Patents Examined by Jeffrey J. Restifo
  • Vehicle roof access device
    Patent number: 11351921
    Abstract: An apparatus for enabling a user to access a roof of the vehicle and methods of using the same. The apparatus may be positioned within a slot located in a vehicle seat. A housing having an open end may define the slot. The apparatus may include a plate having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first stepping surface. The plate may be movable via a sliding mechanism between a stored position where the plate is positioned within the slot, and an extended position where the proximal end extends out of the vehicle and is horizontal to allow the user to step on the first stepping surface to access the roof. The plate may be rotated to be vertical such that the distal end faces up and defines a second stepping surface with increased elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew D. Ortiz
  • Fastening apparatus for fastening a high-voltage storage housing to a bodyshell component of a motor vehicle, and high-voltage storage housing
    Patent number: 11351851
    Abstract: A fastening apparatus for fastening a high-voltage storage housing to a bodyshell component of a motor vehicle, includes a plurality of fastening elements, which can be connected to the bodyshell component of a motor vehicle, and a base element integrally formed with the fastening elements, by which the fastening apparatus can be connected to the high voltage storage housing. The base element has a framework structure having a plurality of webs, by which the fastening elements are connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jens Feichtinger
  • Floor brace for tying children's ice skates
    Patent number: 11344789
    Abstract: A floor brace for tying children's ice skates that threads between the boot and blade of a child's ice skate and allows an adult to stand on either side of the brace holding the skate down while they pull the laces forcefully upward. The brace has an ice skate receiver sized to fit the most common skate blade sizes; alternate embodiments have multiple receivers sized to fit multiple sized skate blade sizes. The brace may also have a skate sharpener and honing stone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventor: Joriah Mielke
  • Electric vehicle
    Patent number: 11344458
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle includes: a mobile base capable of traveling by an electromotive drive; and a battery capable of supplying electric power used in the electromotive drive. The mobile base includes: a front base having a front wheel; and a rear base having a rear wheel, the front and rear bases are configured to be capable of moving relative to each other so as to be changeable between an expanded state in which a wheelbase is expanded, and a contracted state in which the wheelbase is more contracted than in the expanded state, the front base includes a receiving portion capable of receiving the battery, and the receiving portion has a front opening formed in a front-end portion of the front base or a rear opening formed in a rear-end portion of the front base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gopinath Raja
  • Boot-binding system
    Patent number: 11344084
    Abstract: A boot-binding system includes a sole plate, integrated into an inner boot, that mates to a second sole plate that may be integrated into the floor of a pressurized vehicle or integrated into an outer boot configuration also referred to as a surface boot, a spring loaded pin/bushing arrangement couples the sole plates, while a latching mechanism located on the surface boot sole plate captures the heel of the inner boot sole plate against a spring loaded heel plate integrated into the surface boot sole plate that presses upwards against the inner boot heel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas J Stapleton, Lynne Ann Stapleton
  • Control device for hybrid vehicle
    Patent number: 11338790
    Abstract: Since a maximum rotation speed is set to a lower value when a supercharging pressure from a supercharger is high than when the supercharging pressure is low, an engine torque is decreased at a relatively low engine rotation speed and the engine rotation speed is less likely to fall into a high-rotation state. Since the maximum rotation speed is set to a relatively high value when the supercharging pressure is relatively low and the engine rotation speed is less likely to fall into a high-rotation state, the engine torque is not decreased at a relatively high engine rotation speed and power performance can be easily secured. Accordingly, it is possible to curb a decrease in power performance due to a decrease in the engine torque and to prevent the engine rotation speed from falling into a high-rotation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Koichi Okuda, Tooru Matsubara, Takashi Kohno, Yasutaka Tsuchida
  • Coupling device and system for aiding learning of a sliding sport on two skates
    Patent number: 11331559
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mating device (2) for mating two skates, characterized in that it comprises a first fastening module (6) and a second fastening module (6?), each designed to be fastened to a skate and comprising a body (7) between the two fastening modules (6, 6?), the said body (7) allowing at least a translational freedom between the two fastening elements (6, 6?), the distance between the two fastening modules (6, 6?) being free between a predetermined minimum distance and a predetermined maximum distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventor: Alain Zagury
