Patents Issued in September 24, 2019
  • Patent number: 10421348
    Abstract: An ACM-ECU executes an amplitude variable-phase variable control for variably controlling both the amplitude and phase of active vibrations generated by an actuator according to rotation information, in the case that an engagement rate Lr detected by an LC engagement rate detecting function is greater than or equal to a predetermined engagement rate Lr_th.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Yamaguchi, Tatsuhiro Yone
  • Patent number: 10421349
    Abstract: An energy storage system comprising at least one energy storage module adapted to supply electrical energy to a hybrid vehicle. The energy storage module comprises an enclosure, at least one battery array located within the enclosure, and an energy storage controller module located within the enclosure and electrically connected to the battery array. The energy storage module further comprises a compliant tipped thermistor which may be installed within a flexible clip. The thermistor is positioned to monitor the temperature of one or more of the batteries within the energy storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Maskew, Scott K. Bennett, Leonard F. Baxter, II, Daniel J. Youngs, Kurt Biehl, Edward Bass, Eric D. Schneider, Felice E. Bailey, Steven T. Reyburn, Dean M. Ford, Clyde E. Johnson, Bruce E. Miller, Richard Bletsis, Derek A. Delrymple, Markus Naegeli, Jerry Wendling, Timothy A. Gasaway, Russell B. Hopkins, Brian C. Morrow, Robert Lawrence
  • Patent number: 10421350
    Abstract: A drive system includes a first gear set and a second gear set, each having a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, and a carrier rotationally supporting the plurality of planetary gears; a connecting shaft coupling an engine to the first gear set; a first electrical machine coupled to the first gear set; a second electrical machine coupled to the second gear set; an output shaft configured to transport power from the first electrical machine, the second electrical machine, and the engine to a tractive element; and a clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first carrier to the output shaft when engaged. The output shaft is aligned with the connecting shaft, the first electrical machine, and the second electrical machine to thereby form a straight-thru transmission arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Jon J. Morrow, David J. Steinberger, Eric E. Braun, Andrew J. Kotloski
  • Patent number: 10421351
    Abstract: An in-wheel motor system can drive an in-wheel motor stably, and also allows power feeding from the road surface, even when transmission and reception coils are misaligned. An in-wheel motor system (1) includes a power transmitter (100) that utilizes a resonance phenomenon using a magnetic field. The power transmitter (100) transmits power (P) wirelessly from the vehicle body to an in-wheel motor (10) mounted in a wheel. The in-wheel motor system (1) may also include a communication interface (110) that communicates between the vehicle body and the wheel, and the communication interface (110) may transmit a control signal (CTL) for driving the in-wheel motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO, NSK Ltd., TOKYO ELECTRIC MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujimoto, Takehiro Imura, Gaku Yamamoto, Daisuke Gunji, Motoki Sato
  • Patent number: 10421352
    Abstract: An air flap apparatus for a motor vehicle having a driving force source to drive a plurality of air flaps between their operating positions; the apparatus having at least two sub-groups of air flap(s) which are displaceable separately from one another between their operating positions but are drivable by the shared driving force source; there being arranged between the driving force source and the at least two sub-groups a gated control configuration which in order to transfer driving force to different sub-groups has, on a groove carrier rotatable around a rotation axis, at least two control grooves embodied separately and arranged at a distance from one another, into each of which a control pin penetrates, each combination of control pin and control groove being motion-transferringly coupled to a different sub-group, the at least two control grooves are embodied on an enveloping surface of the groove carrier at an axial distance from one another and are coded such that for two sub-groups, they permit at lea
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Röchling Automotive SE & Co. KG
    Inventor: Patrick Urbach
  • Patent number: 10421353
