Patents Examined by Brian Cassidy
  • Patent number: 8955629
    Abstract: A radiator structure includes a radiator body having a core composed of radiating fins and cooling water passing tubes alternately laminated and a bracket disposed at one end of the core. The bracket includes an extension portion disposed at a vehicle widthwise inner end of the core and extending along a vehicle front-rear direction. The extension portion has a fixing portion on a leading end thereof, the fixing portion being fixed to a mounting portion of a body frame. An indentation is provided in a portion of an opposed sidewall where a front end of the core and the opposed sidewall of the bracket overlap each other when the vehicle is viewed from the side and which overlaps the fixing portion at least in the vehicle front-rear direction. The indentation is formed by bending the opposed sidewall in a direction away from the front end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Munehiro Toda, Katsutaka Hattori, Masaomi Yamada, Yusuke Inoue
  • Patent number: 8944195
    Abstract: An electrical drive unit for a motor vehicle, with the drive unit including a wheel hub drive that drives a vehicle wheel. The wheel hub drive has a sealing element which is affected by friction and by means of which the interior of the wheel hub drive is sealed off from the surroundings in an airtight manner. A ventilation device is provided by which a pressure difference between the prevailing air pressure in the interior of the wheel hub drive and the prevailing air pressure of the surrounding air can be compensated by displacing volumes of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Raphael Fischer, Michael Bogner
  • Patent number: 8944194
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive system (10) for an agricultural or industrial vehicle, preferably a tractor (12). Said drive system (19) comprises at least one electric generator (24, 26) as well as a first and a second electric machine (28, 30). The at least one electric generator (24, 26) can be driven using torque generated by a vehicle engine (22). At least one of the two electric machines (28, 30) can be driven using the electric power generated by the electric generator (24, 26). The mechanical torque generated by the first and/or the second electric machine (28, 30) can be transmitted to at least one driving axle (14, 16) of the vehicle in order to allow the vehicle to move. The invention further relates to an agricultural vehicle comprising such a drive system (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Fritz Glaser, Nicolai Tarasinski, Rainer Gugel
  • Patent number: 8944450
    Abstract: A mountable water spray shield device is shown herein. A rigid sheet, with an inverted, cropped tear-drop profile, is attached to a rear insert section, and is mounted to a designated vehicle within the area defined by the wheel well and between a pair of tires of the designated vehicle via a bracket secured to the undercarriage of the vehicle. During operation of the designated vehicle upon a wet roadway, the mountable water spray shield serves to divert water spray which would otherwise be emitted into the path of adjacent traffic by rotation of the tires upon the wet roadway at speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: James Harris
  • Patent number: 8919465
    Abstract: A construction machine with improved safety can include a high voltage cable for supplying power. The high voltage cable connects a storage devices to an electric drive that drives using power from a power generation device, which generates power using the drive of an engine, or from the storage device, which stores the power generated by the power generation device, is wired along the sides of a frame structural member that protrudes in a vertical direction. The frame structural member serves as an upright wall to adequately protect the high voltage cable. In cases in which, for example, the construction machine strikes an obstruction, or the like, the high voltage cable is adequately protected by the frame structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo (S.H.I.) Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jitsutaka Takeo
  • Patent number: 8919466
    Abstract: A generator is provided at a front portion of an engine provided between a pair of front side frames at an offset position on one side, in a vehicle width direction, of a vehicle, and an electricity-storage device, a convertor, and a battery are provided on the other side, in the vehicle width side, of the vehicle. Accordingly, the electricity-storage device, the convertor, and the battery can be restrained from receiving any improper heat influence from the engine, and the length of harnesses coupling the generator, the electricity-storage device, the convertor, and the battery can be shortened as much as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Seigo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8915327
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a large single engine sweeper includes a 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 transfer case assembly to the differential and real wheel assembly. In sweep mode, power passes from a propel hydraulic motor into the transfer case assembly and then to the differential and real wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Alamo Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Brooker
  • Patent number: 8915503
