Patents Examined by Frank Vanaman
  • Grill shutter structure of vehicle
    Patent number: 9150096
    Abstract: A grill shutter unit comprises a shutter unit provided in back of a traveling-air introductory port formed at a front end of a vehicle body and including shutter members, and a traveling-air guide member including a guide frame portion provided at an outer peripheral edge portion of the shutter unit and a seal portion provided to extend forward continuously from a front end of the guide frame portion and be made from soft synthetic resin having more flexibility than the frame portion, wherein the grill shutter unit is configured such that when the shutter members are closed, a seal portion of the traveling-air guide member is pressed against an outer peripheral wall face of the traveling-air introductory port by pressure of traveling air shut off by the shutter members closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yuhki Takanaga, Kazuma Kondou, Manabu Yamaoka
  • Heel retainer with auxiliary lever
    Patent number: 9138630
    Abstract: A heel retainer for a combined downhill and touring binding for a ski, including: a base plate which can be fastened on an upper side of the ski; a connecting structure; a tensioning device for securely holding a ski boot in the heel retainer, including a sole retainer; a shifting mechanism using which the heel retainer can be moved from a travelling position to a walking position and vice versa; and a latching mechanism which latches at least parts of the heel retainer in the travelling position or in the walking position. The latching mechanism includes a latching lever which can be operated manually or using a ski pole and which latches the heel retainer at least in the travelling position, wherein the parts of the heel retainer for changing from the travelling position to the walking position and vice versa can be linearly shifted on the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: MARKER Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Brandl
  • Cab for work vehicle and work vehicle
    Patent number: 9126643
    Abstract: A center pillar (3) has a pipe structure having a hollow space (3a). In the center pillar (3), a lower end opening (3c) for connecting the hollow space (3a) to an outdoor space and an upper end opening (3b) for connecting the hollow space (3a) to an indoor space (10) are formed. The lower end opening (3c) and the upper end opening (3b) are arranged at a prescribed distance from each other in a longitudinal direction of the center pillar (3). Thus, a cab for work vehicle and a work vehicle capable of preventing dust, water, or the like from entering the cab and realizing an environment in the cab comfortable for an operator are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Kouji Nagami, Masamichi Miyazaki
  • Transport cart that can be stored in a space-saving manner for equipping an aircraft galley
    Patent number: 9108661
    Abstract: An equipping system is provided for equipping an aircraft galley. The equipping system includes a box, which is accommodatable in the aircraft galley to be equipped, as well as a transport cart for equipping the aircraft galley. The system includes a base element, which has a bottom surface and a loading surface opposite of the bottom surface, a plurality of wheels fastened to the bottom surface of the base element, a handle attached to the base element, and a securing mechanism adapted to prevent the box from sliding off the transport cart while it is being transported on the transport cart. The handle is shaped and attached in such a position to the base element that the base element of the transport cart, in the unloaded state of the transport cart, is stackable onto a base element of a further transport cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Suess
  • Folding table umbrella wagon
    Patent number: 9101206
    Abstract: A portable folding table wagon includes a wagon with a wagon body that has a folding wagon frame and wheels connected to a lower portion of the folding wagon frame. The folding wagon frame folds to a deployed position and expands to a stowed position. The folding wagon frame forms a wagon cavity for carrying articles when the folding wagon frame is in deployed position. A table top has a table top surface configured to fit on the folding wagon frame. The portable folding table wagon may also have an umbrella with a pole. A table opening is formed on the table top surface. The table opening is configured to receive the pole. A pole retainer is formed on the folding wagon frame. The pole retainer is configured to receive the pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventors: Zhaosheng Chen, Yishun Chen
  • Body structure of hybrid vehicle
    Patent number: 9096117
    Abstract: A body structure of a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle is driven using power of an engine and electric power supplied from a battery module. The body structure includes a propeller shaft disposed in a lower side of a floor panel in a vertical direction of the vehicle so as to extend in a fore-aft direction of the vehicle and configured to transmit the power of the engine and the electric power to at least a rear wheel; and an integrated battery pack below the floor panel so as to cover the propeller shaft. The integrated battery pack has at least the battery module. The battery pack includes a recess to house the propeller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsuda, Toshiaki Naruke, Minoru Iida
  • Work vehicle and wheel loader
    Patent number: 9080307
