Patents Issued in November 20, 2018
  • Patent number: 10131160
    Abstract: A hybrid printing machine is described having both silk screening stations and a direct-to-garment digital printing station with a raster image processor to control a portion of a printing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: M&R Printing Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Hoffman, Jr., Geoff Baxter
  • Patent number: 10131161
    Abstract: A method for printing on an article is disclosed wherein a transfer medium is loaded into a digital printer. A print head of the printer is used to deposit a main color layer on the transfer medium. A primer layer is deposited onto the main color layer. In some embodiments, an initial color layer is deposited prior to deposition of the main color layer. An adhesive powder is deposited on the primer layer, and the main color layer and primer layer are cured using ultraviolet illumination. The transfer medium is contacted (placed into contact) with the article and heat and/or pressure are applied to transfer the deposited layers to the article. The transfer medium is removed leaving the main color layer and primer layer adhered to the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Starline Global, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Warzel
  • Patent number: 10131162
    Abstract: Provided is a light illuminating apparatus for irradiating light of a line shape extending in a first direction and having a line width in a second direction. The light illuminating apparatus includes light emitting units, each including a substrate, light sources arranged at an interval along the first direction on the substrate and placed such that a direction of an optical axis is matched to a direction perpendicular to the substrate surface, and optical devices placed on optical paths of each light source to shape light from each light source into light with a predetermined divergence angle, wherein the light emitting units are arranged on an arc having its center at the irradiation position when viewed in the first direction, and an irradiation width in the second direction of light from the light emitting units is approximately equal within a preset range in a direction perpendicular to the irradiation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: HOYA CANDEO OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazutaka Shito
  • Patent number: 10131163
    Abstract: Method for calibrating a vacuum level for a web-based printer, comprising the steps of: transporting a medium over a medium support surface comprising vacuum holes for applying a suction force to the image receiving member; applying a suction force to the medium; sensing the advancement of the medium for generating advancement data; comparing the advancement data to a reference; and adjusting the suction force based on the comparison between the advancement data and the reference. The present invention further provides an image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: OCE-HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Taco M. De Boer
  • Patent number: 10131164
    Abstract: A printer includes: a first conveyor configured to convey a recording medium during image formation by an image former at a first conveyance speed based on a print condition of the image formation by the image former; a second conveyor configured to convey the recording medium at a second conveyance speed higher than the first conveyance speed; and a third conveyor arranged between the first conveyor and the second conveyor on a conveyance route. The third conveyor is configured to start acceleration of the recording medium after a recording region trailing end of the recording medium passes the image former and accelerate the recording medium such that a speed of the recording medium increases to the second conveyance speed not later than a time point when a leading edge of the recording medium reaches the second conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Hara
  • Patent number: 10131165
    Abstract: An inkjet printer is provided that is configured to store a plurality of pieces of gap information respectively corresponding to a plurality of examined sections discretely arranged along a head moving direction on a recording sheet, each of the plurality of examined sections including a corresponding one portion of top portions and bottom portions on the recording sheet, and calculate interpolation gap information to be interpolated over a whole width in the head moving direction of at least one of a plurality of segments, each of which has a width in the head moving direction defined by two adjacent sections of the plurality of examined sections, based on the stored gap information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kohei Terada
  • Patent number: 10131166
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a transport belt which transports a printing medium, a cleaning tank which stores cleaning liquid, a first cleaning brush and a second cleaning brush which are contained in the cleaning tank and clean the transport belt, and a driving motor which drives to rotate the first cleaning brush and the second cleaning brush. The first cleaning brush and the second cleaning brush are driven to be rotated via a plurality of gears which include a driving gear which is provided in the driving motor and driven gears and which are provided in the first cleaning brush and the second cleaning brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Kanemoto
  • Patent number: 10131167
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink tank, a recording head, a monitor, an operation panel, and a controller. The ink tank forms an ink chamber and including an injection inlet. The recording head ejects ink from the ink chamber to record an image on a sheet. The operation panel receives user input. The controller controls operation of the recording head, the monitor, and the operation panel. The controller performs receiving a completion signal indicating completion of ink injection, decision processing deciding whether an initial processing has been completed, and inquiry processing based on receipt of the completion signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mana Honoki, Kenta Horade
