Patents Examined by Brian L Swenson
  • Patent number: 11220172
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes a first power-source configured to generate a first power-source torque and a multiple speed-ratio transmission configured to transmit the first power-source torque to power the vehicle. The powertrain also includes a fluid coupling having a fluid pump shaft operatively connected to the first power-source and a turbine shaft operatively connected to the multi-speed transmission. The fluid coupling is configured to multiply the first power-source torque, and transfer the multiplied first power-source torque to the multiple speed-ratio transmission. The powertrain additionally includes a second power-source configured to generate a second power-source torque and a first torque transfer system configured to connect the second power-source to the first power-source. The powertrain further includes a second torque transfer system configured to connect the second power-source to the multi-speed transmission. A motor vehicle having such a powertrain is also envisioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Neeraj S. Shidore, Derek F. Lahr, Lei Hao, Madhusudan Raghavan, Suresh Gopalakrishnan
  • Patent number: 11219817
    Abstract: An attachment mechanism for a locking element to be fastened to a mounting plate on a cross-country ski. The ski comprises the mounting plate on a top surface of the ski. The mounting plate comprises side edges having an undercut profile for placement and attachment of a binding or binding component via a complementary profile thereon, and a channel that accommodates a slide member. The slide member top side comprises at least one locking element. The underside of the binding or binding component comprises at least one complementary locking element. The locking element comprises a plate. The plate underside includes downward projecting legs. The legs are spaced apart at a distance substantially corresponding to a width of the channel. The mounting plate on each side of the channel comprises openings adapted to receive the legs. The mounting plate and the legs comprise holes adapted to receive one or more bayonets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: ROTTEFELLA AS
    Inventors: Oyvar Svendsen, Thomas Goverud-Holm, Jorn Frode Danielsen
  • Patent number: 11213739
    Abstract: A rotation powered vehicle drive mechanism includes an elongated chassis slot disposed within a respective lateral exterior portion of a chassis assembly. An elongated platform slot is disposed within a respective lateral portion of a platform assembly, and is configured such that it is substantially opposed to the chassis slot. The platform assembly is pivotally secured to the chassis assembly thereby allowing for rotation through a platform rotation angle of the platform assembly with respect to the chassis assembly about a rotation axis. The rotation of the platform assembly results in an increase or decrease of a variable slot height which is measured between the chassis slot and the platform slot. A cart assembly is disposed between the chassis assembly and the platform assembly, and is operatively coupled to the chassis slot and to the platform slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventors: Steven Craig Anderson, Pillip R. Dinter
  • Patent number: 11213738
    Abstract: A skateboard truck that is adjusted for different amounts of torsional stiffness. The axle of the truck is tensioned to change the torsional stiffness of the truck. The truck includes a fork shaped structural arm having tongs on the distal end. The ends of the tongs include mounting for the axle which supports the wheels. The tension in the axle determines the amount of torsional stiffness. Additionally, the distance between the wheels is adjustable to affect the torsional stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventor: Mark Groenenboom
  • Patent number: 11185757
    Abstract: A moving wheel platform that minimizes wheel interactions with noncontinuous and uneven surfaces. The platform provides rotation-inhibiting structures onto or into the moving wheel platforms that aids with eliminating wheel bite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Dylan R. Cappello, David L. Petersen, John A. Solheim
  • Patent number: 11186158
    Abstract: A battery unit comprises side frames, cross frames, and plural battery modules having substantially the same size comprising a longitudinal dimension, a lateral dimension, and a height dimension. The battery modules are respectively mounted at the cross frames in the same position and arranged in plural rows adjacently to a vehicle width direction such that a direction of the above-described longitudinal dimension is substantially parallel to a vehicle longitudinal direction, and mounting rigidity of the battery modules stored in a first storage area is set to be different from that of the battery modules stored in second and third storage areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Morihide Yamada, Kazuhisa Hatano, Hisashi Akune, Munenari Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11179624
    Abstract: The invention allows riders to quickly and effortlessly strap in and out of their bindings with only one hand, with embodiments for top-entry bindings, rear-entry bindings and hybrid-bindings. The invention can be integrated into bindings or delivered as after-market add-on products that re-use and adapt the riders existing binding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventor: Terrance E Boult
  • Patent number: 11179623
    Abstract: A support plate for a binding for a gliding board that includes the following: a chassis to be fixed on an upper surface of the gliding board; a damping plate intended to be at least partially interposed between a lower surface of the chassis and the upper surface of the gliding board. The support plate includes a wedge that is less compressible than the damping plate, movable between a hardness configuration, suitable for transmitting a vertical force from the chassis to the upper surface of a gliding board, and inhibiting, at least partially, the compression of the damping plate and between a flexibility configuration, suitable for the force to be retransmitted from the chassis to the upper surface of a gliding board, mainly via the damping plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SALOMON S.A.S.
