Patents Examined by Gabriela C Craciun
  • Patent number: 9873471
    Abstract: A system having a kickstand bracket is described. The kickstand bracket has a leg stop groove and a mount position, the leg stop groove having a boundary and a recess between ends of the boundary. The recess is configured for accepting a leg stop when a kickstand is rotated from a first position to a second position. An alignment locator is configured to attach to the kickstand bracket over the leg stop. A spring is attached at one end on the kickstand and at the other end on the mount position of the kickstand bracket, the spring configured for urging the kickstand towards the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Leroy Jensen, Bradley Allen Jensen, Robert Allen Jensen
  • Patent number: 9867746
    Abstract: A transmission device for a wheelchair with a rehabilitation function includes a first transmission shaft, a second transmission shaft coaxial to the first transmission shaft, and a sliding member. The first transmission shaft includes a first engaging portion. The second transmission shaft includes a driving section. The sliding member is mounted around the driving section to permit synchronous rotation. The sliding member has a second engaging portion and is slideable between a transmission position in which the second engaging portion engages with the first engaging portion and a release position in which the second engaging portion disengages from the first engaging portion. A wheelchair includes two transmission devices associated with two rear wheels and two footrests. The footrests can be actuated when the rear wheels move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignees: Foo You Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Hsiang Chiang
  • Patent number: 9862361
    Abstract: A parking system for a vehicle provides a self-contained vehicle lift with jacks on wheels and mounted on a vehicle frame, wherein the jacks are operable between a retracted position permitting the vehicle to move in a normal fashion, and an extended position effective to raise the entire vehicle off the ground to allow the wheels move the vehicle into the parking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Darren Betz
  • Patent number: 9862408
    Abstract: A transverse gradient current Ic which is larger than a basic assist current Ib is outputted, as a current command value, to motor driving section when direction correspondence judgment section 11 judges that rotation directions of first and second rotation angle signals ?1 and ?2 correspond with each other, when an advancing phase judgment section 12 judges that a phase of the second rotation angle signal is advanced, and when a phase variation judgment section 14 judges that a phase advance state of the second rotation angle signal ?2 continues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhito Nakakuki, Masaki Kodato, Kazuya Yamano, Yoshitaka Sugiyama, Tsukasa Miyajima, Masahiko Ushimura
  • Patent number: 9834264
    Abstract: An upper coupler assembly for use with a trailer includes an apron assembly and a grid assembly coupled with the apron assembly. The apron assembly is arranged to engage a coupling of a vehicle to cause the coupling to be aligned with the grid assembly when the upper coupler is being coupled with the vehicle. The grid assembly couples the upper coupler assembly with the coupling of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventor: Andrzej Wylezinski
  • Patent number: 9834278
    Abstract: In a drive unit in an electric-motor-assisted bicycle, as viewed in an axial direction of the crank axle, a substrate housed in a housing does not overlap a reduction gear but overlaps a driven gear. The substrate is disposed around the crank axle and includes a component side extending in a direction crossing the central axis of the crank axle. The substrate extends in directions crossing radial directions of the crank axle. One end of the substrate in the direction in which the substrate extends is located on the side of the straight line connecting the shaft center of the crank axle and the shaft center of the motor output shaft as viewed in the axial direction, that is opposite to the side having the other end of the substrate in the direction in which the substrate extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatsugu Uda, Ryota Suzuki, Yasunori Mano, Tomohiro Usami
  • Patent number: 9827476
    Abstract: An accessory for wheelchairs for playing football as a sport includes a pair of mutually independent mechanisms, symmetrical in respect of a central longitudinal plane, each of which includes an operating bar (3) and a mechanism made up of a hinged quadrangle, formed of an articulated linkage base which forms a fixed part joined to the body of the chair and which houses a pin (5) for the operating bar (3) to rotate; a propulsion body (9) for propelling and retaining a ball, hinged to the fixed part on a hinge pin (91); an operating lever (17) joined to the lower part of the operating bar (3), and able to turn with said bar; and an auxiliary part (18), hinged to the operating lever (17) on a hinging pin (93), and to the mechanism for propelling and retaining the ball on one hinging pin (92).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignees: ORGANIZACION DE SERVICIOS ORTOPEDICOS TOTALES S.L., FERNANDO GINER GIL
    Inventors: Fernando Giner Gil, José Bernardo Noblejas Granero
  • Patent number: 9828046
