Patents Examined by Hilary L Johns
  • Patent number: 11065528
    Abstract: A thrust-responsive structure for skis includes a plurality of retractable elements. Each retractable element includes a portion configured to move from an elevated position to a retracted position. Each retractable element further includes a first retention feature. The structure further comprises a matrix surrounding at least a subset of the plurality of retractable elements. The matrix is static relative to the plurality of retractable elements. The matrix includes a plurality of second retention features configured to captively engage the first retention features of the plurality of retractable elements. A position of each retractable element of the plurality of retractable elements, in the elevated position, is limited by contact between the first retention feature and the second retention feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventor: Stephen S. Daniell
  • Patent number: 11059505
    Abstract: A versatile electric cart, including a frame, a handle, a battery, a motor, a wheel and an axle. The frame is provided with components connecting with attachments. The components include a snib, a bolt, a connecting hole and a T-shaped column. The snib is provided at the rear end of the frame. The front and rear beam of the frame are both provided with the screw hole. The front end of the frame is provided with the connecting hole and the T-shaped column. The T-shaped column is provided at the axle, the top and bottom of the T-shaped column are both provided with the screw hole. The front end of the T-shaped column is provided with the connecting hole. The frame is provided with the battery. The attachments are fitted to the frame by the snib, the screw hole, the connecting hole or the T-shaped column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: INTRADIN (HUZHOU) PRECISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xuetao Qiao, Junliang Wang
  • Patent number: 11052810
    Abstract: A cart is disclosed for carrying a gas bottle. The cart includes a wheeled frame and a bottle support platform. The support platform is configured to pivot between a loading position in which a gas bottle may be loaded and/or unloaded from the bottle support platform and a cradle position in which the gas bottle and the bottle support platform are elevated. A bottle rest may support the bottle when the bottle support platform is in the cradle position. A bottle support spine may also, or alternatively, support the bottle during transportation and act as a lever for pivoting the bottle support platform between the loading position and the cradle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: David Paul Marcusen, Nicholas James Dessart, Daniel James Helein
  • Patent number: 11046274
    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: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Hiroki, Hiroki Okada
  • Patent number: 11034371
    Abstract: A pallet sled includes a lower frame and an upper frame. A plurality of pivot arms pivotably connect the upper frame to the lower frame. The upper frame is movable between a lowered position and raised position. The upper frame is spaced further from the lower frame in the raised position than in the lowered position. The upper frame is rotated slightly relative to the lower frame when moved from the lowered position to the raised position. In the example embodiment, the upper frame is rotated approximately 1.5 degrees to approximately 2.0 degrees toward the upright handle of the pallet sled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventors: Dane Gin Mun Kalinowski, Joseph E. Popovits, II
  • Patent number: 11021028
    Abstract: At least one underfill part is formed so that a central axis of the arm component coincides with a load line of the arm component. The central axis of the configuration is a line connecting centroids of cross-sectional shapes with one another in an axial direction of the arm component, the cross-sectional shapes being shapes on cross-sectional planes perpendicular to an axis of the arm component. The load line of the arm component is a line on which a load is imposed in the arm component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaaki Nagatani, Katsuhiko Kojima
  • Patent number: 11002012
    Abstract: A truss structure is suitable for supporting lighting fixtures or other loads both in use and in transport. The truss has at least four elongated chords defining between said chords a first volume generally rectangular in cross-section. In transport, the truss is supported substantially above a surface by castered carriages bearing upon that surface, the carriages connected to said truss and in a first position producing an additional volume between said first volume and said surface. The carriages are attached to the truss so as to permit their rotation between said first position and at least a second position suitable for use while remaining connected to said truss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Inventor: Michael Callahan
  • Patent number: 10994684
    Abstract: An airbag device for a vehicle may include: a mounting housing having an airbag module mounted therein; one or more holders formed on the mounting housing; a steering wheel engaged to the holders; one or more mounting members slidably inserted into the engagement portion between the mounting housing and the steering wheel; and one or more hook members installed at positions spaced a predetermined distance apart from the center of the steering wheel, in order to fix the mounting member at a plurality of points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok Hoon Ko, Do Hyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 10994691
