Patents Examined by Frank B Vanaman
  • Patent number: 11707666
    Abstract: An adjustment mechanism for an electric power-driven shoe, the mechanism comprising a shoe sole (1) is presented, wherein a plurality of rolling wheels (2) are arranged below the shoe sole (1); a foot-positioning mechanism is arranged above the shoe sole (1) and is provided with an angle-adjusting mechanism for adjusting an angle between the foot-positioning mechanism and a lengthwise direction of the shoe sole (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Shift Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiancheng Zhang, Bojie Xu, Jianjun Li, Dongliang Song
  • Patent number: 11707978
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a prime mover and a fuel system. The fuel system includes a tank, a regulator, a first shutoff valve, and a second shutoff valve. The tank is configured to provide a supply flow of fuel. The regulator is controllable to provide a regulated flow of fuel to the prime mover by modulating the supply flow of fuel. The first shutoff valve is positioned to facilitate selectively disengaging the prime mover from the fuel system. The second shutoff valve is positioned to facilitate selectively blocking the supply flow of fuel provided by the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Grant D. Wildgrube, Clint D. Glunz, Shashank Bhatia, Bryan S. Datema
  • Patent number: 11700782
    Abstract: According to the disclosure a drive shaft connecting unit is provided. This comprises a vehicle-side drive shaft connecting device according to the disclosure and an accessory-side drive shaft connecting device according to the disclosure which can be releasably and interlockingly connected thereto and coupled therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SYN TRAC GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Putz
  • Patent number: 11691659
    Abstract: A wagon and catapult assembly provides a toy wagon that carries a detachable catapult. Assembly allows children to ride and operate the toy wagon, and also operate the catapult in a prone/sitting position, or while standing. The assembly comprises a toy wagon and a detachable catapult portion attached to the wagon. The toy wagon comprises mobile portion attached to a body portion to enable mobility of wagon. The body portion is foldable. Further the body portion has one or more fixed rear sidewalls and one or more detachable front sidewalls. The front sidewalls have a pair of leg depressions that enable the child to sit in a prone position while operating catapult and/or riding the toy wagon. An elongated handle pivotally and detachably attaches to the wagon for manipulating it and providing stability while operating the catapult. A seat detachably couples to the wagon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventor: Eric Ray Cardin
  • Patent number: 11691491
    Abstract: A drive train for an electric truck includes a gearbox and a gear box housing. The drive train further includes an output shaft extending in an axial direction across a wall of the gear box housing and powering a cardan shaft arranged outside of the gear box housing. At least one output gear is arranged inside of the gear box housing on the output shaft. At least a first and a second electric motor attached to the housing of the gearbox form a team of electric motors, wherein each electric motor includes a drive shaft extending parallel to the axial direction and being interconnected via an input gear to an output gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: DESIGNWERK TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Frank Loacker
  • Patent number: 11685531
    Abstract: At least one analog load sensor, such as a force sensitive resistor is situated between upper and lower seat structures to generate a signal correlating with weight placed upon the seat. A vehicle has multiple seats fitted with sensors. Weight related information is communicated to a processor and an optional display, along with seatbelt latch sensor outputs to communicate to an operator if any seats are occupied without seatbelt latched. A weight force threshold for each seat is adjustable in one embodiment to customize the system to accommodate occupants of different weights and non-occupant loads of different weights. Loading information for the vehicle, such as total weight of occupants and/or objects on the seats and location of these loads upon the vehicle can be calculated and utilized to ensure that gross vehicle weight rating and load center of gravity and related parameters are within acceptable ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: InterMotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan C. Mower, Erin M. West, Gregory E. Schafer
  • Patent number: 11685222
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a stabilizer bar including: a steering angular velocity detection unit configured to detect a steering angular velocity of a vehicle in operation; a steering angle detection unit configured to detect a steering angle of the vehicle; and a control unit configured to determine whether the vehicle is turning, based on the steering angular velocity information and the steering angle information of the vehicle, and perform clutch coupling by driving a clutch of a stabilizer bar having the clutch applied thereto, when it is determined that the vehicle is turning. The control unit decides a clutch coupling time period in response to an instantaneous turning velocity of the vehicle, and performs the clutch coupling in response to the decided clutch coupling time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheol Joong Kim
  • Patent number: 11685256
