Patents Examined by A. M. Boehler
  • Spherical mobile robot with pivoting head
    Patent number: 10399616
    Abstract: A mobile, spherical robot includes a spheroid shell, an internal assembly secured to the shell, and a head disposed atop the shell. The internal assembly is disposed within the shell for propelling the mobile robot. The internal assembly includes a base, a flywheel assembly rotatably secured to the base, a drive assembly rotatably secured to the spheroid shell and configured to propel the mobile robot by rotating the spheroid shell about the base a pivoting arm pivotably secured to the base, and the pivoting arm. The head is secured to the magnetized end of the pivoting arm through the spheroid shell. The head is configured to move relative to the spheroid shell and relative to the base by the pivoting of the pivoting arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Spin Master Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Ellerman, Chris Hardouin
  • Tow hitch assembly
    Patent number: 10384503
    Abstract: A tow hitch assembly having a body for mounting the tow hitch assembly relative to an associated vehicle includes a first member rotatably mounted relative to the body and a second member slideably mounted relative to the first member, with the second member including a tow hitch. The tow hitch assembly includes a stowed position at which the first member is in a first rotational position relative to the body and the second member is in a first longitudinal position relative to the first member. Further, the tow hitch assembly includes a deployed position at which the first member is in a second rotational position relative to the body and the second member is in a second longitudinal position relative to the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: J. C. Bamford Excavators Limited
    Inventors: Timothy James Reynolds, Stephen Paul Slater
  • Magnet-assisted ball drive
    Patent number: 10377231
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a magnet-assisted ball drive. The drive comprises a ball and a drive element in contact with the ball. The drive element is arranged to be rotated around its axis of rotation to drive the ball. The ball and the drive element each comprise magnetic material such that at least one of the ball and the drive element comprises a magnet to generate a magnetic pulling force to pull the ball and the drive element against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
    Inventors: Ayberk Özgür, Séverin Lemaignan, Wafa Johal, Francesco Mondada, Pierre Dillenbourg
  • Torque transmission joint and electric power steering device
    Patent number: 10370024
    Abstract: There is provided a torque transmission joint configured to transmit torque between end portions of a driving shaft and a driven shaft arranged in series in an axial direction. An outer-diameter-side concave-convex portion is formed on an inner periphery of one shaft of the driving shaft and the driven shaft or a member fixed to the one shaft, an inner-diameter-side concave-convex portion is formed on an outer periphery of the other shaft or a member fixed to the other shaft, and the outer-diameter-side concave-convex portion and the inner-diameter-side concave-convex portion are engaged with a circumferential gap being interposed therebetween. An elastic member is provided between the end portion of the driving shaft and the end portion of the driven shaft either directly or via another member such that torque can be transmitted between the driving shaft and the driven shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Toru Ishii
  • Rear suspension system for bicycles
    Patent number: 10363988
    Abstract: A bicycle suspension system includes a frame with a downtube and a seat tube, a bottom bracket, a rear wheel, a rear suspension, a rear shock absorber, and a linkage connecting the rear shock absorber and the rear suspension. The seat tube is disposed along a longitudinal axis, is configured to receive a seat post, and allows at least four inches of adjustability of a position of a seat saddle connected to the seat post. The bottom bracket is connected to the frame. The longitudinal axis of the seat tube intersects the downtube at a location spaced apart from the bottom bracket and is disposed at an angle between 50° and 75° degrees relative to horizontal. The rear suspension connects the rear wheel and the frame and controls movement of the rear wheel though a range of vertical travel of the rear wheel of at least four inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: 668598 B.C. LTD.
