Patents Examined by Brian Cassidy
  • Patent number: 9145157
    Abstract: A heavy duty corner skate dolly is provided. The dolly frames includes a rectangular shaped plate with a L-shaped angle riser welded or permanently screwed to its top surface. The dolly plate's bottom surface includes a hole or a plurality of holes that are routed into the plates surfaces with a depth that is arrange to accept an industrial magnet or a plurality of industrial magnets that are partially incased in a metal plated finish and attached to the bottom surface of the plate by a fastening cap or a plurality of fastening caps that are pressed into or welded to the bottom surface. A plurality of stem fitted swivel caster wheels are mounted to the rectangular shaped plate by inserting each swivel caster wheel into its corresponding caster fastening holes at the frames bottom and bolting each swivel caster wheel at the frames top by a plurality of corresponding spring washers, lock washers, and hexagon shaped nuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Inventor: Jimontanae Rax McBride
  • Patent number: 9139983
    Abstract: An engine (10) electronically controlled by a control device (33), a hydraulic motor (24) for traveling which is driven by a pressurized oil delivered from a hydraulic pump (13), and a traveling speed switching member (29) which switches a traveling speed by the hydraulic motor (24) at least in two stages of a low speed and a high speed. The control device (33) includes an output lowering determination unit for determining whether or not a fuel injection amount to be supplied to the engine (10) is limited and an engine output is in a lowered state and a low-speed control unit in which, when the engine (10) output is in a lowered state, a traveling speed is controlled to a low speed state kept lower than a high speed even if the traveling speed switching member (29) has been switched to the high speed side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Yoshida, Hajime Ishii, Syuuhei Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9126099
    Abstract: Boot binding systems for riding a snow gliding board, including a pair of boot bindings, each member of the pair having a toe latch pedal mechanism at the toe end of a baseplate on which the rider's boot rests, the toe latch pedal having dual function to either a) attach each boot binding to a ride mode interface in ride mode configuration or to b) attach each boot binding to a ski touring mode interface in ski touring configuration. In a “release position” the toe latch pedal is disengaged so that the baseplate assembly may be detached or switched between the ski touring mode interface and the ride mode interface in alternation. In a “lock position”, the toe of the rider's boot depresses the toe latch pedal and locks the boot binding onto the selected interface. As co-planar with the baseplate, the latch pedal also supports the rider's boot when in the lock position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Inventor: William J Ritter
  • Patent number: 9126326
    Abstract: An attachment device configured to be attached to opposed sides of an automotive creeper is disclosed herein. The attachment device includes: a first generally L-shaped member, a second generally L-shaped member, a connecting member slidably coupling the first generally L-shaped member to the second generally L-shaped member, and at one least pair of securement devices configured to respectively attach the first and second generally L-shaped members to the automotive creeper. In one or more embodiments, a width of the attachment device is selectively adjustable so as to accommodate a plurality of different automotive creepers having varying widths. An automotive creeper system and a mechanics chair using the attachment device are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Inventors: Craig Eugene Bowen, Richard Mark Spring
  • Patent number: 9120376
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a large single engine sweeper includes a two-mode transfer case assembly inserted into the chassis drive train of the vehicle on which a package of sweeping equipment is mounted. In road mode operation, power from the chassis engine passes through a chassis automatic transmission, through a two-mode transfer case assembly to the differential and real wheel assembly. In sweep mode, power passes from a propel hydraulic motor into the two-mode transfer case assembly and then to the differential and real wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Alamo Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A Brooker
  • Patent number: 9120466
    Abstract: A scraper assembly includes a first scraping member configured to be positioned below a horizontal centerline of a rotating assembly and rearward of a vertical centerline of the rotating assembly. The first scraping member is configured to remove debris from the rotating assembly at least while the rotating assembly is rotating in a first direction. The scraper assembly also includes a second scraping member configured to be positioned above the horizontal centerline of the rotating assembly and forward of the vertical centerline of the rotating assembly. The second scraping member is configured to remove debris from the rotating assembly at least while the rotating assembly is rotating in a second direction, opposite the first direction. In addition, the scraper assembly includes a support structure configured to couple to a frame of an off-road vehicle, and the first and second scraping members are coupled to the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Randy Allan Lindemeier
  • Patent number: 9114930
    Abstract: Systems and methods for installing a compressed natural gas housing apparatus to a vehicle are disclosed. The housing apparatus is configured to be retrofitted to existing cab liners used on refuse vehicles. The complete installation of the housing apparatus and roof liner are disposed below the roofline of the refuse vehicle. The housing apparatus can be configured to contain a variable number of compressed natural gas tanks. The housing apparatus is installed such that the length of the gas pipeline and electrical wiring connected to the apparatus from the vehicle engine and controller is minimized. The location of housing apparatus provides the additional safety of minimizing the exposure of the gas tanks to falling debris or prevent possible contact with the compressed natural gas tanks being damaged as vehicle travels under bridges, other low objects, or contact in the event of a rollover accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary R. Simmons
