Reciprocating Control Elements Patents (Class 74/486)
  • Patent number: 11958371
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging coupler having a handle and an electric vehicle charging apparatus including the same. The electric vehicle charging coupler includes a coupler body having one side on which a charging port to be mounted to a charging port of an electric vehicle is formed to perform charging, a cable inlet part which is formed in an upper portion of the coupler body and into which a charging cable is inserted, and a handle formed to extend from the other side of the coupler body to be held by a hand and provided separately from the cable inlet part. Therefore, the electric vehicle can be easily charged by easily handling the thick and heavy charging cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Dae Young Coretech Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Tae Ho Jeong
  • Patent number: 11878668
    Abstract: A steering wheel assembly having a braking function, including: a steering wheel, a steering shaft, and a controller. The steering wheel is connected to one end of the steering shaft. The steering wheel includes a rim body and spokes. The rim body is connected to the steering shaft via the spokes. A force sensor, a photoelectric sensor, a mechanical wave sensor or a switch are provided between the rim body and the spokes, or provided on one side of the rim body away from a driver, or provided between the spokes and the steering shaft, or provided on the steering shaft, and are connected to the controller. The controller is connected to a braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventor: Zhaoqi Zhang
  • Patent number: 11815930
    Abstract: A system for actuating a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal of a vehicle by hand. The system includes a planetary gear train having a sun gear, a ring gear, and planetary gears meshed with both the sun gear and the ring gear. The planetary gears are mounted to a carrier. A carrier flange is in cooperation with the carrier to rotate with the carrier. A sun gear flange is in cooperation with the sun gear. Rotation of the sun gear flange rotates the sun gear. A lever is mounted adjacent to the sun gear flange. An accelerator actuation assembly is connected to the lever and configured to couple with the accelerator pedal. A brake actuation assembly is connected to the carrier flange and configured to couple with the brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Patrick Nolan, Victor Wong, Cameron Tyler Knight
  • Patent number: 11691523
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an electric vehicle charging coupler having a handle and an electric vehicle charging apparatus including the same. The electric vehicle charging coupler includes a coupler body having one side on which a charging port to be mounted to a charging port of an electric vehicle is formed to perform charging, a cable inlet part which is formed in an upper portion of the coupler body and into which a charging cable is inserted, and a handle formed to extend from the other side of the coupler body to be held by a hand and provided separately from the cable inlet part. Therefore, the electric vehicle can be easily charged by easily handling the thick and heavy charging cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: DAE YOUNG CORETECH CO., LTD
    Inventor: Tae Ho Jeong
  • Patent number: 11479293
    Abstract: Described herein are steer-by-wire systems and methods of operating these systems in vehicles. A steer-by-wire system comprises a steering wheel assembly, comprising a steering wheel, sensors, and a torque generator. The system comprises a rack assembly, comprising a steering rack, sensors, and a rack actuator. The steering wheel assembly and the rack assembly are communicatively coupled by a steer-by-wire system controller, without having any direct mechanical links between the assemblies. In some examples, the controller instructs the rack assembly to control the steering rack position based on the steering input, such as changes in the steering wheel position. A steering map is used to determine the desired steering rack position based on the current steering wheel position. In some examples, a steering map is selected from a steering map set based on, e.g., the vehicle speed, vehicle direction, driver preference, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Canoo Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ganesh Narasimhan, Paolo E. Pucci
  • Patent number: 11097824
    Abstract: An apparatus is for steering an outboard motor with respect to a marine vessel. The apparatus includes a transom bracket configured to support the outboard motor with respect to the marine vessel; a tiller for manually steering the outboard motor with respect to a steering axis; a steering arm extending above the transom bracket and coupling the tiller to the outboard motor such that rotation of the tiller causes rotation of the outboard motor with respect to the steering axis, wherein the steering arm is located above the transom bracket; and a copilot device configured to lock the outboard motor in each of a plurality of steering positions relative to the steering axis. The copilot device extends above and is manually operable from above the steering arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Donald T. M. Anderson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10689060
