Patents Examined by Hilary L Johns
  • Patent number: 10017036
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a protecting device; for protecting a battery effectively by absorbing an impact energy which can be received from a lateral direction of an electrical automobile; and for preventing a secondary damage due to the breakage of the battery, and the present disclosure relates to the battery protecting device of the electrical automobile including: a frame (10) for forming a body of a floor (30) positioned in a lower portion of the electrical automobile (100); and at least one protecting bar (20) positioned inside the frame (10), and the vertical cross-section of the protecting bar (20) is a shape including: a pair of closed spaces (21); and a brim (22) for forming the pair of closed spaces (21), in which the brim (22) is connected between the pair of closed spaces (21) so as to make the pair of closed spaces (21) separated by a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operation LLC
    Inventors: Hyun Soo Lim, Dong Min Kim
  • Patent number: 10017053
    Abstract: A fluid turbine system is provided for harnessing light radiant energy, thermal energy and/or kinetic energy of a vehicle. At least one fluid tube is coupled with a body portion of the vehicle. At least a portion of the at least one fluid tube is positioned proximal to the vehicle's roof, the trunk and/or hood. The at least one fluid tube contains a fluid configured to expand in response to receiving light radiant energy or thermal energy. At least one fluid turbine is coupled with the at least one fluid tube and has blades configured to be rotated by the fluid. A generator converts kinetic energy from the rotation of the blades of the at least one fluid turbine to electrical energy stored in the battery. Valves and/or pumps may control the fluid flow for enhancing generation of electrical energy using light radiant energy, thermal energy and/or kinetic energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Gaither
  • Patent number: 10005480
    Abstract: A portable box table that includes a storage body comprising a plurality of sides enclosing a space suitable for storing items therein, and a wheel assembly coupled to the storage body suitable for enabling transportation of the portable box table over a ground surface. A side of the storage body is configured to be detachable from the storage body, wherein the detachable side further includes extendable legs coupled to an underneath surface of the detachable side, wherein the extendable legs are configured to retract in a storage position parallel and adjacent to the underneath surface of the detachable side, and wherein the extendable legs are configured to extend from the storage position to an extended position to support a work surface of the detachable side in a position substantially parallel to the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Inventor: James Daniel Grappe
  • Patent number: 9995284
    Abstract: A device for efficient self-contained timely sequential vehicular inertial thrust drive is presented comprising two in opposing motion direction internal frequency modulated mechanical oscillators using the simultaneous and combined effort of straight line and rotational inertial reluctance of flywheels. The oscillator's mass motions are obtained with a motor-generators imbedded into large backrest flywheels reciprocally exerting pulsed drive actions and dynamic braking action onto rotors. The motor generators are controlled by a manually tunable electronic controller allowing the fine tuning of the mass motions for finding the highest thrust efficiency. The oscillator's frequency modulation is obtained with an internal reaction less angular mutual reciprocal torque pulse exertion by the motor between the large backrest flywheels against the fast spinning rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Real Automation
    Inventor: Gottfried J. Gutsche
  • Patent number: 9994260
    Abstract: The four wheel vehicle uses an electric motor (142) for driving the vehicle and a battery unit (160) for supplying electric power to the electric motor. The lower chassis (5) of the vehicle includes a pair of front side frames (10) extending linearly in a fore and aft direction with an upward slant and a progressively increasing lateral mutual spacing from a front part thereof to a rear part thereof, a pair of rear side frames (12) connected to rear ends of the respective front side frames, and extending linearly in a fore and aft direction with an upward slant from a front part thereof to a rear part thereof in continuation of the corresponding front side frames in a mutually parallel relationship, and a plurality of cross members (14, 16, 18, 20, 22) connecting the side frames to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunihiro Ito
  • Patent number: 9987545
    Abstract: At least one embodiment of the inventive technology relates to a snowboard having three cambers, a first of which may be disposed immediately inboard of a first tip section, a second of which may be disposed immediately inboard of a second tip section, and a third of which may be centrally disposed between tip section termina of the snowboard, and between said first and second cambers. The third camber may be part of a centrally disposed rocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Never Summer Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Canaday, Tracey Canaday
  • Patent number: 9975419
