Patents Issued in April 21, 2020
  • Patent number: 10625539
    Abstract: The invention relates to a decorative laminate comprising a core impregnated with a phenolic resin, coated on at least one of the faces thereof with a sheet impregnated with a mixture comprising an alkylated melamine resin and an acrylic polyol resin. The invention also relates to a process for preparing such a laminate and the use thereof as coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Wilsonart LLC
    Inventors: Philippe Wloczysiak, Anne Claire Ferrandez
  • Patent number: 10625540
    Abstract: A hub for bicycles including a hub shell which is rotatably supported relative to a hub axle, a rotor rotatably supported relative to the hub axle by means of two rotor bearings, and a freewheel device having two interacting freewheel components namely, a hub-side freewheel component and a rotor-side freewheel component. The two freewheel components each include axial engagement elements and they are movable relative to one another in the axial direction between a freewheel position and an intermeshing engaging position. Rolling members are provided for defined accommodation in the hub-side freewheel component to support the hub shell relative to the hub axle. An attachment portion and a centering portion are configured in the hub shell and an attachment area and a centering area are configured on the hub-side freewheel component. The attachment area is connected with the attachment portion and the centering area is centered on the centering portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: DT SWISS INC.
    Inventors: Martin Walthert, Stefan Spahr
  • Patent number: 10625541
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes first and second side blocks formed respectively on a side portion such that the first and second side blocks extend toward the inside in a tire radial direction from a tread shoulder portion. The first and second side blocks are arranged alternately in a tire circumferential direction. The first side block has a recessed portion formed so as to be indented with respect to a side surface. In a first region, the second side block projects outwardly in a tire width direction more than the first side block. In a second region disposed inner side than the first region, the first side block projects outwardly in the tire width direction more than the second side block. In a third region disposed inner side than the second region, the second side block projects outwardly in the tire width direction more than the first side block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo Kuwano
  • Patent number: 10625542
    Abstract: A tire pressure management system includes a wheel valve. The wheel valve is in fluid communication with a wheel assembly. A supply valve assembly is selectively in fluid communication with the wheel valve through a fluid control circuit. The supply valve assembly permits fluid communication between a source of pressurized air and the fluid control circuit. A control valve assembly is selectively in fluid communication with the wheel valve through the fluid control circuit. The control valve assembly permits fluid communication between the source of pressurized air and the fluid control circuit or between the fluid control circuit and atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: Kurt P. Gillen
  • Patent number: 10625543
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a tire pressure management system includes a housing. A first chamber (32) is provided in the housing. A second chamber (38) is provided in the housing. The second chamber is selectively in fluid communication with the first chamber. A third chamber (44) is provided in the housing. The third chamber is selectively in fluid communication with the second chamber. A deflate piston (120) is at least partially provided in the third chamber and the second chamber. The deflate piston (120) selectively permits or prevents fluid communication between the second chamber and the third chamber. An inflate piston (72) is attached to the deflate piston (120). The inflate piston (72) is at least partially provided in the second chamber and the first chamber. The inflate piston (72) selectively permits or prevents fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: Lucas A. Balistreri
  • Patent number: 10625544
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a tire pressure management system includes a housing having a first perforation and a second perforation. The first perforation is selectively in fluid communication with the second perforation. A shuttle assembly is provided in the housing. A failsafe piston is connected to the shuttle assembly. A first biasing member applies a bias to the failsafe piston. A second biasing member applies a bias to the shuttle assembly. When a pressure differential between a pressure in the second perforation and a pressure in the first perforation is at or below a predetermined value, the bias applied by the first biasing member urges the failsafe piston toward the shuttle assembly to prevent fluid communication between the first perforation and the second perforation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: Lucas A. Balistreri
  • Patent number: 10625545
