Patents Issued in October 4, 2016
  • Patent number: 9457722
    Abstract: The invention is related to a rear view mirror assembly that includes at least one electrical device as a light source with adapted connectors to be assembled in an easy way. The invention is related to an electrical device as a lighting mean in a rear view mirror that has a connector adapted to be self centric connected to the counterpart during assembling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Vasile Romas, Balazs Toth
  • Patent number: 9457723
    Abstract: A first member of a storage tray assembly has first and second planar surfaces parallel to one another. A first cut-out extends from the first planar surface to the second planar surface. A second member has third and fourth planar surfaces parallel to one another. A second cut-out extends from the third planar surface to the fourth planar surface. The second cut-out aligns with first cut-out when the first and second members overlay and attach to one another. A third member has fifth and sixth planar surfaces parallel to one another. The third member has first shaped surfaces extending from the fifth planar surface to the sixth planar surface. The third member is inserted into the second cut-out such that the first cut-out, the second cut-out and the plurality of first shaped surfaces of the third member define a concave storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Engerman
  • Patent number: 9457724
    Abstract: A vehicle cargo assembly including a vehicle floor having a top surface and a storage compartment having an opening at the top surface of the vehicle floor and extending below the top surface of the vehicle floor. A vehicle seat includes a back portion pivotably coupled to a bench portion at a seat folding location. A cargo cover is coupled to the vehicle seat and is pivotable between a seat upright extended position and a seat upright retracted position. When the cargo cover is in the seat upright extended position, the cargo cover covers the opening of the storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc.
    Inventor: Norman N. Lu
  • Patent number: 9457725
    Abstract: A holder for removably attaching a portable electronic device to an elongate support such as a tray table latch on a seatback with a stowable tray table comprises a clamp frame, a spring compression lever slidably attached to the clamp frame, a flexible band for suspending the clamp frame from the elongate support and a self-centering clamp for gripping opposite sides of the elongate support. The holder may optionally include a device adapter for attaching a selected electronic device. Another embodiment comprises steps in a method for holding a portable electronic device against a seatback having a stowable seatback tray table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventors: Bryan Ulrich McClain, Demetrius Madrigal, Anthony Printis
  • Patent number: 9457726
    Abstract: A trailer box, comprising: a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall, a top wall interconnected at 90 degree angles with a tubular metal frame comprising a plurality of structurally interconnected frame sections to form a hollow inner rectangular or trapezoidal portion and with opposed end portions comprising one or two hinged openings, wherein the plurality of structurally interconnected frame sections comprise four long horizontal frame sections, at least four vertical frame sections, and at least four horizontal frame sections providing a rectangular or trapezoidal frame, wherein the plurality of structurally interconnected frame sections comprise a metal selected from the group consisting of steel and aluminum, and wherein the trailer box is mounted on an underside of the trailer to provide storage for hauling 4×4 posts and/or dunnage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventor: Steven Hill
  • Patent number: 9457727
    Abstract: A rack assembly that is used to load and unload heavy or bulky material on an overhead rack of a truck, van, trailer, or similar vehicle. The rack assembly may include a base assembly, which may be sized to fit a range of vehicles, trailers, and the like. The rack assembly includes a movable part which rolls down over the side of the vehicle and allows improved access to simplify the loading and unloading operations used to secure any material to the rack. The movable part may include a manual handle, or a power assist mechanism, to assist in loading and unloading operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventor: Milton C. Hobbs
  • Patent number: 9457728
    Abstract: A roller load assisted roof-top carrier for elongate articles such as kayak boats. The roof-top carrier includes a space frame having at least a U-shaped portion, the legs of which are each slidingly mountable to each of a front and back cross bar of a vehicular roof rack. In this manner, the space frame translates unitarily relative to the vehicular roof rack. Forward and back cross members are provided that are mounted upon the space frame, the front cross member carrying a pair of kayak saddles, each faced with a friction inducing material for discouraging slippage between a secured kayak and the space frame and the back cross member carrying a pair of guide panels, each faced with a slip inducing material for encouraging slippage between a kayak being loaded on or unloaded from the space frame. A roller can be mounted on a back portion of the space frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Thule Sweden AB
    Inventors: Frederick G. Murray, Kevin W. Harris
  • Patent number: 9457729
