Patents Examined by H. Gutman
  • Patent number: 9022707
    Abstract: A cargo rack for transferring loads between a marine vessel and an offshore marine platform provides a frame having a front, a rear, and upper and lower end portions. The lower end of the frame has a perimeter beam base, a raised floor and a pair of open-ended parallel fork tine tubes that communicate with the perimeter beam at the front and rear of the frame. The frame includes a plurality of fixed side walls extending upwardly from the perimeter beam. A plurality of gates are movably mounted on the frame, each gate being movable between open and closed positions, the gates enabling a forklift to place loads on the floor. The frame has vertically extending positioning beams that segment the floor into a plurality of load-holding positions. Each load holding position has positioning beams that laterally hold a load module in position on the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventor: Danny Ness
  • Patent number: 9022452
    Abstract: A hinge assembly for a storage compartment includes a first component and a second component coupled to the first component. The second component is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the first component. A damper device includes a housing assembly supported by the first component and a finger attached to the second component such that the finger is movable with the second component between the first and second positions. The finger and the housing assembly are spaced from each other when the second component is in the first position, and the finger slidingly engages the housing assembly as the second component moves to the second position such that frictional engagement between the finger and the housing assembly dampens movement of the second component relative to the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gary W. Krajenke, Graham S. Foulkes
  • Patent number: 9022706
    Abstract: A fastening system includes an energy absorbing or impact indicator and at least one or more of the following: (1) a fastening base for mounting in an emergency vehicle, (2) a patient support engageable with a base, (3) a patient securement mechanism for securing a patient on a patient support, (4) a patient securement mechanism for securing a patient to a vehicle, (5) a patient support securement mechanism operable to secure a patient support in an emergency vehicle, or (6) a patient support securement mechanism operable to secure a patient support to a base, wherein the energy absorbing or impact indicator is located (1) at the patient securement mechanism, or (2) at the patient support securement mechanism, or wherein the energy absorbing or impact indicator is between (1) the base and the vehicle, (2) the patient support and the base, (3) the patient securement mechanism and the patient support, (4) the patient support and the emergency vehicle, (5) the patient and the emergency vehicle, or (6) the patien
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Laike Misikir, Clifford Edwin Lambarth, Vishnu Mallapragada, Alfred James Dacey, IV, Keith Buffinga
  • Patent number: 9016774
    Abstract: A chassis for a vehicle is disclosed which combines rigidity, speed of manufacture, and a small environmental footprint. Such a chassis comprises a framework of Interconnected tubular sections (14, 18) and at least one composite sheet (50) bonded to the framework, at least part of the composite sheet being of unidirectional fibers. The sheet can be non-flat, and is preferably a concave geometry such as a tub. It can be composed of a plurality of sections (78, 80). The part of the composite sheet that Is of unidirectional fibers extends obliquely rearwardly from a tubular section on one side of the chassis toward a further tubular section on another side of the chassis, the fibers also being oriented obliquely rearwardly In the same sense. A further similar part extends in the opposite direction/symmetrically, overlapping as necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Gordon Murray Design Limited
    Inventor: Ian Gordon Murray
  • Patent number: 9016768
    Abstract: A vehicle front end structure includes an engine cradle, an engine assembly and a lateral energy transfer member. The engine cradle includes a side engine cradle member with an engine mounting structure, which is located rearward of a front corner of the engine cradle. The engine assembly is fixedly attached to the engine mounting structure of the side engine cradle member. The lateral energy transfer member is fixedly attached to the side engine cradle member between the front corner and the engine mounting structure. The lateral energy transfer member has an engine contact surface positioned adjacent an engine structure of the engine assembly with a prescribed lateral gap between the engine contact surface and the engine structure. The prescribed lateral gap is dimensioned to transfer lateral energy to the engine assembly from a lateral force applied to the side engine cradle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Takaomi Makino, Takuya Yamashita, Ramkrishna Jayaram Chunduri, Kenneth Ameloot, Ryan Corby
  • Patent number: 9016755
    Abstract: A recreational or large vehicle windshield cover is disclosed and comprises: a) a windshield cover component having a bottom portion, a top portion, a left side and a right side, b) at least two strap components coupled to the bottom portion of the windshield cover component, and c) at least one strap component coupled to the top portion of the windshield cover component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Adco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Morgan Ein
