Patents Examined by Brian Swenson
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Patent number: 9126100Abstract: A ski training apparatus includes a ski pole having proximal and distal ends. A first guide member is coupled to an upper surface of a respective ski worn by a ski trainee and includes a first receiver portion defining a first open interior area and an open top. A second guide member includes a cylindrical configuration defining open upper and lower ends and an open interior area. A spring connects the second guide member to the first guide member, the spring having a flexible configuration such that the second guide member is repositionable relative to the first guide member. The second guide member is configured to receive the distal end of the ski pole. The second guide member is operatively coupled to the first guide member by the spring such that the ski trainer is selectively in control of the trainee's ski by manipulation of the ski pole.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2013Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Inventor: Joseph C. Spehar
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Patent number: 9113596Abstract: A turf mower has one or more electrically powered cutting units and a traction drive system that is operatively powered by an internal combustion engine. A motor generator is also powered by the engine and is operatively connected to the engine and the traction drive system. A battery pack stores electrical energy and is charged by the motor generator during normal mowing on flat ground. When mowing on hillsides with increased mechanical power requirements above that supplied by the horsepower of the engine, a control system first removes the load imposed by the cutting units by supplying the electrical energy to the cutting units from the battery pack instead of the motor generator. If that is insufficient, the control system then uses energy from the battery pack to power the motor generator as a motor to supply additional mechanical power for use by the traction drive system.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2014Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Benjamin A. Bricko, Kelly S. Meemken, James R. Gaebel
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Patent number: 9108496Abstract: An in-wheel motor drive assembly 21 includes: a motor unit A; a speed reduction unit B having an output shaft 28 reducing the rotational speed of the motor rotary shaft 35 and outputting the reduced rotation and a speed-reduction-unit casing 22b forming a contour, and disposed on one axial side of the motor unit A; a wheel hub bearing unit C having a wheel hub 32 fixedly coupled with the output shaft 28 and a wheel-hub-bearing outer ring 22c rotatably supporting the wheel hub 32, and disposed on one axial side of the speed reduction unit B; and coupling portions 63, 64 secured to at least one of the wheel-hub-bearing outer ring 22c and speed-reduction-unit casing 22b to couple with members of a vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2014Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Tetsuya Yamamoto, Akira Yamagata
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Patent number: 9108662Abstract: A wheelbarrow is provided comprising a bed for receiving a load, with an axle mounted to the bed. First and second load-bearing wheels are rotatably mounted to the axle on opposite sides of the bed. First and second rotatable stabilizing wheels are mounted to first and second support arms, respectively, with each of the first and second support arms being rotatably mounted relative to the axle on opposite sides of the bed. A first locking mechanism is associated with at least one, and preferably each, of the first and second load-bearing to selectively permit or prevent rotation of the load-bearing wheels relative to the axle. A second locking mechanism is associated with at least one, and preferably each, of the first and second support arms to selectively permit or prevent rotation of the support arms relative to the axle. An actuator is provided for selectively locking and unlocking each of the first and second locking mechanisms.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2014Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Inventor: Craig J. Scholin
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Patent number: 9108653Abstract: A wheeled carrier for manual movement of material includes a base frame with a pair of frame rails. The frame rails are turned down at the front end with a first bracket connecting the rails and providing a mounting point for at least one wheel and a receiver between the frame rails. The wheel is positioned so that it does not extend above either of the frame rails. A second bracket extends between the frame rails and includes a release mechanism positioned between the frame rails. An attachment including a yoke may be releasably mounted to the base frame. The yoke extends between the receiver of the first bracket and the release mechanism of the second bracket and engages the receiver and the release mechanism. The attachment further including a load carrying arrangement configured to rest on the frame rails above the at least one wheel without engaging the wheel.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2013Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Inventor: Timothy C. Willett
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Patent number: 9103380Abstract: An axle support structure includes a drive source output shaft, an axle, a vehicle body-side member, a vehicle wheel bearing and a floating shaft. The drive source output shaft is configured to be rotated by a drive source. The axle is disposed coaxially with the drive source output shaft to rotate integrally with a vehicle wheel. The vehicle wheel bearing is coupled to the axle for rotatably supporting the axle on a vehicle body-side member. The floating shaft has a first linking part linked with the drive source output shaft with a degree of freedom in a non-rotational direction, and a second linking part linked with the axle with a degree of freedom in a non-rotational direction, such that power is transmitted from the drive source output shaft to the axle. The vehicle wheel bearing is disposed axially between the first and second linking parts.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroyuki Hirano
