Spring Patents (Class 16/85)
  • Patent number: 11976508
    Abstract: The sliding door system includes a sliding door, displaceable along a running rail relative to a stationary activation member up to a closing position; which includes a door leaf equipped with an activatable sealing device including an extractable sealing strip and actuating element equipped with a transmission device including a transmission element; and includes at least two carriages, including a carriage body and running elements connected to the door leaf, and are held in the running rail displaceable in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the running rail; wherein the activation member and transmission device are arranged so that, when the sliding door enters the closing position, a force can be transmitted from the activation member via the transmission element to the actuating element in order to drive out the sealing strip. A stationary buffer device stops the sliding door in the closing position and includes the activation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: HAWA SLIDING SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventors: Ralph Egger, Marek Lach
  • Patent number: 11970892
    Abstract: A door stop system is presented for restricting range of motion of a multi-axial hinge having a main link and a secondary link pivotally connected between a first end member and a second end member. In one or more embodiments, the system is configured to be positioned and held within cutout opening of the hinge, between the main link and either the first end member or second end member to restrict the range of motion. In one or more embodiments, the system includes a first stop component, a second stop component configured to be positioned around the secondary link within the cutout opening and connected together by the one or more fasteners. A portion of at least one of the first stop component or second stop component limits the range of motion of the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Summit Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy Michael Throop
  • Patent number: 11859426
    Abstract: A hinge system for a panel includes a first plate configured for coupling to a structure, a second plate rotatably coupled to the first plate and disposed on a first side of the panel, a third plate disposed on a second side of the panel opposite the first side, and a slider piece disposed within the panel, the slider piece having a first slot disposed therein. The second plate is coupled to the third plate via at least one fastener, wherein the at least one fastener is configured to slide within the first slot of the slider piece such that the panel may translate relative to the second and the third plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Nameer Shaaban, Sandeep Vishwasrao Pawar, Yogesh Pansare
  • Patent number: 11808067
    Abstract: A door arrester, in particular for a door of a motor vehicle, includes a door retainer rod (30) which can be mounted on either one of the door (2) or the body (3) so as to be pivotable and has a first side (35) with profiling (35a) formed on the first side (35); and a first braking element which can be arranged on the other of the door (2) or the body (3) and in sections bears against the first side (35) of the door retainer rod (30) under the effect of a preload, and which, with the profiling (35a) of the first side (35), defines at least one retaining position. The first braking element has a central boring, the door retainer rod (30) has an elongate through-hole (33), a guide pin (40) passes through the central boring and the through-hole (33), and the guide pin (40) permits an axial movement of the first braking element along the guide pin (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: EDSCHA ENGINEERING GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Hoffmann, Heiner Ackers, Gundolf Heinrichs, Torsten Meissner
  • Patent number: 11654735
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for an automatic locking system for railgear. In an embodiment, the automatic locking system for railgear is an automatic mechanical locking system that can be incorporated into a front guide railgear assembly for use with conventional roadway vehicles. The automatic locking system can secure the railgear in a fixed orientation, either deployed for rail travel using the guide wheels of the railgear on rail tracks or stowed for highway travel such that the vehicle can operate using the conventional tires on a road, highway, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: DIVERSIFIED METAL FABRICATORS, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Alwin Monroe
  • Patent number: 11643859
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to achieve a door closer arrangement (1) where the force needed for opening the door (2) is not so substantial. The invention comprises a door closer (6), a slide rail (7), and an arm (8) that connects the door closer with the slide rail. The arrangement comprises also a second rail (9), which is arranged to form a slide slope for the door closer (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: ABLOY OY
    Inventors: Sauli Seppänen, Juhani Karvonen, Vesa Kärkkäinen, Petri Sallinen
  • Patent number: 11598134
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to achieve a door closer arrangement (1) where the force needed for opening the door (2) is not so substantial. The invention comprises a door closer (6), a slide rail (7), and an arm (8) that connects the door closer with the slide rail. The arrangement comprises also a second rail (9), which is arranged to form a slide slope for the door closer (6) and the auxiliary spring arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: ABLOY OY
    Inventors: Sauli Seppänen, Juhani Karvonen
  • Patent number: 11560931
