Patents by Inventor Christian Arthur Trager

Christian Arthur Trager has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240043080
    Abstract: A bicycle saddle system can include a saddle body. The system can include a vibration isolator including a stack of a plurality of conical springs. An intermediate structure can be operatively positioned between the saddle body and the vibration isolator. In some instances, the vibration isolator can be located within a portion of the bicycle frame. In some instances, the vibration isolator can be configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile including a region of quasi-zero stiffness. The system can be used to provide improved vibration isolation performance when using a bicycle saddle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Paul A. Gilmore, Umesh N. Gandhi, Ryohei Tsuruta, Michael Paul Rowe, Christian Arthur Trager, Brian J. Pinkelman
  • Patent number: 11827299
    Abstract: A vibration isolator cartridge can be configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile. The non-linear stiffness profile including a region of quasi-zero stiffness. The vibration isolator cartridge can include a housing. The vibration isolator cartridge can include a plunger. The plunger can be configured to be depressed toward a distal end portion of the housing. The vibration isolator cartridge can include a plurality of spring members operatively positioned within the housing between the plunger and the distal end portion of the housing. The plurality of spring elements can be arranged in a stack. The vibration isolator cartridge can be used to provide improved vibration isolation performance in various applications, such as a bicycle saddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Gilmore, Christian Arthur Trager, Umesh N. Gandhi, Ryohei Tsuruta, Michael Paul Rowe
  • Publication number: 20230219646
    Abstract: A vibration isolator cartridge can be configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile. The non-linear stiffness profile including a region of quasi-zero stiffness. The vibration isolator cartridge can include a housing. The vibration isolator cartridge can include a plunger. The plunger can be configured to be depressed toward a distal end portion of the housing. The vibration isolator cartridge can include a plurality of spring members operatively positioned within the housing between the plunger and the distal end portion of the housing. The plurality of spring elements can be arranged in a stack. The vibration isolator cartridge can be used to provide improved vibration isolation performance in various applications, such as a bicycle saddle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Paul A. Gilmore, Christian Arthur Trager, Umesh N. Gandhi, Ryohei Tsuruta, Michael Paul Rowe
  • Patent number: 11628898
    Abstract: A vibration isolator can be configured to provide improved vibration isolation performance, such as in connection with a bicycle saddle. The bicycle saddle can be operatively connected to a bicycle frame. The vibration isolator can be located within a portion of the bicycle frame. The vibration isolator can be operatively positioned with respect to the bicycle saddle. The vibration isolator being configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile. The non-linear stiffness profile can include a region of quasi-zero stiffness. The vibration isolator including one or more super elastic material members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Arthur Trager, Paul A. Gilmore, Umesh N. Gandhi, Ryohei Tsuruta, Michael Paul Rowe
  • Patent number: 11603153
    Abstract: A vibration isolator can be configured to provide improved vibration isolation performance, such as in connection with a bicycle saddle. A vibration isolator can be operatively connected to a bicycle saddle. The vibration isolator can be configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile. The non-linear stiffness profile can include a region of quasi-zero stiffness. The vibration isolator can include one or more movable body members and one or more super elastic material members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Arthur Trager, Paul A. Gilmore, Umesh N. Gandhi, Ryohei Tsuruta, Michael Paul Rowe
  • Patent number: 11565763
    Abstract: A vibration isolator can be configured to provide improved vibration isolation performance, such as in connection with a bicycle saddle. The bicycle saddle can be operatively connected to a bicycle frame. The vibration isolator can be located within a portion of the bicycle frame. The vibration isolator can be operatively positioned with respect to the bicycle saddle. The vibration isolator being configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile. The non-linear stiffness profile can include a region of quasi-zero stiffness. The vibration isolator including a plurality of spring members arranged in a stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America. Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Gilmore, Christian Arthur Trager, Umesh N. Gandhi, Ryohei Tsuruta, Michael Paul Rowe
  • Publication number: 20210276593
    Abstract: An interchangeable device for perming the tasks of lawnmowing and snow blowing. The device comprising a motive component to provide motion to a functional component. The motive component comprising a motor to drive a motion element in communication with a microcontroller configured to provide autonomous motion to the motive component. A functional component is arranged to perform a task, the functional component releasably engaged with the motive component to allow the functional component to be interchanged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Next Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Claudio B Bucur, Christian Arthur Trager, Juliano Regis de Vilas Boas
  • Patent number: 9623846
    Abstract: A vehicle surface wash apparatus using a cavitation heater fluidically coupled between a fluid reservoir and a spray nozzle to instantaneously heat wash fluid to an elevated temperature prior to dispensing the heated wash fluid through a spray nozzle onto a vehicle surface to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Arthur Trager
  • Publication number: 20160193986
