Patents Issued in December 6, 2016
  • Patent number: 9511656
    Abstract: To suppress the height of a vehicle body frame of an inverted pendulum type vehicle in consideration of mounting and dismounting the vehicle. Left and right drive units are disposed so as to be juxtaposed in the left-right direction at same-height positions higher than a main wheel. The left and right drive units and a battery pack are disposed so as to be juxtaposed in front and behind a vehicle body frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Muto, Wataru Yada
  • Patent number: 9511657
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a replaceable battery module for an electrically driven vehicle, with at least one bracket that can be detachably arranged on a bearing structure of the motor vehicle, and carries at least one battery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Friedhelm Engler, Clarence Kim, Richard Shaw
  • Patent number: 9511658
    Abstract: A battery changing device (10) for an at least electrically drivable vehicle (100), having at least one receiving part (11) for receiving at least one battery module (20), wherein the receiving part (11) is moveable between an operating position, in which the battery module (20) is operable on the vehicle (100), and a changing position, in which the battery module (20) is interchangeable to the vehicle (100). A drive (40) is operationally connected to a closure element (12), as a result of which the closure element (12) is moveable into a closing position, in which the battery module (20) is operable on the vehicle (100), and into an open position, in which the battery module (20) is interchangeable to the vehicle (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Achim Hawighorst
  • Patent number: 9511659
    Abstract: A method for caring for a lawn and an apparatus for providing lawn care are provided. The method includes steps of powering an electrically powered lawn care device by a electric power source, wherein the electric power source is provided as part of an electrically powered transportation vehicle, and treating the lawn by using the electrically powered lawn care device. The apparatus includes: (a) a hybrid vehicle having an electric motor for driving the hybrid vehicle, and an electric power source for powering the electric motor; (b) a trailer constructed to attach to the hybrid vehicle so that the trailer can be pulled by the hybrid vehicle; and (c) electrically powered lawn care equipment constructed to fit within the trailer, and wherein the electric power source is constructed to power the electrically powered lawn care equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Steven Young
  • Patent number: 9511660
    Abstract: An electric vehicle axle mechanism comprising: at least one vehicle axle; a gear mechanism connected to the vehicle axle; an electric motor that comprises a rotor and that is connected to the gear mechanism for transmitting a torque to the at least one vehicle axle; a position sensing device for ascertaining a rotor position of the rotor; an electronic power unit that is connected to the electric motor for supplying electrical energy to the electric motor, wherein the electronic power unit furthermore comprises an evaluating device for evaluating the signals of the position sensing device and is connected to an evaluating device that is embodied as a separate device, wherein the position sensing device is integrated at least in part in the electronic power unit or the evaluating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Braun, Thomas Winter
  • Patent number: 9511661
    Abstract: A driven wheel unit includes an electric motor coupled to a two-speed, three stage planetary drive assembly and has a width dimensioned for traveling between rows of crop. A wheel hub is supported on an outer surface of a fixed housing by large diameter wheel bearings surrounding both a motor-containing cavity and an adjacent cavity containing first and second planetary stages. Nested radially and surrounding the two planetary stages are two SAHR disc clutches including pistons engaging inner and outer surfaces of a compact piston guide member. The third stage planet carrier defines a cap and is fixed to an axially outer end of the wheel hub. A third stage ring gear has an outside diameter approximately equal to that of the wheel bearings and has an inside diameter fixed to the housing by a planar, annular wheel bearing retainer plate that is fixed to an end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Douglas K. Brownell, Eric Vilar, Kyle K. McKinzie, Reginald M. Bindl
  • Patent number: 9511662
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention relates to a vehicle (100) comprising a body (105), an internal combustion engine (140) and a filter cartridge (180) able to filter the aspirated comburent air in arrival in the internal combustion engine (140), the filter cartridge (180) being contained internally of the body (105) and located in a position in which the plan volume of the filter cartridge (180) is completely external of the plan volume of the internal combustion engine (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: UFI FILTERS S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Girondi
  • Patent number: 9511663
    Abstract: A fuel tank for use with hydrogen carrier fuels. The fuel tank includes a self-supporting shell having an inward facing surface and an outward facing surface. A fluid-tight inner layer is disposed adjacent the inward facing surface and a fluid-tight outer layer is disposed adjacent the outward facing surface. A vent extends through the fluid-tight inner layer, the fluid-tight outer layer, and the self-supporting shell. The fuel tank can also include a gas collection canister connected to the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Patent number: 9511664
