Patents Examined by Paul N. Dickson
  • Wheelchair occupant restraint device
    Patent number: 11420588
    Abstract: A wheelchair occupant restraint device includes: a wheelchair retractor which is disposed in a vehicle cabin, and around which one end portion of a wheelchair belt member is wound; a wheelchair buckle which is disposed on the opposite side of a securing space for a wheelchair from the wheelchair retractor, and on which a wheelchair tongue plate attached to the other end portion of the wheelchair belt member is able to be mounted; an occupant retractor which is disposed on the opposite side of the securing space from the wheelchair retractor, and around which one end portion of an occupant belt member is wound; and an occupant buckle which is disposed on the opposite side of the securing space from the occupant retractor, and on which an occupant tongue plate attached to the other end portion of the occupant belt member is able to be mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Sekizuka, Mitsuyoshi Ohno
  • Mounting assembly for a steerable wheel with variable track width
    Patent number: 11420677
    Abstract: A wheel-mounting assembly for an agricultural utility vehicle includes a chassis and a telescopic axle arrangement fixed to the chassis. The telescopic axle arrangement includes an inner axle telescopically received in an outer axle, which is fixed to the chassis. A wheel-support assembly is mounted to an outboard end of the inner axle. A steering-control actuator is connected between the inner axle and the wheel-support assembly. The steering-control actuator is connected to the inner axle through an opening provided in the outer axle, which allows the steering-control actuator to translate together with the inner axle when track width is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Aron Crowley, James McGrath Slawson, Nathan Stewart Felix
  • Multi-chamber type air spring device
    Patent number: 11415193
    Abstract: A multi-chamber type air spring device includes a chamber part and a valve part. The chamber part is partitioned into spaces. The valve part is configured to control movement of air through an internal boundary of the chamber part via valves. In a powered-off state of the valve part, the valves are in different opened/closed states from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joon Chai Jung
  • Side airbag device
    Patent number: 11414039
    Abstract: In a side airbag device, a base member in which an airbag and an inflator are accommodated is fixed to a vehicle body. An outer covering member covers at least a front side of the base member to form a front-facing interior surface. The base member comprises: an inner portion located laterally farther inward within the vehicle body relative to the airbag; an outer portion located laterally farther outward within the vehicle body relative to the airbag; a rear portion located farther rearward relative to the airbag with respect to a front-rear direction of the seat, the rear portion connecting the inner portion and the outer portion; and a bridging portion made of a metal rod, and located apart from and farther frontward relative to the rear portion, the bridging portion connecting the inner portion and the outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Kuriyama, Atsushi Yamabe, Kei Takahashi, Koji Ikeda, Hiroyuki Ito, Shinsuke Odai
  • Systems and methods for controlling tilting in motorcycle systems
    Patent number: 11413925
    Abstract: A tilt control system for a sidecar and a motorcycle. The tilt control system can include a main frame, a tilting frame, and an actuator. The actuator can be coupled to the main frame and to the tilting frame, and can be configured to control tilting of the tilting frame relative to the main frame. The tilt control system can include a sensor, and a controller in communication with the actuator and the sensor. The controller can be configured to determine an operating parameter based on sensor data received from the sensor, compare the operating parameter to a threshold criteria, and cause the actuator to control the orientation of the tilting frame relative to main frame, based on the comparison of the operating parameter to the threshold criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Inventor: Jason Breazlan
  • Work vehicle
    Patent number: 11414832
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a cab, a driver's seat disposed inside the cab, a first steering device, a second steering device, a seating sensor, and a control unit. The first steering device is disposed in front of the driver's seat. The first steering device is configured to perform a steering operation of the vehicle. The second steering device is disposed to a side of the driver's seat. The second steering device is configured to perform a steering operation of the vehicle. The seating sensor detects whether or not an operator is sitting in the driver's seat. The control unit disables the steering operation with the second steering device when the seating sensor detects that the operator is not sitting in the driver's seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Hirohito Hagiwara, Naoto Ikeda
  • Silencer for leaf spring for commercial vehicle
    Patent number: 11407267
    Abstract: A silencer for a leaf spring for a commercial vehicle is provided. The silencer includes an upper rubber body having defined therein a fitting hole into which a second leaf spring is press-fitted, with a top surface of the upper rubber body serving as a contact surface in contact with a first leaf spring, and a lower rubber body having defined therein an accommodation space, with a first buffering protrusion being provided on a bottom surface of the lower rubber body such that a third leaf spring is able to be in contact with the first buffering protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, SUNG RHIM T&T CO., LTD
