Patents Examined by John D. Walters
  • Patent number: 11745576
    Abstract: A zero emissions electrically powered haul truck is disclosed. The haul truck has a 40 metric ton hauling capacity and a form factor that allows the truck to travel through underground mines. The truck also includes a primary battery assembly that is externally mounted along the front and sides of the truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ARTISAN VEHICLE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian R. Huff, Kyle Hickey
  • Patent number: 11745574
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes an electric-vehicle battery tray including a frame member elongated along a vehicle-longitudinal axis. The electric vehicle includes a rocker rail elongated along the vehicle-longitudinal axis. The electric vehicle includes a subframe. The electric vehicle includes a bracket connecting the battery tray, the rocker rail, and the subframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rodrigo Alberto Marginet, James Brian Goff, Anuj Deshpande, Ohster Zapata, Corey John Jarocki, Jeffrey A. Walesch, Patrick W. Bain, Felicia Paluzzi, Peter Simeon Lazarevski
  • Patent number: 11745573
    Abstract: Integrated frame and battery pack structure for electric vehicles are disclosed. An example electric vehicle includes a frame of the electric vehicle to which a body of the electric vehicle is coupled, the frame including longitudinal frame rails, a mid-section of the frame not including frame cross-members. The example electric vehicle includes a battery pack mounted in the mid-section of the frame, the battery pack including battery pack cross-members, each of the battery pack cross-members connected to a top surface of the longitudinal frame rails and a bottom surface of the longitudinal frame rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ari Garo Caliskan, Kevin Mackenzie, Kyle Gary Mattinson, Jude Berthault
  • Patent number: 11738978
    Abstract: A working machine including a machine body having an operator cab, a ground engaging propulsion structure to permit movement of the machine over the ground, a load handling apparatus coupled to the machine body and moveable by a movement actuator with respect to the machine body, and an electric energy storage unit for providing power to the working machine. The working machine includes a longitudinal axis, wherein the operator cab is positioned towards a first side of the working machine with respect to the longitudinal axis, and the electric energy storage unit is positioned towards a second side of the working machine with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second sides are located opposite each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: J. C. Bamford Excavators Limited
    Inventors: Tom Rushton, Richard Brooks
  • Patent number: 11738815
    Abstract: A trailer includes a trailer frame having a hitch. A stationary support base is joined to the trailer frame. Two supports are slidably guided on the support base toward and away from each other. A wheel assembly is mounted to an end of each of the supports remote from the other support such that a distance between the wheel assemblies varies with movement of the supports on the support base. A locking device selectively locks each support to the support base in a first position where the wheel assemblies are furthest from each other and a second position where the wheel assemblies are closer to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: AWOL OUTDOORS, INC.
    Inventors: Cedar Jon Vandergon, Kevin Arnold Fleischhacker, Scott Alan Davidson
  • Patent number: 11738648
    Abstract: An endothermic/electric hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle comprises a first propulsion unit, of the electrical type, provided with at least a first electric machine (EM1) coupled to a transmission shaft, a second propulsion unit, of the hybrid type, provided with an output shaft and comprising at least one internal combustion engine (ICE) and at least one second electric machine (EM2) which can be selectively coupled together to provide torque to the output shaft in an independent or combined manner and a coupling member operatively interposed between the output shaft of the second propulsion unit and the transmission shaft of the first propulsion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ELDOR CORPORATION S.P.A.
