Patents Examined by Tiffany Webb
  • Patent number: 7290795
    Abstract: A garnish clip comprises a body attachment portion for attachment to a vehicle body and a garnish attachment portion for attachment to a garnish. The garnish attachment portion comprises a plate-shaped base with one end connected to the body attachment portion and a plate-shaped garnish engagement portion connected to the other end of the base by a U-shaped connection. The garnish engagement portion and the base are also connected by a thin breakable connector near the body attachment portion. Ribs on the garnish attachment portion provide rigidity to limit opening of the garnish engagement portion away from the body attachment portion when the airbag deploys and the thin connector breaks due to collision or roll-over forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kawai, Koya Teshima
  • Patent number: 7267363
    Abstract: An air-bag assembly for a vehicle including an air-bag unit mounted on a seat. The air-bag unit is connected to a mounting member. The mounting member is secured to or forms part of the structure of the seat. The air-bag unit has a first set of locking formations and the mounting member has a second set of locking formations. The locking formations of one of the sets are apertures and the locking formations of the other of the sets are projections. Each aperture at least partially receives a respective projection. A spring is mounted to either the mounting member or the air-bag unit so as to extend across each of the apertures to form a snap-connection between the air-bag unit and the mounting member near each aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Jean Yves Tredez
  • Patent number: 7261177
    Abstract: A locking pin system is operated through an air spring which rotates a torque tube to remove a spring bias from a multiple of locking pins. Operation of the locking pin system is controlled by a trailer spring brake valve which operates in response to actuation of the slider parking brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology LLC
    Inventor: Jim Eckelberry
  • Patent number: 7210707
    Abstract: A belt assembly for securing the sitting and standing positions of an occupant of a vehicle has two lap belts which can be coupled to the vehicle and are brought together at an abdomen-side central buckle and which are swingable in parallel relation to the occupant's body and include retractors. Two length-adjustable body belts extend from the central lock across the torso, shoulders and back of the occupant, and two length-adjustable, loop-like leg belts are connected to length portions of the body belts, with the length portions at least indirectly connected to the lap belts. The body belts have buckle-distal ends which are fastened to the leg belts. The body belts cross at the back of the occupant and are connected there with one another. The belt assembly can be directly connected to a vest which can be suited to the body of the occupant via hook-and-loop fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Schroth Safety Products GmbH
    Inventor: Carl-Jürgen Schroth
  • Patent number: 7207575
    Abstract: A rear tractor suspension for a tractor includes a suspension arm pivotally coupled to the chassis of the tractor, and a hydraulic cylinder coupled to the suspension arm to support it. The hydraulic cylinder conveys only longitudinal forces in a first mode of operation in which the suspension is not substantially loaded. When a substantial load is placed upon the suspension and the suspension arm begins to bend within normal operational and design limits, the hydraulic cylinder counteracts the load applied to the suspension, the torsional moment it produces, and the torsioning of the suspension arm by automatically applying a counteracting torsional moment to the suspension arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: Giorgio Bordini
  • Patent number: 7204519
    Abstract: A construction machine where an operating load is transferred to a location having good rigidity, thereby ensuring the strength of a vehicle body and increasing the load-withstanding strength in relation to running loads. The frame of the lower traveling body of the construction machine comprising a hollow center frame having an upper plate with an attachment ring, a lower plate, and side plates that surrounding sides of the frame and that jut out from the attachment ring, and reinforcing ribs which connect the upper plate to the lower plate in the interior of the center frame beneath the attachment ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Komatsu Zenoah Co., Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Kubo, Kenichi Shimizu, Shinichi Senba, Kouhei Urase, Takaharu Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7192057
    Abstract: A deflection fitting for a safety belt includes a carrier plate (10) having an installation opening (18) and an eye (20) for the safety belt to pass through. The deflection fitting further includes a covering (12) of plastic, adapted to the installation situation of the deflection fitting, to form an edge for the carrier plate (10). The deflection fitting further includes an adapter (14) of plastic having a collar portion (28) inserted into the installation opening (18) and a delimiting portion (30) inserted into the eye (20). The covering (12) is constructed as a component made of a single piece, which surrounds the lower and the lateral outer edge regions of the carrier plate (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Moendel, Gerhard Malbrich
