Patents Examined by David M. Fenstermacher
  • Patent number: 11078996
    Abstract: A driver can axially rotate and axially extend and retract a driving target. A driver includes a body, a shaft including a threaded portion, a motor that rotates the shaft, and a hollow cylinder through which the shaft extends, movable in Z-direction, and restricted from rotating relative to the body, a camera module rotatably supported on the hollow cylinder and movable in Z-direction with the hollow cylinder, a coil spring that urges the hollow cylinder in the positive Z-direction, a nut screwed with the threaded portion of the shaft and movable in Z-direction while restricting movement of the hollow cylinder in Z-direction, and a clutch engageable with the nut to restrict movement of the nut in Z-direction and rotatable with the camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yosuke Momose
  • Patent number: 11073206
    Abstract: A shift device includes a shift main body, an operation body, a resilient engaging member and a restricting portion. The shift main body structures a shift body, which is moved to change a shift position. A first engaging portion is provided at the shift main body. The operation body structures the shift body, and is operated to move the shift body. A second engaging portion is provided at the operation body. The engaging member engages with the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion and restricts detachment of the operation body from the shift main body. When the engaging member is pushed, the engaging member deforms and releases the engagement with the first engaging portion or the second engaging portion. The restricting portion restricts pushing of the engaging member after the engagement of the engaging member with the first engaging portion or second engaging portion has been released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Daichi Nonogawa, Hirofumi Ide
  • Patent number: 11073205
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a vehicle shift lever assembly includes a shift lever movable about a first pivot axis within a first shift path having multiple shift positions, and movable about a second pivot axis to a second shift path having at least one shift position, and the second pivot axis is not parallel to the first pivot axis, and a sensor element coupled to the shift lever for movement with the shift lever. The sensor element is oriented in a different position when the shift lever is in each of the shift positions in the first shift path and each of the shift positions of the second shift path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: DUS OPERATING INC.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Jiran, Dale A. Beattie, Alberto Polonio
  • Patent number: 11073197
    Abstract: A driving block, a linear actuator and an adjusting apparatus are provided. The adjusting apparatus comprises an executing mechanism and a linear actuator. The linear actuator comprises a driving block and a spindle. The driving block comprises a base, a changeover unit, a fastener and a limit unit. The base is in transmission connection with the spindle. The changeover unit includes a first mounting portion, a second mounting portion and a connecting portion. The first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are oppositely disposed on the base and are both connected with connecting portion. The first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are connected to the base by the fastener. The connecting portion is engaged with the executing mechanism, and the limit unit is used to restrict movement of the changeover unit relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: LIMOSS (DONGGUAN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Christian Gassner
  • Patent number: 11067156
    Abstract: A friction brake assembly includes a brake housing; an input coupling element; an output coupling element; and a torsion spring. The input coupling element has an axial protrusion forming a partial cylinder wall with an angular gap over a defined angular range. The output coupling element has a projection protruding into the at least one angular gap, wherein the projection has an angular width smaller than the angular gap; wherein the torsion spring is a coil spring with coil ends forming two radially inward pins protruding into the angular gap in the input coupling element between the partial cylinder wall and the projection so that the projection is between the two inward pins. The torsion spring has a diameter that expands to form a friction lock with a surrounding cylindrical wall when the projection of the output coupling element engages and moves either one of the inward pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Hi-Lex Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: John Heiberger, Favad Shah
  • Patent number: 11067154
    Abstract: A toroidal continuously variable transmission includes a first disc and a second disc disposed so that the first disc and the second disc are rotatable around a common rotational axis line, the first disc and the second disc facing each other; a power roller which is tiltably disposed between the first disc and the second disc; a pressing device of a loading cam type, the pressing device including a cam plate which is rotatable around the rotational axis line, and a roller unit including at least one roller sandwiched between a cam surface of the second disc and a cam surface of the cam plate; and a cam plate support supporting a back surface of the cam plate, the back surface being opposite to the cam surface of the cam plate, at a radial position conforming to a radial position of at least a portion of the roller unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kippei Matsuda, Hideyuki Imai, Kenichiro Tanaka, Tetsuya Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11067155