    Abstract: A vehicle surface wash apparatus using a cavitation heater fluidically coupled between a fluid reservoir and a spray nozzle to instantaneously heat wash fluid to an elevated temperature prior to dispensing the heated wash fluid through a spray nozzle onto a vehicle surface to be cleaned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventor: Christian Arthur Trager
  • Patent number: 8381602
    Abstract: A push force simulator for measuring a force applied to a first component being attached to a second component with a pressure-sensitive adhesive located therebetween. The push force simulator can include a handheld block having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a palm-simulating polymer layer attached to the bottom surface. In addition, a pushable force gauge having an engagement end engaged with the top surface of the handheld block can be included. The pushable force gauge can measure an amount of force applied thereto, and thus measure the force transmitted through the block, through the palm-simulating polymer layer and applied to the pressure sensitive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Lauren Sterling, Kale William Hooper, Christian Arthur Trager
  • Patent number: 8366021
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a windshield wiper system that affords for deicing of a windshield for a motor vehicle. The system includes a first container having a first liquid, a second container having a second liquid along with a spray nozzle or jet proximate to the windshield and in fluid communication with the first container and the second container. A pump operable to pump or force the second liquid through the spray nozzle and onto the windshield is also included. In addition, a time delay switch activates the windshield wiper only after the second liquid has been on the windshield a preset time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Arthur Trager
  • Publication number: 20120192659
    Abstract: A push force simulator for measuring a force applied to a first component being attached to a second component with a pressure-sensitive adhesive located therebetween. The push force simulator can include a handheld block having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a palm-simulating polymer layer attached to the bottom surface. In addition, a pushable force gauge having an engagement end engaged with the top surface of the handheld block can be included. The pushable force gauge can measure an amount of force applied thereto, and thus measure the force transmitted through the block, through the palm-simulating polymer layer and applied to the pressure sensitive adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Lauren Sterling, Kale William Hooper, Christian Arthur Trager
  • Publication number: 20120056004
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a windshield wiper system that affords for deicing of a windshield for a motor vehicle. The system includes a first container having a first liquid, a second container having a second liquid along with a spray nozzle or jet proximate to the windshield and in fluid communication with the first container and the second container. A pump operable to pump or force the second liquid through the spray nozzle and onto the windshield is also included. In addition, a time delay switch activates the windshield wiper only after the second liquid has been on the windshield a preset time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Arthur Trager
  • Patent number: 7777615
    Abstract: A system for assisting the alignment of a hitch pin mounted on the rear of a vehicle with a hitch socket mounted on the front of a trailer. The system includes a camera mounted to the vehicle and positioned to capture an image rearwardly of the vehicle. A video display is contained within the vehicle which displays the image captured by the camera. A processor is also contained in the vehicle which calculates a preferred path of travel of the vehicle to position the hitch pin in alignment with the hitch socket. The processor is programmed to provide instructions to an operator of the vehicle of the required steering to maintain the vehicle on the preferred path of travel. The processor recalculates the preferred path of travel whenever the vehicle veers from the preferred path of travel by a preset threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Denso International America, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Okuda, Christian Arthur Trager, Lisa Marie Brown, Michael Wiegand, Tanemichi Chiba, Christopher Kurpinski, Jeffrey Edward Angeliu, Hirohiko Yanagawa, Yoshihisa Sato, Toshihiro Wakamatsu, Justin McBride, Thomas Keeling
  • Patent number: 7401527
    Abstract: A pressure sensor assembly for measuring the pressure between a windshield and a windshield wiper. The pressure sensor assembly includes a support structure, a strain gage and a bearing member. The support structure supports the wiper spaced apart from the windshield. The strain gage is coupled to the support structure for providing pressure measurement data corresponding to the amount of strain in the support wall due to the pressure applied by the wiper toward the windshield. The bearing member is fixedly secured to the support structure to minimize friction between the pressure sensor assembly and the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Flaharty, Christian Arthur Trager, Nicholas G. Ruark
  • Patent number: 6390560
    Abstract: An adjustable anchor assembly is designed to provide an anchor for a child restraint seat at the intersection of a back cushion and a bottom cushion of a seat in the interior of an automobile. The adjustable anchor assembly includes a housing designed to mount to a support member adjacent the intersection of the back and bottom cushions. An anchor member has an attachment end designed to provide an attachment for a child restraint seat and a mounting end. An adjustment device adjustably interconnects the housing with the mounting end of the anchor member and is operable to change the distance between the housing and the anchor member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Technical Center USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Umesh N. Gandhi, Christian Arthur Trager, Richard Monroe Sullivan