Patents Examined by Chiedu A Chibogu
  • Patent number: 8430365
    Abstract: A tube retention block assembly having a support body incorporating one or more tube support passageways of discontinuous character extending across the support body. A displaceable retaining yoke member is adapted for insertion into a slot disposed transverse to the tube support passageways. The retaining yoke member includes one or more engagement cradles adapted to at least partially surround and lock in place tubes extending through the tube support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Benoit, Christopher M. Pangallo, Brian Peek
  • Patent number: 8387730
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle being driven by an electric motor is disclosed. The motor is operably configured to deliver mechanical power through an automatic transmission to at least one vehicle drive wheel to cause an acceleration of the vehicle. The method involves coupling the engine to the motor to cause an inertial load on the motor thus causing the motor to decelerate to a reduced rotational speed to provide a starting torque to the engine for starting the engine, and causing the automatic transmission to change gear ratio to a target gear ratio associated with the reduced rotational speed while causing the motor to decelerate, the motor being operable to deliver increased torque at the reduced rotational speed, thereby generally maintaining the acceleration of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Azure Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicolas Louis Bouchon
  • Patent number: 8342275
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle is provided that can suppress uneven torque. The fuel cell vehicle 1 includes a motor 4; a fuel cell 10; a battery 3; a battery drive unit 21 for driving the motor 4 using electricity from the battery 3 so as to serve as an battery drive mode, in which case the initialization of the fuel cell 10 to generate electricity is not complete; a fuel cell drive unit 22 for driving the motor 4 using electricity from the fuel cell 10 and battery 3 so as to serve as a fuel cell drive mode, in which case the initialization of the fuel cell 10 to generate electricity is complete; and a torque upper limit control unit 23 for controlling a torque upper limit value of the motor 4 under the battery drive mode and fuel cell drive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuniaki Ojima, Yoshikazu Murakami, Dai Saitoh
  • Patent number: 8317212
    Abstract: To provide a motorcycle having a rear fender that effectively prevents a rear wheel, for example, from splashing mud and may support a light stably in accordance with various embodiments. For example, a motorcycle is disclosed for an embodiment having a rear fender that covers a rear wheel, and lights supported by the rear fender. The rear fender includes a support portion that supports the lights, and a lower mudguard extending downward from the support portion, and a dented portion is formed on a surface thereof between the support portion and the lower mudguard to extend to one edge of the rear fender in a motorcycle width direction from the other edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuuta Kobayashi, Tetsuya Hanai
  • Patent number: 8302927
    Abstract: A tool and method for holding a rotary lawnmower in a tilted position to expose the underside of its deck for maintenance, comprising a bracket having an anchoring portion and a receiving pocket joined to the anchoring portion, the anchoring portion being adapted to be operatively mounted on a vertical wall or post surface or held down at or near a floor or ground level, the receiving pocket being arranged when the anchoring portion is operatively mounted to receive a horizontal hand grip of the distal end of a lawnmower handle, and a lock member deployable on said bracket to selectively retain or release the hand grip in or from the receiving pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventor: Arthur A. Wright
  • Patent number: 8256561
    Abstract: In one aspect, the vehicle is a relatively small-sized utility vehicle and includes front and rear wheels on the right and left sides of a body of the vehicle. A seat is located substantially midway between the front and rear wheels. At least part of a power unit is disposed in the space under the seat. The power unit includes an engine having a crank shaft and a transmission to which power is input from the output portion of the engine through a first power train. The crank shaft includes a rotational mass, and at least a portion of the transmission is located in the space below a swept area of the rotational mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigehiro Mochizuki, Kazutaka Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8251341
    Abstract: A flat-panel display monitor is disclosed. The flat-panel display monitor comprises a display body comprising a support portion formed at an edge thereof; and a support stand connected to the display body so that the support portion of the display body and the support cooperatively support the flat-panel display monitor, the support stand comprising a support member comprising a base portion and two arched plates extending from an end of the base portion; two friction members, each of the two friction members is rotatably clamped by each of the two arched plates; a first connecting bracket connected to first of the two friction members; and a second connecting bracket connected to second of the two friction members, wherein the second connecting bracket is detachably attached to the first connecting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Xin Wang, Chao-Zhong Fu, Jian Li
