Patents Examined by Vicky A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11273803
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle operation pedal device comprising: an operation pedal which includes a depressing part provided thereto; a pair of upper support members which are fixed to a dash panel; a pair of lower support members which are fixed to the dash panel and also fixed to the pair of upper support members; an upper center support member which is laid between the pair of upper support members; and a connection hole which supports an operating rod protruding from the dash panel towards a vehicle rear side, such that the operating rod is rotatable with respect to the operation pedal. The upper center support member comprises a sliding receiving part. The pair of upper support members comprise an escape hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Tsuguma
  • Patent number: 11261933
    Abstract: A pendulum damping device including a support that rotates about an axis, at least one pendulum body and at least one rolling member guiding the movement of the pendulum body relative to the support, the rolling member engaging with at least one rolling track rigidly connected to the support and with at least one rolling track rigidly connected to the pendulum body. The rolling member includes a first part defining a first axial end, a second part defining a second axial end, and a resilient element arranged in the rolling member so as to axially separate these two parts so that the rolling member exerts an axial clamping force on one of the pendulum body and the support during the movement of the pendulum body relative to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: VALEO EMBRAYAGES
    Inventors: Matthieu Malley, Olivier Fafet, Antoine Vigreux, Didier Couvillers, David Salvadori, Franck Cailleret, Adrien Nerriere, Jonathan Rost
  • Patent number: 11254269
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems for providing a pathway for at least one electrical conductor to supply current from a vehicle or marine craft power source to a steering wheel comprising at least one working element for heating or controls. The present invention utilizes a clock spring assembly inside a channel created by a housing mount and a housing base and encased in a housing cover for infinite rotation of the steering wheel while still maintaining a path for current to travel through the clock spring to the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: SYMTEC, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Bauer, Riley T. Harlan, Tom Donnillon
  • Patent number: 11254343
    Abstract: A vehicle system including one or more sensors, a steering wheel including a rim and an adjusting mechanism for adjusting a coefficient of friction between a surface of the rim and a driver's hand, and a controller configured to determine whether a deviation factor between a target path and an actual path based on the one or more sensors exceeds a threshold deviation, send a first signal to the adjusting mechanism for operating to a first state in response to determining that the deviation factor exceeds the threshold deviation, the coefficient of friction being decreased when the adjusting mechanism is in the first state, and send a second signal to the adjusting mechanism for operating to a second state in response to determining that the deviation factor does not exceed the threshold deviation, the coefficient of friction being increased when the adjusting mechanism is in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Manuel Ludwig Kuehner, Jaime Camhi
  • Patent number: 11249507
    Abstract: A clutch lever device (50) includes a clutch lever (60) rotatably provided and operated by a user, an elastic deformation portion (81) which is a generation source of an operation reaction force of the clutch lever (60), and a rotary body (91) which is configured to rotate around a first axis (O) in accordance with rotation of the clutch lever (60) and elastically deform the elastic deformation portion (81). The rotary body (91) is configured to change an elastic deformation amount of the elastic deformation portion (81) per unit rotation angle of the clutch lever (60) in accordance with a rotation angle from a pre-operation position of the clutch lever (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Shimizu, Yoshinobu Shiomi, Go Morita
  • Patent number: 11247748
    Abstract: A pedal includes a pedal body and a shaft. The pedal body has a shaft hole and a ball bearing disposed in the shaft hole. The ball bearing has an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. The shaft has a locking end with a large diameter and a pivoting end with a small diameter. The pivoting end has a thread section screwed by a fixing nut which presses the inner sleeve of the ball bearing. The outer sleeve is fixed by a cap mounted in an opening of the shaft hole. The shaft is received in the shaft hole and fixed by the fixing nut. The shaft axially passes through the ball bearing. An end of the fixing nut is integrally formed with a flange to press the inner sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventor: Chin-Long Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11242112
    Abstract: A bicycle grip with a tubular inner sleeve and a grip element surrounding the inner sleeve, and a clamping ring element connected to the bicycle grip for clamping the bicycle grip onto a handlebar, wherein a bushing is inserted into the hollow space of the handlebar on its face and which bushing has an internal thread into which an adjustment mechanism connected to the bicycle grip can be screwed for axially adjusting the handlebar width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: MG COMPONENTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Michael Graetz