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus comprises a filler neck body including a hollow fuel passage-forming structure configured to form a fuel passage and a fuel vapor port branched off from the fuel passage-forming structure; and a nozzle guide formed in a tubular shape to introduce a fueling nozzle. The nozzle guide includes a vapor flow path portion configured to introduce fuel vapor flowing into the fuel vapor port in a tank direction. The vapor flow path portion has a slow-down portion configured to slow down the fuel vapor introduced in the tank direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Sekihara, Yoshinari Hiramatsu, Shinji Shimokawa, Toru Shirasaki
  • Patent number: 10421354
    Abstract: A filling pipe arrangement for filling an automobile fluid tank with fluid, especially aqueous urea solution, with a passage passing through a predetermined passageway along the filling pipe arrangement, wherein the passage extends from an inserting mouth to a discharge opening, wherein an inserting end section of the passage comprising the inserting mouth is designed to hold at least temporarily an output end section of a delivery device, such as a spigot, a Kruse bottle, or the like, wherein the passage comprises, at a distance from the inserting mouth, a conducting section designed to lead fluid introduced into the filling pipe arrangement through the filling pipe arrangement, wherein the filling pipe arrangement comprises a magnetic arrangement whose magnetic field reaches into the passage in one section of the passageway, the magnetic arrangement is received in the filling pipe arrangement so that it is movable along the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Röchling Automotive SE & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andi-Ionut Radu
  • Patent number: 10421355
    Abstract: A high-pressure tank mounting structure includes a case that is disposed beneath a floor of a vehicle cabin and that has a bottom wall, a peripheral wall and a top wall; a plurality of high-pressure tanks that are accommodated so as to be lined up within the case; and a discharge hole that is formed at an upper portion of the case and discharges, to an exterior of the case, hydrogen that has permeated from the high-pressure tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chiaki Kataoka, Shinsuke Kinoshita, Osamu Sawai
  • Patent number: 10421356
    Abstract: Front and rear independent suspension mechanisms accommodating an increased range of motion to better absorb shock originating at the wheels of a riding mower to insulate the operator and reduce stress on the mower chassis and other mechanical components. The front suspension can include a front axle with pivot pockets allowing 360 degree rotation of pivots engaged within the pockets, thereby providing a greater range of absorption of shock entering the front axle at varying angles. The rear suspension can include a vertically pivoting transmission platform, providing for controlled vertical motion in the transmission while the transmission is powered by an engine by way of a belt assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven J. Weber, Denis Oswald, Travis Rasch, Erik Slegelis, Mark J. Melone, James F. Marshall, Richard Smith, Mark Lynch
  • Patent number: 10421357
    Abstract: An axle apparatus includes: an axle housing in which a machine part is disposed, the axle housing including a discharge port that discharges oil supplied to the machine part and a plurality of inflow ports into which the oil flows; a filter disposed outside the axle housing; a discharge pipe connecting the discharge port of the axle housing and the filter; a supply pipe of which one end side is connected to the filter, the other end side of the supply pipe being branched off and connected to the plurality of inflow ports; and a pump that causes the oil to circulate from the axle housing to the filter via the discharge pipe, and causes the oil to circulate from the filter to the axle housing via the supply pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Sano
  • Patent number: 10421358
    Abstract: The smart phone with integrated breathalyzer is a transportation safety device. The smart phone with integrated breathalyzer is further adapted for use with a personal data device. The smart phone with integrated breathalyzer comprises a vehicle module and a modified personal data device. The modified personal data device is a personal data device that further comprises an integral breathalyzer and an application. The modified personal data and the vehicle module exchange information using Bluetooth connection. The information exchanged comprises information regarding the condition of the driver and the enablement or disablement of the SMS functionality of the modified personal data device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Inventor: Douglas Marrisette, Sr.
