Patents Examined by Jerry Redman
  • Vehicle cover opening and closing control device
    Patent number: 9580940
    Abstract: An opening and closing control device of a vehicle cover is configured to control opening and closing of a cover covering a connection part of a vehicle connecting a connection member, and includes a drive unit which performs the opening and closing operation by moving the cover. An operation status detection unit an operation position of the cover, a control unit drives and controls the drive unit so that the cover is set in one of a plurality of positions based on whether the connection member is connected or not, the operation position detected by the operation status detection unit, and the ON/OFF state of the power of the vehicle when a control signal is input from a control switch or a remote key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: JOHNAN MANUFACTURING INC.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kondo, Hideaki Takehara, Masakane Yoshizawa, Shun Sakurai
  • Line belt driven retrofittable door opener, system, and method of retrofitting thereof
    Patent number: 9574389
    Abstract: A line belt driven retrofittable door opener includes a motor, a drive link, an output link, and at least one flexible link. The at least one flexible link includes at least one flexible line link. The drive link is connected to the motor. The output link is connected to the arm of the door. The at least one flexible link interconnects the drive link with the output link. Wherein, the motor is configured for opening the door by rotating the drive link, which in turn rotates the output link via the at least one flexible link, which in turn rotates the arm, thereby opening the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Eon Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Peter C. Menze, Stephen R. Lang, Matthew P. Jewell
  • Vehicle door structure
    Patent number: 9573445
    Abstract: A vehicle door structure has: a door inner panel that is made of resin and that, together with a door outer panel, structures a door main body portion having a substantially closed cross-sectional shape; a beam having a main body portion, that extends in a door longitudinal direction, and an extended portion that is made of metal and is provided in continuation with a length direction end portion of the main body portion, the beam being disposed within the closed cross-section of the door main body portion; and a bent portion that is bendingly formed at the extended portion, and that, as seen in plan view, is disposed further toward a door thickness direction outer side than the frame main body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Ogawa, Atsushi Mikuni
  • Chute opener
    Patent number: 9568064
    Abstract: A chute opener for opening a chute of a grain trailer is provided. The chute opener uses a motor coupled to a motor gear to drive a shaft gear. The shaft gear drives a crank shaft coupled to the chute of the grain trailer. The gears can be disengaged to enable manual operation of the chute by a hand crank. A position sensor can be provided which determines a position of the shaft gear even when disengaged from the drive gear to maintain accurate chute positioning information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: MICHEL'S INDUSTRIES LTD
    Inventors: Bryce Gerspacher, Bud Michel, Ron Michel
  • Window regulator and method of providing articulating motion to a window in a vehicle door
    Patent number: 9556662
    Abstract: A window regulator is provided for a window in a vehicle door. The window regulator includes a drive mechanism having a first cable and a second cable. The first cable is connected to the window at a first connection point and the second cable is connected to the window at a second connection point. The two cables are driven at different speeds so that the window is rotated with respect to the vehicle door panel as the window is displaced between a fully closed position and a fully opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul L. Heirtzler, Donald P. Iacovoni, Scott George Miller
  • Frameless-door window operating system
    Patent number: 9556661
    Abstract: A frameless-door window operating system is provided for a vehicle door. The system includes a door actuator, a door latch controller, a window controller and a door window displaceable between a closed position and an indexed position providing clearance to open the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, PLLC
    Inventors: Donald P. Iacovoni, Howard Paul Linden, Paul L. Heirtzler
  • Emergency exit arrangement
    Patent number: 9551179
    Abstract: An emergency exit arrangement for a vehicle and or a building comprising of a plurality of spring pressured stud assembly having a plurality of locking pin in the upper region connected correspondingly to a plurality of rope which is connected to a first pulling device; a plurality of locking pin in the lower region connected correspondingly to a plurality of rope which is connected to a second pulling device. Sequential pulling of the first and the second pulling device ejects out the aperture cover. The pulling devices are electrical, operated by pressing a button; or through temperature sensor, impact sensor, pressure sensor, smoke sensor and or a combination thereof. The pulling devices are alternatively rotatable knobs. The aperture cover is easily mountable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Tata Technologiė Pte Limited
    Inventors: Amar Mutalik Desai, Prashant Topalkatti, Upender Rao Gade, Gopal Musale