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes an engine, an exhaust gas post-processing device, an engine room, a cooling fan, a cooling unit and a first exhaust pipe. The exhaust gas post-processing device includes a diesel particulate filtering device, a selective catalyst reduction device, a connecting pipe connecting the diesel particulate filtering device and the selective catalyst reduction device, and an injection device configured and arranged to inject a reducing agent into the connecting pipe. The engine room accommodates the engine and the exhaust gas post-processing device. The cooling fan is configured to suck in air from one side and to exhaust air from another side to produce an air flow. The cooling unit is disposed on the one side of the cooling fan. The first exhaust pipe has one end arranged to suck in air around the injection device and another end located between the cooling fan and the cooling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Yasutaka Numa
  • Tractor with hybrid power system
    Patent number: 9067493
    Abstract: A tractor (100) comprises an internal combustion engine (107) for delivering torque, wheels (101-104) or tracks for imparting a propulsive force to the ground, and a power takeoff shaft (110) for delivering torque to implements attached thereto. The power takeoff shaft is driven by a mechanical drive connection to the engine. An electrical motor/generator (115) is drivingly connected to the engine, and at least one electrical motor (121-124) is arranged to deliver a propulsion force to the wheels or tracks. The motor is electrically connected to, and powered by, the electrical motor/generator. A battery (120) is connected to the electrical motor/generator and to the electrical motor so that electrical energy can be passed therebetween. The motor/generator can also operate as a motor so that the power takeoff shaft is at least partially powered by electrical energy from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: AGCO SA
    Inventors: Geoffroy Husson, Malcolm Shute, Gabriel Menier
  • Cooling air introduction apparatus for vehicle
    Patent number: 9061585
    Abstract: A cooling air introduction apparatus for a vehicle. A space that communicates with air introduction ports that are respectively formed in a bumper face of a front bumper and a front grille is partitioned by a vertical partition member. A space that communicates with the air introduction ports that are formed in the bumper face is partitioned by a horizontal partition member. Thus, streams of introduced cooling air are guided to heat exchangers without interfering with each other. The partition members are provided such that a bumper beam moves backward without any trouble upon a light collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Fujiu, Yoshiyuki Shimizu, Atsushi Koizumi, Shiro Hasegawa
  • Operating apparatus and operating control method of side step of vehicle
    Patent number: 9056583
    Abstract: An operating apparatus and operating control method of a side step of a vehicle controls the opening operation of the side step by being operated in conjunction with an operation of a vehicle door and by detecting whether an obstacle is present or not in an opening operation space of a side step of left front, left rear, right front and right rear side steps (11, 12, 13 and 14), opens the side step when it is determined that no obstacle is present in the opening operation space of the side step, and provides an alarm to a user when it is required to avoid the opening of the side step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Dong Eun Cha, Hyun Gyung Kim, Seung Mok Lee, Phil Jung Jeong
  • Maneuverable strollers
    Patent number: 9056622
    Abstract: Maneuverable strollers are disclosed herein. An example stroller includes a frame, front wheels and rear wheels to support the frame, and an intermediate wheel between the front wheels and the rear wheels. The intermediate wheel is to provide a pivot point to turn the stroller. The intermediate wheel has a first diameter, the front and rear wheels have respective second and third diameters, where the first diameter is larger than the second diameter and the first diameter is larger than the third diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: KOLCRAFT ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Wes Thomas, Liviu Iftinca, Ted Bretschger, Peter Rolicki
  • System for absorbing and distributing side impact energy utilizing an integrated battery pack
    Patent number: 9045030
    Abstract: An energy absorbing and distributing side impact system for use with a vehicle is provided, the system utilizing a battery pack enclosure that includes a plurality of cross-members that transverse the battery pack enclosure and absorb and distribute at least a portion of the load received when either the first or second side of the vehicle receives a side impact. The battery pack enclosure is positioned between the front and rear vehicle suspension assemblies and mounted between, and mechanically coupled to, vehicle structural members (e.g., rocker panels) located on either side of the vehicle. In addition to providing rigidity, strength and impact resistance, the battery pack cross-members segregate the batteries contained within the battery pack enclosure into battery groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Dore Rawlinson, Alan Paul Clarke, Hitendra Laxmidas Gadhiya, Robert David Sumpf, Jr., Bruce Philip Edwards
  • Battery box for electric or hybrid vehicle and method for mounting said box on the vehicle
    Patent number: 9033084
    Abstract: Vehicle battery box (1) comprising at least one outer casing (2) delimiting a chamber (3) receiving the battery (9) and comprising a support (4) and a removable cover (5) connected to each other, the box (1) comprising positioning lugs (15, 16) and lugs (17, 18) for fixing said battery box (1) to the vehicle, said positioning lugs (15, 16) and said fixing lugs (17, 18) being mounted on the outer casing (2). Each positioning lug (15, 16) comprises a passage (19c, 20c) receiving a positioning stud (37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Olivier Joye
