Patents Issued in June 14, 2022
  • Patent number: 11358465
    Abstract: A fuel filler lid assembly includes a fuel filler lid. The fuel filler lid is configured to be supported to a vehicle body that has a fuel filler opening. The fuel filler lid has a first part that is movable with respect to the vehicle body between an open state and a closed state. The open state enables access to the fuel filler opening. The closed state encloses the fuel filler opening. The fuel filler lid has a second part that is movable with respect to the first part as the first part moves between the open state and the closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Pencak, Paul Dyde
  • Patent number: 11358466
    Abstract: A capless filler pipe closure is provided for a tank filler pipe. The capless closure permits a fuel pump nozzle to be inserted into the tank filler pipe without first removing a fuel cap from the outer end of the tank filler pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Stant USA Corp.
    Inventors: Darl Dufendach, Paul Wetzel, Jan Nimrichter
  • Patent number: 11358467
    Abstract: A fuel filler lid assembly includes a fuel filler lid. The fuel filler lid configured to be supported to a vehicle body that has a fuel filler opening. The fuel filler lid has a first part that is movable with respect to the vehicle body between an open state and a closed state. The open state enables access to the fuel filler opening. The closed state encloses the fuel filler opening. The fuel filler lid has a second part that is indented with respect to the first part by a user operation surface. The user operation surface is accessed by a user to move the fuel filler lid between the open state and the closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Pencak, Paul Dyde
  • Patent number: 11358468
    Abstract: A two-speed transmission system integrated with an inner rotor hub motor, including an inner rotor hub motor, a steering knuckle, a fastening screw, a first transmission casing, a second transmission casing, a screw, a first planetary gear train, a second planetary gear train, a first electromagnetic brake, a second electromagnetic brake, a tire, a wheel rim, a rim bolt, a rim nut, a wheel hub, a shaft end bolt, a brake disc and a brake caliper. This invention also provides an electric vehicle, which balances the requirements for dynamics performance and driving economics and achieves better overall performances. The two-speed transmission system of this invention realizes gear shifting and long-term no-power parking braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Jilin University
    Inventors: Junnian Wang, Kai Wang, Dachang Guo, Chunlin Zhang, Rui Luo, Zhenhao Zhang, Jiulong Gao, Jiantu Ni
  • Patent number: 11358469
    Abstract: An information display device includes an information acquisition unit configured to acquire information; a position acquisition unit configured to acquire position information indicating a position of the information display device; a determination unit configured to determine an output mode for the information acquired by the information acquisition unit based on the position information acquired by the position acquisition unit; a conversion unit configured to convert the information acquired by the information acquisition unit based on the output mode determined by the determination unit; and an output unit configured to output the information converted by the conversion unit based on the output mode determined by the determination unit. The determination unit is configured to determine, as the output mode, a display mode complying with laws and regulations applicable to the position of the information display device based on the position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Araki, Daisuke Kanenari
  • Patent number: 11358470
    Abstract: A method for operating a display device for a motor vehicle, in particular for an autonomously or partially autonomously operable motor vehicle, which includes a plurality of display areas, wherein a display area is selected from the plurality of display areas on the basis of a configuration of the motor vehicle that is adjustable by a driver of the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle includes a control device for implementing such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Romeo Wieczorek, Stefanie Göttlicher, Ilka Rötzer
  • Patent number: 11358471
    Abstract: An electrically powered vehicle system includes a DC/DC converter stage with a rectified input terminal which receives a rectified input from an AC power input. The system also includes a vehicle battery which receives power output from the DC/DC converter stage, via a first link between the rectified input terminal and the DC/DC converter stage. A second link is connected to the first link and to a vehicle device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joseph A. Engel, Scott Gerber, Alexandre M Reis
  • Patent number: 11358472
    Abstract: An electric system has an electrical energy source connected to an electrical energy sink by at least one feeding line. Each feeding line (8) is in at least one position therealong between said source and said sink provided with an arrangement configured to interrupt arcing in the feeding line would such arcing reach this position. The arrangement has a temperature dependent member which upon an increase of the temperature thereof above a predetermined level activates an irreversible movement of movable means (24) which by this movement cuts off the arc (a) and/or removes hot ionized gases (28) and by that prevents the arcing to continue in the feeding line past the arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventor: Svante Andersson
  • Patent number: 11358473
