Patents Examined by Paul N. Dickson
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Patent number: 11560119Abstract: A pregnancy seat belt that secures an expectant mother and her unborn baby due to the absence of a lap belt traversing the expectant mother's abdomen. The expectant mother is secured instead by a center belt and/or thigh-belts that secure the mother at her thighs and avoid traverse of her abdomen.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2021Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Inventors: Bill Birgen, Wes Cross
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Patent number: 11554818Abstract: A self-stabilizing vehicle includes a mass gyroscope which is fixed at an occupant compartment chassis corresponding to a portion where occupants sit. The occupant compartment portion may tilt outwards in response to the centrifugal force. If the vehicle has three or more wheels, the load is evenly distributed on the left wheel and the right wheel which move oppositely up and down about an effectively centrally-mounted shaft pin. Further, the present disclosure proposes a method for operating the self-stabilizing vehicle. According to the self-stabilizing vehicle and the operating method thereof, a vehicle having a narrow body may be used. When the vehicle undergoes external forces such as the centrifugal force and the crosswind, the occupant compartment can maintain the vertical stability even though the wheels may slide sideways.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2017Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: SHENZHEN DAHON TECHNOLOGY LTD.Inventor: David Tak Wei Hon
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Patent number: 11554627Abstract: A vehicle height control system and method of increasing a vehicle height of a vehicle having a vehicle body and at least one axle assembly. The vehicle height control system includes a pressurized fluid, and a plurality of air springs provided to support at least one section of the body of the vehicle above at least one axle of the vehicle and configured to adjust the height the vehicle relative to the ground in response to the supply and discharge of the fluid. A control assembly of the vehicle height control system configured to receive user input indicative of a vehicle height adjustment operation desired by a user has a piston unit fluidically interconnected with the pressurized fluid supply system via a first control valve and is operable to adjust the vehicle height by adjusting a second control valve interposed between the pressurized fluid supply system and the air springs.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2021Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Inventor: Stephen Ray Lynn
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Patent number: 11548472Abstract: A seat belt assembly unit includes a seat belt retractor, seat back, seat back frame, a rear wall interconnecting the side walls of a vehicle, a tubular member extending along the length of the rear wall and a belt guide disposed adjacent to the seat back and rigidly attached to the tubular member. The seat belt guide is a rod-shaped member formed substantially into a U-shape with its side portions inserted into holes on the tubular member. A shoulder belt extending from the retractor and passing through the seat belt guide, restrains occupants to the seat. The pulling force of the shoulder belt which restrains the occupant in the seat is transferred to the tubular member via the belt guide.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2022Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Igor Tchepikov, Nuttaphon Boonyarangkavorn, Alan Dyer, Christian Trentin, Brett Carroll
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Patent number: 11548555Abstract: A sub-frame arranged to be mounted on a chassis of a car and to have the rear wheels of the car mounted thereon is arranged to receive an electric drivetrain arranged to drive the car. The sub-frame includes a cage including bars arranged to form an upper perimeter and a lower perimeter and a plurality of struts extending between the upper and lower perimeters; a pair of rear wheel suspension mounts, each rear wheel suspension mount being arranged to have one of the rear wheels of the car mounted thereon; and a plurality of brackets located on the cage and arranged to facilitate connection of the sub-frame to the chassis of the car and/or to the electric drivetrain. A frame and vehicle including such a sub-frame and a method of installing such a sub-frame are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: RBW Sports & Classics Ltd.Inventor: Peter Swain
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Patent number: 11548346Abstract: A clamp for securing a link to a bar or a rod in order to accommodate multiple connection points. The clamp or sway bar clamp includes multiple connection points for securing a link to a sway bar. The sway bar clamp goes over the end of the sway bar. It converts a sway bar with one connection point to a sway bar with multiple connection points to adjust flex of the sway bar.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Shock Therapy Suspension, Inc.Inventor: Justin Smith
