Patents Issued in December 4, 2018
  • Patent number: 10144240
    Abstract: A process for the production of multipage information leaflets or slips, the information leaflet provided with a booklet structure including two or more pages, the process including in sequence the steps of: loading and feeding of a ream of sheets printed on one or both sides, taking of a single sheet from the ream and gluing along an edge portion of the single sheet, multiple folding of the single sheet on itself along the glued portion to define a folded sheet, cutting of the folded sheet to define the multipage information leaflet with the pages connected one to the other only at a joining area in proximity of an edge, pressing of the information leaflet at the joining area, accumulation and collection of the finished information leaflets and optional rejecting of the leaflets which do not comply with the production specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: GRAFICHE PIZZI S.R.L.
    Inventor: Paola Pantaleoni
  • Patent number: 10144241
    Abstract: A printable sheet material includes a panel having an integral separable portion and a starting mechanism formed on the separable portion. At least two tearable lines are formed in the panel permitting the separable portion to be at least partially separated from a remaining portion of the panel by tearing in either of opposite directions. Each tearable line includes a plurality of open “V” channeling cuts spaced along the line, each of the channeling cuts formed by a pair of converging cuts having a wider spaced end and a narrower spaced end. The channeling cuts are oriented with the wider spaced ends facing toward the starting mechanism and the narrower spaced ends pointed in a tearing direction extending away from the starting mechanism. The channeling cuts of the two lines share one of the converging cuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventors: Charles E. Emmott, Gary G. Emmott
  • Patent number: 10144242
    Abstract: A method for checking the authenticity and/or the nominal value of a value document having luminescent feature substances, comprises: a1) the step of carrying out a location-specific measurement of first luminescence intensities (L1) at a first emission wavelength at different locations of the value document that have the location coordinates (O), to thereby obtain (O/L1) measurement value pairs; b1) the step of statistically analyzing the first luminescence intensities (L1) measured in dependence on the individual location coordinates (O), by determining at least one statistical parameter using a statistical method; and c1) the step of comparing the statistical parameter determined in the step b1) with one or more threshold values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Giering, Johann Kecht, Wolfgang Rauscher, Stephan Steinlein
  • Patent number: 10144243
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tile sheet for a shower wall or bath enclosure in which a user designs a tile pattern which is stored in a database. An acrylic sheet is placed on a frame and clamped in place. A computer controlled router cuts grout lines in the acrylic sheet which simulates a tile pattern. The finished sheet having the tile pattern is cut and installed on a shower wall. Other designs can be stored in the computer and used to create different tile patterns using the same computer controlled router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: BCI Acrylic, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Domanico
  • Patent number: 10144244
    Abstract: An automatic carving device for a wheel, including a rack, a chassis, a lifting cylinder, brackets, bearing blocks, linear bearings, mounting plates, guide shafts, a lifting shaft, a servo motor, a synchronous pulley, a connection plate, a synchronous belt, a synchronous pulley, a pedestal, a connection shaft, a servo motor, a shaft sleeve, a lower end cover, a connection shaft, a shaft sleeve, and an oil cylinder. The automatic carving device for the wheel can automatically carve characters on the wheel, meanwhile it also has the characteristics of simple structure, convenience for manufacturing, stable performance and high precision that can meet the machining requirement, and can also meet the requirement of automatic production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: CITIC Dicastal CO., LTD
    Inventors: Weidong Liu, Jiandong Guo
  • Patent number: 10144245
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus for an oval O-ring groove for aircraft wheels may generally comprise an inboard wheel portion and an inboard O-ring groove. The inboard wheel portion may include an inboard rim located opposite of an inboard tubewell. The inboard tubewell may have an inboard mating surface located on an axially outward edge of the inboard tubewell. The inboard O-ring groove may be formed as a partial oval-shaped recess located on an outer edge of the inboard mating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: John Stevenson
  • Patent number: 10144246
    Abstract: This invention is related to a convertible backpack capable of being converted from a regular backpack into a trolley case and vice versa according to a user preference. The convertible backpack of the invention comprises at least a rotatable wheels cover mechanism, for covering the outer side of each one of the wheels upon usage of the convertible backpack as a backpack and for uncovering the outer side of each one of the wheels upon usage of the convertible backpack as a trolley case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventor: Menachem Pinhas Winfield
  • Patent number: 10144247
