Patents Issued in April 18, 2017
  • Patent number: 9623697
    Abstract: Provided is a thermal transfer sheet which has satisfactory printability and provides a printed matter having excellent boiling resistance. Disclosed is a thermal transfer sheet which is provided with a substrate, at least a transferable protective layer and a transferable color layer in this order on one side of the substrate, and is provided with a back face layer on the other side of the substrate, characterized in that the transferable protective layer contains a cyclic olefin-based polymer having a glass transition temperature of 100° C. or more as a main component and further contains an incompatible resin with the cyclic olefin-based polymer, and the transferable color layer contains a colorant and a phenolic resin having a softening point of 100° C. or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ishida, Masato Takao
  • Patent number: 9623698
    Abstract: A book for use with augmented reality applications includes a plurality of stiff leaves, each side of which forms a page of the book. On each page a respective fiduciary marker is positioned substantially in the middle of the page. Each fiduciary marker comprises a different respective asymmetric pattern capable of indicating the scale and orientation of the book to an augmented reality application and of indicating the respective page, and a non-alphanumeric pattern positioned closer to an outside edge of the page of the book than the fiduciary marker. The non-alphanumeric pattern on a respective page is capable of indicating at least the opposing page pair comprising the respective page on which the non-alphanumeric pattern is positioned, when used in conjunction with the scale and orientation of the book as indicated by a fiduciary marker on a different page to that of the respective non-alphanumeric pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Lucas-Woodley, Nicholas Andrew Lord, William Oliver Sykes, Adrien Bain
  • Patent number: 9623699
    Abstract: The invention specifies an apparatus for applying a film (7) to a substrate (2) by lamination. This apparatus has a heating device (12, 19), which makes it possible for different regions of the film (7) and/or the substrate (2) to be exposed specifically to different temperatures. It is thus also possible to process substrates or films which contain temperature-sensitive elements, e.g. security elements based on bacteriorhodopsin. For this purpose, the heating device comprises a plurality of heating elements (19) which can be activated separately, and therefore different regions of a heating surface (12) can be subjected specifically to different levels of heating power. In order to compensate for irregularities on the surface of the substrate or of the film, the apparatus may have a flexible mating surface (21) which is arranged opposite the healing surface and can be subjected to pressure pneumatically by way of a pressure chamber (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: U-NICA Technology AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Ritter, Samuel Schindler
  • Patent number: 9623700
    Abstract: A frame for stretching a fabric material, having a plurality of outer frame members; a plurality of interlocking joints and a plurality of connector pieces. The plurality of outer frame members are adapted and configured to receive the fabric material in the plurality of interlocking joints. The plurality of connector pieces are adapted and configured to fit into the plurality of interlocking joints thereby connecting the plurality of interlocking cornered joints to the plurality of outer frame members. The plurality of connector pieces are adapted and configured such that the fabric material is stretched such that the plurality of connector pieces enables the fabric material to be taut across the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Schwed
  • Patent number: 9623701
    Abstract: A skateboard with a removable hub that can be attached and detached from a wheel of a skateboard, comprising a skateboard deck rollably supported by one or more wheels and attached to the wheels via one or more trucks, with each hub removably attached to the wheel with a key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Rim Ryderz, LLC
    Inventors: Tyrone Longino, Josh Morrison, Dorian Maurice Leniar, Howard Edward Ouellette
  • Patent number: 9623702
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes an attachment body (11) attached to an axle, a ring member (14) including an inner rim (12) fitted onto the attachment body (11) and an outer rim (13) configured to surround the inner rim (12) from the outside in a tire radial direction, and a plurality of connecting members (15) disposed between the inner rim (12) and the outer rim (13) in a tire circumferential direction and configured to connect the rims (12) and (13) to each other, wherein at least a portion of the ring member (14) and the plurality of connecting members (15) are integrally formed of a synthetic resin material having a bending modulus of elasticity obtained through a 3-point bending test pursuant to ISO 178 of more than 300 MPa and a deflection temperature under a load at 0.455 MPa obtained pursuant to ASTM D648 of 62° C. or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fudemoto, Ryuji Izumoto, Hidefumi Kotsubo
  • Patent number: 9623703
