Patents Issued in March 27, 2018
  • Patent number: 9925801
    Abstract: Provided is an ink jet recording method including: discharging first ultraviolet curable ink of a radical polymerization reaction type which contains a radical photopolymerization initiator and a radical polymerization compound and in which transmittance at a wavelength of 395 nm is equal to or less than 1 %, onto a recording medium; and curing the first ultraviolet curable ink which is landed on the recording medium by irradiating the ink with ultraviolet light, in which a light source which initially emits the ultraviolet light in the curing of the ink is an ultraviolet light emitting diode in which peak intensity of the irradiated ultraviolet light is equal to or more than 800 mW/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mikito Nakajima, Keitaro Nakano, Mitsuaki Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 9925802
    Abstract: Provided is a highly reliable ink jet recording apparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of image defects. The ink jet recording apparatus includes a liquid absorbing device including a porous body configured to absorb/remove an aqueous liquid component from an image containing the aqueous liquid component and a coloring material, a heat drying device configured to perform a heat drying treatment of the image after being subjected to the liquid absorption treatment, a temperature measuring device configured to measure the temperature of the image after being subjected to the heat drying treatment with the heat drying device, and a determination unit configured to determine the state of the liquid absorbing device from the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eisuke Nishitani, Takao Ogata, Akira Morita, Takumi Otani, Toshimori Miyakoshi
  • Patent number: 9925803
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: an ejection head that prints an image on a recording medium supported by a support member by ejecting liquid from a nozzle formed in a portion facing the support member; and an irradiation section that includes a housing which is open toward the support member, and a light emitting section housed in the housing and emitting light to cure the liquid, the irradiation section being configured such that light emitted from the light emitting section is irradiated onto the recording medium supported by the support member via the opening, wherein the housing includes an inclined section which extends from the opening toward the ejection head such that a distance from the inclined section to the support member decreases toward the ejection head, and the inclined section is provided so that ?2>?1 is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhito Hori, Masaaki Ando, Toshio Kumagai
  • Patent number: 9925804
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a printer having a printing area configured to receive distinct mediums, and printer heads arranged relative to the printing area. The printer heads are collectively configured to print independent images onto the distinct mediums. The printer heads include at least one shared printer head configured to simultaneously print portions of the independent images onto each of two adjacent mediums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Noam Rabin, Brian Fuerstneau
  • Patent number: 9925805
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to sequentially form images of an image group on a continuous sheet while providing a non-printing region between the images, a cutting unit to cut the continuous sheet, a discharge unit to which printed products on which an image is formed by the image forming unit and cut and created by the cutting unit, is discharged, and a control unit to control cutting of the continuous sheet at a leading end and a trailing end of a region in which an image is formed, to control cutting of the continuous sheet while having the non-printing region of a predetermined size at a leading end or a trailing end of a region in which a first or a last image of the image group is formed, and to control discharge of the created printed product to the discharge unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Kida
  • Patent number: 9925806
    Abstract: A recording paper cutting device enables cutting of a boundary between a first area of a recording paper and a second area of the recording paper placed at an upstream side of the first area, so that the first area is separately discharged from the second area after the first area is printed. The recording paper cutting device includes first and second cutting parts. The first cutting part of the second cutting parts moves in an approaching or departing direction so that the boundary is cut. The first cutting part includes a first cutting surface inclined by a first angle in the departing direction from the second cutting part and a second cutting surface that extends from the first cutting surface and is inclined by a second angle, which is smaller than the first angle, in the departing direction from the second cutting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: BIXOLON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Gwan Kim, Jin Kook Kim