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Patent number: 11549551Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a shaft adapted to be at least partially inserted into an opening of a shaft receiver. The shaft comprises a nominal shaft portion adapted to be at least partially inserted into the opening of the shaft receiver, followed by an intermediate shaft portion that in turn is followed by a guide shaft portion terminating the shaft. The shaft comprises a cross-section with a cross-sectional contour in a plane including the central axis, the cross-sectional contour comprising a nominal shaft portion contour of the nominal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion contour of the intermediate shaft portion and a guide shaft portion contour of the guide shaft portion. The cross-sectional contour comprises a radial direction being perpendicular to the central axis, wherein, as seen in the radial direction, the nominal shaft portion contour is located at a nominal radial distance from the central axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Volvo Truck CorporationInventors: Jan Zachrisson, Martin Sjöholm
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Patent number: 11548336Abstract: A vehicle suspension system for a vehicle having a body supported on a frame includes a first suspension component having a surface and a bracket cantilevered from the surface, a second suspension component including a surface portion, and a spring element mounted to one of the bracket and the surface portion of the second suspension component. Interaction between the spring element and the another of the bracket and the surface portion of the second suspension component limits upward travel of the body of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Jeffery L. Vogt
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Patent number: 11548339Abstract: A relative guide device (1) for a steering arrangement (31) is arranged on the wheel-carrier side for the spatial guidance and maintenance of the relative spatial orientation of the steering arrangement (31) with respect to a vehicle body (40). At least one telescopic movement apparatus (2) for movably connecting the steering arrangement (31) is arranged on the wheel-carrier side to the vehicle body (40). A steering force transmission device (30) transmits a steering force to a wheel (R) of a vehicle having a relative guide device (1), and to a wheel suspension (50) for a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2019Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventors: Dominik Nees, Michael Frey
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Patent number: 11548341Abstract: A strut mount includes an inner member, an outer member, and a body rubber. A stopper rubber which protrudes outward in an axial direction is disposed on the body rubber. The outer member includes a supporting portion which covers the stopper rubber from outside thereof in the axial direction. The stopper rubber includes a pedestal protrusion portion which protrudes outward in the axial direction from the inner member and a tip protrusion portion which protrudes outward in the axial direction from the pedestal protrusion portion, contacts the supporting portion, and has an elasticity in the axial direction lower than that of the pedestal protrusion portion. The pedestal protrusion portion and the tip protrusion portion taper outward in the axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2019Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Prospira CorporationInventors: Kazutaka Otsu, Musashi Hashimoto
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Patent number: 11548345Abstract: A suspension component for a vehicle may include a spring section performing a support function for supporting a portion of the vehicle and a shock absorbing section performing a damping function to damp action of the spring section. The spring section may be adjustable to provide adjustable support characteristics and the shock absorbing section is adjustable to provide adjustable damping characteristics. The spring section may be adjustable independent of the shock absorbing section. The spring section of the suspension component may define a gas chamber for holding a quantity of a gas to provide a spring support for the vehicle, and the shock absorbing section of the suspension component may define a fluid chamber to provide damping of movement of the spring section.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: AFCO Performance Group, LLCInventor: Jesse Jurrens
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Patent number: 11548549Abstract: A steering system for a trailing axle of a motor vehicle includes an electric motor, a hydraulic pump, a first valve, and a working cylinder. The electric motor is configured to drive the hydraulic pump. The working cylinder has a central bore and a piston positioned in the working cylinder. The first valve is fluidically connected to the pump such that the first valve is configured to block flow between the central bore and the pump in response to pressure generated by the pump, and to release the flow in response to a non-pressurized state of the pump in order to divert hydraulic fluid from the working cylinder through the central bore via an adhesion-driven movement of the piston into a central position in the central bore. A method includes operating a steering system for a trailing axle of a motor vehicle of this type.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2016Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbHInventors: Falk Hofmann, Michael Haegele, Kai Eckmann