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an air dam assembly disposed at a first end of the vehicle body that is configured to control an airflow between the vehicle body and a road surface from outside the vehicle to the under-hood compartment of the vehicle. The air dam assembly includes a housing having a top wall and a bottom wall defining a forward wall and an opposing rearward wall therebetween. A plurality of flexible pleats are disposed on the forward wall of the of the air dam housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Joseph N. Eckstein
  • Patent number: 9974703
    Abstract: An adjustable wheelchair for ready assembly in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, the wheelchair includes, an undercarriage including, a horizontal axle including a first end segment telescopically coupled to a body segment and a second end segment telescopically coupled to the body segment opposite the first end segment allowing for adjustment of the wheelchair width, and a tongue including a body segment telescopically coupled to an end segment allowing for adjustment of the wheelchair length, and a seat post including an end segment telescopically coupled to a body segment allowing for adjusting the wheelchair seat height; and a pair of wheels; and a swivel wheel coupled to the tongue of the undercarriage to support the wheelchair and provide mobility; and a seat bottom coupled to the end segment of the seat post for load-bearing support; and a seatback rotatably coupled to the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Inventor: Mark James Richard
  • Patent number: 9962312
    Abstract: A rollator walker with a travel carriage, a frame, and a support for a person's leg, the inclination of which, with respect to a horizontal plane in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the support, can be adjusted. The support is mounted on a supporting part, which is firmly connected to the frame via a joint with a first axle which is horizontal and transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support, and via a supporting element which is at a distance from the first axle in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the support. The supporting element is connected to the supporting part via a manually adjustable mechanical positioning element, by which the vertical position of the supporting element can be changed with respect to the supporting part. As a result, the inclination of the support is adjustable without loss of stability, and the support is held securely in any set inclination position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ORTHOSCOOT GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Heinrich, Andreas Hertle
  • Patent number: 9956880
    Abstract: A drivable exercise machine may include an electric vehicle with human power input provided by a high output, variable-resistance pedal-driven generator. The vehicle may include a computing device with a user interface that mimics an electric exercise bicycle. Using one or more program modes, a user may activate pre-set, custom and dynamic terrain-based exercise program profiles while commuting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: RahtMobile, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Kronfeld, Lyon Smith, Russell Bockin, Steve Castellotti
  • Patent number: 9956871
    Abstract: A driving apparatus of an electric vehicle that enables secure positioning and easy assembling, and a method for assembling the driving apparatus of the electric vehicle. A driving apparatus of an electric vehicle includes an electric motor provided in an electric motor case, the electric motor having an output shaft protruding outside the electric motor case, a planetary gear mechanism provided in a speed reducer case, the planetary gear mechanism transferring the driving force at a reduced speed from the output shaft to the driving wheel. The output shaft integrally includes a sun gear meshed with a planetary gear of the planetary gear mechanism. The speed reducer case includes a positioning section disposed concentrically with the output shaft, the positioning section being combined with the electric motor case. A meshing length between the sun gear and the planetary gear is larger than an insertion depth of the positioning section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takanori Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 9956474
    Abstract: A four-wheel sensor controlled vehicle having a base and a control box installed with a battery and a control panel; two driving wheels are installed at the bottom surface of the base close to the front edge of the base, and two universal wheels are installed at the bottom surface of the base close to the rear edge of the base. The driving wheel has a hub assembled with a hub motor assembly of a motor. The base is installed with four weighing sensors at four corners, the first weighing sensor and the third weighing sensor respectively correspond to the fore sole and rear sole of the left foot, the second weighing sensor and the fourth weighing sensor respectively correspond to the fore sole and the rear sole of the right foot. The control panel is connected with the motor and the weighing sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventors: Shengen Zhou, Zhiyong Sha
  • Patent number: 9950725
