Patents Examined by Gabriela C Craciun
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Patent number: 8978813Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine assembly configured to power a vehicle. The engine assembly defines a first engine end and a second engine end opposite the first engine end. The first engine end is spaced apart from the second engine end along a first direction. The engine assembly defines a third engine end and a fourth engine end opposite the third engine end. The third engine end is spaced apart from the fourth engine end along a second direction. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The vehicle further includes a steering assembly disposed in close proximity to the engine assembly. The steering assembly includes a steering body disposed closer to the first engine end than to the second engine end.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Alan W. Hayman, William A. Bear
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Patent number: 8960699Abstract: A suspension seat comprises a structural layer and a stretchable top layer above the structural layer. The structural layer comprises a cut-out. The perimeter of the cut-out is defined by a plurality of discrete members. The discrete members allow the buttocks (i.e., the tissue surrounding the ischial sacrococcygeal aspects of the skeleton) of a wheelchair user to enter into the cut-out with gradual pressure minimizing high pressure concentrations at the edges of the cut-out. The stretchable top layer bears load via tension as the wheelchair user buttocks deflects into the cut-out.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Inventors: Stephen H. Sprigle, Randy Bernard
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Patent number: 8960705Abstract: A sliding hitch with a self-arming latch is described. The hitch includes a carriage slideably mounted on a base. The base includes a latching pin on a pivot arm that is biased to extend toward engagement with the carriage and a rotatable shaft with an arming member and a locking member. Rotation of the shaft to an unlocked orientation, cams the pivot plate away from the carriage to withdraw the pin and enable sliding of the carriage on the base. An arm of the arming member is also rotated into the path of a protuberance associated with the carriage. Contact between the protuberance and the arm during sliding of the carriage along the base causes rotation of the shaft to a locked orientation enabling extension of the pin toward engagement with the carriage and engaging the locking member with the pivot plate to restrict withdrawal of the pin.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2013Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: B & W Custom Truck Beds, Inc.Inventor: Travis M. McCall
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Patent number: 8960703Abstract: A trailer safety assembly for preventing the trailer from jack-knifing includes an actuator coupled to the trailer. The actuator is positioned proximate a king pin on the trailer. A pin is operationally coupled to said actuator. The pin selectively engages a fifth wheel on a vehicle if the trailer begins to jack-knife. An undesired motion of the trailer is restricted.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2013Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Inventor: Roy A. Hansen
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Patent number: 8955862Abstract: A cycling control system designed to facilitate the operation of all cycle functions with a single hand. The controls are intended to allow individuals with unilateral weakness to steer, shift gears, and brake on any bicycle or tricycle. The system includes a handlebar that either replaces or attaches to existing handlebars. The handlebar grip is located adjacent to the brake and gear controls such that the user may operate all functions without ever having to remove his or her hand from the controls.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2013Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: MonoMano, Inc.Inventors: David Narrow, Dominic Marino, Sara Hutchinson, Martin Szeto, Travis Block
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Patent number: 8944453Abstract: A training wheel apparatus for learning to ride a bicycle includes a lift activation assembly. The training wheel apparatus further includes a wheel mount assembly configured to operatively connect to a wheel. The training wheel apparatus further includes a cable configured to operatively connect to the lift activation assembly and the wheel mount assembly. When activated, the lift activation assembly is configured to use the cable to change an elevation of the wheel between a first position and a second position while the wheel is in motion.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2014Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Inventor: Peyton Webb Robertson
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Patent number: 8939458Abstract: A vehicle suspension system includes a spring, a neck assembly, and a rod. The neck assembly has an outer shell housing a hollow stem having an upper end and a lower end. The stem is rotatable respect to outer shell. The upper end is coupled to an upper bracket having a control arm pivotally coupled thereto. The lower end is coupled to a lower bracket having a linkage pivotally connected thereto. The rod has a first end coupled to the spring and a second end coupled to the linkage. The rod extends through the hollow stem. The linkage is further coupled to a wheel assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2013Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: American Design and Master-Craft Initiative, LLCInventor: James Thomas Nesbitt, III