    Abstract: A bracket assembly that supports an intermediate bearing fitted onto a propeller shaft, includes: a cylindrical member that supports the intermediate bearing; and a bracket fixed to the cylindrical member and to a vehicle body, the bracket includes an arc member that extends along an outer circumference surface of the cylindrical member, and legs that extend from ends of the arc member and are fixed to the vehicle body, and the arc member includes: a fixed portion that is fixed to the cylindrical member; a first fragile portion between one of the ends of the arc member and the fixed portion; and a second fragile portion between other of the ends of the arc member and the fixed portion, in which the first and second fragile portions are more fragile against a load in an axial direction of the cylindrical member than other portions of the arc member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenichi Mori
  • Patent number: 9511665
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing rotation of a PTO shaft of a an agricultural vehicle when a clutch connecting the PTO shaft to a crankshaft of an engine of the vehicle is disengaged. A magnetic brake is used to apply to the PTO shaft means a retarding torque by means of a fixed magnet a retarding torque of a magnitude exceeding the maximum output torque of the clutch when the latter is disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Roland Huber, Reinhard Koeck, Josef Mayr, Johann Monschein, Christian Woerndl
  • Patent number: 9511666
    Abstract: A vehicle driveline that includes a differential assembly, a two-speed transmission, a power take-off unit, a range sleeve, a mode sleeve and an input shaft. The range sleeve is non-rotatably but axially slidably coupled to the input shaft. The range sleeve provides rotary power to the two-speed transmission and is movable into different positions to control the gear ratio in which the two-speed transmission operates. The two-speed transmission outputs rotary power to the differential assembly. The mode sleeve is selectively movable into a position where it transmits rotary power between the range sleeve and a PTU input of the power-take off unit. Movement of the range and mode sleeves can be coordinated to provide a two-wheel drive high speed mode, a four-wheel drive high speed mode and a four-wheel drive low speed mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente
  • Patent number: 9511667
    Abstract: An output transfer group is disclosed for use with a mobile machine. The output transfer group may have a housing, and an input yoke extending from the housing and configured to receive an input torque. The output transfer group may also have a first output yoke extending from the housing and configured to provide a first output torque, a second output yoke extending from the housing and configured to provide a second output torque, and a plurality of gears disposed within the housing and connecting the input yoke to the first and second output yokes. The output transfer group may further have a disk stack operatively connected to two of the plurality of gears, and an actuator configured to selectively compress the disk stack to vary a split of the input torque between the first and second output yokes. The actuator may be maintained in contact with the disk stack during operation of the output transfer group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David Michael Thaler
  • Patent number: 9511668
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle's speed, including: acquiring a set speed; determining, using using map and location data, a horizon made of route segments, each with a route characteristic; performing simulation cycles, each including: predicting the speed according to a conventional cruise control, which first prediction depends on the route characteristic; comparing the first predicted speed with lower and upper limit values, which define an engine torque for use in the next simulation cycle; making a second prediction of the speed when the engine torque depends on the comparison in the immediately preceding simulation cycle; comparing, as a second comparison, the second predicted speed with second lower and upper limit values, which delineate a speed range within which the speed is maintained; determining, based on the second comparison and/or the second predicted speed in this simulation cycle, a reference value for use by a vehicle control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Oskar Johansson, Maria Södergren, Fredrik Roos
  • Patent number: 9511669
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vehicular input device, which is arranged in a vehicle having a meter hood protruding toward a driving seat from an instrument panel and surrounding a meter, for detecting an operation of a driver based on an input screen image displayed on a display device arranged on the instrument panel at a side of the meter hood. The vehicular input device includes: a detection unit that is arranged at a side surface of the meter hood and is arranged between the display device and the driving seat; and a display control unit that changes a display mode of the display device in response to an output of the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Oda, Seiji Hisada
  • Patent number: 9511670
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor for measuring the magnetic properties of a battery cell, and converting the magnetic properties to a battery cell SOC. The magnetic sensor includes a magnetic core formed of laminated high permeability plates provided in a C-shape. An extended portion of the battery cell extends through a transverse opening in the core so that it is positioned within the core. A driving coil is wrapped around one end of the magnetic core and generates a magnetic field in the core that extends across the transverse opening and through the battery cell. A receiving coil is wrapped around an opposite end of the core that receives the magnetic field, and converts the magnetic field to a representative current. A detection circuit converts the receiving coil current to the battery cell SOC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan O. Conell, Brian J. Koch
