Patents Examined by Frank Vanaman
  • Patent number: 9837645
    Abstract: An onboard battery mounted in a front section of a space located behind a rearmost seat of an automobile includes: an assembly battery including electrode terminals arranged on a rear surface of the assembly battery in a vehicle frontward and rearward direction; and a battery case housing the assembly battery. A case rear-surface member forming a rear surface of the battery case is provided with a ridge portion that faces at least a part of a rear surface of the assembly battery in the vehicle frontward and rearward direction in a manner so as to avoid the electrode terminals, the ridge portion projecting toward the assembly battery. When the case rear-surface member moves toward the assembly battery, the ridge portion comes into contact with the assembly battery before the case rear-surface member applies force to the electrode terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Katayama, Koichi Nagamine, Naoki Fukusako
  • Patent number: 9802475
    Abstract: A motor vehicle front end part (1) has a device for influencing a cooling air flow. The device has an adjustable flap (22) that extends in a vehicle transverse direction and that is assigned to an air inlet opening (10) with an air inlet cross section (12). To provide a motor vehicle front end part that is of simple design and can be produced cost-effectively, the flap (20) is arranged in front of the air inlet cross section (12) in a vehicle longitudinal direction to such an extent that, if the flap (20) is in an operative position, the cooling air flow (22, 23) is channeled completely or virtually completely past the air inlet opening (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Thomas Wolf
  • Patent number: 9802771
    Abstract: A trailer stabilizing device for stabilizing a parked freight trailer, the trailer stabilizing device comprising a frame separate from the support frame of the parked freight trailer, the stabilizing device frame having mounted thereto wheels and a hitch, the stabilizing device including a repositionable jack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventors: R. Peter Kimener, Thomas Terrence Kimener, Daniel Wahlstrom
  • Patent number: 9789832
    Abstract: A hitch plate includes a hitch plate body having a heightwise extending portion sized and configured to extend alongside a rear of a utility vehicle and a lengthwise extending portion sized and configured to extend underneath the utility vehicle. The hitch plate further includes a male receiver hitch portion extending outwardly from the heightwise extending portion of the hitch plate body over the lengthwise extending portion of the hitch plate body and a female receiver hitch portion extending outwardly from the heightwise extending portion of the hitch plate body in a direction opposite the male receiver hitch portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Mark Altemeier
  • Patent number: 9782665
    Abstract: An inline frame for an inline skate, designed to mimic the properties of an ice hockey skate blade on ice. The inline frame includes at least one first connection part intended to be connected to a boot and at least two wheels positioned essentially in the inline frame's longitudinal direction. The unique thing about the inline frame is that it includes an upper chassis section and a lower chassis section which via a coupling element are arranged to be rotatable in the inline frame's longitudinal direction, and that the upper chassis section includes at least one first contact surface and that the lower chassis section includes at least one second contact surface, where at least one of the first contact surface and the second contact surface is curvilinear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: FLOW MOTION TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventor: Per Mars
  • Patent number: 9776571
    Abstract: A vehicle retractable step assembly includes a support member, a support arm, a step member and a restricting assembly. The support member is configured to attach to a vehicle body structure. The support arm has a first end and a second end. The first end is supported to the support member for pivoting movement with respect to the support member. The step member is attached to the second end of the support arm for pivotal movement relative to the second end of the support arm between a retracted orientation where the step member is located adjacent to the support member and an extended orientation where the step member is spaced apart from the support member. The restricting assembly is releasably attached to the support member and positioned to prevent pivoting movement of the support arm relative to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugo Fortin, Asaad Agis, Ruben Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9777611
    Abstract: An inlet port (17A) of a first exhaust gas purifying device (16) is provided on a side opposite to an engine (8) by sandwiching an axis (O1-O1) of a cylindrical body (17) of the first exhaust gas purifying device (16). An exhaust pipe (26) connecting the engine (8) and the first exhaust gas purifying device (16) is constituted by a lateral pipe line (27) extending in a left and right direction of an upper revolving structure (3) on a front side of the first exhaust gas purifying device (16) and having a bellows pipe (28) in the middle for absorbing relative displacement between the engine (8) and the first exhaust gas purifying device (16) and a bent pipe line (29) bent having a U-shape rearward from a tip end side of the lateral pipe line (27) and connected to the inlet port (17A) of the first exhaust gas purifying device (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Azuma, Jun Yamabayashi, Takahiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9752302
