Patents Examined by Erez Gurari
  • Patent number: 11685253
    Abstract: A drive axle system that includes first and second wheel end assemblies, a support structure, and an electric motor. A support structure supports the first and second wheel end assemblies and the electric motor. The electric motor has a rotor that is rotatable about a rotor axis. The rotor axis is disposed below a wheel axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Tomaz Varela
  • Patent number: 11684444
    Abstract: A height-adjustable kick bucket is disclosed. The kick bucket includes a receptacle, a base having one or more wheels, a support member that is extendable between a first length and a second length such that a height of the receptacle is adjustable between a minimum height and a maximum height, and a pedal movable between a first position when the receptacle is at a maximum height of the receptacle and a second position when the receptacle is at a minimum height. Additionally, a distance between the minimum height and the maximum height of the receptacle is at least twice as large as the pedal stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Fazel Yavari, Brian James VanDerWoude, Dennis B. Meyer, Whitney-Lexia Potts
  • Patent number: 11680626
    Abstract: An axle assembly having a countershaft transmission. The countershaft transmission may operatively connect a rotor shaft of an electric motor to a drive pinion that may be rotatable about a drive pinion axis. The electric motor and the countershaft transmission may be positioned on opposite sides of a differential assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Chetankumar Ghatti, Rodrigo Soffner, Christopher Keeney, Mark Smith
  • Patent number: 11679320
    Abstract: The present steerable wheel assembly incorporates a lean-to-steer mechanism into an inner race of a roller bearing, while a wheel is mounted to an outer race of the roller bearing. A shaft extending from the mechanism is attached to a body, and the mechanism acts to steer the outer race and the wheel about a vertical steering axis when the shaft is tilted about a horizontal axis. The mechanism can be a pivot joint, providing a linear steering response, or can be a lean-to-steer mechanism that provides a non-linear response where the steering action is not proportionally responsive to tilting over the expected range of tilting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Lean Steer Difference, LLC
    Inventor: Corey C. Smith
  • Patent number: 11673592
    Abstract: A cart for medical equipment includes a column supporting a platform for mounting a piece of medical equipment to the cart. A base including one or more wheels that support the column, and a handgrip at least partially encircling the platform. The handgrip includes an upper surface substantially devoid of openings and an opposite lower surface including one or more elongated accessory slots opening downwardly toward the one or more wheels. The one or more elongated accessory slots are configured to receive a portion of an accessory mount such that the accessory mount is slidingly adjustable along a length of the one or more accessory slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Mark Wright, Matthew Phillips
  • Patent number: 11667184
    Abstract: An hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) drives front wheels by a motor-generator via drive shafts by use of electricity generated by an internal combustion engine (ICE). A lower portion of the internal combustion engine is locate on a front side of a lower portion of the motor-generator in the vehicle body with being distanced therefrom. A steering gearbox is placed between the internal combustion engine and the motor-generator and located on a front side of the drive shafts. According to this configuration, driving stability, steering feeling, and noise and vibration can be balanced at a high level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Miyakawa, Toshio Enomoto, Koji Tanimura, Tadashi Nagami
  • Patent number: 11654949
    Abstract: A child stroller includes a stroller frame and a first seat. The stroller frame has two sections capable of being folded and unfolded relative to each other. The first seat is disposed on one of the two sections in a detachable manner. The first seat includes a supporting unit and a first seat frame. The first seat frame is adapted to hold the supporting unit. The first seat frame includes a seat hub, an upper seat tube and a lower seat tube. The seat hub is disposed on the stroller frame. The upper seat tube is disposed on the seat hub, and the supporting unit is slidably disposed on the upper seat tube. The lower seat tube is disposed on the seat hub and detachably connected to the supporting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Andrew J. Taylor, Robert E. Haut
  • Patent number: 11655749
