Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090205883 | Payload-carrying motor vehicle with tag axle having disableable brakes - A payload-carrying motor vehicle comprises a steer axle, at least one drive axle and a tag axle. All of the axles have wheels with tires and air brakes and a tag axle suspension system is adapted to suspend the tag axle in an active condition wherein the tag axle is pivotal about a first axis parallel to the other axles and also about a second axis located equidistant from the tag axle wheels and laying in a plane at right angles to the first axis and wherein the tag axle is forced to urge the tag axle tires against a road surface to aid in supporting the vehicle. An air brake system is adapted to operate the air brakes of all the wheels and a tag axle operating system is adapted to establish the tag axle in the active condition while enabling operation of the air brakes of the tag axle wheels and to disable operation of the air brakes of the tag axle wheels when the tag axle pivots about the second axis and reaches a predetermined tilt angle in maintaining contact of the tag axle tires with a road surface. | 08-20-2009 |
20090205884 | Payload-carrying motor vehicle with tag axle having primary and secondary suspension - A payload-carrying motor vehicle comprises a frame, a steer axle, tandem drive axles, at least one pusher axle located between the steer axle and drive axles, and a tag axle. The axles each have wheels with tires and a steer axle suspension system suspends the steer axle from the frame, a drive axle suspension system suspends the drive axles from the frame, a pusher axle suspension system including gas springs suspends the pusher axle from the frame, and a tag axle suspension system including a primary tag axle suspension and a secondary tag axle suspension suspends the tag axle from the frame behind the drive axles. The primary tag axle suspension is adapted to suspend the tag axle for pivotal movement about a first axis parallel to the other axles and includes actuators incorporating a gas spring adapted to apply a predetermined force on the tag axle urging pivotal movement of the tag axle about the first axis in a direction forcing the tag axle tires to bear against a road surface at a location rearward of the drive axles to aid in supporting the frame together with the other axles. The secondary tag axle suspension is adapted to support the tag axle for tilting movement about a second axis located equidistant from the tag axle wheels and laying in a plane at right angles to the first axis and includes gas springs having a significantly higher gas charging pressure and significantly less spring compliance than the gas springs in the primary tag axle suspension operatively arranged on opposite sides of the second axis between the primary tag axle suspension and the tag axle so as to support only lateral loads on the frame. | 08-20-2009 |
20090205885 | Payload-carrying motor vehicle with tag axle having force relievable suspension - A payload-carrying motor vehicle comprises a steer axle, at least one drive axle and a tag axle. All of the axles have wheels with tires and brakes and a tag axle suspension system is adapted to suspend the tag axle in an active condition wherein the tag axle is pivotal about a first axis parallel to the other axles and also about a second axis located equidistant from the tag axle wheels and laying in a plane at right angles to the first axis and wherein the tag axle trails the drive axle and is forced to urge the tag axle tires against a road surface to aid in supporting the vehicle. A tag axle operating system is adapted to establish the tag axle in the active condition and relieve the force on the tag axle when the tag axle pivots about the second axis and reaches a predetermined tilt angle in maintaining contact of the tag axle tires with a road surface. | 08-20-2009 |
20090206570 | Tag axle operating system - An operating system for a tag axle having wheels with tires and air brakes wherein the tag axle is suspended from a motor vehicle and is raised and lowered by pivotal movement about a first axis by operation of parallel-arranged hydraulically-operated actuators and can also pivot about a second axis located equidistant from the tag axle wheels and laying in a plane at right angles to the first axis. The system comprises a closed gas circuit that is charged with a gas at a prescribed pressure and a hydraulic circuit that is adapted to delivery hydraulic fluid under pressure to the actuators to raise and establish the tag axle in an inactive condition and to lower and establish the tag axle in an active condition. The hydraulic circuit is adapted when the tag axle is in the active condition to establish a prescribed hydraulic operating pressure opposing the gas pressure and a resulting force on the tag axle forcing the tires to bear against a road surface and the tag axle to accept a predetermined load. A brake valve is adapted to allow air under pressure to be delivered to operate the air brakes while the prescribed hydraulic operating pressure is maintained and to prevent such delivery to thereby disable the air brakes when the prescribed hydraulic operating pressure is relieved. And the hydraulic circuit is adapted while the tag axle is in the active condition to relieve the prescribed hydraulic operating pressure and thereby relieve the force on the tag axle and disable the air brakes when the tag axle experiences a predetermined tilt angle when pivoting about the second axis. | 08-20-2009 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090256404 | CHILD SEAT HAVING A CRUSH ZONE - A child safety seat is provided. The safety seat includes a generally L-shaped shell having a seat bottom and a seat back, a harness assembly carried by the shell for restraining an occupant in the seat, a restraining member for receiving a latching assembly for securing the safety seat into a support position on a vehicle seat in a manner, and at least one area of predetermined reduced material thickness formed into the shell in the rearward portion of the seat bottom. The area of reduce material thickness defines a crush zone of reduced capacity to resist a downward movement-induced load on the seat bottom indicative of the sudden forward travel decceleration of the vehicle. | 10-15-2009 |
20100007186 | TENSION INDICATOR - A tension indicator for alerting a user when a predetermined tension has been applied to a flexible elongate element is provided. The tension indicator includes a housing having at least one opening for receiving the elongate element, a tension responsive element positioned in the housing in cooperative engagement with the elongate element and including an actuator mounted in the housing and engaging the elongate element, the tension responsive element being movable in response to an increase in tension on the elongate element from a normally inoperative position into an operative alert position, and an alert element cooperating with the tension responsive element for providing an alert when the tension responsive element is in the operative alert position. | 01-14-2010 |
