Vibration Reduction Patents (Class 296/1.03)
  • Patent number: 11498400
    Abstract: In a sunroof device, each support member and each driving shoe include a pressing portion and an elastic body, respectively, that, when the driving shoe moves from a first position toward a second position, come close to each other and, when the driving shoe is positioned between the second position and a third position, come into contact with each other. When the driving shoe is positioned between the second position and the third position, the pressing portion presses the elastic body in a direction perpendicular to a width direction. A length in the width direction of the elastic body is longer than the pressing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Aisin Corporation
    Inventors: Yuya Aoki, Shota Motomura, Katsutoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 11214315
    Abstract: A floor center member extends through a central part of a body floor of a vehicle and a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a first floor cross member penetrates the floor center member to extend in a lateral direction of the vehicle. The floor center member includes a coupling flange counter to a top wall of the first floor cross member. The coupling flange is coupled to the first floor cross member, by a bolt and a nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihito Tomizawa
  • Patent number: 11165119
    Abstract: A battery unit comprises plural battery modules and a battery case storing the plural battery modules, and is arranged over a range from a first storage area located below a front seat to second and third storage areas located in back of the front seat. The number of front-side fastening portions of the battery modules corresponding to the first storage area is set to be smaller than the number of rear-side fastening portions of the battery modules corresponding to the first storage area. The fastening portion is arranged on an inward side, in a vehicle width direction, of the fastening portion provided at an outward side in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Morihide Yamada, Kazuhisa Hatano, Hidetaka Goto, Koutaro Takada
  • Patent number: 10889336
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a floor including a top panel and a bottom panel defining a cavity therebetween. At least one of the top panel and the bottom panel includes a polymeric material. A passenger-climate-control duct is disposed in the cavity and is integral with the at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Peter A. Friedman, John Wayne Jaranson, Ari Garo Caliskan, Christopher Bondanza, Michael Musa Azzouz
  • Patent number: 10710435
    Abstract: A shading device for a pane or a glass roof region of a vehicle interior with a flexible shading structure mounted for, movement between a rest position in which it is stowed in a receiving region in a compact manner, and a shading position, in which it spans the pane or the glass roof region, and which is provided with a dimensionally stable pull-out profile. The pull-out profile extends substantially over an entire width of the shading structure and is positioned in a passage slot of the receiving region in the rest position of the shading structure. Resilient damping elements are arranged on opposite longitudinal walls of the passage slot, which damping elements flank the pull-out profile in the rest position of the shading structure and support the pull-out profile at a distance from the longitudinal walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: BOS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Roman Sauer
  • Patent number: 10549787
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle body floor structure capable of effectively preventing deformation of a floor panel by increasing bending strength of the floor panel even when an upper reinforcing member of the floor panel is removed. A vehicle body floor structure of the present invention includes a dash cross member disposed along a kick-up portion on a lower surface side of a floor panel, a novel front side frame having an outer frame and an inner frame at a rear portion of a side frame body, and a floor panel on which beads are formed to form a closed cross-section in cooperation with the outer frame and the inner frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Kita, Takuya Morisawa, Takeshi Yoshimoto, Hirotaka Yamaguchi, Tomonari Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10494035
    Abstract: A vehicle body lower structure includes a side sill, a center tunnel, a floor panel disposed between the side sill and the center tunnel, a first frame member connected to a front side member, and a second frame member connected to the front side member. The first frame member extends obliquely such that, as the first frame member extends further rearward, the first frame member extends further outward in a vehicle width direction. The second frame member is connected to the side sill. The second frame member extends obliquely such that, as the second frame member extends further rearward, the second frame member extends further inward in the vehicle width direction. The second frame member is connected to the center tunnel. One of the first frame member and the second frame member is provided on an upper surface of the floor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Abe, Yukihiro Hamada, Yuichi Igarashi, Masamoto Ono
  • Patent number: 10486750
