Patents Issued in November 21, 2023
  • Patent number: 11820159
    Abstract: A nail printing apparatus includes a print head to perform a printing operation in which an image on a nail of a person to be printed is printed by moving in a scanning direction and ejecting ink from a nozzle, and a control unit to control movement of the print head. In a case where movement of the print head is stopped regardless of controlling of movement of the print head associated with the printing operation, the control unit switches the controlling of movement of the print head after the stopping based on a stop position of the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Tobimatsu, Kenichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11820160
    Abstract: Examples relate to methods of calibrating a printing device. A method comprises generating a calibration sheet of a calibrating medium having a length at least equal to the maximum printing width of a printbar of the printing device and printing a plurality of calibration patterns on the calibration sheet with the printing device to be calibrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David Peinado Gutierrez, Eduardo Martin Orue
  • Patent number: 11820161
    Abstract: A three-dimensional object printing apparatus includes: a liquid discharging head that discharges liquid to a three-dimensional workpiece; a robot that has N movable portions and that changes a relative position of the liquid discharging head with respect to the workpiece, where N is a natural number greater than or equal to 2; and N encoders provided for the N movable portions to measure amounts of operations of the N movable portions, respectively. Correspondence information regarding a correspondence relationship between an output from a first encoder and a time during operation of the robot is stored. The first encoder is one of the N encoders. Discharging operation of the liquid discharging head is controlled based on an output from the first encoder and the correspondence information, while the robot is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenju Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 11820162
    Abstract: A pretreatment liquid is a pretreatment liquid to be used for a pretreatment that is performed on an impermeable base material before an image is recorded on the impermeable base material, containing an aggregating agent, an aqueous medium, and a resin, in which the resin has at least one selected from the group consisting of a structural unit (1), a structural unit (2), and a structural unit (3), and a glass transition temperature of the resin is ?40° C. or higher and lower than 100° C. In the formulae, R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1 to C4 alkyl group, A2 represents —NH— or —N(L4-Y4)—, L2 and L4 represent a divalent group or a single bond, L3 represents a divalent group, Y2 and Y4 represent a monovalent group such as an alkyl group, and Y3 represents a monovalent group such as —OH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Shirokane, Shoichiro Kobayashi, Yusuke Fujii
  • Patent number: 11820163
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods of manufacturing surface materials for construction or manufacturing use and the surface materials produced by such methods. Substrate materials, such as synthetic or engineered stone or fiber-reinforced resinous panels, can be formed in conventional ways such as casting, molding, or pressing. Layers are printed onto substrate materials to form textures, which may include inks to selectively color the printed texture, thereby enabling a wide variety of high-resolution appearances. A clear, protective topcoat is then applied to the surface materials and cured to provide a finished material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas Louis Hedges, Chad William Wood
  • Patent number: 11820164
    Abstract: There is provided a resin-impregnated decorative paper (2) formed by impregnating a decorative paper (4) with an impregnating resin (5). The decorative paper (4) includes: a base paper (6); a picture pattern layer (7) provided on a surface (6a) side of the base paper (6); a filling layer (8) provided on a surface (7a) of the picture pattern layer (7); and a foamed resin layer (9) provided on a surface (8a) of the filling layer (8). The filling layer (8) contains at least one of an epoxy-based resin, an acrylic-based resin, a urethane-based resin, and a casein-based resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOPPAN INC.