  • Control device for hybrid vehicle and control system for hybrid vehicle
    Patent number: 11318927
    Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle includes a driving control part configured to acquire for each driving road section from a server a value of the output parameter linked with a vehicle speed of the same extent as the scheduled vehicle speed when driving over a driving road section on a scheduled driving route to calculate for each driving road section the scheduled vehicle demanded output when driving over the driving road section or acquire from the server the scheduled vehicle demanded output for each driving road section calculated based on the value of the output parameter for each driving road section at the server to heat the catalyst device before using the output of the internal combustion engine as part of the drive power when there is the driving road section where the scheduled vehicle demanded output becomes the engine start output or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Katsuta
  • Vehicle, running board assembly and drive assembly for running board
    Patent number: 11318889
    Abstract: A vehicle, a running board assembly, and a drive assembly for a running board are disclosed. The drive assembly includes: a mounting base, a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion, and a running board holder. The first connecting portion is rotatably connected with the mounting base and the running board holder. The second connecting portion is rotatably connected with the mounting base and the running board holder. The running board holder includes a third main body and a third hinged portion. The first connecting portion includes a first main body and a plurality of first hinged portions, and the third hinged portion is rotatably connected among the plurality of first hinged portions; and/or the second connecting portion includes a second main body and a plurality of second hinged portions, the third hinged portion being rotatably connected among the plurality of second hinged portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: T-MAX (HANGZHOU) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xinfa Du, Qi Zhang, Songfeng Wang
  • Dual-function electric stair-climbing vehicle capable of transporting goods and assisting people
    Patent number: 11312404
    Abstract: Disclosed a dual-function electric stair-climbing vehicle. A bicycle-like saddle is mounted at an upper part of a frame of the vehicle; and a worm gear reducer is mounted at a middle part of the vehicle for driving two rotating legs to climb up or downstairs. The vehicle is mainly used for fire rescue in high-rise buildings, equipment maintenance of high-rise buildings when no elevator is available, and fast transportation of equipment, materials and firefighters or maintenance men upstairs. When the width of a corridor is greater than 1.1 m, the vehicle can be rode upstairs directly with people and goods; when the width is less than 1.1 m and greater than 0.9 m, people need to get off and make a turn; and when the width is less than 0.9 m, the vehicle is not available. The dimension of the frame is about 1200×550×380 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Inventors: Yonghai Fei, Zhenhua Fei
  • Cooling system for electric drive vehicle
    Patent number: 11312227
    Abstract: To suppress cooling performance from being degraded by bubbles in a coolant in a cooling system for an electric drive vehicle, the cooling system includes: a first coolant circuit through which the coolant for cooling an electric motor and electrical equipment circulates; a first pump that is connected to the first coolant circuit and feeds the coolant; and a first degas tank that is connected to the first coolant circuit and separates the bubbles from the coolant. The first coolant circuit connects the electric motor, the electrical equipment, the first pump, and the first degas tank in series. The first pump and the electric motor are connected in a manner to be sequentially aligned in the first coolant circuit. The coolant flows from the first pump to the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsunori Kiyomihara, Hirosato Izumi, Naoki Nagano, Hirotaka Kitaoka
  • Electric vehicle
    Patent number: 11305628
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a fuel cell unit and a power controller unit that are disposed next to each other in a front compartment. Each of the fuel cell unit and the power controller unit includes an upper casing having a lower strength and a lower casing having a strength greater than that of the upper casing. The fuel cell unit and the power controller unit are arranged so that a distance La between the lower casings along an alignment axis is shorter than a distance Lb between the upper casings along the alignment axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromasa Tanaka
  • Fork runners
    Patent number: 11305974