    Abstract: A spindle drive assembly includes a threaded spindle rotatable about a spindle axis; a threaded spindle nut disposed on the threaded spindle and configured to travel along the spindle axis via a rotation of the spindle; a ball stud attached to the spindle nut, the ball stud extending radially away from the spindle nut; an attachment plate configured to be attached to a part to be moved; and a ball socket connected to the attachment plate and having a cavity dimensioned for receiving the ball stud. The cavity of the ball socket has a first diameter in a direction perpendicular to the spindle axis and a second diameter parallel to the spindle axis, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Hi-Lex Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: John Heiberger, Favad Shah, Ryan Bellaver, Steve Brinck
  • Patent number: 11060592
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a linear actuator comprising a console (2), an outer tube connected to the console, an electric motor, a transmission, and a spindle in connection with the transmission. The linear actuator comprises a spindle nut on the spindle and an inner tube connected to the spindle nut. The spindle nut and the inner tube are guided inside the outer tube. For mounting the linear actuator, a rear end is equipped with a rear mounting (5) and a front end of the inner tube is equipped with a front mounting. In such a linear actuator the rear mounting should be mounted to the housing in a simple manner. To this end, the console (2) comprises a first fixing geometry (18) having a number of first fingers (19) distributed in the circumferential direction around the axis and the rear mounting (5) comprises a second fixing geometry (20) as negative form of the first fixing geometry, wherein the first fixing geometry and the second fixing geometry form an overlapping region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: LINAK A/S
    Inventors: Brian Schewe, Martin Kahr Knudsen, Henrik Skovby, René Sørensen
  • Patent number: 11052970
    Abstract: A control device for a bicycle is arranged or can be arranged on the handlebar of the bicycle and serves to wirelessly drive at least one electronic, electrical, electromechanical or electrohydraulic component of the bicycle. The control device includes an operator control arrangement which has at least one manually operable operator control element and is designed to respond to operation of the operator control element and to output electrical signals which represent the operation. The control device also includes at least one electronic circuit arrangement comprising a radio communication circuit and a control circuit which is connected or can be connected to the operator control arrangement. The control device also may include at least one antenna which is connected or can be connected to the radio communication circuit or which is integrated into the said communication circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SRAM DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Jochen Bierwerth, Thorsten Hamisch, Alexander Linke, Mason Pluimer, Sven Baumann, Wolfram Frank, Chris Hilton
  • Patent number: 11047456
    Abstract: A variator for a mechanical transmission system is disclosed. Transfer means are in rolling contact with input and output members of the variator to transfer rotary motion between them. The input member is coupled to the variator input through a first biasing device arranged to exert a first biasing force on the variator according to a first, input gain which relates input torque acting on the input member and the first biasing force. The output member is coupled to the variator output through a second biasing device arranged to exert a second biasing force on the variator according to a second, output gain which relates output torque acting on the output member and the second biasing force. The first and second biasing forces clamp the variator to provide traction. The first, input gain and second, output gain are different, which, at least in specific variator applications, optimises the traction coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.
    Inventors: John Fuller, David Burtt, Michael Holmes
  • Patent number: 11041559
    Abstract: The present device includes gears with bending compliance in the outer portion of the gear teeth to reduce gear noise. The present device reduces the variation in gear stiffness by introducing bending compliance in the outer portion of the gear tooth, by way of a cutout or relief area in the distal end of the tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: 1-UP DESIGN AND CONSULTING, LLC
    Inventor: Joshua Tyler Elder
  • Patent number: 11041550
    Abstract: A toroidal continuously variable transmission including input and output discs disposed to face each other so that a rotational axis of the input disc and a rotational axis of the output disc conform, each of the discs having a concave contact surface; a power roller sandwiched between the contact surfaces of discs so that the power roller is tiltable, the power roller transmitting a rotational driving force of the input disc to the output disc with a transmission ratio corresponding to a tilt motion angle; and a pressing device which presses one of the discs toward the other. When viewed from a direction of a tilt motion axis lof the power roller, the contact surface of at least one of discs has a region with a curvature that is larger than a curvature of a tilt motion trajectory of a contact surface of the power roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kippei Matsuda, Hideyuki Imai, Kenichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11035459
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement to cool the rollers of a toroidal CVT is described herein. The cooling arrangement includes nozzles so configured and sized as to project cooling fluid onto the edge and onto the opposite top and bottom surfaces of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Inventors: Kenneth Huston, Mathieu Guertin, François Messier, Rémi Tremblay
  • Patent number: 11035446
