The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 18, 2004
Filed:
Jul. 15, 2002
Stepan S. Simonian, Torrance, CA (US);
Charles S. Pillsbury, IV, Rochester, MI (US);
William P. Braun, Romeo, MI (US);
A. Dale Parker, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An apparatus and method for damping vibration of a vehicle part, such as a steering wheel or an electric motor. According to one embodiment, an apparatus ( ) for damping vibration of a vehicle part ( ) includes at least one container ( ) having a chamber ( ) defined by at least one interior wall ( ). The container ( ) is associated with the vehicle part ( ). A plurality of particles ( ) is disposed in the chamber ( ). The particles ( ), when at rest, occupy a first portion ( ) of the chamber ( ) and define an unoccupied second portion ( ) of the chamber. The particles ( ) move back and forth between the first and second portions ( and ) of the chamber ( ) in response to vibration of the vehicle part ( ) and collide with each other and with the interior wall ( ) defining the chamber to damp the vibration of the vehicle part.