  • Patent number: 10421359
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes at least one camera capturing images of an environment outside of the motor vehicle. A proximity sensor detects an object disposed adjacent to the motor vehicle. An electronic processor receives the images captured by the at least one camera, and receives a proximity signal from the proximity sensor. The proximity signal is indicative of whether an object is disposed adjacent to the motor vehicle. The electronic processor determines, based upon the images captured by the at least one camera and the proximity signal, whether the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure. The electronic processor receives an engine start request signal that has been wirelessly transmitted by a user. In response to receiving the engine start request signal, the electronic processor causes the engine start system to start an engine of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is not disposed within an enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Padmanaban Kanagaraj, Katherine Freund
  • Patent number: 10421360
    Abstract: A traction control system for a motor vehicle includes a controller configured to initiate a traction control intervention at one or more vehicle wheels. The controller is configured to inhibit the traction control intervention in dependence on a reduced wheel load condition in said one or more wheels. The reduced wheel load condition is identified based on at least one of a signal indicative of vehicle pitch and a signal indicative of vehicle heave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventor: Karl Richards
  • Patent number: 10421361
    Abstract: A system a vehicle having a wheel-driving motor is disclosed. The system includes wheel speed sensors for detecting speed of respective vehicle wheels, and a controller for controlling coast regenerative torque of the vehicle. The controller lowers coast regenerative torque based on wheel speed acquired detected using the wheel speed sensors. The controller is lowers coast regenerative torque based on speed difference among the wheels and based on change of wheel slip ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Woo Cheol Cho
  • Patent number: 10421362
    Abstract: A regenerative braking system separate from a friction braking system of a vehicle is disclosed. According to certain embodiments, the regenerative braking system may include at least one actuator and a controller. The controller may be configured to: determine whether an accelerator pedal is depressed; when the accelerator pedal is depressed, determine an amount of regenerative braking based on behavior of the accelerator pedal; when the accelerator pedal is not depressed, determine the amount of regenerative braking based on motion of the vehicle; and control the at least one actuator to generate the determined amount of regenerative braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: FARADAY&FUTURE INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Jackson Hall, Brian Neal Harries, Som Khamly
  • Patent number: 10421363
    Abstract: A drive for a boat, in particular a sailing boat, comprising an electric motor configured for the operation in the first quadrant and in the fourth quadrant, a propeller connected to the electric motor, and a control device. The control device is configured to operate the electric motor in the fourth quadrant in such a way that flow energy transmitted via the propeller to the electric motor is regenerated into electrical power. The control device is further configured to operate the electric motor such that a product of the propeller's pitch and rotational speed is smaller than a relative flow speed between the water and the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Torqeedo GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Biebach
  • Patent number: 10421364
    Abstract: A vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, having a charging apparatus for charging a vehicle-integrated energy storage cell by means of an external voltage source, wherein the charging apparatus has a charge pump for setting a voltage ratio between an input voltage and an output voltage, wherein the charge pump provides at east two discrete voltage ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Kristof, Dirk Herke
  • Patent number: 10421365
    Abstract: An adapter having a CHAdeMO socket on its input side for receiving a charging station connector of a CHAdeMO charging station, a CCS connector on its output side for connection to an electric vehicle, and an electronic circuit logic which embeds signal states entering via the CHAdeMO socket into a CAN message and to provide them as an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Ingo Zech, Andreas Wegener
  • Patent number: 10421366
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the electrical power consumption of selected consumers of an electric vehicle limits power to consumers in dependence upon the prevailing charge state of a battery that is provided for driving the vehicle. The electric power consumption of high current consumers is adjusted to use an available residual amount of energy in an efficient manner. Consumers may be selected and corresponding power limits or reduction factors for the consumers and associated battery states of charge via a vehicle graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Birkenbeil
  • Patent number: 10421367
    Abstract: An adaptive and adjustable isolation fault testing of a multi-string battery of an electric vehicle is disclosed. The isolation fault testing can be performed in an adjustable or predetermined loop having dedicated time windows for respective battery strings in compliance with the system requirements, specification, and regulatory regime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: FARADAY & FUTURE INC.
