Patents Examined by A. M. Boehler
  • Patent number: 11958550
    Abstract: A track system for traction of a vehicle (e.g., a compact track loader or other construction vehicle) which may be designed to improve ride quality (e.g., reduce vibrations) for an operator and/or enhance other aspects of its performance or that of the vehicle. For example, a track of the track system may be frictionally driven and without transversal rigid parts (e.g., metallic cores). Also, power generation and transmission functions may be implemented by the track system. For instance, a motor and a transmission may be at least mostly contained within the track system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Camso Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Lussier, Frederic Couture, Etienne Poulin
  • Patent number: 11951785
    Abstract: A coupling device between a first vehicle (A) and a second vehicle (B) includes a hinge coupling section associated with the first vehicle (A) and a drawbar section associated with the second vehicle (B). The drawbar section has an arc-shaped guide arranged horizontally in front of the second vehicle (B) to extend from the right side to the left side thereof, a slider sliding along the arc-shaped guide and a telescopic arm integral with one end of the slider and rotatably connected to the coupling section. A steering assistance mechanism provides for redundancy of the steering members (S) of the second vehicle (B). The coupling device allows the automatic guide system to control the vehicle position and trajectories without any substantial exchange of forces through the device and allows the safe stop of the convoy when there are anomalies in the operation of the automatic guide system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSITA' DEGLI STUDI DI FIRENZE
    Inventors: Adriano Alessandrini, Fabio Cignini
  • Patent number: 11952056
    Abstract: An electric powered recirculating ball assembly includes a steering rack. The electric powered recirculating ball assembly also includes a steering gear housing. The electric powered recirculating ball assembly further includes a plurality of rolling elements operatively coupled to the steering rack and in contact with mating geometry of a component operatively coupled to, or integrally formed with, the steering gear housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Kern, Jason A. Dutsky, Jeffrey E. Beyerlein
  • Patent number: 11945518
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering device includes a first member, a second member, and stoppers. The first member is rotatable together with the input shaft, and includes a first protrusion protruding from the input shaft in the radial direction. The second member includes a second protrusion protruding on the trajectory of the first protrusion, and is rotatable together with the first member with the first protrusion being abutting the second protrusion. The stoppers are provided at respective positions capable of abutting on the trajectory of the second protrusion only when the second member is rotated by the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujita, Hirotoshi Uchibori
  • Patent number: 11945534
    Abstract: Various powered unicycles are disclosed. In some embodiments, the powered unicycle includes a central wheel, a motor to power the central wheel, and a control system configured to control the application of power from the motor to the central wheel. The unicycle comprises a body portion and at least one platform for supporting the user. The unicycle can includes a handle that extends upwardly to a position that it can be grasped by a user of the unicycle. The handle can be partially or fully retractable into the body of the unicycle. In some configurations, two platforms upon which the user can stand are provided with one on each side of the central wheel. In some configurations, a pair of auxiliary or outrigger wheels is provided, such as with one outrigger wheel on each side of the central wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Razor USA LLC
    Inventors: Robert Hadley, William Griggs, Ian Desberg
  • Patent number: 11926384
    Abstract: A bicycle with removable battery for supplying power to electric components, comprising a frame composed of an upper tube connected with a front oblique tube and with a rear vertical tube, which in turn are connected in a lower region so as to form a seat for a bottom bracket and with which a pair of horizontal rear chainstays and a pair of oblique rear chainstays are coupled. The front oblique tube has an axial seat for a removable battery and for accommodating connection and/or electric power supply cables. The axial seat has an axis that passes above the bottom bracket and a lower end that is open and located at the interspace between the pair of horizontal rear chainstays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: FANTIC MOTOR S.P.A.