    Inventors: Ryohei Mizukami, Chiho Harada
  • Patent number: 11820165
    Abstract: Disclosed is a printed object which, even if using a receptive layer that is difficult for a monomer in an active energy ray curable ink to penetrate, has excellent adhesion between the active energy ray curable ink and the receptive layer, and in which the amount of unreacted monomer dissipated from the printed object is low. This printed object includes an ink receptive layer laminated on a substrate surface and having an ink absorption rate of 100% or less, and an ink layer laminated on a surface of the ink receptive layer and made from an active energy ray curable ink which includes a polymerizable compound, wherein the glass transition temperature of the polymerizable compound is ?45-25° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON TORYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Anzai, Naoyuki Masuda, Akira Suetsugu, Shinya Sakaguchi, Mami Saito
  • Patent number: 11820166
    Abstract: An improved data bearing card includes a card body, personalization data unique to the data bearing card, and non-visible production indicia, separate from the personalization data, disposed on the card body and indicative of production-related information not otherwise provided on the data bearing card. The non-visible production indicia may be indicative of a corresponding piece of production equipment and/or an operator thereof utilized in connection with the data bearing card, or of a location of a corresponding region of a sheet assembly from which the corresponding card body was separated during production, or of other production-related information. The non-visible production indicia facilitates remedial action in the event that a defect or near-defect is found in the card body or other components of the data bearing card, and may otherwise facilitate card tracking during the production process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: CPI CARD GROUP—COLORADO, INC.
    Inventors: Maxmillian David Michieli, Martha Lee Blair, Jeremiah Witte, Dean Scott Campbell
  • Patent number: 11820167
    Abstract: There is provided a wheel device for a vehicle including: a wheel having an opening formed between adjacent spokes; a brake mechanism located inside the wheel in a vehicle width direction and having a brake caliper and a brake rotor; and an arc portion extending in a circular direction in the opening and suspended between the adjacent spokes. The arc portion has a recessed portion recessed outward in the vehicle width direction inside thereof in the vehicle width direction, and the arc portion and the brake caliper are located at such positions that they overlap with each other in a state viewed in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Kawamura, Naoshi Kuratani, Kei Ambo, Kenichi Nagatomi, Shota Takigawa
  • Patent number: 11820168
    Abstract: A hub assembly includes an inner rotatable hub having inboard and outboard axial ends, a radial flange extending outwardly from the outboard axial end and connectable with the wheel, an inner circumferential surface, and an opposing outer circumferential surface providing inboard and outboard inner races. An outer hub is disposed about the inner hub, connectable with the chassis and has inboard and outboard axial ends, an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface. The inner surface provides inboard and outboard outer races and a central surface section extending between the two outer races. First and second sets of rolling elements are disposed between the inner and outer races. One or more sensors are each disposed on the central surface section of the outer hub and are each configured to sense strain within the outer hub generated by the rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Hendrik Anne Mol, Elizabertus Maljaars, Johannes Ravesloot, Nicolaas Simon Willem Den Haak, Matteo Senesi, Feng Qiu
  • Patent number: 11820169
    Abstract: The wheel holding member for a vehicle has a rod-like shape, and includes: a thread portion, which is formed on an end portion on a proximal end side, and has a male thread threadedly engageable with a hub bolt hole formed in a wheel hub; a holding portion, which protrudes toward a distal end side with respect to the thread portion, and has no thread on an outer periphery thereof; and a tool insertion hole, which is exposed from an end surface on the proximal end side, and to which a tool for rotating the wheel holding member is insertable. A bottom surface of the tool insertion hole is located on the distal end side with respect to an end of the thread portion on the distal end side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuki Nakahashi, Kenji Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11820170
    Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a retractable guard assembly coupled to a caster of a mobile equipment, comprising a housing and one or more guards at least partially disposed in the housing. The one or more guards are independently movably coupled to the housing. The retractable guard assembly further comprises corresponding one or more biasing elements coupled to the one or more guards and to the housing for biasing the one or more guards towards a fully deployed state. When the one or more guards are in the fully deployed state, contact between a fixed object and a portion of the one or more guards disposed outside the housing causes the one or more guards to transition into a retracted state, and when the contact is removed, the corresponding one or more biasing elements cause the one or more guards to transition into the fully deployed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Brandon L. Spoelstra