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed to facilitate TPMS broadcast mode selection. An example vehicle comprises sensors, a processor, and memory. The processor is in communication with the memory and with the sensors. The processor is configured to: receive an unencrypted signal indicating an abnormal tire pressure, enter an encrypted mode with the sensors, receive an encrypted follow up tire pressure status from the sensors, and determine whether the unencrypted signal is authentic based on the encrypted follow up tire pressure status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Ali Hassani, Dilip B Patel
  • Patent number: 10625546
    Abstract: An air supply system for a work vehicle includes a compressor configured to compress a first supply of ambient air and to output a compressed air supply via a compressed air line, an air induction assembly configured to receive the compressed air supply from the compressed air line and to flow the compressed air supply through a body of the air induction assembly to create a low pressure region sufficient to draw in a second supply of ambient air, wherein the body is configured to combine the second supply of ambient air with the compressed air supply to generate a combination air supply, and a tire inflation system fluidly coupled to the air induction assembly and configured to selectively increase and decrease an air pressure within a tire of the work vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Eran Salzman
  • Patent number: 10625547
    Abstract: A ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer is disclosed. The ball mount can comprise a ball portion for interfacing with a ball configured to couple with a tongue of a trailer, a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle, and a load measurement device associated with the hitch portion. The hitch portion can be configured to pivot relative to the hitch receiver about a fulcrum in response to a downward force on the ball, with the hitch receiver resisting rotation of the hitch portion about the fulcrum thereby inducing a load on the hitch portion. The load measurement device can be configured to determine a magnitude of the downward force on the ball based on the load on the hitch portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Weigh Safe, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin McAllister
  • Patent number: 10625548
    Abstract: There is described a hi-rail device comprising a cam assembly, an axle assembly and a locking pin. The cam assembly comprises a guiding slot which comprises a plurality of contiguous segments extending as a broken line, e.g., in a flattened M shape, wherein a first one and a last one of the contiguous segments extend in a downward slope with respect to a horizon. The locking pin inserted in the guiding slot and movable in translation within the guiding slot in which it is inserted. The axle assembly, in which the locking pin is inserted, has a weight applied on the locking pin which locks the locking pin in the lower end or the upper end of the guiding slot if the locking pin is in the first one or the last one of the four contiguous segments and no other force is applied thereonto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGIE CONTINENTAL RAILWORKS I INC.
    Inventor: Francois Aube
  • Patent number: 10625549
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a wheel link for receiving a bearing in a vehicle that comprises a single-piece wheel link body having a first wheel link end, a second wheel link end, and a connecting section that connects the first wheel link end and the second wheel link end. The single-piece wheel link body extends along a wheel link longitudinal axis. A sleeve-shaped eyelet is formed in the first wheel link end. And the first wheel link end is bulged to form a bearing sleeve for the bearing, increasing a diameter of the sleeve-shaped eyelet and a length of the eyelet transversely with respect to the wheel link longitudinal axis beyond the dimensions of the connecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Meyer, Hauke Mehner
  • Patent number: 10625550
    Abstract: A control arm and a method of manufacturing thereof is disclosed. The control arm is made of an aluminum extrusion profile with a first end section, a second end section, and a middle section, which connects the first and second end sections. The control arm includes a base, two side walls, which are angled substantially perpendicular therefrom and which are spaced apart from one another on the longitudinal side, with a height H, and flanges, which are angled substantially perpendicular from the side walls at their free end. The first end section includes a first connecting region, the second end section includes a second connecting region, and the middle section includes at least one third connecting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GmbH
    Inventors: Frode Paulsen, Dirk Voigt, Guido Boeing, Stephan Meyer
  • Patent number: 10625551
    Abstract: An elastic chassis link for a vehicle is disclosed. The elastic chassis link includes a sliding joint having first and second sliding joint rods. The joint rods are movable axially relative to each other in order to change the rigidity of the elastic chassis link. The first sliding joint rod is connected to a piston that is arranged axially and movable axially within a piston space within second sliding joint rod. The piston divides the piston space into two chambers that interact with a damping element, such as fluid, within each chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Rumpel, Hartmut Krehmer
