Patents Examined by Conan D Duda
  • Patent number: 10549743
    Abstract: A hovercraft includes a lift air supply source having a dynamic air flow area in communication with a central lift air chamber to provide continuous air flow to the central lift air chamber and a static air flow area in communication with an inflatable skirt extending around a periphery of the hovercraft. Air flow from the static air flow area enters the skirt to replenish air leaking from the skirt. The static air flow area has less air flow than the dynamic air flow area. The static air flow area is located at a higher position than the dynamic air flow area to reduce the likelihood of water entering the inflatable skirt when the hovercraft is operated on water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Charles E. Hill & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Hill
  • Patent number: 10538191
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing and/or installing a side guide of a trailer-mounted boat capture system for guiding a boat onto the trailer, the apparatus comprising: an outboard post pivotally attached to an upper support rail of the side guide; two inboard posts, each pivotally attached to the side guide proximal to where the side guide is attached to the trailer via first pins, wherein each inboard post includes a manual leveling jack; an attachment point on the side guide suitable for attaching a winch cable from a boat held in the boat capture system; and second pins attaching the side guide to the trailer such that when the first pins are removed the side guide is free to pivot around the second pins from an upright position towards a support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ralph David Hooper, William A. Chambers
  • Patent number: 10525828
    Abstract: A transfer for a vehicle, the transfer includes an input rotating member, a first output rotating member, a second output rotating member, a high-low switching mechanism, a clutch, a motor, a screw mechanism and a transmitting mechanism. The first output rotating member outputs power to first left and right wheels. The second output rotating member outputs power to second left and right wheels. The high-low switching mechanism changes a rate of rotation from the input rotating member and transmits the rotation to the first output rotating member. The clutch adjusts a transfer torque. The transfer torque is transmitted from the first output rotating member to the second output rotating member. The screw mechanism converts rotational motion of the motor to linear motion. The transmitting mechanism transmits linear motion force of the screw mechanism to both the high-low switching mechanism and the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mizuki Imafuku, Akinori Homan, Tomohiro Arakawa
  • Patent number: 10526004
    Abstract: A device for assisting or automatic guiding of a motor vehicle, having a first steering actuator with an allocated steering control unit, a gear rack, a steering column and a steering handle, wherein the steering column and the steering actuator have effect on the common gear rack, wherein there is at least one second steering actuator having an additional allocated steering control unit, wherein the second steering actuator has effect on the common gear rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Bastian Witte
  • Patent number: 10414273
    Abstract: A zero turn vehicle is described. The vehicle comprises a frame, a prime mover, a transaxle, first and second gear boxes, first and second driven wheels, an operator foot platform, and an expansion tank. The transaxle is aft of the prime mover and has opposing first and second output shafts. The first and second gearboxes are respectively driven by and pivotable about the first and second output shafts. The first and second gear boxes respectively have first and second output axles aft of the first and second output shafts. The first and second driven wheels are respectively engaged with the first and second output axles. The operator foot platform is between the first and second gear boxes and aft of the transaxle. The expansion tank is between the transaxle and the operator foot platform and between the first and second gear boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Raymond Hauser
  • Patent number: 10384663
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle electrification charge reducing apparatus, including: a steering operating device, a steering actuator; and a displacement transmitting system configured to transmit a displacement of the steering operating device to the steering actuator. At least one of the steering operating device, the steering actuator, or the displacement transmitting system includes two members that are engaged with each other through intermediation of a viscous lubricant agent so as to move relatively when the steering operating device is operated. A self-discharge type charge eliminator is fixed to a surface of a specific member forming the displacement transmitting system and the like, and the self-discharge type charge eliminator diselectrifies the specific member through self-discharge so as to decrease a charge amount of the specific member, to thereby decrease a difference in charge amount between the two members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshi Yamada, Toshio Tanahashi, Hisashi Yabuki, Kazuhiko Omasa, Yoji Kanehara, Nagataka Sassa
  • Patent number: 10370059
