Patents Examined by Robert A. Coker
  • Method and device for fastening an airbag in a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 8220825
    Abstract: A method is provided for fastening an airbag to a motor vehicle, that includes, but is not limited to the steps of fastening an airbag, which can be filled with a gas and which has a fastening tab, to a fastening device which comprises a plate and a clip device fastened to the plate and the plate comprises a first plate section with a first opening having a screw thread and a second plate section, and the clip device is fastened on the first plate section, and the airbag is fastened to the fastening device by bending the second plate section in such a manner that the first plate section and the second plate section at least partially enclose the fastening tab on both sides. A fastening device is also provided for an airbag, an airbag, and a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Frank Bonarens, Dietmar Breidert, Matthias Brunner, Benjamin De Buysscher, Johannes Diehl, Mathias Grube, Waldemar Medla
  • Independent rear suspension for an agricultural vehicle
    Patent number: 8220812
    Abstract: An independent suspension for a rear wheel of an agricultural vehicle includes upper and lower longitudinal trailing members that are each secured at a chassis location for pivoting movement about respective upper and lower, horizontally extending axes. A planetary gear mount is secured between the trailing members at upper and lower attachments that are spaced from the chassis ends of the trailing members; and a spring attachment protrudes from the planetary gear mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventors: Silvano Sandri, Valter Asteggiano
  • Knee airbag device for a vehicle
    Patent number: 8215667
    Abstract: A knee airbag device for a vehicle is provided that is capable of effectively protecting both knees of a seat occupant, regardless of position, shape or the like of an airbag door relative to the seat. In a passenger seat knee airbag device, a tear line of an airbag door retainer is broken and airbag doors are deployed upward and downward by deployment force of a knee airbag that receives a gas supply from an inflator. Thus, the knee airbag is deployed toward the knees of the occupant through an aperture portion formed in the airbag door retainer. A tear line of a form that is non-symmetrical between left and right is formed in a retaining sheet that is for retaining the knee airbag in a folded state. Thus, timings of deployment of the airbag doors by inflation pressure of the knee airbag are caused to differ between a left side portion and a right side portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Matsushima
  • Emergency utility vehicle
    Patent number: 8215422
    Abstract: An off-road emergency vehicle includes an operator compartment with an environmentally controlled atmosphere and wireless communication devices. The modified, extended all-terrain vehicle frame supports an enclosed equipment compartment having a top and sides. The equipment compartment is large enough to enclose a full-length stretcher for someone in need of care in an off-road area. The equipment compartment also contains a bench for an emergency technician and storage. The vehicle includes a secondary power source used to supply power to the lighting system and equipment of the equipment compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Alternative Support Apparatus, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas E. Abel
  • System and method for storing and providing routes
    Patent number: 8219316
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system and method is provided whereby map-related requests from mobile devices are used to store and aggregate routes. The routes are then used to determine optimum directions in response to subsequent requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Vinay Goel
  • Retainer and inflator
    Patent number: 8215670
    Abstract: An inflator includes a plate-like retainer that is placed in a pressure container of the inflator for producing gas to be supplied to an airbag. At the center of the inflator is formed a fitting section fitted to a tube placed in the pressure container. The tube separates an ignition source and a gas generation agent. At least one pressure release hole is provided on the outer side of the outer periphery of the fitting section. The retainer has a step formed at a portion where the outer periphery of the retainer is in contact with the filter. The retainer and inflator may have simple structures not affecting productivity and reliably preventing gas leakage between the retainer and a filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianlin Chen, Atsuhiro Arai, Yoji Tasaki
  • Belt tensioner for a seat belt system
    Patent number: 8210569
    Abstract: A vehicle seat belt tensioner comprises a traction element that transmits a tensioning force to a seat belt strap. The traction element may be formed for example of a flexible rope or a wire, or a thrust element which can transmit traction and thrust forces. A force limiting unit, which limits the retaining force exerted by the seat belt strap on a passenger has a functional element coupled to the traction or thrust element, which is displaceable by means of a displaceable piston element in the effective direction of the tensioning force. The vehicle belt tensioner according to the invention includes means for the parallel application of tensioning force to both the piston element and the traction or thrust element, concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Walter Eberle, Till Heinrich
  • Interior lining part for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 8210564