    Abstract: A panel of a vehicle body structure has a first slot and a second slot spaced apart from one another. A component has a mounting structure that includes a first tab and a second tab spaced apart from the first tab. A first head of the first tab is inserted through a wide second end of the first slot and the second head of the second tab is inserted through a wide second end of the second slot. The first tab and the second tab thereafter moved to a corresponding one of respective narrow first ends of the first and second slots. Consequently, the first head of the first tab rests on a first upper surface portion of a first area of the panel and the second head rests on a third upper surface portion of a second area of the panel thereby suspending the component from the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Greggs
  • Patent number: 9457730
    Abstract: A self-propelled device includes a spherical housing and an internal drive system including one or more motors. The internal drive system acts to provide power to an interior surface of the spherical housing, thereby causing the self-propelled device to move. A biasing assembly can be included to enable the internal drive system to continuously engage an inner surface of the spherical housing. An external accessory magnetically interacts with interior magnetic components through the spherical housing such that as the self-propelled device rotates and maneuvers, the accessory component maintains a positional relationship to a top portion of the self-propelled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Sphero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Chun Kong, Ross MacGregor
  • Patent number: 9457731
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a holder assembly that includes a lower covering portion that covers and thereby retains a lowermost portion of a mobile electronic device, the lower covering portion being integrated with a rear of a vehicle seat. The holder assembly also includes an upper support portion that supports a top portion of the mobile electronic device, the upper support portion being integrated with the rear of the vehicle seat. The upper support portion and lower covering portion are configured to cooperatively: 1) hold the mobile electronic device in the orientation to enable a passenger in a rear compartment of the vehicle to view the screen of the mobile electronic device upon the mobile electronic device being manually engaged with the holder assembly, and 2) enable the manual disengagement of the mobile electronic device from the holder assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ganesh Narayanan, Spyridon G. Blatseas, Derek Shane Lindsay, Ross L. Burghardt, Fernando Montijo, Brian T. Pagano
  • Patent number: 9457732
    Abstract: A seat back hanger adapter includes a securing unit having a main part with two end caps resiliently mounted to two ends of the main part. The main part is a hollow part and has an opening defined in one side thereof. A connection unit is inserted into the opening and has two hooking members received therein. A resilient member is biased between the two hooking members. Each of the hooking members has a button and a hooking portion, wherein the button protrudes from outside of the connection insertion, and the hooking portions are engaged with two notches in the main part. An organizer is pivotably connected to the connection unit. The connection unit is easily separated from the main part by pushing the buttons of the two connection members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventor: Shuhui Qian
  • Patent number: 9457733
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (100) for holding a camera (50) which serves in particular as a parking assistance device for a motor vehicle, comprising a slide (20) to which the camera (50) can be replaceably secured, a housing (10) in which the slide (20) is movably accommodated in a first guide (11a, 11b, 5a, 15b, 17) between a rest position (A) in which the camera (50) is inactive, and an operating position (B) in which images can be actively detected by the camera (50), and a cover element (40) that closes an opening (16) in the housing (10) through which the camera (50) is oriented towards the exterior. The cover element (40) is pivotally connected to the slide (20) and movably mounted in a second guide (12a, 12b) in the housing (10) between a closed position (C) in which the cover element (40) covers the opening (16), and an open position (D) in which the cover element (40) releases the opening (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Heiko Schütz
  • Patent number: 9457734
    Abstract: A fastener clip includes a base plate and a first and second pair of laterally offset legs extending from the base plate. At least one first wing extends from the first pair of laterally offset legs. The at least one first wing has an engagement region. At least one second wing extends from the second pair of laterally offset legs. The at least one second wing also has an engagement region. The engagement regions include a depressed portion operable to adapt to variations or movement of a slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: TERMAX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Walter Smith, Daniel James Dickenson
  • Patent number: 9457735
    Abstract: A vehicular interior component includes a trim board and an interior member. The trim board includes a decorative as a sidewall surface of a compartment of a vehicle and includes a mounting portion including a through hole and a clearance portion adjacent to the thorough hole. The interior member has a longitudinal shape and mounted to the trim body with a longitudinal dimension thereof along a horizontal direction. The interior member includes a mounting projection that projects toward the trim body. The mounting projection is arranged in the through hole and configured such that at least a portion thereof moves from the through hole to the clearance portion in a direction of an external load when the external load is applied to the interior member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yohei Migaki