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member, double row rolling elements, and seals. At least one seal of the seals has a metal core press-formed from steel sheet with a cylindrical fitting portion. A radial portion extends radially inward from the end of the fitting portion. A sealing member with a plurality of sealing lips is integrally adhered to the fitting portion of the metal core. Bearing grease is contained within the bearing. Sealing grease is applied to the sealing lips. Both the bearing grease and the sealing grease use the same thickener and the worked penetration of 350 or less. The kinematic viscosity of the base oil of the sealing grease at 40° C. is set to 70% or less of the kinematic viscosity of the base oil of the bearing grease at 40° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Shibata
  • Patent number: 9623704
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present disclosure is provided with an apparatus main body, a caster, and a cover member. The caster movably supports the apparatus main body. The cover member is mounted to a side surface of the apparatus main body. The caster includes a wheel and a main body portion that swivelably supports a rotation shaft of the wheel. A nut portion is provided integrally with an upper part of the main body portion. A swiveling restriction portion that restricts swiveling of the nut portion is formed integrally with the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Kaori Harada, Hideaki Doyo, Noriko Masuta
  • Patent number: 9623705
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a modified conjugated diene (co)polymer, the method including comprising: a modification reaction step including causing an organic silane compound to react with a conjugated diene (co)polymer having an active site at the active site, the organic silane compound having a characteristic group for forming a silanol group through hydrolysis and, in the vicinity of the characteristic group, (i) a functional group which binds the organic silane compound to the conjugated diene (co)polymer via addition to or substitution at the active site and which promotes reaction between the silanol group and a reinforcing filler after the addition or substitution reaction, or (ii) a functional group which promotes reaction between the silanol group and a reinforcing filler, and a hydrolyzation step performed after the modification reaction step; a modified conjugated diene (co)polymer having, at a molecular end of the conjugated diene (co)polymer, a silanol group, and a functional
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ken Tanaka, Noriko Mori, Yuki Itoh, Yoichi Ozawa, Ryuji Nakagawa, Junko Matsushita, Shigeaki Matsuo, Kouji Masaki, Fumihiro Shiraishi, Fuminori Oota
  • Patent number: 9623706
    Abstract: It is ensured the strength of a welded section in a tire that is configured by welding tire constituent members formed of a thermoplastic material. A tire has a first welded portion, in which one section of one tire constituent member and one section of another tire constituent member are both melted and welded, and a second welded portion, which is formed by welding a welding-use thermoplastic material to the surface of the first welded portion, whereby the strength of the joint section is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihide Kouno, Seiji Kon, Keiichi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9623707
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tire comprising a tread comprising: a plurality of circumferential grooves separating circumferential ribs, each groove comprising a bottom and two sidewalls; one or more groove reinforcements, each groove reinforcement laterally spaced from any other of said one or more groove reinforcements; wherein each groove reinforcement is arranged adjacent one circumferential groove; wherein at least one circumferential groove has no groove reinforcement adjacent to it; and wherein each groove reinforcement extends from the radially inner surface of the tread in a radially outward direction at least to the bottom of the adjacent circumferential groove to form at least part of the bottom of that groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Claude Schweitzer, Thomas Gesenhoff, Jean-Louis Marie Félicien Thomas, Hans Leo Bert Geluykens, Phaniraj Muthigi, Jacques Camille Marie Nevouet, Germain Dehez, Hubert Anna Johanes Cox
  • Patent number: 9623708
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with a central main groove, an outboard shoulder main groove and an inboard shoulder main groove extending continuously in the tire circumferential direction. The central main groove and the inboard shoulder main groove are each connected to grooves and/or sipes. The outboard shoulder main groove is widest and not connected to any grooves inclusive of a sipe or a very narrow groove. On both sides of the outboard shoulder main groove, there are formed sloping surfaces extending from the respective groove edges and merging into the tread surface. The width of each sloping surface is more than the depth thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Seiji Inoue
  • Patent number: 9623709