  • Patent number: 10131168
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary printing process for the application of functional coatings to a print substrate, to a coated print substrate produced by the said process, and to the use thereof, in particular in the packaging sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: MERCK PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Becker, Thomas Rathschlag, Johannes Tasch
  • Patent number: 10131169
    Abstract: A heat-sensitive recording material including a web-shaped substrate having a front side and an opposite reverse side, and at least one heat-sensitive recording layer on either or both of the sides of the web-shaped substrate. The heat-sensitive recording layer contains at least one dye precursor at least one salicylic acid derivative as a (color) developer reactive with this at least one dye precursor, and polyvinylpyrrolidone as auxiliary component augmenting the (color) developer the at least one salicylic acid derivative is 3,5-di(?-methylbenzyl)salicylic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubish HiTec Paper Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Diana Valentina Becerra Siabato, Nora Wilke
  • Patent number: 10131170
    Abstract: The present invention aims principally to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can prevent occurrence of fusion between a receiving layer and a transfer layer and occurrence of peeling traces when the transfer layer is peeled from the receiving layer, even in the case that thermal energy applied on transfer of the transfer layer is increased and can obtain a high quality printed article and to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can impart extremely good scratch resistance to the surface of a printed article. The protective layer transfer sheet includes a substrate, and a transfer layer provided on a surface of the substrate, and the transfer layer includes a binder resin and one or more substances selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid esters, olefin-maleic acid copolymers, and amino polyether-modified silicone oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suguru Yabe, Tomohiro Harada, Kazumasa Maeda, Munenori Ieshige
  • Patent number: 10131171
    Abstract: A transfer material is provided that can be more firmly attached to an image substrate without deteriorating printing characteristics concerning image bleeding, printing resolution, and the like. An ink receiving layer is of a gap-absorbing type. An adhesive layer includes discretely disposed adhesive pieces provided on a surface of the ink receiving layer so as to leave exposed portions on the surface of the ink receiving layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Finetech Nisca Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke Sumikawa, Takahiro Tsutsui, Hiromitsu Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 10131172
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermally printable paper article with an elastomeric underlayer, which imparts improved printing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: Dow Global Technologies LLC, Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Brian Einsla, Andrew Hejl, Lanfang Li, John A. Roper, III, Rebecca Smith, Jian Yang
  • Patent number: 10131173
    Abstract: A printable film that contains a base film substrate and an image receiving layer. The film substrate is a polyethylene terephthalate base film substrate that contains inorganic particles and that has an opacity ranging from about 50 to about 95. The image receiving layer comprises, at least, a polymeric network, poly-alkene polymeric compounds and inorganic compounds. Also disclosed herein is the method for obtaining the printable film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Xiaoqi Zhou, Francois K. Pirayesh
  • Patent number: 10131174
    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: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 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: 10131175
    Abstract: A print pattern of a printing plate used in intaglio printing includes plural partition walls and a groove-shaped cell unit. The plural partition walls are continuously extended in a printing direction, and arranged at predetermined intervals in an orthogonal direction. The cell unit is formed between the partition walls adjacent to each other, and a printing paste (conductive paste) is retained in the cell unit. Plural printing direction walls that are arranged in a zigzag manner in the printing direction are coupled to each other by a coupling walls that are arranged in the printing direction walls adjacent to each other in the printing direction, thereby forming the partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kanayama, Hideo Tanabe
  • Patent number: 10131176
    Abstract: A device for producing a bound book block including a lining strip or a cover includes a pressing station configured to move the lining strip or the cover in a pressing direction from a position from which the lining strip or the cover is gluable to a spine of the book block and to press the lining strip or the cover against the spine of the book block. A lining supply and a cover supply are each disposed upstream of the pressing station. A linearly movable common transport means is connected to the pressing station and configured to selectively, successively transfer the lining strip or the cover into the pressing station in a conveying direction and to convey the lining strip or the cover in the pressing station relative to the book block into a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: MUELLER MARTINI HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Martin Thurnherr
  • Patent number: 10131177
    Abstract: A barrier film, a document including a barrier coating, and a method for producing a document are described. A document includes a substrate, printed data on a surface of the substrate, and a barrier coating. The barrier coating is disposed between a portion of the printed data and a portion of an adhesive. The portion of the adhesive is disposed between a portion of a protective layer and a portion of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: ENTRUST DATACARD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roman Thomas Knipp, Peter Daniel Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10131178
