Parallel Depression (e.g., Having Stabilizer Bar) Patents (Class 267/183)
  • Patent number: 11241636
    Abstract: A toy vehicle includes at least a chassis, a front wheel base, and a suspension system. The suspension system adjustably secures the front wheel base to the chassis in a manner that provides two operational modes. In a first mode of the two operational modes, the front wheel base is freely, resiliently supported below the chassis. In a second mode of the two operational modes, the front wheel base is selectively posable by a user over a range of orientations for different types of vehicle mobility. The suspension system retains poses when the toy vehicle is operating in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Brendon Vetuskey, James A. Molina
  • Patent number: 9150247
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a panhard linkage system that includes a straight axle extending between a first wheel and a second wheel of a vehicle, the straight axle including a length that is adaptable for sliding movement of an attached sliding joint. The system includes a first panhard link pivotally attached to and extending between a first panhard location that is on or connected directly to a frame of the vehicle and a second panhard location that is on or connected directly to the straight axle by way of the sliding joint. The system further includes a second panhard link pivotally attached to and extending between a third panhard location that is on or connected directly to a middle of the first panhard link located between the first and second panhard locations and a fourth panhard location that is on or connected directly to the straight axle. Further disclosed is a vehicle including the panhard linkage system, and a kit for providing the panhard linkage system to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Inventor: Aaron L. Aldrich
  • Patent number: 9096261
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a steering linkage system that includes a steering tie bar extending between a first spindle and a second spindle of the vehicle. The system includes a joint that is adaptable for movement in a direction that the steering tie bar extends. The system further includes a first steering link attached to and extending between a first steering location that is on or connected directly to a pitman arm of the vehicle and a second steering location that is on or connected directly to the steering tie bar by way of the joint such that the joint is movable in the direction that the steering tie bar extends. The system includes a second steering link attached to and extending between a third steering location that is on or connected directly to a middle of the first steering link that is located between the first and second steering locations, and a fourth steering location that is on or connected directly to the steering tie bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Inventor: Aaron L. Aldrich
  • Patent number: 8690175
    Abstract: A disconnectible stabilizer bar assembly for a vehicle having first and second stabilizer bar halves, a housing fixed to an end portion of each stabilizer bar half, so as to align the two halves. The housing containing a stator with magnetic coil, a rotor with exterior magnets and threaded onto a hollow screw, with the stator selectively rotating the rotor and the rotation translated into axial movement of the screw. The screw having meshing means on an interior surface and an end face, the interior meshing means meshed with an exterior meshing means on one of the stabilizer bar halves, and the end face meshing means selectively coupled and decoupled with aligned mashing means on the other of the stabilizer bar halves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Mark Brown
  • Patent number: 7931281
    Abstract: A variable stiffness stabilizer device (1) has a stabilizer bar (2) and actuators (3). The stabilizer bar (2) has a torsion bar (4) extending in the lateral direction (X1) of a vehicle and arms (6) connected through bend portions (5) to the ends (4a, 4b) of the torsion bar (4) and bendingly deformed according to the strokes of wheel supporting members (11). Variable bending stiffness parts (13; 130) of the arms (6) are rotatable about the axes (C1) of the arms (6), so that the bending stiffness of the arms (6) can be changed according to their rotational positions. The actuators (3) rotationally drive the variable bending stiffness parts (13; 130) about the axes (C1) to adjust the rotational positions of the variable bending stiffness parts (13; 130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Maeda, Sadahiro Kawahara, Masanori Arima, Kosuke Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 7500685
    Abstract: A stabilizer bar assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a stabilizer bar, a bushing mounted to the stabilizer bar, and a support ring mounted onto the stabilizer bar adjacent the bushing to provide a stop to prevent the bushing from moving axially along the stabilizer bar. The support ring has a plurality of inwardly extending projections. Each of the inwardly extending projections has a distal end in contact with an outer surface of the stabilizer bar. The distal ends of the inwardly extending projections are welded to the outer surface of the stabilizer bar to secure the support ring onto the stabilizer bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Automotive Components Holding, LLC
    Inventors: Haimian Cai, Xinjian Fan, Mikhal El Arculli
  • Patent number: 7384053
    Abstract: A system for rolling angle reduction in a motor vehicle includes a stabilizer (10) and a piston/cylinder unit (12) coupled to one end of the stabilizer (10). The cylinder (14) of the piston/cylinder unit (12) is mounted in a hollow joint (24) so as to be swivellable in several directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Boecker, Theo Heep
  • Patent number: 7162399
    Abstract: A pneumatic device selection system has a computer, first through sixth databases connected to the computer and storing data of at least pneumatic devices, a coordinate input unit and a keyboard connected to the computer, for entering input data based on an input action of an operator into the computer, and a display unit connected to the computer, for displaying information from the computer. The pneumatic device selection system functionally has a first selection processor for selecting a cylinder operating system based on input data from the coordinate input unit or the like, and a second selection processor for selecting a shock absorber based on input data from the coordinate input unit or the like and/or a selection result from the first selection processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Huping Zhang, Mitsuru Senoo, Naotake Oneyama
  • Patent number: 5732969
    Abstract: A stabilizer system is designed for an automotive vehicle having a suspension including left and right suspension components, each of which suspension components rotates about a predetermined axis of rotation in response to movement of a portion of a vehicle body located above the suspension component in the generally upward and downward direction relative to wheels of the vehicle. The stabilizer system includes elongate flexible members which tensionably link first and second attachment points operatively coupled to each of the suspension components, which attachment points are located generally above and below the axis of rotation of the suspension component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Louis M. Spoto