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device is basically provided with a support structure, a first release member, a second release member and a select member. The first release member is movably supported on the support structure between a first non-releasing position and a first releasing position. The second release member is movably supported on the support structure between a second non-releasing position and a second releasing position. The select member is movably supported on the support structure between at least a first select position and a second select position. The select member permits movement of the first release member and prevents movement of the second release member while the select member is in the first select position. The select member permits movement of the second release member and prevents movement of the first release member while the select member is in the second select position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kosaka, Kazunori Ookubo, Yoshimitsu Miki
  • Patent number: 9393978
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting carts including a machine body, a steering control arranged on the body, a steering pedestal pivotally arranged with respect to the body, and a selection mechanism adapted to be selectively coupleable between the body and the steering pedestal providing for a caster mode and a steering mode respectively. A method of using a dual mode utility machine including depressing a first lever thereby engaging a pivoting selector into a steering pedestal engaging position and controlling the direction of the machine by rotatably manipulating a tiller, and depressing a second lever thereby disengaging the pivoting selector from a steering pedestal engaging position to a body engaging position and controlling the direction of the machine by pushing and/or pulling a machine from side to side via a fixed tiller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Dane Technologies, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Holtan, Andrew Dvorak
  • Publication number: 20150098761
    Abstract: A control lever assembly and methods of forming and using a control lever assembly of a compaction roller are disclosed. The control lever assembly includes a lever that is defined by a body having a first end connectable to a control arm of a compaction roller. The body forms a first grip site and a second grip site that are each offset from the first end of the body. The first grip site and the second grip site are laterally offset from a longitudinal center-line axis of the control arm and spaced from one another so that each of the first grip site and the second grip site are beyond the reach of a hand engaged with the other of the first grip site and the second grip site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Michael D. Marshall, Arber Halimi
  • Publication number: 20150020635
    Abstract: Provided is an operation lever adapted to make a blade perform an action other than an up and down action by rotatably a grip around the shaft center of a lever shaft. The operation lever has a lever shaft operable back and forth, corresponding to an up and down action of a blade of a dozer unit, and a grip provided on an upper part of the lever shaft and capable of rotating in a clockwise direction and counterclockwise direction from a neutral position around a shaft center of the lever shaft by a predetermined rotation angle, corresponding to an angle action or a tilting action of the blade. The grip includes a return-to-neutral spring adapted to return the grip from a rotated position to a neutral position, and the rotation angle of the grip in the clockwise direction is set to be different from that in the counterclockwise direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Takayuki TOKUDA, Masahiro YAMAMOTO, Teruo KUNIZAWA
  • Patent number: 8746106
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device operates a bicycle component by moving a winding member that moves a take-up member relative to a fixed member in first and second directions. A positioning member is movably arranged with respect to the fixed member between a non-holding position and a holding position to selectively engage a positioning ratchet that is fixed to the take-up member. In the holding position, the positioning member prevents the take-up member from moving in the second direction by selectively engaging one of at least three engaging portions of the positioning ratchet. A preventing member is movably arranged with respect to the positioning ratchet such that the preventing member prevents the positioning member from engaging an intermediate engaging portion of the positioning ratchet while the winding member moves the take-up member in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Miki, Atsuhiro Emura, Kazutaka Fukao, Kazunori Ookubo
  • Publication number: 20090272218
    Abstract: An actuating device contains two shifting buttons which are arranged on the upper side and lower side of the steering wheel. The shifting buttons are guided together rectilinearly on guide pins during a shifting operation, which guide pins are held in sleeves of a supporting plate and are fastened to a steering wheel cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Bojan Rosman, Hans-Uwe Baumann, Norbert Schote
  • Patent number: 7219574
    Abstract: A shift control device is described. The shift control device is attachable to the handlebar of a bicycle for controlling the piston of a hydraulic shift mechanism and includes a bracket attachable to the handlebar, a pivot shaft, a rotating member, and a control lever. The pivot shaft is spaced apart from the handlebar and fixedly secured to the bracket. The rotating member is rotatable in a first direction and a second direction about the pivot shaft. The control lever is operatively connected with the rotating member and biased in a neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tadashi Ichida, Akira Tsumiyama
  • Patent number: 7032475