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles that control the temperature of a device included in the vehicle are presented herein. The temperature of the device is controlled by ventilating the device with drivetrain air, such as transmission cooling air. In some embodiments, the device is at a greater temperature than the drivetrain air, which cools the device. In other embodiments, the device is at a lesser temperature than the drivetrain air, which heats the device. The drivetrain air is provided to the device through an exhaust duct coupled to the vehicle's transmission. The drivetrain exhaust air is preferably circulated by the transmission. The transmission may be a continuously variable transmission. The device may be an oxygen sensor that is coupled to an engine exhaust pipe. The oxygen sensor is thermally coupled to the engine exhaust and the engine exhaust pipe, which are at greater temperatures than the transmission exhaust air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Arctic Cat Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne L. Minnichsoffer, Jeremy B. Parsons
  • Patent number: 11643127
    Abstract: A child stroller apparatus includes a stroller frame and a stroller seat. The stroller seat includes a backrest portion fixedly connected with a first joining part, a seat portion fixedly connected with a second joining part that is pivotally connected with the first joining part, a coupling part pivotally connected with the second joining part at a side thereof opposite to that of the first joining part and adapted to connect with the stroller frame, a latch movable between a locking position engaged with the coupling part and an unlocking position disengaged from the coupling part, and a linking mechanism configured to movably couple the latch to the first joining part so that the backrest portion is rotatable in a folding direction to cause the latch to disengage from the coupling part and in an unfolding direction to cause the latch to engage with the coupling part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
    Inventor: Xiaojian Zhang
  • Patent number: 11643065
    Abstract: In a vehicle drive system using a motor for cruising, the connection node of serially-connected first and second batteries is grounded. The operation of an inverter is controlled so that the motor drive voltage is higher than the output voltage of each of the first and second batteries. A balance circuit balances the charged amounts of the first and second batteries by performing charge/discharge control between the first and second batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Furukawa, Ikuo Usami, Seiyo Hirano
  • Patent number: 11638845
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis, a front axle coupled to the chassis, a rear axle coupled to the chassis, and a stability system. The stability system includes a pair of front downriggers coupled to the chassis forward of the front axle and an outrigger assembly coupled to the chassis between the front axle and the rear axle. The outrigger assembly includes a pair of outriggers that are selectively extendable laterally outward at an angle relative to a horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Eric D. Betz, David W. Archer
  • Patent number: 11634038
    Abstract: A fuel cell system installed in a vehicle includes: a fuel cell; a secondary battery; a load including a drive motor and an air compressor; a fuel cell converter; a secondary battery converter; a failure detection unit; a first state determination unit; a reverse rotation detection unit; and a control unit. The control unit performs a limp-home traveling control that supplies electric power from the secondary battery to the drive motor when the secondary battery converter fails. When the vehicle is not in the first state, the control unit prohibits regeneration of the drive motor. When the vehicle is in the first state, the control unit supplies a reaction current to the air compressor. When the reaction current is applied and a reverse rotation of the air compressor is detected, the control unit does not apply the reaction current thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA-SHI, AICHI-KEN, JAPAN
    Inventor: Ryosuke Oya
  • Patent number: 11623676
    Abstract: Wheeled transport carts are described which are configured for transporting drain cleaning equipment such as drain cleaning machines and drain cleaning cable. The carts include engagement provisions that enable a drain cleaning machine to be affixed to the cart and preclude unintended separation from the cart during use or transport. The engagement provisions also enable the drain cleaning machine to be quickly and easily separated from the cart. Also described are methods of transporting such equipment using the carts. In addition, systems of the cart(s) with various equipment are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Ridge Tool Company
    Inventors: Katherine Hall, Glen R. Chartier, Harald Krondorfer, Scott Kruepke, Robert Skrjanc
  • Patent number: 11613286
    Abstract: A cart for medical equipment includes a base having one or more wheels, a column supported by the base, and a platform supported on the column and opposite the base. The platform is configured to mount a piece of medical equipment to the cart. The cart also includes an adapter plate securable to the piece of medical equipment and configured to releasably couple to the platform. The adapter plate includes a locking assembly having one or more handles that upon actuation releases the adapter plate from the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Mark Wright, Matthew Phillips
  • Patent number: 11607947