  • Patent number: 11235835
    Abstract: An aerodynamic assembly for bike handlebars, includes two distinct extension devices (4a, 4b), each of the two extension devices (4a, 4b) having: a first armrest-forming part (5a, 5b), able to be fastened on a transverse bar of a bike handlebars (1) while extending longitudinally forwards and including a longitudinal extension (6a, 6b) forming a free end portion. An upper surface of the first part with its longitudinal extension forming a receiving surface for a forearm part of a cyclist. A second extension-forming part (8a, 8b), able to be fastened, in a removable manner and in the extension of the first part (5a, 5b), to the free end portion, the second extension-forming part (8a, 8b) being able to slide longitudinally relative to said longitudinal extension (6a, 6b) so as to allow an adjustment of a distance separating a free end of the second extension-forming part (8a, 8b) from the first armrest-forming part (5a, 5b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: LOOK CYCLE INTERNATIONAL
    Inventor: Pierre Bigard
  • Patent number: 11230316
    Abstract: A rake adjustment assembly for a steering column system includes a rake lever that is rotatable. The rake adjustment assembly also includes a rake bolt operative coupled to the rake lever and positioned to selectively exert a clamping force to lock and unlock the rake position of the steering column system. The rake adjustment assembly further includes a cam assembly comprising an outer cam formed of stamped steel and press fit within a pocket defined by an outer face of the lever. The outer cam includes a main body. The outer cam also includes a plurality of legs extending from the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Gembrowski, Randy W. Jones, Ethan S. Jacobs, Tyler M. Reno
  • Patent number: 11231737
    Abstract: A linking structure including an interlocking member pivotable in a second direction, and a lever tiltably linked to the interlocking member. The interlocking member includes a blind elongated hole extending in a first direction; first to fourth edges of the elongated hole; a bottom closing the elongated hole and being contiguous with the edges; and first and second shaft holes in the first and second edges to extend communicatingly from the elongated hole to opposite sides in the second direction. The lever includes a base in the elongated hole; first and second juts extending from the base, being swingably received in the elongated hole, and being in abutment with, or opposed with a narrow clearance to, the first and second edges; and first and second rotation shafts extending from the base and being supported in the first and second shaft holes such as to be rotatable in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Asano
  • Patent number: 11229495
    Abstract: Provided is a master console for a surgical robot. The master console includes: a base unit including a first base and a second base, the first and second bases being provided parallel to each other; and a foot pedal unit between the first base and the second base, wherein the foot pedal unit includes at least one foot pedal switch capable of being manipulated by a foot of an operator, a foot panel configured to support the at least one foot pedal switch, and a footrest extending outward from the foot panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: meerecompany Inc.
    Inventor: Hyung Keun Lim
  • Patent number: 11225988
    Abstract: An operating lever assembly includes a fastening member having a retaining section releasably fastened to a first object, a receiving space and a locating section; and a lever member having a mating locating section and being movably connected at an end to the receiving space and at another end to a second object. Alternatively, the fastening member includes a retaining section and a locating section; and the lever member includes a mating locating section and a receiving space, to which the fastening member is movably connected. The fastening member can be pushed to release the retaining section from the first object, while the lever member is moved in the receiving space and the locating section is engaged with the mating locating section to hold the fastening member to the lever member, allowing the first object to be repeatedly and quickly separated from or fastened to the second object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: FIVETECH TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Ting-Jui Wang
  • Patent number: 11225199
    Abstract: A latch mechanism for a pivoting bicycle rack provides a pivot release actuator on an extension that is added on to the bicycle rack. The latch mechanism comprises a connector body that is attached to the bicycle rack, and that may have an actuator for operating the pivot release. The rack extension assembly has an actuator and a linkage that connects to the connector body in the bicycle rack so that the actuator in the extension can release the pivot on the bicycle rack. The connector body may be shaped to guide the linkage during the process of attaching the extension assembly to the bicycle rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: KUAT INNOVATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Austin Harrill
  • Patent number: 11220308