    Abstract: A hydraulic shift gear mechanism for a bicycle having a positioning mechanism for controlling the motion of the piston of a master cylinder assembly is described. The master cylinder assembly is in communication with a slave cylinder for operation of a derailleur. The positioning mechanism preferably includes a pivot shaft spaced apart from the handlebar, a rotating member rotatable about the pivot shaft, a push mechanism for rotating the rotating member in a first direction and a return mechanism for rotating the rotating member in a second direction. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, an adjuster piston is threadingly engaged with the master cylinder assembly for adjusting the initial position of the slave cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tadashi Ichida, Akira Tsumiyama
  • Patent number: 7021172
    Abstract: A hydraulically operated throttle system that has the hydraulic system components installed entirely within the throttle grip on the handlebar. A regular throttle cable is run through the frame/handlebar where it connects to the hydraulic system. A three-piston system is used to provide the control. One piston is connected to a disk cam. As the disk is turned (by turning the twist grip), the cam forces the first piston to move, which forces hydraulic fluid from a first cylinder into a secondary cylinder. This secondary cylinder contains a second piston, which is moved by the fluid from the first cylinder. As this second piston moves, hydraulic fluid moves third piston within a third cylinder. The third piston is attached to the throttle cable. As this piston moves within the third cylinder, it pulls or pushes the throttle cable, thereby opening or closing the throttle on the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventor: David S. Perry
  • Patent number: 6446992
    Abstract: A system which includes a steering member that not only allows the operator to accomplish the steering of a vehicle, but also allows the operator to merely exert a force on the steering member to control the braking mechanism of a vehicle. The steering member, acting as a unitary device for controlling two of the principal operations of a vehicle, provides the operator with improved handling capabilities and does so without the operator needing to use his/her feet which makes the control system of the vehicle particularly suited for handicapped individuals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: Roy Sebazco
  • Patent number: 6263753
    Abstract: A control device for vehicle steering, braking and accelerator, including but not limited to motor vehicles for use by handicapped drivers, especially those handicapped in the lower limbs, is provided. The control device relates to a system utilizing the steering wheel to accomplish both steering and braking and an accelerator lever device to control the accelerator operations of the vehicle. Specifically, the present invention relates to a system wherein the steering is accomplished in a normal manner by the driver, but the driver need only push forward on the steering wheel to accomplish the braking operations or move a lever device to control the speed of the vehicle. The control device for vehicle steering, braking and accelerator may be employed in any vehicle, including but not limited to motor vehicles, with a mechanical or an automatic gear box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: Juan Froehlich
  • Publication number: 20010006284
    Abstract: A steering and control system is disclosed which includes a steering wheel that not only allows for the operator to accomplish the steering of a vehicle, but also allows the operator to merely exert a force on the steering to control the braking mechanism of a vehicle. The steering wheel, acting as a unitary device for controlling two of the principal operations of a vehicle, provides the operator with improved handling capabilities and does so without the operator needing to use his/her feet which makes the control system of the vehicle particularly suited for handicapped individuals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Roy Sebazco
  • Patent number: 6167775
    Abstract: A system which includes a steering that not only allows the operator to accomplish the steering of a vehicle, but also allows the operator to merely exert a force on the steering to control the braking mechanism of a vehicle. The steering, acting as a unitary device for controlling two of the principal operations of a vehicle, provides the operator with improved handling capabilities and does so without the operator needing to use his/her feet which makes the control system of the vehicle particularly suited for handicapped individuals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Inventor: Roy Sebazco
  • Patent number: 5666857
    Abstract: A steering and control system is disclosed which includes a steering wheel that not only allows for the operator to accomplish the steering of a vehicle, but also allows the operator to merely exert a force on the steering to control the braking mechanism of a vehicle. The steering wheel, acting as a unitary device for controlling two of the principal operations of a vehicle, provides the operator with improved handling capabilities and does so without the operator needing to use his/her feet which makes the control system of the vehicle particularly suited for handicapped individuals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Roy Sebazco
  • Patent number: 5662002
    Abstract: A manual control device for transmitting manual control signals of an operator including a plurality of interconnected lever elements, an elastically deformable bearing element, and a potentiometer element to facilitate manual control of a vehicle by persons with disabilities where each lever is swingably mounted on the elastically deformable element so that swinging one lever element from a rest position to a control transmission position swings the adjacent lever elements and causes deformation of the elastically deformable bearing element which in turn acts on the potentiometer before returning to the rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Guidosimplex S.N.C. Di Giancarlo Venturini & C.