    Inventors: Mariano Roman, Enrico Fidelfatti
  • Patent number: 11897579
    Abstract: A jet-powered sled has a body having a control cockpit with control apparatus for an operator to control the jet sled, a set of surface runners adapted to engage a surface upon which the sled is operated, the surface runners removably engaged to spindles coupled to swing arms coupled to the jet sled, and an engine compartment having a jet engine removably mounted in a manner to direct thrust to a rear of the jet sled to propel the jet sled. The jet sled is characterized in that the sled may be adapted specifically to run on water, ice, or snow by installing runners adapted for water, ice, or snow on the spindles of the swing arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: JETTS, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Oliver
  • Patent number: 11897580
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle driving device includes a motor that assists in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle and a first electric switch including an operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Eiji Mishima, Norikazu Taki
  • Patent number: 11884362
    Abstract: A drive arrangement for a bicycle or pedelec includes a manual drive shaft (1) in a housing (2). A rotor (3) of a first electric drive (EM 1) is arranged axially parallel to the manual drive shaft (1), and a rotor (4) of a second electric drive (EM2) is arranged coaxially to the manual drive shaft (1). The rotor (3) of the first electric drive (EM 1) is coupled to a first planetary gear set (PS 1) as a superposition gearbox via a first fixed ratio. The rotor (4) of the second electric drive (EM 2) is coupled to the manual drive shaft (1) via a second fixed ratio. The manual drive shaft (1) is coupled to the first planetary gear set (PS 1) as the superposition gearbox, and the first planetary gear set (PS 1), as the superposition gearbox, is coupled to an output (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Uwe Griesmeier
  • Patent number: 11865881
    Abstract: A gooseneck trailer system with support structures. The trailer system can comprise a gooseneck removably connected to a trailer and a support structure connected to the gooseneck. The support structure can be configured to support the gooseneck when the gooseneck is disconnected from the trailer. In some embodiments, the support structure can comprise at least one support arm connected to a frame of the gooseneck which can be pivoted between a retracted position and at least one deployed position. The present disclosure can also include methods of using the gooseneck trailer system with a tractor such that the support structure abuts against the tractor, safely securing the gooseneck to the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: COZAD TRAILER SALES, LLC
    Inventor: Tom G. Pistacchio
  • Patent number: 11866111
    Abstract: A electronic device holder including a mount for securing an electronic device thereto, a collar for mounting about a bar, and a shaft between the collar and the mount. A support brace preferably associated with the collar and is configured for engagement with the underside of a bar stem to prevent rotation of the collar about the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Delta Cycle Corporation
    Inventors: Errol Drew, Joseph Molinari
  • Patent number: 11858586
    Abstract: A motorcycle conversion kit for a three wheeled motorcycle wherein the conversion kit of the present invention is operable to transition the motorcycle so as to traverse across a snowy terrain. The conversion kit of the present invention includes a pair of ski assemblies that are operably secured to the front rotor assembly of the motorcycle. The ski assemblies include rotor movement inhibitors. A swing arm assembly is operably coupled to the frame and includes a front portion and a rear portion. The rear portion has rotatably mounted thereto a snow belt drive wheel. The show belt drive wheel is superposed a snow belt of a snow belt assembly wherein the snow belt assembly is secured to the frame of the motorcycle. The kit further includes a fuel cell bracket assembly having support members mounted on opposing sides of the frame and having a compartment rearward of the motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventors: Zeger Van Thuyl, Joe Abare
  • Patent number: 11834127
    Abstract: A snowmobile includes a chassis, at least one ski, and a skid frame that includes one or more slide rails extending longitudinally, rear idler wheels, upper idler wheels, and a rear suspension. The rear suspension may further include a flexible, composite member, a rear shock connected between the one or more slide rails and the upper cross member, a rear shock link, a rear cross member connected between the one or more slide rails and a lower shock pivot member pivotally connected to the rear cross member. The rear shock is connected to a rear portion of the lower shock pivot member and the rear shock link is connected via a spherical pivot joint to a forward end of the lower shock pivot member. The flexible, composite member is coupled at a first end to the one or more slide rails and at a second end to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Arctic Cat Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Taylor Langaas, Brian W. Dick
  • Patent number: 11834128
