Patents Examined by Chi Q Nguyen
  • Systems and methods for user control of electronic chairs
    Patent number: 11682256
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vending machine and/or kiosk. The methods comprise: detecting a presence of a person in a seat of the vending machine; obtaining a full or partial body heat map for the person that was created based on sensor data generated by at least one sensor of the vending machine or at least one sensor located in proximity to the vending machine (the full or partial heat map showing relative temperatures of different parts of a body of the person); selecting at least one vending service parameter for the vending machine using information obtained based on the full or partial body heat map; and causing the vending machine to provide the person with a vending service in accordance with the at least one vending service parameter that was selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Ube Exsymo Co.. Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Ruggiero, Gregory Ruggiero, Matthew Marino, Jonathan M. Ruggiero, Patrick Rice
  • Floor covering, floor element and method for manufacturing floor elements
    Patent number: 11680414
    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: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventor: Mark Cappelle
  • Smart latch assembly with window regulator control
    Patent number: 11674339
    Abstract: A latch assembly for a closure panel of a motor vehicle and corresponding method of operation are provided. The latch assembly includes a latch housing for attachment to the closure panel and contains an actuation group to latch and unlatch the closure panel. An electronic control circuit that has a latch controller is disposed within the latch housing and is coupled to the at least one actuation group. The electronic control circuit includes a motor voltage and current sensing circuit for sensing a motor current and a motor voltage of a remote electric motor disposed remotely from the latch housing. The latch controller monitors and controls the actuation group and determine at least one of a motor rotational position and a motor speed of the remote electric motor based on at least one of the motor current signal and the motor voltage signal and controls the remote electric motor accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventor: Marco Marlia
  • Flap arrangement with a flap for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 11667336
    Abstract: A drive arrangement for adjusting a flap of a motor vehicle about a body including a motor, a drivetrain, and a freewheel mechanism. The drivetrain is disposed between the motor and the flap. The freewheel mechanism provided with a drive component including a transmitting element, and a driven component provided with a receiving element coupled to the transmitting element. During motoric movement of the flap between the closed and the open position over at least a portion of the pivot angle, the motor actuates the drive component and displaces the transmitting element, from a neutral position, conjointly with the receiving element along a displacement path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Inventors: Heino Schalyo, Christoph Haberberger, Vitali Wendland, Adam Laczo
  • Refrigerator with push-to-open door opener
    Patent number: 11668130
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a food storage chamber. A door is positioned on the cabinet and is movable between a closed position and an open position. A door opener includes a casing, a gear box, a sliding nut movable relative to the gear box, and a finger extending through the gear box. The finger is movable with the sliding nut. The door opener also includes a sensor. The finger extends outside of the casing to contact an inner surface of the door when the door is in the closed position and the door opener is in a zero position. The sensor is configured to detect movement of the door opener from the zero position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Tanner Davis Gunn, Michael Goodman Schroeder
  • Double door restraining device and method
    Patent number: 11661257
    Abstract: A double door assembly bottom restraining device and method provide stability to the double door assembly during manufacturing and shipping. The double door assembly bottom restraining device may be installed on the bottom of a double door assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: DOORFRAMER, INC.
    Inventors: Dave Vanderpan, Del Vanderpan
  • Handling of remotely triggered operation of a vehicle door
    Patent number: 11661785
    Abstract: A door assist system of a vehicle may handle a remotely triggered operation of a power door of the vehicle. The door assist system receives from an off-board system a door closure signal requesting the door assist system to activate closing of a power door of the vehicle. The door assist system further determines with input from one or more surroundings detecting sensors adapted to capture a surrounding proximate the vehicle, that an obstacle is in vicinity of the vehicle. Moreover, the door assist system refrains from activating closing of the power door when the obstacle is determined to interfere and/or potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door. A door assist system, and a vehicle comprising such a door assist system may perform the foregoing remotely triggered operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Kostas Chatziioannou
  • Powered opening module for a door closer
    Patent number: 11661786
    Abstract: A retrofit module configured for use with a door closer having a pinion. The retrofit module generally includes a case, an output shaft, a motor, and a control assembly. The output shaft is rotatably mounted in the case, and is configured for rotational coupling with the pinion. The motor is mounted to the case, and is operable to rotate the output shaft in a door-opening direction. The control assembly is mounted to the case, and is configured to operate the motor to drive the output shaft in the door-opening direction in response to an actuating signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Langenberg, Jason Fodstad, Adithya Gangadhar Shetty, John A. Wolfe, David V. Toloday
  • Switch arrangements for powered doors
    Patent number: 11634936
    Abstract: Switch arrangements for powered doors are disclosed. A door includes a panel and a track to guide movement of the panel between an open position and a closed position. The track defines a track slot extending along an exterior length of the track. The door further includes a sensor target to be carried by the panel within the track. The door also includes a sensor selectively attachable to an exterior of the track via the track slot. The sensor to detect the sensor target when the panel is in a first position. The track defines an aperture to be positioned between the sensor target and the sensor when the panel is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carl David Hardison, Daniel Vandermillen, Ryan Pfaff, Steven Campbell
  • Device and method for controlling vehicle
    Patent number: 11628803
    Abstract: A device for controlling a vehicle is provided. The device includes an input device for receiving a user input, a state sensing device for sensing a vehicle state change in response to the user input, and a controller configured to determine whether to apply a driving current of an actuator to a switching device based on the vehicle state change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Cornoration
    Inventors: Choong Seob Park, Min Jung Bae
  • Method for the production of panels from a board, press plate, method for the production of a board and board
    Patent number: 11629507