    Abstract: A vehicle management system (VMS) computer includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor by a bus. The VMS computer also includes a power distribution controller that includes a plurality of power distribution circuits that are each controlled by the controller to supply power to a plurality of end component loads. The power distribution controller is communicably coupled to the processor and the memory by the bus. The VMS computer also includes a plurality of parallel power distribution lines. Each pair of parallel power distribution lines couples a respective one of the plurality of power distribution circuits to a corresponding one of a plurality of end component loads. Each of the plurality of power distribution circuits supplies power via both lines in a respective pair of the plurality of parallel power distribution lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory Lloyd Sheffield, Fernando Dones, Joseph A. Schneider
  • Patent number: 11358474
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical vehicle charging system, including a power source configured for providing electrical energy to charge an electrical vehicle, an outlet port configured for connecting the electrical vehicle to the charging system and for providing a DC voltage to the electrical vehicle, a switch configured for connecting the outlet port and the power source, and a control device configured, if the electrical vehicle is unconnected to the outlet port, for measuring the DC voltage at the outlet port, and configured, if the measured DC voltage is greater than zero, for switching off the DC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Gertjan Koolen, Jim Van-Der-Heijden
  • Patent number: 11358475
    Abstract: Provided is a magnetic levitation power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: TEWARE, INC.
    Inventor: Yang Qu
  • Patent number: 11358476
    Abstract: A drive device includes a motor, an inverter, an electric power storage device, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to generate a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal of the switching elements by comparison of a voltage command of each phase according to a torque command of the motor and a carrier wave voltage, as a first PWM control. The electronic control unit is configured to generate a second PWM signal of the switching elements based on a modulation factor and a voltage phase of a voltage according to the torque command and a pulse count per unit cycle of an electric angle of the motor, as a second pulse width modulation control. The electronic control unit is configured to limit execution of the second PWM control when high controllability of the motor is requested rather than when the high controllability is not requested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Matsubara, Kenji Yamada, Toshihiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11358477
    Abstract: A magnitude of a road surface slope along which a vehicle travels is detected, when the magnitude of the road surface slope increases, a basic braking force set in advance is corrected to be decreased based on the magnitude of the road surface slope, or a basic driving force set in advance is corrected to be increased based on the magnitude of the road surface slope, when the magnitude of the road surface slope decreases, a basic braking force is corrected to be increased based on the magnitude of the road surface slope or a basic driving force is corrected to be decreased based on the magnitude of the road surface slope, and the corrected braking force or driving force is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuki Shiozawa, Katsuaki Kubotera, Tatsuya Suzuki, Naoki Miyashita, Mitsunori Ohta, Tomoyuki Kashiwaya, Satoshi Ota
  • Patent number: 11358478
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system for determining an optimal gear ratio for a light electric vehicle. The optimal gear ratio may be based on an anticipated or current route of an individual riding the light electric vehicle, riding habits of the individual and/or on maintenance status information associated with the light electric vehicle. When the optimal gear ratio is determined, the system provides an indication of the optimal gear ratio to the light electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Andrew Sussna, Ashley Cooper
  • Patent number: 11358479
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including a chassis and a rechargeable high voltage DC electric battery, the chassis incorporating an intermediate frame and an encapsulated power electronics unit located within the intermediate frame. Since the power electronics unit is separated from the electric battery, this allows for ready repair and/or replacement of the battery over the lifetime of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Breu, Margit Hiemer
  • Patent number: 11358480
    Abstract: A vehicle having a fuel cell includes a cell stack including a plurality of unit cells stacked on one another, a direct current/direct current (DC/DC) converter configured to convert the level of stack voltage output from the cell stack and including a discharger to remove residual energy thereof, a power distributor configured to distribute the level-converted voltage output from the DC/DC converter or to provide voltage remaining in the cell stack to the discharger to discharge the voltage in response to first control signals, and a controller configured to generate the first control signals depending on whether the vehicle is traveling normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Ju Han Kim
  • Patent number: 11358481