  • Patent number: 8245986
    Abstract: A support stand includes a support body, a connecting member, a fastening assembly. The support body defines an assembling hole. The connecting member is received in the assembling hole of the support body, and defines an engaging hole. The fastening assembly is positioned on the support body. The fastening assembly includes a follower. The follower has a positioning pole. The follower is movably connected to the support body, so that the positioning pole is capable of engaging/disengaging in the engaging hole of the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lian-Cheng Huang, Jin-Xin Wang
  • Patent number: 8240619
    Abstract: A cable bracket may be stamped from sheet material and folded to form a generally rectangular cable bracket suitable for attachment to, or within a wall or other construction space. The cable bracket may releasable secure multiple cables and or conduits. Two or more spring elements may be formed in the bracket to control and secure the cables within the bracket. A cable bracket may be secured to a metal, wood or concrete building element using any suitable fastener such as screws, nails, rivets and or bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Orbit Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: David Nikayin
  • Patent number: 8220766
    Abstract: A guard for with a furniture element is provided. The furniture element has a perimeter with an edge portion and a bottom surface. The guard includes a movable rail, a support member and a resilient connection member. The movable rail extends along a portion of the furniture element and is spaced apart therefrom. The support member is connected to the rail and the bottom surface of the furniture element. The resilient connection member connects the support to the furniture element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventor: Paul Henry Fuoss
  • Patent number: 8167064
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular drive apparatus including an engine and a motor is provided. The control apparatus includes a controller that determines the operating point of the engine and the operating point of the motor based on the characteristic of the vehicular drive apparatus. When at least one of the operating point of the motor and the operating point of the engine is in at least one of a motor noise occurrence region and a gear noise occurrence region, the controller changes the at least one of the operating point of the motor and the operating point of the engine so that the at least one of the operating point of the motor and the operating point of the engine avoids the at least one of the motor noise occurrence region and the gear noise occurrence region. This suppresses at least one of motor noise and gear noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Iwase, Takuma Kakinami, Atsushi Tabata
  • Patent number: 8141828
    Abstract: An assembly comprises a support table including a support table orifice; a insert plate within the support table orifice; and at least one mounting and leveling apparatus. The mounting and leveling apparatus comprises a clamp screw; at least two leveling screws; at least one mounting screw; and a mounting bracket that defines a first threaded hole that threadably engages the clamp screw, a second hole that receives the at least one mounting screw and a third set of threaded holes that each threadably engages one of the at least two leveling screws. The clamp screw pulls the insert plate towards the mounting bracket when tightened. The at least one mounting screw couples the mounting bracket to the support table. The at least two leveling screws are independently adjustable to allow a top surface of the insert plate to be precisely aligned with a top surface of the support table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Allen IP Inc.
    Inventor: Scott L. Clark
  • Patent number: 8141831
    Abstract: A connector for attaching a piece of flexible tubing to a pair of parallel brackets includes an arcuate bend support, front and rear clamping members, and at least one fastener interconnecting the front and rear clamping members. The clamping members are positioned on opposite sides of the brackets. The bend support includes a head rotatably received in a receiver in the rear clamping member. The head includes a collet sized to receive the tubing. A wedge is formed on the front clamping member in a position to engage the collet. As the fastener is tightened, the clamping members are drawn against the brackets and the wedge engages the collet to constrict the collet inwardly against the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sioux Chief Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Frank D. Julian, Truman J. Stegmaier, Joseph P. Ismert
  • Patent number: 8104786
    Abstract: A binding for fixing a shoe to a snowboard and the like comprising a base body that can be fixed to a snowboard and the like by an angular positioning disk with engagement of contact elements defined by the base body on the snowboard, elements for fastening a shoe being associable with the base body and elastic shock-absorbing elements being also associable and interposable between the snowboard and the like and the base body, the shock-absorbing elements at least partially surrounding the external lateral profiles of the rear region of the base body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Core S.R.L.
