Patents Examined by Chi Q Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11970899
    Abstract: A mechanism for opening and closing an overhead door includes a drive loop coupled to the overhead door, a motor with a drive shaft and a drive wheel for driving the drive loop. A one-way bearing couples the drive shaft to the drive wheel, which one-way bearing is configured to transmit torque from the motor to the drive wheel, as the motor rotates the drive shaft in a first rotational direction to raise the overhead door, and configured so that torque is not transmitted to the drive wheel as the motor rotates the drive shaft in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. As a result, the motor applies torque through the one-way bearing to raise the overhead door and to support the weight of the overhead door while lowering the overhead door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Jerome Miles
  • Patent number: 11971153
    Abstract: Utility pole system having a battery storage housing defining a top portion, a bottom portion, and an interior volume with an access opening extending through the top portion; a pole with an upper end and a lower end attached to the top portion of the battery storage housing; and means for moving the pole from the first position where the lower end of the pole covers the access opening of the battery housing, and a second position where the lower end exposes the access opening. The utility pole system might also include electrical components powered by a battery provided in the battery storage housing, such battery charged by utility power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Comptek Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James D. Lockwood, Kenneth Michael Hoganson, Dana Anthony Castronova
  • Patent number: 11959326
    Abstract: A vehicle operation detection device includes processing circuitry configured to output a command causing an opening-closing body of a vehicle to open and close in reference to capacitances of sensor electrodes arranged so as to form a row. The processing circuitry is configured to determine that a first operation has been performed when one of the sensor electrodes of which the capacitance increases is sequentially shifted in a first direction from an operation start electrode and determine that a second operation has been performed when the shifting is performed in a second direction. The sensor electrodes include an adjacent electrode adjacent to the operation start electrode. The processing circuitry is configured to determine that the capacitance of the adjacent electrode has increased when the capacitance becomes greater than or equal to a second determination value that is greater than a first determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenta Enya, Takashi Kaino, Shiho Nakayama, Ryo Asami, Toshihiro Kaneda, Kenichiro Kagawa
  • Patent number: 11959328
    Abstract: A door drive device for adjusting and/or locking a vehicle door relative to a vehicle body including an adjustment member, a drive element operatively coupled to the adjustment member such that the adjustment member is movable with respect to the drive element for moving the vehicle door, a sensor device for measuring a measuring quantity indicative of a movement of the vehicle door to provide a sensor signal, a brake device operatively connected to the drive element for braking a movement of the vehicle door, and a control device for controlling operation of the door drive device. The control device is configured to compute, from the sensor signal obtained from the sensor device, an acceleration value indicative of an acceleration of the vehicle door and evaluate the acceleration value to distinguish movement of the vehicle door caused by a gravity force from movement caused by a user action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Bamberg
    Inventors: Takafumi Eguchi, Sebastian Vogt, Daniel Steiner
  • Patent number: 11958586
    Abstract: The integration of a hinged door with a door leaf in a non-pressurized aircraft. The non-pressurized aircraft includes a canopy frame with a canopy frame cross-section profile. The canopy frame cross section profile has first and second canopy frame faces that are arranged at a predetermined angle relative to each other, and a third canopy frame face that is arranged between the first and second canopy frame faces. The non-pressurized aircraft further includes a hinge that is entirely arranged within the outline of the non-pressurized aircraft and pivotally mounts the door leaf to the third canopy frame face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Trautmann, Eric Dersahakian
  • Patent number: 11955923
    Abstract: A solar tracker including at least one pair of piers configured to be secured in the ground and defining a span between the pair, a bearing supported on the pier, and a torque tube supported in the bearing such that the bearing enables rotation of the torque tube, the torque tube including a double wall thickness area, wherein the double wall thickness area limits deflection of the torque tube along the span.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLC
    Inventors: Ricardo Delgado-Nanez, Jacob Mark Morin, Alexander W. Au, Samuel Heller
  • Patent number: 11952824
