Patents Examined by Scott F. Underwood
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Patent number: 11858561Abstract: A material transfer vehicle has a frame, a front end including an asphalt paving material receiving device, and rear end including a discharge conveyor which is adapted to convey asphalt paving material to the receiving hopper of an asphalt paving machine. An operator's station includes an operator's platform on which is mounted an operator's seat. The operator's platform is moveable between a travel position that is entirely within the outer periphery of the material transfer vehicle and an operating position that locates the operator's seat at least partially outside the outer periphery of the material transfer vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Roadtec, Inc.Inventor: Matthew Neisen
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Patent number: 11760292Abstract: A sleeping occupant crash protection system includes an occupant sleeping compartment positioned within an autonomous vehicle. A substantially flat platform of the occupant sleeping compartment supports an occupant reclining in a horizontal sleep position. An elastic bedsheet is positioned in direct contact with an upper surface of the platform positioned between the occupant and the platform. A sensing system is in communication with the occupant sleeping compartment and triggers deployment of a bedsheet displacement system during a vehicle rapid deceleration event.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Yi-Pen Cheng, Chin-hsu Lin, Louis D. Thole, Wonhee Michael Kim
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Patent number: 11753064Abstract: A steering column that includes a first jacket and a second jacket that is axially movable with respect to the first jacket. An energy absorbing apparatus is located between the first jacket and the second jacket. The energy absorbing apparatus includes a strap body that extends between a first end and a second end. A curved portion is located between the first end and the second end and a spring segment is configured to bias the curved portion towards the first end when the connector strap is fixed to a jacket of the steering column.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding CorporationInventors: Melvin L. Tinnin, Joen C. Bodtker
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Patent number: 11731479Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a portal spindle assembly for a vehicle front suspension. The portal spindle assembly comprises a spindle portion that is rotatably coupled with upper and lower connecting arms. A leading-edge portion is rotatably coupled with a steering rod-end joint, such that moving the steering rod-end joint rotates the spindle assembly with respect to the upper and lower connecting arms. An inboard case and an outboard case support a pinion gear assembly that is meshed with an output gear assembly for communicating torque from a constant velocity joint to a front wheel coupled to the output gear assembly. The pinion gear assembly is aligned along a pinion axis disposed at an angle with respect to a hub axis of the output gear assembly. The angle facilitates a suspension geometry that provides a camber change of the front wheel that eliminates a change in track width.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Inventor: Robby Gordon
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Patent number: 11713786Abstract: An attachment interface is provided for connecting a vehicle composite component having a plate portion that is made of a fiber reinforced polymer and has a passage extending in a through manner along an axis. The attachment interface provides a metal attachment device, which includes an inner portion engaging the passage and an outer portion defining a connection point suitable to be connected to another vehicle element. The plate portion is axially sandwiched between two layers made of a fiber reinforced polymer composite material selected from the group consisting of BMC (Bulk Molding Compound), LFT (Long Fiber Thermoplastic) and DLFT (Direct Long Fiber Thermoplastic).Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2022Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Inventors: Remi Sarlin, Laurens Verhulst, Michiel Warmerdam
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Patent number: 11691507Abstract: A motor vehicle including a drive gearbox connected to a drive motor of the motor vehicle, a power take-off connected to an auxiliary output of the drive gearbox, and an auxiliary unit connected to the power take-off. The auxiliary unit is coupled with the power take-off such that the auxiliary unit is disposed below the drive gearbox.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2019Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Saeta GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Christian Dietsch, Matthias Tamm
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Patent number: 11685338Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioner system for use in a seatbelt retractor assembly having a spindle and a frame includes a housing adapted for being mounted to the frame and having an interior cavity, a pretensioner tube having a first tube end in fluid communication with a gas generator and a second tube end in fluid communication with the interior cavity of the housing, a pinion being rotatably mounted in the housing and fixedly coupled to the spindle adapted for taking up seatbelt webbing during pretensioning, and a pretensioner rod disposed inside the pretensioner tube. Further, the pretensioner rod has a proximal end disposed towards the gas generator and a distal end disposed away from the gas generator. In addition, the housing is formed with at least two levels including an inboard portion and an outboard portion to store the pretensioner rod after pretensioning.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Jon E. Burrow, Daniel Robert Murphy