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a layer structure having improved properties for laser engraving, to particular embodiments of said layer structures in the form of co-extrusion films, and to security documents, preferably identification documents having said layer structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Heinz Pudleiner, Mehmet-Cengiz Yesildag, Georgios Tziovaras, Joerg Nickel, Klaus Meyer
  • Patent number: 10131179
    Abstract: A writing utensil puzzle kit for amusement and advertising purposes. The writing utensil puzzle kit includes a shaft, a writing member affixed to the shaft, a front housing piece securable to the writing member, a rear housing piece having a front end and rear end, wherein the rear end is securable to an end cap. A plurality of central housing pieces having a central channel that can receive the shaft, wherein each of the central housing pieces are securable to one another in a particular order via a threaded protrusion disposed on a front end thereof that can removably secure to a recessed channel disposed on a back end of an adjacent central housing piece. A gripping member is mountable to the housing piece. In an additional embodiment, the gripping member includes a plurality of interlocking gripping members with indicia thereon for indicating the particular order of connection thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventor: William Mess
  • Patent number: 10131180
    Abstract: A container system for holding paint for use by a person while painting a surface with a paint roller or a paint brush includes a container comprised of five panels that fold from a relatively flat collapsed configuration into a container configuration that includes four side walls and a bottom wall. The top end of the container is open and exposes an internal volume that is sized to allow the paint brush and the paint roller through the open top end to access the internal volume. A flexible, liquid-impervious bag is open at one end thereof and adapted to fit within the internal volume of the container when the container is in the container configuration. The flexible bag may include a drain aperture in a bottom side thereof that is selectively sealable by an adhesive tape closure. A support brace and a detachable hand-carried mini-pail may be further included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventor: Anthony J Marotta
  • Patent number: 10131181
    Abstract: A wheel with flexible spokes, including a rim and hub, and spokes between the rim and hub made of fibrous material that causes the spokes to be both lighter in weight and stronger than comparable steel spokes. The spokes are also flexible and resilient such that they can bend while retaining their integrity and strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventor: Martin Connolly
  • Patent number: 10131182
    Abstract: A motorcycle wheel is provided, in particular a motorcycle wheel suitable for use on an enduro motorcycle. The wheel includes a cast or forged rim having integrally spokes which extend toward a central hub connection region. The central hub connection region is configured to receive a hub element in a detachably fastened manner. The hub element forms a hub of the motorcycle wheel which is connectable to a motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Matthias Mohr, Andreas Adam
  • Patent number: 10131183
    Abstract: A wheel includes a circular wheel main body and at least one grouser. The at least one grouser is provided along an outer circumference of the wheel main body and has a contact surface capable of drawing a first tangent line. The first tangent line is inclined opposite to a rotational direction of the wheel main body from the center line of the wheel main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY
    Inventors: Issa A. Nesnas, Masatsugu Otsuki
  • Patent number: 10131184
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a resonator device includes a first chamber including a first leg portion extending in a longitudinal direction and a first shoulder extending in a transverse direction, and a second chamber positioned next to the first chamber at least partially along the longitudinal direction. The second chamber may include a second shoulder portion positioned next to the first leg portion and a second leg portion positioned next to the first shoulder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies,LLC
    Inventors: James Mohan, Christopher Pierce, David Scott Rohweder
  • Patent number: 10131185
    Abstract: A removable caster system includes a roller, a roller frame and a roller seat, the roller being positioned on the frame via a horizontal axis, the frame being inserted into the vertical shaft hole of the seat through the vertical shaft to form a detachable position; wherein a chute is installed on the upper surface with a trapezoidal stopper; a wire retainer is placed in the chute and is controlled by the movement of its narrowing section or the vertical axis to achieve removable function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Zenithen USA, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew David Frankel, Shi-Ping Zheng, Tian-Xia Zheng
  • Patent number: 10131186
    Abstract: A communication interface between a driver of a vehicle and an at least partly autonomous drive system in the vehicle. The communication interface is configured to communicate a haptic performance loss signal to the driver when a performance loss is determined in the at least partly autonomous drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Claes Edgren
  • Patent number: 10131187
