Patents Examined by Hilary L Johns
  • Patent number: 9886032
    Abstract: A self-propelled device includes a spherical housing and an internal drive system. The self-propelled device can further include an internal structure having a magnet holder that holds a first set of magnets and an external accessory comprising a second set of magnets to magnetically interact, through the spherical housing, with the first set magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: SPHERO, INC.
    Inventors: Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson, Chun Kong, Ross MacGregor
  • Patent number: 9863403
    Abstract: Air channels and wind turbines systems are provided for cooling vehicle parts and storing electrical energy in a vehicle battery. The vehicle may have a battery, a braking system, an air duct with wind turbines and a generator. The air duct has an inlet portion for receiving an airflow, a body portion having wind turbines, and an outlet portion for directing the airflow to the braking system. A generator converts kinetic energy of the wind turbines to electrical energy stored in the battery. The wind turbines can be positioned in an air duct extending from a front bumper to an area proximal to one or more wheels to enhance vehicle aerodynamics. Alternatively, the wind turbines can be positioned in openings between grill shutters to generate energy and cool a radiator. Alternatively, the wind turbines can be positioned proximal to powertrain or drivetrain components for cooling and generating electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Gaither
  • Patent number: 9834086
    Abstract: A radiator support structure includes: a first attachment member that is fixed to a vehicle body, and that supports a radiator body; and a second attachment member that (i) is separate from and unattached to the first attachment member, (ii) is attached to a front side member of the vehicle body through a shock absorbing member that is fixed to a vehicle front-rear direction front end of the front side member, and (iii) supports the radiator body. At least one of the first attachment member and the second attachment member is configured to detach from the radiator body when a collision force in the vehicle front-rear direction is applied to the second attachment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasunori Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 9834242
    Abstract: A smart dolly includes a running mechanism and a body, the running mechanism comprises an equipment box and a rear axle housing, the equipment box is disposed on the rear axle housing, a battery, electric motor and control computer are provided in the equipment box, the battery and the electric motor are both electrically connected to the control computer, the equipment box has a charging plug thereon, the charging plug is electrically connected to the battery, the rear axle housing is provided with a differential clutch and an axle therein, the differential clutch and the axle form a transmission, the differential clutch is driven by the electric motor, the electric motor is provided with an electromagnetic braking device and a heat dissipation fan, and the external ends of the axle are connected to wheels; the body comprises an upper, middle and lower support rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventors: Guangwei Wang, Zhoumin Ni
  • Patent number: 9834037
    Abstract: A releasable wheel assembly includes a bracket having a plurality of bosses, each boss including a hole that receives an axle. A pair of wheels are mounted on the axle and a pair of locking caps fit over respective ends of the axle, the locking caps each including a clip for engaging the axle at a circumferential groove to prevent movement of the locking cap along the axle. The wheel assembly can be mounted to a carry bag or other storage unit by mounting the bracket to the storage unit, where the wheels and axle can be easily removed from the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventor: Mark C. Carter
  • Patent number: 9821603
    Abstract: A method of assembling a wheeled package includes providing a package having an exterior surface with at least one cavity, and inserting a retractable caster assembly at least partially into the cavity. The retractable caster assembly includes a frame and a caster wheel assembly with a wheel and two guide members configured to be movable along slots within the frame so that: when the caster wheel assembly is at a first end of the slots the wheel is in a retracted position substantially within the cavity; and when the caster wheel assembly is at a second end of the slots the wheel is in an extended position extending from the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Staunton Capital Incorporated
    Inventor: Chad Lee Trickle
  • Patent number: 9821856
    Abstract: A fully foldable mud flap has an upper flap section having a magnet permanently attached and a lower flap section having a magnet of the opposite polarity attached. The flap sections are connected by a hinge which allows rotation of the lower flap section in relation to the upper flap section, such that, in the retracted position, the lower flap section is parallel to and directly faces the upper flap section, with the magnets securing the flap sections in this position. The mud flap can be conveniently manually folded and unfolded, when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Inventor: Anthony Michael Caruso
  • Patent number: 9808704
    Abstract: A human transportation device in the form of a variable length skateboard. The variable length skateboard provides a short embodiment allowing the rider greater handling and stopping ability and a long embodiment providing the rider with increased speed ability. The long and short embodiments can quickly and easily be transitioned between at any time or place by the insertion or extraction of at least one removable center deck section. The deck sections are coupled using thumb screw type fasteners and coupler plates thereby removing a need for tools to make the conversion between embodiments. The variable length skateboard provides its owner with multiple embodiments without having to purchase multiple skateboards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin Robert Crossland, Curtis James Crossland, Gary Francis Fischer
  • Patent number: 9802584
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the disclosure include a power generation unit trailer system. A first aspect of the disclosure provides for a landing gear for a power generation unit trailer system. The landing includes: a support configured for attaching to a base of the power generation unit trailer; and a vibration isolator attached to the support and configured to anchor the support to a foundation beneath the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Vineet Sethi
  • Patent number: 9802470
