Patents Issued in March 14, 2017
  • Patent number: 9592681
    Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a first transporting portion provided in a first transport path; a support member configured to support the sheet; a recording portion; a plurality of contact portions configured to come into contact with the sheet; a plurality of support ribs; a second transporting portion provided in a second transport path connected with the first transport path; and a third transporting portion configured to sandwich and transport the sheet in the first transporting direction or toward the second transport path. On the upstream side to the second transporting portion in the second transporting direction, a projecting portion is formed with the upper guide member to project toward the lower guide member below a virtual line linking a nip position of the sheet due to the third transporting portion with another nip position of the sheet due to the second transporting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Ito, Noriyuki Kawamata, Takashi Omura
  • Patent number: 9592682
    Abstract: When printing is performed on a medium, a computer of a printing apparatus acquires a space (a PLG level number and a thickness of the medium) between a surface of the medium and a print head, which is formed when an ink is discharged onto a medium from the print head in a printing unit. A high speed/low speed of a carriage speed (print speed mode), print color (monochrome/color), and a transport region (normal region/lower end region) as a transport position of the medium are determined. A calculation expression is selected according to the carriage speed, the print color, and the transport region, and a correction amount according to a gap length is calculated using the selected calculation expression. Also, the transport distance is corrected using the correction amount. Transport control is performed by the transport distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takafumi Ogimura
  • Patent number: 9592683
    Abstract: A sheet can be securely drawn out of a sheet roll irrespective of an outer diameter of the sheet roll, and then, can be conveyed. A driven roller moves according to the outer diameter of the sheet roll, so as to be brought into press-contact with an outer periphery of the sheet roll from below, with respect to the direction of gravity, irrespective of the outer diameter of the sheet roll. An arm member moves according to the outer diameter of the sheet roll, so as to guide a lower side of the sheet drawn through above the driven roller irrespective of the outer diameter of the sheet roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryo Kobayashi, Toshiaki Yamaguchi, Masaki Sumioka, Itaru Wada, Yoshiaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9592684
    Abstract: Provided is a recording apparatus including a transporting unit capable of transporting a medium, a detecting unit capable of detecting a transport direction in which the medium is transported by the transporting unit, a recording unit capable of performing recording on the medium transported by the transporting unit, and a member capable of coming into contact with and separating from a side of the medium opposite to a recording side on which recording is performed by the recording unit and coming into contact with at least a part of the opposite side of the medium to prevent skewing of the transported medium when the medium is transported by the transporting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuneyuki Sasaki, Mayu Arai, Junya Kato
  • Patent number: 9592685
    Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes an inkjet print head arranged to be moveable in a direction of movement along a guiding assembly. The guiding assembly includes a support structure; a strip mounted on the support structure, the strip being substantially rigid and straight in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement and mounted in such way that a straightness in the direction of movement is provided; and an air bearing system operatively coupled to the strip. The strip extends in a vertical plane, the vertical plane being substantially parallel to the direction of movement and being substantially parallel to the first direction. The air bearing system is configured to control a position of the inkjet print head in a horizontal plane relative to the strip during movement of the print head in the direction of movement, the horizontal plane being substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Brandon Rigio, Brian D. Otter, Ryan C. Bryde, Michael P. Hoy, Chad A. Koehn
  • Patent number: 9592686
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a supporting section capable of supporting a medium; an ejecting section capable of ejecting liquid onto the medium supported by the supporting section; and a first detecting section capable of detecting whether an amount of space between the medium supported by the supporting section and the ejecting section is equal to or more than a first threshold value. The liquid ejecting apparatus thus configured makes it possible to prevent liquid from being ejected from an ejecting section onto a medium in a state where an amount of space between the medium and the ejecting section is too large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Mashima
  • Patent number: 9592687