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Patent number: 8919799Abstract: A rear wheel suspension for a vehicle, in particular a two-wheeled vehicle, specifically a bicycle (2) which is designed for a particularly great spring travel, comprises a pivot element (18) which is connected to a frame element (12) of the vehicle via a principal swivel joint (16), a swing arm rear suspension (6) which is connected to the pivot element (18) via an auxiliary pivot (20), a deflection element (46) which is pivotally mounted on a frame element (12), a hock absorber/spring element (52) which is mounted on the one hand on a frame element (14) and on the other hand on the deflection element (46), wherein the deflection element (46) is kinematically coupled to the swing arm rear suspension (6) via a pivotally mounted connecting element (38) and to the pivot element (18) via a pivotally mounted coupling element (60) in such a way that the end of the pivot element (18) facing the swing arm rear suspension (6) is pulled upwards on deflection of the rear wheel (8).Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2010Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: MZ Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Martin Wimmer
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Patent number: 8919804Abstract: An improved trailer hitching system adaptable to quick coupling with both ball and pintel hook trailer couplers without the need to remove the pintel hook trailer coupler. The system incorporates an improved trailer hitch ball capable of meeting or exceeding all the Class I-V trailer hitch ball load requirements and dimensional tolerances yet with enhanced protection against crack development at the ball/ball stem. The ball can be sized for different purposes without being removed from the tow vehicle. It also includes a removable trailer hitch alignment system that can align both pintel hooks and the various sizes of trailer tongues.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2013Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Inventor: Daniel James Svihla
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Patent number: 8919817Abstract: A bulldozer includes a cab, a fuel tank arranged to a rear of the cab, and first and second engaging members. The cab includes a driver seat and an air-conditioning cooling module projecting rearward from an upper end portion of the cab. The first and second engaging members are provided on the fuel tank, with each having an engaging part to engage onto a suspension member. The engaging part of the first engaging member is positioned on a first lateral side of a first straight line connecting a first lateral side end of the air-conditioning cooling module and a first lateral side end of the fuel tank. The engaging part of the second engaging member is positioned on a second lateral side of a second straight line connecting a second lateral side end of the air-conditioning cooling module, and a second lateral side end of the fuel tank.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2013Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.Inventors: Taira Ozaki, Hiroshi Nakagami, Shuta Matsumura
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Patent number: 8910742Abstract: Structure of an electric power-steering apparatus is achieved that is capable of both preventing damage to a connector 18a that is used for supplying electric power to an electric component, and improving the workability of the work for connecting the connector 18a. The connector 18a is located in a portion that is located below a housing 10a, and is located on the rear side of a worm wheel housing section 48a and below a torque sensor housing section 49a. Moreover, a protective wall section 21 is formed on the bottom surface of the worm wheel housing section 48a and extends downward, and when it is presumed that the electric power-steering apparatus is placed on a flat plane ?, the edge on the bottom end of the protective wall section 21 and the bottom end sections of the support bracket 23 come in contact with the flat plant ? such that a gap 52 is formed between the flat plane ? and the connector 18a.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2012Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventor: Tomoyuki Kikuta
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Patent number: 8905422Abstract: A brake system is disclosed. The brake system includes a front brake mechanism, a rear brake mechanism, a front brake wire, a rear brake wire, a link, a support, and an interlocking brake wire. The link is rotatable around a fulcrum on one end thereof as measured in a longitudinal direction thereof. The support elastically supports the link at the fulcrum. The interlocking brake wire is connected with the link so as to pull the front brake wire and rear brake wire. The front brake wire, the interlocking brake wire, and the rear brake wire are connected with the link in this order, starting from the end of the link with the support, as measured in a longitudinal direction of the link.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2013Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazuhisa Inoue
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Patent number: 8899608Abstract: An interchangeable hitch assembly including a hitch member supported on a hitch post, the hitch member including plural hitches each in a separate radial position, where the hitch member is rotable to place one of the hitches in a selected position for attachment, a locking assembly adapted to hold the one of the hitches in said selected position.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.Inventor: Carmen J DeLisio