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Patent number: 11685446Abstract: An electric vehicle frame strut tower to body structure interface bracket is disclosed. An example electric vehicle disclosed herein includes a frame, a battery pack supported by the frame, a body coupled to the frame, a strut tower coupled to the frame to support the body and absorb road surface impacts on the electric vehicle, and a strut tower interface bracket to couple the strut tower to the body.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Gary E. Sheaffer, II, Steve William Gallagher, Joshua Jacob Clement
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Patent number: 11688545Abstract: A removable weighted vehicle safety guard system having a safety attachment that removably attaches to the back end of a vehicle to add weight, thereby helping to keep the back end of the vehicle stabilized while driving in inclement weather or on slippery road surfaces, and additionally forms a brush guard to prevent damage to the vehicle should another vehicle rear-end the user's vehicle. The removable weighted vehicle safety guard system attaches to the back end of the vehicle via the hitch and is secured using bolts or trailer pins. The removable weighted vehicle safety guard system provides static weight to the back end of the vehicle but may optionally also receive additional if needed. The additional weight may take a number of forms, including weight blocks, and can be added to the removable weighted vehicle safety guard system via bolts or trailer pins.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Inventor: Jordan Seanard
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Patent number: 11667167Abstract: The disclosure relates to an elongate link arm member of a support link arm. A ball joint socket is disposed on a first longitudinal and of the link arm member. The link arm member in a sheet-metal shell construction mode is formed from sheet metal and has a cavity portion. The ball joint socket is a forging or casting from metal and possesses a fastening appendage which is configured in a materially integral manner so as to be in one piece with said ball joint socket. The ball joint socket by way of the fastening appendage engages in the cavity portion of the link arm member and is joined to the link arm member.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBHInventors: Stephan Meyer, Juergen Hummelt
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Patent number: 11667168Abstract: An axle arrangement for a baler having a chassis includes a first axle having opposite ends and a pair of suspension cylinders, with each suspension cylinder positioned at a corresponding end of the first axle to accommodate generally vertical loads. The first axle is coupled with the chassis to accommodate generally horizontal loads. A second axle has opposite ends and a pair of suspension cylinders, with each suspension cylinder positioned at a corresponding end of the second axle to accommodate generally vertical loads. The second axle is coupled with the first axle to accommodate generally horizontal loads.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2019Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventor: Sven Monbaliu
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Patent number: 11661117Abstract: A foldable vehicle may include a chassis comprising a static support, a dynamic chassis frame that includes at least two substantially opposite frame parts and a folding mechanism for decreasing or increasing a distance between the at least two substantially opposite frame parts across a lateral axis of the vehicle between a folded state and an unfolded state; and a controller to control the folding mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: City Transformer Ltd.Inventors: Asaf Formoza, Udi Meridor, Oran Levintant, Ani Dwilanski
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Patent number: 11649872Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle suspension system may include a damper tube having an axis defining an axial direction extending between a first end and a second end, a bumper cap, and a dust gaiter operably coupled to the bumper cap. The bumper cap may have a cover portion and a retention portion. The cover portion may be operably coupled to the second end of the damper tube, and the retention portion may extend along a lateral periphery of the damper tube to an opposite end of the bumper cap relative to the cover portion. The retention portion may include a continuous ring at a distal end of the bumper cap relative to the cover portion to define a limit for movement of the dust gaiter along the bumper cap in the axial direction. The continuous ring may be retained by a plurality of fixed fingers that extend from the cover portion to the continuous ring.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Robert Barton