    Abstract: An airbag having an outer skin enclosing a gas space. The outer skin has a first side wall (11) and a second side wall (12). The first side wall (11) and second side wall (12) are connected to one another at a first end (71), the first side wall (11) extends from the first end (71) to a second end (72), the second side wall (12) extends from the first end (71) to a third end (73), a third side wall (23) extends from the second end (72) of the first side wall (11) to a fourth end (74), and a fourth side (24) wall extends from the fourth end (74) to the third end (73) of the second side wall (12). The third side wall (23) is separate from the first side wall (11) and extends from a fifth end (75) connected to at least a portion of the second end (72) of the first side wall (11) by a first seam (81). The fourth side wall (24) is separate from the second side wall (12) and extends from a sixth end (76) connected to at least a portion of the third end (73) of the second side wall (12) by a second seam (82).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Malgorzata Wasilewska, Maciej Matynski, Magdalena Petecka, Siecla Przemyslaw
  • Patent number: 10994614
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted pump system is disclosed for use with a service vehicle. A chassis can be configured to be secured to the service vehicle, and a frame can be supported by the chassis. A plurality of pumps can be supported by the frame, with each of the pumps being configured to pump liquid for dispersal external to the service vehicle. A power source can be supported by at least one of the chassis and the frame. A power transmission system can be configured to transfer power from the power source to the plurality of pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: MONROE TRUCK EQUIPMENT, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew Holverson
  • Patent number: 10994782
    Abstract: A pair of elongate attachment members, or “Z-rails” for attaching an end of a trailer crossmember to a flanged beam each include a first end section, an L-shaped portion comprising a horizontal leg and a vertical leg extending from the first end section, and a second end section extending from the vertical leg. The horizontal leg has a bottom surface with a width equal to the distance between the web of the flanged beam and the end of the flange. The vertical leg has an outer surface with a width equal to the width of the end of the flange. The Z-rails are attached to opposite ends of the crossmember to form a subassembly. The subassembly is fixed to and between the flanged beams by welding the first end sections to the web of the corresponding beam, with the horizontal leg on the flange, without directly heating the flange, thereby not diminishing the toughness of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Western Trailer Co.
    Inventors: Jerald M. Whitehead, Todd H. Swanstrom
  • Patent number: 10994685
    Abstract: A knee airbag module of a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an outer housing (12) having a front side (14) including a deployment aperture (18) as well as an opposite rear side (16), an airbag (20) and an inflator (32) which provides filling gas for the deployment of the airbag (20). The airbag (20) is folded and in the folded state is retained by a flexible airbag wrapping (34) while forming an airbag package (24), wherein the airbag package (24) constitutes a pre-assembled unit and the flexible airbag wrapping (34) closes off the knee airbag module (10) at least in portions to the outside. There is provided a rigid outer housing part (42) which includes a first bearing zone (54) positioned in the area of the airbag package (24) against which the airbag (20) bears during deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Daniel Elija, Werner Freisler
  • Patent number: 10994788
    Abstract: A vehicle bottom structure includes: side members; a plurality of cross members that extend in the width direction of the vehicle, are joined to the side members at both end parts, and support the bottom of a battery pack disposed under a floor panel between the side members, from below; and front-rear direction reinforcing members that extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and are joined on the cross members so as to cross the cross members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuma Otoguro, Ryoji Doi
  • Patent number: 10988101
    Abstract: A vehicle side airbag device is stored inside a seatback of a vehicle seat and includes an airbag that inflates and deploys between a seated occupant and a side door. The interior of the airbag is partitioned into plural chambers including a high-pressure chamber, and the high-pressure chamber inflates and deploys so as to vertically straddle a door beltline as seen in vehicle lateral view and so as to restrain a shoulder region of the seated occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiji Hioda
  • Patent number: 10987261