    Abstract: A pedelec bottom bracket drive unit includes a rigid drive housing and a tolerance compensation sheet-metal spring which is arranged to stand substantially in a vertical plane. The tolerance compensation sheet-metal spring includes at least one fixing point at a housing side and at least one mounting point for fastening the tolerance-compensating sheet-metal spring to a pedelec-frame-side drive mount. The at least one fixing point has a fixing point traverse axis. The tolerance compensation sheet-metal spring is fixed to the rigid drive housing at the at least one fixing point at the housing side. The at least one mounting point has a mounting point traverse axis. The at least one mounting point is arranged offset with respect to a next adjacent fixing point of the at least one fixing point as viewed from the fixing point traverse axis and from the mounting point traverse axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Dietmar Greven, Kai Venhoff, Axel Hemsing, Peter Thiele
  • Patent number: 11814136
    Abstract: A snow vehicle includes a frame comprising an upper frame portion and a lower frame portion, a handlebar comprising a handlebar axis, said handlebar coupled to said upper frame portion and said lower frame portion and a tunnel comprising having a driven track shaft and a track rotatably coupled to the driven track shaft within the tunnel. A two-stroke engine includes a crankshaft and a tuned pipe coupled to the engine. The engine and the tuned pipe are positioned between the handlebar axis and the driven track shaft. A continuously variable transmission is disposed between the handlebar axis, the upper frame portion of the frame and the lower frame portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Fuchs, Cody Telford
  • Patent number: 11814118
    Abstract: A suspended undercarriage assembly connectable to a multi-member frame assembly of a track system includes a beam having a leading portion and a trailing portion, at least one support wheel assembly connectable to the beam, at least one of a leading resilient bushing assembly and a trailing resilient bushing assembly including a bushing having an opening defined therein and being shaped and dimensioned for promoting deformation of the bushing in at least one of a vertical direction and a lateral direction. The bushing is resiliently deformable to permit movement of the beam relative to the multi-member frame assembly in the vertical direction and in the lateral direction, and to resiliently bias the beam towards a rest position with respect to the multi-member frame assembly. A track system having the suspended undercarriage assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SOUCY INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Yves Sauvageau, Branislav Nanac, David Barry, Styve Allie, Charles St-Arnaud, Michel Pellerin, Steeve Pare, Marc-Andre Patry, Gabriel Chantal, Maxime Rivard
  • Patent number: 11807321
    Abstract: A work machine may include an idler wheel, a drivable track engaged with the idler wheel, and an actuator configured to move the idler wheel to adjust the tension in the drivable track. A controller may actively instruct the actuator to adjust the tension in the drivable track based on the pressure in the actuator and variables associated with the drivable track and the work machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael A. Rehberg, Nathanael K. Rehn, Jeffrey Tott, Jeremy P. L'Heureux, Daniel J. Garvin, Benjamin J. Heimbuch
  • Patent number: 11794855
    Abstract: The center axis of a rotational output member of an electric power assist device and the center axis of a crankshaft can be adjusted to be in parallel to each other without complicating the structure. The electric power assist device comprises a housing 52, an electric motor 58 supported by the housing, and an annular rotational output member 64 configured to be connected to a crankshaft 24 or a crankarm 26 attached to the crankshaft so as to be rotatively driven by the electric motor coaxially with respect to the crankshaft, wherein the housing is supported on the frame structure 18 via a support part 90 provided with an adjustment mechanism 120 to allow a position of the housing along an axial direction of the crankshaft to be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenji Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 11787508
    Abstract: Electric Powered Boots are a new compact and rugged motorized multi-terrain micro-vehicle for individual powersports, mobility for ground troops, or anyone who has difficulty in walking or running. For use on snow, sand, asphalt, hard dirt, or mud, electric powered boots elevate the prior teachings of motorized surf boots of U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,029 to the next level of fit, form, and function, by adding novel features and components in an innovative packaging arrangement that provides increased safety, functionality, and ergonomics during use on land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventor: Keith Maximilian Rudofsky
  • Patent number: 11787499
    Abstract: A bicycle communication apparatus is provided that contributes to usability. The bicycle communication apparatus includes a base portion and a wireless communicator provided at the base portion. The wireless communicator is configured to transmit first information related to a motor that assists propulsion of a bicycle and second information related to a shifting device of the bicycle through wireless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takeshita, Shun Kakehashi, Taketoshi Sato