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire for running on rough terrain comprises a tread portion provided with center blocks, middle blocks and shoulder blocks to form a block tread pattern, wherein some or all of the center blocks are each provided with a slot positioned at the midpoint of the block in the tire circumferential direction, and extending axially inwardly from a sidewall surface of the block oriented toward a tread edge, and terminating within the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yutaka Ichiryu
  • Patent number: 9623710
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire having enhanced on-ice braking performance achieved by further increasing the amount of water that can be sucked up into sipes. In the pneumatic tire, blocks (26) partitioned by circumferential grooves and lateral grooves are formed in the tread. A sipe (28) is formed in a block (26), and a fine structure (32) having a height in the range of from 1/50 of the sipe width t to less than 1/10 of the sipe width t is formed on a sipe wall surface. This reduces fluid friction coefficient of water relative to the sipe wall surface to a lower level than conventional products. As a result, when water staying on ice comes into contact with the sipe wall surface, the water is more easily sucked up into the sipe. The construction increases the amount of water that can be sucked up into the sipe (28) or the removal amount of water that stays on ice etc., and this enhances braking performance (friction characteristics) on ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshio Kaji, Ryoichi Watabe, Kentaro Saeki, Makoto Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 9623711
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a tire pre-inflator to assist in mounting a tire on a tire rim. The pre-inflator includes a bladder that may be positioned within a tire prior to mounting and a bladder filling insert that extends through a valve stem mounted in the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor: Kirk M. Yates
  • Patent number: 9623712
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure for a vehicle includes: a suspension member integrally assembled to a vehicle body; a first arm member that connects the suspension member to a wheel assembly; and a second arm member that connects the suspension member to the first arm member. The vehicle front structure includes a projection portion placed between a connection portion for the first arm member and a connection portion for the second arm member in a side rail constituting the suspension member and configured to abut with the second arm member deformed due to an input along with a collision caused in a front portion of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinichi Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 9623713
    Abstract: A spring and damping device for a wheel suspension in motor vehicles includes an upper region, a lower region, and a damping element arranged between the upper region and the lower region. The device further includes a coil spring element and a rubber spring element. The coil spring element and the rubber spring element are arranged one behind the other along a center axis of the damping element such that the coil spring element is positioned to exert a force on the rubber spring element. The device allows a spring rate to be adjusted based either on sensed conditions, or by driver input. The spring rate may be adjustable between discrete settings or continuously variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
  • Patent number: 9623714
    Abstract: A synthetic resin-made sliding bearing 1 includes a synthetic resin-made upper casing 2 which is fixed to a mounting member on a vehicle body side; a reinforced synthetic resin-made lower casing 3 which is superposed on the upper casing 2 so as to be rotatable about an axis O in a circumferential direction R relative to the upper casing 2; a metallic reinforcing member 4; and a synthetic resin-made sliding bearing piece 5 disposed in a space S between the upper casing 2 and the lower casing 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignees: OILES CORPORATION, OILES DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Sakairi, Katsunori Saito, Robert Hamrodi, Kai Metzler, Yoshiteru Igarashi
  • Patent number: 9623715
    Abstract: An example robotic chassis may include a frame including a first side member and a second side member connected by a transverse member near respective first ends of first side member and the second side member. The robotic chassis may also include a rigid case having a mounting point for a tablet computer. The rigid case may be rotatably coupled between the side members near respective second ends of the side members. The robotic chassis may further include a first arm and a second arm having respective distal ends and respective proximal ends. Respective proximal ends of the first arm and the second arm may be rotatably coupled to the frame near opposite respective first ends of the first side member and the second side member. In addition, the robotic chassis may include a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Lynn Morey
  • Patent number: 9623716
    Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle having a damper and a first and second springs mounted coaxially around the damper and a preload adjuster for partially compressing at least one of the springs independently of the compression stroke. In one embodiment the preload adjuster is remotely controllable. In another embodiment the shock absorber includes an additional mechanism for preloading at least one of the springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Paul Cox