  • Patent number: 10625552
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a bodywork structural element and a running gear, such as a vehicle back end, that includes at least one arm. The at least one arm includes a top attachment end that is received in a sheet metal clevis supported on a bottom surface of a floor of the bodywork structural element. The attachment end includes at least one transverse tubular sleeve that is received with reduced play between two parallel flanks of the clevis, and an attachment screw capable of passing through two coaxial bores of both flanks and the transverse tubular sleeve to enable attachment of the attachment end into the clevis. The clevis guides the attachment end into a position for aligning the bores of the flanks and the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Johann Willemenot, Olivier Rioult
  • Patent number: 10625553
    Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle includes: a composite leaf spring having a protective member which covers an outer surface of the composite leaf spring; and an abrasion-preventing pad coupled to the composite leaf spring and shielding. The protective member and the abrasion-preventing pad are disposed at a portion of the composite leaf spring to which a U-bolt is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Tae Hyung Kim, Seung Hyun Oh
  • Patent number: 10625554
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a vehicle suspension member includes a body of a vehicle suspension member made of a metal, a first layer provided to cover a surface of the body and a second layer provided to cover at least a portion of a surface of the first layer. The first layer includes an epoxy resin, and the second layer includes an epoxy resin and a fluororesin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Mori, Tatsuya Nishimura, Masayoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10625555
    Abstract: A shock absorber system can includes a shock tube and a piston slidably mated to an end of the shock tube. The system can include a heat sink reservoir. The heat sink reservoir can be connected to the shock tube via a valved fluid connection. The valved fluid connection can limit or permit fluid flow from the shock tube to the heat sink reservoir depending on fluid velocity and/or pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: ICON VEHICLE DYNAMICS LLC
    Inventor: Dylan Samuel Evans
  • Patent number: 10625556
    Abstract: An active suspension system comprises at least one biasing device configured to support a body from a structure, and at least one motor. A magnetorheological (MR) fluid clutch apparatus(es) is coupled to the at least one motor to receive torque from the motor, the MR fluid clutch apparatus controllable to transmit a variable amount of torque. A mechanism is between the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus and the body to convert the torque received from the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus into a force on the body. Sensor(s) provide information indicative of a state of the body or structure. A controller receives the information indicative of the state of the body or structure and for outputting a signal to control the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus in exerting a desired force on the body to control movement of the body according to a desired movement behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: EXONETIK INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Sebastien Plante, Marc Denninger, Guifre Julio, Patrick Chouinard, Pascal LaRose, Caroline Fraser
  • Patent number: 10625557
    Abstract: A narrow track tilting vehicle includes an undercarriage centered over a contact point, an upper chassis configured to pivot about a mobile longitudinal axis, and a cradle assembly configured to allow the mobile axis to move laterally relative to the contact point. In wheeled embodiments, the configuration of the carriage allows the upper chassis to tilt in response to centrifugal forces, while allowing the wheels to remain perpendicular to a level surface along which the vehicle is traveling. When the vehicle is traveling along a surface that is canted relative to the level surface, the configuration of the carriage allows to the upper chassis to remain upright relative to the level surface, and the wheels to extend perpendicular to the canted surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventor: Franklin Ross Knisley
  • Patent number: 10625558
