Patents Examined by Paul N. Dickson
  • Systems and methods for a material handling vehicle with an articulating axle
    Patent number: 11383570
    Abstract: A material handling vehicle is provided. The material handling vehicle includes a vehicle frame having a drive wheel and an offset wheel arranged under the vehicle frame. The material handling vehicle further includes a rear load wheel assembly pivotally coupled to the vehicle frame via an articulating axle assembly. The rear load wheel assembly includes a first load wheel and a second load wheel. The pivotal coupling between the rear load wheel and the vehicle frame provided by the articulating axle assembly is configured to maintain the drive wheel and the offset wheel in contact with a floor on which the drive wheel and the offset wheel travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventors: Alan W. Bartels, David King
  • Pulley assembly for raising and lowering the height of a vehicle
    Patent number: 11383572
    Abstract: A pulley assembly for raising and lowering an associated vehicle body comprising a housing including an outer sleeve extending along an axis. At least one top pulley wheel is operably connected to the outer sleeve and at least one bottom pulley wheel is operably connected to the outer sleeve and moveable relative to the at least one top pulley wheel along the axis. A cable is weaved between the at least one top pulley wheel and the at least one bottom pulley wheel. An actuator is operably connected to the cable to reel-in the cable and draw the at least one top pulley wheel towards the at least one bottom pulley wheel to lower the associated vehicle body. The actuator further reels-out the cable to permit the at least one top pulley wheel to move away from the at least one bottom pulley wheel to raise the associated vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJINGWEST INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Iain Rose, Baptiste Chevallereau, Jocelyn Marchand, Philippe Herda
  • Oscillating axle for a lifting device, lifting device comprising such an axle and control method
    Patent number: 11376917
    Abstract: This oscillating axle (3) for a lifting device (1) comprises an axle bridge (5) at the ends of which are mounted two ground connection members (7), an oscillation axis (X3), a left jack (9) and a right jack (11), each jack (9, 11) having a rod (90, 110) in contact with the bridge (5) and a body (92, 112) fixed on a fixed part (13) of a chassis (2) of the lifting device (1), the body (92, 112) forming a chamber (94, 114) in which the rod (90, 110) moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: HAULOTTE GROUP
    Inventors: Alexandre Simon, Rémy Cognet
  • Trailing blade suspension system with angled blade
    Patent number: 11370258
    Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle may include a steering knuckle operably coupled to a wheel hub, and a plurality of links operably coupling the steering knuckle to a chassis of the vehicle. One of the links may be a trailing blade having a body portion that lies in a plane. The trailing blade may include a first end operably coupled to the steering knuckle and a second end operably coupled to the chassis. The trailing blade may extend from the first end to the second end such that the plane of the body portion forms an angle of greater than 5 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Allen, Brian Chen, Shane Edward Foley, Nicholas Mangus
  • Hydraulic drop frame trailer
    Patent number: 11370343
    Abstract: A hydraulic drop frame trailer for a tow vehicle, the hydraulic drop frame trailer including a trailer frame having two sides and a hitch, a pair of wheels, a first and second frame bracket, a trailer bed mounted over the trailer frame, a first and second pivoting hydraulic cylinder, a plurality of hydraulic hoses, a first and second pivoting arm, an operating station connected to a power supply, a first and second axle-less wheel mount with independent suspension mechanism mounted to the first and second pivoting arm, and a plurality of safety locks, each securing an arm to the trailer frame for locking each rotating arm to the trailer bed during transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventor: Cade Hoehner
  • Curtain airbag assembly with inflatable flap
    Patent number: 11370380
    Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle includes an airbag inflator. The assembly includes a curtain airbag including a main lobe and an inflatable flap. The main lobe and the inflatable flap are each inflatable by the airbag inflator to an inflated position. The main lobe includes an inboard panel and an outboard panel. The inflatable flap is at the inboard panel in the inflated position. The inflatable flap, in the inflated position, is at the inboard panel and abutting the inflator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph E. Abramczyk, Zhibing Deng, Deepak Patel, Lavanya Vemuri
  • Side bracket
    Patent number: 11370494
    Abstract: A side bracket includes at least one body fastening portion to be fastened to a body of a vehicle, an inner fastening portion, an outer fastening portion, an inner joining part, and an outer joining part. The inner joining part is provided in a rim surrounding a through hole in the inner fastening portion, and in a position closer to a central side in a vehicle-width direction than at least one body fastening portion, the inner joining part is joined to an outer circumferential surface of the steering member penetrating the through hole. The outer joining part is provided in the outer fastening portion, and in a position closer to an end side in the vehicle-width direction than at least one body fastening portion, the outer joining part is joined to a front portion of the outer circumferential surface of the steering member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatoshi Tanabe, Daisuke Setoguchi