    Abstract: A working machine includes: a motor; a fan arranged above the motor, the fan being configured to generate an air flow downward; a radiator arranged above the fan; and an oil cooler arranged adjacent to the radiator. In addition, the working machine includes: a shroud disposed around fan, the shroud including: a rim portion forming an air vent hole, the air vent hole being for passage of the air flow generated by the fan; and a support member attached to an upper portion of the shroud, the support member being configured to support the radiator and the oil cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Yamashita, Ryohei Sumiyoshi, Satoshi Tajima, Kunihiro Suzuki, Hayato Kawano, Hiroyuki Anami, Hajime Tamaki
  • Patent number: 9744844
    Abstract: A motor drive unit, in which an output end of a motor drive system using an electric motor as a power source and a rotator rotatably supported by a bearing unit are arranged side by side in an axial direction, and the output end of the motor drive system and the rotator are drivingly coupled in a relatively displaceable manner by a coupling member in which a plurality of couplers spaced apart in an axial direction are set. The bearing unit of the rotator is arranged such that a center of displacement of the rotator defined by the bearing unit is located between an arbitrary pair of couplers among the couplers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Senoo, Katsunori Asogawa
  • Patent number: 9738176
    Abstract: An assembly includes a traction battery of an electrified vehicle, and a blend door moveable between a first position that permits a first flow of air to move toward the traction battery and a second position that permits a second flow of air to move toward the traction battery. The first flow includes more air that has moved through an engine compartment than the second flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: George Albert Garfinkel, Neil Robert Burrows, Chung-hsing Kuo, Steve F. Chorian, Dhanunjay Vejalla
  • Patent number: 9738342
    Abstract: Multi-wheeled vehicles, such as scooters, may include a body, a rear wheel, and a steering assembly. The steering assembly may include a steering shaft, a wheel support chassis, a first front wheel, and a second front wheel. The wheel support chassis is pivotally coupled to the steering shaft for rotation about a chassis pivot axis. The first and second front wheels are rotatingly coupled to the wheel support chassis about respective rotational axes. The second front wheel is at least substantially inline with the first front wheel and located closer to the rear wheel than the first front wheel when the steering shaft is in a forward straight orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Acorn Products, LLC
    Inventors: Scott H. Stillinger, Kathryn Kelsey Anne Stillinger
  • Patent number: 9731745
    Abstract: A stroller includes: a first stroller component and a second stroller component. At least one of the first and second stroller components is movable from a first position to a second position. The stroller also includes: a drive mechanism operatively engaged with the at least one of the first and second stroller components to move the at least one of the first and second stroller components from its first position to its second position; and a disengaging mechanism for disengaging the operative engagement between the drive mechanism and the at least one of the first and second stroller components to facilitate manual movement of the at least one of the first and second stroller components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Thorley Industries LLC
    Inventors: Henry F. Thorne, Robert D. Daley, Mary J. Koes
  • Patent number: 9731594
    Abstract: A natural gas filling system for a vehicle includes a piping system defining a first flow path, a receptacle, a tank, and a cooling circuit. The piping system includes a first end and a second end. The receptacle is coupled to the first end of the piping system, and the receptacle is configured to engage a natural gas filling station. The tank is in fluid communication with the receptacle and is configured to store a natural gas supply. The cooling circuit defines a second flow path and includes an expansion valve configured to reduce a pressure of a secondary fluid flow. The second flow path is in thermal communication with the first flow path such that heat transfer from the piping system into the cooling circuit cools the natural gas flowing between the receptacle and the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventor: Grant D. Wildgrube
  • Patent number: 9724992
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a first rotating electrical machine, a second rotating electrical machine, a clutch, an electrical storage device, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to control the first rotating electrical machine, the second rotating electrical machine, the clutch, and the internal combustion engine, such that the hybrid vehicle runs while making a changeover among a plurality of running modes. The plurality of the running modes includes series hybrid running and parallel hybrid running. The electronic control unit is configured to set a range of state of charge of the electrical storage device such that the range of state of charge that is set during the parallel hybrid running includes a region of state of charge that is higher than the range of state of charge that is set during the series hybrid running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kuniaki Niimi
  • Patent number: 9717300
    Abstract: A skate assembly includes a shell structure and a removable tendon guard. The shell structure includes a heel portion, a lateral ankle portion, and a medial ankle portion. The heel portion is formed to cover a human heel. The lateral ankle portion is formed to extend beyond the heel portion. The medial ankle portion is formed to extend beyond the heel portion. The lateral ankle portion and the medial ankle portion are spaced apart to form a notch extending toward the heel portion. The removable tendon guard is removably attached between the lateral ankle portion and medial ankle portion to cover the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: BAUER HOCKEY, LLC.
