Patents Examined by Adam D Rogers
  • Patent number: 10946929
    Abstract: An operation apparatus includes a supporting element, an operation element including an arm whose basal end is rotatably supported by the supporting element and whose tip is provided with an acting element, and a return spring provided between the supporting element and the operation element, in which the return spring is housed in a compact manner without inviting an increase in the number of components. A return spring is provided between a first spring holder and a second spring holder. A supporting element is provided with a first side wall opposing the return spring in the lateral direction. An arm is provided with a second side wall opposing the first side wall and surrounding the return spring in conjunction with the first spring holder, the second spring holder, and the first side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daiki Hamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10941850
    Abstract: A gear unit includes a housing, a trough for guiding oil and reducing losses due to splashing surrounding a circumferential section of a toothing part, particularly a gear wheel, especially in the radial and axial direction, the trough including at least three parts, e.g., at least one bottom plate and two side walls, the bottom plate being screw-connected to the two side walls, the trough being fastened to the housing, the trough having an opening, particularly a channel, especially at its lowest surface area, e.g., particularly at the surface area having the greatest radial distance, in particular, during rotational movement of the gear wheel, oil being conveyed from the oil pan of the gear unit through the opening between the trough and gear wheel, especially to a position higher than the level of the oil pan, the bottom plate and the side walls being stamped bent parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Zili Wu
  • Patent number: 10941853
    Abstract: When a knob of a shift lever device is being assembled, a pair of design frames are assembled to a knob main body, and then a cover is assembled to the knob main body. When the cover is being assembled to the knob main body, ribs of the pair of design frames are inserted into an insertion hole in the cover. The pair of ribs are put into surface contact with one another in a left-and-right direction, and distal end portions of the pair of design frames are put into surface contact in the left-and-right direction. Consequently, the formation of a gap between the distal end portions of the pair of design frames may be inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Takahiro Miura
  • Patent number: 10942537
    Abstract: A lever latching system comprising: a housing; a lever having a latch pin fixedly mounted to the lever, the lever being movably mounted to the housing so that the latch pin moves in an arc; and a latch plate movably mounted to the housing for linear movement with respect to the housing, the latch plate comprising a labyrinth for receiving the latch pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Gyrus Acmi, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis G. Lamser, John R. Mensch, Riyad Moe
  • Patent number: 10935126
    Abstract: At a shift lever device, at a time when a lever is rotated in a left-right direction, a joint of the lever moves a joint tube of a link in an up-down direction. Moreover, at a time when the lever is rotated in a front-rear direction, a link operating portion of the lever rotates an operation tube of the link in the front-rear direction around the joint side. Here, at the time when the lever is rotated in the left-right direction, the joint is moved in the left-right direction with respect to the joint tube. Therefore, the need to provide parts between the lever and the joint can be eliminated, and a number of parts can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Naomi Asahina, Yutaka Inamura, Kenji Nakanishi, Keisuke Kameyama, Mizuho Maruyama
  • Patent number: 10935107
    Abstract: A driving device includes: a transmission mechanism; a driving mechanism, moved with the transmission mechanism; a linkage mechanism, moved with the driving mechanism and including a locking unit; and a housing, including an accommodation seat and sealing cover, the accommodation seat accepting the transmission, driving and linkage mechanisms, the sealing cover in combination with the accommodation seat to seal the transmission, driving and linkage mechanisms, one end of the linkage mechanism partly extended out of the sealing seat, and the locking unit partly pressed against an inner side wall of the accommodation seat. Whereby, the transmission mechanism is actuated to drive the driving mechanism to rotate, allowing the driving mechanism to drive the linkage mechanism to rotate; the action of the transmission mechanism is stopped, the locking unit locks the linkage mechanism, thereby capable of preventing power waste and the damage of the transmission mechanism and driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: MARK STAR SERVO-TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chih-Feng Chen
  • Patent number: 10933904
    Abstract: A steering assembly having an inner steering member; an outer member, where the inner steering member is adapted to translate relative to outer member; and a bearing component disposed around a portion of the inner steering member, where the bearing component includes a bearing having a unitary substrate and a polymer layer overlying the substrate, where the bearing has a generally arcuate shape and is adapted to support the inner steering member disposed in the outer member, where the bearing has a support region for supporting an inner steering member, and a plurality of feet comprising a first foot and second foot spaced apart from each other such that the support region extends there between, and where the first and second feet extend in radial direction beyond the support region such that upon assembly between inner steering member and outer member, wherein the bearing exerts a force against the inner steering member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS PAMPUS GMBH
