Patents Issued in August 22, 2017
  • Patent number: 9738173
    Abstract: A charging and discharging control device includes a pantograph point voltage detection unit configured to detect a pantograph point voltage of a vehicle, a charging and discharging control unit configured to charge a power storage device provided in a vehicle when the pantograph point voltage is greater than or equal to a charging voltage threshold value and discharge the power storage device when the pantograph point voltage is less than a discharging voltage threshold value, a load determination unit configured to determine whether an absolute value of load power for the vehicle is less than a load power threshold value, and a charging and discharging control change unit configured to reduce any one of more of the charging voltage threshold value, the discharging voltage threshold value, and charging/discharging impedance when the absolute value of the load power is less than the load power threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Wakasugi, Takayuki Kono, Katsuaki Morita, Toshihiko Niinomi, Noritaka Yanai, Kenji Takao, Kyotaro Onishi
  • Patent number: 9738174
    Abstract: A lithium battery system includes a first battery pack including a plurality of first battery cells connected in series. The first battery pack is configured to be connected in parallel to an alternator and a second battery pack, and has a lower capacity than the second battery pack. A negative electrode of each of the first battery cells includes a negative electrode active material. The negative electrode active material includes a carbon-based material having an interlayer spacing of a (002) plane of 0.34 nm to 0.50 nm in X-ray diffraction measurement using copper (Cu) K? lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Sung Gu, Eui-Hwan Song, Ji-Hong Lim, Seok-Gyun Woo, Woon-Sun Rheu
  • Patent number: 9738175
    Abstract: A second energy storage is superior to a first energy storage in energy to weight density and inferior to the first energy storage in power to weight density. A booster is to boost a first voltage output from the first energy storage. A motor is to be driven by power output from at least one of the first energy storage and the second energy storage. A controller is to control the booster to operate in a first mode while a voltage point is within a referenced closed region and to operate in a second mode while the voltage point is outside the referenced closed region. The voltage point represents a relationship between the first voltage and a second voltage output from the second energy storage in a two-dimensional coordinate system having a first axis representing the first voltage and having a second axis representing the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Ito
  • Patent number: 9738176
    Abstract: An assembly includes a traction battery of an electrified vehicle, and a blend door moveable between a first position that permits a first flow of air to move toward the traction battery and a second position that permits a second flow of air to move toward the traction battery. The first flow includes more air that has moved through an engine compartment than the second flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: George Albert Garfinkel, Neil Robert Burrows, Chung-hsing Kuo, Steve F. Chorian, Dhanunjay Vejalla
  • Patent number: 9738177
    Abstract: Provided is an electric vehicle, including: motors configured to apply braking/driving torques to drive wheels via gear-type speed reducers; a braking apparatus; and a control device configured to calculate, for each drive wheel, a final target torque, which is a sum of a first target torque that is based on a braking/driving operation amount of a driver and a second target torque for controlling a travel behavior of the electric vehicle, and control the motors and the braking apparatus so that an actual braking/driving torque of the drive wheel reaches the final target torque. When the final target torque is a braking torque under a situation in which the first target torque is a driving torque, the final target torque is corrected to a value that is not a braking torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideki Fukudome
  • Patent number: 9738178
    Abstract: A guide track includes a guide rail having a guide groove opened upward in which guide wheels are inserted, and formed with guide surfaces for causing each of the guide wheels to roll at both sides of a traveling course in a width direction; conductor rails that are placed at both sides of an outside of the traveling course in the width direction with respect to the guide groove to perform contact electricity supply by pressing a power collection shoe of a power collector of a track-based vehicle; a first insulator that supports the conductor rails with respect to the guide rail; and insulation plates that are provided at both sides of the conductor rail in the width direction, and are provided in parallel to the conductor rail and in parallel to a pressing direction of the power collection shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Kanemori, Hiromichi Yamamoto, Kousuke Katahira
  • Patent number: 9738179
    Abstract: A vehicle travel controller carries out automatic travel control of controlling a vehicle to travel automatically based upon travel state information of the vehicle and information on an exterior of the vehicle. An automatic/manual traveling changeover switch is capable of switching between an automatic driving mode in which the automatic travel control is carried out by the vehicle travel controller and a manual driving mode in which the driver drives the vehicle manually. A driving posture controller controls a reclining motor so that the reclining angle of the driver's seat in the automatic driving mode is larger than the reclining angle of the driver's seat in the manual driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Ebina, Haruhiko Satou