    Abstract: A wheel with an intelligent suspension system that includes a hub, a rim and a set of spokes with dynamically adjustable spoke lengths. Further included is one or more sensors associated with at least the hub and the rim and a microcontroller unit (MCU) that receives sensory signals from the one or more sensors, and transmits control signals to the set of spokes to dynamically control spoke lengths of the set of spokes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventors: Darien Joso, Leigh Goldstein
  • Patent number: 10144248
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a torque transmitting bicycle freewheel coasting mechanism comprising a drive body, a driven body and rolling bearing elements supporting and spacing these bodies during coasting. The rolling element bearings are elastically deformable and, during the application of a sufficiently large driving force to the drive body, they deform to allow relative movement between the bodies to bring one body into contact with the other body. This movement is small and the load is carried directly from one body to the other body without damage to the rolling element bearings. The bodies are only highly loaded by drive loads during torque transmission. During coasting, the flexible balls or rollers spring back and support the bodies in a spaced relationship in a normal bearing fashion. The flexible rolling bearing elements are not hard so bearing raceways can be formed directly into the bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventor: William Shook
  • Patent number: 10144249
    Abstract: The device for producing a tire component by winding, comprises: a helicoidal external wall, and means for adjusting a diameter of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche Et Technique, S.A.
    Inventors: Arnaud Letocart, Gérard Crosnier, Christophe Ougier
  • Patent number: 10144250
    Abstract: A heavy duty pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion provided with circumferentially continuously extending main grooves and axial grooves connecting between the main grooves to form blocks. The main grooves include a zigzag crown main groove disposed on each side of the tire equator, and a zigzag shoulder main groove disposed axially outside each crown main groove, wherein the groove width of the crown main groove is less than the groove width of the shoulder main groove. The axial grooves include crown axial grooves circumferentially dividing crown blocks disposed between the crown main grooves and each having a substantially hexagonal tread, and middle axial grooves circumferentially dividing middle blocks disposed between each crown main groove and the adjacent shoulder main groove and each having a substantially hexagonal tread, wherein the groove width of the middle axial grooves is more than the groove width of the crown axial grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kae Matsuda, Atsushi Maehara, Shuji Kagimoto
  • Patent number: 10144251
    Abstract: On a tread portion, a plurality of blocks defined by a plurality of main grooves and a plurality of transverse grooves. The main grooves annularly and continuously extend in a tire circumferential direction. The transverse grooves extend in a tire width direction so as to intersect the main grooves. The plurality of blocks include a center block located at a center in the tire width direction and having, on a surface thereof, a first groove with closed both ends and a second groove joining the first groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Fujioka
  • Patent number: 10144252
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire where grooves and blocks defined by the grooves are formed on a tread portion, wherein the block includes: a ground contact surface; a hole portion formed in a center portion of the ground contact surface; and sipes extending radially from the hole portion which is the center of radial extension of the sipes, and the sipes are formed such that inner ends of the sipes in a radial direction terminate at a position away from the hole portion, and outer ends of the sipes in the radial direction terminate within the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinichi Kaji
  • Patent number: 10144253
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are generally related to one or more systems, methods, and devices for providing an integrated tire inflation system, mounted on each tire, wheel, rim, axle, or structure of the vehicle, that communicates with a remote device (e.g., communication device located in the cab of the vehicle and/or a remote network entity) and obtains an optimal tire pressure from the network entity that is calculated to maximize fuel economy, tread life, load, or an environmental condition. In some examples, the integrated telematics system may periodically measure and transmit data associated with the tire to the communication device in the cab and/or to a network entity that may calculate the optimal tire pressure for each tire on the vehicle. The integrated telematics system may receive the optimal tire pressure information from the communication device and/or the network entity and automatically adjust the tire pressure accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: OMNITRACS, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley M. Mays, James Fortuna
  • Patent number: 10144254
    Abstract: A tire inflation system and method for a tire supported by a wheel, the tire inflation system including a pump system including a pump cavity configured to fluidly connect to the tire, an actuating element configured to actuate relative the pump cavity, a drive mechanism rotatably coupled to the wheel, the drive mechanism including a motion transformer and an eccentric mass, a valve fluidly connecting the pump cavity to a fluid reservoir; and a control system configured to operate the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Aperia Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Brandon Richardson