    Abstract: A head device includes a head and a head holder. The head includes a reference face, a first opposing face, and a second opposing face. The head holder is joined to the head. The head holder includes a reference face contacting the reference face of the head, a first opposing face opposing the first opposing face of the head to form a first space, and a second opposing face opposing the second opposing face of the head to form a second space. The second space is smaller than the first space in a mounting direction in which the reference face of the head is brought into contact with the reference face of the head holder. The head is joined to the head holder with adhesive filled in each of the first space and the second space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Masataka Yoshiike
  • Patent number: 9592688
    Abstract: A display device is provided. The display device includes a chassis with an opening, a touch-screen unit, which is arranged to have a first plane thereof toward the opening and is configured to accept an input operation entered through a reactive area in the first plane when the reactive area is touched, a positioning part, which is formed on the chassis and is configured to be in contact with a non-reactive area being different from the reactive area in the touch-screen unit, and a resilient member, which is configured to urge the touch-screen unit against the positioning part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akehiro Ono, Xingjing Chen, Takeo Kojima
  • Patent number: 9592689
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium by using a printing unit that ejects a first ink in accordance with first quantized data and ejects a second ink in accordance with second quantized data, the image printing apparatus has a first quantization configured to quantize multi-valued data corresponding to the first ink to generate the first quantized data, the multi-valued data indicating intermediate density; and a second quantization unit configured to quantize multi-valued data corresponding to the second ink to generate the second quantized data, the multi-valued data indicating intermediate density. Surface tension of the first ink is larger than surface tension of the second ink, and a first dot pattern printed on the print medium in accordance with the first quantized data has higher dispersibility than a second dot pattern printed on the print medium in accordance with the second quantized data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yumi Yanai, Masao Kato
  • Patent number: 9592690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a print head for printing optical structures on a substrate comprising an ejection device for ejecting at least one droplet of a printing ink towards the substrate in order to build up the optical structure, wherein the print head comprises a measurement means for contactless measuring at least one physical parameter of the at least one deposited droplet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: LUXEXCEL HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Kurt Blessing, Richard van de Vrie
  • Patent number: 9592691
    Abstract: A method for correcting image plane registration errors for a multi-channel printing system that prints documents of a particular document-type classification having a variable number of pages. An image plane registration error database stores image plane registration error information characterizing image plane registration errors as a function of page number for each of a plurality of different page-count classifications. A page-count classification is determined for a document to be printed, and image plane registration correction values are determined for each page based on the stored image plane registration error information associated with the determined page-count classification, wherein the image plane registration correction values for each page are determined based on the stored image plane registration error information for the corresponding page number. The image data for each document page of the document is then printed responsive to the corresponding image plane registration correction values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthias H. Regelsberger, Christopher B. Liston
  • Patent number: 9592692
    Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing, a wound tape, an arm portion, and a first surface. The housing has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a front surface. The front surface extends from the bottom surface toward the top surface in a first direction. The arm portion is defined by a section of the front surface and a first wall. An opening extends through the housing in the first direction. The opening is defined by the first wall, a second wall, and a connection portion. The first surface is provided in the connection portion. The first surface is disposed between the top surface and the bottom surface in the first direction. The housing has a first indentation extending from the bottom surface to the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshiro Yamaguchi, Akira Sago, Takashi Horiuchi, Tsutomu Kato, Teruo Imamaki, Yasuhiro Shibata, Susumu Murata, Kengo Noda
  • Patent number: 9592693
    Abstract: The process for decorating the surface of a substrate comprises the stages of printing a three-dimensional decorative pattern on one surface of a polymer film using resin, placing the decorated surface of the film and at least one surface of the substrate in contact and providing thermal energy thereto, and detaching the film from the substrate onto the surface of which the three-dimensional decorative pattern has been transferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: MIROGLIO TEXTILE S.r.l.