  • Patent number: 9010829
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of expandable barriers. Expandable barriers are typically barriers made from an expandable material and formed to fit within a cavity. After being placed inside a cavity, expandable barriers generally undergo an activation process, where the expandable barrier expands to fill the cavity and create a physical barrier. Using various extrusion processes to form an expandable barrier allows for a reduction in tooling costs, while also allowing more flexible barrier designs. Such designs can be specifically tailored for a particular cavity or cavities to ensure that the barrier fills the cavity after expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Sika Technology AG
    Inventors: Larry J. LaNore, Raymond D. Helferty
  • Patent number: 9010836
    Abstract: A coil spring of a push-up device for pushing out a fuel lid in an open direction includes a large pitch portion and small pitch portion, which have different pitches. Therefore, when the fuel lid is being closed, the coil spring, which pushes a rod into a case, has an increase rate of an urging force at an initial stroke less than an increase rate of the urging force at a later stroke following the initial stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Watanabe, Kiyoshi Hokazono, Kosei Yoshino
  • Patent number: 9004574
    Abstract: A roll-up golf cart side curtain having a rigid PVC pipe installed on the bottom of said curtain to assist in quickly rolling up the curtain into a neat, compact position. The rigid pipe is cut down one side, along the entire length and installed on the bottom of the curtain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: Carroll Fisher
  • Patent number: 8998302
    Abstract: An MHE impact deceleration device, which includes an elongate outer profile and an elongate inner profile, the outer profile surrounding at least part of the inner profile, wherein the outer and the inner profile are made out of an elastomeric material, the elastomeric material of the inner profile having a shore resistance higher than the shore resistance of the outer profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ingenieursbureau Wuylens BVBA
    Inventor: Philippe Wuylens
  • Patent number: 8991906
    Abstract: A rear structure of a car body includes: a rear pillar extending vertically at the rear part of the car body; a member extending from a vertically middle position of the rear pillar to the front side of the car body; a rear wheel housing disposed at a lower side of the member; and a stiffener having a lower end coupled to the rear wheel housing and an upper end coupled to the member. At least in a rear part of the member to which the upper end of the stiffener is coupled, a rear lower end of the rear part is sloped so that the rear lower end can be higher than a front lower end of the rear part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Natsumi Shimizu, Jun Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 8979208
    Abstract: An input device for a machine is provided. The input device includes a lever which is operable to select from a plurality of transmission modes of the machine. Further, a hoisting input device is disposed on the lever. The hoisting input device is operable to select from a plurality of hoisting functions associated with a payload carrier of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Keegan W. Roach, Bryan E. Copeland, Todd B. Smith, Robert T. Cameron, Robert E. Riedel
  • Patent number: 8979168
    Abstract: An upright pillar sash of a vehicle door frame includes an outer member including a glass run fitting portion, and an inner member including an inner frame portion having a box-shaped cross section surrounding the glass run fitting portion. An outwardly extending portion, extending toward the edge portion of the glass run fitting portion toward the vehicle exterior, of the inner member and an overlapping edge, extending alongside the outwardly extending portion toward the vehicle exterior, of the outer member are spot welded with the overlapping edge superposing the outwardly extending portion. The outer member includes a side holding portion formed inside the glass run fitting portion to hold the glass run by contacting a side thereof, and a clearance recessed portion positioned between the side holding portion and the overlapping edge to allow a welding tool to enter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Shiroki Corporation
    Inventors: Shigenobu Ohsawa, Hiroaki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8973968
    Abstract: A wiper module assembly (14) for a vehicle liftgate (10) having an inner panel (15) with a spoiler (11) formed as a one-piece part of the inner panel (15). An outer panel (17) of the liftgate (10) is connected to the inner panel (15) to form an exterior surface of the liftgate (10). A cavity (12) is formed in part of the spoiler (11) and receives a carrier (28) forming a removable module connected to the cavity (12) of the vehicle liftgate (10). The carrier (28) includes a wiper (24), motor (18) and drive assembly (20) for operating a wiper (24) for a window (26) on the liftgate (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: Micheal William Crane, Brian Christopher Sansoterra, Norman Guschewski