  • Patent number: 11820171
    Abstract: An axle assembly and method of assembly. The axle assembly may include a drive pinion and a preload nut. The drive pinion may have a recess. The preload nut may have a deformable ring. The deformable ring may engage the drive pinion inside the recess to inhibit rotation of the preload nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Dhanapal Vittala Raya
  • Patent number: 11820172
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread rubber with a groove depth at a shoulder portion that comes into contact with a road surface of 10 mm or greater. A rubber composition of the tread rubber contains: 60 to 70 parts by mass of carbon black having a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area of 70 to 130 m2/g, 0.5 parts or greater by mass of sulfur, and a vulcanization accelerator per 100 parts by mass of diene rubber including 50 to 70 mass % of styrene-butadiene rubber, 20 to 30 mass % of butadiene rubber, and 10 to 30 mass % of natural rubber. The diene rubber has an average glass transition temperature of ?65° C. or lower. A ratio of a compounded amount of the vulcanization accelerator to a compounded amount of the sulfur is 1.0 to 1.3. The tread rubber has a rubber hardness of 65 to 70 at 20° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroki Sugiura
  • Patent number: 11820173
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire including a pair of bead portions; at least one carcass layer extending between the pair of bead portions; a belt layer disposed outward of the carcass layer in a tire radial direction; a tread rubber disposed outward of the belt layer in the tire radial direction; a pair of sidewall rubbers disposed outward of the carcass layer in a tire lateral direction; and an electrically conductive portion extending between the pair of bead portions and having at least one separation portion, the electrically conductive portion having a linear structure, the linear structure including an electrically conductive linear member formed in a linear shape by molding an electrically conductive material with an electrical resistivity of less than 1×10{circumflex over (?)}8 ?/cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hata, Hidekazu Ishii
  • Patent number: 11820174
    Abstract: A tire comprises a tread portion comprising a shoulder land region provided with shoulder lateral grooves and circumferential sipes connecting between the shoulder lateral grooves. The shoulder lateral grooves are each provided with a chamfer. The circumferential sipes are each spaced apart from an axially inner end of the shoulder land region by an axial distance of from 30% to 100% of an axial width of the shoulder land region. The depths of the circumferential sipes are equal to or greater than the groove depths of the shoulder lateral grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryota Uotani, Tatsuya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11820175
    Abstract: A tyre includes a crown main groove formed by unit patterns. Each of the unit patterns includes a first inclined element, a second inclined element, a first bent element, and a second bent element. The first inclined element extends obliquely. The second inclined element extends obliquely in a direction opposite to the first inclined element. The first bent element extends so as to connect between the first inclined element and the second inclined element. The second bent element is connected with the second inclined element. The first bent element is bent so as to be convex toward the first tread edge without having a component extending in parallel with the tyre circumferential direction. The second bent element is bent so as to be convex toward the second tread edge without having the component extending in parallel with the tyre circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 11820176
    Abstract: A pneumatic tyre having an equatorial plane for an agricultural machine includes a tread having first lugs extending from the first lateral tread edge toward the equatorial plane, having an arcuate leading edge that arcs from the first lateral tread edge to an axial leading nose edge next to a substantially circumferential inner nose edge, and an arcuate trailing edge that arcs from the first lateral tread edge to the substantially circumferential inner nose edge; and second lugs extending from the second lateral tread edge toward the inner equatorial plane, having an arcuate leading edge that arcs from the second lateral tread edge to an axial leading nose edge next to a substantially circumferential inner nose edge, and an arcuate trailing edge that arcs from the second lateral tread edge to the substantially circumferential inner nose edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Apollo Tyres Global R&D B. V.