  • Patent number: 9457736
    Abstract: A pillar covering for motor vehicles is described. The cover has a carrier part having a projected integrated window guide web and a projecting mounting element, an elevated circular, oval, or polygonal surface structure on the window guide web and/or the mounting element, and a polymer cover part connected to the carrier part via a contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Sebastian Schmidt, Luc-Henry Blanche, Ulrich Riegler
  • Patent number: 9457737
    Abstract: A vehicle noise reducing assembly includes a trunk structure having a floor panel, an interior wall panel and an exterior wall panel. A trunk storage area is defined by the interior wall panel and the floor panel. A trim panel is connected to the interior wall panel within the trunk storage area. A cavity is defined by the floor panel, the exterior wall panel and the trim panel and has a first cavity and a second cavity. A relief valve is disposed in a vent opening in the exterior wall panel. The relief valve extends into the first cavity and has a drafter opening facing inboard. A barrier member is disposed in the second cavity with a barrier surface positioned between the relief valve and the second cavity to prevent sound passing through the drafter opening from entering the second cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Alan Greggs
  • Patent number: 9457738
    Abstract: An energy absorber for an overhead system in a vehicle, wherein the energy absorber comprises a sound absorption device. To improve the sound absorption, it is provided that the sound absorption device comprises at least one acoustic membrane formed within a protrusion formed in an energy absorbing panel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Bock, Robert Wagschal, Thomas Keller
  • Patent number: 9457739
    Abstract: A flexible, resilient, non-woven acoustic sleeve and method of construction thereof is provided. The sleeve has an elongate nonwoven layer with opposite sides bonded to one along a lengthwise extending bonded seam, thereby forming a circumferentially enclosed inner cavity sized for receipt of an elongate member therethrough. The sleeve further includes a generally smooth inner scrim layer bonded to an inner surface of the nonwoven layer, wherein the smooth inner scrim layer forms a circumferentially continuous, smooth inner surface bounding the cavity, with the material of the inner scrim layer forming at least a portion of the bonded seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Powertrain, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Yamaguchi, Maeda Takuto, Ritesh Mehbubani, Aleksandr Ilyin, John E. Burdy
  • Patent number: 9457740
    Abstract: The control property of an onboard device is changeable by using an external control unit, and the data from the external control unit is authenticated. An onboard gateway unit is provided with a verification code generator for generating a security key, and an external control unit is provided with an application control unit for generating a security key. When the external control unit is connected, a main control logic unit of the gateway unit compares the two keys, and when the keys are verified, the control by the external control unit using an application program is enabled. The onboard device control unit can be easily connected to the external control unit. As the control of the device control unit by an external control signal is enabled only when verified, an unauthorized access can be prohibited, and the onboard deice can be controlled only by an authorized control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shotaro Odate, Yo Ito
  • Patent number: 9457741
    Abstract: A wire harness includes a main harness that can be commonly installed in a plurality of installation target vehicles, and a branch connection portion that is visually identifiably provided at a predetermined location on at least any one of a communication wire, a power supply wire, a signal wire, and a ground wire of the main harness. An additional connection member, connected to at least one electrical device that is actually installed in one of the plurality of installation target vehicles, is later connectable to the branch connection portion in a branching manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriaki Sasaki, Toshiaki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9457742
    Abstract: A method for communicating using a hybrid vehicle communications network including a combination of wired and wireless electronic control units (ECUs) and wired and wireless peripherals. The network includes a plurality of ECUs that include a plurality of wireless ECUs. The network also includes a plurality of peripheral devices, where one or more of the peripheral devices receive commands from one or more of the ECUs and one or more of the peripheral devices provide signals to the ECUs, and where the plurality of peripherals include at least one wireless peripheral. Wireless transmission signals transmitted from one of the wireless peripherals is received by all of the wireless ECUs. The method performs an arbitration process where a message provided from one of the wireless ECUs is placed on a communications backbone based on a quality of the transmission signal from the wireless peripheral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Moshe Laifenfeld, Tal Philosof
  • Patent number: 9457743