    Inventors: John Alser, Douglas D. Chidester, Anil Paryani, Phillip John Weicker
  • Patent number: 10421368
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure are generally directed to apparatus and techniques for apparatus for wireless charging. The apparatus generally includes a first wireless charging element, and transmit circuitry coupled to the first wireless charging element and configured to supply power to the first wireless charging element to transmit a wireless charging field to a vehicle. In certain aspects, the apparatus also includes a controller coupled to the transmit circuitry and configured to determine a charging condition indicative of a speed of the vehicle, and adjust the power supplied to the first wireless charging element via the transmit circuitry based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Beaver, Michael Le Gallais Kissin, Chang-Yu Huang
  • Patent number: 10421369
    Abstract: A charge control apparatus includes a control device configured to execute a refresh charge to fully charge a battery upon a predetermined refresh charge start condition being met, and execute a predetermined control according to a vehicle travel state under a situation where the control device does not execute the refresh charge, the predetermined control involving at least one of charging and discharging the battery. The control device suppresses the refresh charge when the control device detects at least one of a predetermined input from an external device and a predetermined vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobukazu Ueki
  • Patent number: 10421370
    Abstract: A coordinated control method for a distribution network with DER and EV and coordinated control system thereof includes acquiring information from at least one DER controller, at least one EV controller and/or at least one load controller; calculating P/Q references and/or circuit breaker control commands for the DER, the EV and the load based on active/reactive power balance, voltage and/or frequency requirement; allocating the references and/or the control commands to the DER, the EV and the load based on their locations and available capacity; and outputting the allocated references and/or control commands to the DER, the EV and the load. The solutions minimize negative impacts from DER and EVs and maintain a controllable voltage and frequency stabilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Zhao Wang, Yao Chen, Hector Zelaya De La Parra
  • Patent number: 10421371
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for charging an electric vehicle, comprising a measuring device which is designed to measure a charge voltage on a charging interface of the electric vehicle, an evaluation device which is designed to determine first characteristic variables from the measured charge voltage, a communication device which is designed to transfer the first characteristic variables to other electric vehicles and/or to capture, from the other electric vehicles, second characteristic variables relating to charge voltages of the other electric vehicles, a control device which is designed to control, in accordance with the first and/or second characteristic variables, the charge power withdrawn from an energy supply network by the electric vehicle by means of the charging interface. The invention also relates to an electric vehicle and a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ian Faye, Bernd Eckert
  • Patent number: 10421372
    Abstract: An electric power trade brokering system includes: a task information acquiring unit that acquires task information about a plurality of tasks of a moving body on which a storage battery is mounted and that is movable by utilizing electric power provided from the storage battery; and a trade counterparty determining unit that determines, based on the task information acquired by the task information acquiring unit, a counterparty to trade electric power with the moving body at a position where at least one task among the plurality of tasks is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Haneda
  • Patent number: 10421373
    Abstract: A seating assembly includes a turntable that is rotatable about a first vertical axis. A seatbase is slidably coupled to the turntable. The seatbase is configured to slidably actuate regardless of a rotational position of the turntable. The seating assembly may be installed in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Daniel Ferretti, Kevin Wayne Preuss, S. M. Akbar Berry
  • Patent number: 10421374
    Abstract: The invention relates to a forward pivot mechanism for positioning a seat back of a vehicle seat into at least one forward position and for positioning the seat back beyond the forward position into at least one further forward position, comprising a comfort lock for positioning and locking the seat back into a least one seated position, and comprising an easy entry latch for positioning the seat back into the at least one forward position, wherein a pivot range of the seat back into one of the forward positions can be limited by means of the easy entry latch, wherein the easy-entry latch is designed in such a way that it forms a forward limit stop during the shifting of the seat back from one of the seated positions into one of the forward positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: ADIENT LUXEMBOURGH HOLD S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Pluta, Christian Wolf, Thomas Dill, Thomas Christoffel
  • Patent number: 10421375