    Inventors: Ga Ram Bark, Dong Ill Jung, Dong Jin Yeo, Kwang Seok Jeong, Tae Heui Lee
  • Adjustable spring mounting assembly for vehicle
    Patent number: 11407270
    Abstract: An adjustable spring mounting assembly includes an adjustment plate, including a receiver, an elongated axle alignment slot and at least one height adjustment aperture, and an alignment correction insert received and held in said receiver. The alignment correction insert includes a plurality of alignment correction apertures wherein a selected one of the plurality of alignment apertures is aligned with the elongated axle alignment slot to correct axle alignment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: RV Ride Control LLC
    Inventors: Robert F. Mater, Jr., Auldreg Dismuke
  • Motor-vehicle wheel support unit having a reconfigurable modular structure
    Patent number: 11407266
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle wheel support unit includes a first base body provided with attachments for connection to arms of a motor-vehicle suspension, and a second body for rotatably supporting a wheel hub, which is separate with respect to the first base body and is secured to the first base body in one of two different selectable mounting positions, which correspond to two different vertical positions, with reference to a condition of use, of an axis of the wheel hub with respect to the first base body. In this manner, a height of the vehicle from the ground can be modified by simply mounting said second body on the first body in one or the other of the two mounting positions. In each of the two mounting positions, the second body is rotated by 180° around an axis parallel to the wheel hub axis with respect to the other mounting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: FCA Italy S.p.A.
    Inventors: Carlo Pavesio, Andrea Stefanini, Alessandro Messina, Fabrizio Pastore
  • Seat belt retractor
    Patent number: 11407380
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor for a seat belt device in a vehicle. The retractor including a frame and a spool. The spool is configured to be fixed to one end of a webbing which is wound around the spool. A pretensioner device configured to rotate the spool in response to an excessive acceleration of the vehicle. The pretensioner device comprises a power transmission element carried in a pretensioner tube that is driven by a piston located in the pretensioner tube. The pretensioner device includes a gas generator for driving the piston into the power transmission element. The pretensioner device includes a seal system that includes a stopper tube located in a downstream end of the pretensioner tube to create a stop location for the piston to prevent operating gas from exiting the end of the pretensioner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
    Inventor: Mark F. Gray
  • Coupling for multi-piece steering system rack
    Patent number: 11400973
    Abstract: A rack assembly for a vehicle steering system includes a first rack component extending longitudinally from a first outer end to a first inner end, the first rack component having a first shoulder extending radially outwardly from a neck region to a head region. The rack assembly also includes a second rack component extending longitudinally from a second outer end to a second inner end, the second rack component having a second shoulder extending radially outwardly from a neck region to a head region. The rack assembly further includes a coupling assembly having an inner surface defining a hollow region that the head region of the first rack component and the head region of the second rack component are each disposed within, the inner surface having a first radial protrusion in abutment with the first shoulder and a second radial protrusion in abutment with the second shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: William H. Georges
  • Traveling vehicle
    Patent number: 11400998
    Abstract: A traveling vehicle includes a vehicle body, a left swing part, a right swing part, a holding body, and a suspension device. The left swing part rotatably supports a left front wheel. The right swing part rotatably supports a right front wheel. The left swing part and the right swing part are supported on the vehicle body. The holding body for supporting the suspension device is formed in a U-shape so as to sandwich the suspension device in a front-back direction. A support shaft provided in the suspension device is supported on the holding body on both sides in the front-back direction. The suspension device is rotatable about the support shaft. The suspension device is arranged at a position higher than the left swing part and the right swing part, and extends and contracts in conjunction with swings of the left swing part and the right swing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Taro Iwamoto, Hiroshi Ishii, Takeshi Nakajima, Kazuya Nagasaka, Taichi Inaba
  • Concentric hydraulic ride height actuator for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 11400790
    Abstract: A hydraulic ride height actuator system for providing variation of a ride height at a front end of a vehicle is provided includes a strut and an actuator including a piston and a housing axially movable with respect to the piston. The housing is fastened to an upper end of the strut. The piston and the housing define a hydraulic chamber. An increase in a volume of the hydraulic chamber forces the housing upward to vary the ride height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alan Abraham Rajan, Chris Luipold
  • Compact, lightweight and reusable local energy absorbers
    Patent number: 11400885
