Patents Examined by Brodie Follman
  • Patent number: 9351889
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a wheelchair configured to reposition an occupant between a lowered and a raised position. The wheelchair can include a frame, a seat moveable relative to the frame, a drive wheel, and one or more pairs of arm assemblies. The arm assembly includes a wheel configured to move from a first spatial location when the wheel chair is operating on flat, level ground to a second spatial location that is different than the first spatial location. Arm limiters can selectively engage the arm assembly based on at least one of a seat position, position of the arm assembly and surface conditions of ground surface. The arm limiters can limit the range of motion of the arm assembly and sometimes other operational aspects of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Pride Mobility Products Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Mulhern, Stephen J. Antonishak
  • Patent number: 9352766
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for gliding on a surface with improved mobility are described. According to various embodiments, boards are provided which are configured to overlap. This innovative overlapping ability helps allow for versatile stance configuration and ensures that collision between the boards occurs between a base and an edge. This type of collision will generally result in a sliding action, allowing one board to ride up onto the top of the edge of the other board. This type of interaction reduces damage to the boards and improves riding experience. Boards with equal height nose and tail shovels are more likely to collide edge-to-edge in a disruptive manner. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Marlow Dynamics
    Inventors: Thomas George Marlow, John Titus Marlow
  • Patent number: 9352765
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for automatically rocking a stroller, comprising: a) an electronic unit for operating the device by providing commands to move said stroller in a forward and/or a backward direction; b) a motion wheel adapted to rotate the wheel of the stroller by friction; c) a rotor mechanically connected to said motion wheel for rotating said motion wheel according to commands received from said electronic unit; d) a control wheel that includes a wheel portion adapted to be connected to the wheel of said stroller and a corresponding sensor board adapted to sense the rotational movement of said wheel portion and accordingly to provide to said electronic unit information regarding the actual rotational movement of said stroller's wheel; and e) a power source for powering said electronic unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventors: Yehiel Vashdi, Shai Kahalani
  • Patent number: 9346350
    Abstract: An exhaust assembly that includes an exhaust pipe extending rearward from a vehicle into an exhaust passage, and a fascia coupled to the vehicle defining the exhaust passage. The exhaust assembly further includes a bezel defining an exhaust opening substantially aligned with the pipe, and a sleeve configured within the exhaust opening, which may define an exhaust plane. The sleeve extends rearward, flush or sub-flush, with the rearmost portion of the exhaust opening or exhaust plane, and substantially parallel to an exit portion of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erich James Nowka, Yahong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9346478
    Abstract: A collapsible golf cart comprises a frame member, a handle, and a carriage. The handle is pivotably coupled to the frame and the frame is pivotably coupled to the carriage. The carriage has a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels. The golf cart is moveable between an extended configuration in which corresponding ones of the front wheels and rear wheels are offset with respect to one another, and a collapsed configuration in which corresponding ones of the fronts wheels and rear wheels are substantially aligned with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Inventor: Kevin Kimberley
  • Patent number: 9346405
    Abstract: A retractable vehicle step is attachable to a vehicle or truck. The vehicle step facilitates access to a cargo hold, interior, or roof of the vehicle. 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: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Lund Motion Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Horst Leitner, Anthony Smith
  • Patent number: 9340222
    Abstract: A castor assembly structured for use in combination with or independently of a dolly assembly or other support platform, which may include substantially equivalently structured struts, wherein the castor assembly includes a one piece base comprising a housing and a head integrally connected to the housing and extending radially outward from one end thereof. The housing includes an open interior and a open end structured to movably retain a surface engaging roller ball therein. A retaining portion may be formed on said base in cooperative relation with said head so as to secure a support platform to the base when in a first operative position. A second operative position comprises said head disposed in engagable and at least partially supporting relation to an object while the base is not secured to or used in combination with a dolly or other support platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: Luca Buttazzoni
  • Patent number: 9340066
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel (1), particularly a partially light-metal wheel and/or a light-metal wheel for motor vehicles, essentially comprising a rim (2) and a wheel spider (3), wherein the wheel spider (3) is made of a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. According to the invention, the wheel (1) has a clamping ring (4). The wheel spider (3) can be fastened to the rim (2) by means of the clamping ring (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: BBS Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Roman Mueller, Thorsten Welte
  • Patent number: 9327752
    Abstract: The object of this patent is a device for fitting seats to the chassis of baby carriages. It comprises an anchoring mechanism at each side of the seat for securing the seat in corresponding recipient elements on the chassis of the baby carriage, characterized in that the recipient element is composed of a junction box into which the anchoring mechanism fits. This box rotates around a transverse shaft and has means to limit said rotation. The device can incorporate seats requiring a specific inclination for correct folding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: JANE, S.A.