    Abstract: A reclining device includes: an internal gear; an external gear; a first wedge and a second wedge; a biasing member; and a striker, which has a pressing portion capable of pressing the first wedge and the second wedge, wherein a concave portion recessed with passing though in a diameter direction is formed on the first wedge and the second wedge, wherein the pressing portion of the striker is superimposed on an upper surface of the concave portion, and wherein the pressing portion presses a pressed portion that is provided on the concave portion on at least one of the first wedge and the second wedge to move the one of the first wedge and the second wedgepressed portion in a direction in which the wedge is pulled out from or in a direction in which the wedge is pushed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Noriyuki Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10421376
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a vehicle seat with a convertible seat back. In one embodiment the seat back has a seat back cushion with left and right spaced apart side portions and a lower lumbar portion, with a center cushion disposed in a first position between the side portions and above the lumbar portion of the seat back cushion. The center cushion has a lower end attached to the seat back, a back side facing the seat back, and a front side facing away from the seat back. The center cushion is configured to be moveable from the first position to a second position in which the upper end is proximate a lower end of the seat back, and the front side is facing a front side of a lumbar portion of the seat back cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Armorworks Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Bosen, Jose G. Olivarez, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10421377
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a pair of side frames, a seat back which includes a pair of connecting parts which respectively support the pair of side frames to be tiltable to a front side of a seat, and a seat belt which includes an upper body restricting part, which restricts an upper body of an occupant in the seat back, and in which the upper body restricting part is moored in the side frame. The connecting part which supports the side frame includes a base part which is fixed in a frame of the seat cushion, and a force limiter part which is interposed between the base part and the side frame and allows tilting of the side frame through a plastic deformation when a tensile force exceeding a predetermined value is loaded on the upper body restricting part of the seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Tobata, Takao Tsutsui, Atsushi Koike
  • Patent number: 10421378
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a decorative body provided alongside a seat cushion in a seat width direction; a side frame serving as a side framework of one side portion of the seat cushion which is closer to the decorative body than another side portion of the seat cushion; and a side cover covering a peripheral side surface of the seat cushion facing the decorative body, wherein the side frame is disposed at an offset position which is away from the one side portion of the seat cushion to a side where the decorative body is provided in the seat width direction, and wherein the side cover is branched into a drawn-in portion which is drawn downward beyond a gap between the seat cushion and the decorative body, and a cover portion which is connected to the drawn-in portion and covers the side frame from an upper side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Okazaki, Yuta Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 10421379
    Abstract: An armrest for a vehicle includes an armrest element and a floating support assembly configured for selectively pivoting the armrest element in a vehicle-fore and -aft motion. The floating support assembly includes at least one vertically translatable support arm pivotally attached to the armrest element. The at least one vertically translatable support arm may be operatively supported by a resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Ligi, Scott Simon, Thomas William Pietila, Chad M. Bross
  • Patent number: 10421380
    Abstract: A console assembly includes a base, a transmission shifter, a guideway and an armrest. The transmission shifter is carried on the base and is displaceable between a plurality of transmission mode defining positions and a storage position. The armrest is carried on the base by a guideway and is displaceable by sliding motion between a home position and a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Michael Keenan, Ryan Mathew Sandor
  • Patent number: 10421381
    Abstract: A passenger seat headrest (100) includes a body (102) and a side wing (120A, 120B). The body includes a forward (104), an aft side (106) distal from the forward side, a first side (108) extending between the forward side (104) and the aft side (106), and a second side (110) distal from the first side (108) and extending between the forward side (104) and the aft side (106). The side wing (120A) is pivotably connected to the first side (108) of the body (102) and is pivotable between a stowed position, at which the side wing (120A) is positioned against the forward side (104) of the body (102), and a deployed position, at which the side wing (120A) is spaced apart from the forward side (104) of the body (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC
    Inventor: Manon Kühne
  • Patent number: 10421382
    Abstract: A seat for a vehicle is provided. The seat comprises a lock device having an unlocked position and a locked position and an unlock groove disposed on a seat back. The unlock groove is in communication with the lock device and configured to receive a tongue of a seatbelt, and the lock device is unlocked when the tongue is inserted into the unlock groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Josh Zheng, Qingsong Ma, Bob Wang, Laurence Yin, Sophie Yan