    Abstract: There is provided a front fork which has a small number of components with simple structure and is easy to assemble. In order to achieve the above object, in a front fork F according to the means for solving the problem of the present invention, first and second adjusters 5, 6 are mounted on a cap 4 so as to be axially movable, and a contact portion 52 of the first adjuster 5 in contact with a first adjustment rod 7 and a contact portion 62 of the second adjuster 6 in contact with a second adjustment rod 8 are displaced in an axial direction of a vehicle body tube 2 so as not to interfere with each other. Therefore, even when each of the first and second adjusters 5, 6 moves in the axial direction with respect to the cap 4, the corresponding first and second adjustment rods 7, 8 can be moved independently without being interfered with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: KYB MOTORCYCLE SUSPENSION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Tomiuga
  • Patent number: 10363785
    Abstract: A tow hook seal assembly is provided for a motor vehicle. That tow hook seal assembly includes a housing and a tow hook seal held in the housing. Further the tow hook seal assembly includes a first bumper bolt opening and a second bumper bolt opening. In addition, the tow hook seal assembly includes a cover carried on the housing and enclosing the first and second bumper bolt openings when the cover is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery Lee, David Brian Glickman, Joseph Andrew Hickey
  • Patent number: 10336398
    Abstract: Rear suspension system for a bicycle in which there are two links pivotally interconnecting the front triangle (being, the bicycle component having the seat and bottom bracket) and the rear triangle (being, the component to which the rear wheel is mounted), and the link pivots on the front triangle are located no higher than the location of the instant centre of the rear triangle at the sag point. Suspension stability may be enhanced by having one of the links oriented horizontally at the sag point and/or by having the link pivots on the front triangle in horizontal alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: CMH Plus Holdings Ltd.
    Inventor: Christopher Hudec
  • Patent number: 10328992
    Abstract: A foldable bicycle has a frame with a seat tube, a down tube and a top tube. An inclined strut is pivotable with the top tube and with an openable connection to the down tube. The down tube is connected with a joint to a crankshaft bearing housing so that a rotation axle in this joint is turned to form an angle to a line substantially parallel to the crankshaft bearing housing's longitudinal axis. The top tube is connected through a joint to the seat tube so that a rotation axle in this joint is turned to form an angle around the seat tube's longitudinal axis. The top tube is at its other end that's opposite the seat tube connected with a joint to the head tube so that a rotation axle in this joint is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of both the head tube and top tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Inventor: Zakarias Laxström
  • Patent number: 10315680
    Abstract: Device for manually lifting a load with a lever for a cart, suitcase and the like, making it easier to ascend and descend staircases and various obstacles, said device comprising two parts:—a first part comprising: a frame (1) secured to wheels (2), the wheels (2) and the handles (3) being fixed to the frame (1),—a second part comprising: a load support (4) secured to wheels (5), the wheels (5) and a load (12) being mounted in a fixed manner on the load support (4), the second part being able to slide with respect to the first part by the action of a telescopic lever arm (10) in order to ascend a step of a staircase in two phases, the telescopic lever arm (10) being fixed to the handles (3) by an articulation (9), a second articulation (8) connecting the telescopic lever arm (10) to a transmission (6) which is in turn connected by a third articulation (7) to the load support (4) of the second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventor: Anghel Muscocea
  • Patent number: 10308085
    Abstract: A tow kit is disclosed having a thimble slider engaged with a plurality of tethers. The thimble slider may have a generally C-shaped body with a back portion and opposing end portions. The thimble slider may also have a channel formed within outer surfaces of the back and opposing end portions, and an elongated separator connected to an inner surface of the back portion and extending in a direction generally orthogonal to the back portion to define two portions. A tether can engage the channel to equally distribute weight applied to the two ends of the tether. A sling can engage the inner surface of the back portion. At least one other tether can engage the sling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Inventors: Wesley Paul Conger, Adam Ross Baldwin, Luis S. Padilla, Michael Charles Greenwood, Dennis J. Weber, Brett Edward Burke
  • Patent number: 10308086
    Abstract: A movable tow-bar assembly comprising: an elongate frame configured to be attached to a vehicle; a towing attachment comprising a sleeve that is shaped to receive a section of the elongate frame and allow translation of the towing attachment along a length of the frame; and a driving arrangement coupled with the towing attachment and the frame for effecting translational movement of the towing attachment along the length of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: TIAINEN PROJECTS PTY LTD.