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing panels from a board which includes dissecting the board along predefined lines. The board includes a core material board and is laminated with a laminate material layer. The board is dissected along an impressed region running linear over the complete surface of the laminate material layer. Also disclosed are a press plate, a method for the production of a board having an impressed region, and a board for producing the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: XYLO TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Daniel Fahle, Uwe Lippert
  • Shingles with increased hydrophobicity
    Patent number: 11629496
    Abstract: A shingle including a substrate having a first surface defining an upper side of the shingle and an opposing second surface defining a lower side of the shingle; asphalt infiltrating the substrate to form a first asphalt coating on the first surface of the substrate and a second asphalt coating on the second surface of the substrate; a plurality of granules embedded in the first asphalt coating; a first hydrophobic material; and a second hydrophobic material that is a different composition than the first hydrophobic material and the second hydrophobic material comprises a metal stearate, wherein the lower side of the shingle includes a lower surface and the first and the second hydrophobic material are disposed on the lower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC
    Inventors: William Smith, Scott Schweiger, Jonathan Verhoff, Ozma Lane, Kevin Click, Daniel Buckwalter
  • Vehicle control device and method of operating an opening and closing body
    Patent number: 11624229
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes image capturing units, control equipment that extracts at least one living body from image information captured by the image capturing units and performs processing, and a door operating system capable of unlocking the doors of a vehicle and executing an opening operation for the doors. When a user of the vehicle is included among a plurality of the extracted living bodies and it is estimated that a predetermined type of living body is in contact with the user, the control equipment causes the doors to be operated in a first mode. When the user is included among the plurality of the extracted living bodies and it is estimated that the predetermined type of living body is not in contact with the user, the control equipment causes the doors to be operated in a second mode that differs from the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Morosawa, Katsuyasu Yamane, Haisong Liu, Seonghun Lee
  • Fenestration system with shimming seal
    Patent number: 11608673
    Abstract: A fenestration system includes a frame defining a sealing slot; a pane assembly assembled with the frame, the pane assembly defining an edge; a gap defined between the frame and the edge; and a fin seal defining a connector portion and a fin portion extending from the connector portion, the connector portion engaging the sealing slot, the fin portion extending across the gap and abutting the edge, the fin portion tapering in thickness between the connector portion and the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: WWS Acquisition, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Mazur, Cameron Miles Wyatt, Jacob Blackburn, Kraig Hoekstra, James J. Lee
  • Vacuum insulated refrigerator structure with three dimensional characteristics
    Patent number: 11609037
    Abstract: A method of making a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure includes positioning a core of overlapping stacked sheets of fiberglass mat in an envelope of impermeable barrier material. The core is pressed into a predefined three dimensional shape by pressing first and second mold parts together. The core is evacuated, and the envelope is sealed to form a three dimensional core having an airtight envelope around the core. The three dimensional vacuum core is positioned between a wrapper and a liner, and the wrapper and the liner are interconnected to form a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul B. Allard, Abhay Naik
  • Door for mobile living quarters
    Patent number: 11603701
    Abstract: A door is assembled from a plurality of straight lengths of extrusion, with the lengths of extrusion mated with corners at the top and bottom. The top corners are curved and interference fit to terminal ends of the top and side extrusions. The top and side extrusions have an opening into a cavity. As assembled, a continuous screen groove extends through the corners from the top, bottom, and side extrusions. The door includes transverse extrusions having an enclosed cross-sectional profile that are affixed to the side extrusions with alignment ends. The bottom corners interference fit to terminal ends of bottom extrusions and side extrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Dexter Axle Company
    Inventors: Randy A. Bickel, Grant J. Mikosz
  • Panel suitable for assembling a floor covering
    Patent number: 11603667
    Abstract: Panel suitable for assembling a floor covering by interconnecting a plurality of said panels with each other, wherein the panel has a substantially planar top side, and a substantially planar bottom side, at least four substantially linear side edges comprising at least one pair of opposite side edges, the panel having a layered structure which comprises a decorative top layer and a core layer wherein the decorative top layer and the core layer have a different chemical composition, wherein a reinforcement layer is positioned between the top layer and the core layer, and having a modulus of elasticity of at least 2 Mpa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Champion Link International Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Luc Martine Baert, Tom Van Poyer, Sven Boon
  • System and method for preventing interference between opposite sliding doors and wheel
    Patent number: 11598137
    Abstract: A system includes: a door opening/closing switch which receives, from a user, a manipulation instruction for opening or closing the door; a door position sensor which detects a position of the door; a steering controller which measures a steering angle of the vehicle; a door controller which receives, from the door opening/closing switch, the manipulation signal for opening or closing the door, receives door position information from the door position sensor, receives steering angle information from the steering controller, and determines that the door and the wheel are in an interference state when the wheel is not in an aligned state in which the wheel is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, when the user attempts to open the door; and a warning device which warns the user of a situation when the door controller determines that the door and the wheel are in the interference state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jun-Hyuk Kim, Hyung-In Yun, Hee-Tae Yang, Seok-Min Kim
  • System and method for adjusting a vehicle door relative to a vehicle body
    Patent number: 11591841
    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: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Uebel, Christian Herrmann
  • Power window operators, windows and methods
    Patent number: 11591840
    Abstract: Power window operators, windows including the power window operators, and methods of using the same are described herein. The power window operators may offer the ability to control the timing and/or speed of the lock/unlock motion relative to the open/close motions of the operator arm of the power window operator and, if provided, a sash being driven by the power window operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: ANDERSEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Plummer, Chad Wernlund, Justin Depew, Matthew Page