  • Patent number: 10144255
    Abstract: An air maintenance tire assembly includes a tire having a tire cavity bounded by first and second sidewalls extending to a tire tread region and air pumping means for generating pressurized air for maintaining air pressure within the tire cavity at a preset pressure level. The air pumping means includes an upper mounting plate fixed to a vehicle rim, a lower mounting plate fixed to the rim and diametrically opposed to the upper mounting plate, a dynamic mass pivotally attached to the upper mounting plate at a first end of the dynamic mass, and a pump fixed to the lower mounting plate and pivotally attached to a second end of the dynamic mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventors: Jin-Shy Steve Gau, Cheng-Hsiung Lin
  • Patent number: 10144256
    Abstract: A coupler lock device is used with a trailer coupler that has a handwheel mounted on a threaded member for securing a hitch ball in the coupler socket. The coupler lock device has a housing configured for covering the coupler socket and the handwheel. The housing includes an opening to allow the housing to be positioned over the coupler socket and handwheel. A closure panel is movable between an open position and a closed position. The housing includes an aperture configured so that when the housing covers the coupler with the handwheel tightened to properly secure the hitch ball within the coupler socket, the handwheel threaded member protrudes through the top aperture and provides a confirmation that the hitch ball is properly, secured for towing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: U-Haul International, Inc.
    Inventor: Marco Garcia
  • Patent number: 10144257
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide an amphibious vehicle and a method of controlling the attitude of the vehicle body of an amphibious vehicle, with which it is possible to reduce the fluid resistance when traveling on water and to improve the propulsion performance of the vehicle main body. An amphibious vehicle 1 according to the present invention is characterized in being provided with: a vehicle main body 11 capable of moving on water and on land; a rear flap 14B provided at the rear of the vehicle main body 11; a drive unit 33 which drives the rear flap 14B to vary a flap angle ?1 between the vehicle main body 11 and the rear flap 14B; a detecting unit 31 which detects a trim angle of the vehicle main body 11, a vehicle speed and the flap angle ?1; and a control unit 32 which controls the flap angle ?1 on the basis of the trim angle, the vehicle speed and the flap angle ?1 detected by the detecting unit 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki Oshima, Shinichi Sato, Satoru Ishikawa, Takashi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 10144258
    Abstract: A wheel suspension for a vehicle axle, in particular a front axle, of a two-track vehicle, having a wheel carrier carrying a vehicle wheel, this carrier being linked via a link assembly to a vehicle body, which link assembly has at least two links that are linked to the wheel carrier at bearing points on the side of the wheel carrier and to the vehicle body at bearing points on the body side. In the event of a head-on collision, in particular with a small lateral overlap, the vehicle wheel can be shifted rearwards in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and specifically with a pivoting movement of the crash-facing first link and with deformation of the crash-remote second link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dominik Mohrlock, Ruben Goldberg, Tobias Kramer
  • Patent number: 10144259
    Abstract: A ball joint relocation kit including a ball stud having a ball end, a threaded end, and a shaft with a straight outer diameter, and a sleeve having a tapered outer diameter and a straight inner diameter, wherein the sleeve is adapted to be received in a tapered hole through a steering knuckle from a bottom side, and the ball stud is adapted to be received through the tapered hole and the sleeve from the top side. The ball joint relocation kit can be used to replace an OEM ball stud to relocate the ball joint from below the steering knuckle to above the steering knuckle in suspension lifted vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: POWERS AND SONS, LLC
    Inventors: Ron North, Sawyer Miller, Jesse Raver, Christopher Fink
  • Patent number: 10144260
    Abstract: The invention provides an axle for wheels of a two-track motor vehicle. The axle has, on each vehicle side, a wheel carrier, a damper strut, a transverse link and a transverse leaf spring which controls the wheel at least partially laterally and/or in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The damper strut has a damper tube and a damper piston which can be moved in the damper tube along a damper longitudinal axis. The damper strut is attached by the damper tube to the wheel carrier. The transverse link is attached by a wheel-carrier-side end region to the wheel carrier. The transverse leaf spring extends substantially in the vehicle transverse direction and has at least one wheel-carrier-side end region. The transverse leaf spring is attached by the wheel-carrier-side end region thereof to the damper strut and is supported on the damper strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Durkovic, Markus Brenner, Sven Gerber
  • Patent number: 10144261
    Abstract: A coil spring according to one embodiment includes a lower end turn portion which is in contact with a lower spring seat, an upper end turn portion which is in contact with an upper spring seat, and an effective portion between the lower end turn portion and the upper end turn portion. The coil spring is cylindrical about an axis of the effective portion in its free shape which is not compressed. Further, with respect to a coordinate system in which a force line is assumed as a Z-axis, the coil spring is cylindrical with a constant pitch in a direction along the Z-axis in its compressed shape which is compressed to a specified height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinichi Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 10144262