    Abstract: A damping force control apparatus for a suspension is applied to a damper whose damping force can be set based on a damping force control value and controls the damping force control value. The damper is attached to a support portion with a buffer member interposed between the support portion of a vehicle body and a cylinder of the damper. The apparatus includes: a displacement related quantity estimation device estimating relative displacement of a vehicle wheel and a relative speed of the vehicle wheel with respect to the vehicle body as estimated relative displacement and an estimated relative speed; and a damping force control value calculation device determining the damping force control value so as to suppress vibration of the vehicle body based on state variables provided from the vehicle body and the estimated relative speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito Yamamoto, Wataru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10625559
    Abstract: A tubular type torsion beam is manufactured by bending and welding and coupling a plate material. The plate material has a plurality of protrusions disposed on a plurality of side surfaces in a width direction of the vehicle. The torsion beam is manufactured by molding the plate material in a pipe shape by bending the plate material in the width direction and molding the plate material to dispose the plurality of protrusions to contact each other to form a gap between the plurality of side surfaces of the plate material and then welding and coupling the plurality of side surfaces of the plate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, HWASHIN CO., LTD
    Inventors: Nam Ho Kim, Byong Cheol Kim, Jong Kyu Park
  • Patent number: 10625560
    Abstract: There is disclosed a vehicle air conditioner which is capable of enlarging an effective range of a dehumidifying and heating mode to environmental conditions and smoothly dehumidifying and heating a vehicle interior. A vehicle air conditioner 1 executes a dehumidifying and heating mode in which a controller lets a refrigerant discharged from a compressor 2 radiate heat in a radiator 4, and decompresses the refrigerant by which heat has been radiated and then lets the refrigerant absorb heat in a heat absorber 9 and an outdoor heat exchanger 7, the controller decreases an outdoor blower voltage FANVout of an outdoor blower 15 and decreases an air volume into the outdoor blower 15 in a case where a temperature Te of the heat absorber 9 is high even when the controller adjusts a valve position of an outdoor expansion valve 6 into a lower limit of controlling in a situation in which a temperature TCI of the radiator 4 is satisfactory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SANDEN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Miyakoshi, Kenichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10625561
    Abstract: Methods and systems for coordinated zone operation of the MTRS are provided. The method includes a MTRS controller determining whether a first zone environmental condition difference between a first zone measured environmental condition and a first zone desired set point environmental condition is greater than a first threshold. The method also includes the MTRS controller coordinating operation of the first environmental condition unit and the second environmental condition unit when the first zone environmental condition difference is determined to be greater than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Neu, James E. Conde, Brett Heberer, Wayne Donnellan
  • Patent number: 10625562
    Abstract: A cooling water heating apparatus includes: a housing having an inlet through which cooling water flows in at a first side and an outlet through which cooling water flows out at a second side; a sheath heater housed in the housing and electrically connected to an outside through an electric circuit to heat the cooling water in the housing; and an overheat preventing device housed in the housing to be submerged under the cooling water in an upper side of the housing in a gravity direction, the overheat preventing device having a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device connected in series to the electric circuit of the sheath heater to allow the PTC device to control energization of the sheath heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Doowon Climate Control Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Man Ju Oh, Sang Shin Lee, So La Chung, Jae Woong Kim, So Yoon Park, Jae Woo Park, Du Youl Choi
  • Patent number: 10625563
    Abstract: A heat pump system can be used with a vehicle. A cooling system includes a radiator connected to a cooling line and a first water pump and circulating a coolant along the cooling line so as to cool an electric component. A battery module is provided on a battery cooling line selectively connected to the cooling line through a first valve. And HVAC module includes an internal heater connected to the cooling line through a first connection line, a cooler connected to the battery cooling line through a second connection line, and an opening or closing door provided between the internal heater and the cooler and controlling external air passing through the cooler to be selectively introduced into the internal heater depending on cooling, heating, and heating and dehumidifying modes of the vehicle. A centralized energy is connected to each of the battery cooling line and the cooling line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jae Yeon Kim, Yunho Hwang
  • Patent number: 10625564