    Abstract: A terminal for a battery module and a method of manufacture of the terminal are provided. The battery module may include a plurality of battery cells and a bus bar. The bus bar may be electrically coupled to the plurality of battery cells. The battery module also may include a battery terminal that carries a voltage from the bus bar. The battery terminal may include a generally cylindrical terminal portion and a connector. The connector may be coupled to the bus bar cell interconnect. The battery terminal also may include a bent portion. The bent portion is disposed between the terminal portion and the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Edward J. Soleski, Mikhail S. Balk, Richard M. DeKeuster
  • Patent number: 9457744
    Abstract: A power supply control device is configured to reduce a current supplying capacity required by a power supply even when power is supplied to a prescribed external device. The power supply control device comprises a first power supply for supplying power to a pointer instrument; a first control unit that operates with power from the first power supply and controls driving of the pointer instrument and supply of power from the first power supply to the pointer instrument; and a second control unit for controlling supply of power from the first power supply to an external memory. Upon receiving a prescribed command, the first power supply stops supplying power to the pointer instrument, and the first power supply starts supplying power to the external memory in response to the stoppage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuji Saito
  • Patent number: 9457745
    Abstract: The disclosure presents a method for starting up a battery system having a battery, a DC voltage intermediate circuit which is connected to the battery, and a drive system which is connected to the DC voltage intermediate circuit. The battery has a large number of battery modules which are connected in series and which each comprise a coupling unit and at least one battery cell which is connected between a first input and a second input of the coupling unit. The method comprises a step for decoupling the battery cells of all of the battery modules which are connected in series by outputting a corresponding control signal to the coupling units of the battery modules which are connected in series. All of the battery modules which are connected in series are then bridged at the output end, and therefore an output voltage of the battery is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Stefan Butzmann, Holger Fink
  • Patent number: 9457746
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, a bumper, and an impact absorber. The impact absorber extends from the frame to the bumper. The impact absorber has a sliding member and a receiving member. The receiving member defines an orifice and a portion of the sliding member is disposed within the orifice. The sliding member is configured to slide into the receiving member during impact events such that the receiving member yields and flares outward to absorb energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Saied Nusier, Saeed David Barbat
  • Patent number: 9457747
    Abstract: A protector for metal objects, the protector comprising an elongate body and an elongate insert, where the elongate body and the elongate insert are magnetic. The protector may be formed of a resilient material. The protector may be magnetically attached to a vehicle door or other metallic surface to protect the surface from impacts. The protector may have an adjustable length or a fixed length. The elongate insert may be wrapped in coil, which may be powered by a battery to increase the magnetic field of the protector. The battery may be rechargeable via a solar panel in the protector. The protector may be part of a system that includes a magnetic panel within the door of a vehicle for proper placement of the protector thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventor: Russell C. Marquette
  • Patent number: 9457748
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a radiator cowling in a front region of the motor vehicle, and an environment monitoring system to check a surrounding area of the motor vehicle. The environment monitoring system includes an environment detection device, a sensor which is mounted onto the radiator cowling and which is operably connected to the detection device and configured to ascertain an immediate region in front of the motor vehicle, and an actuator configured to pivot the radiator cowling between at least two pivot positions about a pivot axis extending substantially in vehicle transverse direction to thereby modify a detection range ascertained by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Anton Kaufmann, Wolfgang Dorfner
  • Patent number: 9457749
    Abstract: A control unit and a method for activating an occupant protection unit for a vehicle are provided, the occupant protection unit being activated as a function of a first signal of a first sensor system. The activation is validated as a function of an additional sensor signal, which validation is performed by gating at least one acceleration signal and at least one structure-borne noise signal as the sensor signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Hoang Trinh
  • Patent number: 9457750