    Inventors: Mark Ten Dam, Bert Kregmeier, Dally Gopinath
  • Patent number: 11820177
    Abstract: Provided is a technology of estimating a bending stiffness variation of a tire and estimating a tread wear amount of a tire using the same. A tire wear measuring apparatus wear includes a signal receiver configured to measure acceleration inside the tire with respect to an axial direction, which is a radial direction of the tire, for each point inside the tire, a signal analyzer configured to receive signal information from the signal receiver and estimate a tread wear rate of the tire by calculating a bending stiffness variation rate of the tire using axial acceleration inside the tire, a transmitter configured to receive and transmit analysis information, which is information on the tread wear rate of the tire, from the signal analyzer, and a control module configured to receive the analysis information from the transmitter and generate a control signal for a vehicle to which the tire is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Min Tae Kim, Ho Jong Lee, Sei Bum Choi, Da Sol Jeong, Jong Hyup Lee
  • Patent number: 11820178
    Abstract: A method of generating a three-dimensional topological surface representation of a tyre on a vehicle, the method comprising: using a tread depth measurement device to record tread depth data for a tyre surface moving relative to the tread depth measurement device; generating a movement profile of the tyre surface; and using the movement profile of the tyre surface to map the tread depth data onto a base tyre structure, thereby generating a three-dimensional topological surface representation of the tyre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SNAP-ON EQUIPMENT S.R.L. A UNICO SOCIO
    Inventors: Andrew Pryce, Björn Gustafsson, Kshitij Sisodia
  • Patent number: 11820179
    Abstract: An embodiment system for monitoring a tire pressure includes a wheel speed sensor mounted on each wheel of a vehicle, a set button for resetting a pressure setting, and a controller configured to determine whether the tire pressure is low using the wheel speed sensor, output a low pressure warning, determine whether a user has an intention to reset the pressure setting when a manipulation of the set button is sensed after the low pressure warning is output, and reset the pressure setting in response to a response of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Sung Cho, Yong Gu Kang
  • Patent number: 11820180
    Abstract: A weight distribution hitch system comprising a vehicle attachment member comprising a forward end configured to rigidly attach to a vehicle, and a rearward end extending rearwardly toward a trailer, the rearward end comprising an upper portion comprising a trailer attachment member configured to pivotally attach to a coupler of the trailer, and a lower portion configured to receive a moment bar; a moment bar having a modulus of elasticity, the moment bar comprising a moment bar forward end attached to the lower portion of the rearward end of the vehicle attachment member so as to prevent rotation about a horizontal axis, and a moment bar rearward end; a releasable tension member comprising a top portion configured to be pivotally supported by a frame member of the trailer and configured to pivot about a horizontal axis, and a bottom portion configured to support the rearward end of the moment bar; and a moment bar preload mechanism configured to push up the moment bar rearward end to thereby preload the mome
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hall, David R. Hall, Thomas Corie, Dallin Clawson, Jeffery Duncan, Justen Hansen
  • Patent number: 11820181
    Abstract: The invention i.a. relates to a method comprising the steps of: parking (S1) a trailer (12) by means of a towing vehicle (10), which trailer (12) is coupled to the towing vehicle (10) via a coupling element (32) of the trailer (12); the towing vehicle (10) estimating (S2) position and heading of the coupling element (32) of the parked trailer (12); transmitting (S3) the estimated position and heading of the coupling element (32) of the parked trailer (12) to a data storage device (34, 42); and automatically uncoupling (S5) the trailer (12) from the towing vehicle (10), so that the towing vehicle (10) can drive away from the parked trailer (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Leo Laine
  • Patent number: 11820182
    Abstract: A magnetic fastening includes a cinch-block having a body with a first and a second opposing side, a throughbore passing through the body from the first opposing side to the second opposing side along a first axis, and a first magnet disposed on a second axis, wherein the second axis is laterally offset from and parallel to the first axis, wherein the first magnet is configured to apply magnetic force to removably attach a cinch-block to the first metallic object, and wherein the throughbore of the cinch-block is configured to align with a first aperture of the first metallic object and a first aperture of a second object; a cinch-pin configured to pass through the aligned throughbore and apertures to securely fasten the first metallic object, the cinch-block, and the second object; and wherein the body of the cinch-block is configured to limit rotation during fastening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Inventor: John R. Columbia
  • Patent number: 11820183