    Inventor: Simone Priante
  • Patent number: 9592694
    Abstract: A microencapsulated pigment including a leuco dye system is incorporated as one or more layers in a roll of adhesive tape. The tape is applied and may be rubbed by hand or another object to induce a color change. The change may serve as an indicator that the tape is well adhered for masking purposes in a painting operation, or to present a design where only selected portions of the tape are rubbed to induce the color change. The microencapsulated pigment may be constructed so that the color change is irreversible or reversible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Chromatic Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrill Scott Clayton, Timothy J. Owen, Patrick Edson
  • Patent number: 9592695
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer recording sheet that enables images having a wide color gamut, a high chroma, and good lightfastness, in which the degree of catalytic fading is reduced, to be formed. The thermal transfer recording sheet includes a base material and a colorant layer on the base material. The colorant layer includes a yellow dye layer, a magenta dye layer, and a cyan dye layer. The dye layers each include, as a dye, a compound having a specific structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuko Katsumoto, Masao Nakano, Taichi Shintou
  • Patent number: 9592696
    Abstract: A power control device includes a heating section, an input section, and a control section. The heating section is configured to heat an object. The input section is configured to receive a power consumption value. The control section is configured to control the heating section so that a total power value obtained by adding a power consumption value of the heating section and the power consumption value received by the input section does not exceed a predetermined power value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yohei Doi
  • Patent number: 9592697
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a first image forming unit, a second image forming unit and a processing unit. The first image forming unit forms an image using an erasable image forming material. The second image forming unit forms an image using an inerasable image forming material. The processing unit forms an image to be printed using an erasable image forming material with the first image forming unit, and forms a specific pattern for duplication prevention using an inerasable image forming material with the second image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9592698
    Abstract: An imaging member includes a surface layer comprising a fluoroelastomer-perfluoropolyether composite formed from a reaction mixture comprising a fluoroelastomer and a perfluoropolyether compound. Methods of manufacturing the imaging member and processes for variable lithographic printing using the imaging member are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Gervasi, Mandakini Kanungo, Maryna Ornatska, Santokh S. Badesha, Matthew M. Kelly
  • Patent number: 9592699
    Abstract: Different solvents for a dampening fluid are disclosed. The solvent is a volatile hydrofluoroether liquid or a volatile silicone liquid. Such liquids have a lower heat of vaporization, a lower surface tension, and better kinematic viscosity compared to water, which is the conventional solvent used in dampening fluids. The dampening fluids, which are relatively nonpolar, can be used in a combination with polar inks to form a new type of digital lithographic printing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignees: Xerox Corporation, Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Timothy D. Stowe, Eric Peeters, Chu-Heng Liu
  • Patent number: 9592700
    Abstract: A visual display assembly adapted for use as an anti-counterfeiting device on paper currency, product labels, and other objects. The assembly includes a film of transparent material including a first surface including an array of lenses and a second surface opposite the first surface. The assembly also includes a printed image proximate to the second surface. The printed image includes pixels of frames of one or more images interlaced relative to two orthogonal axes. The lenses of the array are nested in a plurality of parallel rows, and adjacent ones of the lenses in columns of the array are aligned to be in a single one of the rows with no offset of lenses in adjacent columns/rows. The lenses may be round-based lenses or are square-based lenses, and the lenses may be provided at 200 lenses per inch (LPI) or a higher LPI in both directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Lumenco, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Raymond, Hector Andres Porras Soto
  • Patent number: 9592701
    Abstract: The invention relates to a security element (2), in particular in the form of a multi-layer flexible film body, with a top side facing an observer and a back side facing away from the observer, as well as a method for the production thereof. The security element (2) has one or more light-emitting elements arranged in a first area (30) of the security element which radiate light when activated and in particular are formed in each case of a self-luminous, electrically operated, display element. The security element (2) has, in the first area (30), one or more transmissive diffraction structures. The one or more transmissive diffraction structures are arranged such that at least a part of the light radiated by the activated one or more light-emitting elements transmits through at least one partial area of the transmissive diffraction structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignees: OVD KINEGRAM AG, BUNDESDRUCKEREI GMBH
    Inventors: Jorg Fischer, Olga Kulikovska, Andre Leopold, Sebastian Mader, Wayne Robert Tompkin, Harald Walter
  • Patent number: 9592702