    Inventor: Martino Fumagalli
  • Patent number: 8083194
    Abstract: A latching mechanism capable of providing clamped retention to a vertical member, and a repositionable part support device and part support assembly employing said latching mechanism. The latching mechanism includes an enclosure having an open interior for receiving a vertical member and a pivotal handle that can be used to move a clamping roller out of contact with the vertical member during repositioning. A spring may be provided for otherwise biasing the clamping roller toward the vertical member. A support pin is located within the interior of the enclosure to engage a pin-receiving hole in the vertical member. The repositionable part support device and part support assembly may have a part support member that is affixed to and extends from said latching mechanism enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: John Sandusky, Ken Bollack
  • Patent number: 8074956
    Abstract: A support stand includes a support member, a friction member, a first connecting bracket, and a second connecting bracket. The support member includes a base portion and two arched plates extending from an end of the base portion. The friction member is rotatably clamped by the arched plates. The first connecting bracket connected to a first end of the friction member. The second connecting bracket connected to a second end of the friction member opposite to the first end. The second connecting bracket is detachably attached to the first connecting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Xin Wang, Chao-Zhong Fu, Jian Li
  • Patent number: 8061732
    Abstract: A child stroller is disclosed comprising two side frames bilaterally set, each side frame comprising a front leg, a rear leg, the upside of the rear leg being rotatably connected with the rear end of the front leg, and a handspike with the lower end connected to the upper end of the rear leg, a positioning device set at the joint of the handspike and the rear leg, a first crossbar set between the two front legs, a second crossbar set between the two side frames, a first locking mechanism set between the first and the second crossbar, the second crossbar being connected to either the handspike or the rear leg or to both. Being locked in unfolding state by the positioning device and the first locking mechanism, the side frame is mainly composed of a front leg, a rear leg and a handspike. The stroller frame is simple and little interference occurs when folding and unfolding the stroller frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Goodbaby Child Products, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhenghuan Song, Feng Liu
  • Patent number: 8020887
    Abstract: The invention describes a ski (2) or a snowboard in the form of a board-type gliding device (1). By reference to the width (13) of the gliding board body, at least one slot (14) is provided in its middle portion extending in the depth direction—arrow (15)—from the top face (7) of the gliding board body in the direction towards the running surface facing (10) and in its longitudinal direction essentially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the gliding board body. This at least one slot (14) is provided with a view to causing a cross-sectional weakening and reducing the stiffness of the gliding board body transversely to its longitudinal direction. Also provided is at least one geometry-influencing means (19), by means of which the cross-sectional shape or contour of the gliding board body is variable as a function of load and/or can be manually varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: ATOMIC Austria GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Riepler, Rupert Huber, Helmut Holzer
  • Patent number: 8002055
    Abstract: The drive control process of the invention sets minimum and maximum control rotation speeds Necmin and Necmax to a minimum engine speed Nemin and a maximum engine speed Ncmax of an engine. When output of a torque demand Tr* to a driveshaft is attainable, the drive control process performs the control to ensure output of the torque demand Tr* to the driveshaft in the range of the minimum control rotation speed Necmin and the maximum control rotation speed Necmax. When the output of the preset torque demand Tr* to the driveshaft is unattainable, the drive control process sets a performance-based minimum rotation speed Nmin and a performance-based maximum rotation speed Nrnax to the minimum engine speed Nemin and the maximum engine speed Nemax of the engine and repeats the series of control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiya Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7997593
    Abstract: In various exemplary embodiments, a cart for holding and transporting a portable blower includes one or more of the following: a rotary member configured to receive a housing of a portable blower; a cylindrical base member for supporting the rotary member; a tubular member attached at a lower end thereof to the rotary member and the base member in such a way as to permit the rotary member to be rotatable while supported on the base member; a handle attached to an upper end of the tubular member; and at least one wheel attached to the cart for guiding the cart over a surface. The cart may also include a tube locking member for adjusting the height of the tubular member, a cord retention system for securing the cord of the blower in place, a stand for holding the cart upright, and a tool storage member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Oleksiy P. Sergyeyenko, Kevin W. Covell