    Abstract: A combination of a marsh buggy is coupled with a modified skid steer. The skid steer has a frame, and hydraulic lines for attaching to hydraulic driven motors for driving a track or wheeled drive system. The skid steer further having an engine and a hydraulic system, including a pump and hydraulic tank, and valves; an operator's cab positioned on the frame, said operator's cab further comprising a set of hydraulic controls connectable to the hydraulic system for controlling the drive system and a hydraulically driven lift system, including two booms, each boom comprising a first arm and a second arm, the first arm being pivotably mounted to the frame, the second arm being telescopically coupled to the first arm by a hydraulic cylinder controllable from the operator's cab. The marsh buggy includes a first and a second floatable pontoons, the two pontoons coupled together in a parallel but offset relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Inventor: Paul K. Wilson
  • Patent number: 11820184
    Abstract: A land-and-air vehicle configured to switch between a ground traveling mode and an aerial flight mode incudes a body, a wing, a wheel, a suspension, and a lock mechanism. The wing is attached to the body. The wheel is provided on a lower side of the body. The suspension is configured to support the body via the wheel on ground, and to contract due to self-weight of the land-and-air vehicle. The lock mechanism is configured to limit expansion of the suspension from a state in which the suspension has contracted due to the self-weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Hirabayashi, Keisuke Tajiri
  • Patent number: 11820185
    Abstract: The suspension device according to the present invention is provided with a leaf spring extending in a belt shape, a first arm, a second arm, and a coupling member for rotatably coupling the first arm and the second arm, wherein: a first holding part for holding one end of the leaf spring and a second holding part for holding the other end of the leaf spring are provided; and the first and second arms each support the leaf spring by at least one portion that is different from the one end or the other end of the leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Iino, Yusuke Tanaka, Yosuke Kawai
  • Patent number: 11820186
    Abstract: A damper system for changing a ground clearance of a vehicle, including a main damper having a main damper chamber and a main damper piston movably arranged in a main damper tube and a spring assembly. The spring assembly includes a spring, a lower spring seat, and an upper spring seat. The spring is arranged between the lower spring seat and the upper spring seat, wherein one of the lower spring seat and the upper spring seat includes a cylinder and a piston, and the other one of the lower spring seat and the upper spring seat is coupled to the main damper and movable with the spring. The piston of the spring assembly is steplessly adjustable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position corresponds to a predefined minimum ground clearance and the second position corresponds to a predefined maximum ground clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Liam Gerlin, Nrupathunga Ashok
  • Patent number: 11820187
    Abstract: A hydropneumatic suspension system for vehicles, at least consisting of an axle suspension (10) and a cabin suspension (12), which for supplying them with pressurized fluid, can be connected to a pressure supply source, is characterized in that both the axle suspension (10) and the cabin suspension (12) can be actuated jointly by means of an control device (14), and in that, by means of a priority detection system (16) involving a sensor device (18) for the respective suspension (10, 12), the supply with pressurized fluid of the one suspension (10, 12) takes precedence depending on demand over the other suspension (12, 10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: HYDAC MOBILHYDRAULIK GMBH
    Inventor: Marc Anton
  • Patent number: 11820188
    Abstract: Driven lift axles and associated systems and components are provided for use on heavy duty trucks, trailers, and/or other vehicles. Driven lift axle systems may include one or more motors mounted to the lift axle to provide torque to drive one or more wheels of the lift axle. Various mounting configurations of such motors are possible, such as arranging a motor on the axle to provide torque at a conventional driveshaft input by interfacing with a differential drive gear, positioning a motor at each of the wheel ends of the axle to provide torque directly to the wheels, etc. Each wheel can be driven by a separate motor, allowing for independent control of the torque applied to each wheel. Lift axles described herein can be suitable for use with various motors capable of applying torque to the axle and/or wheels, such as electric motors, hydraulic motors, internal combustion engines, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Link Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tye B. Davis, Craig Jungjohan
  • Patent number: 11820189
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension control apparatus includes a mode determination device that determines a suspension control mode corresponding to an identified front road surface, in response to the front road surface of a vehicle being identified, a suspension control amount calculation device that calculates an amount of suspension control for passing through the identified front road surface, based on the determined suspension control mode, and a controller that controls a suspension of the vehicle based on the calculated amount of suspension control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Hyung Jin Kim, Sung Ki Jung, Dong Hun Lim, Yoon Kab Noh, Jong Hoon Choi, Young Jae Kim, In Yong Jung, Byung Joo Kim