  • Patent number: 9114782
    Abstract: A leveling system for supporting a drill assembly includes at least one hydraulic actuator and a manifold coupled to the actuator. The hydraulic actuator supports the cab relative to a support surface, and includes a first end coupled to the cab and a second end that is extendable away from the first end. The manifold is coupled to the actuator and includes a directional flow control valve, a regenerative flow valve, and at least one counterbalance valve for controlling the extension of the actuator. The counterbalance valve is in direct fluid communication with the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Harnischfeger Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Owen J. Warr
  • Patent number: 9108100
    Abstract: A board for snowboarding, having forward and rear contact lines; lines of greater width located beyond the forward and rear contact lines respectively; binding-mounting areas, each including a set of mounting points by which the binding is secured to the board; a non-zero camber (C), measured substantially midway between the forward and rear contact lines; forward and rear shovels; wherein seen from above, the forward and rear contact lines pass through forward and rear areas respectively, each delimited on the one hand, board center side, by an inner transverse line located at a maximum distance (D1,D3) of 50 mm relative to the central position of the binding-mounting area, and on the other hand, shovel side, by an outer transverse line located at a maximum distance (D2,D4) of 150 mm relative to the central position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Skis Rossignol
    Inventors: Adrien Reguis, Arnaud Repa
  • Patent number: 9107504
    Abstract: A chair with a seating surface and a link with two ends connected to the seating surface. A frame with two supporting portions connected to the link and the frame can displace against a bias to allow one of the two supporting portions to move, allowing the seating surface to tilt. A flexible front is attached to a front member on the frame, the flexible front bends when the seating surface tilts. The link rotates when the supporting portions displace. The supporting portions are round and pass through round holes in the link, allowing the supporting portions to rotate within the link when the seating surface tilts. A stop connected to the seating surface and a stop connected to the frame limits the maximum tilt angle of the seating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Inventor: Peter J. Haas
  • Patent number: 9102381
    Abstract: A wheel for pedal-assisted bikes includes a fixed structure associable with the frame having a driving pedal crank; a circle element rotatably mounted on the structure around a main rotation axis; a propulsion disc rotatably mounted on the structure and connectable to the driving pedal crank; motion transmission elements for transmitting rotary motion from the disc to the circle element, including a speed gear device for changing the motion transmission ratio from the disc to the circle element; and a first detection device suitable for detecting the force transmitted to the circle element from the disc; an electric motor associated with the structure for cooperating with the disc to motorize the circle element; a power supply for electrically supplying the motor; a processing and control unit for controlling the activation of the motor according to the force detected by the first detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: C.R.D. CENTRO RICERCHE DUCATI TRENTO S.R.L.
    Inventors: Adriano Zanfei, Fabio Giorgi
  • Patent number: 9085264
    Abstract: A hitch step selectively securable to a hitch ball receiver is shown and described. The hitch step may include a step body operatively engaged with an underside portion of the hitch ball receiver, where the step body has a width providing a stepping surface, and a clamp body selectively secured to the step body and positioned on a top portion of the hitch ball receiver. The hitch step may also include at least one fastener selectively securing the clamp body to the step body with the hitch ball receiver positioned between the clamp body and the step body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Cequent Consumer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Derek Anderson
  • Patent number: 9050225
    Abstract: A traveling device includes a support body, a columnar section extending upward from the support body, and a middle abutting part provided in a middle of the columnar section. The support body includes a right and left support parts that support the feet of a user. A right-rear abutting part and a left-rear abutting part (a rear-side plate) are provided at rear sides of the right support part and a left support part. A right-middle abutting part (a right elastic member) is provided at one side of the middle abutting part, and a left-middle abutting part (a left elastic member) is provided at the other side thereof. The feet of the user are placed on the right and left support parts such that heels abut against the right-rear and left-rear abutting parts and that patellar ligaments or shin bones abut against the right-middle and left-middle abutting parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: TANREN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akihiro Ooka
  • Patent number: 9033085
    Abstract: An undercarriage-mounted battery pack is provided that includes a foot well cavity that is aligned with the foot well corresponding to one or more of the vehicle's seats, e.g., the rear vehicle seats. A portion of the battery pack is located in front of the foot well cavity while a second portion is located behind the foot well cavity, where the two portions are coupled together using conduits. The bottom surface of the battery pack may be shaped in order to minimize drag and enhance the flow of air under the vehicle. The battery pack may include cross-members, either interposed between battery subassemblies or incorporated into the subassembly enclosures, to increase side impact resistance and provide further protection to the batteries within the pack as well as the vehicle's occupants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Dore Rawlinson