    Abstract: A method performed by a retraction control system of a vehicle for controlling refraction of a seat belt of a reversible seat belt refractor arrangement for a vehicle occupant is provided. The control system determines fulfillment of an activation condition based on an initiating input derived from a vehicle situation sensing system, which initiating input indicates that the vehicle, at an initiating time instant, is considered likely to be, or is about to become, involved in a hazardous situation and/or uncomfortable dynamic situation. The control system generates an activation signal utilizable for initiation of retraction of the seat belt. If the control system determines absence of fulfillment of a confirming condition within a predetermined confirming time period, and/or if the control system determines fulfillment of an abort condition within a predetermined abort time period, the control system generates a deactivation signal utilizable for aborting the initiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Par Nilsson, Peter Harda, Anders Axelson, Stefan Berge
  • Patent number: 9457751
    Abstract: A first pad and a second pad are configured to be arranged in a vehicle seat. A plurality of passive movement devices are provided to be respectively arranged behind, and to cause movement of, the pads. The passive movement devices are configured to be actuated independently of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cortney Stancato, Robert William McCoy, Agnes S. Kim, Jaeho Cho
  • Patent number: 9457752
    Abstract: A vehicle collision determination apparatus includes a first sensor and a second sensor provided in a cabin of a vehicle, and a determining portion that determines severity of a frontal collision of the vehicle based on the difference between an output from the first sensor and an output from the second sensor. The output from the first sensor includes a first acceleration in a backward direction of the vehicle, and the output from the second sensor includes a second acceleration in the backward direction of the vehicle. The first sensor and the second sensor are arranged along the backward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenyu Okamura
  • Patent number: 9457753
    Abstract: A device for a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, includes an environment sensor system which has at least one environment sensor for contactlessly detecting at least one environment region, means for adjusting the environment region to be detected, and a device for determining the environment region to be detected. The device has a position sensor which detects the tilting of the vehicle in respect of a vehicle base, and the means adjust the environment region to be detected depending on the tilt of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Heiko Freienstein, Joerg Moennich
  • Patent number: 9457754
    Abstract: A method and system may identify vehicle collisions in real-time or at least near real-time based on statistical data collected from previous vehicle collisions. A user's portable computing device may obtain sensor data from sensors in the portable computing device and compare the sensor data to a statistical model indicative of a vehicle collision. If the portable computing device identifies a vehicle collision based on the comparison, notifications may be sent to emergency contacts and/or emergency personnel to provide assistance to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott T. Christensen, David J. Dosher, Sunish S. Menon, Susan M. Dunham
  • Patent number: 9457755
    Abstract: An instrument panel and energy absorbing system for a vehicle includes an instrument panel reinforcement extending from a passenger side to a driver side of a vehicle. At least one bracket is secured to the instrument panel reinforcement. A one piece instrument panel includes an open bin structure formed thereon. An opening is formed in the instrument panel and receives a glove box structure. A trim panel is connected to the instrument panel about the opening and open bin structure. When an impact force is applied to the glove box, the glove box travels along a path from an unengaged position to an engaged position wherein the trim panel contacts the at least one bracket to absorb at least a portion of the impact force, when the glove box is in the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Earl Merkel
  • Patent number: 9457756
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a vehicle body frame. A cockpit section or platform is arranged at a front section of the vehicle. A carrier bed is provided at a rear section of the vehicle. A ROPS includes a pair of left and right front supporting columns, a pair of left and right rear supporting columns, and a rearward overhanging frame extending rearward from upper part of the rear supporting columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshimi Hirooka, Takashi Kuramoto, Kohta Nakao, Katsuhiro Wakabayashi, Kyouhei Hamamura
  • Patent number: 9457757
    Abstract: A mounting member to be mounted to an obverse side of a cover part arranged at a central portion of a steering wheel includes corner parts 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d having hook parts 36-3, 36-4, 36-5, and 36-6 protruding from their reverse sides, the hook parts 36-3, 36-4, 36-5, and 36-6 being capable of interlocking with holes formed at the cover part. The hook parts 36-3, 36-4, 36-5, and 36-6 are arranged at narrow parts 37a and 37b between a contour 33 of the mounting member 30 and openings 35a and 35b formed along the contour 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Kawabe, Shuhei Fujiwara, Keisuke Onohara, Kouhei Nagashima
  • Patent number: 9457758
    Abstract: A pre-weakened cover of an airbag module is provided. The pre-weakened cover including an outer layer member having an outer show surface and an opposing inner surface; a plurality of first cuts arranged on the inner surface; and a plurality of second cuts arranged on the inner surface, wherein each of the plurality of second cuts intersects at least one adjacent first cut, wherein a plurality of weakened regions are formed at the intersections between the plurality of first cuts and the plurality of second cuts and wherein each of the plurality of first cuts and the plurality of second cuts each have end portions that extend past each intersection to weaken the outer layer member near each intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Udo Kansteiner
