Patents Examined by Daniel D Yabut
  • Patent number: 11467618
    Abstract: A foot pedal apparatus for use with a workstation operated by a seated user in controlling a robotic surgery system is disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a platform mountable to the workstation proximate a floor surface on which the workstation is located. The apparatus also includes a first pedal mounted on the platform and having an upwardly disposed actuation surface, and a second pedal mounted vertically elevated with respect to the first pedal and having an upwardly disposed actuation surface, the second pedal having at least a proximate portion vertically overlapping a distal portion of the first pedal such that the first and second pedals have a mounted depth in a direction away from the user that is less than a sum of the respective individual depths of the first and second pedals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Titan Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Chad C. Walters, Kyle R. Millard, Perry A. Genova
  • Patent number: 11466769
    Abstract: A gear unit to be mounted in a vehicle includes a housing for storing oil, a partition disposed inside the housing, and a helical gear. The partition defines first and second oil chambers and has a through-hole allowing the first oil chamber to communicate with the second oil chamber. The helical gear disposed inside the first oil chamber rotates during running of the vehicle and has an angled tooth that draws inner and addendum circles defining a virtual circumferential plane. The through-hole coincides with a portion of the virtual circumferential plane in a direction parallel to a central axis of the helical gear. When the helical gear rotates in conjunction with the running of the vehicle, the oil flows from the second oil chamber into the first oil chamber so that an oil level of the first oil chamber becomes higher than that of the second oil chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuya Kuramoto, Shunsuke Fukamachi, Tadao Inoue
  • Patent number: 11447172
    Abstract: A steering gear for a steering system of a motor vehicle includes a casing, a toothed gear, a pinion that meshes with the toothed gear, and a pinion shaft that comprises the pinion. The pinion shaft is mounted in a fixed bearing which comprises a rotary bearing in which the pinion shaft is received and which is received in a plastic bearing sleeve. The fixed bearing includes a pivot ring, which has outer and inner rings that are pivotably connected via one or more torsion webs. The torsion webs each extend through an opening in the bearing sleeve. The opening is defined by delimiting surfaces in which at least one of those delimiting surfaces is configured to prevent mechanical overloading of the plastic in the region of said delimiting surfaces as a result of contact with the torsion webs that are functionally deformed during the operation of the steering gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens-Uwe Hafermalz, Dennis Fuechsel
  • Patent number: 11442489
    Abstract: A joystick has a lever and a housing. The lever is pivotable around a pivot axis. The joystick has a support plate carrying at least one sensor. The sensor has at least one coil generating a magnetic field. An eddy current is induced into the coil. At least one metal flag is movable relative to the coil. The motion of the metal flag coincides with the tilting motion of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: METHODE ELECTRONICS MALTA LTD.
    Inventors: Allen Carl Bonnici, Andrew Portelli, Manuel Gatt
  • Patent number: 11433558
    Abstract: A flexible drive manipulator according to an example embodiment may include a proximal portion, a plurality of joint portions drivably connected from an end of the proximal portion with respect to a longitudinal axis, a distal portion connected to an end of the plurality of joint portions, a pair of drive wires passing through the plurality of joint portions in parallel along the longitudinal axis, the pair of drive wires configured to drive the plurality of joint portions in a rotational direction of rotation with respect to a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a fixing wire passing through the plurality of joint portions in a shape of converging along the longitudinal axis, the fixing wire configured to adjust rigidity of the plurality of joint portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignees: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, EASYENDO SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Dong Soo Kwon, Jae Min You, Joon Hwan Kim, Jeong Do Ahn, Han Soul Kim, Dong Hoon Baek, Dong Geol Lee, Ye Sung Yi, Un Je Yang
  • Patent number: 11428307
    Abstract: A hydraulically actuated transmission includes a reducing valve provided at a lubricant oil supplying circuit and configured to reduce a pressure of a lubricant oil having a predetermined pressure and output the lubricant oil with a reduced pressure; and a switching device (switching valve) configured to selectively switch between a first path and a second path as the path for supplying the lubricant oil from the reducing valve to a to-be-lubricated portion. The reducing valve is configured such that an output pressure of the lubricant oil from the reducing valve is higher when the second path is selected by the switching device, than when the first path is selected by the switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Ishiyama, Fumitoshi Sato, Hiroyuki Okayama, Masuhiro Kawakami, Tomokazu Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 11421775
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle transmission may comprise a housing comprising a bulkhead where the bulkhead may divide the housing into a sump and a reservoir. The bulkhead may comprise an opening configured to fluidly couple the sump and the reservoir. A plurality of transmission gears may be disposed in the reservoir of the housing. The opening in the bulkhead may balance the vehicle transmission system to remove excess oil in the sump and away from the plurality of transmission gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: David G. Reid, Fernando Sandoval
  • Patent number: 11420517