    Abstract: The pneumatic tire described herein is provided with, in a tread surface, at least two circumferential grooves continuously extending in a tread circumferential direction, and a resonator disposed in a land part defined between two circumferential grooves having different sectional areas of the at least two circumferential grooves, the resonator having an air chamber opened to a land part surface in a position separated away from the circumferential groove, one or more narrowed necks communicating the air chamber with one of the two circumferential grooves, and one or more narrowed necks communicating the air chamber with the other circumferential groove, wherein a sectional area S1 of the narrowed neck of the resonator, opened to a circumferential groove with a relatively large sectional area is larger than a sectional area S2 of the narrowed neck of the resonator, opened to a circumferential groove with a relatively small sectional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tokumasa Akashi
  • Patent number: 10131188
    Abstract: The pneumatic tire includes lateral communication grooves, and circumferential grooves. In a tread portion shoulder region, the lateral communication groove is disposed between a pair of V-shaped crossing grooves adjacent in a tire circumferential direction and extends from a tread edge portion toward a tire equatorial plane. In a tread portion center region, the lateral communication groove communicates with the V-shaped crossing groove located to a projecting side of the V-shape of the pair of V-shaped crossing grooves and does not communicate with the other V-shaped crossing groove of the pair. The circumferential grooves are disposed in the tread portion shoulder region and extend in the tire circumferential direction, communicating with the V-shaped crossing grooves and the lateral communication grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Miyoshi, Hiraku Kouda
  • Patent number: 10131189
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes: a plurality of land portions; and in at least one land portion of the plurality of land portions, a sipe extending in the tread width direction, of which ends open at the circumferential grooves or the tread ends. The sipe has at least one bent portion extending continuously in the extending direction of the sipe from one of the end regions of the sipe to the other end region in the depth direction of the sipe. The at least one bent portion is located on the outer side in the tire radial direction in the center region than in the end regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kentaro Saeki
  • Patent number: 10131190
    Abstract: This vehicle wheel includes: a first vertical wall surface defined by one rising part of a rim that forms a well part and a second vertical wall surface defined by another rising part are provided; an auxiliary air chamber member has a main body part with an auxiliary air chamber on the inside and has edge parts extending from each of both sides of the main body part in the wheel width direction; each of the edge parts of the auxiliary air chamber member fits into a groove formed in each of the first vertical wall surface and second vertical wall surface, and the auxiliary air chamber member is thereby attached atop the outer circumferential surface of the well part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youichi Kamiyama, Katsushi Ishii
  • Patent number: 10131191
    Abstract: Tire pressure regulation method and system for an agricultural vehicle equipped with tires. In order to improve the pressure management of the tires connected to the tire pressure regulation system, a pressure setpoint is determined by determining the characteristics of the tires, the pressure of which is intended to be regulated by the tire pressure regulation device, determining the speed of the vehicle, calculating the pressure setpoint of the tire depending on the characteristics of the tire and on the speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ESTABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Patrick Vervaet, Istvan Matyas, Denis Lhospitalier
  • Patent number: 10131192
    Abstract: A central tire inflation/deflation system (CTIS) with a novel valve that may deflate more quickly and may deflate to a lower pressure than the previously known central tire inflation/deflation system valves. Also, the present valve may not be temperature sensitive, at least because the present valve does not require trapped air behind a diaphragm to operate the valve. The present valve may be placed into existing CTIS's in place of existing valves, without modifying pneumatic lines of the existing CTIS's. Thus, the present valve may be operated by a single fluid flow line, receive pressure from the single fluid flow line, and exhaust to the single fluid flow line. A second communication line, either a pneumatic pilot line or an electrical line, is not necessary, which allows the present valve to be retrofit into an existing CTIS without adding weight or complication from additional components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard Joseph Jabcon, Robert Brian Knepple, James Alden Beverly, Stephen P. Claussen
  • Patent number: 10131193
    Abstract: A tow hook assembly includes a bracket and a tow loop carried on the bracket. The bracket includes a guide track. The tow loop is displaceable along the guide track between a retracted position and a deployed position. A method of deploying a tow loop is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jay Robert Degenkolb
  • Patent number: 10131194
    Abstract: An amphibian operable in land and marine modes includes a hull, having a discontinuity, and a retractable wheel or track drive assembly at least partially located in the discontinuity. A wheel or track drive of the at least one retractable wheel or track drive assembly is retracted above a lowest point of the hull when operating in marine mode, and the wheel or track drive is protracted below the lowest point when operating in land mode. The hull is a planing V hull having a forward bow section defining a frontal bow surface/area across a beam of the hull. The discontinuity is provided in the forward bow section, and the wheel or track drive of the retractable wheel or track drive assembly is located ahead of and in front of at least a portion of the frontal bow area when protracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Gibbs Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Alan Timothy Gibbs, Eric John Carlson
  • Patent number: 10131195