    Inventors: Sven Muehling, Thiemo Kuesters, André Gabener
  • Patent number: 10926789
    Abstract: A steering assembly including an inner steering member; an outer steering member; a leaf spring disposed between the inner steering member and the outer steering member and adapted to bias the inner steering member, wherein the leaf spring comprises an inner portion and a plurality of outer portions, wherein the outer portions comprise end portions of the leaf spring that are folded over such that the outer portions overlie the inner portion, forming a folded edge; and a low friction layer supported by the leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS RENCOL LIMITED
    Inventors: Neil James, Llewelyn Pickering, James K. Burgess, Alfred J. Lethbridge, Ciaran Morrison, André Gabener, Sven Muehling, Thiemo Kuesters
  • Patent number: 10927949
    Abstract: An operating device according to one embodiment includes a tiltable operating lever, a holding member that holds the operating lever, a locking member that restricts a tilt of the operating lever, a driving source, a hold driving mechanism driven by the driving source and configured to move the holding member between a hold position where the operating lever is held at a tilted position, and a return position where the operating lever returns to a predetermined position from the tilted position, and a lock driving mechanism driven by the driving source and configured to move the locking member between a lock position where the tilt of the operating lever is restricted, and a release position where restricting the tilt of the operating lever is released. The hold driving mechanism and the lock driving mechanism are respectively driven by the driving source at different timings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yu Takeda
  • Patent number: 10927884
    Abstract: A crankshaft (4) with a first central axis (A), has at least two main bearing journals (12), through which the first central axis (A) extends. At least one crankshaft web (10) is arranged between the main bearing journals (12), wherein the at least one crankshaft web (10) comprises two crank discs (14) connected with each other via a crankpin (16) with a second central axis (B). At least one crank disc (14) has a recess (26) with a planar bottom surface (28), wherein the recess (26) is adapted in the at least one crank disc (14) in such a way that the second central axis (B) of the crankpin (16) cuts the planar bottom surface (28). That planar bottom surface (28) is oriented at a right angle in relation to the direction of the second central axis (B) of the crankpin (16). A bore (30) with a third central axis (C) extend through the planar bottom surface (28) of the recess (26), through the at least one crank disc (14), and into the at least one crankpin (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: Per Larsen
  • Patent number: 10921843
    Abstract: This accelerator pedal device includes a pedal arm having an accelerator pedal, a housing that supports the pedal arm so as to be capable of swinging about a prescribed axis line between a rest position and a maximum push position, a slider that slides over an inner wall of the housing, a contact part formed on the pedal arm in order to exert pressing force while separably coining into contact with the slider, and an urging spring disposed between the housing and the slider so that the urging force pressing the slider against the inner wall and the contact part increases in accordance with the pushing of the accelerator pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: MIKUNI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Nagashima, Satoshi Miyazaki, Kazunari Nakashima
  • Patent number: 10921841
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle operation pedal device comprising: an operation pedal provided with a depressing part; a pair of upper support members anchored to a dash panel; a pair of lower support members anchored to the dash panel and also anchored to the pair of upper support members; an upper center support member bridging the pair of upper support members; and a connection hole for rotatably supporting, relative to the operation pedal, an operating rod protruding from the dash panel toward a vehicle rear side. The upper center support member comprises a sliding receiving part. The pair of upper support members comprise escape holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Tsuguma
  • Patent number: 10919593
    Abstract: A grip cover for a bicycle control device includes a high durometer portion that is configured to engage the bicycle control device to maintain the grip cover in contact with the bicycle control device. The grip cover further includes a low durometer portion that is connected to the high durometer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Paul A. Feuerstein
  • Patent number: 10919143