    Abstract: A powertrain torque roll restrictor includes a first bracket having an elongated body defining a first bracket opening at a distal end and a central axis, a second bracket coaxial with and adjacent to the first bracket, and a third bracket coaxial with and adjacent to the second bracket opposite from the first bracket, with the third bracket defining a third bracket opening cooperable with the first bracket opening. The second bracket defines a second bracket opening receiving the elongated body such that the second bracket is positioned about the elongated body. The powertrain torque roll restrictor further includes a first rubber element positioned between the first bracket and the second bracket, and a second rubber element positioned between the second bracket and the third bracket, with the brackets being configured to hold the respective rubber element in compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Mathai, Kevin Stark, Lin Zhu, Yuvraj Khairate
  • Patent number: 11680636
    Abstract: A transmission system has a housing including a wall and a gear support extending from the wall. The gear support has an outer surface and an inner surface defining a passage. The outer surface includes a seal receiving portion and a seal support axially spaced from the seal receiving portion. A seal is positioned about the gear support at the seal receiving portion. A sleeve is arranged on the outer surface of the gear support between the wall and the seal and a pump drive gear is mounted on the gear support and is supported by the sleeve. The pump drive gear includes an outer toothed surface, an inner surface, and a bushing arranged on the inner surface, the bushing extending about the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Clinton E. Carey, James M. Hart, Daryl A. Wilton
  • Patent number: 11679639
    Abstract: A machine for road work can comprise a frame, a plurality of ground engaging units, a plurality of vertically moveable legs, each leg connecting one of the plurality of ground engaging units to the frame, a pair of spatial sensors, such as global navigation satellite system (GNSS) sensors, and a controller configured to, in response to a three-dimensional signal received from each of the spatial sensors, activate at least some of the plurality of vertically moveable legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Conwell K. Rife, Jr., Eric S. Engelmann, Mark A. Tarvin
  • Patent number: 11679637
    Abstract: Systems and methods relating to the replacement of specific parts in farm equipment to thereby adjust the farm equipment's capabilities. To modify the ground clearance of farm equipment, especially sprayers with a strut type suspension, the spindles of the suspension system along with the air spring absorber are replaced. The original spindles are replaced with longer spindles while the air spring absorber is replaced with one that allows for an increased range of travel. As well, the fixed length linkage arms that connect the air height control valves to the suspension system may be replaced with longer arms. These longer linkage arms may be of a fixed length or they may be of an adjustable length. Alternatively, a replacement bracket may be used to allow for the reuse of the original linkage arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Steve N. G. Simon
  • Patent number: 11673608
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises an under unit which is equipped with a driving mechanism configured to rotate wheels of the vehicle, and an upper unit which is mounted on the under unit. The upper unit comprises an extension/contraction mechanism which is configured to extend or contract the upper unit according to a size of the under unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Yabushita, Keiichi Kondo, Kaori Takahashi, Jin Xin, Daisuke Mizushima, Satoru Ando, Takeshi Murakami, Yuchi Yamanouchi, Kenta Miyahara, So Sawahira, Rina Mukai
  • Patent number: 11667186
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body including a beltline and a rear wheelhouse, an input line assembly packaged about the rear wheelhouse, a component packaged about the rear wheelhouse rearward of the input line assembly, and a spare wheel stowed rearward of the rear wheelhouse. The component is secured by a permanent beltline-side attachment and a semi-permanent rear wheelhouse-side attachment. In response to rear impact, the body is configured to allow forward movement of the spare wheel, under which the spare wheel has a trajectory relative to which the component is between the spare wheel and the input line assembly, and relative displacement between the beltline-side attachment and the rear wheelhouse-side attachment, under which the rear wheelhouse-side attachment breaks against the beltline-side attachment, and the beltline-side attachment thereafter carries the component from between the spare wheel and the input line assembly relative to the trajectory of the spare wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing Noah America, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Graves, Chase A. Young
  • Patent number: 11660958
    Abstract: A multipurpose vehicle includes a stepless speed changer which is provided at one of lateral sides of a vehicle body with respect to an engine and a traveling transmission, an engine output shaft projected from the engine toward the stepless speed changer along a lateral direction of the vehicle body, a speed changer input shaft projected from the stepless speed changer toward the engine along the lateral direction of the vehicle body, and a first gear transmission mechanism provided between and across the engine output shaft and the speed changer input shaft and transmitting power of the engine output shaft to the speed changer input shaft. The multipurpose vehicle further has a PTO section provided at the side of the stepless speed changer with respect to the engine and forwardly of the stepless speed changer, the PTO section being operably connected to the engine output shaft via a second gear transmission mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Yasuda, Takashi Kuramoto, Kensuke Okabe, Hiroshi Takagi