  • Patent number: 7172048
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus for pedestrian protection 18 including an airbag body 22 disposed along a vertical direction is disposed in an upper portion 16A of each of right and left front pillars 16. The expansion of the airbag body 22 toward the outer side of the vehicle is restrained to a predetermined amount by a cloth 22C connecting an attachment portion 22A of the airbag body 22 with a sewn portion 22B when the airbag body 22 is expanded. Thus, the airbag body 22 is expanded along the outer peripheral portion. In addition, a portion of the airbag body 22 expanded toward approximately the outer side in the lateral direction contacts a curved portion 30F expanded toward the inner side in the lateral direction, which is in a deployment portion 30A of a garnish panel 30. Thus, the airbag body 22 is expanded toward approximately the inner side in the lateral direction to a large extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Hamada, Toshiaki Hosoya, Hideya Innami
  • Patent number: 7128327
    Abstract: A torsion beam type suspension device comprises a pair of trailing arms (1) spaced from each other axially of an axle and connected at front ends thereof to a car body and at rear ends thereof rotatably supporting wheels through brackets, and a torsion beam (2) extending axially of the axle and interconnecting the pair of trailing arms (1) by connecting portions (6) at both ends, the rear ends of the pair of trailing arms (1) being connected to the brackets (8) through rubber cushions, whereby the steering stability can be improved without raising problems about cost, weight and space or without impairing NVH performance associated with road noise, trembling feeling and harshness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Kawamata, Yasuhiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7125023
    Abstract: A rollover protecting system for a vehicle comprising an actuator for pushing out an upper arm to an external direction of the vehicle by pivoting a pivot arm such that a tire produces a positive camber in relation to the road surface. Protruding ends are formed on a shoulder part of the tire for reducing a contact surface of the tire to the road, thereby reducing the lateral force applied to the tire and preventing an occurrence of rollover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyun-Jong Cho
  • Patent number: 7111872
    Abstract: A restraint system is provided for a mobile machine (1), in particular an industrial truck, with a driver's seat (2) and a safety belt (3). The restraint system has a variable-length mechanical connection (6) between a front part (4) of the roof that covers the driver's seat or the driver's cab and the safety belt (3). The variable-length mechanical connection (6) makes it easier for the operator to attach the safety belt (3). The operator will also attach the safety belt (3) because otherwise it will be difficult or impossible to use the control elements (5). The variable-length mechanical connection (6) simultaneously prevents bypassing of a device to detect whether the safety belt (3) is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: STILL GmbH
    Inventor: Patrick Arand
  • Patent number: 7097184
    Abstract: King-pin assembly with a sensor (24), the King-pin assembly (5) comprising a Kingpin (12), an axle frame (10), a spindle (14) and a bearing (15) for moveably mounting the spindle (14) to the axle frame (10) using the King-pin. The King-pin assembly further comprises a spacer (1) for holding the axle frame (I0) at a predetermined distance from a bearing inner ring (20). A housing (2) is attached to the spacer (1), the housing (2) comprising at least a first part (3) of the sensor (24), a second part (4) of the sensor (24) being fixedly attached to the spindle (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: AB SKF
    Inventors: Hendrikus Jan Kapaan, Johannes Adrianus Maria Duits, Jacobus Zwarts, Klemens Schmidt, Cornelius Petrus Antonius Vissers, Johannes Haaye Van Der Kamp, Rico Dittmar
  • Patent number: 7080710
    Abstract: The present invention is a wheelchair control sensor for controlling a powered wheelchair for spinal cord-injured persons, who are incapable of using their hands, using movement of shoulders. The wheelchair control sensor includes two shoulder straps, two casings, two Force Sensitive Resistor (FSR) sensors, pressing balls, and a waist belt. The casings each have an internal space defined by an inclined surface. The FSR sensors are attached to the inclined surfaces of the casings or surfaces opposite to the inclined surfaces. The pressing balls are connected to the shoulder straps to press the FRS sensors while being moved through the internal spaces of the casings by external force. The waist belt is worn on an upper garment with the two casings spaced apart from each other at a certain interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Dong Soo Kwon, Kyoo Bin Lee, Jae Woong Min, Soo Chul Lim
  • Patent number: 7070203