    Abstract: A device and method for judging the presence or absence of an abnormal clearance between paring elements of a passive joint of a robot. The device has sections configured to: calculate a score for each motion path, wherein the score is increased when the paring elements of an objective pair collide with each other and is decreased when the paring elements of the other pair collide with each other; generate a robot motion for moving the robot along the motion path having the score not lower than a predetermined threshold; measure a drive torque or a current value of a motor when the robot is moved according to the generated robot motion; calculate an index value based on a magnitude of variation of the measured drive torque or current value; and judge as to whether the abnormal clearance exists in the objective pair, based on the index value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignees: FANUC CORPORATION, TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakagawa, Kenichiro Abe, Yunfeng Wu, Hikaru Yamashiro, Hideo Matsui, Soichi Arita, Yukio Takeda, Masumi Ohno
  • Patent number: 10919388
    Abstract: A system for and method of shifting a drive configuration of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) is provided. The system includes a shifter assembly, a gear case, and a linkage assembly extending therebetween. The shifter assembly includes a trigger lever for receiving a mechanical user input, thereby moving the shifter assembly between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The linkage assembly translates the user input to the gear case, thereby causing the gear case to shift between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, respectively. A linkage biasing member provides mechanical flexibility between the shifter assembly and the gear case, facilitating shifting on the fly. The trigger lever is operated by toggling it from a rest position to a deployed position. Upon user release, the trigger lever is automatically returned to its rest position for future engagement by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: ARCTIC CAT INC.
    Inventor: Justin Arthur Landon
  • Patent number: 10907724
    Abstract: A driving force transmission device includes: a gear; a case receiving the gear; a baffle plate positioned between a side surface of the gear and the case, the baffle plate including a downstream side end portion positioned at a most downstream position in a rotation direction of the gear, the case including a rib protruding toward the downstream side end portion, a clearance positioned between a surface of the rib and a surface of the baffle plate, the rib including a linear portion crossing a rotation direction of the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Akiyama, Shogo Fujii, Tahei Toyoshima, Masakazu Tamura
  • Patent number: 10906466
    Abstract: A rear view device for a vehicle includes a casing which is configured to rotate with respect to a base with a centre shaft and received by the casing, and a detent system which is configured to control rotation of the casing with respect to the base with centre shaft, the detent system including a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: MOTHERSON INNOVATIONS COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen Beecher, Kurti Levente, Gareth Aspden, Dong Myeong Park, David Kershaw, Tom Harris
  • Patent number: 10906575
    Abstract: A collapsible steering wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising a steering wheel rim having a number of segments that can be moved in relation to each other between a first position and a second position. A first angle is formed between respectively adjacent segments in the first position and a second angle different from the first angle is formed between respectively adjacent segments in the second position. The disclosure also relates to a steering device of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Coburg
    Inventor: Roland Riedel
  • Patent number: 10895308
    Abstract: First and second plates have first and second elliptical apertures respectively. First and second carriage assemblies are adjacent to the first and second elliptical apertures. The first and second carriage assemblies have a common axis of rotation. First and second rails are within the first and second carriage assemblies respectively. Two first weights and two second weights are slidable along the first and second rails respectively. A first spring urges the two first weights outwardly into contact with the first elliptical aperture. A second spring urges the two second weights outwardly into contact with the second elliptical aperture. A differential mounted between the first and second plates has a first shaft rotating the first carriage assembly and first weights in a first direction. The differential has a second shaft rotating the second carriage assembly and second weights in a second direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Inventor: John Grago
  • Patent number: 10889348
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device includes a base member coupled to a handlebar clamp and a user operated member movably coupled to the base member to move a mechanical control cable with respect to the base member. The base member includes a coupling portion coupled to the handlebar clamp. The coupling portion includes an elongated hole having a long direction extending parallel to a center axis of the handlebar clamp. The coupling portion is coupled to the handlebar clamp via a fastener extending into the elongated hole. The user operated member is movable with respect to the base member between a rest position and an operated position. The bicycle operating device does not mechanically fix a position of the mechanical control cable with respect to the base member in accordance with movement of the user operated member between the rest position and the operated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kentaro Miyazaki, Kazutaka Fukao, Yoshimitsu Miki, Kohei Obuchi