    Inventors: Pasquale Forte, Luca Zai
  • Patent number: 11738664
    Abstract: A system including a vehicle having a motive electrical power path, a power distribution unit comprising a current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path, the current protection circuit comprising a thermal fuse and a contactor in a series arrangement with the thermal fuse. The system further including a current source circuit electrically coupled to the thermal fuse and structured to inject a current across the thermal fuse, a hardware filter electrically coupled to the thermal fuse, the hardware filter comprising a cutoff frequency determined in response to an injection frequency of the current source circuit, and sa voltage determination circuit electrically coupled to the thermal fuse and structured to determine an injected voltage amount in response to the filtered injected current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: Brandon William Fisher
  • Patent number: 11732790
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, a torque converter, a weldment, an engine disconnect clutch, and a torque converter lockup clutch. The engine has a crankshaft. The electric machine has a rotor. The torque converter has an impeller and a turbine. The weldment is configured to rotate about an axis and to transfer power from the crankshaft and the rotor to the impeller. The weldment has a first hub, a second hub, a torque converter cover, an impeller housing, and a third hub. The engine disconnect clutch is configured to rotatably connect and disconnect the crankshaft to and from the weldment. The torque converter lockup clutch is configured to rotatably connect and disconnect the turbine to and from the weldment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew David Hammond, Gregory Daniel Goleski, Bryant L. Poynter, David Gon Oh, Bhaskar Marathe
  • Patent number: 11731677
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic lift dolly. The lift dolly is configured and designed to lift or lower a tray or load platform using a built-in hydraulic mechanism. The lift dolly includes a pair of support arms, a pair of actuation triggers, a tray, a pair of wheels or casters and a handle attached to the support arms. Each support arm has a hydraulic cylinder that is connected to a hydraulic source. The pair of hydraulic cylinders lift the tray when the pair of actuation triggers are pressed by an operator to provide hydraulic power to the hydraulic cylinders for lifting the connected tray. The actuation triggers are released when the tray reaches a desired height along the support arms. The hydraulic lift dolly allow users to perform loading and unloading without bending over and lifting heavy and bulky items from the dolly tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: Terry Ellithorpe
  • Patent number: 11731562
    Abstract: A trailer, retractable stair assembly, and method of operating same is provided. The trailer includes a frame that defines an interior cavity. A retractable stair assembly is movable between a stowed position in which the retractable stair assembly is positioned within the interior cavity and a deployed position in which the retractable stair assembly extends out of the trailer frame to establish a plurality of steps out of the trailer to an egress surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventors: Kurt Josef Honer, William L. Gibson
  • Patent number: 11735077
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transport container having: a frame structure which encloses a transport chamber, a lateral wall which is connected to the frame structure, an opening device for converting the lateral wall between a closed position, which lies against the frame structure and in which a lateral loading opening of the frame structure is closed by the lateral wall, and an open position, which releases the lateral loading opening, a display device for displaying data on the exterior of the lateral wall, a measuring device for detecting the open position of the lateral wall, and a release device for releasing the display device for displaying data upon detecting the open position of the lateral wall. The invention additionally relates to a method for displaying data on a lateral wall of a transport container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: LORRYGRAM GMBH
    Inventors: Johann Strasser, Jr., Johann Strasser, Sr.
  • Patent number: 11731683
    Abstract: A cart handle and a baby cart in which cart handle includes a fixed member; a handle body rotatable relative to the fixed member; an engagement part having a first portion that non-rotatably engages the handle body and slidably engages the handle body, and having a second portion that non-rotatably engages the fixed member; and an operation part that is actuated to alternately displace the engagement part to an unlocked position, wherein the second portion is not in engagement with the fixed member, thereby permitting rotation of the handle body relative to the fixed member, and displace the engagement part to a locked position, wherein the second portion engages the fixed member, thereby preventing rotation of the handle body relative to the fixed member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignees: Dongguan Jinwang Children Products Co Ltd., Baby Trend, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenbo Wu, Hu Chen, John Riedl, Chin-Kuan Lac, Michael Cavins, Bo Xiao
  • Patent number: 11724585
    Abstract: A hybrid drive train includes a first electric motor, a nested power splitting planetary gear set having a first carrier element and a second carrier element, an inner sun gear coupled with the first electric motor and an outer sun gear coupled with an output shaft. A first selectable one-way clutch controls the first and the second carrier element, and switches between operation as a one way clutch and operation as a brake. A second selectable one-way clutch controls a ring gear of the nested planetary gear set, and switches between operation as a one way clutch and operation as a brake. The extra outer planetary gear set improves lowing capacity at higher speeds without substantially increasing the axial length of the power split device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Schneidewind, Nicholas Vernon, Geoffrey D. Gaither