    Abstract: A vehicle interior decor element, in particular an air bag cover, comprising a front side (36) facing the vehicle interior and an opposite rear side (34), a cover (18) and a decorative element (20) which is provided at the cover (18), is visible from the front and is at least partly translucent. The decorative element (20) includes sections (24) between which the decorative element (20) has a gap (26) through which the cover (18) is accessible from the front side (36). The decorative element (20) extends with at least one portion (44) thereof towards the rear side (34) towards or into a cavity (42) which is formed in the cover (18) and in which an illuminant (50) for illuminating the decorative element (20) is accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Helmstetter, Reinhard Schulze
  • Active magneto-rheological spring assemblies and vehicle suspension systems incorporating the same
    Patent number: 8210547
    Abstract: A Magneto-Rheological Elastomer (MRE) spring system includes a spring, an MRE unit in cooperation with the spring, and an electromagnet. The electromagnet may be configured to produce an adjustable magnetic field, wherein when the electromagnet produces a magnetic field, the MRE unit stiffens such that the MRE spring system stiffens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip David Rodenbeck
  • Variable chassis adjustment system
    Patent number: 8205893
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, an adjustment apparatus for varying the ground clearance of a vehicle includes an adjustable leg configured to couple to a chassis and wheel of a vehicle, and a removable stop to releasably fix the adjustable leg in a desired condition. The adjustable leg may include a main leg and a drop leg that is movable within the leg, the main leg configured to couple to a chassis of a vehicle and the drop leg configured to couple to a vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: John Peterson, John Buschena, Casey Steffensen
  • Apparatus for controlling automatic travel of vehicle
    Patent number: 8204660
    Abstract: An apparatus controls automatic travel of a vehicle equipped with a motive power generator. In the apparatus, information indicating a road surface on which a vehicle is present currently is acquired. It is determined whether or not a command for shifting the vehicle from its stopped state to its traveling state is issued. When the command is issued, automatic shift of the vehicle is made from its stopped state to its traveling state by controlling drive of the motive power generator based on the acquired information. It is further determined whether or not, of a component of gravity applied to the vehicle, there is a force component applied in a direction opposite to a travel direction of the vehicle. When there is the force component, the operation applied to the motive power generator is continued even if the brake pedal is pressed by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakai, Masayoshi Takeda, Kazunori Kadowaki
  • Brake pedal device with function of reducing collision injury
    Patent number: 8196695
    Abstract: A brake pedal device of reducing a collision injury in a vehicle, may include a brake pedal including a hitching slot at an end portion thereof, a brake switch bracket, a first portion of which is pivotally coupled to the brake pedal by a hinge shaft, a pedal mounting bracket mounted to a vehicle body, wherein a second portion of the brake switch bracket is pivotally coupled to the pedal mounting bracket by a stopper shaft, wherein the stopper shaft of the pedal mounting bracket and the hitching slot of the brake pedal are selectively coupled to hinder rotation of the brake pedal toward a driver with respect to the hinge shaft when a collision force equal to or greater than a predetermined load is applied to the vehicle, and coupling members coupling the pedal mounting bracket and the brake switch bracket and being decoupled when the collision force is applied to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kyung Chang Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eunsik Kim, Sungil Byun, Jihun Kim
  • System and method for adjustment of a steer angle of a wheel of a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 8200394
    Abstract: A system for adjusting a wheel lock angle of a wheel of a motor vehicle, in particular of a rear wheel, wherein at least one wheel guide member, by means of which a wheel carrier of the wheel is connected to a vehicle body, wherein the wheel carrier can pivot about a rotational axis which runs substantially parallel to the plane of the wheel and the wheel guide member is coupled to the wheel carrier at a distance from the rotational axis, and wherein the length of the wheel guide member can be adjusted by an actuator, wherein at least one actuator is driven by a motor and at least one control unit, and the control unit includes a computer unit with a memory and a communication interface, and the control unit transmits and receives data via the communication interface by means of at least one communication bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Jürgen Böhm, Steffen Linkenbach, Norman Muth
  • Driving accessory for handicapped drivers
    Patent number: 8196697
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new hand-operated system for actuating acceleration and brake pedals in a vehicle. The system comprises main body adapted to be fixedly attached to the vehicle in the vicinity of the driver's hands, a handle connected to the main body wherein the handle is adapted to be moved forwardly and backwardly in order to operate the vehicle; two levers pivotally connected to the main body wherein the levers are engaged with the acceleration and brake pedals through connecting rods; and a cable connecting the lever that actuate the acceleration pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Yoram Fruehling Driving Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoram Fruehling