    Inventors: Scott Van Horne, David Wright Cruikshank
  • Patent number: 9714631
    Abstract: An air cleaner is arranged below a fuel tank of a straddle type disposed above left and right main frames. The air cleaner includes a main chamber which is located between the main frames, and a sub-chamber which is located on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the main frames. A rear section of the sub-chamber and a rear section of the element within the sub-chamber are located in a space formed between each outside wall surface of the main frames and an inside wall surface of the fuel tank. A front section of the sub-chamber and a front section of the element project forwardly of the fuel tank in a side view of the vehicle. The front section of the sub-chamber is provided with the fastening means for fastening the side cover (the element lid) which covers the element from the outside in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Koyama, Satoru Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 9694662
    Abstract: A mechanical and electric drive train of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, includes a conventional drive train which is driven by the internal combustion engine, an electric motor drive train which is driven by an electric motor, a shift gearbox arranged in the conventional drive train, and at least one axle drive unit for driving axle drive members which are connected or are connectable via a clutch to driving wheels of at least one axle of the motor vehicle. The electric motor drive train is connected between the shift gearbox and the axle drive members to the drive train via at least one first clutch device, wherein the connection can be produced and eliminated by actuation of the first clutch device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Nett, Matthias Adelt, Klaus Matschker, Michael Hock, Theo Gassmann
  • Patent number: 9694671
    Abstract: A natural gas system for a vehicle includes a fuel pod, a conduit defining a flow path, a fuel control module, and an accumulator. The fuel pod includes a fuel tank configured to store natural gas. The conduit includes a first end coupled to the fuel pod and a second end configured to be coupled to an engine. The fuel control module is disposed along the flow path and configured to regulate a flow of natural gas to the engine. The accumulator is disposed along the flow path downstream of the fuel control module. The accumulator is configured to buffer variations in the flow of natural gas such that the engine receives a consistent flow of natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Grant D. Wildgrube, Clint D. Glunz, Shashank Bhatia, Bryan S. Datema
  • Patent number: 9688098
    Abstract: A wheel hub cover arrangement for covering an outwardly directed wheel hub opening of a wheel hub, which has a cover surface element which is connected to the wheel hub via a wall member and a connection member in such a way that the cover surface element and the wall member enclose a cover volume, wherein at least one venting opening for venting and for pressure-equalizing a vehicle shaft connected to the wheel hub is provided, wherein at least one outlet opening for removing splash water from the cover volume is provided in the wall member, wherein provisions are provided which ensure a fluid connection of the outlet opening with the surroundings of the wall member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedrich Feicha, Dietmar Becker, Konstantin Kirsch
  • Patent number: 9682597
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, devices, brackets, assemblies, and methods for a wheel hub with interchangeable caps for changing the appearance of wheels having exposed lug nuts about a center hole. A bracket having both a small cap and a large cap can be used on an existing wheel which exposes a center hole and the lug nuts. A smaller cap can be used to cover only the center hole of the wheel. A larger cap can be used to cover both the center hole and the exposed lug nuts on the wheel. The bracket is a base that allows for either a small cap or large cap to be interchangeably used to change the exterior appearance of the wheel. The bracket can be integrated with the wheel, or be attachable onto the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Inventor: Demetrios Mavrofrides