    Abstract: An airbag deployment rate sensor has a printed circuit board with a substrate that has guide slots for the withdrawal of deployable tapes. Each tape is fastened to the interior of the airbag. When the airbag is deployed, the tapes are withdrawn from tape cartridges mounted with respect to the substrate. The surfaces of the guide slot are coated with an electrically conductive coating. Static charges on the tapes are dissipated as they pass through the guide slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Fisher, F. Casey Augustine
  • Patent number: 7066486
    Abstract: A passenger air bag system for vehicles includes an air bag housing, an inflator disposed in the air bag housing for discharging gas when a collision of the vehicle occurs, a cushion accommodated in the air bag housing such that the cushion is expanded by means of the gas discharged from the inflator, a retainer disposed between the cushion and the inflator for supporting the cushion, and an inflator holder disposed between the retainer and the inflator. The retainer has a plurality of gas-guiding holes for guiding the gas discharged from the inflator to the cushion. The inflator holder is fixed to the air bag housing together with the retainer for securely holding the inflator by means of a fixing force of the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung Su Lee
  • Patent number: 7063354
    Abstract: A collapsible steering assembly features a guide bracket for attachment to a vehicle. A steering mechanism is interconnected with the guide bracket by a steering mechanism support. A plurality of guide rods are arranged about a common collapse axis and extend in non-parallel relationship to a longitudinal axis of the steering mechanism. The guide rods support the steering mechanism for axial movement along the collapse axis in response to a predetermined collapse force on the steering mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard K. Riefe, Bruce M. Collier, Richard P. Nash, Minoo J. Shah, Alan C. Davis, Frederick J. Berg, Ronald H. Dybalski, Jason R. Ridgway, Paul E. Balius
  • Patent number: 7055832
    Abstract: A roll control system for a motor vehicle comprising a torsion bar (16); a first hydraulic actuator (12) connected to one end (20) of the torsion bar and connectable to an axle (34) of the vehicle; a second hydraulic actuator (14) connected to the other end (28) of the torsion bar and connectable to the axle of the vehicle; a hydraulic control system (62) connected to the hydraulic actuators and including a source of fluid pressure (66), a fluid reservoir (68), at least one supply valve (74, 76), and a pressure control valve (70); and an electrical control system (64) controlling the hydraulic system dependent on sensed vehicle conditions; wherein each hydraulic actuator comprises a rebound chamber (42, 52) and a compression chamber (40, 50) separated by a piston (38, 48), and a piston rod (18, 26) attached to the piston and extending through and out of the rebound chamber; wherein, during straight line motion of the vehicle, the electrical control system actuates the supply valve or valves to isolate the reb
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Philippe Germain
  • Patent number: 7055837
    Abstract: A crossmember device is provided which is adapted to be installed between a pair of strut/shock towers of a vehicle. The crossmember device includes a left brace and right brace each having an upper, intermediate and lower portion. The left and right brace are interconnected in a X configuration, wherein the center of the interconnection is between the intermediate and lower portions of the left and right brace. A planar body mounting flange provides gusseting structure to interconnect the left and right brace. A strut/shock tower flange assembly is swivel attached to each distal end of the upper portions of the left and right brace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Inventor: Eric Noble
  • Patent number: 7052025
    Abstract: An apparatus for preloading a torsion bar includes an adjuster arm that is adapted to be attached to and extend radially from a torsion bar and includes a free end with an involute surface formed thereon. An adjustment nut is adapted to be rigidly attached to a support member for the torsion bar adjacent a free end of the adjuster arm. An adjustment bolt having a free end for engaging the involute surface of the adjuster arm is threadably engaged in the adjustment nut. When the adjuster arm is attached to the torsion bar and the adjustment nut is attached to the support member, rotation of the adjustment bolt rotates the adjuster arm and the torsion bar about a longitudinal axis of the torsion bar thereby changing a preload applied to the torsion bar. The adjustment bolt remains perpendicular to the involute surface while the adjuster arm rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John K. Dagg, Jacek Marchel
  • Patent number: 7052040
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas generator for an air bag where an operation performance is excellent and an amount of NOx generation is reduced. When a flame from a second igniter 32 advances just upwardly to ignite and burn a transfer charge 36, flame-transferring holes 46 communicating with a second combustion chamber 25 are not exactly opposite to the advancing direction of the flame. Therefore, after the whole of the transfer charge 36 is burnt, large ignition energy is discharged from the flame-transferring holes 46 into the second combustion chamber 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries, LTD
    Inventors: Naoki Matsuda, Masayuki Yamazaki