    Abstract: A steel sheet member combination structure includes: a first steel sheet member having a main wall portion, a standing wall portion that stands from an end edge of the main wall portion, and a flange portion that extends parallel to the main wall portion from an end edge of the standing wall portion; and a second steel sheet member having a horizontal wall portion that is joined to at least one of an inner surface or an outer surface of the first steel sheet member and that abuts the main wall portion and a side wall portion that abuts the standing wall portion, and the first steel sheet member and the second steel sheet member satisfy predetermined relational expressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi Hamada, Atsushi Ono, Yasunori Ito
  • Patent number: 10124833
    Abstract: A vehicle B-pillar assembly is provided. The vehicle B-pillar assembly includes a steel T-bracket and a B-pillar outer assembly. The steel T-bracket includes an upper portion secured to a roof rail and a lower portion extending perpendicular therefrom and below a beltline. The B-pillar outer assembly includes an upper carbon fiber portion extending from the roof rail to a location above the beltline and a lower steel portion extending from a vehicle rocker to a location above the beltline and secured to the lower portion of the T-bracket. The beltline may be defined by an axis extending between a shotgun joint on a vehicle A-pillar and a latch reinforcement on a vehicle C-pillar. The beltline may extend fore and aft along the vehicle and through a substantially central region of the B-pillar assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Rahul Arora, Saeed David Barbat
  • Patent number: 9969443
    Abstract: There are provided a floor panel, a tunnel portion which is provided to protrude at the floor panel, a pair of right-and-left tunnel side frames, a pair of right-and-left floor frames, and a band plate which is made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic, an inward end portion which being connected to the tunnel side frame and an outward end portion of which being connected to the floor frame, wherein the band plate portion includes a first displacement following portion which is configured to be displaced, following displacement of the tunnel side frame and a second displacement following portion which is configured to be displaced, following displacement of the floor frame, and the first displacement following portion and the second displacement following portion are configured to be asymmetrical relatively to a longitudinal-directional axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Nishida, Kohya Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9783239
    Abstract: A vehicle body side part structure for a vehicle includes a side sill connected to the lower part of a pillar, and a partition member provided within the side sill. The partition member includes a partition wall for dividing a closed sectional space of the side sill in the vehicle front-rear direction, and joint flange joined to the inner surface of a side sill inner member. The partition wall includes a ridge extending from a side of the side sill outer reinforcement to a side of the side sill inner member and connected to the joint flange. A widening portion is formed at an end of on the ridge close to the joint flange. This configuration makes it possible to improve the load transmission performance at the time of a side collision of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Iyoshi, Shigeaki Watanabe, Keizo Kawasaki, Takahiro Kageyama
  • Patent number: 9630651
    Abstract: A b-pillar assembly for a vehicle is provided. The b-pillar assembly includes a vehicle body, a steel T-bracket, a carbon fiber b-pillar inner, a b-pillar outer, and a carbon fiber b-pillar reinforcement. The vehicle body includes a roof rail. The steel T-bracket includes a first portion for securing to the roof rail and a second portion extending perpendicularly therefrom and including a hinge member. The carbon fiber b-pillar inner includes a first upper end secured to the first portion of the steel T-bracket and a first lower end secured to a rocker. The b-pillar outer includes a second upper end secured to the roof rail and a second lower end secured to the rocker. The carbon fiber b-pillar reinforcement is disposed between the b-pillar inner and the b-pillar outer. The hinge member is oriented to deform to absorb a portion of a load applied to the roof rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Rahul Arora, Saeed David Barbat
  • Patent number: 9517800
    Abstract: A first opening is formed in a bent portion at a lower end portion of a pillar outer panel, and a second opening is formed in the bent portion at a lower end portion of pillar outer reinforcement. The strength of a front outside portion is reduced at the lower end portions of the pillar outer panel and the pillar outer reinforcement. When load toward the rear oblique inside acts on a lower end portion of a front pillar, the front pillar deforms about an origin at the front outside portions of the pillar outer panel and the pillar outer reinforcement. Namely, the front pillar can be deformed such that a front end portion of a front wheel moves further toward the vehicle width direction outside. The front end portion of the front wheel moves further toward the vehicle width direction outside, thereby promoting toe-out of the front wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuya Komamura
  • Patent number: 9315215
    Abstract: A center pillar outer, and a method of manufacturing a center pillar outer, may include an upper panel portion which forms an upper end portion of the center pillar outer, and a lower panel portion which forms a lower end portion of the center pillar outer. The upper and lower panel portions are molded using different methods. A lower end of the upper panel portion and an upper end of the lower panel portion are overlapped with each other, and the overlapping portions are coupled to each other, for example, through welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Chul Hee Heo, Hee Dae Oh