    Abstract: A vehicle drive device that includes a wheel drive rotary electric machine and a transmission device on a power transmission path connecting an input member drivingly coupled to an internal combustion engine and an output member drivingly coupled to wheels; a pump electric motor that serves as a driving force source of a hydraulic pump; a case that accommodates the wheel drive rotary electric machine, the transmission device, and the pump electric motor; and a motor controller including a first inverter that controls the wheel drive rotary electric machine, a second inverter that controls the pump electric motor, a cooler that cools the first inverter and the second inverter, and a smoothing capacitor that smooths direct-current power to be supplied to the first inverter and the second inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Miyazawa, Tatsuyuki Uechi
  • Patent number: 9795199
    Abstract: A motorized luggage assembly includes a base unit that may contain objects and the base unit may be placed on a support surface. The base unit is structured to roll along the support surface. The base unit includes a mobility unit that is coupled to the base unit. The mobility unit is urges the base unit along the support surface. A tracking unit is coupled to the base unit. The tracking unit is operationally coupled to the mobility unit such that the tracking unit steers the mobility unit. A remote unit is provided and the remote unit may be worn. The remote unit is in communication with the base unit such that the base unit may follow the remote unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventors: Amber Caputo, George Nieves
  • Patent number: 9789894
    Abstract: A riding board apparatus configured to be mounted to a stroller is provided. The riding board apparatus includes a platform, at least one mounting arm extending from the platform, and a seat mounted onto the platform and is configured to be convertible between a sitting configuration and a stowable configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventors: Esther Weber, Samuel Weber
  • Patent number: 9789382
    Abstract: A skate including a bridge member, and a blade assembly pivotably coupled to the bridge member about a transverse axis. The blade assembly is capable of pivoting relative to the bridge member. The skate is operable in a first mode of operation during a predetermined interval, and a second mode of operation after the predetermined interval. The skate is configured to automatically transition from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Brent E. Aussprung
  • Patent number: 9789383
    Abstract: Sliding board (1), whose internal structure has a core (2) edged with side ski edges (10), said core (2) separating two lower (3) and upper (4) reinforcing layers, in which core (2) includes at least additional component (20) made of material with greater flexibility than the remainder of the core, characterised in that said additional component is inserted into a slender hollow (21, 22) shaped to curve inside the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SKIS ROSSIGNOL
    Inventors: Adrien Reguis, Arnaud Repa
  • Patent number: 9790837
    Abstract: A mounting assembly for mounting a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) system within a work vehicle may generally include a support bracket having a first side and a second side. The mounting assembly may also include a mount plate configured to be coupled to the first side of the bracket. The mount plate may include first and second plate walls and may define an elongated slot through the first plate wall. Additionally, the assembly may include a retention band configured to at least partially wrap around a housing of the DOC system between a first end configured to be coupled to the mount plate and a second end configured to be coupled to the second side of the support bracket. The mount plate may be configured to be moved laterally relative to the support bracket to allow the retention band to be tightened and loosened around the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: William Adamson, Eric Wanstrath, Mark Draeger, Rajeshwar Adupala
  • Patent number: 9783253
    Abstract: A scooter seat device, in particular, a kick scooter seat device, with a seat base body and with at least one first fastening unit for fastening to a scooter. The first fastening unit comprises at least one support surface, which in a mounted state is provided to support the seat base body at least against a footboard of the scooter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: MICRO MOBILITY SYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Janine Ouboter, Willem Jan Ouboter
  • Patent number: 9771095
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stroller with a secondary attachment mechanism to facilitate the attachment of various structures to the stroller. In one embodiment, the secondary attachment mechanism may comprise an infant car seat adapter. In another embodiment, the secondary attachment may comprise a basket. The present disclosure also relates to a basket for use in an expandable stroller system. The expandable stroller system comprises an expandable base. The basket attaches to the expandable stroller system and expands with the expandable base of the stroller system advantageously providing additional storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Austlen Baby Co.
    Inventors: Patrick William Laffan, Leslie Stiba
  • Patent number: 9770100
    Abstract: Autonomous trolleys include an integrated power source, which energy can be utilized for integrated trolley systems such as a wheel assist module, heating module, and cooling module. The power source may include a fuel cell system or a rechargeable electrical energy storage device or a combination thereof. The rechargeable electrical energy storage device can be charged by any other power source, including a fuel cell system. The trolley can also be equipped with a fuel tank for easy and safe refueling of a fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Driessen Aerospace Group N.V.
    Inventors: Kevin Huang, Lucas Nastase, Tom Schreuder, Andreas Hoogeveen, Adriaan Eijkelenboom, Cyril Morozeau, Olivier Zarrouati
  • Patent number: 9756936
    Abstract: The present invention provides a roll-in kitchen unit having an outer housing and a trolley that fits substantially within. The trolley provides a cast frame coupled to a scaling plate for sealing the trolley within the outer housing. In one embodiment, the cast frame is reinforced with inner and outer ribs to minimize deflection of the cast frame and bring the sealing plate into alignment with the corresponding gasket of the outer housing door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Alto-Shaam, Inc.
    Inventors: J. K. Raghavan, Christopher T. Larson
  • Patent number: 9731740
    Abstract: Embodiments include a foldable cart and methods of folding a cart for loading into a vehicle. In an illustrative embodiment, the leading legs are foldable from a use position to a collapsed position. To facilitate folding of the leading legs, the cart includes a leading leg folding system having: i) a release mechanism, ii) one or more leading leg supports to transfer motion from the release mechanism to the leading legs, and iii) an actuation system including an actuator wheel to initiate release of the release mechanism. The actuation system provides automatic release and folding of the leading legs during loading into the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: API GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Brad Chafin