Patents Examined by Harold Eric Pahlck, III
  • Patent number: 10993860
    Abstract: This invention is a rotational manual propulsion wheel chair hand pedal to be fitted to the axles of both wheels of a wheel chair. The rotational wheel chair hand pedal is attached to the two large wheels of a wheel chair by means of being directly attached to the axles and or hubs securely of the wheel chair's wheels, or surrounding the hubs of the wheel chair's wheels. The rotational wheel chair hand pedal has an arm, which fits from the wheel chair's axle and or hub to the wheel chairs wheel's rim. The position of the handles is fixed by retractable and is adjustable by pressing a button at the end of the handle to retract the pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventor: Simon S. McNally
  • Patent number: 10988205
    Abstract: A bicycle control device includes an electronic controller that receives data indicative of a detected gas pressure of a gas chamber of a bicycle component provided to a bicycle. The electronic controller controls an electric component provided to the bicycle in accordance with the detected gas pressure of the gas chamber of the bicycle component. The gas chamber of the bicycle component is configured to maintain a gas in a compressed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Hiroshi Matsuda, Takuya Katsuki
  • Patent number: 10953912
    Abstract: Example steering wheel systems and torque feedback actuator assemblies for use in steer-by-wire vehicles are described herein. An example steering wheel system includes a steering wheel and a torque feedback actuator assembly. The torque feedback actuator assembly includes a housing and a helical gear rotatably disposed in the housing. The steering wheel is coupled to and coaxially aligned with the helical gear. The torque feedback actuator assembly also includes a motor with a worm gear engaged with the helical gear to provide torque feedback to the steering wheel by driving the helical gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Rawlings, Robert Mrozek, Lodewijk Wijffels, Eugene Lau
  • Patent number: 10946916
    Abstract: An assisted spring seat height optimization lift device and method of use thereof is presented herein. The device is generally comprised of a seat frame attached to a scissor lift assembly that can be moved by engaging a releases mechanism attached to a lifting mechanism. The device is used to lift a handcycle user to a height that is manageable to transfer to a wheelchair independently without impeding the functionality of the handcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Benjamin Curtis Franklin, Travis Lee Kempf, Ryan Patrick Murphy, Joel Martin Kummer, Myles Christian Waiters, Daniel James Bumiller
  • Patent number: 10940726
    Abstract: The invention provides a sensor assembly for force sensing, the sensor assembly comprising: a first portion having a first and a second through hole, a second portion having a third and fourth through hole, and a first pin and a second pin coupling the first portion to the second portion. At least one out of the first and the second pin comprises a magnetoelastic based sensor for outputting a signal corresponding to a stress-induced magnetic flux emanating from a magnetically polarized region of the pin. The magnetoelastic based sensor comprises at least one direction sensitive magnetic field sensor in an at least partially hollow portion of the pin, which field sensor is configured for determination of a shear force in at least one direction. The invention further provides a tow coupling comprising the sensor assembly. The invention further provides a method for detecting a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Methode Electronics Malta Ltd.
    Inventor: Johannes Gießibl
  • Patent number: 10940907
    Abstract: A bicycle comprises a frame assembly and a hydration system. The frame assembly includes a main frame and a fork assembly pivotally coupled to the main frame. The hydration system includes a reservoir supported by the frame assembly, a collapsible bladder positioned in the reservoir, and a hose coupled to the bladder and extending through a reservoir opening. The hose enters the main frame through a frame opening and passes through an inside of the main frame above a bottom bracket. The hose exits the main frame through a front opening and enters the fork assembly through a fork opening facing toward the front opening. The fork assembly can also include a nose piece in front of the headset bearing, wherein the hose passes between headset bearing and the nose piece. The fork assembly can also include a handlebar and a riser supporting the handlebar, wherein the hose passes through the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Keith Kimmel, Yann Duez, Daniel Lentz, Brenton Haven
  • Patent number: 10933940
    Abstract: A shock device for an at least partially muscle-powered two-wheeled vehicle, including at least one tube system having two telescopic tubes, the tube system extending from a first end to a second end. A suspension system is provided which is effective between the two ends and which biases the two tubes to an extended position. The suspension system includes a positive air spring and an independent, series-connected supplementary spring. Both the positive air spring and the supplementary spring bias the tube system to the extended position. The supplementary spring shows a lower breakaway force than does the positive air spring, and the ratio of the suspension travel of the positive air spring to the suspension travel of the supplementary spring is higher than 4:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: DT SWISS INC.