  • Publication number: 20150145274
    Abstract: A vehicle exterior component includes a honeycomb structure having an inner plate portion arranged in the vicinity of an engine compartment, an outer plate portion arranged at an outer side of the inner plate portion, and a honeycomb portion held between the plate portions. The honeycomb portion includes a plurality of partition walls and a plurality of cells, which are separated from one another by the partition walls. Each of the partition walls of each cell has communication holes, to allow communication between the engine compartment and the interior space of the cell. Each partition wall has an absorbing portion. When external force acting inward is applied to the partition wall, the absorbing portion absorbs energy produced by the external force through deformation of the partition wall at positions corresponding to the peripheries of the communication holes, of the partition wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshikazu HIROSE, Shigeru YABUYA, Yoshihiro KUROSAKI, Shohei YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150130203
    Abstract: An acoustic spray foam control system and method for a vehicle includes an acoustic spray foam control baffle, a wedge member and acoustic spray foam. The acoustic spray foam control baffle is mounted within a cavity defined in a vehicle body of the vehicle. The acoustic spray foam control baffle has a tapered recess portion defining a tapered recess. The wedge member is complementarily received in the tapered recess of the tapered recess portion of the acoustic spray foam control baffle for applying force against the tapered recess portion to set the acoustic spray foam control baffle within the cavity. The acoustic spray foam is injected into the cavity on one side of the acoustic spray foam control baffle and contained thereby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Edouard S. Sandoz, Shawn W. Campbell, Aron K. Madsen, Robert G. ZumMallen
  • Patent number: 8991904
    Abstract: An operator ride enhancement system that is coupleable to the frame of a vehicle includes a counterweight platform moveably coupled to the frame, and a resilient member engaged with the frame and the counterweight platform. The mass of the counterweight platform is configured to be approximately at least equal to a total mass supported by the counterweight platform during operation of the vehicle. The operator ride enhancement system attenuates and/or inhibits movement of the counterweight platform during operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Yahner
  • Patent number: 8984715
    Abstract: A cushion clip may include a support portion capable of being connected to an attachment hole formed in a first member and a cushioning portion integrally connected to the support member. The support portion has an engagement portion and a head portion. The head portion has a shoulder surface that is formed in a columnar portion thereof. The cushioning portion has a base portion that is positioned to surround the head portion. The base portion of the cushioning portion has a bulged portion that is formed therein. The bulged portion is shaped to project beyond the shoulder surface in an insertion direction of the support portion, so as to elastically contact the first member when the cushion clip is applied with the impact from a second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Daiwa Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsutoshi Kaji, Makoto Kato
  • Patent number: 8789637
    Abstract: A bulldozer includes a cab, a vehicle body frame supporting a cab and an engine cover. The engine cover has a side plate that has a rear edge with first and second rear edges. The second rear edge is positioned above the first rear edge. The side plate has a first planar portion which includes the first rear edge and a second planar portion which includes the second rear edge. The side plate has a bent shape between the first and second planar portions. A ridgeline is disposed between the first and second planar portions and spans from the upper edge to the rear edge of the side plate. The side plate includes an attachment section which is attached to a vehicle body frame. The attachment section is positioned in the first planar portion adjacent to an intersection of the ridgeline and the rear edge of the side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Souichirou Kinoshita, Akira Uno
  • Publication number: 20140084616
    Abstract: An operator ride enhancement system that is coupleable to the frame of a vehicle includes a counterweight platform moveably coupled to the frame, and a resilient member engaged with the frame and the counterweight platform. The mass of the counterweight platform is configured to be approximately at least equal to a total mass supported by the counterweight platform during operation of the vehicle. The operator ride enhancement system attenuates and/or inhibits movement of the counterweight platform during operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: THE RAYMOND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Yahner
  • Patent number: 8657251
    Abstract: A cab frame (14) is supported on brackets (12, 13) provided at a plurality of positions of a vehicle body frame (11) with dampers (15). Movement limiting mechanisms (30) for limiting a movement at least in a vertical direction of the cab frame (14) are provided between the brackets (12, 13) and the cab frame (14). Further, the movement limiting mechanisms (30) are provided at least at two positions. Each movement limiting mechanism (30) includes a lower limiting portion (31) arranged close to the brackets (12, 13) and constituted by a plate member, and an upper limiting portion (32) arranged close to the cab frame (14) and constituted by a plate member in the same manner. The lower limiting portion (31) is integrally structured with the brackets (12, 13). Recesses (33, 34) are formed in a side edge of at least one of the lower limiting portion (31) and the upper limiting portion (32), and the limiting portion in the other limiting portion is positioned within the recesses (33, 34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kamimae