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension having a frame attachment portion attached to a saddle, first and second bolster springs mounted to spring mounts on an outboard side of the saddle and mounted on walls of a spring mount on an outboard side of an equalizing beam, and third and fourth bolster springs mounted to walls of a spring mount on an inboard side of the saddle and mounted to spring mounts on an inboard side of the equalizing beam, wherein upwardly extending flanges on the bottom of the first and second bolster sprints are mounted to each other using a common fastener, and wherein upwardly extending flanges on the bottom of the third and fourth bolster springs are mounted to each other with a common fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Hendrickson USA, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Shawn D. Noble, Matthew J. Van Meter, Randy Joseph Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 10144263
    Abstract: A vehicle-height adjusting device includes: a vehicle-height adjusting unit that adjusts a vehicle height through extension and contraction thereof, which is disposed between each wheel and a vehicle body of a vehicle; a control unit that controls actuation of the vehicle-height adjusting unit; an obstacle detecting unit that detects an obstacle that is present within a predetermined range from the vehicle; a steering-angle detecting unit that detects an steering angle of the vehicle; and an identification unit that identifies a portion of the vehicle that overlaps the obstacle, based on a detection result by the obstacle detecting unit and a detection result by the steering-angle detecting unit, in which the control unit controls at least one of the vehicle-height adjusting unit, based on an identification result of the identification unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroya Mori
  • Patent number: 10144264
    Abstract: A stabilizer bar for a chassis of a motor vehicle comprises a torsion spring portion and two arms bent away from the torsion spring portion; wherein the arms each comprise a formed end portion with a through-opening and a tubular portion, wherein the torsion spring portion comprises a hardened structure with a strength of at least 1000 MPa; and wherein the formed end portions comprise a hardened structure with a strength of at least 800 MPa. A process of producing a corresponding stabilizer is further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Muhr und Bender KG
    Inventors: Mario Mucher, Sergio Macedo, Boris Ditzer
  • Patent number: 10144265
    Abstract: An air conditioning unit for a vehicle has a casing, a heating heat exchanger, a first partition plate, a first opening, a second partition plate, a second opening, and a switching door. The casing has a face opening and a foot opening. The heating heat exchanger is arranged in the casing. The first partition plate partitions a downstream side of the heating heat exchanger in an airflow direction into a first passage and a second passage located below the first passage. The first opening is formed on a downstream side of the first partition plate in an airflow direction and communicates between the first passage and the second passage. The second partition plate is arranged on the downstream side of the heating heat exchanger and is formed with a third passage between the first partition plate and the second partition plate in the first passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akinori Kuwayama, Shinichirou Hirai, Yasuhiro Sekito
  • Patent number: 10144266
    Abstract: A tube (13) has a container of phase change material M for a heat exchange bundle (3) of a heat exchanger (1) of an air conditioning system of a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The tube (13) includes a first plate (15) configured to form a first outer surface (17) of the tube (13), a second plate (19) configured to be sealingly assembled with the first plate (15) and to form a second outer surface (21) opposite the first outer surface (17), and an intermediate plate (23) configured to be sealingly assembled with the first and second plates (15, 19), between the latter, and to define on either sides thereof at least one channel (9) for the flow of a coolant F into the bundle (3) and at least one recess (25) for the phase change material M. The invention also relates to a heat exchange bundle and to a method for assembling a heat exchanger including the tube (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: VALEO SYSTEMS THERMIQUES
    Inventors: Aurelie Bellenfant, Jean-Christophe Prevost, Lionel Robillon, Fabienne Tourneux, Philippe Doucet
  • Patent number: 10144267
    Abstract: A device for guiding air for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle. The air conditioning system includes air outlets. The device is designed so that it encloses a volume and within the volume at least one air channel extending continuously from an inlet to an outlet is formed. The device is arranged in such a way that can be shifted in a continuously variable manner in a direction between two end positions, wherein the device in the end positions in each case closes an air outlet. The device may be arranged in an air conditioning system for a motor vehicle with means for conveying, for cooling and for heating an air mass flow, including a housing with a mixing chamber, in which the device for guiding air is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Gerald Richter, Evzi Duka, Sezgin Gökcen, Michael Fietz
