupled to each distal end. Each wheel assembly includes an independently powered and steerable wheel configured to engage a travel surface, a propelling motor configured to drive a respective first support arm between a stowed condition and a deployed condition unaided while the vehicle remains stationary, and a steer actuator configured to change an angle of the wheel with respect to a respective support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: XTREME MANUFACTURING, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Paul Sobotka, Jacob Wayne Adkins
  • Patent number: 11603067
    Abstract: An airbag system for repositioning a seat occupant in a moving vehicle during a crash event includes: a first inflatable airbag disposed proximate to a front portion of a seat pan; a second inflatable airbag disposed proximate to a rear portion of the seat pan; and inflation control device controlling deployment of the first and second inflatable airbags. The inflation control device includes a programmable controller controlling inflation parameters of the first and second inflatable airbags to achieve a desired lift, subject to monument constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SCHROTH SAFETY PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Akoma
  • Patent number: 11602966
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a chassis. An independent linear suspension system couples to the chassis. The independent linear suspension system includes a driveshaft that couples to the chassis and to a transmission. A wheel hub couples to the driveshaft and rotates a wheel in response to rotation of the driveshaft. A spindle couples to the wheel hub. A spindle carrier couples to the spindle. The spindle carrier defines a first aperture and a second aperture. A first pin extends through the first aperture. A second pin extends through the second aperture. The first pin and the second pin block rotation of the spindle carrier. The spindle carrier moves linearly along the first pin and the second pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Thomas T. Yi, Michael Jensen
  • Patent number: 11602965
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension device, including: a carrier; a lower arm and an upper arm each of which is pivotally supported at one end portion thereof by a vehicle body, the other end portion of each of the lower arm and the upper arm being connected to the carrier; a rocking lever supported at one end portion thereof by the vehicle body so as to be rockable; a link one end portion of which is connected to the rocking lever and the other end portion of which is connected to one of the lower arm and the upper arm at a position between the one end portion and the other end portion of the one of the lower arm and the upper arm; and a shock absorber pivotally supported at one end portion thereof by the vehicle body, the other end portion thereof being connected to the rocking lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takuya Kuribayashi
  • Patent number: 11603133
    Abstract: Provided is a steering apparatus 1 including: a wheel 2; and a steering unit 5 configured to steer the wheel 2, the steering apparatus 1 being fixable to a vehicle body, wherein the steering unit 5 includes: a steering drive source (an electric motor incorporated in an electric motor unit 61) configured to steer the wheel 2 with a steering rotation axis 63a as an axis, the steering rotation axis 63a being a rotation axis when the wheel 2 is steered; and a manual toe angle adjustment mechanism 7 different from the steering drive source, the manual toe angle adjustment mechanism 7 enabling a toe angle of the wheel 2 to be manually adjusted around the steering rotation axis 63a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Itoh, Yoshinori Masubuchi, Yutaka Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11603162
    Abstract: An axle bearing carrier assembly having a swing arm of unitary construction that operatively associates with an adjustable tension plate for selectively connecting one of two different types of axle bearing carriers to the swing arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Inventor: Richard Mellick Zock
  • Patent number: 11597250
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hub bracket structure wherein a hub bracket that connects a trailing arm and a hub includes a hub mounting surface, a front connecting surface that connects a front portion of the hub mounting surface and the trailing arm, and a rear connecting surface that connects a rear portion of the hub mounting surface and the trailing arm, each of the front connecting surface and the rear connecting surface is formed in a plate shape extending in up-down and vehicle width directions, and an angle formed by the hub mounting surface and the front connecting surface is greater than an angle formed by the hub mounting surface and the rear connecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Urabe, Takayuki Toyoshima, Toshiaki Matsuzawa, Toru Takenaka
  • Patent number: 11597438
    Abstract: An adjustable steering stop for an axle assembly of a vehicle includes a housing configured to be coupled to a steering knuckle or a frame of the axle assembly, a shaft received within the housing and movable relative thereto, the shaft being configured to engage a stop to limit movement of the steering knuckle relative to the frame, and a locking assembly coupled to the housing and reconfigurable between (a) an engaged configuration in which the locking assembly limits movement of the shaft relative to the housing and (b) a disengaged configuration in which the locking assembly permits the shaft to move relative to the housing. The locking assembly includes an actuator configured to reconfigure the locking assembly between the engaged and disengaged configurations. A controller is configured to control the actuator to reconfigure the locking assembly between the engaged configuration and the disengaged configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Payne
  • Patent number: 11597439
