Patents Examined by Bobby Rushing, Jr.
  • Hydraulic type scissors gear of vehicle engine
    Patent number: 11047471
    Abstract: A hydraulic type scissors gear removes factors that generate a backlash due to reduction of tension of existing springs by generating a relative motion between gears using oil pressure. The hydraulic type scissors gear includes: a first gear having an operation chamber and supplied with oil in the operation chamber; a second gear coaxially disposed on a side of the first gear to be rotate relative to the first gear; and a piston configured to rotate the second gear by applying force that pushes the second gear in a rotational direction opposite to a rotational direction of the first gear by being moved in the operation chamber by oil pressure supplied to the operation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jae Hee Jeon
  • Soft robotic actuators utilizing asymmetric surfaces
    Patent number: 11027423
    Abstract: A soft robotic actuator is disclosed. The actuator includes a first portion with a substantially constant profile and a second portion with a regularly varying profile, and bends in a pressure-dependent fashion as the internal pressure within the actuator is increased or decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: SOFT ROBOTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua Aaron Lessing, Ryan Richard Knopf, Noel McLellan
  • High vibration pneumatic piston assembly made from additive manufacturing
    Patent number: 11028923
    Abstract: A piston assembly includes a piston with a first cap disposed on a first end of the piston and a second cap disposed on a second end of the piston. A piston cross-member is in between the first cap and the second cap. A cover is formed with the piston cross-member and extends between the first cap and second cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Josh Kamp, Donald E. Army
  • Window shade system using adjustable angle gear
    Patent number: 11008806
    Abstract: A window shade system includes a first bracket coupled to a first pivot and rotatable at least within a first range of angles, a second bracket coupled to a second pivot and rotatable at least within a second range of angles, and first and second gears that each include a circular base rotatable about a central axis. Gear teeth are arranged in a same row and extend outward from the outer region and are evenly spaced from each other along the outer region of the gears. The first and second pivots are arranged relative to each other and relative to the central axes of the first and second gears, respectively, such that for any angle within the first range of angles, the gear tooth of the first gear meshes with the gear tooth of the second gear at a corresponding angle within the second range of angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Crestron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Campagna
  • Shift device
    Patent number: 11002357
    Abstract: There is provided a shift device including: a shift body whose shift position is altered when the shift body is moved; a moving body that is movably provided at the shift body; an abutting portion that is provided at one of the shift body or the moving body; and a protruding portion that is provided at the other of the shift body or the moving body, and in which groove portions are provided between plural protrusions, and that causes movement of the moving body to be stopped when the plural protrusions and the abutting portion abut against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Yu Kageyama
  • Robotic arm assembly
    Patent number: 11000948
    Abstract: A robotic arm assembly includes a robotic arm including a link, a control rope operable with the link, and an attachment section, the control rope extending at least partially through the attachment section. The robotic arm assembly also includes an actuator pack attached to, or positioned adjacent to, the attachment section of the robotic arm, the actuator pack including an actuator, the actuator operable with the control rope and including a motor defining a pivot axis, the motor configured to move about the pivot axis to displace the control rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Andrew Crispin Graham
  • Electric actuator
    Patent number: 10995832
    Abstract: Provided is an electric actuator, comprising: a driving motor (2); a motion conversion mechanism (6) configured to convert a rotary motion of the driving motor (2) to a linear motion in an axial direction parallel with an output shaft (2a) of the driving motor (2); and a transmission gear mechanism (5) configured to transmit a driving force from the driving motor (2) to the motion conversion mechanism (6), wherein a double-row bearing (24) configured to support the motion conversion mechanism (6) is arranged on an opposite side of the driving motor (2) with respect to the transmission gear mechanism (5), and wherein a relationship of L<Dm/2+Db/2 is satisfied, where Dm is an outer diameter of the driving motor (2), Db is an outer diameter of the double-row bearing (24), and L is an axis-to-axis distance (L) between the driving motor (2) and the motion conversion mechanism (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsunori Shimizu