  • Patent number: 9511671
    Abstract: A device for restricting movement of a vehicle during connection of a charging cable, the vehicle being equipped with a battery chargeable from an external power source via the charging cable, the device including a charging cable connection detecting section that detects that the charging cable is in a connection state, a vehicle body movement detecting section that detects movement of a vehicle body of the vehicle based on moving speed and moving distance of the vehicle, and a braking section that brakes the vehicle when the movement of the vehicle body is detected while the charging cable is in the connection state based on signals from the charging cable connection detecting section and the vehicle body movement detecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Yamamoto, Ken Nakayama, Isamu Kazama
  • Patent number: 9511672
    Abstract: A vehicle charge device performs a pilot communication and an in-band communication via communication lines that are integrated with electric power lines in a charge cable. The charge device includes a master controller that resets a slave controller of an in-band communicator if determined that the charge cable is pulled out from a connector of a vehicle. As a result, the system suffers less frequent in-band communication errors during which an in-band communication is disabled due to a malfunction of a computer for the in-band communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Kanayama
  • Patent number: 9511673
    Abstract: Electrical connection arrangement (32) for a charging system (10), especially for charging a vehicle battery (14) of a motor vehicle (12), comprising a first connecting element (28) that can be connected to a charging station (20) and that can establish electrical charging contact with the second connecting element (30) which is supported on a mobile platform (12). At least one heating element (40) is integrated into the first connecting element and/or into the second connecting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Viktor Rill, Jochen Kilb
  • Patent number: 9511674
    Abstract: Dynamic systems may require a large number of coils (charging pads) which may be installed into the roadway to wirelessly provide power to electric vehicles as they are traveling along the roadway. The current in each of these coils may need to be turned on and off as a vehicle drives over the coils in order to efficiently utilize power and properly convey power to the passing vehicles. The supply network behind these coils may need to be capable of managing the individual coils with minimal infrastructure and cost as well as be capable of distributing the required power from the power grid to these pads efficiently and safely. The supply network may include charging coils, switches, local controllers, and distribution circuitry within a modular element, which may receive power from external sources and may be controlled by a central controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Nicholas Athol Keeling, Chang-Yu Huang, Michael Le Gallais Kissin, Jonathan Beaver, Mickel Bipin Budhia, Claudio Armando Camasca Ramirez
  • Patent number: 9511675
    Abstract: Methods of reducing peak energy consumption of a power consumer are provided. One such method comprises preprogramming an actual consumption line based on actual power usage, the actual consumption line having peak start time, a peak end time and a peak consumption time; determining a connection period of a battery of a vehicle to a charging station of the power consumer; determining an available energy between the required departure energy of the battery and the connection energy; determining an average expected consumption line that averages the actual power usage over the connection period; and determining a charge/discharge line by adjusting the average expected consumption line based on the available energy and the connection period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Shinsuke Yonetani
  • Patent number: 9511676
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are presented to transfer energy between an energy storage device (ESD) at an electrified vehicle (EV) and an AC or DC external load such as an electric grid, appliance or power tool. A portable EVETA can engage an EV charge inlet couple an EV, and can provide an AC outlet, a grid interface and a DC connector for coupling external loads. An EVETA can be used at a remote construction site or campsite to power high current equipment, obviating the need to transport an electric generator. An EVETA can be configured for data and control communication with the EV to coordinate energy transfer. An EVETA can receive a predetermined ESD state of charge limit so that the transfer process can be terminated to preserve sufficient charge for EV return to a desired destination. A human machine interface enables user input reception and information display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Loftus, John Proietty, Fazal U. Syed, Ben A. Tabatowski-Bush, Perry R. MacNeille
  • Patent number: 9511677
    Abstract: A system is described to enable charging of electric vehicles. A scheduler determines charging profiles for electric vehicles based on a time period within a day that is beneficial to an electric grid while still meeting the needs of drivers of the electric vehicles. A service provider charges the electric vehicles according to the charging profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander Nelson Brooks