    Abstract: An energy consumption predicting device includes: an acquisition unit acquiring a parameter correlated with at least one of a vehicle speed when a vehicle traveled on a route from a first point to a second point on which a vehicle traveling using only a power source consuming an energy source supplied from outside of the vehicle and stored therein is able to travel, a different vehicle speed when a different vehicle traveled on the route, an output of the power source when the vehicle traveled on the route, and an output of a different power source when the different vehicle traveling using only the same type of different power source as the power source traveled on the route; and a calculation unit calculating a predicted consumption of the energy source which is predicted when the vehicle travels on the route from the first point to the second point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi Araki, Masaaki Matsusue, Masayuki Ito
  • Patent number: 11358482
    Abstract: A system includes a vehicle and an induction unit external to the vehicle. The induction unit includes a primary coil designed as a primary induction coil, and the vehicle includes a low voltage on-board electrical system having a secondary coil designed as a secondary induction coil. An alternating voltage can be induced in at least one part of the low-voltage on-board electrical system by the electromagnetic coupling of the secondary coil to the primary coil, and at least one component of the low-voltage on-board electrical system can be fed with the induced alternating voltage or with direct voltage via a rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Josef Krammer
  • Patent number: 11358483
    Abstract: A server informs a vehicle of chargers, the vehicle being mounted with a battery. The vehicle includes a fatigue detection device configured to detect a fatigue level of the driver. A server includes a communication device configured to receive information indicative of the fatigue level of the driver from the vehicle, and a processor configured to extract at least one charger from among multiple chargers installed within an access range of the vehicle if the driver's fatigue level is above a given reference value, and inform the vehicle of the extracted charger, the access range being determined by power stored in the battery and the current location of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsutomu Imai
  • Patent number: 11358484
    Abstract: Disclosed are a charger and a method of charging an electric vehicle. A main body of the charger includes a plurality of sub main bodies coupled to each other to transform its shape. The charger with the main body having a first shape moves toward the electric vehicle, and is then transformed to have a second shape. The first shape refers to a shape allowing the main body to be movable on a ground, and the second shape refers to a shape making the main body occupy a smaller surrounding area of the electric vehicle than the first shape. The electric vehicle is charged as connected to the charger having the second shape. The charger does not obstruct traffic of other vehicles because its size is reduced during charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hun Lee, Cheol-hoi Kim, Ji-hoon Choi
  • Patent number: 11358485
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a charging stop switch that accepts a stopping operation for stopping external charging, and an ECU that stops the external charging when the stopping operation is accepted at the charging stop switch. The ECU determines whether or not a specific operation different from the stopping operation at the charging stop switch has been accepted, and when it is determined that the specific operation has been accepted, disables acceptance of the stopping operation. The specific operation is an operation different from an intended operation of a prescribed subject. The vehicle includes an inlet to which a charging connector for external charging can be connected. The ECU detects connection of the charging connector to the inlet, the prescribed subject is the charging connector, and the specific operation is a prescribed number of operations of connecting and disconnecting the prescribed subject within a prescribed time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru Ando
  • Patent number: 11358486
    Abstract: A multi-pack battery system having at least first and second battery packs each with positive and negative terminals, and each with upper and lower switches respectively connected to the positive and negative terminals. The battery packs have a first voltage level, and are connectable in either series or parallel. A controller controls an ON/OFF state of the switches in response to input signals to select between two series charging modes, three parallel charging modes, and one or more propulsion modes. Some embodiments have a series propulsion mode. An electric powertrain system includes first and second power inverter modules (“PIMs”), an electrical load, front and rear electric machines connected to a respective one of the first and second PIMs, and the battery system. The powertrain system may selectively provide all-wheel, front-wheel, or rear-wheel drive capabilities in each of the various propulsion modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shifang Li, William T. Ivan, Brendan M. Conlon, Yue Fan
  • Patent number: 11358487
    Abstract: A method for charging electric consumers at an electricity grid with multiple phases may include measuring a phase current of each of the multiple phases of the electricity grid at a balance point. The method may also include determining to which of the multiple phases each electric consumer of the electric consumers is connected for charging via the balance point. Additionally, the method may include holding an unbalanced load of the multiple phases below an unbalanced load threshold value via communicating a power specification to each electric consumer connected for charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Inventors: Steve Beez, Sebastian Ewert, Nicole Heinrich, Walter Krepulat
  • Patent number: 11358488