  • Three-degree-of-freedom parallel mechanism with curved sliding pairs
    Patent number: 10994410
    Abstract: A three-degree-of-freedom parallel mechanism with curved sliding pairs includes a fixed platform, a moving platform, and three curved branches disposed between the fixed platform and the moving platform. Each of the curved branches includes a first curved link and a second curved link that share a common arc center. One end of the first curved link is connected to fixed platform by a rotational pair. One end of the second curved link is disposed in a cavity at another end of the first curved link. The second curved link is operative to perform a reciprocating motion along a tangent of an arc of the first curved link. Another end of the second curved link is connected to the moving platform by a ball joint. The axes of the three rotational pairs of the three curved branches coincide with each other and are perpendicular to the fixed platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: SHENZHEN INSTITUTES OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Guoru Zhao, Yongfeng Wang
  • Vehicle pedal device
    Patent number: 10983549
    Abstract: A vehicle pedal device includes: a pedal pad; a housing provided below the pedal pad and provided with a through-hole; a first link passing through the through-hole, a first end portion of the first link being rotatably connected to the pedal pad, a second end portion of the first link being disposed in the housing; a second link, a first end portion of the second link being rotatably connected to the second end portion of the first link, a second end portion of the second link being supported in the housing; a first urging member configured to urge the second link in a rotation direction in which the pedal pad is displaced upward; and a friction portion pressed against a pressed portion provided in the housing and configured to apply a rotation resistance to the second link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hironori Kadoi
  • Steering system having an adjustment assembly
    Patent number: 10982747
    Abstract: A steering assembly includes a rack and an adjustment assembly. The rack has a first side surface, a second side surface disposed opposite the first side surface, a first surface extending between the first side surface and the second side surface, and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface. The adjustment assembly is arranged to apply orthogonal biasing forces to a pair of orthogonal surfaces of the non-cylindrical steering rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Augustine
  • Soft robotic actuators utilizing asymmetric surfaces
    Patent number: 10974382
    Abstract: A soft robotic actuator is disclosed. The actuator includes a first portion with a substantially constant profile and a second portion with a regularly varying profile, and bends in a pressure-dependent fashion as the internal pressure within the actuator is increased or decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Soft Robotics Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Aaron Lessing, Ryan Richard Knopf, Noel McLellan
  • Ice breaking seal
    Patent number: 10975941
    Abstract: An ice breaking seal for a ball screw comprises a first, ice breaking section and a second, sealing section formed integrally with the ice breaking section. The ice breaking section is formed of a polymeric material and has a first hardness. The sealing section is formed of a polymeric material and has a second hardness, which is lower than the first hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: RATIER-FIGEAC SAS
    Inventor: Christian Fages
  • Transmission shifter assembly with automatic position reset
    Patent number: 10969008
    Abstract: At least some implementations of a transmission gear shifter include a first body rotatable among multiple positions, a second body rotatable among multiple positions, a retainer and first and second actuators. The retainer is movable relative to the second body between a first position in which the retainer prevents rotation of the second body, and a second position in which the retainer permits rotation of the second body. The first actuator is coupled to the retainer to move the retainer between the first and second positions. And the second actuator provides a force on the second body to rotate the second body when the retainer is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: DUS OPERATING INC.