    Abstract: Linear actuator comprising a reversible electric motor (20), a transmission (21), a non-self-locking spindle (22), where the reversible electric motor (20) through the transmission (21) drives the non-self-locking spindle (22) and a spindle nut (23) on the spindle (22). The actuator further comprises an adjustment element (24) secured against rotation and where the adjustment element (24) can be moved axially, as it is connected to or integrated with the spindle nut (23) on the spindle (22). Further, that actuator comprises position means for determining the position of the spindle nut (23), brake means for controlling the speed of the spindle nut (23) under the external load. Between the brake means and the spindle there is a coupling in connection with the position means for determining the position of the spindle nut (23). The coupling engages the brake means to the spindle or disengages the brake means from the spindle, when the spindle nut (23) is in a predetermined position on the spindle (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: LINAK A/S
    Inventor: Asger Mengel
  • Patent number: 11028261
    Abstract: Provided is a separator having excellent chemical resistance, impact resistance, and productivity. A bearing retainer (1) is a separator that is interposed between two spheres adjacent to and moving in conjunction with each other for retaining the spheres configured to be movable in conjunction with and apart from each other and is formed from a resin composition containing a fluororesin which is a polymer of a monomer containing vinylidene fluoride as a main component. The bending modulus of elasticity of the resin composition is 1600 MPa or less, and the Charpy impact strength of the resin composition is 26 kJ/m2 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignees: Kureha Gohsen Co., LTD., THK Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Mimori, Yasuaki Takaiwa, Kenichi Saitoh, Masahiro Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11028909
    Abstract: The improved gearbox mechanism of the present invention includes a plurality of cam-actuated simplified gear block assemblies, which transfer power from a power shaft to a secondary or output gear element. Each gear block assembly includes a gear block having a surface that periodically interfaces with a secondary or output gear element. In a preferred embodiment the interface surface comprises a plurality of projections or teeth which correspond to complementary projections or gear teeth on the output gear element. Each gear block assembly further includes a gear block, a torque lever arm, cam followers and/or a socket, which connect or link the gear block to a cam assembly, which in turn is connected to a power source. The cam assembly includes about its circumference a unique pathway or groove for each linkage assembly of a particular gear block assembly so that the movement of the gear block may be controlled in two dimensions in accordance with a certain design parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: MOTUS LABS, LLC
    Inventor: Carlos A. Hoefken
  • Patent number: 11028910
    Abstract: The improved gearbox mechanism of the present invention includes a plurality of cam-actuated gear block assemblies, which transfer power from a power shaft to a secondary or output gear element. Each gear block assembly includes a gear block having a surface that periodically interfaces with a secondary or output gear element. In a preferred embodiment the interface surface comprises a plurality of projections or teeth which correspond to complementary holes, projections or gear teeth on the output gear element. Each gear or torque block assembly further includes pivot assemblies, which connect or link the torque block to a cam assembly, which in turn is connected to a power source. The cam assembly comprises a set of corresponding cam elements arranged in a tandem configuration and having a unique circuitous pathway or groove formed therein so that the movement of the torque block may be controlled in three dimensions in accordance with a certain design parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: MOTUS LABS, LLC
    Inventor: Carlos A. Hoefken
  • Patent number: 11026804
    Abstract: An improved mechanism for expanding or lifting a device in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention is a coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanism. In various embodiments, coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms includes a post with a threaded exterior surface and a corresponding sleeve configured to surround the post, the corresponding sleeve having a threaded interior surface configured to interface with the threaded exterior surface of the post and a geared exterior surface. A drive mechanism can be configured to interface with the geared exterior surface of the sleeve, causing a device utilizing such a mechanism to expand or lift between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: SpineX Tec, LLC
    Inventors: Omar F. Jimenez, Nicholas Ransom Powley, Andrew G. Fischer, Yefim Safris
  • Patent number: 11027767
    Abstract: A rack bar blank for a steering system includes a first region having a first diameter. The rack bar blank also includes a second region having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter prior to formation of teeth on the second region and a ball screw thread on the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Augustine, Kevin P. Douglas, Gary V. Weiss, William H. Georges
  • Patent number: 11015685
    Abstract: The gearbox mechanism includes a plurality of cam-actuated rocker block assemblies, for transferring power to an output gear. Each rocker block assembly includes a gear pad having a surface that periodically interfaces with the output gear. The interface surface comprises a plurality of projections which correspond to complementary projections on the output gear. Each rocker block assembly further includes a gear pad, a rocker arm, cam followers and/or path followers, which connect or link the rocker block to a cam assembly, which in turn is connected to a power source. The cam assembly includes about its circumference a unique pathway or groove for each cam followers and/or a second unique pathway or groove in the cam's planar surface for the pathway follower so that the movement of the gear block may be controlled in two or three dimensions in accordance with a certain design parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: MOTUS LABS, LLC
    Inventors: Carlos A. Hoefken, Barry F. Koch