  • Patent number: 9738180
    Abstract: An adjuster track assembly for a vehicle seat includes an upper rail configured to be fastened to the vehicle seat and displaceable in a longitudinal direction, a stationary lower rail, a linear guide provided in the longitudinal direction between the upper rail and the lower rail which includes a bearing element for longitudinal guidance and support of the upper rail. The bearing element includes bearing cages with rollers accommodated within roller pockets having retention areas for guiding said rollers both in the longitudinal direction and the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and absorption areas for receiving or eliminating wear debris or abrasions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Brose Fahzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg
    Inventor: Leo Ioppolo
  • Patent number: 9738181
    Abstract: A convertible car seat, carrier and stroller device includes a car seat that has a frame, which is rigid. The car seat is shaped and sized to a child. A handle, which is extendable, is coupled to a back of the frame. A wheel assembly is coupled to and positioned in a housing that is coupled to a bottom of the frame. The wheel assembly is extensible from the housing and operationally coupled to the handle. Extending the handle lowers the wheel assembly and retracting the handle raises the wheel assembly. The car seat is couplable to a base that is configured to couple to an interior of a vehicle. The base is couplable to the interior of a vehicle and positioned to secure the car seat in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Sara Termini
  • Patent number: 9738182
    Abstract: A child seat for a motor vehicle having a carry shell with a carrying grip and a seat unit arranged within the carry shell having a back portion, a seat portion, and a leg portion. An upper backrest is fitted on the back portion of the seat unit for movement in a direction to and from the seat portion. The child seat also has a device for altering the position of the upper backrest relative to the back portion, and a harness with two shoulder straps, each shoulder strap being passed through a corresponding slot in the back portion and in the upper backrest, with pivotally mounted strap guides each being assigned to the belt slots in the back portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: CYBEX GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Pos
  • Patent number: 9738183
    Abstract: A receiving device on a vehicle seat for a holding element of a fastening system which has a receiving element of an equipment part to be fastened, which receiving element can be fixed on the holding element. The holding element is provided with a cover element having a cover opening. The receiving device has a holding part which is reversibly secured on the holding element. The cover element has a casing body which emerges from the cover opening and has cover-element slotted guides that are open with respect to the holding element within the casing body. The casing body of the cover element at least partially surrounds a body of the holding part, and the open side of the cover-element slotted guides of the cover element engages in the holding element whereby the cover element is mounted and is guided in a telescopically movable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Robert Szlag
  • Patent number: 9738184
    Abstract: A seat supporting member designed to support, from below, a seat member in its closed position, is provided on a body frame for allowing the seat member to be attached to and detached from the seat supporting member. A rear part of the seat member and an intermediate part of the seat supporting member in a front-rear direction thereof are connected to each other via a swinging arm. The seat member is supported on a body frame while its position is variable between a closed position where the seat member allows an occupant to sit thereon while covering at least one of maintenance spaces and a housing space from above; and an open position where an upper opening of the at least one of the maintenance spaces and the housing space is widely, almost completely opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Miyazawa, Tatsuya Shiokawa
  • Patent number: 9738185
    Abstract: A seating arrangement provides a relatively flat surface in the seating area of passenger vehicles to rest. The present invention allows the passenger to remain in the seat and be able to rest on a fully inclined seat providing a flat horizontal surface. In one embodiment, the back seat cushion(s) can be removable and thus the front seat backs rest upon the same platform support as the back seat cushions. In a second embodiment, the rear seat cushions have removable rear seat cushion sections to allow the front backs to fully recline into a horizontal position in the open voids formed after the headrest is removed. In a third embodiment applicable to the first two embodiments, the rear seat backs can be removed to extend the resting area into the trunk. In a fourth embodiment second row seats are fully reclinable onto the third row seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Wudthipong Guygaew
  • Patent number: 9738186
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis and a seating system. The seating system includes a frame coupled to the chassis, a seat cushion supported by at least one of the frame and a floor of the vehicle, a first recoverable insert configured to provide a first energy attenuation response, and a second recoverable insert configured to provide a second energy attenuation response different than the first energy attenuation response. The seat cushion defines a cavity shaped to interchangeably receive either the first recoverable insert or the second recoverable insert to thereby selectively vary an energy attenuation provided by the seating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Kristopher J. Krueger, Andrew J. Morello, Scott A. Mueller, Micah C. Richmond, Anthony J. Seefeldt, Timothy J. Snyder, Randall Sullwold, Anthony R. Trofka, Harold Vincent, Brian E. Wilkins, David M. Woller