    Abstract: An information processing system includes: a first acquisition unit that acquires battery information on a battery of each of one or more vehicles; a second acquisition unit that acquires supply source information on a state of a power supply source; a selection unit that selects a vehicle for providing electric power for the power supply source as a power source out of the one or more vehicles, based on the supply source information and the battery information; and a request unit that requests the vehicle selected as the power source to provide the electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiichiro Fujiwara, Kenichi Takahashi, Shinya Kono, Jun Araki
  • Patent number: 11358489
    Abstract: A system for charging electric vehicles includes an optimization module configured to construct a charging profile representing a first charging power suitable for being supplied by the charging device in order to charge an electric vehicle, a regulation module for regulating the electric power supplied by the charging device. There is a first mode of operation in which the regulation module applies the charging profile and a second mode of operation in which the device supplies a second charging power. The system further includes a coordination device for communicating with the charging devices, which is suitable for triggering a coordinated optimization phase during which charging devices construct a charging profile from an individual charging data item and for triggering a coordinated regulation phase during which some of the charging devices implement the second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE
    Inventors: Olivier Beaude, Bayram Kaddour, Bertrand Augustin, Julien Pennec, Alban Jeandin
  • Patent number: 11358490
    Abstract: A power feed system includes a power feed controller that controls a plurality of vehicles including a first vehicle and a second vehicle to successively carry out external power feed in a relayed manner. In passing on external power feed in the relayed manner from the first vehicle to the second vehicle, the power feed controller controls the first vehicle and the second vehicle to make transition from external power feed by the first vehicle to external power feed by the second vehicle with an overlapping period being interposed. During the overlapping period, both of the first vehicle and the second vehicle simultaneously carry out external power feed. The power feed controller controls at least one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle to set total electric power to target electric power during the overlapping period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Nakamura, Hidetoshi Kusumi, Shigeki Kinomura, Yoshiyuki Tsuchiya, Hironobu Kitaoka
  • Patent number: 11358491
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle capable of efficiently managing a battery. The vehicle includes the battery, a battery sensor configured to sense an output voltage and an output current of the battery, and a power management device configured to control charging of the battery based on a state of charge (SoC) of the battery. The power management device may calculate an estimated SoC of the battery based on the output current of the battery, calculate an actual SoC based on the output of a battery model corresponding to an input of the output voltage and the output current, and based on an error between the actual SoC and the estimated SoC, activate a power generation control, which controls a generator based on the SoC of the battery, and an idle stop & go (ISG), which turns off an engine during stopping of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seung Won Kang
  • Patent number: 11358492
    Abstract: An electrical system includes a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) and a controller. The RESS includes first and second battery packs connected to a voltage bus, each pack having a respective plurality of battery cells and a corresponding cell balancing circuit. The RESS further includes switches that selectively connect or disconnect the packs to or from each other to achieve series and parallel modes. The controller executes a method by detecting a requested series to parallel mode transition. Responsive to a threshold imbalance being present in a state of charge or pack voltage of the packs relative to each other, the controller balances the state of charge/voltage using open/closed state control of the cell balancing circuits, and possibly a switching block having PWM-controlled switches and a circuit element. The controller may execute the requested mode transition upon balancing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Lei Hao
  • Patent number: 11358493
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of managing thermal loads in a fuel cell vehicle. The method may comprise heating a fuel cell coolant of a fuel cell coolant loop utilizing waste heat from a fuel cell to form a heated fuel cell coolant, heating a battery coolant of a battery coolant loop utilizing waste heat from a battery to form a heated battery coolant, heating a refrigerant of a battery refrigeration loop by exchanging heat with the heated battery coolant, and superheating the refrigerant of the battery refrigeration loop by exchanging heat with the heated fuel cell coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Nikola Corporation
    Inventors: Aiden Cohan, Akshit Markan, Mitchell Shinn, Katherine Smith, Rachel Cook
  • Patent number: 11358494
    Abstract: A vehicle interior system including a first seat assembly, disposed within a vehicle cabin, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller is provided. The first and second sensors may each be disposed within the vehicle cabin. The first sensor may be configured to obtain first signals indicative of a positioning of an obstacle within a predetermined coordinate system. The second sensor may be configured to obtain second signals indicative of a positioning of the first seat assembly within the predetermined coordinate system. The controller may be configured to receive the signals from the first sensor and to map a portion of the obstacle based on the first signals and relative to a portion of the first seat assembly within the predetermined coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Bamberg