    Abstract: Fork runners removably secured to a fork optionally permit fork runners to be of a different material from the fork and to be readily replaced. The fork includes an upper surface and a downward depending portion extending therefrom, and the fork runner includes an elongated fastening plate that is releasably secured to the downward depending portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: HYSTER-YALE GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Tim Cherry, Kevin Butler
  • Front insert for a ski mountaineering ski boot, for hooking the ski boot to a ski mountaineering binding
    Patent number: 11305177
    Abstract: A front insert for a ski mountaineering boot has first and second heads, positionable on lateral portions of a front part of the boot, a first housing in the first head, a second housing in the second head, and two contact elements with respective holes for coupling with respective hooking elements of a binding. The housings and respective ones of the contact elements are reciprocally conformed so as to enable the contact elements to displace from internal positions with respect to the housings, towards the outside, so that the contact elements orient with respect to the housings so that the holes can misalign from an alignment axis to maintain the contact with the hooking elements following a rotation of the ski boot with respect to the ski.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: ATK SPORTS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Davide Indulti
  • Tractor unit with on-board regenerative braking energy storage for stopover HVAC operation without engine idle
    Patent number: 11305634
    Abstract: A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Hyliion Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Healy, Eric Weber
  • Tractor unit with on-board regenerative braking energy storage for stopover HVAC operation without engine idle
    Patent number: 11305633
    Abstract: A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Hyliion Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Healy, Eric Weber
  • Tank flap or charging flap arrangement
    Patent number: 11299039
    Abstract: A tank flap or charging flap arrangement, for a vehicle, includes a housing body and a tank flap or charging flap which is mounted on the housing body via a hinge arm so as to be pivotable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the hinge arm is received in a receiving space of the housing body and, in the open position, protrudes at least partially out of the receiving space. A cover is arranged on the housing body or the hinge arm and covers the receiving space when the tank or charging flap is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Andreas Schwab, Thomas Lechner-Watzlik, Julian Fischer, Andreas Stubenberger
  • Vehicle, running board assembly and drive assembly for running board
    Patent number: 11292390
    Abstract: A vehicle, a running board assembly, and a drive assembly for a running board are disclosed. The drive assembly includes: a mounting base, a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion, and a running board holder. The first connecting portion is rotatably connected with the mounting base and the running board holder. The second connecting portion is rotatably connected with the mounting base and the running board holder. The running board holder includes a third main body and a third hinged portion. The first connecting portion includes a first main body and a plurality of first hinged portions, and the third hinged portion is rotatably connected among the plurality of first hinged portions; and/or the second connecting portion includes a second main body and a plurality of second hinged portions, the third hinged portion being rotatably connected among the plurality of second hinged portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: T-MAX (HANGZHOU) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xinfa Du, Qi Zhang, Songfeng Wang
  • Quick disconnect for detachable stair system
    Patent number: 11292391
    Abstract: A quick disconnect mechanism for a detachable stair system for vehicles. The apparatus includes mounting brackets for installation at either side of a doorway in a recreational vehicle such as motorhome, camping trailer, or camper on a pickup truck. Fixed plates in the form of open jaw brackets are provided at each side of a sill cover plate, to enable operation of a pivotable detachable stair portion. The open jaw of the fixed plates are pivotable about pivot studs located in the mounting brackets. The fixed plates further include an arcuate channel defined radially outward from the pivots studs. The arcuate slot is sized and shaped for engagement with a pivot lock also located on the mounting brackets. The pivot locks extend inward for sliding operation with the arcuate slot, but not so far inward as to interfere with the pivoting motion of the sill cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TORK LIFT INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jack Kay, Chad A Winslow
  • Elevated pivot bracket for a wheelbarrow
    Patent number: 11285982
    Abstract: A pivot bracket for a wheelbarrow having a bight with a ground-engaging portion positioned so as to enable a large pivoting angle of the wheelbarrow. In some preferred embodiments, the ground engaging portion is positioned forward of the wheel of the wheelbarrow and above the axis of rotation of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventor: Douglas Van Zandt