    Abstract: A hybrid power train structure for off-road vehicles (ATVs, UTVs and SSVs) uses an internal combustion engine (“ICE”) rotating a crankshaft through a continuously variable transmission (“CVT”) as a primary source of locomotion torque, but also includes a driving/generator motor which, in certain established conditions, can either provide an additional or alternative source of locomotion torque or can harvest electricity from the torque created by the internal combustion engine. The driving/generator motor is an axial flux motor of small size for its relative torque output, which can either be directly coupled to the CVT output shaft or, when additionally used as a starter motor for the ICE in an automatic ICE starting and stopping routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Zhejiang CFMOTO Power Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jiajun Li
  • Patent number: 11602682
    Abstract: Device and method embodiments for a rotation powered vehicle are described, the rotation powered vehicle being capable of converting a rotational motion of a platform pivotally secured to the rotation powered vehicle in either of two angular directions into a linear motion of the rotation powered vehicle in a single linear direction for the purposes of conveyance. In some cases, the angular motion of the platform may be slight when compared to the resultant linear powered stroke of the rotation powered vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: RXF Motions
    Inventors: Steven Craig Anderson, Philip R. Dinter
  • Patent number: 11597267
    Abstract: Powertrain, comprising an inverter unit comprising an inverter configured for converting direct current to alternating current and an inverter housing defining an inverter housing interior volume accommodating the inverter, and an electric motor comprising a rotor and a stator, the rotor defining a motor axis and the electric motor being configured for providing torque, and an electric motor housing, and a reducing gear unit comprising a reducing gear and a reducing gear cover surrounding the reducing gear, the reducing gear defining an output reducing gear axis, wherein the output reducing gear axis is parallel to the motor axis, and in that the reducing gear cover and the inverter housing are arranged at opposite ends of the electric motor with respect to the motor axis, and in that the inverter housing comprises a cut-out, wherein the cut-out defines a cut-out region fully contained within the convex hull of the inverter housing, wherein the cut-out region is disjoint from the inverter housing interior vol
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: BRUSA ELECTRONIK AG
    Inventors: Axel Krause, Pascal Haltner, Simon Islinger, Nikola Ivancic, Andreas Müller, Martin Breu, Lukas Böhler, Konrad Zegula
  • Patent number: 11597420
    Abstract: A foldable car seat carriage includes a frame unit and an engagement unit. The frame unit includes two leg frames. Each of the leg frames includes two legs pivotable relative to each other, and a driving mechanism. The driving mechanism has opposite ends connected pivotally to the legs at first and second intersections. The engagement unit includes two bayonets. Each of the bayonets has a linking portion connected pivotally to the driving mechanism of a respective one of the leg frames. For each of the leg frames, change of a distance between the first and second intersections of the driving mechanism and the legs during pivot action of the legs converts a position of the engagement unit relative to the legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Curtis M. Hartenstine, Andrew Ma
  • Patent number: 11599845
    Abstract: Methods and systems for autonomously delivering consumer items in disposable packages, in which the disposable package, with the consumer item inside, are carried under a wheel robot using a grabbing mechanism that holds the package under the wheel robot. The wheel robot straddles over the package to allow the grabbing mechanism access to the package during a loading process, and then straddles off the package at a delivery location after the grabbing mechanism releases the package with the consumer item inside. Releasing of the package can be done by lowering the package to the ground in a controlled manner, or by simply releasing the package above ground thereby dropping the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventors: Gal Zuckerman, Moshe Salhov
  • Patent number: 11584215
    Abstract: A drive unit includes: a rotary electric machine; a rotary electric machine case accommodating the rotary electric machine; an electric power conversion device electrically connected to the rotary electric machine and configured to convert electric power supplied to the rotary electric machine and electric power supplied from the rotary electric machine; and an output shaft extending out from the rotary electric machine case and configured to output power of the rotary electric machine. The electric power conversion device is arranged on one side of the rotary electric machine. The output shaft is arranged between the rotary electric machine and the electric power conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Sakurada, Takahiro Hagimoto, Toru Nakamura