  • Patent number: 9623717
    Abstract: A work vehicle with the cylinder cushioning arrangement includes two frame members coupled together with two hydraulic cylinders that are cross-coupled to each other. Each of the two hydraulic cylinders includes a flow-restricted port (at either its rod end or the cylinder end) that throttles hydraulic fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: William P. Curnyn, Henry C. Olsen, Michael D. Somers, Francois F. Stander
  • Patent number: 9623718
    Abstract: A water chamber (10) for a motor vehicle (1) having a wall (13, 20, 21) which defines a first interior (23). The water chamber (10) has at least one air inlet opening (9), through which air can flow into the first interior (23), and at least one air outlet opening (25), through which air can flow out of the first interior (23). A water outlet opening (17) is present that is suitable for removing water from the first interior (23). The water chamber (10) is designed as a heat exchanger, comprising a heat exchange element (13, 20, 21; 16?), which is used to transfer thermal energy from exhaust air into the first interior (23). The water chamber also has a structure (8, 26, 27, 40; 8?) that is used to direct exhaust air to the heat exchange element (13, 20, 21; 16?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: WEIDPLAS GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Harke
  • Patent number: 9623719
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an electric vehicle that is used in the electric vehicle driven by an electric motor includes a refrigerant loop for an air conditioner, a refrigerant loop for a battery that allows a refrigerant for the battery to circulate among the battery, an evaporating unit and a heating device, and thermal management controlling means that, during charging of the battery, heats the refrigerant for the battery by using the heating device when temperature of the refrigerant for the battery is lower than target temperature of the refrigerant for the battery, and that allows the refrigerant for the air conditioner to circulate and to absorb heat from the refrigerant for the battery, in the evaporating unit, when the temperature of the refrigerant for the battery is higher than the target temperature of the refrigerant for the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Hatakeyama, Takayuki Ishikawa, Masashi Koshijima, Satoshi Ogihara, Hitoshi Shimonosono
  • Patent number: 9623720
    Abstract: A vehicle heating system having a first viscous clutch and a pump and viscous clutch mechanism. The first viscous clutch has a first clutch input member. The pump and viscous clutch mechanism has a pump and a second viscous clutch. The pump includes a pump input member, while the second viscous clutch includes a second clutch input member. One of the pump input member and the second clutch input member is drivingly coupled to a portion of the first viscous clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Roth, Olaf E. Weber
  • Patent number: 9623721
    Abstract: An energy saving automatic air conditioning control system and an energy saving automatic air conditioning control method enable consumption of a fuel or a battery (referred to as energy) to be minimized and a possible travel distance to be improved by processing data including road environment information such as road loss information, including altitude and traffic information, vehicle information such as a current acceleration/deceleration of a vehicle, and driver tendency information for manipulation of an air conditioner such as control of an air conditioning temperature and stages, automatically determining an air conditioning control time point, and displaying the determined automatic manipulation and control form on a map path of a navigation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Dae Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 9623722
    Abstract: A ventilation system for a passenger transit vehicle that comprises a passenger compartment. The ventilation system comprises a variable speed fan for providing outside air to the passenger compartment, wherein within a given ambient temperature range, the speed of the variable speed fan is controlled such that the air speed produced by the variable speed fan increases with increasing ambient temperature. The ventilation system further comprises a duct system fluidly connecting the variable speed fan to an air diffuser that directs the air from the variable speed fan towards the passengers within the passenger compartment. The cross sectional area of the duct system decreases along its length for providing substantially constant air pressure along its length. The ventilation system is able to provide outside air into the passenger compartment at an air flow speed of greater than 0.15 m/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Chagnon, Jacques Langlois, Jenny Marsala, René Beaulleu
  • Patent number: 9623723