  • Patent number: 10421383
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a seatback having a rear-mounted and rotationally operable tray table selectively operable between a plurality of rotational positions. An actuator is coupled to the seatback and the tray table, wherein in response to a decelerating impact, the actuator applies a generally downward force that biases the tray table toward a safety position against a back surface of the seatback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammed Omar Faruque, Agnes S. Kim
  • Patent number: 10421384
    Abstract: A load securing system for transporting a coil includes a coil that may be transported on a trailer. The coil has top side, an outwardly facing side and a central aperture. The central aperture has a bounding surface. A plurality of securing units is provided and hingedly coupled together such that the plurality of securing units forms a circle. Each of the securing units is selectively positioned on the coil when the coil is transported to protect the coil from impact damage. A chain plurality of chains is each extended over an associated one of the securing units to secure the coil to the trailer. Each of the securing units is comprised of a rigid material to inhibit the chains from damaging the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Inventor: Loyie Branch
  • Patent number: 10421385
    Abstract: A ladder rack which is removably mounted on the top edge of a pick-up bed for hauling ladders. The ladder rack can be quickly installed or removed from the pick-up bed without damaging the bed finish. Because the ladder rack is modular, the disassembled rack components can be folded into a space saving configuration for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Inventor: Kevin M. Chambers
  • Patent number: 10421386
    Abstract: A strap assembly device is used to maintain engagement between the strap and the strap anchor point. The strap assembly device works by creating a loop to prevent the fastening hook on the strap from slipping. The strap assembly device is looped through a strap anchor point and the fastening hook is engaged to the anchor point. A portion of the strap extends beyond the fastening hook through the anchor point. The strap creates a loop by using a fastening system. The fastening system is generated by a male and female portion being joined. Either the male or female portion of the fastening system is located on the medial portion of the strap (portion before the hook). The other portion of the fastening system, male or female, is located on the lateral portion of the strap (portion extending beyond the hook). Once the fastening hook is engaged with the strap anchor point on the vehicle, the male and female portions of the fastening systems are joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Skellen Enterprises LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Scott Sauerwald
  • Patent number: 10421387
    Abstract: A winch apparatus for mounting to a load bed comprises a mounting bracket adapted to be mounted to a side edge of the load bed, and a pivot bracket pivotally mounted to the mounting bracket about a substantially vertical winch swivel axis. A winch is attached to the pivot bracket and configured such that, when the mounting bracket is mounted to the side edge of the load bed, a winch shaft of the winch is oriented substantially horizontally and a bottom of the winch is at a vertical location that is above a top surface of the load bed such that the winch can pivot over the top surface of the load bed. The winch can be configured to be conveniently driven by a conventional and commonly available ratchet wrench of a size appropriate to the particular winch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: POWER PIN INC.
    Inventor: Brian R. Olson
  • Patent number: 10421388
    Abstract: A light assembly (2) such as for a headlight comprises a housing (9), the housing (9) having a rear and a front, whereby in use light is emitted from the front of the housing (9). A transparent or translucent light guide (10, 110) extends from the rear to the front and at least partially surrounded by the housing (9). The light guide (10, 110) lit at its rear and emits light along at least part of its length. It is provided with formations (17, 117) so as to take the appearance of cut glass or crystal and is used as a park light and as part of a welcome sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Bentley Motors Limited
    Inventors: Sangyup Lee, David Leary
  • Patent number: 10421389
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting system includes: a lighting device that emits a first light and a second light to a periphery of an own vehicle, the second light having a higher directivity than the first light; a camera to acquire image information; a detector to emit an electromagnetic wave and acquire a reflection wave; and an electronic control unit configured to detect a physical body using the image information, detect the physical body using information of the reflection wave, control the lighting device such that the first light is emitted to the physical body detected by the reflection wave, determine whether the physical body detected using the image information in a state where the first light is being emitted is an target object, and control the lighting device such that the lighting device emits the second light toward a predetermined range around the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Nagata, Shinya Kawamata, Kazuyuki Fujita, Minami Sato
  • Patent number: 10421390