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an outdoor heat exchanger, and more particularly, to a down flow type outdoor heat exchanger having channels of at least three paths in a heat pump system for vehicles, in which a flux distribution means protruded in a height direction is further formed in a lower tank in which the channel is changed from an upward direction to a downward direction or from a downward direction to an upward direction to block some area of a lower portion thereof so as to prevent a refrigerant from being non-uniformly distributed while a flux is concentrated toward a rear side of the channel due to a fluid inertia in an area in which the flow path is changed, thereby delaying frosting upon heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Jun Young Song, Hong-Young Lim, Kwang Hun Oh
  • Patent number: 10625565
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a plate provided on a seatback, an attachment mounted on the plate, two wires extending substantially in an up-down direction to receive a load in a seat front-rear direction applied to the plate, and two locking fixing portions provided above a location of a combined center of gravity of the plate and the attachment to lock and fix the plate with the two wires. Each of the two locking fixing portions includes a first holding portion, a second holding portion, and a wall portion. The first holding portion and the second holding portion hold the corresponding wire in the seat front-rear direction. The wall portion contacts the corresponding wire from a side opposite to the attachment across the wire. The two locking fixing portions are open on the attachment sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomokazu Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10625566
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a thermal conditioning system of a vehicle are disclosed. The system services multiple components in a vehicle, including at least one passenger component, such as a first seat and/or a second seat, and at least one auxiliary component, such as a storage enclosure, a first cup holder and/or a second cup holder. The system uses a vapor compression system as the thermal energy source. The control methods prioritize thermal conditioning of one or more of the various components based on one or more thermal criterion and apply component-specific control routines to the thermal conditioning based on that prioritization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
    Inventors: Ioannis Androulakis, Scott Wolas
  • Patent number: 10625567
    Abstract: Embodiments include a vehicle comprising a mirror assembly attached to a vehicle side and including an air temperature sensor for measuring a first temperature value; a wireless transceiver for receiving a second temperature value from a wireless network; and a processor configured to, upon determining that the first temperature value is greater than the second temperature value, cause the mirror assembly to move to a first position relative to the vehicle side. Another embodiment includes a method of correcting air temperature reading in a vehicle, the method comprising obtaining a first temperature measurement from an air temperature sensor located in a mirror assembly attached to a vehicle side; obtaining a second temperature measurement from a wireless network; and upon determining that the first temperature measurement is greater than the second temperature measurement, causing the mirror assembly to move to a first position relative to the vehicle side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M Dudar
  • Patent number: 10625568
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller configured to determine when an HVAC system is providing at least one of heating, ventilating and air conditioning to a primary zone and to determine when a drivetrain is providing energy to a power source or the power source is providing surplus energy to the drivetrain, and in response, to activate a low cost energy mode wherein the HVAC system is operated to provide the at least one of heating, ventilating and air conditioning to at least one secondary zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: John Gibble
  • Patent number: 10625569
    Abstract: An engine controller includes a reading section and a ratio-setting control section. The reading section is included in an air conditioner. The air conditioner draws an air into an air-conditioner housing, heats the air by a cooling water cooling the engine, and blows the air into a vehicle compartment. The reading section reads a state information that relates to a state of the air conditioner having an effect on an outside-air drawing ratio. The outside-air drawing ratio is a ratio of a volume of an outside air to a total volume of the outside air and an inside air. The ratio-setting control section decreases an amount of heat generated by the engine when the outside-air drawing ratio is a second ratio, which is smaller than a first ratio, to be smaller than an amount of heat generated by the engine when the outside-air drawing ratio is the first ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Fujii, Hiroshi Nakajima, Takafumi Masuda, Masanori Morikawa
  • Patent number: 10625570