    Inventor: Giancarlo Venturini
  • Patent number: 4762015
    Abstract: A tiltable vehicle steering column assembly including a steering shaft assembly constituted by an upper shaft and a lower shaft which are connected together by a first universal joint. A transmission shift rod assembly is provided on the steering shaft assembly and constituted by an upper rod portion and a second rod portion which are connected together by a second universal joint so that the upper rod portion can be tiltably moved together with the upper shaft of the steering shaft assembly. The second universal joint is located at a side of and in the same heightwise position as the first universal joint so that the upper rod portion of the shift rod assembly is not relatively moved with respect to the upper shaft of the steering shaft assembly when the steering shaft assembly is tiltably moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Katayama
  • Patent number: 4571786
    Abstract: A change-speed maneuvering apparatus in a vehicle provided with a steering-wheel apparatus including a generally upright steering-wheel post, has a main change-speed maneuvering shaft assembly on one lateral side of the steering-wheel post, in parallel to it. On the other lateral side of the steering-wheel post, there is, also in parallel to it, a forward-and-rearward running-travel shiftover actuation shaft, and there also are interlocking levers which are pivotally supported on the forward-and-rearward running-travel shiftover shaft and which function to operatively connect the main change-speed maneuvering shaft to the drive power transmission mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Assignee: Kubota, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahide Osujo
  • Patent number: 4267743
    Abstract: A column shift type transmission control device used in a tilt steering system. A tilt joint for coupling the upper control rod and the lower control rod of the transmission control device is provided in cabin side and the lower control rod is supported by the mount bracket so as to make an opening in the mount bracket smaller to contribute for noise separation and for easy assembling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1981
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4228757
    Abstract: A boat steering assembly having a tiller lever for providing a steering input upon being pivoted about a first pivot axis and an actuating lever supported for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis. The ends of the levers are interconnected in order to pivot the tiller lever upon pivoting movement of the actuating lever and for positioning the levers in parallel relationship with one another in a neutral position. The length of the tiller lever from its first pivot is longer than the length of the actuating lever from its second pivot to their respective ends. There is also an acutator assembly comprising a reciprocating member having a hydraulically operated piston at each end which is slidably disposed for movement between two cylinders which are defined by a housing. A first end of an actuating lever is operatively connected to the housing and a second end extends out of the housing and is adapted for connection to a steering means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1980
    Assignee: Teleflex Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert A. R. Wood
  • Patent number: 4132123
    Abstract: In a remote-control gearshift mechanism for a vehicle of the type including a control shaft extended in parallel with a steering column and movable in the axial direction and rotatable about its axis by a gearshift lever, a linkage for transmitting the axial and rotary movements of said control shaft to a transmission, a first spring loaded over the lower portion of said control shaft for normally biasing said control shaft upward to its neutral position which corresponds to a position intermediate between the ends of the stroke of said control shaft in the axial direction, a second spring loaded over the upper portion of said control shaft for normally biasing said control shaft downward to its neutral position, and stopper means for limiting the spring action of said each spring independently of each other in such a manner that said control shaft may be prevented from moving past its neutral position, whereby shift-lever-action feeling may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1979
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hakumi Ishii, Yoshitaka Sogo, Shuichiro Ida
  • Patent number: 4078628
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automotive control system for use by handicapped drivers who have lost the functional mobility of the lower extremities. A second wheel concentric with the steering wheel is added such that it is reachable by either the thumb or fingertips when hands are on a steering wheel in normal driving fashion. Movement of this second control wheel in a direction away from the driver actuates the automotive braking system through an electro-hydraulic servo system. Pulling the second wheel towards the driver actuates the throttle of the automobile through a similar servo system. The brake and throttle servos interface with existing automotive control systems such that little additional "add on" mechanisms are necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare
    Inventor: Anton J. Reichenberger