    Abstract: A heating system (50) for heating a cabin (2) of an aircraft (1), said heating system including an annular heat exchanger (10) positioned around an exhaust pipe (21) of a turbine engine (20), and through which a heat transfer fluid (14) and ambient air (25) flow. Said heat exchanger (10) is provided with a rear casing situated at an outlet of said heat exchanger (10) and directing the ambient air (25) exiting form said heat exchanger (10) towards said exhaust gas (15) exiting via said exhaust pipe (21). Said exhaust gas (15) then generates a flow of ambient air (25) through said heat exchanger (10) by the “Coanda” effect. Said ambient air (25) flowing through said heat exchanger (10) is thus heated by convection from said pipe (21), and said heat transfer fluid (14) is heated firstly by radiation from said pipe (21) and secondly by convection between said heat transfer fluid (14) and said ambient air (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventor: Vincent Pomme
  • Patent number: 9623724
    Abstract: There are provided a vehicle, a cooling apparatus, and a cooling method. The vehicle includes passenger space that accommodates a user, a tank that is capable of storing compressed air, and a control unit to release the compressed air stored in the tank into the passenger space. The control unit controls releasing so as to release part or the whole volume of the compressed air stored in the tank into the passenger space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki Morishita, Kentaro Kamei, Kenji Furuse, Masahiko Ikeo
  • Patent number: 9623725
    Abstract: An air vent for a vehicle interior ventilation system including a diffuse air flow duct with a diffuse outlet opening for discharging the air as a diffuse or swirling jet, a movable connecting sleeve with an inflow opening and an outflow opening as a spot outlet opening, which forms a spot air flow duct at a spot outlet opening. Through movement of the connecting sleeve, different discharge directions of the spot jet from the spot outlet opening can be adjusted. The air discharged through the connecting sleeve is redirectable substantially completely in different discharge directions with pivoting of the connecting sleeve. The connecting sleeve has a greater cross-sectional area at the inflow opening than at the outflow opening and at least one air guiding wall is formed in the connecting sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Fritsche, Kuno Zeller, Dieter Reisinger, Martin Fieger
  • Patent number: 9623726
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a windowpane for vehicles including a glass sheet, a conductor layer which is formed on the surface of the glass sheet by sintering a silver paste containing a silver powder and a glass frit and which has at least a strip part and a terminal connection part connected to the strip part, and a connection terminal soldered onto the terminal connection part with a lead-free solder alloy, in which the conductor layer has a specific resistance of from 2.5 to 6.5 ??cm, the strip part has a line width of not more than 0.35 mm, the lead-free solder alloy consists essentially of tin and silver and has a content of tin of 95% by mass or more, and cracking is not caused on the glass sheet even after elapsing 500 cycles in a prescribed thermal shock test; and a method for producing same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sagawa, Yuukou Minamiya
  • Patent number: 9623727
    Abstract: An accessory mounting system for a laminated glass windshield includes first and second mating plates securable in a scallop in the laminated glass windshield. Each of the mating plates includes an indentation on an inside surface thereof, where the indentations of the first and second mating plates define a pocket. A stiffening plate is disposed in the pocket, and a fastener secures the first and second mating plates and the stiffening plate together. The first and second mating plates and the stiffening plate include an opening for securing a windshield accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GROUP, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Bender
  • Patent number: 9623728
    Abstract: A device for assisting with driving an automotive vehicle comprising a variable transmission screen intended to be placed between a road scene (SR) and a driver of the vehicle, the assisting device being configured to, when active, control a transmission coefficient of the variable transmission screen. The device comprises a glare sensor and is furthermore configured to modify the coefficient of transparency of the variable transmission screen depending on the glare measured by the glare sensor. In addition, a method for assisting with driving the automotive vehicle is included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Benoist Fleury, David Hue, Kostadin Beev
  • Patent number: 9623729
    Abstract: A stiffening panel for a motor vehicle door, for example a side door. The stiffening panel is arranged between a structure of the door, which structure can be made of plastic, located on a side of a passenger compartment of the vehicle and configured to absorb majority of external impacts on the door, in particular front and side impacts on the side door, and at least one decorative outer panel which can be made of plastic and mounted on the structure. The stiffening panel can be made from a plastic material and stiffen the decorative outer panel to enable the outer panel to withstand external impacts on the door from the opposite side of the passenger compartment. The stiffening panel includes mounting elements for a window lift system. The stiffening panel is arranged between the decorative outer panel and a window supported by the window lift system mounted on the stiffening panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventor: Olivier Glaumot