    Abstract: The invention relates to an articulated vehicle comprising a front and a rear vehicle unit, and at least one further vehicle unit connected to said rear vehicle unit, comprising a front vertical steering link arranged substantially centrally of the front vehicle unit, where said front vertical steering link is configured for pivotal attachment to a fixed load-carrying frame connecting said front and rear vehicle units, where said at least one further vehicle unit is configured for attachment to a further fixed load-carrying frame, where said further fixed load-carrying frame is releasably connectable to said fixed load-carrying frame for said connection, such that a train of vehicle units is formed connected to a load-carrying frame unit comprising said fixed load-carrying frame and said further fixed load-carrying frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: BAE Systems Hägglunds Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Björn Hellholm
  • Patent number: 9828064
    Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, an engine connected to the frame, an output shaft driven by the engine, a bracket resiliently mounted to the engine, a countershaft rotationally supported by the bracket, a driving pulley disposed on the output shaft and rotating therewith, a driven pulley disposed on the countershaft and rotating therewith, a drive belt looped around the driving and driven pulleys to transfer torque from the driving pulley to the driven pulley, the driving pulley, the driven pulley and the drive belt together forming a continuously variable transmission, and at least one ground engaging member operatively connected to the countershaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Sebastien Pard, Mathieu Gauthier
  • Patent number: 9821653
    Abstract: A pressure vessel is provided for a motor vehicle, having a fastening apparatus. The fastening apparatus is designed to connect the pressure vessel to a body of the motor vehicle. The fastening apparatus has at least two connecting pins and at least two bearings. In each case, one connecting pin is connected to a bearing at a connecting point. The connecting pins and/or the bearings are each connected to the pressure vessel in a pressure vessel attachment region and extend away from the outer surface of the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel attachment regions exhibit in each case an expansion. The connecting pin and the bearing are, in the connecting point, at least regionally shaped and arranged such that the expansion is kinetically guided with only one translational degree of freedom by way of a movement of the bearing and/or of the connecting pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans-Ulrich Stahl
  • Patent number: 9821883
    Abstract: Vehicle traction device, mainly for land vehicles, of the type comprising a motor and a transmission wherein the motor preferably has an axial rotation, such as an electric motor, wherein the motor rotation is coplanar and concurrent with the primary shaft of the transmission, and wherein the primary shaft is in turn coaxial to the output shaft, such that the output shaft crosses the primary shaft and extends beyond the ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: B Y M INGENIEROS S.L.
    Inventors: Francisco Jose Blasco Gracia, Ulises Blasco Gracia
  • Patent number: 9809071
    Abstract: Disclosed is a protective cover for trailer coupling devices. The protective cover includes a shaft with a hollowed inner core for housing a trailer coupling device and a protective pad that is adjoined to one end of the shaft. When installed, the protective casing cover protects a trailer's coupling device from adverse weather conditions. Additionally, upon installation, the protective pad of the protective cover serves to prevent or reduce damage to a vehicle when a driver backs up too far while trying to align a vehicle's trailer hitch with a trailer's coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Dennis McGuffee
  • Patent number: 9802451
    Abstract: A hitch ball is shown and described. The hitch ball may include a ball member, a body extending from the ball member, and a locking member in communication with the body. The hitch ball may also include a first release mechanism positioned in the ball member, the first release mechanism operatively coupled with the locking member, where positioning the first release mechanism in an first direction positions the locking member in a disengaged position, and a second release mechanism positioned in the body, the second release mechanism operatively coupled with the locking member, where positioning the second release mechanism in a second direction positions the locking member in the disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Lynn H. Mida, Jacob S. Belinky
  • Patent number: 9802452
    Abstract: A hitch with a force dampening assembly and a kingpin adapter. The hitch includes upper and lower arms coupled via a dampening assembly that includes a resilient member disposed in a passage in the lower arm and an axle coupled to the upper arm and disposed coaxially through the resilient member. Facets or asymmetries on the passage and axle resist rotational movement of the resilient member relative thereto. The resilient member is flexed between the wall of the passage and the axle to enable pivotal movement of the upper arm relative to the lower arm. The kingpin adapter includes a wedge ring disposed on a kingpin and retained thereon by a clamping ring. A housing is coupled to the clamping ring to affix the housing to a trailer and to retain the wedge ring in position. A hitch can be coupled to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: B & W CUSTOM TRUCK BEDS, INC.