  • Patent number: 9738187
    Abstract: A seat bottom includes a frame, a first thigh support, and a second thigh support. The first thigh support and the second thigh support are each supported by the frame and independently movable relative to the frame. A first deployable device is coupled to the first thigh support, and a second deployable device is coupled to the second thigh support. At least one inflator is in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second deployable devices. The first and second deployable devices are each formed of thermoplastic elastomer and are inflatable from an undeployed position to a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventors: Robert William McCoy, Cortney Stancato, Jaeho Cho, Mohammed Shenaq
  • Patent number: 9738188
    Abstract: A motor vehicle armrest includes an armrest body that is disposed on at least one side in a vehicle-width direction of a seat cushion so as to support of an arm of an occupant. The armrest body has an inflation portion that is inflated toward the occupant in the vehicle-width direction so as to support the occupant in the vehicle-width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Honda, Takeshi Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 9738189
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electric headrest including: an oil damper which has a storing part in which oil is stored, and a rotary shaft coupled to the top of the storing part and having a first saw-toothed part protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft; a center cover that is formed in the center of the rear of a headrest pad and in which the oil damper is coupled to the inside of a hinge coupling part; and a side cover coupled to the center cover at the side of the center cover by the hinge coupling part, and having a second saw-toothed part formed at a position corresponding to the first saw-toothed part of the oil damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI DYMOS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sung Chol An, Jin Ho Seo, Chan Uk Park, Myeong Sub Kim, Yun Ho Kim, Dong Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 9738190
    Abstract: A head restraint for a vehicle seat, includes a central part having a front surface, an upper side and opposing side surfaces. First and second side parts are operably coupled to the opposing side surfaces of the central part and are operable between supporting and non-supporting positions relative to the central part. The first and second side parts each include first and second limbs which are flexibly coupled to one another, wherein portions of the first and second side parts protrude outwardly relative to the front surface of the central part when the first and second side parts are in the supporting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Uwe Wagner, Carsten Schauf, Kilian Vas, Daniel Hari
  • Patent number: 9738191
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly in which an impervious insert (41, 141) including a heating element and having a plurality of channels (42, 142) extending from an aperture (44, 144) positioned on a first side of at least one of a seat cushion (22) and a seat back (124) and in which a ventilation system (60) is coupled to a second side of the at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back for drawing air along the plurality of channels through the aperture and through a hole (30, 130) in the seat cushion or seat back for controlling the temperature of the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: KONGSBERG AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Langensiepen, Ian Fletcher, Daniel Josefsson
  • Patent number: 9738192
    Abstract: Ridge portions 9 are provided to be continuously present in orthogonally intersecting directions by forming plural recessed holes 8 in the upper surface of an under-thighs portion 2 and an under-buttocks portion 3 of a seat pad 1 for a vehicle. The height of each ridge portion 9, i.e. the depth h of each recessed hole 8, is preferably in the range of 2 to 40 mm, more preferably in the range of 5 to 20 mm, the width w of each recessed hole 8 is preferably in the range of 10 to 30 mm, more preferably in the range of 20 to 30 mm, and the area of an opening of each recessed hole 8 is preferably in the range of 50 to 1000 mm2, more preferably in the range of 100 to 900 mm2. Accordingly, the present invention can provide a seat pad, which is excellent in soft sensation of touch of a surface thereof, satisfactory in the properties of supporting an occupant, and can be produced by integral foam molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka Hirata, Masanori Okumura, Taisuke Yonezawa
  • Patent number: 9738193
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes right and left side frames 10, and an elastic member (cushion spring 20) run between the right and left side frames 10. The right and left side frames 10 include side walls 11 disposed opposite to each other in a lateral direction, and flange portions (upper flange portions 12) respectively extending laterally inward from the side walls 11, and the elastic member is attached to the flange portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Teppei Ito
  • Patent number: 9738194
