Patents Examined by Hilary L Johns
  • Patent number: 11161030
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a sled having a sled attachment and a runner. The sled attachment may include a control deck and a connector assembly coupled to and positioned below the control deck. The runner may be coupled to the connector assembly and spaced apart from the deck. The runner may extend along a longitudinal axis of the control deck. The runner may comprise a snowboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventor: Lee Purcell
  • Patent number: 11148695
    Abstract: A device (1) for the accurate positioning of a transport pallet (2) includes a coupling unit (3, 4) for coupling to the transport pallet (2), a handle element (6) which is arranged on the coupling unit (3, 4) for the handling of the device (1) by an operator, and a locking unit (7, 8) for locking the coupling unit (3, 4) non-rotatably to the transport pallet (2) in a fixed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: DEUTSCHE POST AG
    Inventor: Hendrik Meiner
  • Patent number: 11142074
    Abstract: The present application provides an explosion-proof valve, a battery pack, and an electric vehicle. The explosion-proof valve includes a first connection member, a second connection member, a resilient connection member, and an explosion-proof film. An upper port is formed on the first connection member that includes an ejector pin. The second connection member is disposed at an interval from the first connection member. The first and second connection members are tightly in a sealed connection with the resilient connection member. The explosion-proof film is disposed at the upper port and seals the upper port, and the explosion-proof film is located above the ejector pin. Because the explosion-proof valve is directly disposed on a base plate of a case in a vehicle body using the first and second connection members, the explosion-proof valve can fully use narrow space between the base plate of the battery pack and the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventor: Haidong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11135993
    Abstract: An airbag arrangement (3) for a vehicle (1). The airbag arrangement comprises an inflatable airbag (5) and an external extension control member (7) being operatively associated with said airbag. The airbag is adapted to be inflated in a longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle to a position between an interior portion (13) of the vehicle in front of a seated vehicle occupant (17) and an upper body region (19) of the seated vehicle occupant. The external extension control member has a selectable operative length (lo). The external extension control member controls deployment of the airbag by means of the selectable operative length. The present disclosure also relates to a vehicle comprising the airbag arrangement and a method for deploying an airbag of the airbag arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Rutelin, Johan Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 11130380
    Abstract: A method includes inserting a wear disc into the void between the eye portion of a strut and the yoke arrangement of a chassis or an undercarriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: John Al Johnson
  • Patent number: 11130386
    Abstract: A duct system, and more particularly, a rigid endcap of the duct system can be configured to prevent a register from being damaged and from being displaced upon a curtain side airbag deployment. The duct system can include a headliner defining an opening, and a soft duct operatively connected to the headliner. The duct system can include a rigid endcap operatively connected to the headliner and to the soft duct. An airflow channel can be defined by the headliner, the soft duct, and the rigid endcap. Additionally, the rigid endcap can define a terminal end of the airflow channel, and the opening can be located along the airflow channel directly below the rigid endcap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Logan R. Astrike, Toshinao Wada, Skylar C. Watson, Chad Eric Anderson
  • Patent number: 11124152
    Abstract: Buckle assemblies having electronic engagement indicating devices for use with child seats and other restraint systems are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a restraint system for use with a child seat can include first and second web connectors which each have a corresponding tongue, and a buckle assembly including a housing that encloses a latch configured to engage the tongues. The buckle assembly can further include a magnet operably coupled to the latch, and an electronic switch operably positioned in the housing. The latch is configured to move between a first latch position in which the latch is disengaged from the tongues, and a second latch position in which the latch is engaged with the tongues. Movement of the latch from the first latch position to the second latch position moves the magnet relative to the electronic switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Shield Restraint Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian George Babin
  • Patent number: 11117457
    Abstract: An axle drive unit may be employed by an electrically-driven motor vehicle having at least one drive axle. The axle drive unit may include at least one electric motor for generating a drive torque and at least one gearing (or transmission) for transmitting the drive torque to the drive axle. The electric motor and the gearing may form a structural unit. The axle drive unit allows a drive train of a motor vehicle to have the simplest, weight-saving construction possible. To achieve this, power electronics and an electromechanical service brake system may be integrated into the structural unit. The electromechanical service brake system may be configured as an inboard service brake system for transmitting braking power to the drive axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: JHEECO E-DRIVE AG
    Inventor: Philipp Matt
  • Patent number: 11117603
    Abstract: The motorized medicine cart is a motorized vehicle. The motorized medicine cart is configured for use in distributing medication. The motorized medicine cart transports the medication and an individual designated to distribute the medication within a medical facility. The motorized medicine cart is driven by the designated individual. The motorized medicine cart comprises a medication cabinet, a vehicle structure, and a control circuit. The medication cabinet and the control circuit attach to the vehicle structure. The vehicle structure transports the medication cabinet and the individual through the medical facility. The control circuit controls the operation of the vehicle structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Shelia Hunter
  • Patent number: 11117043
    Abstract: A truck includes a base plate, a hanger, a kingpin, and a bushing assembly. The base plate includes a coupling portion and a contact portion. The kingpin is disposed within a portion of the hanger to rotatably couple the hanger to the base plate. The bushing assembly includes at least one bushing disposed in a recess of the contact portion and in contact with the hanger. The bushing assembly including a bushing adjustment coupled to at least one of the base plate or the hanger and configured to selectively engage the at least one bushing to transition the bushing assembly between a first configuration in which the at least one bushing exerts a first force in response to rotation of the hanger and a second configuration in which the at least one bushing exerts a second force different from the first force in response to rotation of the hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Skate One Corp.