  • Patent number: 9511678
    Abstract: A calculating part acquires a current position from an acquiring part. The calculating part searches for the position of a charging facility in charging facility information within a retaining part on the basis of the acquired current position, and specifies the charging facility for a next charging. The calculating part calculates a charging time based on a charged amount and a charging capacity of the specified charging facility. A selecting part selects peripheral facilities presented to a user based on calculated charging time and a standard time indicating an average time spent on using each peripheral facility registered in association with the specified charging facility retained in the retaining part, and displays the information regarding the selected peripheral facilities on the display part. Thus, assistance can be provided for the effective use of the time needed to charge a storage cell onboard a moving body at a charging facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minoru Tateno, Kenji Nagafuji
  • Patent number: 9511679
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of: performing shipping electric charging control when an electric charging plug is connected and a condition is also established for performing the shipping electric charging control; and if the condition for performing the shipping electric charging control is not established, performing full electric charging control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junta Izumi
  • Patent number: 9511680
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle battery mounting structure including: a lower frame made of fiber-reinforced resin that has a first open portion for water drainage and configures, together with an upper frame, a battery frame that supports a battery; a lower reinforcement made of metal that has a second open portion for water drainage having a smaller open area than the first open portion, the lower reinforcement being joined to the lower frame in a state in which the second open portion is communicated with the first open portion; and an insulating grommet that is formed in the shape of a ring having an upper flange and a lower flange and that is disposed at the lower reinforcement as a result of a peripheral edge portion configuring the second open portion of the lower reinforcement being fitted between the upper flange and the lower flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Hokazono, Kenichiro Yoshimoto, Takeharu Matsuno, Shingo Hirata
  • Patent number: 9511681
    Abstract: A transport system comprising linear motor modules utilized both straight and curved track modules, with movers displaced on the track modules by control of power applied to coils of the modules. Curved track modules have modified spline geometries to provide desired acceleration and jerk characteristics. The modified spline geometries may be defined by more than one generators, such as an equation generator and a spline fit between the equation-generated segment and one or more constrained points or locations. The curved track modules may be divided into 180 degree modules, or may be reduced to 90 degree, 45 degree or other fractional arcs to provide for modular assembly, mirror-image geometries and motion profiles, and the like. The system may be adapted to provide improved motion characteristics based on modification of a conventional spline geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen C. Wernersbach, Marc D. Koeppel, Keith G. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 9511682
    Abstract: According to this vehicle and control method for the same, an electric motor control device sets a target left power and a target right power, on the basis of the power suppliable by a power supply, power loss dependent on the respective rotation state quantities of a left electric motor and a right electric motor, the target power difference between the left electric motor and the right electric motor, and the target sum of power of the left electric motor and the right electric motor, and controls the left electric motor and the right electric motor using the target left power and the target right power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ando, Toshinori Tsukamoto, Masatoshi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9511683
    Abstract: A method and system for recognizing and verifying the identity of a driver and front seat passenger of a vehicle. A vehicle owner uploads profile data for several individuals who may be a driver or passenger to a database in the vehicle. When a driver or passenger enters the vehicle, the system uses the profile data—which can include height, weight, and gender information about the individual—along with vehicle data such as seat position, to identify the driver or passenger from the database. The profile data for the known individual is then used to adjust the position of the seat and other components in the cockpit. The profile data is also used by various safety and convenience systems onboard the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Dorel M. Sala, Jenne-Tai Wang, Mark O. Neal, Steven C. Tengler, Steven Swanson
  • Patent number: 9511684
    Abstract: A vehicle seat control device includes a seat unit on which an occupant sits, a seat unit support mechanism that supports the seat unit such that a right side and a left side of the seat unit are capable of moving relative to each other in a vehicle up-down direction, a lock actuator for fixing the relative movement in the up-down direction of the seat unit supported by the seat unit support mechanism, and a seat ECU that controls the lock actuator so as to fix the seat unit in cases in which a predetermined fixing condition for fixing the seat unit has been satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsutomu Hamabe, Reiji Iwaihara, Kohshi Katoh, Eishi Takeuchi, Hikaru Sato