    Abstract: A vehicle seat and frame thereof which minimize the size of an attachment mechanism of a support structure for supporting the back of a seated person are provided. A seat frame has side frames positioned at right and left sides of a seat back frame and extending in an up to down direction. The side frame has a side portion extending along a side portion of the seat, a rear portion projecting from a rear end of the side portion to an inner side of the seat, and a support member spanned between the right and left side frames, and receives a load of the seated person. The support member has a connecting portion for connecting to the side frame and is attached to the rear portion of the side frame in a state where the positional relationship between the connecting portion and the side frame is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hoshi
  • Patent number: 9738195
    Abstract: This invention is an Automotive Center Console Armrest Storage Box Lid Protector that is an alternative for replacing the factory installed center console/storage box armrest lid when damaged or to be used to for driving comfort as creates a barrier between the factory installed lid and the under forearm of the driver or passengers forearm. It is designed to be installed over the factory installed lid and is held in place with an elastic band or drawstring sewed on the underside of the fitted fabric piece to keep the fabric protector from slipping. It can be made with or without an added sleeve pocket sewed to the top side as in the sketches. Drivers and passengers that rest their forearm on the center console while driving can have added comfort with this protective cover and also can be used as an alternative to replacing the factory installed hard cover after being damaged from use stains and UV rays. It is installed by opening the lid inserting the protective cover by hand over the factory installed lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: David John Willis
  • Patent number: 9738196
    Abstract: A base net for a back is formed from a three-dimensional stereoscopic knit, and has a configuration in which seams for bringing a pair of ground knitted fabrics thereof to close to each other in a thickness direction are partially provided, predetermined preliminary compression is applied in the thickness direction by the seams, and thereby residual stress is generated in a surface direction (stretching direction). Therefore, stiffness is partially increased by partial improvement in residual stress, and consequently a human body with extreme roughness is supported by nearly uniform pressure. Thus, in spite of a simple configuration in which the seams are provided in desired regions, posture supportiveness and body pressure dispersiveness can be improved. Further, by arbitrarily adjusting the formation positions of the seams, the pressure distribution is adjusted, thereby making it possible to easily control the vibration mode to desired setting, and easily improve vibration absorbency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yumi Ogura, Etsunori Fujita, Seiji Kawasaki, Shogo Inoue, Yuki Arita, Eiji Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9738197
    Abstract: An easy-to-attach clip member that makes the surroundings of a stay cloth mounting portion compact while maintaining high airbag deployment performance, and an airbag module-equipped seat with the clip member are provided. A clip member is connected to a cloth-form body that transmits a tensile force. The clip member includes a connecting portion connected to one end of the cloth-form body, and a groove engaged with an edge portion of a mounted portion. The clip member is provided to reduce a torque generated at the connecting portion by the tensile force transmitted from the cloth-form body when engaged with the edge portion of the mounted portion, and connects the cloth-form body to the mounted portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinichi Tanabe, Hiroshi Izawa, Hiroshi Baba
  • Patent number: 9738198
    Abstract: Containers can be used on moving vehicles such as trucks (like pick-up trucks) that have elements on the outside of those containers that allow the containers to be affixed and/or secured to the moving vehicle. The containers can also be easily removed so that they no longer are affixed and/or secured to the moving vehicle. The inside of the container allows goods to be inserted inside the container so that the goods can be transported without the fear of the container failing over and/or the goods falling out of the container. The containers/totes contain protrusions and/or depressions that allow them to snap fit into correspondingly opposite depressions and/or protrusions on the surface of a vehicle or the surface of an optionally present intermediary layer. If an intermediary layer is present, the intermediary layer can be affixed to and or secured to a surface on a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Quinn Swink
  • Patent number: 9738199
    Abstract: A BOP cart includes a platform including at least one mounting position adapted to receive the bottom of a BOP and a cart back extending generally perpendicular to the platform. The cart back includes at least one mounting feature positioned to secure the BOP to the BOP cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Nabors Drilling USA, LP
    Inventors: Ralph Shamas, Todd Fox
  • Patent number: 9738200
    Abstract: An air cart for distributing air entrained particulate material from a chamber or tank to a plurality of distribution lines for application to an agricultural field has a tank refilling feature utilizing air flow from the cart distribution system or from a dedicated pneumatic source. The cart conveying system air flow is diverted and passed through an assembly containing multiple venturis which also receives particulate material from a supply source. The air entrained material from the source is conveyed to and gently deposited in the cart tank. Exhaust air from the tank may be directed back into the cart conveying system or vented through an air diffuser located beneath the cart. Exhaust air which is directed back to the cart conveying system may return to a location closely adjacent that from which it was originally diverted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Martin J. Roberge, Graham Douglas Stuart, Ka Po Catherine Hui