  • Patent number: 9925807
    Abstract: There is provided a conveyance system including a plurality of rollers, a plurality of motors, a plurality of measuring devices, and a controller. The controller is configured to carry out the processes of: determining a control input on each of the plurality of motors, inputting a drive signal according to the control input, calculating an estimated reaction force value for each of the rollers, calculating an estimated tension value for each pair of the adjacent rollers, calculating a tension control input for each pair, and calculating a state control input on a particular one of the rollers. The controller determines the control input on each of the plurality of motors based on the tension control input for each pair and the state control input on the particular roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Iesaki
  • Patent number: 9925808
    Abstract: A paper cassette includes a casing and an end cap. The casing includes a receiving space for storing a stack of paper, one side of the casing defines a paper exit, the end cap is removably attached to the paper exit. When the paper exit is sealed by the end cap, the paper cassette is used to accommodate paper; when the end cap is removed from the paper exit and the paper cassette is inserted into a printing device, the paper cassette is used to feed paper to the printing device. A printing device is further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yu-Chi Chang
  • Patent number: 9925809
    Abstract: A roll-up apparatus for rolling up a continuous sheet into a roll shape, comprises a tension generation unit configured to generate a changeable tension to the continuous sheet; and a control unit configured to control the tension generation unit based on a roll-up condition of the continuous sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruhiko Tanami
  • Patent number: 9925810
    Abstract: A system and method for adding a print medium digitally to a print system are disclosed. The print system has a control unit for controlling a print job queue and print system parameters, a print engine, an input section, and a receiving section. The method includes receiving the print medium in the input section, loading a test job having prescribed print system parameters in the receiving section, printing a large number of prints of the test job to establish an unwanted deposit of marking material on the side of the stack, and establishing whether or not an unwanted marking material is deposited on a stack height side of the stack. If unwanted deposit is established, then printing a number of blank sheets of the same print medium, adjusting the print system parameters, and returning to printing. If no unwanted deposit is established, approving the use of the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: OCÉ-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Vijay A. Kalloe, Jeroen P. J. Huijbers, Ronnie J. H. G. Berghs, Wilhelmus M. Van Herpen
  • Patent number: 9925811
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to control operation of a printer based on whether a marker is detected in a pigment ink are disclosed. Example apparatus include an optical sensor to detect a marker in a vehicle component of the pigment ink. The vehicle is depleted of a pigment component. The apparatus also includes a controller to control operation of the printer based on whether the marker is detected. The apparatus can also include an authorizer to determine whether the printer in which the pigment ink is installed is authorized to use the pigment ink having the marker. The controller of the apparatus is to control operation of the printer by transmitting a control signal to a print head processor to halt printing operations. The apparatus can additionally include a filter to deplete the vehicle component of the pigment component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven B Elgee, Jefferson P Ward, Jayprakash C Bhatt
  • Patent number: 9925812
    Abstract: A craftwork accessory may provide a portable and/or easy-to-use tool to help users'accurately and repeatedly apply stamp impressions and the like to items such as cardstock. The accessory may include a base portion, one or more elevated side portions and cover portion. The side portions may define a workspace for arranging the item. The cover portion may be movably attached to the base portion or a side portion, for example, by one or more hinges. In operation, the item and stamp may be aligned in the workspace and the cover portion may be pressed onto the stamp to stick the stamp to the cover portion. The cover may then be opened, the stamp may be inked, and the cover portion may be closed and pressed onto the item to stamp the item. The accessory may include alignment indicia on the base portion, side portions and/or cover portion to facilitate placement of the item and/or stamp. The accessory may also include fastening mechanisms, such as magnetic elements, to facilitate placement of the item and/or stamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: My Sweet Petunia, Inc.