    Abstract: A device for reducing impact forces upon a surface includes a base comprising a first contact portion and a transition portion, a contact member disposed between the base and the surface; and a biasing portion disposed between the first contact portion of the base and the surface. At least a first portion of an impact force upon the surface is transferred from the contact member to the base, and a second portion of the impact force is subsequently returned to the surface, the second portion being less than the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Newtonoid Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Fielding B. Staton
  • Patent number: 11549297
    Abstract: Mechanism for moving a furniture door, apt to be placed on a lateral side of the piece of furniture and to move a door by a system of levers, the mechanism comprising a spring unit acting on the system of levers to balance the weight force of the door during opening, wherein the spring unit is pivotally mounted and acts directly on a main or thrust lever, mounted rotating around an axis, by a pin housed in a first cam slot formed in the lever and in a second cam slot placed in a fixed position with respect to the lateral side of the piece of furniture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: DONGTAI HARDWARE PRECISION (HONG KONG) LIMITED
    Inventor: Antonio Giovannetti
  • Patent number: 11466491
    Abstract: Trunk lid stopper mechanism and method for controlling rotational speed of a trunk lid to slow down and halt its movement, and to hold the trunk lid at the halted position. The stopper mechanism comprises hinge arms for supporting the lid, torsion bars for applying biasing force to the lid, and link arms for transmitting biasing force from torsion bars to the hinge arms. Either each hinge arm or link arm is equipped with a stopper member that brakes the rotation movement of the trunk lid and halts the trunk lid fully-open. The stopper member has tapered surfaces for reducing relative rotational speed between the hinge and link arms by being forced therebetween during their relative rotational movement, and a stopper surface(s) for abutting against the other arm and halting the arms' relative rotational movement at the fully open position of the trunk lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Niitech Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Masakazu Doi, Mitsuhiro Kataoka
  • Patent number: 11434677
    Abstract: A freezer appliance includes a cabinet defining a food storage chamber. A door is positioned on the cabinet and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The door is rotatably and releasably coupled to the cabinet by a hinge. The hinge includes a first hinge arm fixed to one of the door or the cabinet, a second hinge arm pivotably joined with the first hinge arm, and a carrier fixed to the other of the door or the cabinet. The second hinge arm is releasably received in the carrier, such that the door is detachable from the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Bart Andrew Nuss
  • Patent number: 11306525
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to achieve a door closer arrangement where the force needed for opening the door is not so substantial. The invention comprises a door closer, a slide rail, and an arm that connects the door closer with the slide rail. The arrangement comprises also a second rail, which is arranged to form a slide slope for the door closer and the auxiliary spring arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: ABLOY OY
    Inventors: Sauli Seppänen, Juhani Karvonen
  • Patent number: 11180007
    Abstract: A tailgate guide bumper is to be installed between a tailgate that opens to a rear of a vehicle and a vehicle body of the vehicle to support the tailgate in a widthwise direction of the vehicle. The tailgate guide bumper includes a guide bumper member fastened to one side of the tailgate and a guide bumper supporting part configured to be in contact with the guide bumper member when the tailgate is closed to support load applied in a widthwise direction of the tailgate. The guide bumper member and the guide bumper supporting part are installed to be adjacent to a lamp installed at the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ki-Hyun Cho
  • Patent number: 11111704
    Abstract: A ball catch (1) having a catch housing (26) with two spring-loaded balls (5) which are displaceable therein under spring loading, and which are supported in two oppositely situated sockets (9) of the catch housing (26) and protrude in a diametrically opposed manner into a middle receiving space (10) between the sockets (9), and a centering part (2) which with a journal (13) integrally formed thereon is insertable into the receiving space (10) and is lockable by the balls (5) at that location, wherein the ball guide (4) for the balls (5) and the compression springs (6) is inserted into the catch housing (26) as a separate part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Otto Ganter GmbH & Co. KG Normteilefabrik
    Inventor: Alexander Pychtin
  • Patent number: 10875401
    Abstract: This invention provides a kind of fuel filler cap actuator and automotive vehicle, comprising screw shaft, rotor, housing, first reset spring, lock block and lock block driving device; Under the action of the lock block driving device, the lock block can be rotated between the locking angle and the unlocking angle; the lock block driving device adopts an electromagnetic drive method to drive the lock block. This avoids the use of a motor drive, and achieves locking/unlocking of the fuel filler cap through the mutual interaction of the first and second magnet, which significantly reduce operational costs and increase life expectancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: CEBI ELECTROMECHANICAL COMPONENTS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Huifeng Zhao, Mingqian Long, Lei Fang, Vanzini Andrea, Jiazheng Shen
  • Patent number: 10760303
