Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Robert K Dutzi

Jason K Trotter

Dennis Matthew Mark

Kenneth S Dobson

Jeremy M Beck

Eric G Parker

Kenneth R Levey

Franco A Cisternino

Paul M Sutenbach

Thomas S King

Stephen M Sperando

John Stephen Bubulka

William A Purdy

Corey M Rivard

Jeffrey L Trzaskus

Bryan M Miller

Paul F Donovan

Eric B Jipp

Joel M Thomas

Kavithas Ponnampalam

Jacob J Domagalla

Kevin J Szymanski

A linking arm assembly adapted to receive and retain a ball stud. The assembly includes an elongated rod structure and a socket head and is variable over a range of lengths by adjustment of the relative position of the elongated rod structure and the socket head. Linking arm assemblies consistent with the present disclosure may be adjusted for use in different applications while using common components.

Adjustable linking arm assembly

A capless refueling system is provided which utilizes snap-in attachment of a multi-stage valve assembly within a fuel pipe. The valve assembly includes a lower body portion and a cover independent from the lower body portion. The lower body portion and the cover are configured to be lockingly adjoined to one another. The cover is adapted to be adjoined to the fuel pipe. The system is sealed at a position above the primary shutoff valve thereby eliminating the need for a spring pin support bracket.

Capless refueling system

A threaded fastener includes a shank having a tip and a head configured for engagement by an associated driving tool. The fastener is configured for use with an associated threaded opening. The head is disposed on the shank opposite the tip. The shank has a helical thread formed thereon. The thread extends from about the tip to about the head and defines a plurality of zones. Each zone has a plurality of individual threads extending 360 degrees about the shank. A leading thread in each zone is formed with a wave-form profile having an amplitude that is greater than the amplitude of each prior leading thread. In one embodiment, threads other than the leading thread in each zone do not have an amplitude as great as their respective leading threads. A fastening assembly is also disclosed.

Fastener with zoned, varying wave-form thread

A roll stabilizer for a vehicle includes a resilient member operatively connected between a movable end and a fixed end, and structure for activating and deactivating operation of the stabilizer by affecting compression of the resilient member.

Decoupling stabilizer and system

A bar clamp assembly configured to be secured to a structure through a fastener includes a bar clamp, a securing base, and a fastener retention member. The securing base may be integrally formed with the bar clamp, and is configured to receive and retain the fastener. The fastener retention member is within or on the securing base, and is configured to secure the fastener in the securing base. The bar clamp assembly may also include a plurality of braces, clips and other support structures between the bar clamp and the securing base in order to provide a more robust assembly.

Bar clamp assembly

A grommet connector includes a first end portion and a second end portion with a barrier therebetween. The first end portion is adapted for insertion into a grommet, and the second end portion is adapted for connecting to another part, such as a nut or washer to form a subassembly of the grommet and the other part.

Grommet connector

A damper system is connected between pivotal components of a vehicle suspension system to inhibit movement of the components during a condition of potential vehicle roll. The system can be actively or passively controlled. The damper system can have a single damper or multiple dampers and may be connected to work in conjunction with vehicle stabilizers including torsion bars, single compensator stabilizing systems and dual compensator stabilizing systems. In the compensator stabilizing systems, the damper can be separate from the compensators or integral with the compensators. The dampers also can be formed as integral structures with shock absorbers. The dampers can be of various types, including but not limited to linear dampers and rotary dampers.

Vehicle roll stabilizing damper system

A ball socket ring seal for use with a ball joint assembly eliminates the need for a boot or bellows to protect the ball joint against the environment. The ball socket ring seal of the invention is positioned between the ball and the socket at the point of contact between the ball and socket. The ball socket ring seal not only provides a seal against the environment, it further functions as a wiper for the ball during articulation of the ball stud. The ball socket ring seal of the present invention reduces the weight and complexity of the ball joint assembly through the elimination of several parts, including the known boots or bellows, retainer rings, bands and clips.