  • Fuel cell apparatus for vehicles
    Patent number: 9033082
    Abstract: Fuel cell stacks 3 are arranged in a vehicle-transverse juxtaposition with a radiator 107 disposed in an engine room 104 vehicle-longitudinally rearward of a front member 108, and an air suction duct 2 introducing air to air in-taking aperture areas 31 of the fuel cell stacks 3 vehicle-longitudinally extends from the air in-taking aperture areas 31 up to the front member 108, having an upper air in-taking port 212A and a lower air in-taking port 212B vehicle-longitudinally frontward of the radiator 107 and opened toward a set of upper grill openings 110 and a set of lower grill openings 111, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Matsumoto, Naoki Ozawa, Kenji Kobayashi
  • Splitboard bindings
    Patent number: 9022412
    Abstract: Splitboard boot bindings for backcountry splitboarding. Each of a pair of soft-boot bindings is provided with an integral boot binding lower that conjoins the two halves of a splitboard without the additional weight or height of an adaptor mounting plate, upper binding baseplate or “tray”, and extra fasteners of the prior art. The boot binding lower is formed as a box girder and provides improved torsional stiffness for splitboard riding. When subjected to a torque applied by the rider, the bottom mediolateral edges of the box girders are configured to contactingly engage the top face of the splitboard, thereby dynamically coupling the rider's boot sole and the board via a single rigid structure. In a preferred embodiment, the web or “spacer” members of the box girder are characterized by an aspect ratio or contour height that is varied from heel to toe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventor: William J Ritter
  • Engine encapsulation structure of vehicle
    Patent number: 9016411
    Abstract: An engine encapsulation structure of a vehicle may include an engine room encapsulation member disposed at an upper portion of an engine compartment and covering an upper portion of a power train having an engine and a transmission, an underbody encapsulation member disposed at a lower portion of the engine compartment and covering a lower portion of the power train, wherein the engine room encapsulation member and the underbody encapsulation member form an inner space and enclose the power train in the inner space when being assembled each other, and a front inlet formed at a front portion of the assembly to allow air through the front inlet and to cool the power train while the air passes through the inner space of the assembly, the air being discharged through a rear outlet formed to the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jong Woo Nam, Won Sik Kim, Han Shin Chung, Min Soo Oh, Jae Yeon Kim, Jong Hoon Lee
  • Mobility device
    Patent number: 9016715
    Abstract: A mobility device for people who need assisted mobility comprising side support structures for supporting the weight of an occupant in a semi seated position, a back rest structure, a shin rest structure and an arm rest structure. The mobility device of the present invention provides a rear access which is feasible by moving outwardly and upwardly the side support structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Rideup Mobility Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Moliner
  • Body cover system for a small vehicle, and vehicle including same
    Patent number: 9016427
    Abstract: A motorcycle is provided with vehicle frame, an internal combustion engine operatively attached to the vehicle frame, and an exhaust system for routing exhaust gas from the engine therethrough. The motorcycle also includes a body cover that covers at least a lateral side portion of the engine and constitutes an outer face of the vehicle, and a heat shield having a face closely adjacent and visually continuous to the body cover, the heat shield covering a lateral side portion of the exhaust system. The heat shield and the body cover cooperate to configure the external face of the vehicle, and the heat shield is mounted to the exhaust system. The body cover is formed of a plastic material, and the heat shield is made of metal. The body cover and heat shield cooperate to provide an improved vehicle appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Yazaki, Hiroshi Kuribara, Yoshitaka Hayama, Takaaki Kasai
  • Binding system for recreational board
    Patent number: 9016714
    Abstract: A binding system for a recreational board is mounted atop a rider-support surface of the board. The binding system comprises: a pair of rails locatable on opposing sides of a generally flattened foot-receiving surface for the rider's foot, each rail comprising a central portion mountable to the recreational board, a toe-side leg which extends from the central portion toward a toe-side of the recreational board and a heel-side leg which extends from the central portion toward a heel-side of the recreational board. Each rail comprises at least one deformation-enhancing feature for enhancing an ability of the rail to deform elastically relative to the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: JF Pelchat Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Pelchat
  • Scooter
    Patent number: 9010776
    Abstract: A two wheel scooter made of replaceable and interchangeable parts, with metal wheel brackets at either end of a deck, connected by a spine piece, with the spine piece recessed into a wooden scooter deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventors: Jon Elliott, David Yin