    Abstract: A system for adjusting a vehicle door relative to a vehicle body including an adjusting device, a control device for controlling the adjusting device. The control device is configured to receive an operating command and control the adjusting device based on receiving the operating command, and a sensor device for detecting an object. The control device is configured to evaluate for the purpose of collision protection monitoring whether an operating command is received in a near area relative to the vehicle door via an operating device. For collision protection monitoring, the control device is configured to use a first recognition area in a first operating mode upon receiving an operating command via an operating device in the near area, and in a second operating mode to use a second recognition area different from the first recognition area when an operating command is not received in the near area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Bamberg
    Inventors: Wolfgang Uebel, Christian Herrmann
  • Patent number: 11945567
    Abstract: A one-piece fitting (56) for a stiffened panel (51) comprising a panel body (52) with a plurality of stiffeners (53, 54, 55) arranged thereon, the fitting comprising a fitting body (56) configured to be fastened, in use, to two or more of the stiffeners (53, 54, 55) so as to provide a junction to transfer load between the two or more stiffeners, wherein the fitting body further comprises an integral functional fitting (57) arranged for engagement with a component other than the stiffened panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Safran Nacelles Limited
    Inventors: Scott Lucas, Geoffrey Aubert
  • Patent number: 11946262
    Abstract: A panel for composing a floor covering or wall covering. A panel system including at least one panel. A method of composing a covering, in particular a floor covering, by using a panel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: i4F Licensing NV
    Inventors: Eddy Alberic Boucké, Pieter Renaat Karel Devos
  • Patent number: 11939808
    Abstract: An automatic door operator and a drive mechanism thereof are disclosed. The drive mechanism of the automatic door includes a planetary reducer driven by an electric motor, and a drive shaft driven by a planetary reducer. The planetary reducer includes a housing and a planetary gear train mounted in the housing. The planetary gear train includes a final-stage planet carrier configured to output torque, and a center of the final-stage planet carrier is provided with a torque output hole. A first end of the drive shaft is detachably inserted in the torque output hole and is non-rotatably connected to the torque output hole, and a second end of the drive shaft extends out of the housing. The drive mechanism of the automatic door operator is advantageous to the miniaturization design of the automatic door operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Assa Abloy Entrance Systems AB
    Inventors: Yong Chen, Jingfeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 11939810
    Abstract: A shower door sliding mechanism is disclosed, the shower door sliding mechanism including a track component disposed in a fastening manner, a movable door piece, a pulley component, and a flexible closer component which comprises a fastening bracket and a flexible closer, the track component comprises a track having a longitudinal passage. The longitudinal passage includes a positioning component receiving groove and a sliding groove. A glass clamp component is disposed at a top of the movable door piece, and the top of the glass clamp component is connected to a threaded hole in the pulley component by using an adjusting screw, so that the movable door piece is integrally suspended directly below the flexible closer component and the pulley component. The inner space of the track can be fully utilized to reduce the height of the track and reduce the weight and manufacturing costs of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Foshan Ideal Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wuxiang Wei
  • Patent number: 11933055
    Abstract: Floor covering, made of floor elements, which, at least at two opposite sides, comprise a male and a female coupling part, which allow that two of such floor elements can be interconnected at the respective sides at the respective sides by pushing one of these floor elements with the associated male coupling part, by means of a downward movement, home into the female coupling part of the other floor element, wherein at least one of said coupling parts, either the male coupling part or the female coupling part, is made as least partially in a filled synthetic material composite, such as extruded wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Unilin, BV
    Inventor: Mark Cappelle
  • Patent number: 11927020
    Abstract: A panel suitable for constructing a floor or wall covering includes a core comprising a mineral composite comprising a mineral and a filler. The panel further comprises an additive within the core in order to improve the flexibility and/or tensile strength of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Champion Link International Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Luc Martine Baert, Tom Van Poyer, Sven Boon
  • Patent number: 11927045