    Abstract: A lamp device mounted on a vehicle includes a housing, a first translucent member defining a housing space together with the housing, a lamp unit housed in the housing space and including a light source, a sensor housed in the housing space and configured to detect information outside the vehicle based on invisible light, and a second translucent member housed in the housing space and covering the sensor. The second translucent member has transmittance of visible light lower than that of the first translucent member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Hara, Kazuhito Osada, Nobuyuki Horikawa
  • Patent number: 10421391
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a plurality of lamps provided on a vehicle; a sensing unit configured to sense information related to the vehicle; and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to, based on a determination, through the sensing unit, that at least a portion of the vehicle has entered a first area that is adjacent to an available parking space, activate, in a first illumination mode, at least one lamp among the plurality of lamps that has entered the first area that is adjacent to the available parking space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Cheolmun Kim, Sanghyuk Lee, Kihoon Han
  • Patent number: 10421392
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus for vehicles with a light source unit and optical equipment for generating a specified signal light distribution to provide a specified signal function. The optical equipment consists of at least two optical units. A first optical unit deflects a first light beam emitted by the first light source is designed to generate the specified signal light distribution. A second optical unit, a hologram element, is used to deflect a second light beam generated by the second light source to create a holographic light image so that the specified signal function consists of the signal light distribution and the holographic light image that is spaced at a distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Martin Mügge, Thomas Rettweiler
  • Patent number: 10421393
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a light-sheet assembly configured to conform to the rooftop. The light-sheet assembly extends at least one-half the length of the rooftop, and further extends at least one-half the width of the rooftop when mounted to the rooftop. The light-sheet assembly further includes a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) lights that are distributed about the rooftop when the light-sheet assembly is mounted to the rooftop. A controller is communicably coupled to the light-sheet assembly and configured to operate the plurality of LED lights. A roof-mount is affixed to the light-sheet assembly and configured to mount the light-sheet assembly to the rooftop of the emergency vehicle. The lighting apparatus is useful for emergency vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Inventor: John Crews
  • Patent number: 10421394
    Abstract: A driving assistance device for assisting driving a vehicle includes a non-congested state calculation unit and an intent notification control unit. The non-congested state calculation unit is configured to calculate a non-congested state of a plurality of dynamic obstacles around the vehicle. The intent notification control unit is configured to control a notification device such that a notification of intent of the vehicle to pass is performed based on the non-congested state calculated by the non-congested state calculation unit after the vehicle has decelerated or stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Morimura, Junya Watanabe, Seiji Arakawa
  • Patent number: 10421395
    Abstract: A retrofit trailer board system for vehicles is disclosed, including a trailer board carrying a plurality of signalling lights on a surface thereof, and a relaying control unit which is connected between the trailer board and a plurality of optical sensors. Each optical sensor is arranged for removable connection to the exterior surface of respective vehicle lights, each sensor being configured to issue a signal responsive to operation of a vehicle light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Inventor: Ben Snell
  • Patent number: 10421396
    Abstract: Systems and methods are directed to signaling status of an autonomous vehicle to a rider or potential rider. In one example, a computer-implemented method for communicating autonomous vehicle status includes obtaining, by a computing system comprising one or more computing devices, data associated with a state of an autonomous vehicle. The method further includes determining, by the computing system, one or more vehicle indications indicative of the state of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the data associated with the state of the autonomous vehicle. The method further includes providing, by the computing system, control data for one or more visual indicators associated with the autonomous vehicle to communicate the one or more determined vehicle indications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric James Hanson, Molly Castle Nix, Sean Chin, Dennis Zhao
  • Patent number: 10421397
    Abstract: A system is described for providing forward maneuvering information of a vehicle to avoid obstacles that may damage the vehicle. The system includes a microprocessor configured to execute instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium. The microprocessor is coupled to a sensor, a monitoring sensor, and a head-up display (HUD). The sensor receives information of surroundings of the vehicle. The monitoring sensor determines an angle of a steering wheel. The microprocessor receives the information and the angle, determines a guided path for the vehicle based on the information and the angle, and transmits the guided path to the HUD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Elie Abi Chaaya