    Inventors: Benoît Sublet, Joël Mepal
  • Patent number: 11179289
    Abstract: Disclosed is a collapsible walking device that can be disposed in an operative (open) configuration and a storage (closed) configuration. The open, operative configuration of the walking device provides a structure to aid a user in walking or standing. The closed, storage configuration allows for easy and convenient storage and transport of the walking device. The collapsible walking device can be transitioned from the operative configuration to the storage configuration in one motion. The walking device includes four support legs that extend to the ground from adjacent two handles, and a seat configured to support the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Stander Inc.
    Inventors: F. Troy Miller, Kip D. Alder
  • Patent number: 11179966
    Abstract: An eccentric omnidirectional wheel, having a fixed wheel frame having a hollow center, a driving ring, a driving mechanism and at least one slanted rollable barrel evenly distributed around an outer perimeter of the driving ring; the driving ring sleeves onto an outer perimeter of the fixed wheel frame and is rotatably connected with the fixed wheel frame; an eccentric shaft seat is mounted at an inner perimeter of the fixed wheel frame; the driving mechanism is connected with the driving ring to achieve motion transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventor: Shao Xuan Yang
  • Patent number: 11173380
    Abstract: A fastening assembly for a ski crampon includes a hinge pin having a mounting portion and a securing portion. The mounting portion has a smaller dimension in a first direction and a larger dimension in a second direction, the first and second directions orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the hinge pin. The securing portion has substantially the same dimension in the first and second directions. A mounting fastening portion defines a gap and an opening. The gap and the opening each extends substantially transversely to a ski longitudinal direction and substantially parallel to the ski surface. The gap receives the mounting portion of the hinge pin, which is inserted through the opening. The dimension of the opening in the ski longitudinal direction is larger than the dimension of the mounting portion in the first direction and smaller than the dimension of the mounting portion in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: SALEWA SPORT AG
    Inventor: Christopher Stelzer
  • Patent number: 11173938
    Abstract: An expandable rectangular platform, comprises a central panel to which two side panels are pivotally attached on either side by at least one pair of panel hinges. The platform can be expanded, with the side panels extended, so as to extend over the sides of the cart basket, in which extended configuration it can serve a load-bearing function. When the platform is not in use, the side panels are pivoted under the central panel, and their lengthwise sides are secured together by one or more panel connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventor: Ronald Murphy
  • Patent number: 11161535
    Abstract: A load wheel assembly for a pallet truck includes a first load arm that rotates about an axis of rotation, and a load wheel rotationally coupled to an end of the first load arm opposite from the axis of rotation. The load wheel supports a fork at an elevation above the load wheel. Additionally, the load wheel assembly includes a second load arm pivotally coupled to the first load arm at the axis of rotation and forming a load arm angle, and an adjustment mechanism further coupling the second load arm to the first load arm. The adjustment mechanism varies the load arm angle formed between the first load arm and the second load arm to adjust the elevation of the fork above the load wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: HYSTER-YALE GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Robert C. Dunigan
  • Patent number: 11155291
    Abstract: Shopping carts and mobile shopping baskets equipped with one or more bag attachment mechanisms are discussed. The shopping carts and mobile shopping baskets may include multiple rows of bag attachment mechanisms located at varying distances from a top edge of a cart or basket side wall. The shopping carts and mobile shopping baskets may include bag attachment mechanisms on multiple side walls of the basket. The bag attachment mechanisms may take a number of forms including downward facing loop attachment mechanisms, clipping mechanisms and/or hook mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Anthony Joaquin