    Inventor: Iliana Myska
  • Patent number: 9925813
    Abstract: Lithium metal powder based inks are provided. The inks are provided in formulations suitable for printing using a variety of printing techniques, including screen printing, offset litho printing, gravure printing, flexographic printing, pad printing and inkjet printing. The inks include lithium metal powder, a polymer binder and optionally electrically conductive materials and/or lithium salts in a solvent. The inks are well suited for use in printing electrodes for use in lithium metal batteries. Batteries made from lithium powder based anodes and electronic applications such as RFID labels, Smart Cards and wearable medical devices are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: BrightVolt, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig R. Nelson, Glen C. Wensley, Wade W. Guindy
  • Patent number: 9925814
    Abstract: A recording medium includes in this order a water-resistant substrate, a first ink receiving layer, and a second ink receiving layer that is the outermost layer. The first ink receiving layer contains a fumed silica and a binder. The second ink receiving layer contains a colloidal silica having an average primary particle diameter of 50 nm or more and 100 nm or less, and a polyvinyl alcohol having a silanol group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Araki, Hisao Kamo, Tetsuro Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9925815
    Abstract: Paper is disclosed for use in making repositionable or removable adhesive labels. The adhesive can be applied in patches or discrete areas to the paper or to a layer of material that cleans rollers in the manufacturing line and/or in printers. The adhesive can be applied in single or multiple layers. The paper is light weight paper and preferably thermal paper for use in POS printers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Documotion Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Van Boom, William R. Krahl, Jeff Ehrmann
  • Patent number: 9925816
    Abstract: A carrier sheet (1) for a plurality of information carriers (2). The carriers can be secured to the upper side of the carrier sheet (1) and can be marked using a marking device. The carrier sheet (1) allows simple and fast marking of information carriers (2) followed by simple handling of the information carriers (2) and carrier sheet (1) by virtue of the fact that, on the upper side of the carrier sheet (1), a plurality of fields (3) is arranged, each of which can be used to position an information carrier (2) on the upper side of the carrier sheet (1), these fields (3) being able to be separated from the rest of the carrier sheet (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kilian Klages, Moez Bibani, Jörg Donoth, Nicole Probach
  • Patent number: 9925817
    Abstract: An erasing apparatus of embodiments has a color erasing device, the color erasing device has: a first heating member; a second heating member provided at a position facing the first heating member so as to form a nip portion therebetween through which the sheet is passed; a halogen lamp configured to heat the second heating member from outside thereof; and a reflector provided at a position opposite to the second heating member with the halogen lamp interposed therebetween and having a reflective surface configured to reflect heat received from the halogen lamp toward the second heating member, the reflector forming a guiding section configured to be in sliding contact with the sheet being conveyed so as to guide the sheet to the nip portion, the guiding section being heated by the halogen lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Kikuo Mizutani, Hidetoshi Yokochi, Isao Yahata, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Hiroyuki Taki, Ken Iguchi, Chiaki Iizuka
  • Patent number: 9925818
    Abstract: A waterproof fabric (20) made such by the application of a protective film (10), coupled or coated on a side of the fabric (20). When the film (10) is already produced by extrusion in advance, it is attached onto the fabric and may comprise an adhesive layer (12) to the extruded film, or the adhesive layer may be coated on the fabric (20). The water/oil repellent and waterproof fabric (20) may also be obtained by coating at least one layer of materials made up of fluorocarbon, polyurethane, acrylic resins, with or without the addition of hollow microspheres of thermoplastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: TECHNOFABRIC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Marco Sbuttoni, Luca BurlĂł
  • Patent number: 9925819
    Abstract: The present invention provides a post process control apparatus including a post processing unit configured to perform post processing on a printed sheet printed in accordance with a job, and a method for controlling the same, where the post process control apparatus and the method of controlling the same obtain a number of sheets in one copy of printed sheets instructed by the job, control the post processing unit to, if the obtained number of sheets in one copy is singular, execute the post processing in one batch on printed sheets corresponding to a plurality of copies, and to control the post processing unit to, if the obtained number of sheets in one copy is plural, execute the post processing individually by printed sheets corresponding to one copy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Kanematsu
  • Patent number: 9925820
    Abstract: A greeting card having a greeting card body and an interactive element which includes a mechanical balloon attached to the greeting card body which is operative to move from a flat positon to an inflated position by the operation of a mechanical spring mechanism contained in an interior cavity of the balloon. The greeting card also has audio capabilities wherein a sound module is operative to store and playback at least one audio file upon interaction with a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: Erin Dennis, Ken Gilroy, John Talbot