    Abstract: A base unit for a vehicle such as a mobile work platform includes a chassis and multiple wheels, at least one of the wheels being mounted on the chassis by a suspension mechanism including a suspension element. The suspension element pivots relative to the chassis about a substantially horizontal pivot axis between an upper position and a lower position, and a stop member engages the suspension element in the upper position to limit its upwards movement. A biasing mechanism exerts a biasing force on the suspension element to urge the suspension element upwards towards the upper position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: NIFTYLIFT LIMITED
    Inventor: Roger Bowden
  • Patent number: 10131196
    Abstract: A spring-damper assembly for a suspension corner employed in a vehicle having a vehicle body and a road wheel includes a fluid spring configured to suspend the vehicle body relative to the road wheel. The spring-damper assembly also includes a damper configured to attenuate compression and rebound oscillations of the fluid spring. The spring-damper assembly additionally includes a spring-seat housing configured to retain the fluid spring and establish a position of the fluid spring relative to the damper. The spring-seat housing includes an inner surface defining a contour configured to guide the fluid spring upon compression thereof around the damper and define a non-linear stiffness of the fluid spring. A vehicle having such a spring-damper assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Avshalom Suissa, Vladimir Suplin
  • Patent number: 10131197
    Abstract: When a battery control unit allows use of the electric compressor, an air conditioning control unit performs air-conditioning of a cabin in such a manner that the air conditioning control unit controls the electric compressor to be operated. When the battery control unit prevents use of the electric compressor, the air conditioning control unit controls the electric compressor to be stopped. In addition, the air conditioning control unit heats a windshield in such a manner that the air conditioning control unit controls a window heater to be operated. Accordingly, even when the electric compressor is stopped, fogging of the windshield is suppressed. The air conditioning control unit does not give an excessive feeling of discomfort or unease to a user, because the air conditioning control unit continuously performs a normal air-conditioning control. Fogging of the windshield can be suppressed in a state where power consumption relative to a battery is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Terukazu Higuchi, Yoshinori Yanagimachi, Yasuhiro Yokoo
  • Patent number: 10131198
    Abstract: The evaporator (12) for a motor vehicle air conditioning device comprises at least one refrigerant tube (22, 22A) intended to allow the circulation of a refrigerant fluid and at least one storage member (10) comprising at least one housing (16, 20) comprising a material referred to as a thermal storage material (21) intended to store frigories and release them to a ventilation fluid intended to circulate towards an interior of the vehicle. The housing (16) has a substantially hemispherical shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Lionel Robillon, Aurélie Bellenfant, Julien Tissot, Sylvain Moreau
  • Patent number: 10131199
    Abstract: A guide groove is provided on both sides in a door width direction of a plate-like portion of a door. A radius of curvature of the plate-like portion in a single non-mounted state is set more than that of the guide groove, to thereby support both end portions in the door width direction of the plate-like portion respectively at three abutment points P1 to P3. A rib is provided in the plate-like portion to extend from one end portion in the door width direction of the plate-like portion to the other end portion thereof, so that force generated from both end portions in the door width direction of the plate-like portion is transferred to a center portion in the door width direction of the plate-like portion via the rib. Therefore, it can prevent the center portion and vicinity of the plate-like portion from being deformed in the direction away from a seal surface of the air conditioning case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuuichi Nakao
  • Patent number: 10131200
    Abstract: An HVAC unit is provided for treating air in a passenger cabin of a vehicle. An HVAC housing has a recirculation entry section, a fresh entry section, a blower section, and an output section. A blower is mounted to the blower section for driving an airflow from the HVAC housing out through the output section into the passenger cabin. A recirculation opening is provided proximate the recirculation entry section for providing at least a base recirculation flow from the passenger cabin into the HVAC housing whenever the blower drives the airflow. A climate sensor is fluidically coupled within the base recirculation flow for sensing a climate characteristic representative of the air in the passenger cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Angelo Patti, Paul B. Hoke, James R. Hurd
  • Patent number: 10131201
    Abstract: A cooling device includes a duct, a passageway, and a plurality of nozzles spaced around the duct. The duct is sized to extend around at least a portion of the dome. The passageway may extend through the duct. The plurality of nozzles may be spaced around the duct and have first openings oriented toward the passageway and second openings oriented toward the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Paul Yeomans, Peter Avram
  • Patent number: 10131202
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for hybrid vehicles includes a control unit configured to re-operate an engine if an engine cooling water temperature is reduced to a lower limit value or less after entry into a motor drive mode, and configured to stop the engine if the engine cooling water temperature is increased to an upper limit value or more. The control unit is configured to change the upper limit value and the lower limit value depending on a target air injection temperature calculated according to an internal/external temperature condition and a user-set temperature so that, in the motor drive mode, a re-operation time point of the engine is actively changed according to the target air injection temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Sang Jun Yoo, Chang Hyun Baek