  • Open top hopper window and frame
    Patent number: 9540860
    Abstract: Disclosed is an open top hopper window with a hopper window and a frame. The frame includes top edge and bottom edges, and left and right sides. The inn part of the right and left sides of the frame has a guide groove located at the bottom of the side, with a hole in the frame located above such guide groove. The joining between the hopper window and the frame uses two bolts at the outer bottom sides of the hopper window sliding into the guide grooves and two arms linking the holes at the frame with two holes at the hopper window wherein the two holes are located at the 35%-40% range of the total length of the hopper window on the outer sides of the hopper window always achieving an equilibrium position which allows positioning the hopper window at different opening angles and positions without effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Inventor: Oscar Anselmo Antonetti
  • Thermal release of a self-opening cover
    Patent number: 9528311
    Abstract: A cover is fitted to an aperture in an enclosure. A biasing mechanism is connected to the cover to mechanically bias the cover in an open position. An adhesive member is disposed around the aperture to retain the cover in a closed position against the bias of the biasing mechanism. A release mechanism effects release of the cover from the adhesive member by diminishing adhesion thereof in response to an open command signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Exelis, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Alan Hager
  • Railway passenger gate assembly
    Patent number: 9517778
    Abstract: A railway passenger gate assembly includes a platform having a well extending into a surface thereof. A housing is positioned within the well and has an open apex flush with the upper surface. A pair of vertically oriented cylinders is positioned within the housing. A conduit is in fluid communication with each of the cylinders. Each of the cylinders has one of a pair of pistons positioned therein. The pistons each have a bottom end and a top end. Each of the top ends has one of a pair of posts attached thereto. A railing is attached to and extends between the posts. The pistons are movable from a stored position with the railing being approximately flush with the upper surface or in a deployed position positioned above the upper surface. A pump in fluid communication with the cylinders forces fluid into the cylinders to urge the pistons upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Inventor: Kenneth I. Thompson
  • Corner fitting for disposing a door element on a center of rotation or an axis
    Patent number: 9518413
    Abstract: A corner fitting for disposing a door element on a center of rotation or an axis includes first and second fitting elements-, which, at least sectionwise, each include a locating portion for the abutment against the door element and are interconnectable while restraining the door element. A restraining area forms between the two fitting elements, into which the door element is insertable, and the fitting elements are formed such that a holding element is disposed between the two fitting elements. The holding element is displaceable in relation to the fitting elements and is at least partially rotatable about the center of rotation or the axis. The holding element is in operative connection with a connecting element, which serves for supporting the door element on the center of rotation or the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: DORMA DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Kenan Aykas
  • Slide window for vehicle
    Patent number: 9518420
    Abstract: Provided herein is a slide window for a vehicle with which a slide panel can be smoothly moved to easily open and close an opening part without directly manipulating a slide panel 18. A movable body 36 that is moved by being driven by a drive unit 40 is provided, and the slide panel 18 is connected to the movable body 36 via a connection member 48. The slide panel 18 moves with the movement of the movable body 36 driven by the drive unit 40, whereby the opening part 14 is automatically opened and closed. The movable body 36 is guided by the guide sleeve 38, and moves along the slide panel 18. The guide sleeve 38 is positioned and mounted to the resin frame body 16 via guide sleeve brackets 42 provided on a resin frame body 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignees: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED, Nissan Motor Light Truck Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takanobu Kondo
  • Ice breaking strategy for vehicle side windows
    Patent number: 9512662
    Abstract: Described herein is a vehicle side window system and method for implementing an ice breaking strategy. The ice breaking strategy receives and analyzes sensor information from one or more environmental sensors to determine when to preemptively implement an ice breaking routine. The ice breaking strategy is also capable of monitoring one or more components of the vehicle side window system to determine when to cease the ice breaking routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam
  • Weather strip, weather strip joining die set, and weather strip manufacturing method
    Patent number: 9505294