  • Patent number: 9457759
    Abstract: To provide an airbag and an airbag device that can keep the internal pressure of the airbag in the initial stage of inflation and deployment high. An airbag includes a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber includes a nozzle forming a flow path capable of communicating with the second chamber, and a tether connecting the inner surface of the nozzle and the inner surface of the first chamber. During the inflation and deployment of the first chamber, the supply of gas to the second chamber is prevented by retracting the nozzle into the first chamber. After the first chamber is expelled into the cabin and when a predetermined external pressure is loaded on the first chamber, the nozzle is expelled into the second chamber so as to allow gas to be supplied to the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Sugimoto, Daisuke Shibata
  • Patent number: 9457760
    Abstract: An active glove box door includes a bladder member joined along an outer perimeter with a front wall by a hot weld seam to form an inflatable bladder. The bladder member includes a circumferential pleat for unfolding in response to an inflation gas during a crash event. A door inner liner is joined to a central region of the bladder member and forms a generally continuous plate behind the bladder member. The door inner liner interfaces with the instrument panel to provide a reaction surface for expansion of the bladder. The pleat has a peak disposed proximate to the door inner liner, wherein the peak includes a vent opening that delineates a collision region on the door inner liner. The door inner liner includes a plurality of perforations in the collision region permitting flow of inflation gas from the vent opening through the door inner liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stacey H. Raines, Tyler Cohoon, Peter J. Bejin, Kaitlin M. Cischke, Nicholas A. Mazzocchi, Raffi B. Manoukian
  • Patent number: 9457761
    Abstract: The rate of combustion of an electrically operated propellant having self-sustaining threshold of at least 1,000 psi is controlled to produce chamber pressures that are sufficient to produce a desired pressure profile in the airbag to accommodate a range of human factors and crash conditions yet never exceeding the self-sustaining threshold. The combustion of the propellant is extinguished to control the total pressure impulse delivered to the airbag. Propellants formed with an ionic perchlorate-based oxidizer have demonstrated thresholds in excess of 1,500 psi and higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: James K. Villarreal, Thomas M. Deppert, Mark T. Langhenry, Matt H. Summers
  • Patent number: 9457762
    Abstract: A hood front cover assembly usable on a vehicle in which the hood has a leading edge and an underside adjacent the leading edge to reduce pedestrian injury in a pedestrian-vehicle impact event is disclosed. The cover assembly includes a deployable cover and cover housing. The housing is located on the underside of the hood adjacent the leading edge. The cover is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The cover may be entirely rigid or may be partially deformable and may include a hollow flexible front portion. A mechanism is provided for moving the cover between the stowed and deployed positions. The mechanism is associated with the housing and may be driven by a spring driver, a motor or a pneumatic driver. A pedestrian impact sensor is provided in the front end of the vehicle. The sensor is operatively associated with the hood front cover assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC.
    Inventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, Brian Robert Spahn, Richard Edward Ruthinowski
  • Patent number: 9457763
    Abstract: A collision detection apparatus includes: an impact force detector configured to detect an impact force generated on a vehicle; a collision detector configured to detect collision with an obstacle outside of the vehicle at the time the impact force detector detects the impact force exceeding a threshold value; a collision predictor configured to predict that a bicycle being operated by a bicycle rider will collide with the vehicle before the collision with the obstacle outside of the vehicle is detected by the collision detector; and a colliding direction predictor configured to predict that the collision of the bicycle with the vehicle predicted collision with a front surface or a rear surface of the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenichi Takenaka
  • Patent number: 9457764
    Abstract: The present invention provides a seatbelt through-anchor and device capable of preventing jamming during an emergency. A through-anchor is rotatably attached to a vehicle interior wall and is folded back after a webbing extracted from a retractor is inserted through the through-anchor. The through-anchor includes: an insertion hole including an approximately linear lower edge on which the webbing slides, and a lateral edge curving from an end part of the lower edge; a lower-side part provided below the lower edge; and a bump part extending from an end of the lower-side part, protruding beyond a surface of the lower-side part in a direction corresponding to a vehicle interior side. The bump part includes peak parts protruding the furthest in the course of separating from the lateral edge, and includes, between each of the peak parts and the lateral edge, a first sliding surface including a curved surface outwardly protruding from the through-anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Shinichi Wakabayashi, Yosuke Kono, Toshihito Natori