    Abstract: A control apparatus according to the invention is applied to a heat exchanging system comprising a connection system for connecting an engine water passage for heat exchanging water for cooling an internal combustion engine and the heater water passage for the heat exchanging water for heating a heater core to each other. The apparatus activates the connection system to connect the engine water passage to the heater water passage when a temperature of the heat exchanging water circulating through the engine water passage, is equal to or higher than the temperature of the heat exchanging water circulating through the heater water passage, and an interior of a vehicle is requested to be warmed up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidefumi Aikawa, Yoichi Ogura, Yuji Miyoshi, Masatoshi Yano, Yu Ofune
  • Patent number: 10625571
    Abstract: A vehicle heater (10) comprises a main body (12) carrying a non-intrinsically safe heat conductor layer (14), and a temperature monitoring device (16, 18, 20, 44) assigned to the heat conductor layer (14). The temperature monitoring device (16, 18, 20, 44) is designed to distinguish and to report at least the three following states: normal operation, reversible malfunction and irreversible malfunction. Moreover, a method for monitoring a vehicle heater (10) is suggested in which the following states are distinguished and reported: normal operation, reversible malfunction and irreversible malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Dietmar Bytzek, Thorsten Kabelitz, Karl Goettl, Daniel Eckert, Fritz Wegener, Hans Rechberger, Uwe Reinholz
  • Patent number: 10625572
    Abstract: A heating/cooling module having a condenser region, an evaporator region, and at least one fluid distribution region. The condenser region has a first flow section which can be flowed through by a refrigerant and a second flow section which can be flowed through by a coolant. The evaporator region has a third flow section which can be flowed through by a refrigerant and a fourth flow section which can be flowed through by a coolant. The flow sections are formed by a plurality of flow ducts which are configured between the individual disc elements which form the heating/cooling module. A first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet are provided, via which the condenser region can be flowed through with a coolant. A second inlet and a second outlet are provided, via which the evaporator region can be flowed through with a coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Gottfried Duerr, Herbert Hofmann, Joachim Michael Haug
  • Patent number: 10625573
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a vehicle is provided. The thermal management system f includes a cooling apparatus that circulates a coolant cooled in a radiator through a coolant line to cool a driving device in a vehicle. A main centralized energy (CE) module is connected to the cooling apparatus via the coolant line, selectively heat-exchanges thermal energy generated during a condensation and evaporation of the refrigerant circulating the inside with a coolant, and respectively supplies the coolant of low temperature or high temperature to a cooling heat exchanger or a heating heat exchanger. A sub CE module is connected to the cooling apparatus via the coolant line, selectively heat-exchanges thermal energy generated during a condensation and evaporation of the refrigerant circulating the inside with a coolant, and supplies the coolant of low temperature to a controller provided in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jae Yeon Kim
  • Patent number: 10625574
    Abstract: A ventilation apparatus blows air into a vehicle compartment of a vehicle. The ventilation apparatus has a blower, a duct, a blowing outlet, guide vanes, and a turning mechanism. The blowing outlet is provided with the duct. The blowing outlet guides the air to flow along a lower surface of the duct. The guide vanes change a flow velocity component of the air in a lateral direction of the vehicle by guiding the air to flow along the guide vanes. The guide vanes are arranged in the duct on an upstream side of the blowing outlet and distanced from each other in the lateral direction. According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to provide a ventilation apparatus that can change a flow direction of air in the lateral direction of the vehicle while suppressing a pressure loss of air and a damage of the ventilation apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshinori Ochiai, Shuzo Oda
  • Patent number: 10625575
    Abstract: A slim-type air vent device for a vehicle may include: a single horizontal wing mounted at an outlet position of a slim air duct to be vertically rotatable, the single horizontal wing being exposed to the outside; an integrated control knob mounted to the single horizontal wing to be horizontally movable; dampers mounted in a rear space in the slim air duct such that an opening angle of each of the dampers is adjustable; a gear assembly disposed between a back surface of the integrated control knob and rotation shafts of the dampers, the gear assembly having a plurality of gears; and a plurality of vertical wings mounted immediately behind the single horizontal wing in an internal space of the slim air duct, to be rotated in a left or right direction by a single link during a left or right movement of the integrated control knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, NIFCO KOREA Inc., Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Ju Lee, In Seop Kim, Young Rok Lee, Young Beom Lee, Choong Yeul Kim, Dae Ig Jung, Keun Sig Lim, Ji Won Lee, Jae Seob Choi, Won Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 10625576
