Patents Examined by Brian Swenson
  • Patent number: 9409470
    Abstract: An arrangement for a motor vehicle including a mechanism for holding an energy storage device, and associated vehicle. The arrangement includes a chassis, an electrical energy storage device, a fixing device for fixing the energy storage device to the chassis of the vehicle, a holding mechanism configured to switch, in case of a breakage of at least a portion of the fixing device, from a passive configuration in which it does not support the energy storage device to an active configuration in which it supports the energy storage device in such a way to hold the energy storage device close to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Stephane Trentin, Gilles Mulato
  • Patent number: 9410306
    Abstract: A hydraulic excavator capable of suppressing deterioration of a reducing agent stored in a reducing agent tank is provided. The hydraulic excavator includes: a main valve supplying a hydraulic oil to a work implement; an exhaust gas treatment device treating an exhaust gas from an engine through a reduction reaction; the reducing agent tank arranged forward of the main valve and storing the reducing agent to be supplied to the exhaust gas treatment device; and a partition plate arranged between the reducing agent tank and the main valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Ozaki
  • Patent number: 9387759
    Abstract: A main valve and method assembling for use on a machine is disclosed. The main valve may comprise a body, a free wheeling valve, a bypass valve, a flow divider valve, a free wheeling pilot valve, and a flow divider bypass pilot control valve. Each valve may be disposed inside the body. The body may define a plurality of ports and channels between the valves. The free wheeling valve may be operable between a free wheeling mode and a drive assist mode. The bypass valve may have a flow dividing mode that permits fluid communication between the free wheeling valve and the flow divider valve, and a bypass mode that permits fluid communication between the free wheeling valve and first and second bypass channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Victor Wen, Sudarshan Maiyur, Moses Imo Akpan
  • Patent number: 9388729
    Abstract: A hydraulic excavator includes an engine, a revolving frame supporting the engine, a vehicle body frame, a first exhaust treatment apparatus and a connecting pipe. The vehicle body frame includes a plurality of column members disposed upright on the revolving frame. The first exhaust treatment apparatus is supported by the vehicle body frame and treats exhaust from the engine. The connecting pipe connects the engine and the first exhaust treatment apparatus. At least a portion of the connecting pipe includes an extendable and contractable bellows portion. The connecting pipe includes a fixing portion fixed to the vehicle body frame. The fixing portion is positioned in the connecting pipe between the bellows portion and the first exhaust treatment apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Himoto, Osamu Nishimura, Tadashi Mori
  • Patent number: 9387722
    Abstract: A wheel oil supply device assigned to a wheel of a vehicle includes an oil supply pathway for supplying oil to a hub bearing, which rotatably supports a hub connected to a disk wheel of the wheel, an oil seal which is interposed between the hub bearing and a region outside of the hub bearing to seal the oil supplied to the hub bearing through the oil supply pathway, and an oil guiding pathway for guiding the oil which has leaked from the hub bearing to the region outside of the hub bearing through the oil seal, to an oil reservoir which is a predetermined discharge region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideki Fukudome
  • Patent number: 9382690
    Abstract: An engine unit mounted to a vehicle frame, the engine unit includes: an engine; an engine support mechanism to be coupled to the vehicle frame, with at least one vibration absorbing mechanism disposed on each of both sides of the engine in an orthogonal direction to a crankshaft of the engine, to support the engine; an aftertreatment device to purify exhaust gas emitted from the engine; a base bracket provided to the engine support mechanism; and an upper bracket detachably fixed and mounted to the base bracket, the upper bracket supporting the aftertreatment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kozo Okuda, Tadashi Iijima, Godo Ozawa, Muneo Harada, Naoto Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9382035
    Abstract: A collapsible market basket apparatus includes a crate with a bottom having a bottom rectangular frame and a top rectangular frame having strap attachment features on each of four sides. A pair of lateral rotating sides are pivotally attached to opposite lateral sides of the top rectangular frame to rotate downward to a vertical position to engage the bottom rectangular frame. Each lateral rotating side is shaped to fit within a proximate half of the top rectangular frame when pivotally rotated to a horizontal position. A pair of lateral collapsible sides are attached respectively between opposite front and back sides of the top rectangular frame and the bottom rectangular frame. The lateral collapsible sides have an expanded vertical length of the lateral rotating sides. A strap has a latching feature rotatably attached at each end to latch to opposite sides of the top rectangular frame as a carrying strap when the crate is expanded and as a stowage strap when the crate is collapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Inventor: Linda Fritz
  • Patent number: 9375632
    Abstract: A skateboard including a pair of trucks, a plurality of wheels mounted on axles of the trucks, a frame assembly, and a board mounted and attached to the frame assembly. The trucks can be mounted to the frame assembly and board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Kish, Ryan Scott Miller
  • Patent number: 9371080
    Abstract: A multi-use apparatus for outdoorsmen including a tub and first, second, third and fourth adjustable legs. The adjustable legs are mounted to the tub. Each of the legs includes a mounting member and a telescopic member. Each mounting member is non-rotatably mounted to the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: NORTHEAST VENTURES LLC
    Inventor: Greg Dilone, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9365227
    Abstract: A recycle bin is described having multiple enclosures to separate small waste from large waste. The enclosures may be configured with variable sized subdivisions and shelved on a track to allow complete detachment of the enclosure. Door panels may be secured with securing mechanisms and handles may be provided to facilitate moving. The recycle bin may include casters with locking mechanisms to prevent movement of the recycling bin. The casters may be attached on the bottom portion of the recycling bin. One or more pockets may be disposed on the recycling bin. The one or more pockets may be configured to accommodate lifting of the recycling bin. The recycling bin may be configured for recycling e-waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: ELECTRONIC RECYCLERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: John S. Shegerian, Tammy Shegerian, Kevin J. Dillon, Aaron Blum, John Reick