    Abstract: A weather strip is formed by joining a first sealing body, a second sealing body, and a resin joint portion, which is arranged between the sealing bodies, to each other. The resin joint portion includes a rib portion, which has a shape that bulges outward from between the opposed faces of the first sealing body and the second sealing body. The rib portion has a shape to be joined to the outer surface of the end of the first sealing body and the outer surface of the end of the second sealing body and to extend along the joined parts of the first sealing body and the second sealing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jorn Van Der Stap, Andrè Lavalière
  • Inflatable weatherstrip system
    Patent number: 9506285
    Abstract: A sealing system for doors and windows includes a reservoir device, a sealing tube configured to expand and to contract, and a transfer valve configured to couple the reservoir device to a first end of the sealing tube. Responsive to either of a door or window closing, a medium may be transferred from the reservoir device via the transfer valve to the sealing tube. Responsive to receiving the medium, the sealing tube may expand to substantially seal a gap between an edge of either of the door or the window and a surface in proximity to the edge. Responsive to either of the door or window opening, the medium may be discharged from the sealing tube via the transfer valve. The sealing tube may contract in response to discharging the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Inventor: Norman David Eansor
  • Slide safe apparatus and method
    Patent number: 9500022
    Abstract: A slide safe apparatus having a safe encasement and a sliding, retractable door, the slide safe including: a motor positioned within the safe encasement, the motor mechanically connected to a lead screw having an axial rotational axis and driving a coupling; a linkage positioned within the safe encasement, the linkage having a first end mechanically connected to the coupling and a second end mechanically connected to the retractable door; and a control panel configured to command motor operation and to alternately open and close the retractable door, wherein the lead screw passes through at least part of the linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventor: Alexey Shesvill
  • Opening and closing device
    Patent number: 9500017
    Abstract: The inner surface of one side section of a frame has the base-end section of a rotation arm of a rotation-biasing element that is rotatable. A roller is provided on the tip-end section of the rotation arm. The roller is pressed against and contacts the rear surface of a door as a result of the biasing by the rotation-biasing element. The rear surface of the door is equipped with a damper element. The damper element has a contact member for pressing against and contacting the roller when the door is in the closed position or in a prescribed intermediate position. The contact member minimizes the speed at which the roller moves forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: SUGATSUNE KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuru Sugiura
  • Duct access door
    Patent number: 9500387
    Abstract: An access panel for an opening in a duct is provided. The access panel includes an exterior and an interior. The access panel further includes a section positioned on the interior and having a profile substantially corresponding to the opening in the duct. A plurality of fasteners is positioned about the section. Each fastener has a dip configured to move to a position defined to extend away from the profile of the section on the interior. When the access panel is positioned with the section on the interior against the opening in the duct and the fasteners are moved to the locking position the clips rotate to extend over the profile and secure a portion of the duct adjacent to the opening against the interior of the access panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin R. Chwala, Brian S. Smith
  • Vehicle back door structure
    Patent number: 9499032
    Abstract: A vehicle back door structure including: a back door panel made of resin having, in at least a part of a peripheral edge thereof, a recessed portion equipped with a pair of side walls and a bottom wall that interconnects vehicle front sides of the pair of side walls, with a step portion, that has one side-wall side positioned at a vehicle rear side of another side-wall side, being formed in the bottom wall; and a reinforcement rib that is formed integrally with a vehicle rear side surface of the bottom wall, that straddles the step portion, and that bridges the pair of side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koki Ikeda, Tatsuya Ayukawa
  • Movement and elastic abutting device of a two link mechanism
    Patent number: 9493975
    Abstract: An elastic abutting device disposed on one link of a two link mechanism includes a base member, a bearing member, a latch member, and an elastic member. The base member has an accommodating groove. The bearing member is disposed in the accommodating groove, wherein the bearing member has a first propping portion, a second propping portion, and a through hole. The latch member defines a central axis, and the latch member has an abutting portion which is partly exposed out of the through hole and a retaining portion which is disposed correspondingly to the abutting portion. The elastic member is disposed between the first propping portion and the second propping portion, wherein two opposite terminal ends of the elastic member respectively have a first side end portion and a second side end portion disposed correspondingly to the first side end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: OME TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kun-Fei Li