  • Patent number: 9623730
    Abstract: A hinge pillar reinforcement, a front door, and a hinge bracket are provided. The hinge bracket includes a hinge attachment wall portion, a pair of front-and-rear vertical wall portions, a pair of upper-and-lower lateral wall portions, a pair of front-and-rear vertical flange portions respectively extending inward, an upper lateral flange portion including an upper resilient portion and extending upward from an inward end portion of the upper lateral wall portion, and a lower lateral flange portion including a lower resilient portion and extending downward from an inward end portion of the lower lateral wall portion. The pair of vertical flange portions are joined to a front wall portion and a rear wall portion of the pillar reinforcement, and the upper lateral flange portion and the lower lateral flange portion are joined to the pillar reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Mori, Ikuko Naganori
  • Patent number: 9623731
    Abstract: A vehicular resin back door structure includes an inner panel that is made of resin and defines a frame of a resin back door configured to be supported by a vehicle body, and that is formed with an opening through which a vehicle driver can view rearwardly at an upper portion of the inner panel; an outer panel that is made of resin and disposed at a periphery of the opening, and that is joined to the inner panel by a first adhesive to form, together with the inner panel, a frame section including an internal chamber; a glass sheet that is joined to the inner panel by a second adhesive; and a contact wall portion that forms part of a portion of the inner panel, and that directly or indirectly contacts the vehicle body in a closed state of the vehicular resin back door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koki Ikeda, Tatsuya Ayukawa
  • Patent number: 9623733
    Abstract: A tailgate that is intended to be mounted onto motor vehicle body such as to be pivotable between an open position and a closed position, and is intended to be connected to the body by means that generate an axial thrust for assisting in the opening of the tailgate. The tailgate includes an abutment, referred to as an anti-deformation abutment, for engaging, when the tailgate is in the closed position, with a complementary bearing of the body such that the complementary bearing exerts a reactive force against the anti-deformation abutment, having a direction parallel to a direction of thrust of the assistance means, or angled at most 45° relative to the thrust direction, and having at least one component in the direction opposite the direction of thrust of the assistance means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventors: Alexis Rajon, Philippe Coudron, Pascal Depardon
  • Patent number: 9623734
    Abstract: A sunroof structure for a vehicle has a left side frame disposed on a left side of a vehicle body roof, extending along a vehicle front-rear direction, a right side frame disposed on a right side of the vehicle body roof, extending along the vehicle front-rear direction, a roof panel disposed between the left side frame and the right side frame, having a sunroof opening, a sunroof disposed in the sunroof opening and having at least two glass panels arranged next to each other in the vehicle front-rear direction, in which at least a foremost glass panel of the at least two glass panels is configured to be openable and closeable, and a sunroof side rail disposed below a peripheral portion of the sunroof opening, extending along the vehicle front-rear direction, and having a drain groove and a drain portion configured to discharge water accumulated in the drain groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignees: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD., WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Tomokazu Maeda, Kozo Ohdoi, Takashi Sasaki, Toru Shibue
  • Patent number: 9623735
    Abstract: A panel body of a sunroof device able to have reduced weight and a method for producing the panel body. The panel body of a sunroof device includes: a sunroof panel; a holder attached to the peripheral rim of the bottom surface of the sunroof panel and provided with a concavity; a lid member occluding the opening of the concavity; and a resin holding member formed in a manner so as to integrate the sunroof panel, holder, and lid member. The panel body of a sunroof device includes the holder having flanges, an end of the lid member being sandwiched between the top surface of the flanges and the bottom surface of the sunroof panel, and the holding member having a sandwiched section entering the space encircled by the top surface of the flanges, the bottom surface of the sunroof panel, and the end surface of the lid member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: YACHIYO INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Akuzawa, Hiroyuki Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9623736