  • Patent number: 9358875
    Abstract: A saddle riding type vehicle, includes a frame including a head pipe and a pair of left and right main frames extending rearward and downward from the head pip, a fuel tank supported between the left and right main frames, a radiator; and a radiator shroud structure. The shroud structure includes shrouds covering lateral sides of the radiator and shroud fastening portions fixed to outer side walls of the left and right main frames so that upper portions of the shrouds are arranged in covering relation along outer faces of the outer side walls of the main frames, and lower portions of the shrouds extend downward from the upper portions of the shrouds and are connected to the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyohei Hosoya, Tomoya Matsuo, Kohei Hirano
  • Patent number: 9352782
    Abstract: An axle assembly for an agricultural vehicle that includes an axle configured to be coupled to a wheel. The axle comprises a body and a first arm extending from the body. The body is configured to be disposed within a frame member of the agricultural vehicle and to contact an inner surface of the frame member. Also, the axle is configured to move within the frame member to adjust a distance between the wheel and the frame member, and the first arm is configured to contact a second arm disposed within the frame member to provide structural support to the axle assembly as the axle moves within the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Aaron R. Tollefsrud, Shawn N. Mortenson, Dane M. Kallevig
  • Patent number: 9346438
    Abstract: A wheel sweeper system is a brush mounted to a bracket that clamps to the frame of a wheeled device such as a wheel chair to continually sweep dirt and mud off of the wheel ground contact surfaces as the wheel rotates to greatly reduce tracking the debris onto building floors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Inventor: Harold Emery Parker, III
  • Patent number: 9339928
    Abstract: A creeper (10) includes a frame (11) having spaced side rails (12) and cross rails (13) extending between the side rails (12). A pad (28) is carried by the cross rails (13) and is spaced from each side rail (12). Each side rail (12) has end portions (14, 15) which carry a caster assembly (17), and the cross rails (13) are positioned closer to each other than the caster assemblies (17) are from each other. Each side rail (12) also includes a raised portion (26) which is higher than the end portions (14, 15) when the caster assemblies (17) are on a surface, and a lower portion (23) which is lower than the end portions (14, 15) when the caster assemblies are on a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Whiteside Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Shane Obitts, Kirt E. Whiteside
  • Patent number: 9333818
    Abstract: Methods and systems for storing and dispensing compressed air are provided for inflating a tire. Specifically, a compressed air reservoir is integrated into a human-powered vehicle, such as a bicycle frame component, to provide for portable and convenient inflation of a bicycle tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventor: Roger de Torres
  • Patent number: 9333977
    Abstract: A multipurpose wagon having a wagon body, front and rear wheels and a handle. The wagon body has a front portion and a rear portion, the handle being coupled to the front portion, a front wall adjacent the front portion and a rear wall adjacent the rear portion. Additionally, the wagon body has a first sidewall extending between the front wall and the rear wall along one side of the wagon body, and a second sidewall extending between the front wall and the rear wall along an opposing side of the wagon body. The first sidewall has a panel that is removable from the first side of the wagon body and connectable to the second sidewall of the wagon body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Radio Flyer Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Herlitz, Emily Byrne
  • Patent number: 9333596
    Abstract: A welding support system, for example, formed as a wagon or cart, includes at least one shelf having configurable support components for supporting different configurations of welding equipment, and legs interconnecting the shelve. The at least one shelf is angled in a manner that provides enhanced visibility of and/or access to welding equipment supported thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Workshops for Warriors
    Inventor: HernĂ¡n Luis y Prado
  • Patent number: 9327613
    Abstract: An arrangement structure of an inverter in a fuel cell vehicle, capable of protecting the inverter from an impact during a vehicle collision with a simple configuration, is provided. The inverter is arranged on a frame in an inclined posture so that an outer side surface faces the power control unit and so that a hydrogen side output connector is directed downward of the power control unit, and the hydrogen side output connector and a hydrogen side wire are connected through below the power control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Katano, Tsutomu Shirakawa
  • Patent number: 9327748
    Abstract: A supporting bracket is suitable for standing on a working platform and adapted to hold an electronic device having a screen and provide illumination. The supporting bracket includes a base, a supporting arm apparatus, and a lighting device. The base is suitable for being fixed to the working platform. The supporting arm apparatus has a first segment and a second segment. One end portion of the first segment is connected to the base. The first segment is able to rotate relative to the base. One end portion of the second segment is connected to the other end portion of the first segment. The other end portion of the second segment serves to hold the electronic device. The second segment is able to rotate relative to the first segment. The lighting device is fixed to the supporting arm apparatus to provide illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: MELTEN corporation
    Inventors: Fang-Chi Wu, Yu-Min Cho, Jian-Yuan Lai
  • Patent number: 9321337
    Abstract: A battery array according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a rail that supports a battery cell and a tie bracket connected to the rail and configured to limit travel of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yongcai Wang, Rajaram Subramanian, Saravanan Paramasivam