    Abstract: There is provided a friction body which is adapted to rub a thermochromic image or handwriting formed on a paper surface by use of thermochromic ink to thermally discolor the thermochromic image or handwriting by frictional heat resultant from rubbing, a thermal conductivity of a friction portion of the friction body is set to be within 0.05 W/(m·K) to 50 W/(m·K).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignees: THE PILOT INK CO., LTD., KABUSHIKI KAISHA PILOT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Wase, Michiyuki Yasuda, Yoshiaki Okawara
  • Patent number: 9592703
    Abstract: A height adjustable support comprising a three-sided support channel, a cylindrical support post positioned within the support channel and at least one saddle brace positioned within the support channel and to partially surround the cylindrical support post. In the present invention, the downward force resulting from the weight of the equipment results in static friction between the saddle brace and the cylindrical support post that is sufficient to hold the equipment surface at a desired height. The height adjustable support may be implemented into hygienically designed food processing equipment to eliminate undesirable bacteria harboring surfaces and to improve height adjustability of the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Heinzen LLC
    Inventors: Rudi Groppe, Erick Arthur Davidson
  • Patent number: 9592704
    Abstract: A method of producing rubber tire compounds, including a first mixing step in which at least one cross-linkable, unsaturated-chain polymer base, silica, and a silane bonding agent in the alkoxymercaptoalkyl-silane class are mixed together; and a final mixing step in which a curing system having at least sulphur and accelerants is added to and mixed with the mix. A nucleophile compound and zinc oxide are mixed with the polymer base at the first mixing step. And the method includes a second mixing step between the first mixing step and the final mixing step, and in which a silane bonding agent in the polysulphide organosilane class is added to and mixed with the mix from the first mixing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Valeria Grenci
  • Patent number: 9592705
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire capable of yielding excellent water-draining performance, while reducing air column resonance. This pneumatic tire (1) has a tread (3) and at least one ply (2) arranged toward the interior of the tread in the radial direction. The tread has at least one main channel (4) and a flexible fence (5) formed inside the main channel. The main channel has a bottom (413) and opposing first and second wall surfaces (411, 412). The flexible fence extends along the width of the main channel so as to block at least 70% of a cross sectional area of the main channel, and is arranged at intervals so that at least one is present in the main channel in the tread footprint when the tire rolls. A plurality of recesses having an opening that opens in the main channel are formed on the bottom, first wall surface and/or second wall surface of the main channel, the flexible fence being connected to the recess and extending into the main channel via the opening of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventors: Gael Roty, Ludovic Greverie, Jose Merino Lopez, Jean-Pierre Queslel, Bernard Villeneuve
  • Patent number: 9592706
    Abstract: A shoulder land portion is constructed by block rows. Shoulder lateral grooves sectionalize the block rows. The shoulder lateral grooves extend along the tire width direction in such a manner as to cut across ground contact ends. A plurality of projections is provided on a wall surface of the shoulder lateral groove. The projections protrude out of the wall surface of the shoulder lateral groove without reaching a center of a groove width of the shoulder lateral groove and are lined up in a length direction of the shoulder lateral groove in an outside area in the tire width direction from the ground contact end. The projection is formed into a triangular shape or a trapezoidal shape in its plan view and is formed into a triangular shape or a trapezoidal shape in its front elevational view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshikazu Yasunaga
  • Patent number: 9592707
    Abstract: A tire is provided with multiple projection parts in a groove bottom of a groove portion. The projection parts extend from one side wall to the other side wall opposed to the one side wall, the side walls forming the groove portion. The projection parts are arranged at predetermined intervals in the groove portion. Lateral groove portions that extend from the groove portion to a buttress section, and have openings in the buttress section are formed. Air supply mechanisms that supply air to the lateral groove portions are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Shun Ogane, Yuki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 9592708
    Abstract: A tire inflation system including an axle housing and a sealing ring disposed on the axle housing. The sealing ring has a conduit formed therethrough. A hub is rotatably disposed on the axle housing. The hub is disposed adjacent the sealing ring and has a conduit formed therethrough which is in fluid communication with a conduit formed through a fastener engaged with the hub. The tire inflation system also includes an inner rotary seal disposed between the sealing ring and the hub and an outer rotary seal disposed between the sealing ring and the hub. The conduit formed through the hub is in fluid communication with the conduit formed through the sealing ring through an area between the inner rotary seal and the outer rotary seal. A bearing seal is disposed between the hub and the axle housing and outboard of the outer rotary seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Brian V. Knapke, Lloyd G. Racine
  • Patent number: 9592709