  • Control device for vehicle seat belt
    Patent number: 11364873
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle seat belt, includes: a retraction unit that is configured to retract a seat belt through use of a driving force of a motor and to stop retracting the seat belt when the motor is stopped from being driven; an acceleration measurement unit that is configured to measure an acceleration of a vehicle; a state detection unit that is configured to detect whether or not the vehicle is in a stable state while running; and a control unit that is configured to stop driving the motor when the acceleration measured by the acceleration measurement unit during driving of the motor has remained lower than a first set acceleration for at least a first set time and the vehicle has remained in the stable state detected by the state detection unit for at least a second set time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Nezaki, Koki Hayakawa, Motoki Sugiyama, Fumihito Komeno
  • Device and method for double-arm suspension and in-wheel steering
    Patent number: 11364757
    Abstract: A suspension system for a wheel of a vehicle including: a wheel interface having a wheel interface axis which is an axis about which a wheel rotates when connected to the wheel interface; a first arm connected to the wheel interface and rotatable with respect to the wheel interface about a first axis that is substantially parallel to the wheel interface axis; and a second arm connected to the wheel interface and rotatable with respect to the wheel interface about a second axis that is substantially parallel to the wheel interface axis; and a damping and springing means disposed within a gap formed between the first arm and the second arm, the damping and springing means are connected at one of its ends to at least one of the first arm, the second arm and the wheel interface; wherein at least a portion of the suspension system is to be disposed within a rim of a wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: REE AUTOMOTIVE LTD
    Inventors: Ahishay Sardes, Ran Dekel, Tomer Segev, Eran Starik, Amit Aknin, Eylon Avigur
  • Vehicle suspension device
    Patent number: 11364761
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension device includes a wheel body on which a wheel and tire unit is mounted, a steering drive unit configured to transmit a driving force to rotate the wheel body in a lateral direction of a vehicle body, so that the wheel and tire unit rotates together with the wheel body, and a wheel moving unit disposed on the vehicle body to be movable in a front-back direction, configured such that a position thereof changes in a top-bottom direction, and connected to the wheel body to support the wheel body, so that a position of the wheel body is changed in response to the wheel moving unit moving in the front-back direction and changing the position in the top-bottom direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Dae Won Jang
  • Stabilizer control apparatus
    Patent number: 11364763
    Abstract: The ECU of the stabilizer control apparatus determines, based on a high frequency component of a wheel acceleration and a low frequency component of a wheel speed difference, whether a road surface state is a rough road state or a smooth road state. When the road surface state is determined to be the rough road state, the ECU sets a turning determination threshold to a rough road threshold. When the road surface state is determined to be the smooth road state, the ECU sets the threshold to a smooth road threshold. When a turning determination parameter is greater than the threshold, the ECU sets each of first, second, and third cylinders to a lock state to increase rigidity of stabilizers. When the turning determination parameter is smaller than the turning determination threshold, the ECU sets each of the cylinders to a free state to decrease the rigidity of the stabilizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Murata, Masaaki Tabata, Masashi Yamamoto, Ikuhide Iyoda
  • Chassis component for a wheel suspension and method for producing a chassis component
    Patent number: 11364758
    Abstract: A chassis component for a wheel suspension, having a strut arrangement with at least one strut which has a profile with an open cross-section. The at least one strut has a profile base and two wall sections which extend away from the base. An end of the strut has an articulation point that receives a first joint component having a spherical joint body and a second joint component which holds the joint body so as to rotate and/or pivot. A first joint accommodation aperture and a second joint accommodation aperture are arranged, in the area of the articulation point, opposite one another. The joint body is positioned via a circular-segment-shaped fastening element arranged on the joint body between the joint accommodation apertures. The joint accommodation apertures and the joint body positioned between them are integrated in a joint housing produced by overmolding, which forms the second joint component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Manfred Sieve, Philipp Bronswick, Jan Pabst
  • Electric axle transmission for electric and hybrid electric vehicles
    Patent number: 11365785