    Inventors: Stephen Nawrocki, Reinhold Hopf
  • Patent number: 11358495
    Abstract: A method controls drive units for adjusting vehicle seat components. According to the method, a vehicle speed-dependent and crash-related nominal position or a vehicle speed-dependent and crash-related nominal position range are defined for at least one component. Starting from an actual position that is the same as the nominal position or from an actual position within the nominal position range, the actual position cannot be manually or automatically adjusted in the first instance or can only be adjusted in the nominal position range in the second instance, independently from the identification of a crash situation. Starting from an actual position that is different from the nominal position or outside the nominal position range, the actual position is automatically adjusted towards the nominal position or the nominal position range, preferably according to the identified defined situations, independently from the identification of a crash situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Wolfgang Hintermaier
  • Patent number: 11358496
    Abstract: A mobile frame for at least one seat of a means of transportation is disclosed. The mobile frame includes: a load-bearing structure suitable for supporting the seat, and an anchoring element coupled with the load-bearing structure to selectively constrain the mobile frame to the support surface of the transportation means. The anchoring element has a fixing mechanism that can be moved from a non-anchored configuration, wherein at least one fixing element is retracted inside the load-bearing structure to an anchored configuration, wherein the fixing element protrudes beyond the load-bearing structure in order to constrain the mobile frame to the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Inventors: Innocenzo Carbone, Sandro Guidoni
  • Patent number: 11358497
    Abstract: A support member may be configured for selective connection with and removal from track assemblies. A support member may include a body and a rolling member rotatably connected to the body to facilitate movement of the support member along a track. The rolling member may include a grooved configuration to limit movement of the support member relative to said track in a Y-direction. The rolling member may include a groove configured to engage a protrusion or ridge of said track. The rolling member may include a first portion and a second portion separated in an axial direction by the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Antoine Moulin, Jose Gabriel Fernández Bañares, Raúl Ricart
  • Patent number: 11358498
    Abstract: A vehicle seat longitudinal adjustment device has a floor rail, a seat rail, and a locking unit substantially accommodated in a cavity formed by the rails, and a housing. A bearing shaft is disposed in this housing and extends in the displacement direction. The device includes at least two flat blocking parts, pivotable independently of each other about the bearing shaft and elastically biased, independently of each other, by one blocking spring each, and a releasing part. The structurally identical blocking parts each have two arms, between which the bearing shaft is located. The seat rail has, for each blocking part, shear slots accommodating the first and second arms. The floor rail has a perforated strip cooperating with the first arms, with first blocking slots, and a perforated strip cooperating with the second arms, with second blocking slots. The slots are periodically disposed one behind the other in the displacement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: FISHER DYNAMICS GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Axel Speck
  • Patent number: 11358499
    Abstract: A child restraint seat sensing device for a vehicle including a structural element at least partially defining a volume, wherein the structural element is located in a vehicle passenger seat between a seat base and seat back or is located behind the vehicle passenger seat, a stationary anchor in the vehicle, wherein the stationary anchor is located within the volume defined by the structural element, and a sensor mounted to the structural element, wherein the sensor is configured to detect whether a child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scott D. Thomas, Tricia E. Morrow, Dorel M. Sala, Eugene J. Lau, Suzanne L. Johansson, Orhan Demirovic
  • Patent number: 11358500
    Abstract: A lateral protecting mechanism includes a fixing base, a protecting block, a locking component, a driving component and an operating component. The fixing base is fixedly disposed on a lateral portion of a child carrier. The protecting block includes a pivoting shaft and is pivotally disposed on the fixing base by the pivoting shaft. The locking component is slidably disposed inside the fixing base. The driving component is disposed inside the fixing base. The operating component is coupled to the driving component. The operating component drives the driving component to drive the locking component to protrude out of the fixing base to abut against the protecting block for restraining a pivoting movement of the protecting block when the operating component is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
    Inventor: Zong-Wang Cui
  • Patent number: 11358501