    Abstract: A glazing includes a laminated glazed element including an exterior glass sheet, an interior glass sheet, and at least one plastic interlayer sheet situated between the glass sheets, and, along at least part of at least one edge, a profile section including a functional part provided with a groove and a fixing part for fixing it to the glazed element. The fixing part includes an interlayer flange which, viewed in cross section, is situated between the interlayer face of the exterior glass sheet and the interlayer face of the interior glass sheet; of the interior face and the exterior face of the interlayer flange at least one face being in contact with the plastic interlayer sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Hans-Werner Kuster, Volkmar Offermann
  • Patent number: 10625577
    Abstract: A silicone coating is provided for glass and other surfaces with improved glass clarity and maintenance requirements. In addition, a process for preparing a film with improved glass clarity and maintenance requirements. Further a method is provided for adhering an improved coating to a glass (or other) surface. Also a silicone coating is provided for granite, cement, and lexan/plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventor: Raymond T. Doran
  • Patent number: 10625578
    Abstract: An assembly includes a first panel, a second panel having an aperture therethrough, and a pin. The pin has a base and a shaft. The base is secured to the first panel and the shaft is disposed at least partially in the aperture. The pin additionally includes at least one resilient clip member having a first end and a second end. The first end is disposed within the shaft, and the second end retains the second panel in a desired position relative to the first panel. The shaft comprises a first material and the clip member comprises a second material, different from the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David T. Renke, Michael A. Faucett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10625579
    Abstract: A concealed sun visor includes a body having a receiving portion. The receiving portion includes two lateral grooves respectively extending transversely from two ends of a top edge and an open end opposite to the top edge. A holding and positioning mechanism includes a holding portion extending outward from an edge thereof. A light filter is mounted in the receiving portion and has an edge securely mounted in the holding portion. Two pressing members are disposed on two ends of the holding and positioning mechanism, respectively. The two ends of the holding and positioning mechanism are received in the two lateral grooves. Each pressing member is biased outward to press against a wall of a respective lateral groove to thereby provide a retaining force holding the light filter in the two lateral grooves. The light filter is movable between a storage position and an extended position for blocking light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventor: Cheng-Chang Liao
  • Patent number: 10625580
    Abstract: A system such as a vehicle may have adjustable structures such as adjustable windows. Adjustable windows may have adjustable layers such as adjustable tint layers, adjustable reflectivity layers, and adjustable haze layers. Adjustable window layers may be incorporated into a window with one or more transparent structural layers such as a pair of glass window layers. Adjustable components such as adjustable reflectivity layers, adjustable haze layers, and adjustable tint layers may be interposed between the pair of glass window layers. Fixed partially reflective mirrors, fixed tint layers, and/or fixed haze layers may be used in place of adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers and/or may be incorporated into windows in addition to adjustable tint, haze, and reflectivity layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Ibuki Kamei, James R. Wilson, Clarisse Mazuir, John Raff, Budhadipta Dan, David E. Kingman, Martin Melcher
  • Patent number: 10625581
    Abstract: A vehicle lateral structure includes: a rocker extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle; and a side door existing along the rocker in a closed state in which the side door is closed, the side door including a lower region of the side door being located further from a center of the vehicle in a vehicle width direction than the rocker is in the vehicle width direction and a protrusion portion which protrudes toward the center of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction from a lower end portion of the lower region in a vertical direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsushi Yaza
  • Patent number: 10625582
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes a first interlock coupled to an inner frame panel. A second interlock coupled to an inner trim panel. The first and second interlocks are separated to define a ready state. During an impact condition, the first and second interlocks selectively engage one another to define an impact state that resists deflection of the inner trim panel away from the inner frame panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary Mullen, Bhavani Thota, Daniel Morin, Juergen Koehler, Linh Doan