    Abstract: An openable roof includes an expandable and retractable awning frame, and an awning cloth for covering the outside of the awning frame. The awning frame is provided with an awning bow which supports the awning cloth when the awning frame is expanded. The awning bow includes a pair of left and right leg portions extending in up and down directions, and an upper side portion which connects between upper ends of the leg portions in a vehicle width direction. Each of the leg portions of the awning bow is formed with two or more bent parts. At least one pair of the bent parts on each of the leg portions are configured such that moments generated in the awning bow due to a tensile force exerted from the awning cloth when the openable roof is in an expanded state act in such directions as to cancel out each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouichi Matsumoto, Eisuke Kuramoto, Tomohiro Komaji, Motonori Horii
  • Patent number: 9623737
    Abstract: Rigid panel sections can include a rigid panel, a first frame member, a second frame member and a coupling mechanism. The rigid panel can have a first face, a second face opposite the first face, and an edge therebetween. The first face can having a first margin adjacent the edge and the second face can have a second margin adjacent the edge. The first frame member can be disposed along at least a portion of the edge and can have a first flange overlying the first margin. A second frame member, distinct from the first frame member, can be disposed along at least a portion of the edge and can have a second flange overlying the second margin. The coupling mechanism connecting the second frame member and the first frame member together can be positioned outboard of the edge. Methods of assembling the rigid panel sections are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Extang Corporation
    Inventors: Jerome J. Facchinello, Charles A. Fabros
  • Patent number: 9623738
    Abstract: The present application discloses a vehicle body rear portion structure for an automobile configured so that the rear deck cover opens or closes above a wheelhouse. The vehicle body rear portion structure includes a rear fender including an upper perimeter extending on an inner side in a vehicle width direction above the wheelhouse; a deck member extending in the vehicle width direction; and a support structure which supports the rear deck cover. The upper perimeter of the rear fender is connected to the deck member. The support structure includes a link mechanism, which opens and closes the rear deck cover, and a bracket portion including a mounting seat situated on an inner side with respect to a top portion of the wheelhouse in the vehicle width direction, the bracket portion supporting the link mechanism. The link mechanism is supported on the wheelhouse via the bracket portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ueoka, Norifumi Takasuka, Yoshihiko Ono
  • Patent number: 9623739
    Abstract: The present disclosure may reduce the risk of a trim strip coming off a sealing member. A sealing member 30 includes a trim strip securing groove 38 opening toward an outside of a compartment so that a securing leg 47 of a trim strip 45 is inserted into the trim strip securing groove 38. The sealing member 30 is provided with a core 43 including an engagement protruding portion 43d protruding toward the inside of the trim strip securing groove 38. Inserted into the trim strip securing groove 38, the securing leg 47 of the trim strip 45 engages with the engagement protruding portion 43d.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atushi Fukuta
  • Patent number: 9623740
    Abstract: A vehicle sunshade comprises an enclosure housing one or more shades for covering or shading a vehicle. The enclosure is typically mounted to a portion of a vehicle to allow the vehicle sunshade to travel with the vehicle and be used anywhere. The enclosure may also be tapered and comprise one or more doors that cover the shades therein. A shade may be mounted on a roller with a biasing mechanism for automatically retracting or extending the shade. One or more flaps can be attached to the shade to extend coverage of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor: Newton Tran
  • Patent number: 9623741
    Abstract: An exhaust structure includes a first exhaust path and a second exhaust path. The first exhaust path includes a box outlet and at least an exhaust duct that includes a duct inlet arranged below a rear seat and configured to open toward a battery A. The second exhaust path is communicated with the box outlet. A deck board is disposed in a luggage room. The second exhaust path includes space defined by a front end portion of the deck board closer to a front of a vehicle and at least a portion of the backrest of the rear seat and a gap defined by a front surface of the front end portion of the deck board and a portion of a back surface of the backrest opposite the front surface. Gas used for cooling down the battery is released from the gap to the luggage room via a duct exhaust conduit, a box exhaust conduit, a first interspace exhaust conduit, and a second interspace exhaust conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Honda, Takashi Suzuki, Hiromi Takase, Makoto Inoue, Fumiaki Matsuura
  • Patent number: 9623742