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a frame movable between a sitting position and a standing position and pivotably coupled to a vehicle floor at a pivotable coupling defining a first axis of rotation. The vehicle seating assembly has a pivot bracket coupled to the vehicle floor, a linkage assembly with a link extending between the pivot bracket and the frame, and a shaft extending through the pivot bracket and the link in a direction transverse to the link, and defining a second axis of rotation. The vehicle assembly also includes a gear assembly with a sector gear and a pinion gear operable to move the sector gear from a first position to a second position, and a pawl assembly coupled to the sector gear and selectively engageable with the shaft to position the shaft in fixed and unfixed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Susko, Kurt Leon Kormos
  • Patent number: 11358502
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a first part, a second part with a second foam part, and a barrier with a permeable portion and a non-permeable portion. The vehicle seating assembly also includes an air passageway extending through the first part, the second foam part, and the permeable portion of the barrier and an air mover fluidly coupled to the air passageway for moving air through the air passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Charles Shipley, Steven Walter Nunez, Timothy Owen Hamlin, Lucian Vacarescu
  • Patent number: 11358503
    Abstract: A seal for sealing a gap between a seat back of a seat in a vehicle, the seat back including a fabric construction, and a shelf located adjacent the seat back includes a trim member laterally spanning from a first distal end of an engagement edge of the shelf that engages with the seat back of the seat to a second distal end of the engagement edge of the shelf. The trim member includes a seal member laterally spanning and attached to the trim member that engages with the seat back. The seal member is constructed of an unwoven fabric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Oros, Carlington George Demetrius, Akira Miyazaki, Yuichiro Umeda, Hiroaki Taniguchi, Yoshiaki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11358504
    Abstract: A convertible seating and dinette arrangement that includes moveable and adjustable first and second seats with each seat including a base, a seat bottom, and a backrest; and wherein each base is configured for pivotal movement to adjust between various modes. The convertible seating and dinette arrangement can include seats that are moveable and convertible to at least three different modes including a sofa mode, a recliner mode, a daybed mode, a dinette mode, an alternate dinette mode, and a chaise lounge mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Triple E Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: Angelo Natuzzi
  • Patent number: 11358505
    Abstract: The invention relates to an armrest (10) for a seat, in particular for a vehicle seat, having a base (11) to which at least one container (18) having a cavity (27) is allocated, having an arm support (12) that is pivotable relative to the container (18) between a lower end position and an upper end position, having an arm support face (13), wherein at least one housing wall (19a, 19b, 19c) is allocated to the arm support (12), said housing wall (19a, 19b, 19c) being connected to the arm support (12) so as to move therewith in such a way that it closes an intermediate space arising between a stop face (25) of the arm support (12) and a support face (26) on the base part (11) when the arm support (12) pivots up, wherein the arm support (12) comprises an opening (16) through which access to the interior space (27) is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: GRAMMER AG
    Inventors: Ralph Nuss, Hubert Keller
  • Patent number: 11358506
    Abstract: A beverage container holding device includes a first rotating member supported by a holder main body such that the first rotating member can swing horizontally. The first rotating member includes a first shaft member supported by the holder main body and extending in an up-and-down direction, and a first main body supported by the first shaft member such that the first main body can be present in a receiving portion and retract from the receiving portion. The first main body includes a front contact surface portion having a contact portion, which the beverage container received in the receiving portion can contact. The front contact surface portion makes, at least at the contact portion, an obtuse angle with an imaginary line extending from a center of the first shaft member to the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: MORIROKU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Koarai, Yuki Kujira
  • Patent number: 11358507
    Abstract: A lock mechanism is disclosed herein that can be used to lockingly secure and release sections of an apparatus relative to one another. The lock mechanism can lockingly secure the sections of the apparatus relative to one another in a plurality of different positions and, when released or unlocked, can allow the sections of the apparatus to rotate relative to one another and to different ones of the plurality of different positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: T.C. DEVELOPMENT & DESIGN, INC.
    Inventor: Teffy R. Chamoun
  • Patent number: 11358508
    Abstract: A lift system for supporting cargo on a vehicle comprising a vehicle frame, the lift system comprises a cargo platform assembly and a displacement system. Operation of a drive system causes axial rotation of at least one drive axle. Axial rotation of at least one drive axle causes at least one drive link assembly to pivot about a drive axle axis. Pivoting of the at least one drive link assembly about the drive axle axis displaces the cargo platform between a stowed configuration and a lowered configuration. First and second distal axes are forward of the drive axle axis when the lift system is in the stowed configuration and rearward of the drive axle axis when the lift system is in the lowered configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: EASY LIFT INC.