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Patent number: 8899373Abstract: In a power steering system, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a servo-motor, which drives an axially displaceable component by way of a steering nut that is mounted rotatably, but axially non-displaceably in a gear housing, the steering nut is mounted in the gear housing in a radial bearing comprising an inner ring and an outer ring. A heat-insulating intermediate element is disposed between the outer ring of the radial bearing and the gear housing, or a cover of the gear housing, and/or between the inner ring of the radial bearing and the steering nut for the purpose of thermal decoupling.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2013Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: ZF Lenksystem GmbHInventors: Arthur Rupp, Steffen Truthmann
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Patent number: 8893847Abstract: An electric power steering system includes elastic members arranged at respective axial ends of a first bearing by which a motor shaft that serves as a hollow shaft is rotatably supported and which elastically support the first bearing relative to a rack housing in the axial direction; and a support member disposed on the outer periphery of the first bearing to support the first bearing with displacement of the first bearing in the radial direction restricted. The motor shaft is disposed so as to move relative to the rack housing in the axial direction as the first bearing slides relative to the support member while elastically deforming the elastic members and a second bearing moves in the axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: JTEKT CorporationInventors: Takashi Imanishi, Takashi Fuwa
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Patent number: 8882122Abstract: A bicycle gear changing apparatus is basically provided with an upshifting input, a downshifting input and a controller. The controller is operatively coupled to the upshifting input and the downshifting input to receive upshift signals and downshift signals. The controller outputs control signals to control a first gear changing device and a second gear changing device in accordance with a synchro-downshift route and a synchro-upshift route that is different from the synchro-downshift route, in response to receiving the upshift signals and the downshift signals.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2013Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Nobukatsu Hara, Hideki Ikemoto, Mao Kuroda
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Patent number: 8882151Abstract: The invention relates to a filling device, in particular for filling a tank with a urea solution, comprising: at least one vehicle-specific pipe element, one standardized filler neck, and one holder, wherein the holder is fixed to said vehicle-specific pipe element via a joining method, particularly a welding method, used for the vehicle-specific pipe element, either in axial and/or in radial and/or in circumferential direction of said vehicle-specific pipe element.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Veritas AGInventor: Artur Wagner
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Patent number: 8875817Abstract: A hitch assembly is disclosed for use with an articulated mobile machine. The hitch assembly may have a yoke portion, a tube portion, a driveshaft, and a hitch carrier to rotationally support the driveshaft inside the tube portion and having a plurality of first holes. The hitch assembly may further have a plurality of fasteners to connect the hitch carrier to the tube portion via the plurality of first holes, and a thrust collar to threadingly engage a periphery of the hitch carrier and having a plurality of second holes. The hitch assembly may additionally have a locking plate with at least one pin to engage at least one of the plurality of second holes, and a plurality of third holes to receive at least some of the plurality of fasteners. The number of the plurality of second holes is greater than the number of the plurality of first holes.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar SARLInventors: Iain J. Giles-Brown, Ian H. Mearns, Terence Fairless
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Patent number: 8876142Abstract: An adapter which serves as an anchor point for coupling a trailer to a vehicle. The adapter adapted for mating in the socket of the vehicle. The adapter rotatable between a locked and an unlocked position. The adapter including a locking member which, when rotated, moves a ball partially through an aperture, partially extending into the socket thereby locking the adapter within the socket.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2013Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Pulliam Industries, Inc.Inventors: James M. Karasch, William A. Aske, Randall Pulliam
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Patent number: 8869926Abstract: A fuel supply structure for a saddle-ride type vehicle wherein fuel supplied from a fuel tank to a fuel injection valve is supplied via fuel supply parts supported by a body frame having a single main frame extending rearwardly in a vehicle body from a head pipe with a pendent part being curved and extending downwardly in the vehicle body at a rear end of the main frame. Center frames extend in a lateral direction of the vehicle body from a halfway part in a vertical direction of the vehicle body of the pendent part and being provided with frame overhanged parts extending diagonally downwardly and extending further downwardly. The fuel supply parts are provided in an inside space enclosed by the center frames and the pendent part and in an overhanged part upside space on the upsides of the frame overhanged parts.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2013Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Junji Higashiyama