  • Patent number: 9738201
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a detachably attachable moving headboard trailer ejector and floor cleaning apparatus for use with a self-unloading trailer having a front end, a rear end, side walls, and either a reciprocating slat conveyor floor or a conveyor belt floor. The invention comprises, in one embodiment, a base, a panel sweeper, one or more panel sweeper support members, a means for traversing the panel sweeper, a tether bar, side flanges, and a base flange. In use, the invention is placed in the front end of a self-unloading trailer and the trailer is loaded with material; when material is ejected from the trailer, the invention transverses or “travels” along the top of the moving floor and pushes the material out of the trailer's back end. The rubber flanges ensure a snug fit within the trailer and keep post ejection residual material at a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Larry D. Butterfield
  • Patent number: 9738202
    Abstract: A system for regulating a dump rate of a truck is disclosed. The truck is configured to carry material and dump the material in a container. The system includes a first detection module and a controller in communication with the first detection module. The first detection module generates a signal indicative of a draw down rate of the container. The draw down rate corresponds to a rate at which the material is discharged from the container. The controller determines the draw down rate of the contained based on the signal received from the first detection module. The controller further determines a level of the material within the container based on the draw down rate. The controller then regulates the dump rate of the truck based on a relationship between the level of the material within the container and a threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Humphrey, Mark H. Banham
  • Patent number: 9738203
    Abstract: The foldable truck bed extension deck and ramp assembly are mountable in a short-box pickup truck. The bed extension deck and ramp assembly have a comparable length to a full-size pickup truck box when deployed for use, and are jointly foldable to fit into a short-bed pickup truck with its tailgate closed when not used. The bed extension deck has a strong upper surface to resist deformation in rough use. The ramp member can be deployed with its front end matching the surface of the extension deck so that a vehicle can be driven along the ramp member and onto the deck surface without encountering any transition step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Michel Michaud
  • Patent number: 9738204
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with a vehicle tailgate includes a base, a first attachment member, a second attachment member and a ramp. The first attachment member and second attachment member are spaced apart from each other and extend from the base. The ramp is irremovably secured to the base. The attachment members are configured to be received in a latch of the vehicle tailgate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Jack Marchlewski, Joshua R. Hemphill, Robert Reiners, Steve William Gallagher
  • Patent number: 9738205
    Abstract: A lift assembly for a vehicle is described. The lift assembly can includes a hitch assembly for removable attachment to the vehicle, and first and second support members rotatably secured to the hitch assembly. As a lifting mechanism mounted to the hitch assembly provides a lifting force to one of the support members, the platform assembly can be raised from a lowered position to a raised position. The lift assembly can be removably engaged with a cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Peter M. Parker
  • Patent number: 9738206
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for loading and/or unloading a loading space delimited by structural elements of at least one road or rail vehicle using a manipulator to move the loads from outside the loading space to a position onto the structural elements in the loading space and vice versa. The method includes: inputting or importing primary data relative to the loads into a logic controller, automatically calculating the optimum loading position for each load, determining the automated movements of the manipulator, automatically picking up a pallet in a storage position inside the loading space with the manipulator and positioning the pallet in a loading position located at the rear of the vehicle, placing a load on the pallet, and automatically moving the pallet supporting the load into the optimum loading position, and locking the pallet to the structural elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: LOHR ELECTROMECANIQUE
    Inventors: Daniel Scheer, Laurent Verdier
  • Patent number: 9738207
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vehicle having a cargo area that includes an internal surface. A longitudinally extending bar is located within the cargo area of the vehicle. A bag configured to hang onto and slide along the longitudinally extending bar. A movable rail assembly is attached to the internal surface and includes: a rail moveable between extend and retract positions with respect to the cargo area; a bearing engageable with the rail to assist moving the rail between the extend and retract positions; and a bracket attachable to the bearing to suspend the bearing and the rail in the cargo area and away from the internal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SPARTAN MOTORS USA, INC.