    Inventor: Manuel Jane Santamaria
  • Patent number: 9328648
    Abstract: An exhaust assembly is provided that includes an exhaust pipe extending rearward from a vehicle into an exhaust passage, and a fascia coupled to the vehicle defining the exhaust passage. The exhaust assembly further includes a bezel defining an exhaust opening substantially aligned with the pipe, and a sleeve configured within the exhaust opening. The sleeve extends rearward to at least the rearmost portion of the exhaust opening and substantially parallel to an exit portion of the pipe. The exhaust opening may further define an exhaust plane tangent to rearmost portion of the bezel, and the sleeve may extend at least to this plane. An upper sleeve may also be configured to extend at least to a line tangent to the rearmost surfaces of an upper bezel and perpendicular to the upper sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erich James Nowka, Yahong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9327582
    Abstract: The present invention is aimed to provide a working machine provided with: a condenser unit including a condenser of an air conditioner and a cooling fan for cooling the condenser, the condenser unit being disposed in a side of a cabin; and a protection cover covering above the condenser unit, capable of reducing propagation to an operator side of an air intake sound caused by inhalation of air in the protection cover through an air intake vent when the cooling fan causes a wind. In this working machine, each of air intake vents for taking cooling air into the protection cover is formed in an upper surface side of the protection cover and in each of wall parts oriented in a direction opposite to a direction visible from an operator in the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Matsumiya, Kiyoshi Matsui, Shiro Watanabe, Junichi Fujiwara, Tsukasa Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 9320961
    Abstract: The present provides and a method of assembling a touring or cross-country binding, the touring or cross-country binding comprising: an engagement section for pivotal engagement of a ski shoe engagement pin, the engagement section including a stationary engagement part and a movable engagement part; the stationary engagement part comprising a base and a pair of protruding elements, wherein the distal part of the protruding elements are provided with a recess adapted to receive the ski shoe engagement pin; and the movable engagement part is a slider in sliding engagement with the stationary engagement part; an activation element adapted to move the movable engagement part between a locking position and a releasing position of the engagement pin; and a downwards pointing button arranged on the activation element to directly engage an opening in the movable engagement part, whereby the movable engagement part is sliding forward to the releasing position by a downwards force on the activation element at a positio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Rottefella AS
    Inventors: Even Wøllo, Thomas Holm, Øyvar Svendsen, Aksel Pettersen
  • Patent number: 9321472
    Abstract: A cart with a pair of wheels (14) connected via a tilt mechanism (16) on opposing sides of a cart body (12). The cart body is releasably attachable to a frame (99) of a pedal cycle or other tilt-cornering vehicle so that the pair of wheels function as front wheels of a tricycle configuration. When separate from the pedal-cycle, the cart (10, 100, 150, 170, 200) forms a free-standing cart with a tilt lock (18) deployed to lock tilting of cart body (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: AVIHU MAOR YAHLOMI INVESTMENTS LTD
    Inventor: Ofir Yadan
  • Patent number: 9315093
    Abstract: A battery module configuration structure for an articulated electric bus includes a vehicle body, a plurality of wheel shafts and a plurality of battery modules. The wheel shafts are respectively disposed on a bottom of the vehicle body. The battery modules are disposed in an interior of the vehicle body and correspondingly located at an upper area of at least one of the wheel shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: ALEEES ECO ARK CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Hsun-Sheng Lee, Neng-Han Yu, Chung-Wei Wen, Ching-An Shu
  • Patent number: 9314687
    Abstract: The invention relates to a roller ski having a suspension system incorporated into the front and rear regions of the main roller ski body. The suspension system allows roller-skiers to undertake roller-skiing on rougher pavement, asphalt or the like by reducing stress and/or discomfort to the roller-skier. In addition, the suspension system provides a skiing experience that more closely resembles skiing on snow by returning energy back to the skier in a manner similar to the effect that the camber of a snow ski provides to the skier. In addition, in one embodiment, the roller ski also includes a pressure sensitive ratchet system that simulates skiing using classical technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Rundle Sport Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Parent, Hugues Wanlin