    Abstract: An energy absorbing structure includes a base, a loading platform, a pair of side supports, a center support, and a pair of flexible segments. The loading platform is spaced apart from the base. The side supports project from the base toward the loading platform. The center support projects from the loading platform toward the base. The flexible segments extend from the side supports to the center support and connect the side supports to the center support. The flexible segments have straight edges and curved surfaces disposed between the straight edges. The straight edges extend from the side supports to the center support and are oriented at an oblique angle relative to the base. Each of the curved surfaces faces one of the base and the loading platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Nilesh D. Mankame, Pablo D. Zavattieri, David Restrepo, Gordon Jarrold, Kristiaan Hector
  • Roof airbag for a vehicle
    Patent number: 11400880
    Abstract: A roof airbag for a vehicle including deployment guides configured to extend in forward and backward directions of a vehicle and disposed to be spaced laterally apart from each other, an inflator located between the deployment guides spaced apart from each other and configured to discharge gas therefrom during operation thereof, and a cushion located between the deployment guides spaced apart from each other, deployed in an extension direction of the deployment guides and including a deployment chamber configured to be deployed while the gas discharged from the inflator flows thereinto and delay chambers configured such that the gas flows thereinto in a deployed state thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.vvvvvvvvv
    Inventors: Choong Ryung Lee, Byung Ho Min
  • Load dependent damper for a vehicle suspension system
    Patent number: 11400789
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a vehicle suspension system includes a valve body, a first flow controller, a first plunger, a second flow controller, and a second plunger. The valve body defines a first inlet port, a first outlet port, a first chamber connected to the first inlet port and the first outlet port, a second chamber, a second inlet port, a second outlet port, a third chamber connected to the second inlet port and the second outlet port, and a fourth chamber. The first flow controller is positioned within the first chamber. The first plunger is positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber. The second flow controller is positioned within the third chamber. The second plunger is positioned between the third chamber and the fourth chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Jason J. Zuleger, Robert K. Sollenskog
  • Vehicle having an axle assembly and a wheel end support housing
    Patent number: 11396212
    Abstract: A vehicle having an axle assembly and a wheel end support housing. The axle assembly may have a differential assembly. The wheel end support housing may be mounted to a frame rail and may be spaced apart from the axle assembly. A linkage may operatively connect the differential assembly to a wheel end assembly may be mounted to the wheel end support housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory D. Pavuk
  • Roof airbag apparatus
    Patent number: 11390231
    Abstract: A roof airbag apparatus may include: a deployment guide part mounted on a sunshine roof part of a vehicle; a cushion part mounted in the sunshine roof part, and deployed in a longitudinal direction of the deployment guide part; and an inflator part mounted in the cushion part, and configured to discharge gas to the cushion part in case of a collision of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD., INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS KOREA LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Oh Lee, Byung Ho Min, Kwang Won Seo, Sang Gi Jang
  • Anti-roll bar link
    Patent number: 11390133
    Abstract: An anti-roll bar link for a vehicle suspension may be positioned between an anti-roll bar and an articulating arm. The link selectively transfers movement of the arm to the anti-roll bar, depending on a locked or unlocked state. The link includes a body interfacing a slidable shaft. A physical feature selectively locks or unlocks the slidable shaft with respect to the body. The physical feature may include a locking pin, interference with a locking ball, etc. In the locked state, translation of the slidable shaft is restricted, and movement of the arm is transferred through the link to the bar. In the unlocked state, translation of the slidable shaft is permitted, and movement of the arm causes the shaft to translate with respect to the body such that at least a portion of the movement is not transferred to the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Christopher Cox Creative
    Inventor: Christopher Paul Cox
  • Vehicle suspension unit, particularly for an electric vehicle, with a transverse leaf spring
    Patent number: 11390128
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension unit includes a frame module and two wheel supports each connected to the frame module by upper and lower oscillating arms, each arm having a first end portion swivelly connected to the respective wheel support by a first swivel joint and a second end portion swivelly connected to the frame module by a second swivel joint. A suspension spring arrangement includes a single leaf spring, constituting a separate element with respect to the upper and lower arms and arranged transversely relative to a vehicle longitudinal direction, in a symmetrical position relative to a vehicle vertical median plane. The leaf spring has a central portion connected to the frame module and end portions connected to the upper arms. In one version, the central portion is connected to the frame module by a device for adjustment of a position in height of said central portion relative to the frame module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventors: Gaetano Battaglia, Daniele Bruno, Luca Dusini, Fabio Gerbino