    Abstract: A stem for a bicycle includes first and second components. The first component includes first upper and lower fixed seats, which are connected by a first connecting part. The second component includes second upper and lower fixed seats, which are connected by a second connecting part, and the second connecting part intersects with the first connecting part. Two first screws pass through the first upper fixed seat and the second lower fixed seat and screw with two screw holes on one side of the mounting base of the bicycle front fork. Two second screws pass through the second upper fixed seat and the first lower fixed seat and screw with two screw holes on another side of the mounting base of the bicycle front fork. Thus, the bicycle handle bar achieves good controllability and stability, and the stem has advantages of a simple structure, light weight and quickly assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: TIEN HSIN INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jason Miles
  • Patent number: 11214294
    Abstract: A steering wheel assembly has a central hub configured to connect to a steering column, at least one retractable hand grip attached to the central hub, one or more control cables disposed internal of each retractable hand grip, and a drive mechanism connected to the control cables. The drive mechanism is located either at or in the central hub or remotely relative to the steering wheel assembly. The drive mechanism when activated can selectively move one or more of the control cables to move the retractable grips to a retracted position or a non-retracted position. Optionally, the hand grips can be connected directly to the central hub and/or to one or more spokes extending form the central hub. Each of the retractable hand grips has at least one and up to four control cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
    Inventor: Makoto Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 11214970
    Abstract: A device includes a remote control apparatus with a control lever that is pivotably mounted to the remote control apparatus. The control lever is pivotable within an inner zero-position range, an outer travel range, and an oscillation damping range located between the inner zero-position range and the outer travel range. The remote control apparatus is configured to cause movement of a large manipulator, which has an active oscillation damping mode, switch on the active oscillation damping mode and cause movement of the large manipulator when the control lever is within the outer travel range, switch off the active oscillation damping mode when the control lever is located in the zero-position range, and switch on the active oscillation damping mode without causing movement of the large manipulator when the control lever is located within the oscillation damping range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: SCHWING GMBH
    Inventors: Johannes Henikl, Reiner Vierkotten
  • Patent number: 11204617
    Abstract: A small boat includes an output that outputs to an engine controller an output signal having an output value at which a throttle opening degree increases as an operation amount of a throttle operator increases, and outputs to the engine controller the output signal having, as an upper limit, a limit output value at which the throttle opening degree is smaller than that at a maximum output value at which the throttle opening degree is maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukitaka Okamoto, Chihiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11199254
    Abstract: A gearbox includes a housing, which has a lower housing part onto which an upper housing part is placed. The lower housing part and the upper housing part are in physical contact along a contact surface, for example, so that the contact surface between the lower and upper housing part lies in a plane and/or is planar. Cooling fins are situated on the housing, the cooling fins having a curved characteristic such that a portion of an axially directed airflow streaming along the housing, and thus in particular an airflow that is streaming parallel to the axis of rotation of the input shaft, is deflected in a transverse direction between two cooling fins disposed closest to each other in the axial direction in each case, the axial direction, for example, being parallel to the contact surface, e.g., the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Christopher Blickle
  • Patent number: 11199867
    Abstract: Disclosed is a throttle quadrant arrangement having a throttle lever which is independently mechanically connected to different Rotary Variable Differential Transformers (RVDTs). A friction lever selectively creates and releases friction from the throttle lever to enable it to be selectively positioned. The system is configured such that the mechanical connections existing between the throttle lever and the RVDTs are shielded from the friction created by the friction lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Sheridan Hunter, Ronald J. Parker, Philippe A. Ciholas
  • Patent number: 11191225
    Abstract: A power-driven working device including: a working tool; a drive unit configured to drive the working tool; a control unit configured to control an output power of the drive unit; and an operating unit including a first switch and a second switch, is provided. The control unit includes a cruise control unit configured to execute cruise control to maintain the output power of the drive unit constant when a cruise switch is activated, and an output power adjustment unit configured to increase the output power of the drive unit and to continue the cruise control when the first switch is activated during the cruise control, and to decrease the output power of the drive unit and to continue the cruise control when the second switch is activated during the cruise control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Inventors: Kenji Suzuki, Hiroyuki Endo