  • Patent number: 9315070
    Abstract: A hub of a vehicle bearing device has a cylindrical portion and a flange portion. The flange portion has a pin hole formation portion, a reference position intermediate portion, separate position intermediate portions, and build-up portions. The reference position intermediate portion is formed between bolt hole formation portions. The first separate position intermediate portion is formed between bolt hole formation portions. The second separate position intermediate portion is formed between bolt hole formation portions. The pin hole formation portion is formed at the reference position intermediate portion, and has a hub side pin hole. A pin for fixing the hub and a brake rotor to each other is inserted into the hub side pin hole. The build-up portions are formed on the separate position intermediate portions, and are balanced in terms of weight with the pin-hole formation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Anno, Katsuyuki Harada, Alexander Schupp, Josef Altweck
  • Patent number: 9315206
    Abstract: A multi-function passenger carrier includes a carrier frame and a passenger compartment within the carrier frame, the passenger carrier including first and second means for attaching a first and a second accessory to the carrier frame. The carrier frame includes a security arrangement having a first blocking arrangement for blocking attachment of the first accessory to the carrier frame, a second blocking arrangement for blocking attachment of the second accessory to the carrier frame, first control means for controlling activation and deactivation of the first blocking arrangement, second control means for controlling activation and deactivation of the second blocking arrangement, a connecting member connecting the first control means with the second control means. The first and second control means are arranged to interact through the connecting member to cause the first blocking arrangement to be activated when the second blocking arrangement is inactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Thule Child Transport Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Wesley Fleming
  • Patent number: 9308870
    Abstract: A vehicle and a vehicle step apparatus are provided. The vehicle includes: a body; a door; and a vehicle step apparatus including: an extending and retracting device mounted on the body, a motor configured to drive the extending and retracting device to extend or to retract, a detector configured to detect an opening-closing state of the door and to generate a signal indicating the opening-closing state of the door, an emitter coupled with the detector and configured to emit the signal, a receiver configured to receive the signal from the emitter via a wireless communication, a controller coupled with the motor and the receiver respectively and configured to control the motor to drive the extending and retracting device according to the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: T-MAX (HANGZHOU) INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Huizhong Yang, Zhaobo Qing
  • Patent number: 9302573
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided including a battery pack with an exhaust port, an air extractor spaced away from the exhaust port, and other vehicle components. A cargo tub and one or more trim panels are arranged to define a duct spanning from the exhaust port, across the vehicle and to an air extractor spaced away from the exhaust port. Air flows along the duct en route to outside the vehicle via the air extractor. The vehicle may also include a cabin and an inlet to the cabin spaced away from the exhaust port. The cargo tub and one or more trim panels may also be arranged to define a recirculation path from the duct to the inlet such that a portion of the air exiting the exhaust port flows along the recirculation path to the cabin via the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Suriyaprakash Ayyangar Janarthanam, David Fabricatore
  • Patent number: 9296404
    Abstract: Embodiments of a conversion kit for a wheelbarrow include a wheelbase and a cross handle. The wheelbase has box frame including a pair of wheels pivotably connected to the frame. The wheelbase mounts to the wheelbarrow handles beneath the wheelbarrow tray. The wheels may be separated by a distance greater than the distance between the pair of handles at the back of the tray. The cross handle mounts to and connects the wheelbarrow handles behind the tray back converting the wheelbarrow into an easily handled cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas L. Bell