    Abstract: A mobile object according to the invention includes: a moving base including a front base and a rear base; a seat including a seating part and a leg part configured so as to support the seating part; and a frame disposed on the rear base, in which the leg part includes: the seating part attaching region to be attached to the seating part, the base attaching region to be attached to the front base so as to be pivotable, and a frame attaching region to be attached to the frame so as to be pivotable, the front and rear bases are movable relative to each other such that the moving base can change between the expanded state and the contracted state of the wheelbase, the pivotal movement of the leg part is interlocked with the relative movement between the front and rear bases, the frame is configured so as to cover the seating part attaching region and the frame attaching region from an outside of the mobile object in the width direction when the moving base is in the expanded state, and cover the base attaching r
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gopinath Raja, Masayoshi Wada, Baku Matsuura, Shunya Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10981470
    Abstract: A utility task vehicle (UTV) includes a frame having frame rails and a battery assembly positioned laterally between the frame rails. The battery assembly includes a battery housing and a battery array having a plurality of battery cells. The battery array is positioned within the battery housing and the battery assembly provides support for or is located under a floor of a cabin of the utility task vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Nikola Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor R. Milton, Kevin M. Lynk, Anthony A. Heaton, Morgan Mackelprang, Kyle Gray, Robert Dane Davis
  • Patent number: 10974614
    Abstract: A method and system for swapping batteries in an electric vehicle is disclosed. The method includes dismounting a first battery assembly, moving to a second battery assembly and mounting the second battery assembly onto the vehicle. Mounting and dismounting are accomplished by an onboard mounting and dismounting system. The method can be used in a zero infrastructure environment such as an underground mine since mounting and dismounting are accomplished by components on the vehicle itself. An auxiliary battery pack powers the vehicle during between dismounting a battery pack and mounting another battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Artisan Vehicle Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Brian R. Huff, Kyle Hickey
  • Patent number: 10974687
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas generator including: a housing including a top plate, a bottom plate axially opposite to the top plate, and a circumferential wall located between the top plate and the bottom plate and provided with a gas discharge port; a partition wall having a single connection hole and a second communication hole, the partition wall being radially disposed in the housing to partition an interior of the housing into a first combustion chamber on the side of the top plate, which accommodates a first gas generating agent, and a second combustion chamber on the side of the bottom plate, which accommodates a second gas generating agent; an inner cylindrical member disposed in the housing to enclose the first igniter attached to the bottom plate, such that a second end opening side thereof passes through the connection hole in the partition wall in order to be located within the first combustion chamber, closer to the top plate than the partition wall is, and to be spaced from the top p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: DAICEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Fukui, Tomoharu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10967901
    Abstract: A gap concealing structure for a vehicle includes an instrument cluster frame, a steering column, a steering column cover, and a flexible concealing member that conceals the gap between the instrument cluster frame and the steering column cover in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The instrument cluster frame includes a curvilinear recess that is recessed upward away from the steering column and an attachment wall that extends in the up-down direction and the left-right direction of the vehicle from the lower surface of the recess. The concealing member has a first end and a second end in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The first end of the concealing member is attached to the attachment wall of the instrument cluster frame. The second end of the concealing member is attached to the steering column cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Nagai, Atsushi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10968038
    Abstract: Implementations of a collapsible tilt truck that can be used to collect, transport, and dump refuse are provided. The tilt truck is configured so that it can be collapsed (or folded) when not in use, thereby facilitating its storage in a compact space. The tilt truck comprises a collapsible frame and collection bin. The collection bin comprises a two-part bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and two lateral side panels, each of the panels is attached to the collapsible frame. The lateral side panels are configured to fold when the tilt truck is collapsed. In some implementation, the collapsible tilt truck includes a trash bag bracket that is positioned within the collection bin. In this way, a trash bag can be secured to the trash bag bracket and used to collect and transport loose trash and/or recyclables separately from the refuse generally stored in the collection bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventor: Troy Hopkins