  • Patent number: 9511685
    Abstract: A power seat sliding apparatus does not produce an unusual sound and a good operation feeling is obtained. The power seat sliding apparatus includes a first load transmission member fixedly attached to an upper rail and having a first surface that intersects with an axis of a threaded rod and a second surface that opposes the first surface with a space in between, and a second load transmission member installed in the space between the first surface and the second surface, fixedly attached to the threaded rod, and having a third surface on which to abut the first surface and a fourth surface on which to abut the second surface. The first surface and the second surface are concave curved surfaces and the third surface and the fourth surface are convex curved surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomohiro Enokijima
  • Patent number: 9511686
    Abstract: Reinforced section piece comprising a metal section piece and a reinforcing spacer piece, said section piece having a generally U-shaped cross-section with a base portion, said section piece comprising side wings extending perpendicularly on each side from the transverse ends of the base portion, with inner surfaces facing each other at an inside distance, the reinforcing spacer piece comprising a body having a width that is slightly less than the inner distance, and being configured to prevent the lessening of the distance between the two side wings, the reinforcing spacer piece additionally comprising protuberances projecting outwards from the body in the transverse direction, facing the curved surfaces of the male section piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: FAURECIA SIEGES D'AUTOMOBILE
    Inventor: Gérald Garotte
  • Patent number: 9511687
    Abstract: Seat height adjustment having vertical slots (21, FIG. 3) provided on the seat structure (20) and a displacer (14) which is provided with tilted slots (15) and which can be moved horizontally in order to lift or lower the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kurt Seibold, Alexander I Balin, Ingo Kienke, Jorg Linnenbrink
  • Patent number: 9511688
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including a seat member, having a seat face and two lateral members. The seat face may be provided between the lateral members in an integral manner. The vehicle seat may further include a height adjuster for adjusting a height of the seat face, and the height adjuster may be integrated in the lateral members. Each of the lateral members may have a recess, the shape of which may change during the height adjustment. The height adjuster may include a drive element. The drive element may include a rotor with helical slots. The lateral members may have projections provided which cooperate in a positive-locking manner with the helical slots. During rotation of the rotor, the projections may be moved away from each other or toward each other. Height adjustment of the seat face may be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Jorg Linnenbrink, Ingo Kienke, Gerhard Rothstein
  • Patent number: 9511689
    Abstract: A seating apparatus for a vehicle, in which a seat cushion supported on the vehicle body by a link member can be flipped up toward the front of the vehicle from a use position and which includes a locking mechanism that operates only when the seat cushion is acted upon by an inertial force greater than a predetermined force in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, to temporarily prevent the seat cushion from flipping up. The locking mechanism includes a locking plate supported on the seat cushion and rockable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle between a normal position and a rocked position, and a spring for urging the locking plate toward the normal position. The locking plate locks the seat cushion to the link member when it is moved inertially to the rocked position against the force of the spring, to prevent the seat cushion from flipping up, and the locking plate unlocks the seat cushion when it is located in the normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Mabashi, Yoshiyuki Shimomura, Shigeya Fujino, Katsuhiko Sasaki, Kazuya Imayou, Toshiki Igarashi, Masao Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9511690
    Abstract: A cargo management system including a vehicle load floor having a cellulose-based core to compartmentalize a cargo area of the vehicle into an upper compartment and a covered lower compartment is provided. The floor has a wood grain finish. The load floor includes a compression-molded composite panel that includes first and second outer layers of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material, first and second sheets of thermoplastic adhesive and a core of cellulose-based material and positioned between the outer layers. The core has a large number of cavities. The outer layers are bonded to the core by the first and second sheets and by press molding. The first outer layer having a top surface on which a multi-layer sheet is bonded by the press molding. The multi-layer sheet has a substantially planar upper support surface to support cargo in the upper compartment and to provide the load floor with the wood grain finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBAL IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Darius J. Preisler, Christopher A. Heikkila, Steven A. Mitchell, Jeffrey P. Schmelzer
  • Patent number: 9511691