  • Patent number: 9457765
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (1) includes a backrest (10) and a seat part (2) which has a seat cushion (11). The seat cushion (11) has at least one recess (31, 32) for receiving at least one belt buckle (21, 22, 23). The at least one recess (31, 32) is partially delimited upwards in the vertical direction by a bridge (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Bhagyesh Ashtekar, Richard G. Lewis, Lennart Svensson
  • Patent number: 9457766
    Abstract: An electronic key system enabling to improve security against vehicle theft is provided. A smart ECU acquires encrypted data from an electronic key. When all identification data stored in a memory and a memory of an electronic component embedding connector correspond to the identification data transmitted from the electronic key, the smart ECU cancels security and permits operations of a door lock driving unit, a steering lock driving unit, and an engine control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Shuuji Satake, Akiyoshi Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 9457767
    Abstract: A wiper device for removing foreign substances that are stuck on a windshield in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a contact member configured for wiping out the foreign substances; a support member made of an elastic material and configured for elastically supporting the contact member in such a way that the contact member is in close contact with the windshield; a yoke configured for supporting the support member; a center cover configured for covering the yoke and having a wiper arm connected thereto; and an extension cover having one end thereof hinge-coupled to the center cover and the other end thereof extended in a lengthwise direction of the support member. The yoke can be hinge-coupled with the center cover or the extension cover and can have a hinge-axle thereof arranged in a same line as a hinge-axle connecting the center cover with the extension cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: CAP Corporation
    Inventor: Kyoung Joon Song
  • Patent number: 9457768
    Abstract: A windshield wiper blade cover and a wiper blade having same. The windshield wiper blade cover being capable of being disposed on the top side of a beam of a wiper blade, and comprising two longitudinal sides, two outer ends and a top surface, where the top surface of the cover has a base portion having a height and a raised portion having a height, the height of the raised portion is greater than the height of the base portion, and the height of the raised portion gradually decreases as the raised portion approaches the outer ends of the cover. The wiper blade comprising a cover as described above, a beam having two ends, two longitudinal sides, a top side and a bottom side, a central bridge disposed on the top side of the beam, a wiper strip disposed on the bottom side of the beam, and the cover disposed on the top side of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Pylon Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Vambi Raymundo Tolentino, Robert Peter Peers
  • Patent number: 9457769
    Abstract: A fin part (21e) is provided on a side opposite to a wiping surface side of a rubber holder (21) to press a blade rubber (22) toward the wiping surface side by receiving a wind (W) flowing along a moving car, and covering parts (23) protrude from both lengthwise ends of the blade rubber (22) toward the wiping surface side so as to partially cover lateral parts of the blade rubber (22). Owing to the fin part (21e), liftoff of a wiper blade (20) can be prevented. A wind (W) flowing from the front side to the rear side at an end part of a swing center side of the blade rubber (22) can be rectified by the covering part (23), and the wind (W) can flow along the rear side of the wiper blade (20) in the length direction of the wiper blade (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignees: Mitsuba Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Fujiwara, Kenichi Imoto, Ryu Ikezawa, Hiroyuki Sase, Kouji Okabe, Hisaaki Naruse, Hiroyuki Ikeno, Akira Takayama, Naomi Sase
  • Patent number: 9457770
    Abstract: A spray washer nozzle for a vehicle may include a nozzle body installed in a hood of a vehicle as a unit for ejecting washer liquid to a windshield, and connected to a hose for supplying the washer liquid and fixedly installed in a hood panel at the same time, and a spray nozzle chip having a passage therein and inserted into a head part of the nozzle body, in which a heat emitter is inserted into and mounted to the passage formed in the interior of the spray nozzle chip such that washer liquid flowing through the passage of the spray nozzle chip is heated while directly contacting the heat emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, NIFCO KOREA INC.
    Inventors: Nak Kyoung Kong, Bock Cheol Lee, Hyun Sub Kim, Dae Hwan Kim, Young Sub Oh, Jin Hee Lee, Joon Ho Sung
  • Patent number: 9457771
    Abstract: A liquid projection device intended to be mounted on an end-piece that can be attached to a longitudinal end of a wiper blade includes a body and a liquid flow channel made as a single unit. The channel includes an inlet opening and a spraying opening, and the body includes an inner wall that defines a recess for receiving the end piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Valeo Sysèmes d'Essuyage
    Inventors: Xavier Bousset, Grégory Kolanowski, Gérald Caillot