  • Patent number: 10625583
    Abstract: A mounting structure of interior trim includes a handle-shaped grip arranged on the interior trim and a bracket connecting a vehicle body panel and the grip. The grip has a fixing base. The fixing base includes a base portion, a cylindrical boss portion, and an opening. The bracket includes a grip attachment part arranged on the fixing base, a pair of panel attachment portions arranged at both ends of the bracket, each of the panel attachment portions attached to the vehicle body panel, and a pair of connecting pieces straddling between the pair of the panel attachment portions with the grip attachment portion sandwiched in the center. One of the pair of connecting pieces has a fragile portion that becomes a deformation starting point of the bracket when a load is applied from the fixing base to the grip attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: KASAI KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomonari Sakuma
  • Patent number: 10625584
    Abstract: A lower structure of a vehicle includes a rear bumper cover, a rear floor cover serving as an under cover that is provided at a lower side, in an up-and-down direction of the vehicle, than a floor panel of the vehicle and at a front side of the vehicle relative to the rear bumper cover, and a kick sensor having a signal line which extends in a width direction of the vehicle and a sensor part placed on the signal line. The kick sensor is placed inside a closed cross-section space surrounded by a connected structure of the rear bumper cover and the under cover and formed on the side of the floor panel, isolated from an outside of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KYUSHU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Linzhong Li, Kenichi Tatsuguchi
  • Patent number: 10625585
    Abstract: A vehicle roof construction comprises a roof opening, a panel and an operating mechanism. The operating mechanism comprises a rear assembly having a lever. The lever rotates around a first transverse axis at its first end. The first transverse axis position changes along a first guide. The second end of the lever at a second transverse axis is pivotally attached to a sliding member that engages a panel track. The rear assembly comprises an auxiliary lever that rotates around a third transverse axis at its first end. The position of the third transverse axis changes along a second guide. The second end of the auxiliary lever at a fourth transverse axis is pivotally attached to the sliding member. The auxiliary lever comprises a support which in the open position of the panel engages a counter support for transmitting vertical forces from the panel towards the counter support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Johan Christiaan Nellen, Rainer Gerhard Jungling
  • Patent number: 10625586
    Abstract: A lid assembly for a truck bed with two opposite vertical side walls includes a lid adapted for covering the truck bed, the lid being movable in a first direction between an open and closed position, two scissor hinges adapted for mounting the lid to the truck bed, each of the two scissor hinges having a first hinge member adapted for being slidably and pivotably connected to a respective side wall of the truck bed at a first end and being pivotably connected to the lid at a second end, and a second hinge member which is slidably and pivotably connected to the lid at a first end and adapted for being pivotably connected to the respective side wall at a second end. The assembly further includes an opening element adapted for, upon actuation, applying a force to at least one of the first ends of the hinge members in a second direction, which extends in an angle of between 85 and 90 degrees with respect to the first direction, to move the lid in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: PENDELMATIC INTERNATIONAL V/JAN MØLLER
    Inventor: Jan Max Clausen Møller
  • Patent number: 10625587
    Abstract: A vehicle door sash structure includes a holding unit. The holding unit includes a guide locking portion arranged in a region of a run channel opposed in a vehicle inner-outer direction to a tip end rim of an inner beam portion in a state of temporary attachment after completion of attachment of a molding to an outer beam portion. The guide locking portion is inclined in a direction to guide the run channel to a position of completion of attachment while coming into contact with the tip end rim of the inner beam portion by an input of an attachment force in a direction to attach the molding to the run channel in the state of temporary attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., NISHIKAWA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Suesada, Masatoshi Mori, Toshifumi Matsuura, Takao Toyoshima
  • Patent number: 10625588
    Abstract: A self-contained, self-extending, roof-mounted shading apparatus, capable of both vertical and horizontal movement to provide shade for a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: CARBRELLA, INC.
    Inventors: Winifred Gurley, Paul Gurley