  • Patent number: 9925821
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for marking collectible items to increase their collectible uniqueness includes creating a multiplicity of unique date codes, each of the multiplicity of unique date codes including a representation of a calendar month and a representation of a day in the calendar month, randomly selecting one of the multiplicity of unique date codes, and affixing the randomly selected one of the multiplicity of unique date codes to a collectible item. According to other embodiments, a system with a computer and a marking device may apply a date code to a collectible item. According to yet other embodiments, a method for marking collectibles includes creating at least three hundred sixty-five collectibles in a time period shorter than a year, and marking each with a unique date code combination such that no two visually identical collectibles share the same date code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Crystalier, Limited
    Inventor: Andre Alan Yerkes
  • Patent number: 9925822
    Abstract: A pen track has an outer shell, a transmitting group, a rotating group, and a linking group. The transmitting group is mounted in the outer shell and has a portion rotatably abutting a drawing surface. The rotating group is mounted in the outer shell and has a modeling block. The modeling block is mounted in the outer shell, is rotated with the transmitting group, and has an outer surface and a modeling segment annularly formed on the outer surface of the modeling block and having multiple curved surfaces connecting each other. The linking group is mounted in the outer shell and has a pushing protrusion pressed against the modeling segment of the modeling block to move the linking group reciprocally relative to the outer shell along the curved surfaces of the modeling segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventor: Yung-Peng Chiu
  • Patent number: 9925823
    Abstract: A glue sponge system including a glue sponge assembly with a glue-container, a sponge having a body including a plurality of holes, and a plurality of channels, and at least one glue. The glue sponge assembly is useful for controllably applying glue to surfaces and storing the glue for later use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventor: Susan Fyffe
  • Patent number: 9925824
    Abstract: A method for producing a letterpressed printed card includes letterpressing a design into card stock, to create a card shell. The card shell has a positive image of the letterpressed design debossed into a front face of the card. After letterpressing the design, an image is printed onto the card shell, to produce the letterpressed printed card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Minted, LLC
    Inventors: Tonia Misvaer, Richard Baiardi, Mariam B. Naficy
  • Patent number: 9925825
    Abstract: A portable carry case that securely holds paint tubes for storage and transport with the added use of hanging the carry case on an easel for ease of use during painting sessions. The carry case brings organization and efficiency to the artist while also reducing stress, both physically and mentally, on the artist as the paint tubes are readily available for use, organized to eliminate searching for particular colors and being housed in the case they can easily be put away for transport by simply securing the straps and removing the entire carry case from where it is hung for placement in a pack or other carrying device by the artist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Sterling Peter Hoffmann, IV, Melinda Suzette Bryant
  • Patent number: 9925826
    Abstract: A force-distributing apparatus for a bicycle wheel spoke includes a force-distributing body having a free-end first surface and a second surface disposed at an opposite side of the first surface, wherein the first surface may have the shape of a truncated sphere. The force-distributing body has a threaded spoke-receiving opening that extends through the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuki Koshiyama, Hiroshi Fujita
  • Patent number: 9925827
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices related to aircraft wheel assemblies and aircraft wheel air pressure release channels. In various embodiments, an inboard aircraft wheel half may comprise an inboard flange portion disposed on an inboard end of the inboard wheel half, a bolted flange portion disposed on an outboard end of the inboard wheel half, and a tubewell portion disposed between the inboard flange portion and the bolted flange portion. In various embodiments, the bolted flange portion may comprise an o-ring seat, an inboard bolt hole, a register, and a release channel disposed in the register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Nathaniel John Herrmann
  • Patent number: 9925828
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel rim having a circular base portion including a proximal surface and a distal surface, and a pair of integral sidewalls extending generally radially outward from an intersection region of the proximal surface and the distal surface. The distal surface of the rim has a central hump, a trough contiguous with the central hump extending axially outward from the hump, and a flat shelf immediately adjacent, contiguous with, and extending axially outward from the trough. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a bicycle wheel including the embodied rim, a plurality a spokes engaged at respective ends thereof with the rim and a hub engaged with the plurality of spoke members at opposite ends thereof. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a bicycle wheel assembly comprising the embodied wheel and a tube and/or tire mounted on the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: K.G. Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley F. Koziatek