    Abstract: Snowmobile skis include at least one elongated wing member projecting laterally outward and upward from a lateral side of a base portion of the ski. The at least one elongated wing member has a lower surface that extends vertically over and laterally outward from a lower running surface of the ski. At least a longitudinal section of the lower surface of the at least one elongated wing member may include a portion having a curved, concave shape. The lower surface of the at least one elongated wing member may extend a greater distance vertically over the lower running surface of the ski near a longitudinal midportion of the ski relative to a distance by which the lower surface of the at least one elongated wing member extends vertically over the lower running surface of the ski near a longitudinal front portion of the ski and near a longitudinal rear portion of the ski.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Starting Line Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen Roberts, Joseph Brigham Hokanson
  • Patent number: 8910959
    Abstract: A folding sports board having a first section and a second section separated by a deck joint. A double hinge assembly may interconnect the first section and the second section at the deck joint. At least one tooth member may extend between the first section and the second section. The at least one tooth member may be operable to distribute forces away from the deck joint such that failure at the deck joint may be eliminated or reduced. Sections of the sports board can be easily replaced to customize the board based upon rider preferences or to fix broken sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Inventor: Jordan Alva
  • Patent number: 8905428
    Abstract: A stroller fold joint has first and second joint parts. The first part has a hosel coupled to a hub body with a circumferential surface and a pivot axis. The second part has a connector coupled to two plates. The hub body is between the plates and the two joint parts pivot about the pivot axis between a folded and an unfolded orientation. A tunnel through the hub body is perpendicular to the pivot axis. A shuttle slides within the tunnel and has latch end and an actuator end. The latch end is adjacent the hub body's circumferential surface at one tunnel end and the actuator end extends into the hosel. The shuttle is not exposed and is covered when the fold joint is in the folded or unfolded orientations and when moving therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Brady Matthew Schroeder, Thomas M. Perrin
  • Patent number: 8844659
    Abstract: A motor vehicle comprising an electric motor, at least one battery, and an electronic regulation unit connected to a potentiometer of the accelerator to regulate the power supply of the electric motor. The stator of the electric motor is rotatably mounted on two fixed supports joined to the frame of the vehicle, an axle shaft of a wheel is connected to the stator and the axle shaft of the other wheel is connected to the rotor. The vehicle additionally comprises a rotation reversing device to reverse the rotation of one of the two axle shafts of the wheels with respect to the rotation of the rotor or stator, respectively, an endothermic motor, an electric generator connected to the battery and a three way clutch to couple the endothermic motor to the generator and/or stator of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Pieralisi Maip Societa' per Azioni
    Inventor: Gennaro Pieralisi
  • Patent number: 8844664
    Abstract: An apparatus for propelling a user over a surface. In one embodiment a rear located propulsion unit is elastically linked to a forward user platform, such as a snowboard, skis, or skateboard. Preferably, the elastic interconnection includes one or more springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: James Edward Decker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8840124
    Abstract: A safety brake type rollator that will prevent the misuse of rollators by seated users by using a braking system that locks the rollator wheels when the user sits down on the rollator seat, and releases when the user stands up. The cables that run from the hand brakes of the rollator to under the rollator seat are stretched by the user sitting down on the rollator seat, so locking the wheels. According to a further embodiment, whenever a user sits on the seat the braking system pulls the hand brakes into the locked position, so engaging the wheel brake mechanisms. According to this further embodiment, the hand brakes must then be disengaged from the locked position when the user stands up from the seat for the rollator to be mobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Medical Depot, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Serhan, Doug Francis
  • Patent number: 8833777
    Abstract: The combination scooter and messenger bag is an article-carrying device that can be converted into a wheeled land vehicle. When used as an article carrying device, the invention resembles a conventional messenger bag with a single strap. This is known as “carrying mode.” When used as a wheeled land vehicle, the invention resembles a kick scooter. This is known as “riding mode.” The invention employs a mechanism that quickly and easily converts the combination scooter and messenger bag from “carrying mode” to “riding mode” and vice versa. Raising the handlebar shifts the messenger bag from on top of the footboard to the side of the footboard. Lowering the handlebar shifts the messenger bag in the apposite direction. In this way, the scooter footboard is largely hidden from view in “carrying mode” and exposed for a user to stand upon in “riding mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Hughesdon Turner, Ryan Patrick Murphy
  • Patent number: 8827302