    Inventors: Bruce Len Watkins, Marty Harvie
  • Patent number: 11358509
    Abstract: An automated cargo vehicle ramp deployment system includes a controller and a power source connected thereto, a ramp located at the existing cargo vehicle, a first automated ramp displacement mechanism for configured to selectively displace the ramp from a first position to a second position defined along a perimeter of the existing cargo vehicle while the ramp is maintained at a vertically oriented position, a second automated ramp displacement mechanism for configured to selectively displace the ramp from one of the first position and the second position to a third position, and a third automated ramp displacement mechanism for selectively adjusting a longitudinal length of the ramp while the ramp is statically disposed at a third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: EMHIP, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Warhurst, Roy Hensler, Robert Perry Allison
  • Patent number: 11358510
    Abstract: A package lift assembly for a delivery vehicle includes a plurality of rods that define at least one shelf. The package lift assembly further includes upper and lower rails. An alteration assembly is operably coupled to the upper and lower rails. Vertical guides are operably coupled to the alteration assembly. A platform is operably coupled to the vertical guides and include a central receiving member. At least a portion of the plurality of rods are selectively disposed within the central receiving member. A motor assembly is operably coupled to the central receiving member and the vertical guides. The motor assembly and the alteration assembly cooperate to translate the platform along the vertical guides and translate the central receiving member between a retrieval position and a holding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pietro Buttolo, Kurt Michael Lundeen, Yifan Chen, John Randolf Vincent
  • Patent number: 11358511
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a storage compartment vehicle (“SCV”) for use in the transport of items for delivery to one or more customers and/or retrieval of items from one or more customers. The SCV may include a plurality of storage compartments that are individually accessible, each of which can contain one or more items. The SCV may navigate to a delivery location and customers may retrieve ordered items from the storage compartments of the SCV. Likewise, customers may return items into storage compartments of the SCV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wicksell Metellus, Kristopher William Bell, Julius Chen, Wesley Scott Lauka, Ryan Scott Russell
  • Patent number: 11358512
    Abstract: A tire-mounting structure, the tire-mounting structure having a laterally extending end wall, two protrusions longitudinally extending from the end wall, the two protrusions spaced apart from one another, and a recess formed between the two protrusions. The recess is dimensioned such that a first distance between the two protrusions at a distal location relative to the end wall is longer than a second distance between the two protrusions at a proximal location relative to the end wall, where the first distance corresponds to a first tire dimension and the second distance corresponds to a second tire dimension, the second tire dimension being narrower than the first tire dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Edgardo Reyes-Crespo
  • Patent number: 11358513
    Abstract: A strap winch apparatus includes a frame with a drum gear connected to a drum. The drum is configured to receive an end of a strap whereby the strap is wound around or unwound from the drum when the gear is rotated. The frame also includes a braking member to arrest inadvertent reverse rotation of the drum to maintain strap tension. A handle configured to engage with the drum includes a pivotable pawl. One end of the pawl is configured to engage the gear teeth of the drum gear and index the drum gear in order to tension the strap about the drum. An opposite end of the pawl is configured to displace the braking member whereby the gear and drum are permitted to rotate in a direction loosening the strap tension. Typically, the braking member has a gear tooth engaging portion and a striking portion that may be in intermittent contact with the pawl for controlled loosening of the strap tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Inventor: Jack R. Level
  • Patent number: 11358514
    Abstract: There is provided a mobile object including an imaging unit configured to capture a perimeter of the mobile object, a speaker configured to be capable of controlling directivity, a determination unit configured to determine whether the mobile object is in a driving mode, and a speaker control unit configured to control the speaker in the driving mode in a manner that predetermined audio is output toward a warning target that is recognized based on a captured image captured by the imaging unit, and to control the speaker in a non-driving mode in a manner that the predetermined audio is output in a non-directional way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichiro Sako, Hiroshi Okada, Kazuhiro Watanabe, Kazuyuki Sakoda, Hirofumi Yuchi, Kohei Asada