  • Patent number: 11820190
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coupled torsion beam axle type rear suspension system that includes a coupled torsion beam axle (100) installed to extend in a transverse direction of a vehicle body, a pair of trailing arms (200) coupled to respective ends of the coupled torsion beam axle (100), and a transverse leaf spring (300) having both ends connected to the respective trailing arms (200) and a center portion connected to a body cross member (40), thereby reducing the number of parts and improving driving stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seung Hak Lee, Won Hae Lee, Byung Joo Chung, Nam Ho Kim, Min Seok Kim
  • Patent number: 11820191
    Abstract: Provided is a stabilizer bush that ensures improved durability. The stabilizer bush (10) comprises: a bush main body (11) formed from a tubular elastic body having a retention hole (12) through which the stabilizer bar (2) passes; a rigid body portion (14) that is fixed to the bush main body (11) and has a higher rigidity than the bush main body (11); and an elastic film (16) that comprises an elastic body and is in contact with a second surface (14b) of the rigid body portion (14). A part of the elastic film (16) is fitted into depressed portions (15a, 15b) that are depressed from the second surface (14b) to a first surface (14a) side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Toyo Tire Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Nakagaki, Yoshiyuki Saihara
  • Patent number: 11820192
    Abstract: A stabilizer includes a main body cylinder portion which is elastically deformable; and a pair of connection portions respectively connected to a pair of left and right suspension devices. Each of the pair of connection portions is provided with a fixed shaft portion which is solid and fixed to the main body cylinder portion. The fixed shaft portion includes a fitting portion fitted into the main body cylinder portion and a large diameter portion connecting the fitting portion and a connection portion of the pair of connection portions and formed to have a diameter larger than that of the fitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Inaba, Junichi Nakayama, Yuichiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 11820193
    Abstract: A multi-section shock-linked vehicle suspension system is disclosed that transfers force from one point to another point in a system of interrelated shock absorbers. Force can be transmitted from one shock absorber to another using hydraulics or a gas such as air or nitrogen in a space-efficient form factor, without the use of levers and mechanical force transfer rods. The hydraulic or gas force can be tuned using valves to provide different suspension characteristics. The multi-section shock-linked system provides the ability to share wheel loads across the vehicle by using shock absorbers that are shared in addition to the individual shock absorber associated with each wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Kolltek, LLC
    Inventor: Alex Kollitz
  • Patent number: 11820194
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension system smoothly changes a vehicle posture with respect to a steering force and a steering angle by minimizing a kinematic roll at an initial turning stage, thereby allowing a driver to obtain the sensation of maneuvering the vehicle well. The suspension system includes a front suspension having geometry satisfying that a caster angle is +3° to +5°, a caster trail is +20 to +30 mm, an intersection point between a kingpin axis and ground is located on an inner side in a vehicle width direction of a center of a tire contact patch, and an anhedral angle of a lower arm is +2.8° to +7.2°. A rear suspension includes five links and has geometry satisfying that a virtual kingpin axis extends near the center of a tire contact patch of a rear wheel assembly and extends vertically at ?2° to 0°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Okuyama, Masaya Hiramatsu, Yoshitada Toyoshima
  • Patent number: 11820195
    Abstract: A frame structure of a commercial vehicle having an independent suspension system may include: a front outrigger mounted at lower front ends of wheel housings along a wide direction of a vehicle; a rear outrigger mounted at lower rear ends of the wheel housings along the width direction, wherein the wheel housings are arranged between the front and rear outriggers in a vehicle body length direction; a center reinforce unit mounted on an inner lower side of the wheel housing and disposed between the wheel housings, the center reinforce unit configured to connect the front and rear outriggers along the vehicle body length direction; a side reinforce unit mounted on an inner side of the wheel housing and connected to the center reinforce unit; and a lower reinforce unit configured to be connected to the center reinforce unit and coupled to the first suspension mounting assembly through the rear outrigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Yong Woo Moon
  • Patent number: 11820196