  • Patent number: 8974160
    Abstract: A rail mounting system includes a mounting rail that has a channel profile. The mounting rail is secured to a cargo area surface. Further, the rail mounting system includes a slide member that has a securement receiving area for securing a cargo product and the slide member within the channel profile of the mounting rail. The slide member is received within the channel profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Adrian Steel Company
    Inventor: Trevor Bender
  • Patent number: 8974157
    Abstract: An adjustable cargo storage press for organizing and securing cargo items stored in a cargo storage area of an automobile. The adjustable cargo storage press is disposed within or integrated with a cargo area of an automotive vehicle such as a trunk, bed or bed liner of a car, truck, or sport utility vehicle. The press prevents movement of cargo items and potential damage to the cargo items during transport. The press also maintains the position of the cargo items for easy removal from the cargo storage area. The press includes one or more hinged walls that lock in a vertical position and move towards each other along guide tracks. The one or more hinged walls compress the cargo items between the hinged walls, and fold flat when not in use so as not to limit cargo storage capacity of the cargo storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Jones, Raymond A. Beaufait, Timothy Saunders, Erik Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8967929
    Abstract: A transportation and storage system for a wind turbine rotor blade comprises a tip end frame assembly comprising a tip end receptacle and a tip end frame. The tip end receptacle comprises an upwardly open tip end-receiving space for receiving a portion of the tip end of the blade and having a supporting surface for supporting the blade, a lower surface allowing the tip end receptacle to rest upright on a substantially horizontal surface, such as the ground, and releasable retaining means for releasably retaining the tip end of the blade in the receiving space of the tip end receptacle. The tip end frame comprises an upwardly open receptacle-receiving space for receiving the receptacle and provided with positioning means for positioning the receptacle in the tip end frame. A base part defines a bottom surface allowing the tip end frame to rest upright on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: LM Glasfiber A/S
    Inventor: Henrik Frederiksen
  • Patent number: 8960757
    Abstract: Provided are a seat frame and a stowable vehicle seat which enables high assembling work efficiency and easy stowing operation. There are provided a reclining mechanism, a seat slide mechanism which slides a seat bottom frame, a slide lock mechanism which prohibits or allows the operation of the seat slide mechanism in cooperation with the reclining mechanism, a striker lock mechanism, and an assist mechanism which assists an operation of stowing and returning a stowable vehicle seat. The seat slide mechanism includes a lower rail, an upper rail, and a slide biasing member which automatically slides the upper rail in cooperation with a tilting movement of a seat back frame to a predetermined angle upon stowage of the stowable vehicle seat. The seat slide mechanism and the slide lock mechanism are mounted to the seat bottom frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Otake, Shingo Kimata, Yoshinobu Kimpara, Takahiro Mitsui
  • Patent number: 8950797
    Abstract: A first seal is installed on one of a first body structure and a second body structure. The first seal has a first sealing surface and a first sealing projection. A second seal is installed on the other of the first body structure and the second body structure, the second seal having a second sealing surface and a second sealing projection. The first and second sealing surfaces and the first and second sealing projections are positioned such that with the second body structure in a closed position and adjacent the first body structure, the second sealing surface contacts the first sealing surface to form a first sealing line between the first and second body structures, and the second sealing projection contacts the first sealing projection to form a second sealing line between the first and second body structures, with the second sealing line spaced apart from the first sealing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Watson, Adam David Tacey
  • Patent number: 8944484
    Abstract: A locking assembly and method of securing a dump truck tailgate to a sidewall of the dump truck, and a truck incorporating the same. The locking assembly includes a pressurized pin mechanism mounted on one of tailgate and the sidewall; and a spool mounted on the other of the tailgate and the sidewall. The spool is engageable with the pin mechanism to lock the locking assembly and secure the tailgate to the sidewall, and is disengageable from the pin mechanism to unlock the locking assembly and release the tailgate from its securement to the sidewall. A hinge assembly is provided on an opposite side of the tailgate from the locking assembly. The tailgate is selectively pivotable relative to the truck bed about a vertical axis extending through the hinge assembly or about a horizontal axis extending through both of the locking assembly and the hinge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Mac Trailer Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Kibler, Michael A. Conny