    Abstract: A multi-point locking arrangement is provided. The multi-point locking arrangement includes a primary lock bolt and an auxiliary lock bolt offset from the primary lock bolt. The multi-point locking arrangement, in an embodiment, uses a single actuation motion to transition between locked and unlocked states. The locking arrangement may also include a lockout device that prevents transitioning from the unlocked state to the locked state when the lockout device is not actuated. The locking arrangement may include a biased auxiliary strike plate that cooperate with the auxiliary lock bolt to provide improved alignment and a tighter seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Hoppe Holding AG
    Inventors: Christian Josef Stephan Zeus, Oliver Erich Rudolf Schuberth, Matthew T. Taylor
  • Patent number: 10750861
    Abstract: A drive device for a movable furniture part includes a first lockable ejection device and a second lockable ejection device for ejecting the movable furniture part out of a closed position into an open position. The first ejection device has a first locking device and the second ejection device has a second locking device. The first locking device and the second locking device each have a locking position and an unlocking position. The first locking device and the second locking device are movable between the respective locking position and the respective unlocking position by rotational movement of a respective first component relative to a respective second component about a rotational axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first ejection device and the second ejection device. A synchronizing device for synchronizing the first locking device and the second locking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventor: Daniel Wohlgenannt
  • Patent number: 10676975
    Abstract: A door assembly for a motor vehicle comprised of an outer door panel and an inner door panel interconnected to define a door panel structure having an internal door cavity. A collapsible carrier module is configured to be oriented in a collapsed arrangement to facilitate installation into the door cavity through an opening in the inner door panel. The collapsible carrier module can be moved from its collapsed arrangement into an expanded arrangement upon installation within the door cavity to facilitate subsequent mounting to the door panel structure. The collapsible carrier module includes a two-piece carrier plate formed to integrally include a pair of laterally-spaced glass run channels and a pair of laterally-spaced slider rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Raymond Edward Fortin, Eric V. Kalliomaki, Amandeep Kalra
  • Patent number: 10641027
    Abstract: A door hinge includes a damper attached to a back side of the actuating member, a shaft mounted on the fixing member configured to be movable forward and backward while one end of the shaft is exposed in a direction to the fixing member and moved horizontally backward when contacting with the bumper of the actuating member according to closing of the door, a slide fixed on an upper side of the shaft and moves horizontally backward according to a movement of the shaft, an inclined plane portion provided an upper side of the slide, a platform configured to vertically move up and down on the inclined plane portion of the slide according to the horizontal movement of the slide, and a damper disposed at an upper portion of the platform configured to be pushed up to generate a resistance force to attenuate the closing speed of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: SEO WON KOREA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Juneyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 10641025
    Abstract: A hinge including: a first leaf assembly accommodating a portion of a first panel having a first cut-out section, the first leaf assembly including a first insert component which is tight fittingly receivable within the first cut-out section; a second leaf assembly, hingedly coupled to the first leaf assembly, for accommodating a portion of a second panel having a second cut-out section; one or more biasing components to bias the hinge toward a closed position; and a dampener to slow movement of the first and second leaf assemblies to the closed position, a first portion of the dampener is located within the first insert component and a second portion is configured to at least partially retract within the first insert component when coining into contact with the second leaf assembly during movement, a second portion of the dampener extends and retracts along an axis coplanar with the first panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Polaris IP Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Michael Christopher Stuart
  • Patent number: 10575637
    Abstract: A drive device for a movable furniture part, in particular for a drawer, includes a push-out device for pushing the movable furniture part out of a closed position into an open position, and includes a locking device for locking the push-out device in a locked position. The locking device has a locking guide track, which is in particular cardioid, and a locking pin movable and lockable in the locking guide track. A control device is provided which is separate from the locking guide track and from the locking pin, and the movement of the locking pin in the locking guide track can be at least partially controlled by the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: JULIUS BLUM GMBH
    Inventor: Daniel Wohlgenannt
  • Patent number: 10519714