20100019554 | JUVENILE SEATING WITH RESILIENT SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION - A child safety seat including a seat bottom and seat back first and second resilient side elements carried on laterally-opposed sides of the seat back, and including walls defining an enclosed chamber. The walls have sufficient rigidity to maintain a nominal shape and are deformable in response to a predetermined minimum impact. | 01-28-2010 |
20100178463 | HIGH-STRENGTH, LIGHTWEIGHT BLOW-MOLDED PLASTIC STRUCTURES - Blow molded plastic structures are provided for use in various structures such as, but not limited to, tables, chairs, walls, backboards, storage bins, sports equipment and the like. The blow molded plastic structure has a first surface and a second surface extending between a first end and a second end and forming a chamber there between. A plurality of depressions is formed on the second surface and extends into the chamber. The depressions are usually unitary structures formed by a depression wall. Generally, the steeper the depression wall, the more strength is provided to the structure. In addition, where the plurality of depressions has a low profile and a greater density, increased strength is provided to the structure. The depressions may or may not be joined to the first surface. | 07-15-2010 |
20100194158 | JUVENILE SEATING WITH RESILIENT SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION - A child safety seat including a seat bottom and seat back first and second resilient side elements carried on laterally-opposed sides of the seat back, and including walls defining an enclosed chamber. The walls have sufficient rigidity to maintain a nominal shape and are deformable in response to a predetermined minimum impact. | 08-05-2010 |
20110227376 | CHILD SAFETY SEAT WITH ENERGY ABSORBING APPARATUS - A child safety seat configured for installation in a vehicle may include a base and a seat that includes a bottom, whereby the seat is connected to the base along an axis. The base and the seat together define a cavity that is disposed therebetween and the seat bottom is configured to rotate about the axis that connects the seat to the base during a frontal impact such that the seat bottom advances into the cavity. The safety seat may include energy absorbing member disposed within the cavity wherein the energy absorbing member is configured to be deformed as the seat bottom advances into the cavity during frontal impact. The energy absorbing member may be deformed by substantially vertical movement of the seat bottom into the cavity. | 09-22-2011 |
20110227383 | CHILD SAFETY SEAT WITH STRUCTURAL SUPPORT - A safety seat configured for installation in a vehicle may include a seat shell that includes a bottom, a back, and first and second sides. The safety seat may also include a seat support configured to extend at least partially adjacent to the first side of the seat shell. A second seat support may extend at least partially adjacent to the second side. The bottom of the safety seat may be located between the seat supports. The safety seat may include attachment straps that are each attached at a first end to a fixed location within the vehicle and attached at a second end to a bend of the seat support that is configured to define an attachment point. | 09-22-2011 |
20110308433 | HIGH-STRENGTH, LIGHTWEIGHT BLOW-MOLDED PLASTIC STRUCTURES - Blow molded plastic structures are provided for use in various structures such as, but not limited to, tables, chairs, walls, backboards, storage bins, sports equipment and the like. The blow molded plastic structure has a first surface and a second surface extending between a first end and a second end and forming a chamber there between. A plurality of depressions is formed on the second surface and extends into the chamber. The depressions are usually unitary structures formed by a depression wall. Generally, the steeper the depression wall, the more strength is provided to the structure. In addition, where the plurality of depressions has a low profile and a greater density, increased strength is provided to the structure. The depressions may or may not be joined to the first surface. | 12-22-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130300168 | FLIP FORWARD BUCKLE ASSEMBLY - A harness assembly for a child safety seat is provided that is configurable between an engaged state and a disengaged state. The harness assembly may include a plurality of shoulder straps, each having a buckle tab. The harness assembly may further include a buckle assembly having a buckle that can receive the buckle tabs for securing the shoulder straps in the engaged state. The buckle assembly may also include a buckle pad, at least a portion of the buckle pad being generally aligned with and adjacent to the buckle. A buckle webbing may extend from the buckle for attaching the buckle to the child safety seat, and a biasing member may be engaged with the buckle pad to bias the buckle assembly toward a first position away from an occupant of the child safety seat in the disengaged state. A corresponding child safety seat is also provided. | 11-14-2013 |
20140062150 | CHILD SEAT WITH BELT TENSIONING MECHANISM FOR IMPROVED INSTALLATION - A child seat including a tensioning mechanism for applying tension to a seat belt to more fully secure the child seat to a car seat is provided herein. The child seat includes a seat base defining a seat portion and a backrest portion and designed to receive an untensioned belt to secure the child seat to a car seat in an untensioned configuration. The child seat further includes a tensioning mechanism attached to the backrest portion and rotatable between a first position substantially adjacent to the backrest portion and a second position disposed therefrom. In the second position, the tensioning mechanism can receive a portion of the belt. In the first position, the tensioning mechanism is configured to apply tension to the portion of the received belt to secure the child seat to the car seat in a tensioned configuration. Methods of manufacturing child seats are also provided herein. | 03-06-2014 |
20140246889 | CHILD SEAT WITH BELT TENSIONING MECHANISM FOR IMPROVED INSTALLATION - A child seat including a tensioning mechanism for applying tension to a seat belt to more fully secure the child seat to a car seat is provided herein. The child seat includes a seat base defining a seat portion and a backrest portion and designed to receive an untensioned belt to secure the child seat to a car seat in an untensioned configuration. The child seat further includes a tensioning mechanism attached to the backrest portion and rotatable between a first position substantially adjacent to the backrest portion and a second position disposed therefrom. In the second position, the tensioning mechanism can receive a portion of the belt. In the first position, the tensioning mechanism is configured to apply tension to the portion of the received belt to secure the child seat to the car seat in a tensioned configuration. Methods of manufacturing child seats are also provided herein. | 09-04-2014 |