    Abstract: A fuel filler flap module of a motor vehicle includes a carrier, a fuel filler flap which is pivotably mounted on the carrier and is designed to be movable between a closed position and an open position, and a movement mechanism designed to move the fuel filler flap from the closed position into the open position and back into the closed position. The movement mechanism has a mechanical deployment element which is arranged on the carrier and which is designed to exert a deployment force acting into the open position on the fuel filler flap, wherein the movement mechanism has a motor-driven deployment means which is designed to push the fuel filler flap with an auxiliary force from the closed position up to an initial deployment position, which lies between the closed position and the open position, wherein the auxiliary force is greater than the deployment force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: HUF HUELSBECK & FUERST GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Wietkamp, Andreas Koch
  • Patent number: 11927043
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically opening and closing a trunk lid includes a drum member connected to a first cable and rotatably coupled to a drum bracket fastened to a hinge arm, a power latch cinching actuator including an output gear configured to be rotated by a motor embedded in a housing, and an elastic spring having a first end coupled to the drum member and a second end configured to be coupled to the trunk lid, wherein the first cable is coupled to the output gear and is configured to rotate the drum member in a first direction when the output gear is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Pyeong Hwa Automotive Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Hyuck Im, Jae-Hoon Chung, Doo-Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 11928896
    Abstract: A fare gate in a transportation system including a barrier, a sensor, and an actuator. The actuator moves the barrier from the open position into the closed position. The sensor is mounted on the barrier and in one position captures sensor data across an aisle formed by the fare gate. A transit user in front of the barrier in another position is identified by the sensor. The transit user passes through the fare gate using the aisle. The actuator moves the barrier from a closed position to an open position to clear passage through the aisle. Using the sensor, the aisle is scanned with a movement of the barrier. The sensor is calibrated based on a predetermined point with movement of the barrier to align the sensor and the predetermined point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Cubic Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Packham, Steffen Reymann
  • Patent number: 11920399
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a baseplate configured to be coupled to an interior side of an inswing door adjacent a pivot edge of the door; a rotatable closing arm with a first end and a second end, the second end coupled to a motor, the motor configured to be engaged in response to receipt of a signal from a remote electronic device; and circuitry electrically coupled between a power supply and the motor, the circuitry configured to wirelessly send and receive information to and from the remote electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: MASONITE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joel Sellinger, Benjamin Wesley Docksteader
  • Patent number: 11920397
    Abstract: A hatch actuating device can include a housing; a sliding portion received within the housing; a gear assembly at least partially received within the housing and movably coupled to the sliding portion; and a flexible drive element coupled to the gear assembly; wherein the gear assembly is configured to open a hatch lid of a hatch through rotation of a portion of the gear assembly by pulling of the drive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Tie Down, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. MacKarvich, Mohammed Aamir, Troy Daniel Hayden
  • Patent number: 11919745
    Abstract: A mounting device and a method for carrying out an installation process in a vertically extending elevator shaft of an elevator system include a carrier component, a mechatronic installation component and a displacement system. The displacement system displaces the carrier component vertically within the elevator shaft. The installation component is held on the carrier component and, at least semi-automatically, performs a mounting step as part of the installation process. The displacement system also displaces the carrier component horizontally in a shift direction within the elevator shaft between adjacent vertical car tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventor: Stefan Weber
  • Patent number: 11913273
    Abstract: Motorized door assemblies having a door pivoting about a pivot axis extending across opposing jambs. In one aspect, the assembly includes a motor assembly having a motor, drive gears, slip clutch, and driven shaft connected to the door to pivot it about the pivot axis. The slip clutch includes a clutch plate slideable along the driven shaft, a drive plate driven by the motor via the drive gears, and a clutch spring urging the clutch plate into engagement with the drive plate, where the clutch and drive plates have profiled and counter-profiled faces. In another aspect, a break beam emitter and receiver are mounted to respective ones of the opposing jambs along a beam axis extending parallel to the pivot axis and proximate to an edge of the door opposite the pivot axis. Interruption of a light beam projected therebetween alters operation of a motor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: APEX INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Craig Whitaker, Edward Leonard Weaver, II, Scott A. Zieker, Charles Eldon Warner, Ronald G. Knollman