  • Patent number: 8616603
    Abstract: An operator ride enhancement system that is coupleable to the frame of a vehicle includes a counterweight platform moveably coupled to the frame, and a resilient member engaged with the frame and the counterweight platform. The mass of the counterweight platform is configured to be approximately at least equal to a total mass supported by the counterweight platform during operation of the vehicle. The operator ride enhancement system attenuates and/or inhibits movement of the counterweight platform during operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: The Raymond Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Yahner
  • Publication number: 20130328337
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for mounting an object to a structure in a vibration-free manner. The device has an elastic arrangement that supports the object at the structure in a stiff manner in the directions of at least two of the total of six translational and rotational degrees of freedom and in a soft manner in the directions of at least one of the total of six translational and rotational degrees of freedom. Main modes of motion of the object in the directions of the rigid support have natural frequencies that are higher than any main mode of motion of the object in any direction of the soft support at least by a factor of ten. The soft support is undamped, and a damping device is provided for any main mode of motion of the object in any direction of the soft support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Joerg Melcher, Bjoern Timo Kletz, Julian Redlich
  • Publication number: 20130307284
    Abstract: A shroud element, for example for the engine compartment in the rear region of the vehicle, has a lower support and a thin-walled upper cover. The cover is locally recessed in the longitudinal direction, and rubber strips are provided between the cover and the support in the region of the recesses. The rubber strips also serve as luggage stopping strips and for sound absorption. The support has U-shaped longitudinal grooves locally in formations so that different thermal expansions between the support and the cover can be compensated for.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sergej Mikolajewski, Stefan Schmitz, Corinna Kaute
  • Publication number: 20130257133
    Abstract: A sound blocking rear seat assembly for an automotive vehicle. The rear seat assembly includes a seat back adjacent to a seat bottom. The seat bottom also defines at least two passenger seating locations. A seat base of the seat bottom extends the width of the seat assembly and has a non-planar three dimensional contoured upper surface. A nonporous resilient sound blocking layer has a shape substantially conforming to the upper surface of the seat base and is located over the seat base such that it extends substantially continuously and uninterruptedly over the width of the seat assembly. Positioned over the sound blocking layer is a resilient seat cushion, and a trim layer is located over the seat cushion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Lacey A. Reedy, Christopher M. Vargo, Paul M. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 8544940
    Abstract: A rear floor for an automobile, including a series of ribs punched into the metal sheet of the floor and extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. At least one of the punched-in ribs is connected to an adjacent rib by a rib portion that is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Philippe Kowalski, Anne Corbel-Hey
  • Publication number: 20130168986
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a protector for absorbing shock for a vehicle body cover to be attached to an outer edge portion of the vehicle body cover on an outer side of a vehicle body. The vehicle body cover is composed of a plurality of vehicle body cover parts which are coupled with each other so as to constitute the vehicle body cover, and the protector includes an attachment portion attached so as to straddle outer edge portions of adjacent vehicle body cover parts among a plurality of vehicle body cover parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8407857
    Abstract: A cushion clip may include a cushioning portion made of a soft material and capable of being elastically deformed when a compression force is applied thereto, an attachment portion made of a hard material, and a connecting portion integrally formed with the attachment portion. The connecting portion is embedded in the cushioning portion such that the cushioning portion can be integrated with the attachment portion. A portion of the cushioning portion surrounding an outer circumferential periphery of an end surface of the connecting portion has a lateral thickness that is varied in a direction in which the compression force is applied to the cushioning portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Daiwa Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20130049392