    Inventor: Noel Buckley
  • Method for operating a drivetrain for a motor vehicle and corresponding drivetrain
    Patent number: 10358030
    Abstract: A method for operating a drivetrain for a motor vehicle, said method includes: reducing a transmission torque transmitted between a primary drive axle operatively connected with a secondary drive axle of the motor vehicle via a clutch configured to allow adjustment of the transmission torque when determining at the secondary drive axle a wheel slip which exceeds a defined slip threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Sagefka, Sebastian Strasser, Michael Bär, Christian Knely, Thomas-Willibald Meier, Adrian Mihailescu, Stefan Hüfner
  • Electric power steering device
    Patent number: 10359105
    Abstract: An electric power steering device includes a composite metal member. The composite metal member is formed by laminating a plurality of metal plates that have different thermal expansion coefficients. The composite metal member is capable of causing a worm shaft to oscillate and be displaced away from a worm wheel on the basis of deformation of the composite metal member if the temperature thereof has become higher than a reference temperature. The composite metal member is also capable of causing the worm shaft to oscillate and be displaced towards the worm wheel on the basis of deformation of the composite metal member if the temperature thereof has become lower than the reference temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Miyake
  • Manufacturing method of head box of motorcycle, and air-intake device of motorcycle
    Patent number: 10352281
    Abstract: An air-intake device comprises a vehicle body frame including a head box; and a pair of right and left main frames, wherein the head box includes: a casing section which extends between a front opening and a rear opening of the head box and is formed with a main air passage; and a pair of right and left extending sections coupled to the pair of main frames, respectively, wherein at least one extending section is provided with a branch air passage which branches from the main air passage, and wherein a separating wall is provided between the main air passage and the branch air passage and has a communication hole, and wherein when a vehicle body is viewed from a side, at least one extending section is extended rearward to a location at which at least a front region of the communication hole is covered by the extending section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshimoto Matsuda, Daisuke Watanabe
  • Steering assembly for supporting a track system on a vehicle
    Patent number: 10343732
    Abstract: A steering assembly for supporting a track system on a vehicle includes a steering knuckle, a first member being secured to a top side of the steering knuckle, a second member being secured to a bottom side of the steering knuckle, and a support frame. The support frame has a top portion being secured to the first member, a bottom portion being secured to the second member and being configured to be secured to the track system to support the track system on the vehicle, and a central portion extending between the top portion and the bottom portion of the support frame and being positioned solely on one of the front side and the rear side of the steering knuckle when the steering assembly is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: SOUCY INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Pascal Lafreniere, William Gasse, Francois Belanger
  • Remote controlled cart
    Patent number: 10336237
    Abstract: A remote controlled cart includes a body, an electric battery coupled to the body and a pair of track assemblies coupled to the body. The remote controlled cart includes an electric motor operatively coupled to the battery. The electric motor is configured to supply propulsion power to the pair of track assemblies. The remote controlled cart includes a body cover coupled to a top surface of the body. A top surface of the body cover includes at least one pair of rails. The pair of rails removably couples a task module with the body cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Tazio Stephan Grivetti, Mike Hemry
  • Bicycle steerer tube with variant stiffness
    Patent number: 10328993
    Abstract: A bicycle steerer tube is adapted to reside in a plane of travel of the bicycle. A thickness at a point on the wall of the steerer tube body in a lower section thereof varies as a function of the cross-sectional angle of the point to the plane of travel, with the wall thickness being at a maximum in the plane of travel. An inner wall of the lower section may be elliptical, with a minor axis aligned with the plane of travel and a major axis orthogonal to the plane of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Blair Watt, Robert Powell
  • Bicycle with rear drive assembly for elliptical movement
    Patent number: 10315725
    Abstract: A bicycle with a rear drive assembly configured to allow pedal boards to be pivotable while moving in an elliptical trajectory and which allows a cyclist to ride in an erect position is disclosed. A front end of each of the pedal boards is pivotably connected to an end of a crank and each of the pedal boards is connected to or integral with a guide rod extending rearwardly from the pedal board. The guide rods are supported by a rear drive assembly comprising a transverse tube that is horizontally connected to a frame of the bicycle. A roller is mounted at each end of the transverse tube. Each roller has a groove which accommodates the cross-section of the guide rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: ARUANÂ ENERGIA S/A
    Inventors: Brian Ray Brewer, Robert James McKinnon
  • Mobile, climbing endless track robotic system to perform remote inspections on structures
    Patent number: 10315715
    Abstract: An endless-track type mobile climbing vehicle containing a suspension apparatus, transducer manipulator and surface cleaning system to perform non-destructive examination of structures while traversing the structure in all positions. The invention is able to conform to large range of irregularities of the climbing surface while maintaining contact between the track and adhering members and uniformly distributing the climbing loads on the adhering members giving the system a high payload to weight ratio. The invention is moves the inspection transducer over the surface while maintaining correct alignment of the tool relative to the surface. The invention allows an operator to perform an inspection on structures that require cleaning or other preparation prior to inspection. The invention allows an operator to perform an inspection remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventors: James Beard, Stephen Canfield, Steve Glovsky