  • Patent number: 9925829
    Abstract: The invention relates to a castor with at least one wheel (16, 18), a housing (10) carrying the at least one wheel (16, 18), and a runner pin (14) which is arranged so as to be movable to a limited extent in a substantially vertically oriented housing opening (12) and which serves to connect the castor to an object, wherein the housing (10) accommodates a brake device which frees the at least one wheel (16, 18) in a state in which the castor is loaded by a weight via the runner pin (14) and which acts with a braking effect on the at least one wheel (16, 18) in a state when not loaded by a weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: GROSS + FROELICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ralph von Bordelius, Hans-Wilhelm Rottenau
  • Patent number: 9925830
    Abstract: A rolling bearing providing an outer ring, an inner ring, and a plurality of rolling bodies disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, and a sealing device held by the outer ring and consisting of a first and second annular shield and an elastomeric sealing element held by one of the shields. The second shield extends axially and radially to protrude on the outside of the outer ring and cooperates with a radially outer lateral surface of the outer ring, to delimit a radial annular gap therewith. An annular tooth is formed on the radially outer lateral surface of the outer ring in front of the radial gap to shield the radial gap in axial direction. An annular groove formed in a position immediately adjacent to the annular tooth and on the side opposite to the second shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Giorgio Barberis, Fausto Morello
  • Patent number: 9925831
    Abstract: To provide a multilayer structure having high gas bather property and crack resistance as well as excellent fatigue resistance, an inner liner for a pneumatic tire using the multilayer structure, and a pneumatic tire comprising the inner liner. According to the present invention, the multilayer structure includes a barrier layer 2 made of polymer material with 50% or less elongation at break conforming to JIS K 7113 at 20° C. and 65% RH and an elastomer layer 3 made of polymer material with 100% or more elongation at break conforming to JIS K 7113 at 20° C. and 65% RH, wherein a plastic deformation amount at the time of 100% strain input is larger than a deformation amount at a tolerance point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignees: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION, Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Amamoto, Nahoto Hayashi, Masao Hikasa, Yusuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9925832
    Abstract: An alerting device, which alerts a driver of a vehicle when the driver is looking at a display unit of a mobile terminal equipped with a camera, includes a gaze determination portion, an alert command portion, and a circumstance determination portion. The gaze determination portion determines whether the driver is looking at the display unit based on an image captured by the camera of the mobile terminal. When the circumstance determination portion determines that a current circumstance is not a gaze allowed circumstance and the gaze determination portion determines that the driver is looking at the display unit, the alert command portion outputs a command to alert the driver of the looking at the display unit. The circumstance determination portion determines that the current circumstance is the gaze allowed circumstance when the vehicle is halted at an intersection by a red traffic light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuya Osugi
  • Patent number: 9925833
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to increase the room for elongation of a tread protection layer, while securing durability. An aircraft pneumatic tire 10 includes: a tread protection layer (12) that is provided at a lower layer of a tread section (22), and that includes plural cords (24) that arrayed in a tire width direction and are each disposed along a wave shaped imaginary line extending along a tire circumferential direction with the tire width direction as the amplitude direction; and cord discontinuity portions (14) where locations of close proximity of the cords (24) to each other are partially omitted in the tread protection layer (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomotaka Sakiyama
  • Patent number: 9925834
    Abstract: A tire (10) for driving on ice, comprising: a tread (20) having a rolling surface with a groove, a stud (30) with a part (31) thereof projecting from the rolling surface and having a minimum cross section Sm; a conduit (200-205) that forms, on the rolling surface of the tire, two opposing edges (211, 221; 212, 222; 213, 223), the conduit opening into the groove and/or onto a lateral face of the tread; wherein, for each stud, the sum of the mean cross sections Sn of the conduits, each mean cross section Sn being measured at right angles to one of the opposing edges formed by the conduit, is greater than or equal to half the minimum cross section Sm of that part of the stud that projects from the tread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Daniel Fabing, Sebastien Fugier, Matthieu Durat, Cyril Guichon, Claude Audebert
  • Patent number: 9925835