    Abstract: In a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle which comprises vehicle-body forming members forming a closed-section portion and having a dent portion which dents toward an inside of the closed-section portion, and a reinforcing member provided in the closed-section portion and joined to the vehicle-body forming members, a joint portion of the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member includes a rigid joint portion where the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member are joined with a direct contact thereof and a flexible joint portion where the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member are joined via a damping member provided therebetween, and this joint portion is provided at or in the vicinity of the dent portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu KUROGI, Tsuyoshi SUGIHARA, Kohya NAKAGAWA, Kuniaki NAGAO, Sakayu TERADA, Miho KOWAKI, Akira IYOSHI, Shigeaki WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20130033054
    Abstract: A hydraulically damping mount includes a support bearing and a seat which are supported on each other by a hollow conical spring element made of an elastomeric material. The support bearing is shaped essentially as a double-T and includes two annular radial flanges that are connected to each other via a centrally positioned connecting tube so as to be adjacent to each other at an axial distance from each other and so as to delimit the mount on a front on both sides. A working chamber and a compensation chamber are filled with damping fluid and are separated from each other, on respective axially facing sides, via a partition having a damping channel which connects the chambers to each other so as to convey the fluid. The partition is joined to the seat and has an annular shape that surrounds and seals the connection tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: CARL FREUDENBERG KG
    Inventor: Volker Wittmershaus
  • Patent number: 8291547
    Abstract: A cushion clip includes a hollow cushioning portion, an engagement portion and a projection. The cushioning portion has a bottom wall portion and a side wall portion, and the side wall portion has cone-shaped outer and inner surfaces that are tapered from a proximal end toward a distal end thereof. The side wall portion has a top portion that is formed in the distal end thereof, and the top portion has an inner periphery radially inwardly protruding from the side wall portion and defining the central opening therein. The projection is cylindrically projected from the bottom wall portion toward the central opening of the cushioning portion, and has an upper end portion which diameter is larger than or equal to a diameter of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Daiwa Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junya Ukai, Toshio Iwahara, Reiko Yamamoto, Minoru Takemoto
  • Patent number: 8167076
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has an actuator device for raising a bonnet in an accident to minimize injury to a pedestrian. The actuator device has at least two actuators for raising the bonnet. A control unit activates actuators with a time delay. Alternatively, the actuators differ in power. The time delay between activating the actuators or the differing power of the actuators reduces vibration while raising the bonnet, thereby ensuring proper raising of the bonnet and enhancing protection to the pedestrian.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesselschaft
    Inventors: Frank Haunstetter, Rolf Schwarz
  • Patent number: 8068959
    Abstract: An apparatus for vehicle door deflection and movement control. The apparatus includes a primary electromagnetic device disposed generally in a vehicle door frame or generally in an area of a vehicle body adjacent the vehicle door frame, and a controller for activating the primary electromagnetic device to push or pull the vehicle door frame. The apparatus may further include a sensor for measuring vehicle door deflection during vehicle movement. The controller may activate the primary electromagnetic device based on deflection measurements by the sensor to pull the vehicle door frame to generally cancel the vehicle door deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bijan K. Shahidi, XianLi Huang, Zhen Steven Zhang, Jason C. S. Tien
  • Patent number: 7878566
    Abstract: A mounting system for motor vehicle audio components is described. The mounting system comprises a chassis and at least one vibration damping element. The vibration damping element is mounted within the chassis in a position to support and secure an audio component. The vibration damping element has a slot receiving a fastener that is connected to the audio component. The fastener secures the audio component in a first position and translates along the fastener slot under a predefined load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian Boggess, Matthew Seman
  • Patent number: 7758106
    Abstract: A support for an automotive radiator grille that is supported from the hood assembly of the vehicle is formed of two major components, a support bracket and a rubber stop retained on the support bracket for engagement with the radiator grille when the hood is moved into the lowered, closed position. The rubber stop is formed in a circular configuration with a central projecting bumper that deflects into a cup formed by the support bracket to maintain contact with the radiator grille and provide self-adjusting positioning to accommodate build tolerances and variations in the hood assembly and mounted radiator grille. The rubber stop can be formed of multi-durometer elastomers to provide a tuning to the specific application for the radiator grille support. The rubber stop places a pre-load on the hood latch and closure mechanism through the spring-like deflection of the rubber stop into the cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David B. Glickman, Joseph A. Hickey
  • Publication number: 20100176616