    Abstract: Example implementations relate to methods and devices for electric discharge of a workpiece. An example device includes a housing structure configured with an inner portion that extends partially into an outer portion and an elongate rod positioned inside the housing structure. The device also includes a cover component coupled to a first end of the rod proximate a slot of the outer portion of the housing structure, and a lock coupled around the rod proximate a slot of the inner portion of the housing structure. The device also includes a compressible spring positioned within the housing structure, a ground component coupled to a second end of the rod, and an attachment component that is configurable for coupling the device to a workpiece such that the ground component presses against a ground when the workpiece is positioned on the ground and is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Steve W. Gaugler
  • Patent number: 10443286
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a door of an appliance is disclosed. The apparatus is secured to the door. The apparatus comprises an elongated structure extending over a length of the door. The elongated structure comprises a support arm at one end. The support arm is used to couple the elongated structure to the door of the appliance. The apparatus comprises a hinge provided at the elongated structure. The hinge facilitates in rotation of the elongated structure to support the door when the door is in open position. The appliance includes a dishwasher or a refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventor: Andria K. Cocco
  • Patent number: 10420237
    Abstract: An easy access alarm mount including a cover having a hinge mechanism and a cover locking mechanism and a base with a hinge mechanism recess and base locking mechanism is provided. The engagement of the hinge mechanism with the hinge mechanism recess and the base locking mechanism with the cover locking mechanism allows the base and cover to be coupled together. The cover may further include a beveled access wand recess to allow an access wand to engage with the cover to allow the cover to be attached or detached by the access wand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Inventor: Lawrence S. Kramer
  • Patent number: 10344517
    Abstract: Disclosed is a soft-close device for a compact hinge comprising a housing removably fitted to the compact hinge and a plunger slidingly engaged with the housing. The housing includes a cavity sized and shaped to receive the plunger. The plunger includes a collar that when the plunger is rotated will engage a slot in the housing to deactivate the soft close functionality of the device. In an alternate embodiment, a tab slides around the exterior of the collar to engage the slot. In another alternate embodiment, the plunger includes a detent that engages a catch formed in the housing. The catch extends from a flexible arm of the housing that can be elastically deformed to deactivate and reactivate the soft-close functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Hardware Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis McGregor, Travis McElveen
  • Patent number: 10253542
    Abstract: An over slam bumper assembly includes a reinforcement member mounted on a door panel, and an over slam bumper including a first portion disposed between the door panel and the reinforcement member and a second portion disposed between the door panel and a vehicle body to contact the vehicle body when a door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yong Hyun Nam, Jun Ho Lee, Dong Min Jeon
  • Patent number: 10192189
    Abstract: A mobile pickup location is provided that may be associated with a vehicle such as a public bus. A user may choose to have items delivered to a mobile pickup location on a public bus which the user takes every day travelling from the office to home, or which stops at a bus stop that is convenient for the user. Also, in regions where carriers for delivering items are rare or prohibitively expensive, a mobile pickup location may be utilized to deliver items, such as to a rural village. The coordinates of a mobile pickup location may be tracked, such as with GPS, and a user may be provided with a notification when a mobile pickup location with an ordered item is approaching, such as with a text message sent to a cell phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kushal Mukesh Bhatt
  • Patent number: 10132110
    Abstract: A support for a closed flap of a vehicle, particularly a tailgate of a motor vehicle, has a bearing part arranged at the flap or at a wall area of the vehicle body adjacent to the closed flap. The bearing part can be adjusted in its position before its fastening. In its premounting position, a clamping element is frictionally or form-fittingly adjustably connected with the bearing part such that, after a fastening of the bearing part previously adjusted in its position, the clamping element can be adjusted by an applied force from the premounting position into a clamping position limited by a stop, in which the clamping element is frictionally and/or form-fittingly fixedly held at the bearing part and, at least indirectly, under a pretensioning force, rests against the flap or the wall area, when the flap is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Nicholas Aldersley, Alberto Escudero
  • Patent number: 10047818
    Abstract: A damping device has a pin member inserted slidably in a cylindrical case member. The bottom of the case member has: a hole forming section in which an insertion hole is formed; and a slit for allowing the hole forming section to be expanded and deformed. The outer peripheral surface of the pin member and/or the inner peripheral surface of the hole forming section has a tapered section tilted relative to the axial direction. The movement of the pin member of being pressed into the insertion hole from the inside causes the outer peripheral surface of the pin member and the inner peripheral surface of the hole forming section to slide on each other along the tapered section, and as a result, the insertion hole is expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventor: Hisashi Nakasone
  • Patent number: 10025260