  • Patent number: 10144268
    Abstract: An air conditioning device for a vehicle includes a door control unit that controls multiple blowing port doors or an air mix door to prevent a heat generated from a heater core from leaking out of an air conditioning case before air conditioning of a vehicle interior is determined to be started. The air conditioning device includes an air conditioning control unit that performs the air conditioning of the vehicle interior by controlling the multiple blowing port doors to open at least one of multiple blowing ports and blow out a heat in the air conditioning case as hot air to the vehicle interior from the at least one blowing port after the air conditioning in the vehicle interior is determined to be started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoya Makimoto, Masaaki Kawakubo, Takayuki Watanabe, Masatsugu Yonekura
  • Patent number: 10144269
    Abstract: An automobile air vent register is described. The register uses a pair of rotating vent cover doors and an elongate opening in a configuration providing good airflow control within a limited space. Exemplary methods and structures for controlling and directing airflow are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yahong Zhang, Craig R. Wetzel
  • Patent number: 10144270
    Abstract: A venting device for a vehicle has a frame which is made from a hard plastic material and can be fixed in place in an opening of the vehicle. The frame has recesses and a non-return flap member made from a flexible material. The non-return flap member extends substantially over the entire frame and, in the region of the recesses, has cutouts which are configured in one piece with the non-return flap member. In a closed position, the cutouts are in surface contact with support surfaces surrounding the recesses and, in an open position, can be moved away from the support surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Fiebiger, Eric Lang, Andreas Senn
  • Patent number: 10144271
    Abstract: A valve-in-receiver (VIR) for a vehicle climate control system includes a receiver drier (RD) shell including an outer surface and an inner surface defining an interior portion having an opening, and a cap member mounted to the RD shell across the opening, the cap member including an evaporator inlet portion, an evaporator outlet portion, a condenser inlet and a compressor outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: James Resutek, Jeffrey A. Bozeman, Dana L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 10144272
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a heat exchange unit including a condenser that radiates heat of refrigerant discharged from a compressor, and an evaporator that expands the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser using an expanding device and then absorbs ambient heat into the evaporator, the condenser and the evaporator being connected to each other. According to operation mode, air to be supplied to a vehicle interior selectively exchanges heat with the condenser or the evaporator, or sequentially exchanges heat with the condenser and the evaporator. A subcooler that cools the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser before the refrigerant is expanded by the expanding device is provided. The subcooler is disposed at a position below the evaporator and to which condensed water flows down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinji Kakizaki
  • Patent number: 10144273
    Abstract: A removable panel system for easily and efficiently varying the configuration of a cabin on a vehicle. The removable panel system generally includes a vehicle having a cab defined by a frame. Different panels may be selectively and removably connected to the frame to form various different cab configurations to suit the different needs of different jobs or operators. A roof panel may be removably connected to the frame to form a roof of the cab. A rear window extension may extend from the roof panel to form the rear window of the cab. A door receiver panel and/or door panel may be removably connected to the frame to form one or more doors of the cab. A windshield panel may be removably connected to the frame to form a windshield for the cab. All panels are adapted to be easily and efficiently interchanged without undue effort from the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventor: Paul M. Carlson
  • Patent number: 10144274
    Abstract: A roof attachment for a passenger car includes at least one roof shell and at least two lateral-wall shells. The lateral-wall roof shells are arranged on opposite sides of the passenger car relative to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the roof and are pivotable between a storage position folded against an inner side of the roof shell and an unfolded usage position. The roof attachment has a cross section shaped like an upside-down U and can be attached onto interfaces of the passenger car via lower edges of the lateral-wall shells facing away from the roof shell. The roof shell and the lateral-wall shells can be brought into contact with a hard-top section and lateral pillars of the passenger car with their frontal edges when in the usage position. Rearward edges of the roof shell and the lateral-wall shells form a continuous edge of the vehicle rear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventor: Magnus Sviberg
  • Patent number: 10144275
    Abstract: Embodiments for environmental control of a vehicle by a processor. An environmental change in the vehicle is predictively anticipated by monitoring at least one environmental factor over time. In response to the predicted environmental change, a physical change is caused in a constituent portion of an assembly inclusive of an external surface of the vehicle, which when activated compensates for the predicted environmental change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cynthia H. Gaddis, Kelly Malone, Xinlin Wang