    Inventors: Dale A. Beattie, Joseph D. Jiran
  • Medical devices having smoothly articulating multi-cluster joints
    Patent number: 10959797
    Abstract: An articulating joint comprising a multi-cluster joint where every consecutive pair of links is interfaced by a gimbal, which offers rotation about two orthogonal axes within the same plane. Thus, the articulating joint comprises an alternating sequence of links and gimbals. Furthermore, there may be multiple cables attached to one or more of the links. As these cables are selectively pulled and released, one can achieve any desired articulation of the articulating joint. There may be a transmission member extending through the links and gimbals, parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the joint in its nominal non-articulated condition. This transmission member may be either a tension member that is pulled on (e.g. a cable or flexible pull rod) and that loads the articulating joint in compression, or the transmission member may be a flexible push rod that loads the articulating joint in tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: FlexDex, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michael Licht, Shorya Awtar, Deepak Sharma, Zachary Zimmerman, Bruce Johnson, Christopher K. Holmes, Peter F. Costa, Brian Douglas Larose, Randall Sullivan, Ryan Brook Rank
  • Articulated robot arm
    Patent number: 10953554
    Abstract: The invention relates to an articulated robot arm (1) which comprises a plurality of trapezoidal truncated cylinders (2) disposed in succession around an internal holding member (4), each trapezoidal truncated cylinder (2) being configured to pivot about the internal holding member (4), the internal holding member (4) having angular control means for controlling the rotation of each trapezoidal truncated cylinder (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: NIMBL'BOT SAS
    Inventor: Ludovic Dufau
  • Bicycle operating apparatus and bicycle operating system
    Patent number: 10933949
    Abstract: A bicycle operating apparatus comprises an operating member, a hydraulic unit, an electrical switch, and a wireless transmitter. The operating member is configured to be operated by a user. The hydraulic unit is configured to be operatively coupled to the operating member and is configured to operate a bicycle component in response to an operation of the operating member. The electrical switch is configured to be activated by an input operation from the user. The wireless transmitter is configured to be electrically connected to the electrical switch and is configured to wirelessly transmit a signal to an additional bicycle component in response to the input operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Takafumi Nishino
  • Combined anti-friction and plain bearing mounting for a gearbox shaft
    Patent number: 10927941
    Abstract: A transmission shaft (1), designed particularly for a wind turbine, which is mounted by way of a fixed bearing (2, 3) and at least one floating bearing (4). At least one gearwheel (5) is fixed onto the transmission shaft (1) and positioned in the axial direction between the fixed bearing (2, 3) and the floating bearing (4). The fixed bearing (2, 3) is formed by at least one roller bearing and the floating bearing (4) is in the form of at least one slide bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, ZF WIND POWER ANTWERPEN N.V.
    Inventors: Dirk Leimann, Michiel Van den Donker, Tino Kirschner
  • Mechanical drive
    Patent number: 10927943
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive for reaching a desired position of a component such as of a rotor blade, a crane tower, a superstructure and the like, having at least two drive elements that are in toothed engagement with one another and of which at least one is drivable from a drive source and the other is connectable to the component, and having a lubricating device for lubricating the drive elements, wherein at least one lubricant passage for the supply of lubricant to a meshing tooth pair is led through one of the drive elements. It is proposed to effect the supply of the lubricant by a distributor that is connected upstream of the lubricant passage integrated in the drive element and to control the connection between a supply passage of the distributor and the at least one lubricant passage integrated in the drive element by a relative movement between the drive element and the distributor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Liebherr-Components Biberach GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Paal, Frowin Wack, Norbert Hausladen
  • Shift by wire shifter device
    Patent number: 10927951
    Abstract: The shift by wire shifter device comprises a selector that is movable relative to a fixed part according to a first shifting movement defined by a first shifting path and according to a second shifting movement defined by a second shifting path for selecting gearshift positions. One or both shifting paths extends from different gearshift positions. The selector and the fixed part are directly joined by a joint member such that the first shifting movement is a translational movement and the second shifting movement is a rotational movement, with the first and second shifting paths lying on the same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: FICO TRIAD, S.A.
    Inventor: Javier Moreno Colom
  • Actuator having manual rotating and anti-pinch mechanisms
    Patent number: 10920862
    Abstract: An actuator having a manual rotating mechanism and an anti-pinch mechanism includes an actuating body, a manual rotating mechanism, and an anti-pinch mechanism. The actuating body has a stretchable tube. The manual rotating mechanism has a sleeve assembly and a manual rotating wheel. The sleeve assembly has a central shaft and a connecting plate. The anti-pinch mechanism has a clutch wheel which is fixed to the stretchable tube and is movably sleeved around the central shaft. When the stretchable tube is blocked during a retraction stroke, the clutch wheel is detached from the connecting plate such that the clutch wheel follows the stretchable tube to idle. Therefore, the stretchable tube can be manually rotated to retract and the anti-pinch effect during the stretchable tube being retracted can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: TIMOTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yu-Chang Lin