    Abstract: A damper mechanism has first and second rail members, a biasing member, and a slide member. The first rail member is fixed inside the opening/closing member along the up/down direction, and has an oblong guide hole formed therein extending along the longitudinal direction. The second rail member has fixed to a top end part thereof an engaging pin inserted through the guide hole, and has a bottom end part swingably supported on the apparatus main body. The biasing member biases the first and second rail members in a direction in which these approach each other. The slide member is made of resin fixed to the engaging pin, slides while in contact with the first rail member and the opening/closing member, and prevents contact between the engaging pin and an inner circumferential rim of the guide hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Tashiro, Takehiro Sato
  • Patent number: 9957738
    Abstract: A fixing device for vehicle doors includes a door lock striker, a fixed member, and a movable member. The fixed member has two inclined surfaces that are movable relative to the door lock striker and located on opposite sides of the door lock striker. The movable member has two inclined surfaces arranged on opposite sides of the door lock striker and is urged such that each inclined surface is pushed against the corresponding inclined surface of the fixed member. The door lock striker includes a leg portion. The movable member includes two bodies forming the two inclined surfaces of the movable member, and a connecting portion that connects the bodies at the rear end portions of the bodies, which are pressed towards the fixed member and moved rearward. The connecting portion has an arched shape that protrudes in the protruding direction of the leg portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Muramatsu, Kosuke Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9890574
    Abstract: A device for influencing the movement of a first furniture part relative to a second furniture part of a piece of furniture, having a damper for damping the relative movement between the first and the second furniture parts. The damper is made up of a single damping component that includes a container with a housing in which is accommodated a damping fluid which is enclosed by the housing, wherein a portion of the housing is formed from an elastically deformable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Grass GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Boris Kruedener
  • Patent number: 9834071
    Abstract: A fastening arrangement is disclosed for mounting a decorative cover or a window guide on a vehicle door having a material section associated with a decorative cover or a window guide and another material section is associated with a vehicle door. A connector configured as a connection clip connects the material sections. The connection clip positions the material sections in a form-fitting manner relative to one another in at least one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Michael Alhof
  • Patent number: 9821639
    Abstract: A vehicle having a sliding door arranged behind a body pillar, a frame around the door opening closeable by the sliding door, a rail system provided in the region of the sliding door connected fixedly to the vehicle and having upper and lower guide rails, sliding carriages provided on the sliding door connected to the sliding door via a respective supporting arm and guided displaceably on the guide rails, and side impact protection in the region of the sliding door. At least one of the sliding carriages or supporting arms is provided with a stop. In the event of a side impact, in which the outer vehicle wall is deformed in the direction of the vehicle interior, an abutment connected to the vehicle wall comes to bear against the stop of the sliding carriage or of the supporting arm, and the position of the sliding door is thereby blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dirk van Oirschot, Olaf Van Leeuwen
  • Patent number: 9771749
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and vehicles for door assembles for vehicles are disclosed. A door assembly of a vehicle includes a damping assembly comprising a damping component arranged on a shut face panel of a vehicle door, and a latch assembly arranged on the shut face panel of the vehicle door, where the damping assembly is configured to transition from an initial state to a shock absorbing state as the vehicle closes the vehicle door against a vehicle body before the latch assembly latches the vehicle door to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Sergei I. Gage
  • Patent number: 9764870
    Abstract: A tool device for the automated opening of flip tubes including an actuating plunger which is provided and configured to move the actuating portion at least in open direction and thereby to exert an opening moment on the lid portion, and wherein the device further includes a damping means which is configured to exert a damping moment on the container lid at least during a period of the actuation of the actuating portion by the actuating plunger, which damping moment is less in amount and is in an opposite direction compared to the opening moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Bonaduz AG
    Inventors: Walter Kubler, Rainer Beckbissinger, Urs Muller
  • Patent number: 9708844
    Abstract: A sliding door closing device having an easy door opening function with an opening system. The closing device provides a slider with an attachment and gripper on one side of the device, and a properly shaped support of a moving roller on the other side of the device. A pusher contacts a roller support of the roller with a slider gripper and an opening spring and choke. The opening system allows for the opening of a door by pushing the door on vertical strip or on the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Komandor S.A.