    Inventors: Terry W. Kessler, Travis W. Elliott, Richard D. Eichstedt
  • Patent number: 9738208
    Abstract: A slide-out system for recreational vehicles is provided which uses an outer wall which closes flush with the outer wall of the vehicles, radiussed corners about the slide-out periphery, a continuous peripheral seal, a drive mechanism mounted in the slide-out portion rather than on the vehicle, and a drive shaft weather seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: OPP XL B.V.
    Inventor: Daniel K. Rodabaugh
  • Patent number: 9738209
    Abstract: A slide-out room and operating mechanism includes a plurality of corner units and a plurality of wall panels connected to the corner units. The slide-out room is receivable in a mounting structure. Each corner unit includes a drive mechanism therein. The drive mechanisms cooperate with the mounting structure to enable selective translation of the slide-out room through the mounting structure in first and second opposing directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: OPP XL B.V.
    Inventor: Daniel K. Rodabaugh
  • Patent number: 9738210
    Abstract: A slidable room assembly comprising a vehicle body having an opening formed in an exterior wall and a reciprocable slideout unit or compartment disposed in the opening and slidable between a retracted position and an extended position. Sliding movement of the slideout unit is controlled by means of a drive mechanism that includes rack gear assemblies driven from a drive shaft as described herein. Sliding movement of the slideout unit may be either motor driven or manually powered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Norco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard F. Garceau, Timothy Belle, Bori Krobot
  • Patent number: 9738211
    Abstract: A system for transporting cargo includes a cargo deck and a dunnage device for securing a load to the cargo deck. The dunnage device includes an elongated tubular body having an interior space. A transverse wall is positioned within the interior space of the tubular body. The elongated tubular body is adapted to be positioned on the cargo deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Fontaine Engineered Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James H. Adams
  • Patent number: 9738212
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has at least one drive unit, at least one brake device and at least one component which heats up when the drive unit and/or the brake device are operated. The component includes at least one warning device which is designed to output a visual warning information item when a component-specific limiting temperature is exceeded by the component, and/or can be actuated to output a visual warning information item when an information item which relates to a component-specific limiting temperature being exceeded is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Stefan Mayer
  • Patent number: 9738213
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a vehicle light with adjustable light output is provided, whereby the apparatus includes a processor configured to receive on-board diagnostics (OBD) data and to determine a light output mode for the vehicle light in accordance with the OBD data, whereby the OBD data indicates a vehicle condition. The apparatus includes a transceiver coupled to the processor that is configured to signal the light output mode to the vehicle light. A method of controlling a vehicle light is provided that includes receiving OBD data from an OBD system in a vehicle, whereby the OBD data determines a vehicle condition, determining a light output mode of the vehicle light in accordance with the OBD data, and sending to the vehicle light appropriate commands for adjusting the light output in accordance with the determined light output mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Feniex Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hamza Deyaf, Nicholas Mazzanti, Kyle Hale
  • Patent number: 9738214
    Abstract: A headlight controller and a vehicle headlight system including an ADB and AFS can include a headlight controller and an optical unit. The headlight controller can include a system controller and a camera photographing vehicles located in a travelling direction of a subject vehicle, and the system controller can be configured to output a control signal to provide favorable light distribution patterns by using image data output from the camera in accordance with traffic conditions. The optical unit can be configured to emit beam lights using lights emitted from a first and second light-emitting device via a projector lens so that the beam lights can be used as a high/low beam without movable parts. Thus, the disclosed subject matter can include providing vehicle headlight systems that can form various favorable light distribution patterns by utilizing the characteristics of the controller and the optical unit in accordance with the traffic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akihiro Nakatani
  • Patent number: 9738215
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a light distribution of a headlight, in particular of a headlight comprising one illuminant or comprising a plurality of illuminants which generates or generate an adaptable light distribution, wherein a glare region of the light distribution is defined with a glare distance outside which no causing of glare for a road user is effected, wherein an optical monitoring device having a monitoring region having a monitoring boundary is provided, wherein a luminous object is identifiable as a road user only within the monitoring region, wherein upon recognition or supposition of at least one luminous object which is outside the monitoring region but within the glare region, the at least one headlight is driven such that the glare distance is adapted, such as in particular reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: HELLA KGAA HUECK & CO.