  • Patent number: 9027939
    Abstract: A ski conversion device for a stroller or a bicycle trailer including: wheel braces for attachment to first and second skis and for receiving the first and second wheels; connecting elements for fixing the wheels to wheel braces; orientation braces for attachment to skis; orientation elements for connecting the stroller or the bicycle trailer to the orientation braces and for fixing an orientation of the stroller or the bicycle trailer with respect to the skis; a rigger element for connecting to a ski and including a runner element; and yokes for connection to the skis, the yokes attachable to a source of energy for propelling the ski conversion device. In a first position, the runner element is locatable between the first and second skis. In a second position, the runner element is locatable beyond the first ski in a direction from the second ski toward the first ski.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: Charles M. Love
  • Patent number: 9004213
    Abstract: There is provided an electric motorized skateboard. The skateboard includes a skateboard deck and wheels. The skateboard includes a first actuator with a footpad and a force sensor. The footpad is generally disposed at a deck top surface. The footpad and the force sensor are cooperatively sized and configured to translate force applied to the footpad to the force sensor. The force sensor is sized and configured to output a sensed signal in response to application of force upon the force sensor. The skateboard includes a controller in electrical communication with the force sensor. The controller receives the sensed signal and generates a motor input signal in response to the sensed signal. The skateboard includes an electric motor in mechanical communication with at least one of the wheels. The motor has a variable electric motor output in response to a value of a motor input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventors: Geoff Ellis Larson, Benjamin Swanberg Forman
  • Patent number: 8998243
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a buggy (10) or collapsible perambulator, comprising a sliding frame which, in the unfolded state, runs in an inclined plane and has a division, in the region of which joints (17, 18) are located, and therefore, upon collapsing, an upper portion (11) of the sliding frame is pivotable in relation to a lower portion (12) of the sliding frame about the approximately horizontal axis (21) of said joints, and furthermore comprising an underframe with wheels, wherein, in the collapsed state, the lower portion and upper portion of the sliding frame and at least parts of the underframe are virtually parallel or are at a flat angle to each other and the buggy assumes a flat, compact state, wherein the two sliding-frame portions which are pivotable in relation to each other each have approximately the shape of a U bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Greentom IP and Licensing BV
    Inventor: Bart Bost
  • Patent number: 8991838
    Abstract: A stroller frame with an automatic brake mechanism actuatable by hand detecting includes at least a first rear wheel, a first locking mechanism, a second rear wheel, a second locking mechanism, a battery and a hand-detecting handle. The hand-detecting handle is capable of detecting the caregiver's hand by a change of capacitance on its surface, generating a first control signal to a power supply circuit when the caregiver's hand is near, and generating a second control signal to the power supply circuit when the caregiver's hand is absent. The power supply circuit may provide currents in different direction to the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism according to the first control signal and the second control signal, so as to lock the rear wheels once the caregiver's hand has left the hand-detecting handle, and unlock the rear wheels when the caregiver's hand near the hand-detecting handle automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Lerado (Zhong Shan) Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Yeh Li, Tsung-Li Wu
  • Patent number: 8967308
    Abstract: A grille shutter apparatus includes a shutter mechanism arranged in an grille opening portion positioned at a front portion of a vehicle body of a vehicle to control a flow rate of air flowing from the grille opening portion to an internal portion of the vehicle body, and a frame supporting the shutter mechanism in the grille opening portion, the frame including a fixing portion at one end to be fixed in the grille opening portion, the frame including a protruding portion making contact with a front grille and generating a rotational moment at the frame in a case where the front grille arranged at an opening end of the grille opening portion moves rearward due to an occurrence of a collision of the vehicle, the rotational moment acting about the fixing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Saito, Tatsuya Shimizu, Masayuki Nomura, Hironori Kanasaki
  • Patent number: 8955871
    Abstract: Disclosed is a transfer and locomotion apparatus with excellent functionality, stability, versatility, and user-friendliness such that a person requiring nursing care can transfer between the transfer and locomotion apparatus to a bed and a toilet seat, etc., keeping the orientation of the body. The apparatus comprises a base part having a driving part, a seat part provided on the base part and which a user can sit from a back portion or a side portion, and a breast pad part standing in a front end side of the seat part and contacting a breast of the user. At least one of the seat part and the breast pad part is held to be able to move forward and backward, and upward and downward with respect to the base part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: TMSUK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Takamoto, Yuji Kawakubo, Kenichi Miyamoto, Katsuyuki Baba, Shin-ichiro Takasugi, Ryuichi Kusaba, Yukihide Iwamoto