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic heel unit for a ski binding or touring ski binding, having a base element and a carriage which is mounted on the base element to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the ski. This automatic heel unit has at least one climbing position in which the carriage is situated in a rear position and a downhill position in which the carriage is situated further forward than in the climbing position. It comprises an adjusting lever for adjusting the automatic heel unit from the downhill position into the climbing position and back. This adjusting lever is mounted on the carriage to be pivotable about a pivot axle. Furthermore, the automatic heel unit comprises a lever element which is mounted on the base element to be pivotable about a first axle and mounted on the adjusting lever to be pivotable about a second axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fritschi AG-Swiss Bindings
    Inventors: Andreas Fritschi, Stefan Ibach, Theo Eggimann
  • Patent number: 8827294
    Abstract: A retractable vehicle step is attachable to a vehicle or truck. The vehicle step facilitates access to a vehicle's cargo hold, interior, or roof. Advantageously, the vehicle step may provide clearance space relative to a tailgate of the vehicle by displacing a stepping member of the vehicle step in a generally lateral direction. The vehicle step desirably has a covered and protected biasing mechanism for transitioning between retracted and extended positions of the stepping member. Advantageously, the vehicle step may be pulled out from under the vehicle by the foot of a user. Another advantage is that the vehicle step is readily attachable to the vehicle using already existing connection members, thereby generally eliminating or mitigating the need for customized retrofitting and avoiding undesirable installation cost and time. Finally, the vehicle step may be configured into at least two different arrangements for attachment to a vehicle utilizing the same components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Lund Motions Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Horst Leitner, Anthony Smith
  • Patent number: 8820763
    Abstract: A device for human conveyance includes front and rear wheels. The rear wheel interfaces to a sprocket/gear through a ratchet drive system allowing forward rotation of the rear wheel responsive to forward rotation of the sprocket/gear and allows free backward rotation of the sprocket/gear. The front and rear wheels are rotatably interfaced to a frame that keeps the front wheel at a constant distance from the rear wheel. A front end of an arc-shaped spring is affixed to the frame and a rear end of the arc-shaped spring has sprocket/gear teeth that are interfaced to the sprocket/gear whereas depression of the arc-shaped spring pushes the rear-end of the arc-shaped spring in a rearward direction with respect to the rear wheel and the sprocket/gear teeth turns the sprocket/gear in a forward rotational direction. A resilient member is disposed between the arc-shaped spring and the frame to absorb shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mindworks Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Gregory R. Prior, Christopher Phillip Miller
  • Patent number: 8820461
    Abstract: An electric vehicle can include a pair of left and right rear wheels configured to be driven by the rotary driving power of a motor supplied with electric power from a battery. A rear body can support the motor and rear wheels, and is attached at the back of a body frame. A battery box houses at least the battery, and is supported by a battery box supporting frame joined to the body frame below a seat of the vehicle. A monitoring board monitors the state of the battery, and can be located on top of the battery. A BMU collects information from the monitoring board, and a contactor opens and closes the connection between the battery and a drive circuit for the motor. The BMU and the contactor are housed in the battery box and in front of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Shinde, Koichiro Honda, Kazunori Kuroda
  • Patent number: 8807251
    Abstract: A motor and brake assembly includes a mounting member. A stator winding assembly, a brake assembly, a hub, and a rotor magnet assembly. The stator winding assembly is mounted to the mounting member. The brake assembly is operably connected to the mounting member. The hub is rotatably coupled to the mounting member. The rotor magnet assembly is mounted to an inside of a radially outer wall of the hub. The brake assembly is operable to move a component of the brake assembly between an engaged position where the component engages the inside of the radially outer hub wall and a disengaged position where the component is spaced apart from the inside of the radially outer hub wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Invacare Corporation
    Inventors: Nirav Pandya, Thomas Tuckowski, John Jindra, Robert Bekoscke, George H. Waterman, Thomas Strothmann
  • Patent number: 8801009
    Abstract: A portable foldable scooter (20) having a front portion (24) and a back portion (26) includes a footboard (22) having an upper face (54), a lower face (56), a front end (50) at the front portion of the scooter, and a back end (52) at the back portion of the scooter. A steering bar (28) having an upper end and a lower end is coupled to the front end (50) of the footboard (22). A handle bar (30) is coupled to the upper end of the steering bar (28). A front wheel (32) is coupled to the front portion (24) of the scooter (22). A back wheel (34) has a central longitudinal axis (43) around which the back wheel (34) rotates during riding of the scooter (20). A first back hinge (44) couples the back wheel (34) to the back end (52) of the footboard (22) and allows rotation of the back wheel (34) around an axis (45) that is not parallel to the central longitudinal axis. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: Riccardo Nimrod Sapir