    Abstract: An assembly for an ATI comprising a tube member forming a portion of a rotary union to be removed through an opening in a wheel hub without removing the wheel hub from the vehicle axle. The tube member may include a hardened shaft that is coupled to a fixed conduit providing a pressurized air source to a tire installed on the wheel hub. A bushing and seal rotates with respect to the tube member to form the rotary union. The assembly is designed to be quickly serviced in the field, where the serviceable parts are very inexpensive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: WHARTON VISION, LLC
    Inventors: Clyde Stech, Robert Gao
  • Patent number: 9925836
    Abstract: An ECU is used to a tire pressure monitoring system of a vehicle. The ECU includes a contact storage portion and a post-replacement ID reporting section. The contact storage portion stores previously a contact of a management computer of a facility that the vehicle uses. The post-replacement ID reporting section transmits a post-replacement tire ID of a tire, which is substituted in the tire replacement, to the contact in the contact storage portion via a communication network when the tire replacement is detected by a tire replacement detection section. The management computer includes a registration change section that registers the post-replacement tire ID in a registration portion upon receiving the post-replacement tire ID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Haruhiko Sogabe
  • Patent number: 9925837
    Abstract: A first tire pressure sensor module is configured to provide information related to a pressure of a tire of a vehicle and comprises a pressure sensor configured to determine the information related to the pressure of the tire. The pressure module further includes a controller configured to selectively operate the tire pressure sensor module in an active state and in an inactive state, wherein an energy consumption of the tire pressure sensor module is lower in the inactive state than in the active state. The controller is further configured to control an output of the information related to the pressure of the tire in the active state, and operate the tire pressure sensor module in the inactive state based on determining that information related to a velocity of the tire indicates a velocity above a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Andre Peine, Thomas Lange
  • Patent number: 9925838
    Abstract: The ball joint assembly includes a housing which extends along an axis and a bearing. The bearing has an opening that extends between opposite axial ends and presents a curved bearing surface. A stud with an inner bore is positioned in the bearing and has an outer surface which is in sliding contact with the bearing surface to allow the bearing and housing to rotate relative to the stud. The assembly further includes a fastener which is receivable within the inner bore for connecting the stud with a frame of a vehicle. The fastener includes an internal passage which extends from an end of the fastener to a side surface of the fastener, and the stud has a channel which extends from the inner bore to the outer surface for allowing lubrication of the ball joint assembly while the ball joint assembly is installed in the vehicle suspension system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Karpman, Thomas Byrnes
  • Patent number: 9925839
    Abstract: A suspension bump stop device that provides an upper bearing cap that contacts an upper bearing seat outside of the device, and a lower support cap and at least one bearing arranged between the caps. The upper bearing cap provides a latching means that cooperates with the upper bearing seat to axial secure the bearing seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Charles Bedeau, Christophe Houdayer, Jean-Marc Soudée, Désiré Vidot
  • Patent number: 9925840
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a ride height sensing system that includes an encoded electromagnetic source as an input unit for a Hall Effect sensors and the signal from the electromagnet is encoded to enable the rejection of ambient magnetic field. In various embodiments of the present disclosure, a band pass filter is used for signal processing of the encoded electromagnetic data. Additionally, several Hall Effect sensors may be used with a single electromagnetic source to provide multi-axis sensing and as such, provides robustness in determining ride height changes, or in the case of dependent suspensions (solid axle), a single electromagnetic source can used to determine ride height at multiple locations on the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Mario D'Amato, Harold Bernard Samuels, John Jeffrey Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 9925841
    Abstract: A user device is identified as being operated by a vehicle occupant. An operation being performed by the user device is identified. A road condition is determined. A vehicle suspension is adjusted based at least in part on the identified user device operation and the road condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Davor David Hrovat, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Li Xu, Dimitar Petrov Filev
  • Patent number: 9925842
    Abstract: A damper system and method for a vehicle includes a shock absorber and a damper module. The shock absorber includes a plurality of digital valves. The shock absorber is operable at one of multiple damping states based on a valve state of the digital valves. The damper module is coupled to each of the digital valves and controls each of the digital valves to a desired state based on a damper setting. The damper module determines a target damping state, where the target state is one of the multiple damping states. The damper module performs a switch operation to control the valve state of the plurality of digital valves to a given desired state when the target damping state is different from a present damping state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Scott S. Dunaway, David R. Blankenship, Karl C. Kazmirski, Jeroen K. Paenhuysen, Jeffrey T. Gardner