  • Apparatus for controlling lighting angle of headlights of vehicle
    Patent number: 8200396
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided to control a lighting angle of headlights installed in a vehicle. In the apparatus, a curve of the road is calculated and the radius of the curve is obtained, based on the current position and the road information. The curve is located ahead of the vehicle. A distance from the current position to a starting point of the curve is calculated based on the current position and the road information. Determination is made as to whether or not the curve is an S-shaped curve based on the road information, and line-shape information showing a line shape of the S-curve is set in response to the determination results of the curve. A lighting angle of the headlights is calculated based on the radius of the curve, the distance and the line-shape information, and the lighting angle of the headlights is controlled based on the calculated lighting angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, National University Corporation Hokkaido University
    Inventors: Masahiko Morishita, Toru Hagiwara
  • Safety system for marine vessels
    Patent number: 8195381
    Abstract: There is elucidated a safety system for a marine vessel. The vessel includes two engines coupled to propellers for propelling the vessel through water. The vessel is provided with a digital anchor in communication with the two engines for maintaining the vessel substantially at a defined location when the anchor is activated. The safety system includes a sensor assembly coupled to a data processing assembly for sensing a region of said water at least partially surrounding the vessel for detecting one or more persons present in the region and for modifying operation of the digital anchor is response to the one or more persons being detected. The invention is of advantage in that the digital anchor is capable of responding to the one or more persons being present in the water and thereby reducing a risk of injury or loss of life when the digital anchor is employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: AB Volvo Penta
    Inventor: Lennart Arvidsson
  • Axle carrier assemblies and vehicles comprising axle carrier assemblies
    Patent number: 8191671
    Abstract: An axle carrier assembly is provided for a vehicle. The axle carrier assembly includes an axle carrier, a first cylinder, a second cylinder, and an actuator. The axle carrier is configured to rotatably support an axle. The first cylinder is rotatably supported by the axle carrier such that the first cylinder is rotatable about a first axis. The first cylinder is configured to support a vehicular swing member. The second cylinder is rotatably supported by the axle carrier such that the second cylinder is rotatable about a second axis. The second cylinder is configured to support a vehicular swing member. The actuator is associated with each of the first and second cylinders. The actuator is configured to substantially simultaneously rotate the first cylinder and the second cylinder with respect to the axle carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Thomas Sellars, Scott Daniel Batdorf
  • Transportation device with pivoting axle
    Patent number: 8186693
    Abstract: Devices and methods of transport are disclosed. Various embodiments include structural aspects related to steering and changing the direction of conveyances including features which utilize leaning or shifting of weight as part of turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Leverage Design Ltd.
    Inventor: Mark T. Kortschot
  • Vehicle airbag device
    Patent number: 8177254
    Abstract: A vehicle airbag device has: a pad cover provided at the center of a steering wheel constituted of a spoke, a rim, and a hub and secured to the hub or to the spoke; an airbag that is provided, in a folded state, at the pad cover and deploys upon collision of the vehicle by tearing the pad cover to restrain a vehicle occupant; and an inflator secured to the hub or to the spoke to supply inflation gas into the airbag upon collision of the vehicle. The pad cover has an extension portion extending from the center of the steering wheel to the rim such that the extension portion overlaps the spoke. The extension portion has a tear portion that tears upon collision of the vehicle. A portion of the airbag is disposed, in a folded state, at the extension portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Washino, Kenji Imamura
  • Method and system for assisting a driver when parking or maneuvering a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 8180525
    Abstract: A method for assisting a driver when parking or maneuvering a motor vehicle having at least one driver assistance system and a vehicle safety system is provided. The method includes the steps of detecting the surroundings and calculating a desired path in a calculation model, in which the differences in traveling distance between the individual wheels are monitored and determined by means of the vehicle safety system. The desired path is predicted in a calculation model by means of the differences in traveling distance, and detection of the surroundings is carried out by means of the driver assistance system. Furthermore, a system which is suitable to implement the method is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Stefan Lüke, Andreas Köbe, Martin Griesser, Markus Irth, Daniel Fischer, Frank Schreiner, Christian Sussmann