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Patent number: 9102344Abstract: A jack and dolly assembly and system including a shaft defining a longitudinal axis extending along the shaft and an interior hollow; a reversible drive mechanism at least partially positioned in the interior hollow of the shaft; a proximal arm removably securable to the shaft and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; a distal arm removably securable to the drive mechanism, the distal arm being spaced from and substantially parallel to the proximal arm; wherein the reversible drive mechanism is operable to move the distal arm along the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2013Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Inventor: Richard N. Heinz
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Patent number: 9096252Abstract: Sit or stand strollers and methods of using and making the same are described herein. An example stroller includes a frame having a first set of mounts and a second set of mounts. The example stroller includes a first seat removably couplable to the frame via either the first set of mounts or the second set of mounts. The stroller also includes an accessory removably couplable to the frame via either the first set of mounts or the second set of mounts, the accessory including a platform to provide a standing surface for a stroller occupant.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2014Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Wes Thomas, Toriono Granger, James Morrow
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Patent number: 9090250Abstract: An apparatus is described including a hybrid power train having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The apparatus includes a hybrid power system battery pack that is electrically coupled to the electric motor. The apparatus includes an energy securing device that is thermally coupled to the hybrid power system battery pack. The energy securing device selectively removes thermal energy from the hybrid power system battery pack, and secure removed thermal energy. The energy securing device secures the removed thermal energy by storing the energy in a non-thermal for, or by using the energy to accommodate a present energy requirement.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Vivek Anand Sujan, Nazar Al-Khayat, Bangalore Siddalingappa Nagabhushana
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Patent number: 9080659Abstract: In an in-wheel motor driving device, since an involute speed reduction gear with a small difference in number of teeth which can be made small in size can be disposed on an inner side of an inner rotor type motor, a size of the in-wheel motor driving device in the direction of a rotational axis can be reduced. Further, in the inner rotor type motor, since a first stator is disposed so as to face a radially outer side of a large-diameter rotor, heat generated in the first stator is easily dissipated. On the other hand, in an outer rotor type motor, since a second stator is disposed so as to face a radially inner side of a small-diameter rotor, a torque radius of the small-diameter rotor can be made large, thereby making it possible to ensure a large torque capacity. Because of this, the outer rotor type motor can be made smaller in diameter than the inner rotor type motor, thereby making it possible to ensure a large space within a wheel.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventors: Tsune Kobayashi, Motoyasu Yamamori, Tohru Onozaki
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Patent number: 9073668Abstract: The container assembly includes a bucket that may contain a material. The foot opening extends through the bucket proximate a bottom of the bucket. A plurality of wheels is operationally coupled to the bucket. The bucket is movable along a support surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2014Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Inventors: Michael Catania, Peter Pino
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Patent number: 9067502Abstract: A vehicle has a motor serving as a driving source for running the vehicle, a high-power assembled battery and a high-capacity assembled battery each capable of supplying an electric power to the motor, and a temperature adjusting mechanism adjusting the temperature of each of the high-power assembled battery and the high-capacity assembled battery. The temperature adjusting mechanism supplies a heat exchange medium for use in the temperature adjustment of the high-power assembled battery and the high-capacity assembled battery to each of the assembled batteries. The high-power assembled battery is capable of charge and discharge with a current relatively larger than that in the high-capacity assembled battery.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2011Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takurou Nakayama, Akihiro Sato, Tsuyoshi Hayashi, Hirotaka Watanabe, Kenji Kimura, Nobuyoshi Fujiwara
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Patent number: 9068638Abstract: A vehicle drive device for a rotary electric machine. A case of the device includes a support wall portion that extends in a radial direction of the rotary electric machine at a location between the rotary electric machine and the fluid coupling in the axial direction. A first bearing and a second bearing that is separate from the first bearing are disposed at different positions in the radial direction from each other, the first bearing being configured to support the rotor member in the radial direction so as to be rotatable with respect to the support wall portion, and the second bearing being configured to support the coupling input member in the radial direction so as to be rotatable with respect to the support wall portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2012Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mikio Iwase, Daiki Suyama, Naoya Jinnai, Tatsuya Okishima, Yukihiko Ideshio, Yuji Inoue