    Abstract: A brake pedal sleeve with a throttle protection function and for facilitating installation of the throttle protection, including a main bracket plate, an auxiliary baffle plate, a protection rod, an anti-slip rubber pad, a brake pedal and an adjusting screw; wherein a supporting head, a square hook strip, a main baffle plate and the anti-slip rubber pad are provided on the main bracket plate; the protection rod is provided with a connecting rod, a limiting ring and a limiting screw, one end of the protection rod supporting shaft is provided with a circular head, and the protection rod supporting shaft passes through a washer, a protection rod through hole, a supporting head through hole and an inner hole of the spring ring, and the main bracket plate and the protection rod are combined together; the installation of the present disclosure is more convenient, quick and more stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: CHONGQING INDUSTRY POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE
    Inventors: Tao Su, Bingyan Luo, Jingyun Ouyang, Dong Chen, Yuan Ge, Xiaoyi Gui, Gang Ouyang
  • Patent number: 11415205
    Abstract: A piece type ball screw in a screw shaft with a spiral external thread groove on an outer peripheral surface, a nut which is fitted onto the screw shaft and has a spiral internal thread groove on an inner peripheral surface, a plurality of balls rotatably arranged in a track path formed between the external thread groove and the internal thread groove, and a piece member which is attached to the nut and connects the internal thread grooves to each other. The piece member includes a piece body in which a return groove connecting the internal thread grooves is formed and a pair of engaging portions which are provided on the piece body, extend in opposite directions in a circumferential direction of the nut, and engage with the internal thread groove of the nut. A joint portion between the piece body and the engaging portion has a fillet shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Keitaro Oka
  • Patent number: 11409321
    Abstract: A joystick comprises an articulation comprising bearing faces that are shaped to permit, via shape-shape interaction when they rub against each other, a rotational movement of a handle. A first set of springs exerts, on the handle, a first vertical force that pushes the bearing faces against each other. A second set of springs exerts, on the handle, a second vertical force in the opposite direction to the first vertical force and the amplitude of which is between 0.9|F1| and 1.1|F1|, wherein |F1| is the amplitude of the first vertical force. The first and second sets of springs are able, in the absence of external stress on the handle, to maintain a non-zero clearance between all the bearing faces of the articulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: CROUZET AUTOMATISMES
    Inventor: Hervé Carton
  • Patent number: 11408499
    Abstract: A device (13) for transferring rotational power from a first shaft (14) to a second shaft (15), comprising an endless toothed belt (16) and a housing (17), wherein the belt (16) is arranged inside said housing (17) and is connectable to the first and second shafts (14, 15) for transferring rotational power from the first shaft (14) to the second shaft (15). The housing (17) comprises a first cavity (18) and a second cavity (19), wherein the second cavity (19) is separated from the first cavity (18) by means of a wall (20). The belt (16) is arranged in the first cavity (18) and the first cavity (18) is provided with a first liquid for contacting the belt (16). The second cavity (19) is provided with a second liquid, the second liquid being a cooling liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: OXE Marine AB
    Inventor: Andreas Blomdahl
  • Patent number: 11400896
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle including: a brake pedal configured to be able to operate a foot brake device; an accelerator pedal located on a right side of the brake pedal; a shift lever; a steering wheel; and a handbrake device which includes a brake lever extending in a front-rear direction and a grip provided at a rear end of the brake lever, and is configured to be able to manually operate and release a parking brake by a parking brake device. The handbrake device supports the brake lever so that the grip is movable between a first position at which the parking brake is released and a second position at which the parking brake is operated. The second position is set to a position at which the grip is recognized upon a start operation with any one of the accelerator pedal, the shift lever, and the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Teruaki Yamamoto, Sota Tsurumi
  • Patent number: 11391357
    Abstract: An adjustment device configured to move first bevel gear and second bevel gear that are disposed on base and are meshed with each other. Adjustment device includes first adjustment assembly, and second adjustment assembly. First adjustment assembly includes first fluid-driven power source, first brake component and first displacement sensor. First fluid-driven power source includes first cylinder housing and first piston. First cylinder housing is configured to be disposed on base. First piston is movably disposed on first cylinder housing. First bevel gear is configured to be disposed on first piston. First piston is configured to move first bevel gear along first axial direction. First brake component is configured to be disposed on base and configured to stop or release first piston. First displacement sensor is disposed on first cylinder housing and configured to generate displacement data related to first piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Lei-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 11391071
    Abstract: In a vehicle door latch device, ingress of rainwater into an outer cable of a Bowden cable is prevented. Vehicle door latch device includes: operation handle provided in a door; door latch mechanism attached in the door; Bowden cable having outer cable that is fixed at one end to the vicinity of operation handle and at the other end to door latch mechanism, and inner cable that is inserted into outer cable while being coupled at one upward end to operation handle and at the other end to release lever of door latch mechanism; and elastic cap provided at one end of the outer cable, having the corresponding one of cover portions in a cylindrical shape, extending in a movement direction of the inner cable extending from the one end of the outer cable, to cover the inner cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoharu Nagaoka, Sayaka Koyama