    Inventor: Ingo Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9738216
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a towed implement proximity system, the system comprising: a first device comprising a transceiver, the first device configured to: transmit a signal; receive a first signal at a first angle and a second signal at a second angle responsive to the transmitted signal, the first and second signals comprising first information and second information, respectively, the first and second information each corresponding to respective positional information; and a controller coupled to the first device, the controller configured to determine a relative position in three axes between a first machine and a second machine based on the first and second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Kendrick, Lawrence Retzlaff, Gerald R. Johnson, Quentin Guhr
  • Patent number: 9738217
    Abstract: A modular vehicle light comprises multiple elongated modules which are disposed in end-to-end relationship. The modules are mechanically joined and electrically connected in series. The modules are preferably substantially identical. Each module contains a power board with a microprocessor and a buffer. The microprocessor transmits signals to a matrix of LEDs. The LEDs emit light which transverses an optical assembly to form a narrow band of illumination. In one embodiment, a linear matrix of 36 LEDs comprising 3 color groups of LEDs is employed. Fasteners captured in a bracket at the rear of the module fasten the vehicle light to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Lauren Bradley, David J. Sousa
  • Patent number: 9738218
    Abstract: An electronic brake lamp switch may include an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) configured to generate a signal for turning on a brake lamp, an first output signal, and a second output signal, respectively, when a brake pedal is pressed and configured to package electrical elements for preventing failure when the failure such as outside overvoltage, abnormal surge or short circuit able to be generated on an output terminal occurs, and a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to receive power for operating the application-specific integrated circuit and to which the ASIC is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Truwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Gil Park, Jae-Sung Heo, Chang-Hyun Lee, Ean-Soo Cho, Jeong-Seop Byeon
  • Patent number: 9738219
    Abstract: A trim assembly for a vehicle is provided herein. The trim assembly includes a backing panel defining a void therethrough. A foam panel is attached to the backing panel on a first side and is attached to a cover on a second opposing side. The foam panel and the cover are light transmissive. A light source is disposed within the void and is configured to emit excitation light. A photoluminescent structure is disposed on an inner periphery of the void and the first side of the foam panel and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source. A bumper extends into the void to a position past a bottom surface of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Alex Lince, James J. Surman
  • Patent number: 9738220
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of sounding a horn of a vehicle is provided where the user operator need not release his or her hand from steering wheel handle to actuate a horn. In one example, a steering wheel with force-sensing device is provided for a driver of a car for quick access to sound the horn by simply squeezing or pressing the steer wheel in a particular way without releasing his or her hand from the steering wheel. The vehicle can have a control algorithm to monitor external force applied to the steering wheel through a sensor array which activates the horn when the pressure level reaches a threshold value. Drivers can optionally use a user interface to selectively set one or more threshold values so they can activate the horn or activate different volume or tones of horn by setting and achieving various threshold conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: FARADAY & FUTURE, INC.
    Inventor: Cory Denis Borghi
  • Patent number: 9738221
    Abstract: The audible vehicular warning system is a transportation safety device that is adapted for use with vehicles. The audible vehicular warning system is adapted for use as a collision avoidance device. The audible vehicular warning system monitors the visual signal signaling devices of the vehicle that indicate that: 1) the vehicle is capable of motion in the reverse direction; 2) the driver of the vehicle intends to turn left; and, 3) the driver of the vehicle intends to turn left. Should any of these conditions occur, the audible vehicular warning system generates an audible signal through a plurality of speakers to indicate when one of these three hazard conditions exist. The audible vehicular warning system comprises a logic module and a plurality of speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Joseph Datena
  • Patent number: 9738222
    Abstract: This invention relates in general to the field of safety devices, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to systems and methods for providing advanced warning and risk evasion when hazardous conditions exist. In one embodiment, a vicinity monitoring unit is provided for monitoring, for example, oncoming traffic near a construction zone. In some embodiments, the vicinity monitoring unit may be mounted onto a construction vehicle to monitor nearby traffic and send a warning signal if hazardous conditions exist. In some embodiments, personnel tracking units may be worn by construction workers and the personnel tracking units may be in communication with the vicinity monitoring unit. In some embodiments, a base station is provided for monitoring activities taking place in or near a construction site including monitoring the locations of various personnel and vehicles within the construction site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Oldcastle Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin Hathaway, Mark Green, Kent Baumann, Chad Green, Lee Cole, Chris Schwedtmann, Nathan Creech