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Patent number: 11648974Abstract: A steering support includes a body portion provided with an internal space, and first and second fastening portions. The first fastening portion is provided to form a first steering fastening portion configured to fasten the body portion and a steering of a vehicle. The second fastening portion is provided to form a miscellaneous member fastening portion configured to fasten the body portion and a miscellaneous member of the vehicle. At least part of the first steering fastening portion and at least a part of the miscellaneous member fastening portion are located on a substantially straight line that passes through the internal space.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Norito Nishizawa, Masahiro Hayakawa
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Patent number: 11639096Abstract: A suspension apparatus configured to support a wheel of a vehicle includes an in-wheel motor. The suspension apparatus includes a suspension member extending substantially in a front and rear direction of the vehicle and coupled to a carrier at a plurality of coupling portions spaced apart from each other in an up and down direction. The carrier holds the in-wheel motor. A reference point of an upper one of the plurality of coupling portions is located on an inner side of a reference point of a lower one of the plurality of coupling portions in a widthwise direction of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2019Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masahiko Yamada, Satoshi Adachi
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Patent number: 11633998Abstract: A suspension strut for a vehicle comprises: a first connector for connecting to a first point on the vehicle; a second connector for connecting to a second point on the vehicle; and a damper assembly adapted to provide a damping force as fluid flows through the damper assembly during relative compression between the first point and the second point, wherein the damper assembly comprises a side wall and a damper aperture in the side wall, wherein the damper aperture is open throughout operation of the strut to allow fluid to flow through the damper assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2018Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS PLCInventors: Liam Bradley Widdrington, Andrew James Kittley, Philip Alner Wilby
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Patent number: 11628790Abstract: A column cover unit may include: a column cover configured to cover a steering column of a vehicle and comprising a first cover portion and a second cover portion, wherein a boundary between the first cover portion and the second cover portion extends from a front end of the column cover at a front portion of the vehicle toward a rear portion of the vehicle; and a contact member configured to separate the first cover portion and the second cover portion from each other at the boundary by contacting the column cover when the column cover is moved toward the front portion of the vehicle with the steering column.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2021Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Shotaro Inoue, Yutaka Kondoh
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Patent number: 11618296Abstract: Provided is an on-demand shock stiffening system. The on-demand shock stiffening system operates to immediately stiffen the shocks in response to a user activating the system. The system may include a main body with an oil flow aperture and a flow control system that operates to restrict the flow of oil between the reservoir and the shock. The on-demand shock stiffening system may be coupled between the reservoir and the bridge of the shock and operates to restrict flow of the oil in order to stiffen the shock immediately in an on-demand manner.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Shock Therapy Suspension, Inc.Inventor: Justin Smith
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Patent number: 11603075Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioner system for use in a seatbelt retractor assembly having a spindle and a frame includes a housing adapted for being mounted to the frame and having an interior cavity, a pretensioner tube including a body portion and an exit portion, and having a first tube end in fluid communication with a gas generator and a second tube end in fluid communication with the interior cavity of the housing, a pinion being rotatably mounted in the housing and fixedly coupled to the spindle adapted for taking up seatbelt webbing during pretensioning, a pretensioner rod disposed inside the pretensioner tube, and a stopper disposed between the gas generator and the pretensioner rod. Further, the exit portion of the tube is formed to neck down such that the exit portion is configured to prevent the stopper from passing therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Jon E. Burrow, Daniel Robert Murphy
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Patent number: 11590927Abstract: Provided are an apparatus for protecting a pedestrian and a control method thereof. The apparatus for protecting a pedestrian includes a front object detection unit configured to detect an object in front of a vehicle; a collision detection unit configured to detect a collision of a vehicle; a protection module driving unit configured to drive a protection module for protecting a pedestrian when the pedestrian collides with the vehicle; and a control unit configured to determine the front object as a hood lift target on the basis of a detection result of the front object detection unit, to determine the collision as a hood lift target collision on the basis of a detection result of the collision detection unit, and to operate the protection module driving unit in case of the hood lift target collision of the hood lift target.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.Inventor: Byung Hyuk Park