    Abstract: [Objective] Unreceived malfunction should be prevented from being reported, at the time of a set replacement of tires. [Means for Solution] About each registered sensor ID, the unreceived malfunction judging portion 56 outputs a malfunction signal to the notification controller 53, when an unreceived period exceeds first setup time Tref1. The total unreceived period calculation portion 57 outputs a self-vehicle ID discrimination initiation instruction to ID discrimination/rewriting portion, when the sum total unreceived period Ttotal which is the sum total of the unreceived period of each registered sensor ID is calculated and the sum total unreceived period Ttotal exceeds second setup time Tref2. Before an unreceived period exceeds first setup time Tref1, registered sensor ID is rewritten and it can avoid reporting unreceived malfunction to a driver by this.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuji Taki
  • Patent number: 9592710
    Abstract: In a wheel position detecting device, a receiver acquires gear information indicating a tooth position of a gear rotating in association with a corresponding wheel at a predetermined interval. In a wheel position detection, the receiver sets a variation allowance range based on the tooth position at a reception timing of a frame transmitted from a transmitter integrated to each wheel. When the tooth position of the gear at a subsequent reception timing of the frame is not within the variation allowance range, the receiver excludes the wheel corresponding to the gear from a candidate wheel. The receiver registers the wheel remaining last as the wheel to which the transmitter is integrated. The receiver performs the wheel position detection only when a wheel speed is higher than a predetermined threshold, so that the wheel position detection is performed based on an accurate tooth position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriaki Okada, Nobuya Watabe, Masashi Mori, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 9592711
    Abstract: A towing assembly that may convert from an articulated assembly extracting a vehicle in an inaccessible location to a rigid assembly for safely towing a vehicle on a road, the assembly having locking pivot joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Defense Products and Services Holding Company
    Inventor: Charles Kennith Fincher
  • Patent number: 9592712
    Abstract: A suspension apparatus includes: a cylinder connected to one of a sprung member and an unsprung member, an interior space of the cylinder being partitioned into a piston upper chamber and a piston lower chamber; a piston connected to the other of the sprung member and the unsprung member; an expansion side friction member configured to damp a movement of the piston, a force of the expansion side friction member for damping the movement of a piston being increased by exerting a pressure of the piston upper chamber on the expansion side friction member; and a contraction side friction member configured to damp the movement of the piston, a force of the contraction side friction member for damping the movement of the piston being increased by exerting a pressure of the piston lower chamber on the contraction side friction member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaaki Tabata
  • Patent number: 9592713
    Abstract: A utility vehicle is disclosed. The utility vehicle may include storage areas under the dash. The utility vehicle may include suspension systems for utility vehicles having shocks with both a fluidic stiffness adjustment and a mechanical stiffness adjustment. The utility vehicle may include an electrical power steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Kinsman, Kevin Van Bronkhorst, Stephen L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 9592714
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a spring mechanism configured to connect a sprung member and an unsprung member of a vehicle, generate a spring force according to a relative displacement between the sprung member and the unsprung member, and be able to variably control the spring force, and a damping mechanism configured to connect the sprung member and the unsprung member, generate a damping force for damping a relative motion between the sprung member and the unsprung member, and be able to variably control the damping force, wherein the spring mechanism and the damping mechanism are controlled based on a first physical quantity relating to a sprung vibration of the vehicle and a second physical quantity relating to an unsprung vibration of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yanqing Liu, Jin Hozumi, Masaaki Tabata
  • Patent number: 9592715
    Abstract: A suspension assembly between a sprung element and an unsprung element includes a load-carrying spring and a negative stiffness element between the sprung element and the unsprung element. The load-carrying spring element is configured with a positive spring rate to support a static load of the sprung element. The negative stiffness element is configured with a negative spring rate and is configured to exert a force opposing the spring rate of the spring, the negative spring rate has a magnitude that cancels the positive spring rate at a zero deflection point of the suspension assembly. The suspension assembly also includes an active trimming mechanism which is configured to move a plurality of pivot points of the negative stiffness element to achieve a trimmed position of the negative stiffness element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Avshalom Suissa
  • Patent number: 9592716
    Abstract: A pressure damping device includes: a cylinder; a piston provided movably in the cylinder in an axial direction of the cylinder, and formed to have a plurality of channels for liquid; a moving and partitioning member located between the piston and the cylinder, and provided movably from one end to the other end in the axial direction of a movable region provided in the piston, and configured to partition a space in the cylinder into a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber for storing the liquid; a first opening and closing member configured to open and close an opening in at least a part of the plurality of channels of the piston and open the opening; and a second opening and closing member configured to open and close an opening in at least a part of the plurality of channels and open the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Endo, Nobuo Mori