    Inventor: Richard Tiainen
  • Patent number: 10294634
    Abstract: A method for retrofitting a high drive track-type tractor with a rear entry electric drive motor module. The method includes inserting the rear entry electric drive motor module into a frame housing. The rear entry electric drive motor module includes an electric drive planetary gear assembly, and an electric motor. The method further includes attaching a reaction member to the rear entry electric drive motor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Tigue, Vance M. Buatte, Jonathan M. Baumann, Gregory Austin, Timothy J. Schlack
  • Patent number: 10286953
    Abstract: A system and strategy for reducing rapid steering wheel movement at the end of an autopark maneuver. The strategy includes maintaining or ramping-out power-steering motor torque to reduce steering wheel movement that may occur due to tire windup that has occurred up to that point in the autopark maneuver. The strategy may include the stopping of an autopark maneuver at any time during the maneuver, or functioning at the end of an autopark maneuver. The autopark event may be a park-out maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes
  • Patent number: 10272968
    Abstract: In a saddle-riding-type vehicle sensor unit attachment structure, a brake caliper bracket that holds the brake caliper is attached to the rearward extension stay of the front fork, the wheel speed sensor is attached to a lower position than the rearward extension stay of the brake caliper bracket, and the sensor cable is arranged toward an upward direction at an inner side in a vehicle width direction of the rearward extension stay and is then drawn to an outer side in a vehicle width direction of the brake caliper bracket at an upper position than the rearward extension stay to be supported by the brake caliper bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mafumi Yasuhara, Tomohiro Kudo
  • Patent number: 10232782
    Abstract: A mobile vessel for refueling engines at remote refueling sites. The vessel has a tank with side walls and a rectangular bottom portion. The bottom portion is configured to rest on the ground and it includes an inner wall and a lower plate. The bottom portion further includes spacer elements between the inner wall and lower plate that defines a gap there between for collecting fuel that may leak from the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: BNJ Leasing Inc.
    Inventor: Mark William Beard
  • Patent number: 10232707
    Abstract: A power transfer unit for an all-wheel drive drivetrain that includes an engine, a transmission having a pump for circulating hydraulic fluid from a sump, and a driveshaft. The power transfer unit includes an input for receiving driving power from the transmission, an output for delivering driving power to the driveshaft, a first clutch, a first fluid supply path for delivering the hydraulic fluid from the pump to the first clutch, and a fluid return path for returning the hydraulic fluid from the power transfer unit to the sump of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Larry A. Pritchard
  • Patent number: 10234004
    Abstract: A ball screw device and a steering system that include a retainer having more uniform stiffness are provided. Between a rack shaft and a ball screw nut, a cylindrical retainer having a plurality of retainer grooves that retain balls in a rollable manner is provided. Each retainer groove has two short inner surfaces that intersect the extending direction of the retainer groove and two long inner surfaces that intersect these short inner surfaces and extend along the extending direction of the retainer groove. In each of interior-angle portions where the short inner surfaces and the long inner surfaces intersect, a corner round surface is formed. The radius of the corner round surface is set to be smaller than one half of the width of the retainer groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiro Asakura, Takuya Nakayama, Keisuke Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10227103
    Abstract: In a saddle-riding-type vehicle sensor unit attachment structure, a brake caliper bracket that holds the brake caliper is attached to the rearward extension stay of the front fork, the wheel speed sensor is attached to a lower position than the rearward extension stay of the brake caliper bracket, and the sensor cable is arranged toward an upward direction at an inner side in a vehicle width direction of the rearward extension stay and is then drawn to an outer side in a vehicle width direction of the brake caliper bracket at an upper position than the rearward extension stay to be supported by the brake caliper bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mafumi Yasuhara, Tomohiro Kudo