    Abstract: A seat frame having an energy-absorbing portion capable of being deformed while absorbing rear-end collision energy by concentrating the energy on the energy-absorbing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Namba Press Works Co., LTD
    Inventors: Takao Komatsubara, Mitsuki Takata
  • Patent number: 9511692
    Abstract: Adjustable boat seat handles are described. A described apparatus comprises an elongated lever having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end having a hand grip and the second end having a first flange extending away from the first end, the first flange having a first bore extending through the first flange, a rocker arm having a third end and a fourth end opposite the third end, the third end having a second flange extending away from the third end, the second flange having a second bore extending through the second flange and a pin extending through the first and second bores rotatably coupling the first and second flanges, wherein rotation of the lever in a first direction relative to the rocker arm causes the lever to rotate the rocker arm to enable adjustment of a seat and rotation of the lever in a second direction opposite the first direction causes the lever to fold relative to the rocker arm to be in a stowed position under the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin Downey
  • Patent number: 9511693
    Abstract: There is disclosed a vehicle seat having an operating member to operate an operating seat mechanism disposed in the seat, and a pivoting operation lever coupled to the operating member to exert a pivoting operation force, thereby operating the operating seat mechanism, the operating member is integrally constituted of a shaft portion and an arm portion, the pivoting operation lever has a holding region and a coupling region to transmit the pivoting operation force to the operating member, and the coupling region has a fitting portion which fits on the shaft portion from an axial direction, and an output surface portion which comes in contact with the arm portion in a pivoting direction of the arm portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuo Nakagawa, Hiroyuki Mita
  • Patent number: 9511694
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a first seating unit having a backrest, which includes a front side and a back side. An armrest is operably coupled with an intermediate portion of the back side and is configured for use by a passenger seated in a second seating unit disposed behind but laterally offset from the first seating unit. The armrest is moveable between an in-use position, wherein an upper surface of the armrest is generally horizontally positioned and available to support the passenger, and a stowed position, wherein the armrest is generally adjacent to a rear face of the backrest of the first seating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Teresa Mendicino, Torsten Gerhardt, David Woodhouse, Lewis Blaber
  • Patent number: 9511695
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat device including a vibration system formed from a seat back and a headrest being equipped with a dynamic damper, the dynamic damper is formed from an elastic member that is embedded within a cushion member of the vibration system and formed from a rubber or elastomer that is softer than the cushion member, and a weight embedded in the elastic member. Thus it is possible to provide a vehicle seat device that includes a dynamic damper having a small number of components and a simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuya Okubo
  • Patent number: 9511696
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a headrest assembly including, among other things, a rod configured to couple the headrest assembly to a seat back. The rod includes two vertical portions and a horizontal portion extending along a rotation axis between the two vertical portions. The horizontal portion includes a first flat surface and a second flat surface. The headrest assembly further includes a head restraint configured to rotate relative to the rod between a use position and an adjustment position. The headrest assembly further includes a clip having a first flat surface and a second flat surface. The clip is configured such that (1) when the head restraint is in the use position, the first flat surface of the clip is in direct contact with the first flat surface of the horizontal portion and the first flat surfaces of the clip and the horizontal portion lie in a first common plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: DAIMAY NORTH AMERICA AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: Jianhua Wang, Yingtai Jiang, Xiaoguang Wang
  • Patent number: 9511697
    Abstract: A child safety seat includes a seat back and a head rest disposed on the seat back. When a child sits on the child safety seat, his back is against the seat back, and his head is against the head rest. The child safety seat also includes two sliding slot structures, formed on the seat back, and two sliding rods. The two sliding rod are connected to two opposite sides of the head rest corresponding to the two sliding slot structures and slidably disposed in the corresponding sliding slot structures. When the sliding rod is at a first restraining position of the sliding slot structure and the child safety seat shakes because of an impact, the head rest moves relative to the seat back, so that the sliding rod slides to a second restraining position sliding slot structure, which reduces possible harm to the head of the child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited
    Inventors: Chin-Ming Cheng, Yu-Ya Su
  • Patent number: 9511698