  • Patent number: 11148696
    Abstract: An assistive robot includes a manipulator, a base coupled to the manipulator, the base defining a front end and a rear end positioned opposite the front end, the base including a chassis body, a front conveyor assembly positioned at the front end of the base, the front conveyor assembly including a front conveyor defining a conveyor pathway that extends at least partially within the chassis body and a front toe extending outward from the front conveyor, and a rear conveyor assembly positioned at the rear end of the base, the rear conveyor assembly including a rear conveyor defining a conveyor pathway that extends at least partially within the chassis body and a rear toe extending outward from the rear conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Suhas Malghan, Joseph Bondaryk, Paul W. Baim, Toffee Albina
  • Patent number: 11148699
    Abstract: A media presentation system enables a caregiver to entertain a child in a buggy, stroller or the like by positioning a media device within view of the child while they rest in the buggy or stroller. The media device is attached to the inside of the canopy and could have a protective pocket, a mount, bands or the like to facilitate the attachment to thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventor: Sherice Hemphill
  • Patent number: 11148037
    Abstract: A self-balancing board is provided, comprising a primary wheel assembly, a platform, at least one sensor, a controller, a first auxiliary wheel assembly, and a first brake element. The primary wheel assembly comprises a primary wheel and a motor driving the primary wheel. The platform is secured to the primary wheel assembly and has a foot deck. The at least one sensor senses the orientation of the platform. The controller receives data from the at least one sensor and controls the motor in response to the received data. The first auxiliary wheel assembly is secured to the platform distal the primary wheel assembly, and is elevated from contacting a flat surface upon which the primary wheel rests when the foot deck is parallel to the flat surface. The first brake element is manually movable relative to the first auxiliary wheel assembly to engage the first auxiliary wheel assembly to provide resistance to rotation of the first auxiliary wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: KOOFY INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Ondy Song Qi Ma, Xiaodong Ge
  • Patent number: 11148036
    Abstract: A multi-link wheel base includes a main body composed of a plurality of links connected in series and wheels provided on the main body, and the wheels are provided on the link assembly the link assembly includes an intermediate link and an end link, wherein both sides of the intermediate link are provided with a rotational connection position, one side of the end link is provided with a rotational connection position, and the rotational connection positions on the adjacent link assemblies are rotationally connected by means of a connecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventors: Yongmei Chen, Yongping Chen
  • Patent number: 11147734
    Abstract: An assistive pushcart device for rollerblading includes a set of first wheels and a set of second wheels that are rotationally coupled to a frame proximate to a front and a back of the frame, respectively. A handle that is coupled to and extends transversely from the back of the frame is configured to be grasped in one or two hands of a user to stabilize the user as the user locomotes the frame along a surface. Each of set of brakes is operationally coupled to a respective one of the first wheels and the second wheels. The set of brakes is positioned to selectively slow and stop rotation of at least one of the first wheels and the second wheels. An actuator that is coupled to the handle and operationally coupled to the set of brakes is positioned to selectively actuate the set of brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventor: Robert Farley
  • Patent number: 11136069
    Abstract: A center floor structure for a vehicle, includes: a center floor panel having an opening, and a peripheral portion of the center floor panel defining the opening; and a battery assembly mounted under the center floor panel, and covering the opening of the center floor panel. The opening is defined in a central portion of the center floor panel, and the peripheral portion includes a plate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hyun Ahn, Jae Ha Shim, Hee Suk Chung, Young Ho Lee