    Inventors: George A. Powell, Michael T. Mete
  • Patent number: 11110788
    Abstract: A control structure for a mobile work machine includes at least one output converter, at least one output provider, and a control unit. The at least one output converter is operatively connected to the at least one output provider by way of a shaft, and the control unit determines kinetic energy of the shaft, so as to utilize the shaft as an energy accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alejandro Lopez Pamplona, Nils Steker, Norman Brix, Steffen Mutschler
  • Patent number: 11110946
    Abstract: The handcart has a pair of larger wheels at the back of the load-carrying platform and a rear axle located above the plane of at least the forward portion of the platform. Smaller caster wheels are mounted on the lower portions of the super structure of the cart. The caster wheels extend longitudinally forward from the forward corners of the platform. The lower portions of the super structure and the caster wheel are attached to the platform by gusset plates or arms. The gusset plates or arms may be welded to the platform and the lower portions at an acute angle relative to the upper surface of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Inventor: Frank Salvucci, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11110966
    Abstract: A front body structure of the vehicle includes a pair of left and right apron reinforcements, a pair of left and right front side frames, a pair of left and right suspension housings, and a sub-frame. The front body structure of the vehicle further includes a shroud upper that joins the front ends of the apron reinforcements, a pair of left and right shroud members that join the shroud upper and the front ends of the front side frames, and a pair of left and right front joint members that join the front ends of the front side frames and the sub-frame, in which the shroud members are joined to the upper surfaces and the side surfaces of the front side frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuniyoshi Tashiro, Shigeaki Watanabe, Hidenori Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11104558
    Abstract: A load wheel assembly is provided comprising: a frame member; a side plate coupled to the frame member; an axle extending between the frame member and the side plate; and a keeper coupled by a fastener to the frame member or the side plate. The keeper is coupled to one end of the axle to prevent rotational and axial movement of the axle relative to the frame member and the side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Clinton L. Reges, George R. Wetterer, Bruce A. Dubberly
  • Patent number: 11084325
    Abstract: A vehicle (100) comprising a plurality of wheels (106a, b) and an apparatus on a wheeled vehicle are disclosed. The vehicle, or apparatus, comprises a control system arranged to issue a signal in the event of determining that one or more wheels of the vehicle has lost, or is at risk of losing, frictional contact with a road surface (104). The vehicle, or apparatus, further comprises a gas source arranged to supply a burst of gas upon said signal being issued. At least one gas outlet (112) is connected to said gas source and is arranged to direct said burst of gas so as to clear water and/or debris from the road surface in front of at least one of the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: COVENTRY UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Mike Blundell
  • Patent number: 11084443
    Abstract: A system that determines a condition of wearing of a seat belt, including: a marker provided on at least a part of the seat belt; an image capture processing unit that emits electromagnetic waves of the prescribed wavelength band toward a predetermined range and that creates an image indicating intensity distribution of electromagnetic waves of the prescribed wavelength band, based on reflected waves reflected in the predetermined range; a shape estimating unit that estimates a shape of an occupant based on the image, detects the marker from the image, and estimates a shape of the seat belt based on the marker detected; and a determining unit that determines the condition of wearing of the seat belt by the occupant, based on a positional relationship between the occupant and the seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Hiroki, Hiroki Okada
  • Patent number: 11077384
    Abstract: An electric toy vehicle includes a vehicle body having a front compartment and a rear compartment. A set of surface engaging members is rotatably connected to the vehicle body. A motor is operatively connected to the surface engaging members. A moveable divider is positioned between the front compartment and the rear compartment. The divider is moveable between a first position and a second position. A switch includes a first state and a second state. When the divider is in the first position the switch is in the first state and when the divider is in the second position the switch is in the second state. When the switch is in the first state, the motor is prevented from operating the surface engaging members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Dynacraft, BSC
    Inventors: William Talios, John Bisges, David Castrucci
  • Patent number: 11077355
    Abstract: A bumper apparatus is coupled to a board vehicle to protect the periphery of the board vehicle from damage and wear. The board vehicle includes a board with a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, a rear end, and a pair of side ends. The bumper apparatus includes a bent elongated member extending along the periphery of the board vehicle and having a front portion continuously connected to a rear portion by a pair of side portions, and a primary crossbar connecting the pair of side portions of the elongated member together and coupled to the board. The bent elongated member serves as a barrier along the front, rear and side ends of the board vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventor: Titus Gadwin Watts
  • Patent number: 11072304
    Abstract: A vehicle seat for a portion of a vehicle seat is provided. The vehicle seat includes a central base cover, a removable trim cover extending over at least a portion of the central base cover, and a side base cover secured to the central base cover. A fastener assembly has a first fastener interface secured to the removable trim cover and a second fastener interface secured to the side base cover and connected to the first fastener interface. An airbag assembly includes an inflatable airbag and an inflator disposed within an airbag chute. The airbag chute has a first end region and a second end region. The first end region is secured to the central base cover, the second fastener interface, the side base cover, and the second end region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yong Yang
  • Patent number: 11072374
    Abstract: A morphing fender skirt includes a rigid, open-ended arched base, stretchable exterior skin connected across the base, and a structural, bendable rib array connected over the base subjacent to the skin. The rib array is configured to bend between a flattened shape over the base, whereby the rib array imparts the flattened shape to the skin across the base, and a domed shape over the base, whereby the rib array imparts the domed shape to the skin across the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: The Ohio State Innovation Foundation
    Inventors: Umesh N. Gandhi, Marcelo J. Dapino, Venkata Siva C. Chillara, Leon M. Headings