    Inventors: Mariusz Glogowski, Piotr Szymanski
  • Patent number: 9617763
    Abstract: A lock is provided especially for a door (2) or flap of a motor vehicle. Said lock has a lock housing (3) and a locking mechanism having a rotary latch (4) and a pawl, wherein the rotary latch (4) is arranged pivotably about an axis (22) and interacts with a locking bow (9), which is assigned to the bodywork (8), during the opening and closing of the door (2). At least one spring plate (15) which is oriented substantially parallel to the rotary latch (4) and surrounds the locking bow (9) in the locking position of the lock is arranged in the lock inlet region of the lock housing (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Ludger Graute, Omer Inan, Ulrich Weichsel
  • Patent number: 9567786
    Abstract: A braking device for braking a movement of a first vehicle part and a second vehicle part with respect to each other includes a housing element having an inner bore and a piston element having a shaft extending in the inner bore along a longitudinal axis and being mounted on the housing element such that the shaft is displaceable along the longitudinal axis with respect to the housing element along a displacement path. A braking element is arranged within the inner bore of the housing element and constituted to provide a friction force for braking a displacement movement of the piston element and the housing element with respect to each other at least within a portion of the displacement path. A tensioning device is constituted to radially, with respect to the longitudinal axis, act onto the braking element to provide a radial tensioning force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GMBH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Hallstadt
    Inventors: Michael Buchheim, Linda Loeffler
  • Patent number: 9562599
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a product comprising a cam guide mechanism for use with a string-damper comprising a body, wherein the body includes a profiled surface and a groove extending along the profiled surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Brian V. Castillo
  • Patent number: 9522724
    Abstract: Roller covers for use with cylindrical rollers include an elongate flexible hollow body defining an interior space with an opening to the interior space for receiving the cylindrical roller via the opening, a first restrictive feature extending from the body and configured to restrict rotation of the body in a first rotational direction when the cylindrical roller is received in the interior space, and a second restrictive feature extending from the body and configured to restrict rotation of the body in a second and opposite rotational direction when the cylindrical roller is received in the interior space. Some embodiments further include a third restrictive feature positioned relative to the body and configured to restrict linear translation of the body relative to the cylindrical roller when the cylindrical roller is received in the interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert Dean Dixon, Maksim Adzhigirey, Isaac B. Schaff, Craig B. Morgan
  • Patent number: 9476478
    Abstract: A system for mitigating an impact force is provided. The system includes a device having a first layer, a second layer, and an intervening member. The intervening member is suspended between the first and second layers via a first biasing member. A first portion of a force initially received by the first layer is transferred to the intervening member. A fraction of the force transferred to the intervening member is returned to the first layer, the fraction returned to the first layer being less than the force received by the first layer. A second portion of the force initially received by the first layer is partially transferred to the second layer, the second portion being less than the initial force received by the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: Fielding B. Staton
  • Patent number: 9121205
    Abstract: A vehicle door fixing apparatus includes a fixed wedge configured to be provided at one of a vehicle body panel and a door panel, and a movable wedge configured to be provided at the other one of the vehicle body panel and the door panel, wherein the movable wedge is configured to be assembled together with a base plate of a door lock striker or with a door lock assembly that is engageable with a shaft of the door lock striker, the movable wedge includes a strength member, the movable wedge includes a contact member fixedly attached to the strength member and configured to be in pressure contact with the fixed wedge, and the strength member includes a rigidity that is higher than a rigidity of the contact member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Muramatsu, Kosuke Tsukamoto, Yoshiki Odaka
  • Patent number: 9027972
    Abstract: A vehicle door locking apparatus is equipped with a movable wedge, a fixed wedge, and an elastic member. The movable wedge is movable in the open/close direction of the vehicle door towards the vehicle body opening. The elastic member impels the movable wedge toward the fixed wedge. A slanted surface on the movable wedge and a slanted surface on the fixed wedge are configured to come into contact when the door is closed. The movable wedge is assembled on the end surface on the vehicle body opening side along with the base plate of a door lock striker that is assembled on the end surface on the vehicle body opening side. The fixed wedge is immovably assembled on the mounting section of the end surface on the vehicle door side, which is involved in a door lock assembly that is assembled on the end surface on the vehicle door side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Muramatsu, Kosuke Tsukamoto, Kimito Shimizu, Kenji Oriishi, Yoshiki Odaka