  • Patent number: 10131203
    Abstract: An ejector draws a refrigerant on a downstream side of an exterior heat exchanger serving as an evaporator, from a refrigerant suction port by a suction effect of an injection refrigerant injected from a nozzle portion for decompressing a part of the refrigerant discharged from a compressor, and mixes the injection refrigerant with the suction refrigerant to pressurize the mixed refrigerant at a diffuser. The refrigerant flowing out of the diffuser is drawn into the compressor. In this way, the density of the refrigerant drawn into the compressor can be increased, thereby suppressing reduction in flow amount of the refrigerant flowing into an interior condenser serving as a radiator. Thus, even if the temperature of the outside air (heat-absorption target fluid) is decreased, the interior condenser is prevented from degrading its heating capacity for the ventilation air (heating target fluid).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Suzuki, Gouta Ogata, Yuichi Shirota
  • Patent number: 10131204
    Abstract: A system may receive historical climate control selections by a user and environmental conditions across a plurality of climate-controlled contexts; identify a correlation of temperature settings in a first of the climate-controlled contexts to temperature settings in a second of the climate-controlled contexts for an environmental condition; and update a user profile of the user according to the correlation. The system may also identify an upcoming user transition from a first climate-controlled context to a second climate-controlled context; and precondition the second context in accordance with the correlation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sudipto Aich, Jamel Seagraves, Casey Bryan Feldman, Yonathan Aklilu Redda
  • Patent number: 10131205
    Abstract: A climate control system having a coolant subsystem, a heat pump subsystem, and an intermediate heat exchanger. The intermediate heat exchanger may transfer thermal energy from the heat pump subsystem to the coolant to increase the temperature of the coolant when the climate control system is in a heating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark G. Smith, James George Gebbie, Franco Ragazzi, Clay Wesley Maranville
  • Patent number: 10131206
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body mounted with a chassis, the body having a passenger compartment, a seat in the passenger compartment for supporting an occupant in a sitting position, and a roll over protection structure for the passenger compartment. The roll over protection structure includes an inlet coupled in gaseous communication to an air source, an outlet coupled in gaseous communication to a vehicle occupant wearable, and an airflow pathway through the roll over protection structure coupling the inlet to the outlet in gaseous communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventor: Michael W. Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 10131207
    Abstract: There is disclosed a vehicle air-conditioning device in which a heating qualification by gas injection can sufficiently be obtained. The vehicle air-conditioning device comprises a compressor 2 which compresses a refrigerant, an air flow passage 3 through which air to be supplied into a vehicle interior flows, a radiator 4 disposed in the air flow passage to let the refrigerant radiate heat, a heat absorber 9 disposed in the air flow passage to let the refrigerant absorb heat, an outdoor heat exchanger 7 disposed outside the vehicle interior to let the refrigerant radiate or absorb heat, and a controller. The controller executes a heating mode in which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 radiates heat in the radiator 4 and the refrigerant by which heat has been radiated is decompressed and then absorbs heat in the outdoor heat exchanger 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Sanden Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Megumi Shigeta
  • Patent number: 10131208
    Abstract: There is disclosed a vehicle air-conditioning device in which a heating qualification by gas injection can sufficiently be obtained. The vehicle air-conditioning device comprises a compressor 2 which compresses a refrigerant, an air flow passage 3 through which air to be supplied into a vehicle interior flows, a radiator 4 disposed in the air flow passage to let the refrigerant radiate heat, a heat absorber 9 disposed in the air flow passage to let the refrigerant absorb heat, an outdoor heat exchanger 7 disposed outside the vehicle interior to let the refrigerant radiate or absorb heat, and a controller. The controller executes a heating mode in which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 radiates heat in the radiator 4 and the refrigerant by which heat has been radiated is decompressed and then absorbs heat in the outdoor heat exchanger 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Sanden Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Megumi Shigeta
  • Patent number: 10131209
    Abstract: An airflow outlet assembly and a passenger compartment for a vehicle are disclosed. The airflow outlet assembly includes a support member and a first outlet component. The first outlet component includes a first plate and a first vane extending outwardly from the first plate. The first outlet component is supported by the support member. The airflow outlet assembly further includes a second outlet component. The second outlet component includes a second plate and a second vane extending outwardly from the second plate. The second outlet component is supported by the support member. The first and second outlet components are rotatably coupled to each other such that rotation of the first and second outlet components in opposite directions changes the position of the first and second plates and the first and second vanes relative to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Gerard Alan Brinas