  • Patent number: 9592717
    Abstract: A heat exchange system includes a first heat exchanger that radiates heat of at least a cooling cycle, a cooler circuit in which a coolant for a heat-emitting device flows, a plurality of heat exchangers that are connected to the cooler circuit and radiate heat of the coolant, and a blower that sends air to the first heat exchanger and the plurality of heat exchangers to cool. The plurality of heat exchangers are arranged in a blowing direction of the blower, and separately radiate heat of the cooler circuit. The heat exchanger, which is disposed on the windward side, of the plurality of heat exchangers is thermally connected to the first heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger disposed on the windward side radiates heat by itself and also radiates heat through the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiki Katoh
  • Patent number: 9592718
    Abstract: A control method for an integrated cooling system may include determining whether an air conditioner is operated or not, and controlling operations of a water pump for electric devices and a cooling fan by the controller according to a predetermined first map when the air conditioner is not operated, detecting an air conditioner refrigerant pressure when the air conditioner is operated, determining whether the air conditioner refrigerant pressure is within a predetermined range or not, and controlling operations of the water pump for electric devices and the cooling fan according to a predetermined second map when the air conditioner refrigerant pressure is not within the predetermined range, and determining of cooling requirement of the condensers and controlling operations of the water pump for electric devices and the cooling fan according to the cooling requirement of the condensers when the air conditioner refrigerant pressure is within the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jaeyeon Kim
  • Patent number: 9592719
    Abstract: A light filter assembly for an automotive vehicle that includes a central plate or a sleeve with at least one filter attached to by a fastener. The filter has a substantially triangular shape with at least one curved edge, and can rotate about the fastener in a plane parallel to the central plate or sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Danil V. Prokhorov
  • Patent number: 9592720
    Abstract: A vehicle door is provided. The vehicle door comprises a door body which forms a cavity between a door outer panel and a door inner panel with an installation opening, an installation cover closing the installation opening with a lead-through opening for leading through connecting lines from the wet space side to the dry space side of the vehicle door, a multifunctional support for connecting functional elements of the vehicle door to the door body, a covering element connected with the multifunctional support for covering the lead-through opening in the installation cover, a first seal circumferentially extending along the edge of the installation cover, a second seal circumferentially extending along the lead-through opening of the installation cover, clip hooks protruding from the side of the covering element facing the dry space and positionally fixed sealing elements for accommodating the connecting lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Hallstadt
    Inventor: Michael Moebius
  • Patent number: 9592721
    Abstract: A vehicle door structure having an inner door panel and a reinforcing structure. The inner door panel has a main upright portion, a front wall portion, a rear wall portion and a lower wall portion extending horizontally along a lower area of the main upright portion from a lower end of the front wall portion to a lower end of the rear wall portion. The reinforcing structure extends between the front wall portion and the rear wall portion. The reinforcing structure includes a first bracket fixed to at least one of the front wall portion and the main upright portion of the inner door panel and a reinforcing bar having a first end section rigidly fixed to the first bracket. The first end section of the reinforcing bar has a contoured end surface that is spaced apart from adjacent surfaces of the first bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Kelly, Aaron Tenorio, Raymond Lipp
  • Patent number: 9592722
    Abstract: A headliner corner retractor for a convertible top. The corner retractor moves a front corner of the headliner between a covering position concealing a front portion of the side linkage and a contracted position in which clearance is provided for the side linkages to extend and retract the convertible top. The corner retractor is moved by a mechanical actuator including a cable and a hollow tubular housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA CAR TOP SYSTEMS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Richter
  • Patent number: 9592723
    Abstract: A vehicle sunroof device in which a movable panel is supported by a panel support member and the movable panel is capable of being moved in a tilted manner, the movable panel is prevented from being detached due to an upward load without increasing the thickness and the weight of the cored bar of the panel support member in a low-cost structure. A portion of the cored bar of the panel support member, which is located under cam grooves is bent to form first and second protrusions which protrude laterally in the thickness direction of the cored bar. The first protrusion is formed by notching multiple parts of the cored bar and bending the notched parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Kozo Ohdoi, Akihiro Shinkawa
  • Patent number: 9592724