  • Patent number: 11376957
    Abstract: A vehicle shifter interface including a protruding contoured member including an outer surface having a first contour with a round shape and a second contour; a first set of capacitive touch sensor pads disposed on an inner surface of the protruding contoured member in an area underlying the first contour, the first set of capacitive touch sensor pads arranged to provide output signals in response to a rotary movement of a driver's fingers about the round shape of the first contour thereby indicating a change in gear selection; and a second set of capacitive touch sensor pads disposed on the inner surface in an area underlying the second contour, the second set of capacitive touch sensor pads arranged and configured to provide output signals in response to at least one of a position of a driver's finger on the second contour and a change of position of a driver's finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: GHSP, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Harris, Ian P. Sage, Eric W. Bryant, Todd M. Burghgraef
  • Patent number: 11372440
    Abstract: A joystick with a first casing that has a piece of a sensor/effector pair. A second section is attached to the first casing, where at least one of the first and second casings form a void within the first and second casings. A puck with a cylindrical shape is disposed within the void, where the puck has a piece of the sensor/effector pair. A shaft is connected to the puck, with a distal end free to move, thereby rotating the puck. The shaft passes through a void between the first and second casings, and as the shaft is moved and the puck rotates, an interaction between the pieces of the sensor/effector pair produces a signal indicating a degree of movement of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SURE GRIP CONTROLS, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen L. Leckenby
  • Patent number: 11371581
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper or torsional tuned mass damper having a rotating system having a primary mass, which is arranged, or preferably fixable for conjoint rotation on a rotatable shaft, such as a crankshaft of a motor, for example, in particular an internal combustion engine, and having a secondary mass, which is movable relative to the primary mass. An assembly for vibration dampening and/or tuned vibration dampening of the relative motion between the primary mass and the secondary mass is formed in part outside of the rotating system of the torsional vibration damper or torsional tuned mass damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Hasse & Wrede GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Steidl, Florian Knopf
  • Patent number: 11371561
    Abstract: A transmission housing (1) comprising a shaft (2) housed at least partially inside the housing (1) and, mounted on said shaft (2), at least one rotary element (3) and a rolling bearing (4), the rolling bearing (4) comprising an inner ring (5) and an outer ring (6) that are coaxial, separated from each other by rolling members (7). The housing (1) further comprises a blind or through tubular body (8) mounted on the shaft (2) and interposed at least partially between the shaft (2) and the rotary element (3), the rotary element (3) being mounted rotatably secured to the tubular body (8), and the tubular body (8) being kept rotatably secured to the shaft (2) by the inner ring (5), referred to as the constriction ring, of the rolling bearing (4), force-fitted onto said tubular body (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: FRANCE REDUCTEURS
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Brosset, Sebastien Bray
  • Patent number: 11366485
    Abstract: A multi-way input device includes a first interlocking member, a second interlocking member, a hollow frame within which the interlocking members are mounted, and an operating shaft inserted through both a slit of the first interlocking member and a slot of the second interlocking member. The device also includes first and second sensing components capable of being operated respectively through the first and second interlocking members when rotating by operation of the operating shaft, along with third sensing component capable of being operated through the second interlocking member when pivoting by operation of the operating shaft. The device also includes an articulation member that is rotatably supported by the hollow frame around an axis. The second interlocking member is supported by the articulation member to form a mobile unit that is rotatable. The second interlocking member is also pivotally mounted on the articulation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: C&K COMPONENTS S.A.S.
    Inventors: Frank Domzalski, Junbao Chen, Fred Zhang
  • Patent number: 11365778
    Abstract: A rotary device includes a rotatable member and a limiting member. The rotatable member includes a positioning mechanism, the positioning mechanism includes a stopping member and a positioning member. When the rotatable member rotates along a first rotation direction to make the limiting member abut against the positioning member, the positioning member is pushed by the limiting member to move away from the stopping portion and rotate relative to the stopping member, so that the positioning member to passes through the limiting member. When the rotatable member rotates along a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction to make the limiting member abut against the positioning member, the positioning member is pushed by the limiting member to move close to the stopping portion, so that the positioning member is stopped between the limiting member and the stopping portion, to position the rotatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: PEGATRON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chao-Yu Fang