    Abstract: A reversible cart with wheels is disclosed which can be flipped from one orientation with wheels down and handles pointed upwards, to another orientation with the wheels and handles both pointed downwards (relative to the ground). In the latter embodiment, the cart functions as a table. To accomplish this, portals extend through the cart/table, at least some of which are equidistantly spaced from others, and two support beams of a handle or handles are inserted into two successive portals. The portals can be on narrow and long sides of a rectangular cart/table, allowing the handles to be inserted in various configurations, such as only on the narrow side, on both narrow sides, or on the long side. The cart/table itself can have two sides spaced apart by ribbing, creating a shelf there-between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventor: Roman Uszynski
  • Patent number: 9937865
    Abstract: An upper component has a top and an inner side with a lower free end and has an outer side with a lower free end. A lower component has a bottom and an inner side with an upper free end and has an outer side with an upper free end. The lower free ends are coupled to the upper free ends respectively forming a cylindrical configuration with a chamber there within. A support beam within the chamber extends vertically with an upper end adjacent to the top and a lower end adjacent to the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Douglas Oakey
  • Patent number: 9932056
    Abstract: A cleaning cart has a base plate and a working plate arranged at a vertical distance above the base plate, wherein the base plate and the working plate are connected to each other by a linkage arranged in the vertical distance. The linkage is formed by at least two struts extending non-parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Andreas Eisenhut, Christoph Zimmermann, Bruno Meier, Christian Thoma
  • Patent number: 9919731
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body frame, an engine, a transmission, an injector, an engine controller, and a transmission controller. The body frame supports three or more wheels. The engine is attached to the body frame. The transmission is attached to the body frame and changes a torque from the engine and outputs a resulting torque. The injector is disposed on or above the engine, and supplies fuel to the engine. The transmission controller is configured or programmed to control a gear position of the transmission. The engine controller and the transmission controller are spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Morimoto, Kazuo Sunahiro
  • Patent number: 9913697
    Abstract: A workstation assembly that can be collapsed into a portable container. The portable container has a first section and second section that can be selectively joined and separated. A lift mechanism is provided that interconnects the first section and the second section. The lift mechanism has an extended configuration and a compressed configuration. When in its extended configuration, the lift mechanism separates the first section from the second section of the portable container by a selected distance. Conversely, when in its compressed configuration, the lift mechanism causes the first section to abut against the second section along a common seam. Wheels are connected to the portable container so that the portable container can roll. A handle is also connected to the container for pulling the container on wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Eric A. DeVeaux
  • Patent number: 9902441
    Abstract: Provided is a track drive for outdoor power equipment including a support frame and a drive axle configured to attach to an associated drive hub. A hub bearing is mounted on the drive axle and the support frame enabling the drive axle to rotate relative to the support frame. A drive sprocket is attached to the drive axle and includes an interior half sprocket and an exterior half sprocket. The half sprockets are located on either side of the support frame. Drive teeth are spaced radially about the drive sprocket. The drive sprocket is movably engaged with an endless track to transmit force to rotate the endless track and propel the outdoor power equipment. A kit for adding or replacing a track drive of outdoor power equipment is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc
    Inventors: Peter J. Buchanan, Jimmy N. Eavenson, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9884640
    Abstract: A foldable stroller includes a frame and a locking component. The frame includes a handle, a front foot, a rear foot, and a carrier support. An upper end of the front foot is pivoted to the handle. An upper end of the rear foot is pivoted to the handle. The carrier support includes at least one connecting rod. An end of the at least one connecting rod is pivoted to the front foot, and the other end of the at least one connecting rod is pivoted to the rear foot. The locking component is installed between the rear foot and the handle. The locking component locks rotation of the rear foot relative to the handle when the foldable stroller is unfolded. Due to aforementioned structure, the foldable stroller is not only reliable in operation but also has a smaller occupied space after being folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
    Inventor: Jian-Qun Li
  • Patent number: 9884244
    Abstract: A component of a sports board may be controlled to configure the sports board. The component may be coupled with at least one layer of the sports board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Inventor: Bryan Marc Failing