    Inventor: Travis M. McCall
  • Patent number: 9802667
    Abstract: A vehicle includes left and right main frames that may have their front ends connected to a head pipe, and may be disposed such that the distance between the left and right main frames is progressively greater in a rearward direction. The left and right main frames may be connected to each other by an upper plate-like member, and the upper plate-like member may have a front edge spaced rearwardly from the head pipe and have left and right ends welded respectively to the left and right main frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Ishida, Masao Akieda
  • Patent number: 9802674
    Abstract: A power unit includes a drive unit and a power sprocket for engaging the transmission band of a bicycle. The power unit includes a first free-wheeling sprocket arranged on a first side of the power sprocket and a second free-wheeling sprocket arranged on a second side of the power sprocket. The power sprocket receives the transmission band from the first free-wheeling sprocket on the first side and passes the transmission band to the second free-wheeling sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Paul James Bachman, Dustin Robert Williams
  • Patent number: 9802640
    Abstract: A ball screw assembly includes a helical path for a plurality of balls to be routed through, the helical path extending from a first end to a second end. The ball screw assembly also includes a recirculation path extending from a first transition location to a second transition location. The recirculation path includes a first segment defined by a first arc portion of a first ellipse. The recirculation path also includes a second segment defined by a second arc portion of the first ellipse. The recirculation path further includes a third segment defined by an arc of a second ellipse, wherein the first ellipse and the second ellipse are disposed in a common plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul E. Kern, Eric D. Pattok
  • Patent number: 9796227
    Abstract: A ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer is disclosed. The ball mount can comprise a ball portion for interfacing with a ball configured to couple with a tongue of a trailer, a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle, and a load measurement device associated with the hitch portion. The hitch portion can be configured to pivot relative to the hitch receiver about a fulcrum in response to a downward force on the ball, with the hitch receiver resisting rotation of the hitch portion about the fulcrum thereby inducing a load on the hitch portion. The load measurement device can be configured to determine a magnitude of the downward force on the ball based on the load on the hitch portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: WEIGH SAFE, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin McAllister
  • Patent number: 9789929
    Abstract: A compound power mechanism and an electric bicycle are provided. The compound power mechanism includes a motor casing fixed to the bicycle, a motor drive shaft coupled with a rotor, and a stator provided in the motor casing. A crank drive shaft is disposed in the motor drive shaft. Two ends of the crank drive shaft extend out of the two ends of the motor drive shaft and are coupled with pedal cranks. A freewheel is coupled to a respective end of the motor drive shaft and the crank drive shaft. A drive sprocket is located between and coupled to the two freewheels and adapted to bring a bicycle chain to turn. The drive sprocket can be driven by the motor drive shaft or by the crank drive shaft when pedaled. The size of the motor is reduced and the cost of manufacture is lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Shyang-Jun Wu
  • Patent number: 9771122
    Abstract: A handlebar assembly for steering a vehicle includes a handlebar, a grip positioned on the handlebar at a first end of the handlebar assembly, and a hand control assembly positioned adjacent the grip. The hand control assembly includes an optical sensor. The optical sensor has a housing with a light transmissive section, a light source configured to emit light, and a light sensor configured to detect light. The light source and the light sensor are positioned at least partially within the housing. The optical sensor is operable to detect movement of a vehicle operator along the light transmissive section of the housing by detecting reflected light from the light source with the light sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, LLC
    Inventor: Geovani Felicilda