    Inventors: Martin Walthert, Karsten Richter, Samuel Zbinden
  • Patent number: 10926628
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle mounted with a fuel gas tank in an underfloor of the vehicle. The fuel cell vehicle includes: a floor that has a projecting portion projecting upward in a height direction of the vehicle and extending along a front and rear direction of the vehicle; a fuel gas tank arranged under the projecting portion in the height direction of the vehicle and fixed to the floor; and an undercover arranged under the fuel gas tank in the height direction of the vehicle. The undercover has a fixation protruded portion that projects upward in the height direction of the vehicle in a side of the fuel gas tank in a width direction of the vehicle, and being fixed to the floor by the fixation protruded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takanori Otsura, Shigeaki Murata
  • Patent number: 10919431
    Abstract: A dry bulk tank and a method of carrying a load and discharging a load therefrom. The dry bulk tank includes a tank assembly having a first wall that bounds and defines a first compartment for carrying a load therein and a second wall spaced outwardly from at least a portion of the first wall; wherein a second compartment is defined between the first wall and the second wall. The tank assembly includes an air piping system that is selectively actuated to place the first compartment and the second compartment under substantially similar or substantially equal air pressure. In one example the air piping system pumps air into the first compartment and the second compartment. In another example the air piping system evacuates air from the first and second compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Mac Trailer Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott A. Kibler
  • Patent number: 10919594
    Abstract: A bicycle frame assembly includes a frame including a first segment, a second segment connected to the first segment at a first hinge, and a third segment connected to the second segment at a second hinge. A synchronization cable extends through the second segment from the first hinge to the second hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Robert George Thompson
  • Patent number: 10919432
    Abstract: A tank and a method of carrying a load and discharging a load therefrom. The tank includes a tank assembly having a first wall that bounds and defines a first compartment for carrying a load therein and a second wall spaced outwardly from at least a portion of the first wall; wherein a second compartment is defined between the first wall and the second wall. The tank assembly includes an air piping system that is selectively actuated to place the first compartment and the second compartment under substantially similar or substantially equal air pressure. In one example the air piping system pumps air into the first compartment and the second compartment. In another example the air piping system evacuates air from the first and second compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Mac Trailer Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott A. Kibler
  • Patent number: 10906579
    Abstract: Provided is a power steering apparatus capable of improving accuracy of relative positions of a first circulation member and a second circulation member. A tube 23 includes a first first-tube-side abutment portion 40 and a second second-tube-side abutment portion 51, and a second first-tube-side abutment portion 41 and a first second-tube-side abutment portion 51, which are configured to restrict relative positions of a first tube 31 and a second tube 32 in a circumferential direction relative to a nut 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Yoshida, Masatoshi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 10897842
    Abstract: A lift link assembly of a three-point hitch. The lift link assembly includes a pin, a yoke, and a shaft. The yoke includes a main housing and first and second side arms that extend downwardly therefrom. The shaft includes a shank and a head positioned on a lower-end thereof. The shank is positioned in an upper-end through hole of the main housing, and the head includes an attachment point that receives the pin when the lift link assembly is in certain modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Digvijay Bhosale, Benjamin J. Heimbuch
  • Patent number: 10899183
    Abstract: Systems and methods for magnetoelastic hitch receiver force detection are disclosed. An example vehicle includes a chassis, a trailer hitch receiver configured to receive a trailer hitch arm along an axis, a first pin having a first magnetic field, the first pin disposed above and perpendicular to the axis, a second pin, the first pin and the second pin coupling the trailer hitch receiver to the chassis and a first sensor configured to detect changes in the first magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Niedert, Rinku Patel, Anton Rogness, Elliott Pearson, Chad Reed, Johannes Gießibl
  • Patent number: 10894560
    Abstract: A track belt comprises a bearing element having an inner surface, an outer surface and a width. On the inner surface, a guide element extends in the longitudinal direction of the track belt, comprising a first edge protrusion and a second edge protrusion. The width of the guide element is substantially smaller than the width of the bearing element. The track belt comprises a first guide groove having a first flank surface formed by the first edge protrusion, and a second guide groove having a first flank surface formed by the second edge protrusion. The first flank surfaces of the edge protrusions are uniform and continuous substantially over the entire length of the guide element. Preferably, the guide element comprises a traction surface parallel to the inner surface of the bearing element, having engaging members for receiving the engaging parts of the drive wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Finncat Oy
    Inventors: Matti Pohjola, Kalle Pohjola, Olli Pohjola
  • Patent number: 10890913
    Abstract: A robotic platform may include a chassis, left and right wheel assemblies, and a controller. The left and right wheel assemblies may include a caster wheel, a motor, a shaft, and a bevel gear. The wheel may be mounted to an axle for rotation about a drive axis and steering about a steering axis. The drive shaft may have one end coupled to the axle and another end wrapped by a respective belt to control rotation of the shaft about the steering axis. The bevel gear may couple the shaft to the axle so rotation of the shaft about the steering axis controls rotation of the wheel about the drive axis to drive the platform in a substantially horizontal direction. The controller may control the left and right drive motors independently, to provide differential drive. Various other assemblies, robots, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott C. Wiley
  • Patent number: 10889321
    Abstract: A steering module for a vehicle has a steering input element and a sensor device, which includes at least one sensor, for registering the position of the steering input element, and has a servomechanism which includes a first actuator and acts on the steering input element. The servomechanism is redundantly designed and comprises a second actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Paravan Technologie GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Roland Arnold
  • Patent number: 10882579
    Abstract: A bicycle head structure includes a stem and a detachable cover. The stem is disposed between a handlebar and a head tube of a bicycle, and the stem has a top surface. The detachable cover covers the top surface, and an accommodating space is formed between the top surface and the detachable cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: GIANT MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bo-Hao Huang, Hua-Chun Huang
  • Patent number: 10882573
    Abstract: A towing device for an automatic guided vehicle that tows a carriage is disclosed. The towing device includes a connecting member, one end of which is connected to the automatic guided vehicle, and a hook member connected to the other end of the connecting member. One end of the connecting member is swivelably connected to the automatic guided vehicle. A swivel shaft axis line of the connecting member and a swivel shaft axis line of a drive unit of the automatic guided vehicle are configured to be coaxial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignees: AICHIKIKAI TECHNOSYSTEM CO., LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuji Adachi, Takayuki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 10874562
    Abstract: A mobile device includes a body, a motor, a transmission assembly and two driven components. The motor and the transmission assembly are disposed at the body. The transmission assembly includes a differential, two shafts and two stoppers. The differential is coupled to the motor. The two shafts are respectively coupled to the two opposite sides of the differential. The two stoppers are respectively disposed corresponding to the two shafts. The two driven components are respectively connected to the two shafts. When one of the two shafts is locked by the corresponding stopper, the motor may still drive the other shaft and the driven component connected thereto to rotate relative to the body through the differential. A transmission assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Chen-Yi Liang, Ming-Ju Hsieh