  • Patent number: 9021656
    Abstract: A furniture damper damps a movement of a movably mounted part of a piece of furniture or a movably mounted component of a furniture fitting. The damper includes a piston arranged in a fluid chamber, a damping action being carried out by a relative movement between the fluid chamber and the piston. A sealing device seals the fluid chamber, and the sealing device includes a first abutment element and a second abutment element that is movably mounted in relation to the first abutment element and designed to seal the fluid chamber. A spring is arranged between the first abutment element and the second abutment element, and the spring is compressible by the relative movement of the first abutment element and the second abutment element essentially up to the thickness of the cross-section of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Brunnmayr
  • Publication number: 20150059125
    Abstract: A support for a closed flap of a vehicle, particularly a tailgate of a motor vehicle, has a bearing part arranged at the flap or at a wall area of the vehicle body adjacent to the closed flap. The bearing part can be adjusted in its position before its fastening. In its premounting position, a clamping element is frictionally or form-fittingly adjustably connected with the bearing part such that, after a fastening of the bearing part previously adjusted in its position, the clamping element can be adjusted by an applied force from the premounting position into a clamping position limited by a stop, in which the clamping element is frictionally and/or form-fittingly fixedly held at the bearing part and, at least indirectly, under a pretensioning force, rests against the flap or the wall area, when the flap is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Nicholas ALDERSLEY, Alberto ESCUDERO
  • Patent number: 8959710
    Abstract: A damping device that includes an arm having a longitudinally extending slot and a cylinder cut-out defined therein, and a damping assembly secured in the cylinder cut-out. The damping assembly includes a cylinder housing with a chamber having a piston and fluid disposed therein. The piston includes a rod with a head on a distal end thereof that extends outside the cylinder housing and into the slot. The damping assembly includes a biasing member extending between the cylinder housing and the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Anthony, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Robert Wach, John Michael Roche, Sesha Madireddi, Raghujit Kunapuli
  • Patent number: 8959712
    Abstract: A door arrester for vehicle doors of motor vehicles, comprising a retaining part for fastening to a door or door pillar and a housing. A door retaining bar passes through a through-opening in the housing in a longitudinally displaceable manner. The door retaining bar is pivotably fastened to the door or door pillar and has a contact surface which comprises at least one first contact portion and at least one ramp-shaped second contact portion. At least one retaining body is pretensioned in the direction of the door retaining bar by a spring element and guided in the housing. The retaining body comprises at least two contact elements, wherein the contact elements have different coefficients of friction relative to the operative connection with the contact surface of the door retaining bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Andrej Rawdin
  • Patent number: 8944479
    Abstract: A vehicle door fixing apparatus, a fixed wedge configured to be fixedly attached to one of a vehicle body panel and a door panel, a base plate configured to be fixedly attached to the other one of the vehicle body panel and the door panel, a movable wedge slidably provided at the base plate, a biasing member biasing the movable wedge toward the fixed wedge, and a cover fixedly attached to the base plate and covering around the biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Muramatsu, Kosuke Tsukamoto, Yoshiki Odaka
  • Publication number: 20150026923
    Abstract: A pressing device is provided with a pin member, a coil-like spring member, and a spring receiving member which has a through-hole for allowing the pin member to be inserted therein and which supports one end of the spring member. The pin member has: a shaft section which has the spring member disposed on the outer peripheral side thereof; a head section which is interconnected with one end of the shaft section and which can come into contact with the contact surface of the opening/closing body; a spring support section which supports the other end of the spring member; and an engagement claw which engages with the outer surface of the mounting portion and which prevents the pressing device from being dislocated from the mounting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: PIOLAX, Inc.
    Inventor: Hisashi Nakasone