    Abstract: A vehicle battery mounting structure includes i) a battery frame that includes a battery upper frame made of fiber-reinforced resin and a battery lower frame made of fiber-reinforced resin, and that is arranged on a vehicle body lower side of a floor panel and supports a battery; and ii) a ductile member that has an upper main body portion joined to the battery upper frame, an upper flange portion continuously provided on a vehicle width direction outside end portion of the upper main body portion, a lower main body portion joined to the battery lower frame, and a lower flange portion continuously provided on a vehicle width direction outside end portion of the lower main body portion, in which the upper flange portion and the lower flange portion are overlapped and fixed to a lower surface side of the floor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koki Ikeda, Kiyoshi Hokazono, Shinya Kamimura, Kentaro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9623743
    Abstract: A vehicle driveline and a method for synchronizing a flywheel and the vehicle driveline are provided. The vehicle driveline includes a power source, a primary clutch drivingly engaged with the power source, a primary transmission drivingly engaged with the primary clutch, a secondary transmission drivingly engaged with one of a portion of the primary clutch and an input of the primary transmission, a controller in communication with the secondary transmission, and a flywheel drivingly engaged with the secondary transmission. The vehicle driveline facilitates a transfer of energy to and from the flywheel based on at least one of a state of charge of the flywheel, a power requirement of the vehicle driveline, and a state of operation of the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Dana Limited
    Inventors: Steven J. Wesolowski, Donald J. Remboski, Timothy J. Morscheck, Mark R. J. Versteyhe, Mathieu Dutré
  • Patent number: 9623744
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus may include: a torque converting device including a first rotation element directly connected to one power source, a second rotation element selectively connected to another power source, and a third rotation element, an input device including a first input shaft directly connected to the third rotation element, selectively connected to the second rotation element, and provided with at least one input gear, and a second input shaft disposed without rotational interference with the first input shaft, selectively connected to the second rotation element, and provided with at least one input gear, a first speed output unit configured to convert toque input from the first input shaft or the second input shaft and output the converted torque, and a second speed output unit configured to convert torque input from the first input shaft or the second input shaft and output the converted torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Suengho Lee, Hyungwook Cho, Changwook Lee, Jongsool Park
  • Patent number: 9623745
    Abstract: A power transmission system of a hybrid electric vehicle may include an input shaft to which power from an engine is input, an output shaft, a planetary gear set including a first rotation element being driven by electrical driving force, a second rotation element being externally engaged with the output shaft as an output element, and a third rotation element being driven by rotational power of an engine, a first motor/generator directly connected to the first rotation element of the planetary gear set, a second motor/generator selectively externally engaged with the output shaft, a first transfer gear, a second transfer gear, a variable connecting unit selectively connecting the first transfer gear to the input shaft or the output shaft, and a variable direct coupling unit selectively connecting two rotation elements among the three rotation elements, of the planetary gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Changwook Lee, Kangsoo Seo, Donghwan Hwang, Jaechang Kook, Jongsool Park, Horim Yang
  • Patent number: 9623746
    Abstract: A tank bracket (23) is formed by a bottom surface part (24) having a first frame body (24A), a second frame body (24B), a third frame body (24C), and a fourth frame body (24D), a first side surface part (25) supported by the first frame body (24A) of the bottom surface part (24) and provided in a vertical direction, and a second side surface part (26) supported by the second frame body (24B) and provided in the vertical direction, and a female screw hole (24E) is provided in the bottom surface part (24). A fixing band (28) for fixing a reduction agent tank (22) is provided on the tank bracket (23). On this, the tank bracket (23) is fixed to an undercover (14) of a revolving frame (5) by using each of the female screw holes (24E) of the bottom surface part (24) in a state in which the reduction agent tank (22) is sandwiched between the second side surface part (26) and a right side frame (11) of the revolving frame (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinori Fujii, Hidenori Mano, Hiroyuki Azuma
  • Patent number: 9623747
    Abstract: A cap for closing a fill tube of a fluid container that includes fewer part and requires just a quarter turn between opened and closed positions. The cap has a lower plate for engagement with a free end of a fill tube and an upper plate that connects to a cover. The upper and lower plates have cooperating pawl and detent portions that form a ratchet member. Rotation of the cap by approximately a quarter turn moves the cap form an opened position to a closed position against the neck of a filler tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: RB DISTRIBUTION, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Darpino, Brian Reyes