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to providing a vibration dampening system for an overhead frame structure used with a vehicle. The system involves the provision of one or more dampening members and/or components between portions of one or more members forming the overhead frame structure. The dampening members or components are compressed when certain portions of the members are set in position. As a result, the vibration and contact normally encountered between the portions and/or interconnecting brackets is limited, and in turn, the stress normally experienced by the one or more fastener assemblies holding the portions and/or the interconnecting brackets due to such vibration is also limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: Custom Products of Litchfield, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Richard Becker
  • Patent number: 7744149
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle is described having a chassis and a cab mounted on the chassis. A suspension system for reducing the accelerations transmitted from the vehicles tires or tracks through the frame, into the cab, and ultimately through to the operator is provided. By reducing the accelerations, the ride quality is greatly improved, allowing operators to operate a vehicle for longer periods of time without excessive fatigue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Tim Murray, Casey Steffensen, Wayne Ward
  • Publication number: 20100109363
    Abstract: A mounting system for motor vehicle audio components is disclosed. The mounting system comprises a chassis and at least one vibration damping element. The vibration damping element is mounted within the chassis in a position to support and secure an audio component. The vibration damping element has a slot receiving a fastener that is connected to the audio component. The fastener secures the audio component in a first position and translates along the fastener slot under a predefined load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian Boggess, Matthew Seman
  • Patent number: 7677627
    Abstract: A vehicle with a cabin comprising: a vehicle body supported by a plurality of wheels; a cabin bracket supported by the vehicle body; and an elastic member disposed between the cabin bracket and the cabin, wherein the cabin bracket comprises: a fixed member fixed to the vehicle body, a higher rigidity portion extended to the outward side of the body from the fixed member, and a lower rigidity portion that is extended to the outward side from the end portion of the outward side of the higher rigidity portion, and that is lower in rigidity in the vertical direction than the higher rigidity portion; and a vibration suppressing weight disposed at the end portion in the outward direction of the cabin bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Aoyama, Makoto Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20100013255
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vibration damper for application to a vehicle bottom plate (1), comprising an under floor panel (3) as a constraining layer and a damping layer (2) as a constrained layer, wherein the damping layer (2) has a lower modulus of elasticity than the under floor panel (3), and wherein the damping layer (2) is located between the vehicle bottom plate (1) and the under floor panel (3) when the vibration damper is fixed to the vehicle bottom plate (1). The vibration damper is characterized in that the under floor panel (3) is pre-shaped and stays in this shape when fixed to the vehicle bottom plate (1) and is made of a first polymeric material, and that the damping layer (2) is made of a non-foamy second polymeric or bitumen material and is placed on the under floor panel (3) prior to fixation of the vibration damper to the vehicle bottom plate (1). In addition, the invention relates to a respective damping arrangement and a method of producing a vibration damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: RIETER TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Maurizio Mantovani, Harald Roth, Dirk Lehmann
  • Patent number: 7648184
    Abstract: A mounting system for motor vehicle audio components is described. The mounting system comprises a chassis and at least one vibration damping element. The vibration damping element is mounted within the chassis in a position to support and secure an audio component. The vibration damping element has a slot receiving a fastener that is connected to the audio component. The fastener secures the audio component in a first position and translates along the fastener slot under a predefined load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian Boggess, Matthew Seman
  • Publication number: 20090302665
    Abstract: An anti-rattle track fastener assembly for attaching a fixture to a vehicle that has a track formed therein. The track includes upper walls that form a longitudinally-extending slot. Spaced-apart segments extend from the upper walls into the slot to provide undercut areas in the slot positioned under the segments. Spaced-apart openings are positioned between the segments. The fastener assembly includes a stud that extends from the fixture and is dimensioned to be received within the slot for engaging the spaced-apart segments. The fastener also includes an eccentrically-mounted cam movable between a first position and a second position. When the cam is in the first position, the stud can engage the spaced-apart segments with clearance, and when the cam is in the second position, the stud can tightly engage the spaced-apart segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Mark Brian Dowty
  • Patent number: 7604286