    Abstract: A suspension arm for a chassis of a vehicle, having a first shell element which has a first open cross-section and having a second shell element which is connected to the first shell element and has a second open cross-section. The second shell element is arranged at least in part in the first open cross-section, and the open cross-sections are open in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Dominik Mohrlock
  • Patent number: 11820197
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a control arm having a first branch portion extended from a second branch portion, the first branch portion and the second branch portion being fixed with a frame of the vehicle, and a third branch portion extended from the second branch portion, and coupled with a wheel. The vehicle also includes a first joint fixing the first branch portion to the frame, and a second joint located behind the first joint along the frame in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and fixing the second branch portion to the frame with a first bracket extending along the frame, outward from the second branch portion in a vehicle lateral direction. The first bracket is fixed to the frame at a first bracket weakened portion, and configured such that the second branch portion separates the first bracket weakened portion from the frame while the first joint remains fixed to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Steven Matthew Harpster, Rajendra L. Kakarla, Bradley W. Klein
  • Patent number: 11820198
    Abstract: A method for operating a refrigeration system for a vehicle, the refrigeration system including a refrigerant circuit with a heat pump function. The refrigerant circuit has an exterior heat exchanger, which is operated as a condenser or gas cooler to perform a refrigeration system mode or which is operated as a heat pump evaporator to carry out a heat pump mode. The refrigerant circuit further has an interior heating condenser or heating gas cooler for carrying out a heating mode. The interior heating condenser or heating gas cooler is fluidically connected downstream of the exterior heat exchanger with a reheating expansion device therebetween to carry out a reheating mode. The opening cross-section of the reheating expansion device is controlled in accordance with a refrigeration system parameter indicating the required reheating power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk Schroeder, Christian Rebinger, Helmut Rottenkolber
  • Patent number: 11820199
    Abstract: A core part includes plural plates stacked with a gap therebetween so as to form plural refrigerant passages and plural cooling water passages. The refrigerant passages are communicated with each other in a stacking direction of the plates by a refrigerant inlet tank section and a refrigerant outlet tank section distanced from each other. A refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet communicate with the refrigerant inlet tank section and the refrigerant outlet tank section, respectively, and are provided at one end of the core part in the stacking direction. The refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant inlet tank section are communicated with each other by a refrigerant inlet passage. A distance between a center of the refrigerant outlet tank section and a center of the refrigerant outlet is shorter than a distance between a center of the refrigerant inlet tank section and a center of the refrigerant inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Takagi, Kenshiro Muramatsu, Isao Tamada, Hiroyuki Osakabe
  • Patent number: 11820200
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle has an operator environment with a roof portion, and an air treatment apparatus installed within the roof portion. The air treatment apparatus includes a vehicle HVAC system having an inlet plenum, other HVAC components and an outlet to the operator environment. The air treatment apparatus further includes an air filtration system having at least one external inlet and first and second filtration devices located between the external inlet and the HVAC inlet plenum. The roof portion is a hollow structure having upper and lower surfaces and front, rear, left and right sidewalls, and the first and second air filtration devices are disposed along one of the left and right sidewalls within the hollow structure of the roof portion. The HVAC system is preferably disposed along the rear sidewall within the hollow structure of the roof portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: AGCO International Gmbh
    Inventors: Dietmar Haf, Andreas Stieglitz
  • Patent number: 11820201
    Abstract: A vehicle HVAC system includes: a casing to direct air from outdoors into the interior of a passenger compartment, an air blower blowing the air into the casing, an evaporator disposed in the casing, a heater core disposed downstream of the evaporator, and front and rear seat side temperature doors disposed between the evaporator and the heater core. A method for controlling the HVAC system includes: determining, by a controller, whether a required temperature for cooling rear seats is set to be lower than a required temperature for cooling front seats after an outdoor condition of a vehicle meets a reference high temperature condition; and lowering, by the controller, a target temperature of the evaporator based on the set required temperature for cooling the rear seats when the required temperature for cooling the rear seats is set to be lower than the required temperature for cooling the front seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gyu Sik Hong, Jun Ho Song, Tae Han Kim