  • Patent number: 9925843
    Abstract: A rear suspension system for a laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle may include first and second trailing arms. The rear suspension system may further include first and second balancer systems acting between the first and second trailing arms. The first balancer system may create a torque to influence a leaning angle of the vehicle when the suspension system is in use. The second balancer system may suppress a resonant vertical motion of the vehicle when the suspension system is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Spahl, Marc Simon, Edmund Halfmann, Thomas Gerhards, Rainer Souschek, Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Martin Saeger
  • Patent number: 9925844
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation and air conditioning system includes a blower unit that has an interior air intake and an exterior air intake. Two doors are moved between open and closed positions to define a recirculation mode, a fresh mode and a partial recirculation mode. As the doors move between their open and closed positions, a variable partial mode and a variable fresh mode are defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Kehimkar, Gregory Thompson
  • Patent number: 9925845
    Abstract: A heat exchange system for realizing an adequate heat exchange among a plural type of fluids uses a refrigerant radiator and a radiator which are combined to have one unit for enabling heat exchange between a refrigerant and a coolant, and decreases an inflow amount of the coolant flowing into the radiator when coolant temperature of the coolant flowing into the radiator is equal to or higher than a second standard temperature, which is set to be lower than a temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant radiator, and is equal to or lower than a predetermined first standard temperature. In such manner, heat from the refrigerant is effectively transferred to an outside air by reducing an unwanted heat exchange between the refrigerant and the outside air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiki Katoh, Atsushi Inaba, Satoshi Itoh, Masahiro Shimoya
  • Patent number: 9925846
    Abstract: Sun load on a cabin of a vehicle is determined without a sun load sensor by affixing a relative humidity/temperature sensor to an inside of a windshield of the vehicle. The relative humidity/temperature sensor includes a relative humidity sensor that senses relative humidity of air at the relative humidity sensor, a temperature sensor that senses temperature of the air at the relative humidity sensor and a glass temperature sensor that senses temperature of glass of the windshield. A controller determines the sun load based on readings from the relative humidity/temperature sensor of relative humidity of the air at the relative humidity sensor, temperature of the air at the relative humidity sensor and temperature of the glass of the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Allan W Flanagan
  • Patent number: 9925847
    Abstract: A vehicle heating and cooling system comprises an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, an auxiliary heating system, primary working fluid, and at least one valve assembly. The primary working fluid is configured to flow between the interior heat exchanger and the compressor. The at least one valve assembly configured to operate in a cooling mode in which the primary working transfers heat from the interior system to the compressor system, a standard heating mode in which in which the primary working transfers heat from the compressor system to the interior system and the auxiliary heating system does not transfer heat to the primary working fluid, and an augmented heating mode in which the auxiliary heating system transfers heat to the primary working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Tiger Tool International Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Andrews, Doddy Ervondy
  • Patent number: 9925848
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for a vehicle is provided. The air conditioning system includes a cooling module having a cooling duct and an evaporator core, and a heating module having a heating duct and an inner condenser. Additionally, an outer condenser is disposed extraneous to the heating duct, and a blower forms air flow in the cooling duct or the heating duct. The inner condenser, the outer condenser and the evaporator core are connected via a single refrigerant passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Gee Young Shin, June Kyu Park, Keon Soo Jin, Dong Ho Kwon, Dae Ig Jung, Kwang Woon Cho
  • Patent number: 9925849
    Abstract: Sun visor body with a light source and a mirror, wherein a surface facing the mirror is reflectively configured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventor: Patrick Welter
  • Patent number: 9925850
    Abstract: A window panel support structure includes a fixed panel, and a movable panel. The movable panel opens and closes a window by moving up and down. A front-side guide member is provided on an interior-side face of a rear edge part of the fixed panel which is adjacent to the movable panel. The front-side guide member includes a front-side guide groove provided along the rear edge part. The front-side guide groove is opened toward a front edge part. A front-side slide member is provided on an interior-side face of a front edge part of the movable panel which is adjacent to the fixed panel. The front-side slide member includes a front slider provided along the front edge part and is bent toward a rear edge part. The front slider is fitted to the front-side guide groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minoru Yoshida, Masaru Toyota, Takayuki Okubo, Yoshiharu Yamanaka