Ball socket ring seal

A fastener assembly includes a grommet having an enlarged bulbous body and a cylindrical extension projecting therefrom, the projection and body defining axially aligned openings therethrough. The cylindrical projection is configured to retain a washer on the outside thereof and a fastener on the inside thereof.

Fastener assembly

A stabilizer for a vehicle suspension system having first and second pivotal components with an anchor above one of the pivotal components and an anchor below the other of the pivotal components. The stabilizer includes a bending member connected to the first and second anchors. The bending member can be of a variety of shapes to fit within the suspension systems architecture on various vehicles.

Single passive anti-roll compensator

The present technique provides a stabilizer system comprising a plurality of piston cylinder assemblies, which have multiple interconnected chambers to provide cross compensation between suspension members coupled to those piston cylinder assemblies. The piston cylinder assemblies may have two or more chambers separated by pistons, which move in response to a load imposed on the suspension member coupled to that piston cylinder assembly. As the piston moves in response to movement of the corresponding suspension member, a fluid pressure is transmitted to another suspension member to distribute the load between the two suspension members.

Hydraulically compensated stabilizer system

A molding-in-place technique for joint assemblies, such as a ball joint. The technique is particularly well suited for molding 'in-place' a linkage structure about a joint structure. The technique uses a molding assembly having a plurality of centering and sealing structures for sealingly centering the linkage structure about the joint structure. A desired mold material is injected between the linkage structure and the joint structure 'in-place' to provide a self-toleranced, self-retained, molded-in-place joint assembly.

Method for making a ball and socket joint

A stabilizer system including generally first and second pivotal components interconnected by at least one stabilizer member that dampens both compressive and tensile loads applied to the stabilizer member. The stabilizer member has opposing ends pivotally coupled to an upper anchor of one of the first and second pivotal components and a lower anchor of the other of the first and second pivotal components. The stabilizer member includes a resilient compressible member disposed in a housing between first and second substantially radial flanges of a linking member. The resilient compressible member is compressible between a first end portion of the housing and the second substantially radial flange when the housing and the linking member are in compression, and the resilient compressible member is compressible between a second end portion of the housing and the first substantially radial flange when the housing and the linking member are in tension.

Single compensating stabilizer system

A stabilization member usable for coupling first and second pivotal suspension components in a vehicle suspension stabilization system. The stabilization member includes first and second tension members each having a substantially U-shaped closed first end portion linked together to form a cavity for retaining a resilient dampening member, and a second end portion coupleable to one of the first and second pivotal suspension components, whereby tension on the first and second tension members is at least partially absorbable by compression of the resilient dampening member. In one embodiment, the substantially U-shaped closed first end portions of the first and second tension members is a strap material, which are oriented substantially perpendicular to form the link, and the resilient dampening member is a thermoset urethane material, which may be pre-compressed to permit adjustably tuning the suspension stabilization system. The stabilization members provide improved suspension performance, decreased weight and cost, among other advantages.

Apparatus for vehicle suspension stabilization system and method thereof

An attenuated hinge spring assembly for a trunk lid of an automotive vehicle includes a coiled spring which is connected to a bracket secured to the vehicle, a threaded stud which is secured to the bracket, a plate which is slidably mounted on the bracket and the stud, a nut rotatably attached to said threaded stud and selectively secured to an arm, and a washer which lies between the plate and the nut. The plate lies adjacent to the coiled spring. The arm is pivotally connected to the trunk lid and to the bracket. The spring is connected to the stud and the arm and uncoils as the arm pivots from a lowered position to a raised position to move the lid between a lowered position and a raised position. When the lid is raised, the arm rotates which causes the nut to rotate and translate along the stud, which in turn causes the washer and plate to translate along said stud. The plate moves against the coiled spring and frictionally brakes the spring and the nut to slow the momentum of the lid as the lid is being raised.

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Palatine, IL, United States of America

Robert K Dutzi