    Abstract: An electric axle having an electric drivetrain including a motor/generator, a first planetary gear set operably coupled to the motor/generator, and a second planetary gear set operably coupled to the first planetary gear set, wherein the first planetary gear set includes a first ring gear, a first planet carrier, and a first sun gear, and wherein the second planetary gear set includes a second ring gear, a second planet carrier, and a second sun gear; a drive wheel axle operably coupled to the electric drivetrain; and a first wheel and a second wheel coupled to the drive wheel axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Krishna Kumar, William F. Waltz
  • Side airbag apparatus
    Patent number: 11364871
    Abstract: A far side side airbag device provided on the side part in the center in the width direction of a backrest portion of either of separated seats arranged in the width direction of a vehicle, which restrains the movement of an occupant. A cushion and an inflator expands and deploys the cushion. The cushion has a first portion and a second portion that expand and deploy onto the front surface of each of the adjacent separated seats when a signal is received to restrain the occupant and capture the side part of the occupant, and a center portion provided in between the first portion and the second portion. A protruding part is formed on the center portion in order to capture the head of the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Yuto Kobayashi, Tsutomu Sakurai
  • Suspension having electrically-controllable material
    Patent number: 11364762
    Abstract: A vehicle load-bearing member includes an electro-active material, a lead wire for delivering an electric current to the electro-active material, and a controller in communication with a power supply for supplying electric current to the electro-active material for changing dynamic characteristics of the electro-active material, wherein changing dynamic characteristics of the electro-active material changes at least one of dampening and stiffness of the vehicle load-bearing member by changing the shape of the electro-active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: DRiV Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Rod Hadi
  • Leg restraining airbag
    Patent number: 11358558
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for helping to protect occupants of a vehicle in the event of a collision. The apparatus comprising an inflatable tube having a first and second end connected to the floor of the vehicle and a middle portion therebetween and an inflator that is actuatable to direct inflation fluid into the inflatable tube in response to a vehicle collision. The inflatable tube is configured to inflate and deploy from the vehicle floor in response to receiving inflation fluid from the inflator. The middle portion extends from the floor and forms an arch into which the lower legs and/or feet of the occupant can move into in response to a collision and be restrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Douglas Gould, Hylus Ranjit Raj Jayakar, Diaz Gabriela, David Varcoe
  • Airbag assembly inflatable from seatback
    Patent number: 11358554
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seatback and a head restraint supported by the seatback. The assembly includes a panel slidably engaged with the seatback. The panel is movable relative to the head restraint to a deployed position rearward of the head restraint. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the panel and inflatable forward toward the head restraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, S. M. Iskander Farooq, Mohammad Omar Faruque
  • Truck bed safety belt
    Patent number: 11358564
    Abstract: Implementations of a truck bed safety belt (or truck bed seat belt) are provided. In some implementations, the truck bed safety belt comprises a first attachment mechanism and a second attachment mechanism, a first belt portion and a second belt portion, and a buckle part and a snap part. In some implementations, the truck bed safety belt further comprises a truck bed attachment bracket. In some implementations, a method of using the truck bed safety belt comprises attaching the truck bed safety belt to a truck bed, such as of a pickup truck, and connecting the truck bed safety belt to safely restrain a passenger riding in the truck bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Inventor: Lecia Dunbar
  • Outside protection apparatus for vehicle
    Patent number: 11358563
    Abstract: An outside protection apparatus for a vehicle includes an outside airbag device. The outside air bag device includes a first bag body, an inflator, and a second bag body. The first bag body is expandable to be overlaid on a hood of a body of the vehicle rearwardly from a front portion of the body. The inflator is configured to expand the first bag body. The second bag body is expandable from a side portion of the first bag body in a width direction of the vehicle later than the first bag body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Suspension for vehicle
    Patent number: 11358427
    Abstract: A suspension for a vehicle including a strut tube; a strut rod installed so as to be movable in the strut tube; an insulator part through which an upper end of the strut rod is installed, and which includes a lower cup, an insulator body and an upper cup; and a cap member coupled to the upper cup so as to prevent penetration of foreign matters, and having a coupling structure coupled to the upper end of the strut rod. An anti-rotation structure for preventing rotation of the cap member may be provided in the cap member and the upper cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo Bin Song