    Abstract: A vehicle seat back has first and second support members each having a central web and a rear wall extending therefrom. A seat base is operably connected with the first and second support members. A recliner heart operably connects the seat base with the first and second support members. A shear center of the first and second support members extends along an inside corner connection of the central web and the rear wall of the first and second support members and into the seat base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologist, LLC
    Inventors: Majid Arefi, Shawn Anthony Dixon, Michael Medoro, Johnathan Andrew Line, Khaled Ayyash, James Creighton, Vanja Cemalovic, Daniel Ferretti, Robert Moore
  • Patent number: 9511699
    Abstract: A seat cushion includes a seat base frame, a cushion pad disposed on the seat base frame, and a skin material that covers the seat base frame and the cushion pad. The seat base frame includes a pair of side frames that extends in the front to back direction, a front elastic member that is installed in the pair of side frames and is in contact with the cushion pad, and a rear elastic member that is disposed while being separated from the front elastic member by a predetermined distance and is in contact with the cushion pad, in which a pad contact surface of the front elastic member is disposed to be inclined rearward with respect to a horizontal plane and a pad contact surface of the rear elastic member is disposed to be inclined forward with respect to the horizontal plane or to be parallel thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 9511700
    Abstract: A table system includes a semi truck that has a sleeping cabin. A table has a first half that is slidably coupled to a second half. Thus, the table has an adjustable width thereby facilitating the table to extend along an entire width of the sleeping cabin. A plurality of locks is provided and each of the locks is rotatably coupled to the table such that each of the locks retains the table at a selected width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Larry Blackwell
  • Patent number: 9511701
    Abstract: A utility vehicle capable of providing a storage box without restricting the storage capacity of the cargo bed thereof. The utility vehicle includes one or a plurality of seat rows, a dumping-type cargo bed behind the seat row(s), and a storage box disposed in a space between a backrest of the seat row(s) and a front panel of the cargo bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Keiji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9511702
    Abstract: A system and method for moving cargo shipping containers includes a tractor with a first unit and a separate second unit. The first and second units grip the front and back ends of the container to lift it, using the tractor for the front chassis and the second unit for the back chassis. The cargo container becomes its own trailer. The second unit may be towed by the tractor behind the first unit, maneuvered into position at the back of the container, and then coupled to the container for lifting. The tractor may then position the first unit to the front of the container for attachment, and then proceed to a destination. Hydraulic cylinders operated off the tractor's power take off provide the lifting force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Roger L. Ross
  • Patent number: 9511703
    Abstract: A roll-up tarp assembly including front and rear arm assemblies and an extended modified roll tube. The front arm assembly includes a drive assembly that drives an output shaft. The output shaft is removably connectable to the roll tube. The connection between the output shaft and the roll tube has two distinct modes. The output shaft can be removably connected to the roll tube with a clevis pin such that the output shaft and the roll tube rotate together or the output shaft can be retained within the roll tube by a roll pin residing in a peripheral grove in the output shaft so that the output shaft may rotate independently of the roll tube. Methods of installing and using the roll-up tarp assembly are also disclosed as well as methods and kits for converting a manually operated assembly to a motorized assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Agri-Cover, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Schmeichel, Shawn J. Wock
  • Patent number: 9511704
    Abstract: An anchor comprises first, second and third flanges. A surface of the first flange facing the second flange defines a plane. A contour of the first flange projected onto the plane extending beyond a contour of the second flange projected onto the plane. A base connecting part includes the third flange and the second flange. An accessory connecting part operatively connected to the base connecting part includes the first flange. The third flange is movable relative to at least one of the first and second flanges between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a contour of the third flange projected onto the plane is contained within the contour of the second flange projected onto the plane. In the second position, the contour of the third flange projected onto the plane extends beyond the contour of the second flange projected onto the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Alain Massicotte, Ivan Brousseau, Francois Chenevert, Thierry Cotnoir, Vincent Tognon
  • Patent number: 9511705
    Abstract: An anchor point is mounted within an aperture of a wall of a molded strip wherein a recessed peripheral shoulder of the aperture receives a flange of the anchor point and fills the aperture flush with a top surface of the molding. A locking plate of the fastening system contacts the recessed shoulder which is therefore clamped between the locking plate and the flange. A ring of the fastening system is movable between an extended position for receiving a line, and a retracted position hidden below the top surface of the molding when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Donald S. Egigian