    Abstract: An example vehicle includes a battery tray that is movably coupled to a front axle assembly of the vehicle. A back end of the tray is coupled to a first chassis member and a second chassis member of the vehicle via respective joints that allow rotational motion of the tray with respect to the first chassis member and the second chassis member. The vehicle's chassis includes a first rail comprising a first plurality of holes and a second rail comprising a second plurality of holes. The first rail slides within the second rail to provide an adjustable wheel-base length or width for various configurations of the vehicle. When the first plurality of holes and the second plurality of holes are aligned, one or more fasteners may be used to secure the first rail to the second rail to select a particular wheel-base length or width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: HORIZON HOBBY, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Trujillo, Akira Kogawa
  • Patent number: 9592725
    Abstract: A drive package includes a remote located CVT and a motor where the CVT is positioned rearward (or forward) of the motor. An auxiliary drive mechanism couples a drive shaft of the CVT to a crankshaft of the motor. The auxiliary drive mechanism is a belt or chain. The drive shaft is substantially parallel to, and longitudinally offset from, the crankshaft. Thus, the width of the drive package is reduced as compared to ATVs having a CVT located adjacent the motor. A method of making an ATV with the drive package is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Arctic Cat, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Tiry
  • Patent number: 9592726
    Abstract: An active vibration isolating support apparatus reduces vibration transmitted from a reciprocating engine. The apparatus supports the engine via vibration isolating support units each of which includes an actuator. The vibration isolating units are disposed on opposite sides of a crankshaft of the engine. The apparatus includes a control unit to make the actuator extend and contract periodically depending on a vibrational state of the engine so as to reduce the transmission of engine vibrations to a vehicle body. The control unit drives the actuator of one of the vibration isolating support units to contract, the one of the vibration isolating support units being compressed by roll vibration associated with an initial explosion after a time when the engine starts, so as to reduce transmission of roll vibration in a direction which is reverse to the rotation direction of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ishiguro, Hirotomi Nemoto, Shungo Fueki
  • Patent number: 9592727
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor configured to output power for traveling, a drive wheel coupled to the engine and the motor, a transmission provided i) between the engine and the motor and ii) between the engine and the drive wheel, the transmission being configured to shift gears in a plurality of stages or continuously, a refrigerant supply device including a pump and a refrigerant pressure regulation device, the refrigerant supply device being configured to supply a refrigerant to the motor, and the refrigerant supply device being configured to supply the refrigerant to the transmission as a hydraulic fluid, and at least one electronic control unit configured to control the refrigerant supply device based on a load situation of the motor by controlling a refrigerant supply pressure to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaya Yamamoto, Toshinori Okochi, Keita Imai, Tomohiko Miyamoto, Koichi Okuda
  • Patent number: 9592728
    Abstract: A bushing mount for an in-vehicle component disposed on a vehicle body includes a support and an insertion portion. The support includes a support body defining a pin hole therein, and the insertion portion is connected to the support. The support body includes a contact surface that abuts the vehicle body when the insertion portion is inserted into an attachment hole formed in the vehicle body. The support supports, when a pin of the in-vehicle component is inserted into the pin hole, the in-vehicle component while being interposed between the vehicle body and the in-vehicle component. The support includes a removal portion that allows the pin to be removed out of the pin hole in a direction angled from a center axis of the pin hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Mickley, Justin Harris
  • Patent number: 9592729
    Abstract: The fuel tank according to the present invention is a fuel tank including a fuel supply device for pressure-feeding fuel to an engine of a vehicle; a fuel vapor treating device configured to enable adsorption of fuel vapor; a fuel tank body which stores the fuel; and a cover material which blocks an opening portion formed in the fuel tank body, wherein an inlet portion to which an inlet pipe for guiding the fuel from a fueling port to the fuel tank body is connected is fixed to the cover material in a state of penetrating the cover material, and a pipe and a wire of the fuel supply device and pipes of the fuel vapor treating device are further fixed to the cover material in a state of penetrating the cover material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takayuki Usui
  • Patent number: 9592730
    Abstract: A tank ventilation device for a motor vehicle includes a ventilation line, connected on one side to an accumulator for gaseous hydrocarbons and connected on another side via a connection to a filling tube for filling a tank of the motor vehicle, wherein the ventilation line is connected to the tank so that gaseous hydrocarbons which are displaced during refueling are re-circulated toward the connection via the ventilation line, a device for applying a pressure on the ventilation line for carrying out a leakage test of the tank ventilation device, when the filling tube is closed with a closure device, and a float body provided in a region of the connection of the ventilation line to the filing tube for preventing entering of liquid fuel into the ventilation line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Ingo Revink, Thomas Just