  • Towing hook attachment structure
    Patent number: 10315475
    Abstract: A towing hook attachment structure includes: a towing hook; a bumper reinforcement having: a first wall extending in a vehicle width direction, a wall surface of the first wall facing the vehicle cabin; and an second wall and a third wall respectively extending to the vehicle cabin side from an upper end and a lower end of the first wall; and a nut member fastening the towing hook to the bumper reinforcement. The first, second and third walls are respectively provided with a first, second and third holes. The nut member is fixed to the bumper reinforcement while extending in a vehicle height direction and being inserted in the second hole and the third hole. A tip of the towing hook is inserted in the bumper reinforcement through the through hole and is fastened to the nut member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Keikinzoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yatsunami, Kiyoichi Kita, Jun Shobo, Yohei Kanatani
  • Snowmobile fuel tank
    Patent number: 10300990
    Abstract: A snowmobile frame includes a tunnel, an engine cradle, a front suspension, a forward support and a fuel tank having a lower and an upper wall connected together 5 to enclose a volume. The volume fluidly communicates with the engine and has a portion extending upwardly and forwardly from the tunnel to the forward support. The fuel tank is removably connected to the tunnel and the forward support by the upper wall which has a left and a right lower end portion respectively connected to the tunnel on a left and right side of the longitudinal centerplane, and an upper end 10 portion connected to the forward support. The lower wall is connected to the upper wall above lower end portions and below the upper end portion. A force transmitted between the forward support and the tunnel, via the fuel tank, is transmitted through the upper wall without passing through the lower wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventor: Sebastien Vezina
  • Devices for mobility assistance and infusion management
    Patent number: 10299875
    Abstract: Provided are mobility assistance devices, particularly useful in medical settings where a patient ambulation is desired but the patient remains connected to one or many medical components. The system comprises a mast connected to a base, wherein the mast is angled with respect to the base and from which any number of medical components is supported. The device geometry and connections ensure the device is extremely stable and tip-resistant. Also provided are oxygen tank holders to reliably and conveniently hold oxygen tanks and power management systems that reliably provide electrical power without impacting device performance or mobility. The device is deployable to permit conversion between a compact storage configuration and a stable deployed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Firefly Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Schoenig, Stephen E. Schmutzer
  • Steering wheel actuation device
    Patent number: 10272940
    Abstract: A steering wheel actuation device for retrofit mounting to a steering wheel of a motor vehicle and for applying a motor-driven torque to same includes a stator suitable for bracing against rotational movement and a rotor having attachment devices for the torque-proof attachment to the steering wheel, wherein said rotor is rotatable against the stator and wherein the stator features a U-shaped design, which extends over a curved section and forms an open section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Inventor: Kurt Staehle
  • Vehicle steering device
    Patent number: 10272941
    Abstract: A vehicle steering device, in which a steering member and a steering operation mechanism are not mechanically coupled, includes a reaction force motor that applies a reaction force to the steering member, and a reaction force motor control unit that controls the reaction force motor. The reaction force motor control unit includes a target rotational angle setter that sets a target rotational angle for an output shaft at a position close to the side of the neutral position of the output shaft with respect to the rotational angle of the output shaft corresponding to a steered angle limit value by a rotational angle matching steering torque detected by a torque sensor when a steered angle has reached the steered angle limit value and the steering torque that is larger than the steering torque at the time when the steered angle limit value was reached is applied to a steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiko Sakamaki, Keisuke Izutani
  • Track system having anti-diving flaps
    Patent number: 10266216
    Abstract: The track system has four track assemblies each mounted to a corresponding driving axle of a vehicle to receive driving power therefrom, each track assembly having: a plurality of transversally-oriented track roller shafts mounted to a frame structure, parallel to one another and interspaced from one another from including two end roller shafts each at a corresponding opposite longitudinal end; an endless track belt having an outer surface and an inner surface, the endless track belt being longitudinally oriented and wrapping the track roller shafts; an anti-diving flap having a flat body protruding upwardly and longitudinally from one longitudinal end of the endless track belt, the anti-diving flap having two structural arms, each structural arm extending around the endless track belt on a respective transversal side thereof and being secured to the frame structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Inventor: Denis Boivin
  • Motorcycle incorporating a supercharger
    Patent number: 10260463
    Abstract: Provided is a motorcycle incorporating a supercharger which can prevent an increase in a size of a vehicle body. A motorcycle comprises a supercharger which compresses intake air; an air-intake chamber which is placed downstream of the supercharger, stores the intake air compressed in the supercharger, and guides the intake air from the air-intake chamber to a combustion chamber of an engine; a fuel tank placed above the engine, wherein the air-intake chamber is placed between the fuel tank and the engine, and wherein the fuel tank includes a recess-forming section provided with a recess on a bottom surface of the fuel tank in such a manner that the bottom surface of the fuel tank does not interfere with the air-intake chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishii, Daisuke Saeki, Tomo Yamamoto