    Abstract: A chassis for a vehicle includes a frame having a first end and an opposing second end. The frame includes a first frame rail defining a first channel, a second frame rail defining a second channel and that is spaced from the first frame rail, and a cross member assembly coupled to the first end of the frame and extending between the first frame rail and the second frame rail. The cross member assembly includes a first end plate positioned within and releasably received by the first channel of the first frame rail, a second end plate positioned within and releasably received by the second channel of the second frame rail, and a cross member extending between the first end plate and the second end plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: David Calliari, Cody Bauer, Bjoern Gillstroem, Jonathan King, Mark Chapin, Brian Koppa
  • Patent number: 11590923
    Abstract: A roof mounted airbag is proposed. The roof mounted airbag includes: an airbag cushion having an upper portion fixed to a roof of a vehicle and configured to be expanded downward when gas is supplied therein; a vent hole formed on the airbag cushion, and configured to discharge the gas in the airbag cushion to the outside of the airbag cushion during opening of the vent hole; and a closing tether having a first end fixed to the roof of the vehicle, and a second end connected to the vent hole to close the vent hole when tension is applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ga Ram Jeong, Sang Won Hwangbo, Hae Kwon Park
  • Patent number: 11591771
    Abstract: A wheel loader representing a work vehicle includes an operator's seat, a console, and an armrest. The console includes an operation portion. The console is provided lateral to the operator's seat. The armrest includes an upper surface. The armrest is provided lateral to the operator's seat and in the rear of the operation portion. The armrest operates independently of the console such that a rear end of the upper surface is laterally displaced in a top view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Koshi, Masahiko Hamaguchi, Hirofumi Wada, Naoki Kimura
  • Patent number: 11591000
    Abstract: A steering apparatus assembly, having a steering axis, about which the steering apparatus assembly can rotate in is disclosed. The steering apparatus assembly comprises a first element and a second element. The two elements are connected to one another by a first and second joints. The first joint comprises a resilient locking element, which is deflectable in a direction transverse to the steering axis to disengage the first joint. The second joint is deflectable by an axial load acting on the assembly elements away from one another. A wedge is provided having a wedge length transverse to the steering axis and a variable wedge height in the direction of the steering axis. The wedge length and length and a wedge inclination angle are matched to one another such that both the first joint and the second joint can be undone by a linear movement of the wedge in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Safety Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Haas
  • Patent number: 11590817
    Abstract: A cantilever bushing assembly anchors the central torsional section of a vehicular stabilizer bar in a cantilevered manner relative to a vehicle understructure. The bushing assembly comprises a bracket having a pocket centered on a pocket axis that coincides with a longitudinal axis of the stabilizer bar. Two plastic outer cans are cooperatively slidable into the pocket. Each outer can has an anti-rotation lobe received in respective keyways formed in the pocket. A rubber buffer is bonded to each outer can. Each rubber buffer has a frusto-cylindrical inner bearing surface that forms an arcuate portion of an interior bushing diameter. The inner bearing surface is post-vulcanization bonded to the central torsional section of the stabilizer bar. An arched rate plate is embedded within each rubber buffer. The rubber buffers compress in the area of the inner bearing surfaces and constrict about the central torsional section of the stabilizer bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Zhongli North America Inc.
    Inventor: Dean Juriga
  • Patent number: 11590818
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle comprises vehicle axles, a chassis, and at least two sensor modules. The control device comprises an energy supply unit. The control device is configured to supply energy to the at least two sensor modules via the energy supply unit. The at least two sensor modules are permanently connected to one of the vehicle axles of the vehicle. A vehicle is also provided. The vehicle comprises vehicle axles, a chassis, a sensor arrangement, and a control device comprising an energy supply unit. The sensor arrangement comprises at least two sensor modules which are permanently connected to the vehicle axle and each comprise a supply connection for providing energy into the respective sensor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Hannover GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Gröger
  • Patent number: 11584336
    Abstract: A seat belt accessory comprising a first and second fastener connected by a connecting member. The fasteners may be of various shapes, sizes, designs, and dimensions. The seat belt assembly can be used to improve the comfort of a passenger riding in a vehicle or any other apparatus requiring seat belt restraints by creating more space between the seat belt and the passenger and eliminating any pinching created by the seat belt. In addition to creating a more comfortable passenger experience, the seat belt accessory allows easier seat belt access to passengers with mobility problems, serves as a reminder for passengers to use their seat belt, and instantly protect passengers upon crash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Richard H. Galloway
  • Patent number: 11584179
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a rear suspension assembly which has a trailing arm generally extending longitudinally. 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: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Louis J. Brady, John M. Nutter, Timothy J. Giese, Donald S. Hansen