  • Patent number: 11718235
    Abstract: Powered retractable vehicle step assist systems and methods are provided. The steps systems are configured for installation (e.g., after market installation) and use with a vehicle. The system can include a stepping member movable between a retracted position and a deployed position with respect to the vehicle. The system can further include a vehicle interface. A controller of the step system can be configured to process information received from the vehicle interface and, based at least partly on the processing of the information, cause movement of the stepping member between the retracted position and the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Lund Motion Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Smith
  • Patent number: 11718338
    Abstract: A stroller includes a frame, a handle, a plurality of support legs, a wheel attached to a lower end of each support leg, and a seat attached to the frame. The seat includes an internal Peltier device for selectively heating or cooling the seat. The Peltier device is powered via an onboard battery installed in an electronics housing that includes multiple USB ports. A blanket is removably secured to the seat via one or more fasteners. A processor in the electronics housing performs a method that includes activating the Peltier device to bring the seat to a preset temperature, receiving a temperature setting for the Peltier device from a temperature control button disposed on the handle, detecting a current temperature of an area within the seat, and if the current temperature of the area within the seat is greater than a threshold safe upper temperature, then deactivating the Peltier device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventor: Amina Showell
  • Patent number: 11712957
    Abstract: Electric vehicle conversion kits for IC vehicles and converted electric vehicles. An electric vehicle conversion kit may include an electric motor directly coupled to an axle. Another electric vehicle conversion kit may include an electric motor mechanically coupled to an axle via a driveshaft. Another electric vehicle conversion kit may include an electric motor coupled to a transfer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Current EV Motors, LLC
    Inventor: Rocco West Calandruccio
  • Patent number: 11713012
    Abstract: A retractable step and side bar assembly that can be used for raised vehicles, such as trucks. The retractable step can be configured to provide for significant reach in a deployed position to allow for a user to enter the raised vehicle. Further, in the stowed position the retractable step can be located within the side bar, thereby providing a low profile as well as an enhanced aesthetic appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Lund Motion Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Nicholas Smith, Eric Charles Bajza, William Franklin Bibb, VI
  • Patent number: 11707982
    Abstract: A side-by-side off-road utility vehicle comprising a vehicle operational status switch for controlling the operational status of the vehicle, a side-by-side seating structure, a plurality of safety restraint devices operable to retain one or more vehicle passenger in the side-by-side seating structure, and a prime mover RPM controller. The prime mover RPM controller operable to output commands to the one or more prime mover of the vehicle to limit a rotational speed of the prime mover(s) when the vehicle is in an On operational status and a selected one or more of the one or more safety restraints is in a disengaged status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Shane Christopher Reid, John Lawrence Stocks, Matthew Lawrence O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 11707977
    Abstract: A structural enclosure includes a pair of aluminum rails with an upper wall and a lower wall spaced apart from the upper wall, a plurality of sleeves extending into and captured within the aluminum rails, and each of the plurality of sleeves having a head with a predefined thickness disposed on an outer surface of the aluminum rails and configured to separate the outer surface of the aluminum rails from a steel vehicle chassis to which the aluminum rails are mounted. The structural enclosure can be an aluminum battery box for an electric vehicle and the aluminum battery box can be mounted to and electrochemically isolated from the steel vehicle chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kimberly Ann Lazarz, Michael William Danyo, Sean Brady, Mike Popovski, Anil Reddy Pullalarevu, Saravanan Paramasivam
  • Patent number: 11701974
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle is provided and includes a system frame on which a fuel cell is mounted and first and second side members extending in a first direction and facing each other in a second direction intersecting the first direction. A first fastening part fastens the system frame to each of the first and second side members. The system frame includes a first aperture formed therein in a horizontal direction. The first fastening part includes a first support bracket, including a second aperture, a first insertion hole, and a first tab portion extending from the first insertion hole in the horizontal direction, and a first bolt, including a first shank portion inserted into the first aperture, the second aperture, and the first insertion hole in the horizontal direction and a first threaded portion engaged with the first tab portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Jung Do Suh