  • Patent number: 10144276
    Abstract: A tonneau cover system clamp can include first and second clamp members with first and second clamping surfaces, respectively. The second clamp member can be slidably coupled to an elongate member relative to the first clamp member. A locking mechanism can be movable to engage the elongate member to prevent lateral translation of the second clamping surface relative to the first clamping surface in response to the first and the second clamp members being in the locked position. The locking mechanism can be movable to release the elongate member to allow lateral translation of the second clamping surface relative to the first clamping surface in response to the first and the second clamp members being in the unlocked position. A biasing member can apply a biasing force biasing the first clamp member and the second clamp member toward the proximal end of the elongate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Extang Corporation
    Inventors: Jerome J. Facchinello, Charles A. Fabros
  • Patent number: 10144277
    Abstract: A vehicle tank having an upper surface for mounting a fan and radiator to which is sloped between the fan and radiator mounting parts so that there is a difference in the relative height of the parts. The tank also has a horizontal lower surface that abuts the chassis or frame of a vehicle and the space between the upper and lower surfaces holds a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Braeutigam, Simon Brack
  • Patent number: 10144278
    Abstract: Air guide system (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising a support structure (12) having an air passage opening (14), an air damper assembly (16) having at least one air damper (18) which is provided on the support structure (12) so that it can pivot about a damper axis (20) between a closed position (FIG. 1(a)) and an open position (FIG. 1(c)) in order to adjust a flow cross-section of the air passage opening (14), the flow cross-section being minimal in the closed position (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Röchling Automotive SE & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Schmitt
  • Patent number: 10144279
    Abstract: There is provided a closing device for a filler port. This closing device for the filler port comprises a fuel passage forming portion configured to include a first engagement element; a first open-close mechanism configured to include a first cover that is opened toward an upstream side; and a second open-close mechanism configured to open and close a second opening and include a second cover that is opened toward the upstream side. The first open-close mechanism further comprises a disengagement portion located on the upstream side of a second engagement element when the second engagement element is engaged with the first engagement element, and configured to disengage the second engagement element from the first engagement element when receiving a force in a closing direction from the second cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hagano, Kazuya Watanabe, Naoki Mori, Go Oue
  • Patent number: 10144280
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for mounting a fuel system to a vehicle. In some embodiments, the invention provides systems and methods for mounting a fuel system comprising a fuel tank to a vehicle chassis using a bracket, which may be a multi-part bracket, and may be referred to as a “drop and go” bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Agility Fuel Systems LLC
    Inventors: Todd Sloan, Chris Forsberg
  • Patent number: 10144281
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device for a vehicle is provided wherein a determination of “base neutral” is made when a difference between a command hydraulic pressure and an actual hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic clutch is within a predetermined minute value range, and when the difference is out of the minute value range, a determination of “base raising” is made if the command hydraulic pressure is larger than the actual hydraulic pressure, and a determination of “base lowering” is made if the command hydraulic pressure is smaller than the actual hydraulic pressure. The determination of “sub raising” is made when an inclination of command torque subjected to low-pass filter processing is positive for a predetermined time or more, and the determination of “sub lowering” is made when the inclination is negative for the predetermined time or more, whereby a rising or dropping tendency of the command torque is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuma Yoshida, Noriyasu Hakuta
  • Patent number: 10144282
    Abstract: A shift position switching device for shifting gears in association with a shift position. The device includes a shift mechanism switching between shift positions using a drive power of a motor, an encoder outputting pulse signals in sync with a rotation of the motor, and a controller rotating the motor to a target rotation position corresponding to an intended gear. The controller rotates the motor toward a dead-end on a first shift position side of the shift mechanism while observing a motor rotation speed or an acceleration of rotation of the motor based on the outputted pulse signals of the encoder. Also, the controller learns, as a reference position on the first shift position side, a first rotation position of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kimura, Jun Yamada
  • Patent number: 10144283