    Abstract: There is provided a roof structure of a vehicular body. The roof structure includes right and left side roof rails disposed on opposing sides of the vehicular body. The roof structure further includes a plurality of roof reinforcements installed in a spaced-apart relationship between the side roof rails and extending along a lateral direction across the vehicular body and a roof panel attached to the roof reinforcements, wherein at least one roof reinforcement of the plurality of roof reinforcements is a first roof reinforcement having a maximum width portion wider than a closest relative spacing between the first roof reinforcement and an adjacent roof reinforcement of the plurality of roof reinforcements on a first side of the first roof reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Watanabe, Yorimasa Tsubota
  • Patent number: 7604247
    Abstract: An extended section is provided on a head of a mounting bolt used to mount attached components, such as a front suspension member, a rear suspension member, and a rear stability brace, to a floor panel of a monocoque body. The extended section extends along the axis of the mounting bolt in a direction opposite to a threaded section. A male screw is formed on the extended section. Mount brackets of the vehicle body vibration damping apparatus can be mounted to the male screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Kondou
  • Patent number: 7566081
    Abstract: A cushioning clip for receiving a movement of a movable member approaching a stationary member, including a cushioning part, for absorbing an impact force, and a mounting part for mounting the cushioning part to the stationary member. The cushioning part is formed of a flexible material exhibiting elasticity. The mounting part is formed of a rigid material exhibiting a predetermined rigidity. A hollow part is formed in the cushioning part. An inner wall of the hollow part is formed almost perpendicularly to the stationary member, and an apex part on a distal end side of the inner wall is flexed inwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Daiwa Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20090167055
    Abstract: A structural member reinforcement includes a body portion having a plurality of side walls. The side walls are spaced to define an opening therebetween. A plurality of cells are disposed in the opening between the side walls. Each of the plurality of cells defines a channel. An expandable material, such as structural foam or noise vibration and harshness (NVH) foam, is disposed in the channel of at least one of the plurality of cells. The reinforcement may be used to reinforce a structural member, such as a vehicle frame. The structural member may define a cavity, and the reinforcement may be disposed within the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Michael C. Niezur, Nicolo Amico
  • Publication number: 20090096234
    Abstract: The invention relates to a molded assembly having reduced squeaking and rattling. The molded assembly includes a first component of a vehicle that has a first surface. The assembly also includes a second component of a vehicle having a second surface. The second component is assembled to the first component. An isolator is disposed between the first and second components and is secured to the first surface. The isolator comprises an injection-moldable self-lubricating elastomer impregnated with a fatty amide. An interface between the isolator and the second surface has a ratio of a co-efficient of static friction to a co-efficient of dynamic friction less than 1.4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Junko K. Pauken, Norman Haidous, Martin Arthur Trapp, Robert S. Parsons, Gary D. Mullen
  • Publication number: 20080258483
    Abstract: A bed comprising a bottom platform for securing to a surface of a vehicle and a horizontal riding platform coupled to the bottom platform by a horizontal motion interface which allows relative horizontal movement between the horizontal riding platform and the bottom platform. A top platform is coupled to the horizontal riding platform by a frame assembly which allows relative vertical movement between the top platform and the horizontal riding platform, such that the top platform is moveable between a lowered position and a raised position. A biasing mechanism is located between the top platform and the horizontal riding platform for selectively biasing the top platform toward the raised position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas Weber
  • Publication number: 20080238118
    Abstract: A hush panel for integration into an automobile includes a first section having a first channel-forming portion and a second section having a second channel-forming portion. The first and second sections are attached together via a hinge section. The first and second sections pivotable relative to each other about the hinge section such that the first section mates to the second section with the first channel-forming portion and the second channel-forming portion aligning to form a duct in the hush panel. A method for forming the hush panel is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen Halonen, Michael Lorentz
  • Patent number: 7416244
    Abstract: A vibration isolator including at least one bearing element or assembly providing a contact interface along which structural elements connected together by the vibration isolator are allowed to substantially freely move within a limited range one relative to the other, with the effect of isolating the respective structural elements from vibrations or vibratory movements of the other structurally element, particular those vibratory movements directed or oriented at least generally along or parallel to the contact interface, with particular effect for isolating low frequency vibratory movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Gary C. Polk, Bin Lou