  • Patent number: 11654971
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, land vehicles are provided as delivery vehicles and/or utility vehicles. A land vehicle includes a frame structure having a front cage that defines an operator cabin and a rear floor positioned rearward of the front cage. The frame structure supports a plurality of wheels to permit movement of the vehicle relative to an underlying surface in use of the land vehicle. An underside of the frame structure is disposed in confronting relation with the underlying surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Workhorse Group Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Wires
  • Patent number: 11642930
    Abstract: A vehicle height adjustment system includes: an input housing part having a space in which working fluid is stored; an input piston part positioned in the input housing part, the input piston part configured to move along a lengthwise direction of the input housing part; a lead screw inserted into the input piston part, the lead screw configured to move in response to receiving external power; and a connection part fastening the input piston part with the lead screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong Joo Yun
  • Patent number: 11642953
    Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a powertrain of a four-wheeled vehicle of a body-on-frame type, wherein the powertrain is mounted on a chassis in an orientation transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The mounting arrangement comprises a right-side powertrain mounting assembly 310 for supporting the powertrain 100 on the right-hand side, a left-side powertrain mounting assembly 320 for supporting the powertrain 100 on the left-hand side of the vehicle, and a powertrain roll-restricting and mounting assembly 330 for supporting the powertrain 100 on the rear side of the powertrain 100. The right-side powertrain mounting assembly 310 and the left-side powertrain mounting assembly 320 comprise a right isolating element 316 and a left isolating element 326 respectively, and the powertrain roll-restricting and mounting assembly 330 comprises a roll restricting and isolating element 334.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MAHINDRA AND MAHINDRA LIMITED
    Inventors: Samir Ramesh Rawte, Radhakrishnan Janakiraman, Christopher Nelander, Karl Plattenberger, Keith Takasawa, Richard Paul Haas
  • Patent number: 11639092
    Abstract: Electric vehicles include adjustable battery positions and/or adjustable track widths for controlling vehicle stability. In some examples, an electric vehicle comprises a positioning mechanism configured to move the battery pack relative to the support structure (e.g., operable as the vehicle's frame) to change the vehicle's COG. The battery pack can be moved in response to other vehicle operations, e.g., COG changes caused by adding/moving loads, changes to the route grade, and the like. The battery pack can be slidably coupled to the support structure. In some examples, an electric vehicle comprises a track adjustment mechanism configured to move the vehicle's wheel axle relative to the support structure, along the wheel axle center axis, thereby changing the track width. The wheel axle can be coupled to a hub motor. In some examples, the battery is moved, and/or the track width is changed during the vehicle's operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: DIMAAG-AI, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Wright
  • Patent number: 11639110
    Abstract: An electrified drivetrain for a vehicle includes a first electric machine, a second electric machine, a clutch, an HVAC compressor, and a controller. The second electric machine is rotatably coupled to a geartrain, the first electric machine is rotatably coupled to the HVAC compressor, and is rotatably couplable to the geartrain via the clutch, and the clutch is operative in a first state and a second state. The first electric machine is rotatably coupled to the geartrain when the clutch is controlled to the first state, and is decoupled from the geartrain when the clutch is controlled to the second state. The controller is operatively connected to the first and second electric machines, the clutch, and the HVAC compressor to control operation of the electrified drivetrain. The first electric machine can be used as a heater element and to provide mechanical power to the drivetrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Neeraj S. Shidore, Madhusudan Raghavan, Norman K. Bucknor, Vicente Domenech-Llopis
  • Patent number: 11633999
    Abstract: A hydraulic suspension system for a motor vehicle having at least a pair of road engaging wheels. The suspension system includes, a hydraulic cylinder coupled with the each of the pair of road engaging wheels, the hydraulic cylinder defining a cap end volume and a rod end volume separated by a piston. A hydraulic supply circuit for the hydraulic cylinder includes, a high pressure hydraulic source, a low pressure hydraulic drain, a pair of hydraulic sub circuits each coupled to one of the hydraulic cylinder cap and rod end volumes. Each hydraulic sub circuit includes, a proportional supply flow valve coupled with the high pressure hydraulic source and one of the cylinder volumes, a return flow control proportional valve coupled with the low pressure hydraulic drain and the one cylinder volume, and an accumulator coupled to the associated hydraulic cylinder volume through an accumulator fill control proportional valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & MILLER ENGINEERING AND FABRICATION, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Flory, Jesper Slattengren, Guido Francesco Ritelli