    Abstract: A cylindrical ring gear has first external teeth and a support portion in an axial direction of the cylindrical ring gear. An output shaft extends through the cylindrical ring gear and is supported to rotate concentrically with the cylindrical ring gear. A disconnect mechanism is configured to connect or disconnect an inner periphery of the cylindrical ring gear to an outer periphery of the output shaft based on a moved position of the movable engagement member. An actuator is disposed such that the first external teeth are located between the support portion and the actuator. The actuator is configured to move the movable engagement member between a connection position and a disconnection position. The cylindrical ring gear is coupled to the output shaft so as to be relatively non-rotatable in the connection position. Relative rotation between the cylindrical ring gear and the output shaft is allowed in the disconnection position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 10144284
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a four-wheel drive powertrain of a vehicle. In one example, a method may comprise: in response to a desired shift from a four-wheel drive mode to a two wheel-drive mode: decreasing a transfer case torque output to a secondary driveline to a lower first level and disengaging a disconnect device of the secondary driveline; increasing the transfer case torque output from the lower first level to a higher second level over a duration; and after the duration, reducing the transfer case torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Warn Automotive, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. Christensen, Oliver Blake Randall, Christopher James Boudreau
  • Patent number: 10144285
    Abstract: In a method for operating vehicle devices in which different information is shown for different viewing angles on a display of a display device, seating positions of users are assigned to the viewing angles, the position of an object in a switching zone is detected and a switching signal assigned to the switching zone is generated, the seating position of a user assigned to the object is identified, and a control signal for the vehicle devices and/or the display device is generated as a function of the switching signal and of the seating position of the user who triggered the switching signal. Furthermore, an operating device for vehicle devices includes an input unit and a display unit having a display with which different information is able to be displayed for different viewing angles, seating positions of users being assigned to the respective viewing angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Christoph Waeller, Katharina Bachfischer, Joerg Lilienthal
  • Patent number: 10144286
    Abstract: An operating element in a vehicle includes a capacitive touch panel and a capacitive sensor unit configured to detect a user approaching the touch panel. When the capacitive sensor unit detects the approaching user, a first control unit activates the touch panel, such that the touch panel may be activated from a sleep mode by a single movement, and such that the user can, at the same time, perform inputs using the touch panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Sascha Kaysser
  • Patent number: 10144287
    Abstract: A vehicle display device includes an image display device disposed in front of a driver aboard a vehicle, and configured to display thereon at least information on traveling conditions of the vehicle, the image display device including an image display region. When an operation input turning on a power supply of the vehicle is provided, the image display device starts an opening presentation thereon in conjunction with the start of an opening presentation on another display device disposed in front of the driver. The image display device displays thereon a predetermined image in a part of the image display region until starting the opening presentation after the operation input is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazumasa Shoji, Ryoko Sone, Eiji Kibe
  • Patent number: 10144288
    Abstract: A display including a liquid crystal layer, a light source, and a wall. The liquid crystal layer includes a first display area, a second display area, and a transition area therebetween. The light source is configured to generate light of a first intensity to illuminate the first display area with light of the first intensity, and generate light of a second intensity that is greater than the first intensity to illuminate the second display area with light of the second intensity. The wall is opposite to the transition area and is configured to permit passage of light of the first intensity and light of the second intensity to the transition area such that at the transition area there is a gradual transition from light of the second intensity proximate to the second display area to light of the first intensity proximate to the first display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunji Yamauchi, Homare Shirai, Charles Hummer
  • Patent number: 10144289
    Abstract: A vehicle display apparatus and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The display apparatus includes a display and a controller configured to monitor a manipulation variable of a driving manipulation device provided to a vehicle, to select any one driving mode corresponding to the manipulation variable of the driving manipulation device from among a plurality of predetermined driving modes, and to control the display to display different information according to the plurality of driving modes. When a driving mode corresponding to a relatively small manipulation variable is selected, the controller decreases driving information displayed on the display and increases convenience information displayed on the display, as compared to when a driving mode corresponding to a relatively large manipulation variable is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Byungju Lee, Daihyung Ryu, Junghoon Son