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Patent number: 9061579Abstract: In a saddle riding type vehicle in which a connecting tube that connects between an air cleaner placed behind a rear cushion unit extending vertically behind an engine body and a throttle body placed in front of the rear cushion unit is placed to pass by a lateral side of the rear cushion unit, adhesion of an injected fuel to an inner wall surface of an air intake passage is suppressed while a fuel injection valve is placed behind the throttle body, whereby stabilization of an air-fuel ratio is achieved. An air cleaner includes a cleaner element, and a support case supporting the cleaner element while forming a purification chamber together with the cleaner element. Here, a rear end portion of a connecting tube is connected to the support case. A fuel injection valve, whose direction of injection is oriented to the inside of a throttle body, is attached to the support case.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2013Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTDInventor: Naoto Yamagishi
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Patent number: 9051709Abstract: A bulldozer is equipped with an engine, a radiator, a reservoir tank, and an engine hood. The reservoir tank is connected to the radiator. The engine hood has a body section and a case section. The body section defines an upper section of the engine room. The case section is disposed on an inside surface of the body section and accommodates the reservoir tank.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2014Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventors: Kazushi Nakata, Yuuichirou Kitagawa, Mitsutaka Nakamura
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Patent number: 9050990Abstract: A cart that multiply positions at least one high pressure gas tank, and stores equipment at least associated therewith. The cart includes a frame and storage cabinets. The frame multiply positions the at least one high pressure gas tank. The storage cabinets are affixed to the frame, and store the equipment at least associated with the at least one high pressure gas tank.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2013Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Inventor: Erik M. Zalewski
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Patent number: 9039019Abstract: A skateboard is provided having a transparent deck. First and second wheel assemblies are attached to the front and rear portion of the skateboard, respectively. The wheel assemblies each include a truck and two wheels. Each respective wheel comprises a wheel covering having a translucent surface and a wheel interior defined by a rotational axis and the wheel covering. The wheel interior houses a wheel generator configured to generate electricity and light emitting devices electrically coupled to the wheel generator that emit light when the wheel generator generates electricity. The skateboard also has a graphics layer on the top surface of the deck that is illuminated by the light emitting devices. The graphics layer comprises an adhesive surface having a graphic printed thereon and an adhesive applied thereon. The adhesive surface is adhesively affixed to the top or bottom surface of the transparent or translucent plastic deck.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2014Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: SUNSET SKATEBOARD COMPANYInventor: Jeremy Fissell
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Patent number: 9033348Abstract: A hand truck includes a noseplate; a pair of brackets positioned on opposite ends of the noseplate; a pair of wheels operatively connected to the pair of brackets; a frame upwardly extending from the pair of brackets. The frame includes a horizontal cross bar extending from a first bracket of the pair of brackets to a second bracket of the pair of brackets. A pair of connection bars upwardly extend at an angle from the horizontal cross bar and connect at a confluence point. A single vertical bar upwardly extends from the confluence point. A handle operatively connects to a top of the single vertical bar. A pair of arms extends from the single vertical bar. The pair of arms rotate between a first position and second position. The first position is 0° from the single vertical bar. The second position is 90° from the single vertical bar.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2014Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: JaVa Industries LLCInventor: Jacqueline M. Vadnais
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Patent number: 9022410Abstract: A ski binding device for fastening a boot on a ski is described. The device includes a toepiece and a heelpiece fixed to the ski and structured to selectively retain the boot. The heelpiece includes a turret and a hooking projecting appendix (“HPA”) that juts out from the turret towards the toepiece while remaining substantially parallel to a first reference axis. The turret having a lower casing which is fixed on a fastening base of the toepiece and a titlable upper casing resting hingedly connected thereto to the lower casing. The HPA protrudes from the titlable upper casing while remaining substantially parallel to the first reference axis, and the heelpiece includes a programmed-release locking means structured to lock and retain the upper casing until the titling torque transmitted to the upper casing exceeds a predetermined threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Tasci S.R.L.Inventor: Roberto Giordani
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Patent number: 9016412Abstract: A vehicle is provided including a battery module, a DC/DC converter module portioned from the battery module, a duct, one blower, and a jumper duct. The battery module includes inlet and outlet ports. The DC/DC converter module includes inlet and outlet ports. A duct is arranged to direct cooling air into each of the inlet ports. The blower is arranged to draw cooling air from the duct, through the modules, and out the outlet ports. The jumper duct is arranged up stream of the blower with the converter outlet port, and configured to reduce an effective cross sectional area of the converter outlet port to define a flow rate of the cooling air into the battery inlet port.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Suriyaprakash Ayyangar Janarthanam, LeeAnn Wang, James George Gebbie