  • Patent number: 11820202
    Abstract: A pressure relief vent assembly that defines a plurality of enlarged water collection pockets and a plurality of water passage recesses that enable water to move between the water collection pockets and to be more evenly distributed relative to and in the respective water collection pockets, and thus is configured to inhibit water from entering an enclosed area through the pressure relief vent assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Markie
  • Patent number: 11820203
    Abstract: A method for defrosting an external heat exchanger, operated as an air heat pump evaporator, of a cooling system for a motor vehicle. The cooling system includes a refrigerant compressor connected to a primary and secondary section; an external heat exchanger; an evaporator; a heating register; a primary section valve which is closed in the air heat pump operation; and a secondary section valve which is open in the air heat pump operation. The method includes closing of the secondary section valve; opening of the primary section valve, so that refrigerant flows directly from the refrigerant compressor to the external heat exchanger; and setting an inlet-side pressure level of the refrigerant on the external heat exchanger to a target pressure which corresponds to a condensation temperature (Tkond) of the refrigerant in the range: 2° C.?Tkond?20° C., in particular 4° C.?Tkond?10° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk Schroeder, Christian Rebinger, Helmut Rottenkolber
  • Patent number: 11820204
    Abstract: A rotary apparatus includes a motor, a plurality of gears including an output gear, and a housing accommodating the plurality of gears and the motor. The housing includes a first surface portion, a second surface portion facing the first surface portion and spaced apart from the first surface portion, and a sidewall portion provided at an outer peripheral portion of the first surface portion and the second surface portion and supporting the first surface portion and the second surface portion. One of the first surface portion and the second surface portion includes a vibration damping part opposing the output gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
    Inventor: Yukimasa Matsumura
  • Patent number: 11820205
    Abstract: A slim air vent apparatus for a vehicle may include an internal wing, an external wing, and a support wing that are disposed and hidden inside a duct to realize a compact and slim air vent apparatus and to improve the appearance by hiding the components. Since the air vent is operated to fulfil the functions thereof by manual manipulation of a single knob, positioned at the center portion of the external wing, by a user, it is possible to improve the convenience in manipulation of a user and to reduce manufacturing costs, and the air vent is universally applicable to various kinds of vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION, ITW EF&C KOREA LLC.
    Inventors: Yong Woo Lee, Chun Ha Kim, Byung Jo Kim
  • Patent number: 11820206
    Abstract: A climate control device includes a radiant heater for radiating heat and a porous material attached to the radiant heater. The porous material desorbs a plurality of water molecules, in response to the porous material receiving heat from the radiant heater and raising a temperature of the water molecules in the porous material to a boiling temperature threshold. The porous material adsorbs the water molecules in response to the temperature of the water molecules falling below the boiling temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas W. Pinto, Anne M. Dailly, Kuo-huey Chen, Nathan Thompson
  • Patent number: 11820207
    Abstract: A sliding golf cart windshield assembly includes a first elongated rail, a second elongated rail spaced apart from the first elongated rail, and an upper windshield pane having a first longitudinal edge and an opposing second longitudinal edge. The upper windshield pane is slidably positioned between the first and second elongated rails. The assembly also includes a lower drive pulley, an upper drive pulley, and a drive belt stretched between the lower drive pulley and the upper drive pulley. In addition, the assembly includes a drive panel slidingly engaged with the second rail and secured to the upper window pane and the drive belt, and a motor coupled to the lower drive pulley and configured to rotate the lower drive pulley to raise and lower the upper windshield pane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Inventor: Edward Mauro
  • Patent number: 11820208
    Abstract: A vehicle door including a door water management system is disclosed. The water management system includes a baffle installed within the door to direct water towards a lateral door of the door, preventing water from leaking inside a motor vehicle. The water management system also includes a grommet that is set within an opening of a stiffening member, which is disposed between an exterior skin member and an interior panel member of the vehicle door. The grommet protects a wire running through the opening of the stiffening member and helps prevent water from leaking through that opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Khang C. Nguyen, Christos Agouridis, Hiroshi Shingu