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Patent number: 11541750Abstract: A bracket assembly for use in a vehicle. The bracket assembly includes one or more first center bearing brackets, one or more plates, and one or more attachment members. At least a portion of the one or more plates are connected to at least a portion of the first center bearing bracket and to at least a portion of a body or frame of a vehicle. Additionally, at least a portion of the one or more attachment members are connected to at least a portion of the first center bearing bracket, to at least a portion of the one or more plates, and/or to at least a portion of the body or frame of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLCInventors: Sandip S. Rakhe, Vishal V. Pandarkar, Nilesh D. Kharade
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Patent number: 11541711Abstract: The present invention comprises a trailer main frame with a first rocker assembly and a second rocker assembly pivotally attached to the trailer main frame wherein the rocker assemblies are attached to leveling means such as but not limited to hydraulic and or air system between the trailer main frame and the rocker assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Inventor: Ronny Dean Eaves
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Patent number: 11541714Abstract: A vehicle disclosed herein may include: a vehicle body including a front compartment; a drive disposed in the front compartment and configured to drive a wheel; a plurality of brackets attaching the drive to the vehicle body; a stabilizer extending in a right-left direction of the vehicle in the front compartment and connecting a left front suspension and a right front suspension to each other; and a plurality of bushes attaching the stabilizer to the vehicle body, wherein the plurality of bushes may include a first bush located frontward of the drive, the plurality of brackets may include a first bracket located rearward of the first bush, and at least a part of the first bracket may be located above the first bush.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Makoto Nagayama, Shigenori Hashida, Masaki Yoshida, Masataka Tsukumo, Hideaki Yoshiba
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Patent number: 11541842Abstract: A system includes a seatbelt retractor and a webbing payable from the seatbelt retractor. A marker is fixed to the webbing. A proximity sensor is fixed relative to the seatbelt retractor. The proximity sensor is designed to detect the marker when the marker is within sensing range of the proximity sensor. The marker is positioned along the webbing to be out of sensing range of the proximity sensor when the webbing is engaged with a 6-year-old anthropomorphic test device and to be in sensing range of the proximity sensor when the webbing is engaged with a child seat.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dean M. Jaradi, S.M. Iskander Farooq, Mohammad Omar Faruque, Robert William McCoy
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Patent number: 11541838Abstract: A flexible wrapping of an airbag (16) of a vehicle occupant restraint system (10) comprises a holding compartment for a folded airbag package (14) formed by a holding bag (104) and an airbag package fixation (124), an inflator fixation (114) formed by projecting retaining tabs (112) as well as at least one fixing portion (130) for fixing an airbag module (12) to a vehicle. For inserting the airbag package (14) into the wrapping (20) an intermediate cover made of a coherent piece of fabric is used into which the airbag package (14) is wrapped along with the inflator (18). The subassembly consisting of the intermediate cover, the airbag package (14) and the inflator (18) is inserted into the wrapping (20). Subsequently, the intermediate cover is removed from between the wrapping (20) and the airbag package (14) again.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: DALPHI METAL ESPANA S.A.Inventors: Antonio Navarro Arranz, Ramon Ramos Agustin
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Patent number: 11541946Abstract: A transmission mount of a rear wheel drive vehicle may increase both vibrational noise performance and collision performance of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2019Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Youn Sic Nam, Yun Su Jung, Jun Haeng Heo
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Patent number: 11541831Abstract: A link mechanism is provided between a first member and a second member to effect a bending/stretching motion in operative association with a telescopic expanding/contracting motion of the first member and the second member. A supporting mechanism is provided to support, to the link mechanism, a wire having flexibility and connected between a first device on the side of the first member and a second device on the side of the second member. The supporting mechanism fixes the wire to each link member of the link mechanism in position so that the wire is deformed while maintaining its state following a shape of the link mechanism in operative association with the bending/stretching motion of the link mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Manabu Togo, Jinto No
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Patent number: 11535210Abstract: A wheel carrier assembly for a front axle or rear axle of a motor vehicle, with a wheel carrier part on which a link for a control arm assembly, a fixing device for a damper strut and a recess for a wheel bearing are provided. The wheel carrier part includes an air guide device for supplying air to a disk brake assembly, which as brake parts has at least a brake disk and a brake caliper. The wheel carrier part has a circumferentially hollow wheel carrier housing part. The air guide device includes at least one air inlet opening and at least one air outlet opening directed onto a brake part.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Inventor: Micha Kunert