Patents Examined by Hosam Shabara
  • Patent number: 11926371
    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 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Rawlings, Robert Mrozek, Lodewijk Wijffels, Eugene Lau
  • Patent number: 11919751
    Abstract: A transport vehicle includes a base, wheels connected to the base, and load receiving elements. At least two of the wheels have a track width therebetween in each of a transverse drive and in a longitudinal drive. The track width in the longitudinal drive and the track width in the transverse drive are each variable. The transport vehicle is transports a load having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction between the wheels. The transport vehicle is drivable both in the transverse drive and in the longitudinal drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: HUBTEX MASCHINENBAU GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Juergen Keller
  • Patent number: 11919434
    Abstract: Provided is a wheelchair fixing device for a vehicle including: a lashing belt that has, at one end, a part-to-be-engaged that is configured to be able to engage with an engaging part exposed through a floor surface of a vehicle cabin; a hook that is provided at the other end of the lashing belt and configured to be able to engage with a frame of a wheelchair; and a hook cover that is formed by an elastic body into a tubular shape and fitted on an engaging region of the hook that is a region engaging with the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumiko Nakai
  • Patent number: 11919600
    Abstract: A micromobility transit vehicle may include a steering assembly. The steering assembly may include a fork, a steer tube, a stiffening brace, and a stem. The steer tube may extend from the fork and be positioned to rotate within a headtube. The stiffening brace may extend from the fork and be positioned about the headtube. The stiffening brace may include a first engagement surface. The stem may be coupled to the steer tube and the stiffening brace to secure the steering assembly to the headtube. The stem may include a second engagement surface complementary to the first engagement surface and engaged with the first engagement surface to rotationally lock the stem and stiffening brace together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventors: Merric-Andrew Jaranowski French, Andrew Michael Reimer
  • Patent number: 11904975
    Abstract: Disclosed is a folding car for children. The folding car comprises a rear frame, rear frame is connected with a seat; a front frame connected to the rear frame in a back-and-forth movable manner; a front lateral rod, a front portion of which is rotatably connected with the front frame; a rear lateral rod rotatably connected to the front lateral rod and the rear frame; a pedal rod rotatably connected to the front frame; and a connecting rod connected with the rear frame in a back-and-forth movable manner, and a front portion of the connecting rod being connected with the pedal rods in a slidable and rotatable manner. The folding car for children realizes the folding of a seat-type scooter for children, has a simple and new overall structure, is convenient to fold and has a small volume after being folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Goodbaby Child Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hui Cai, Yu Ding
  • Patent number: 11904931
    Abstract: A steering system configured to steer a vehicle includes a rotary shaft to which an operation member is coupled; a moving unit configured to move the operation member between a normal position that is a position where the operation member is operated by a driver, and a storage area located ahead of the normal position; an external force detection unit configured to detect an external force externally applied to the operation member while the operation member is moving; a determination unit configured to determine whether a direction of the external force detected by the external force detection unit is the same as a moving direction of the operation member; and a control unit configured to control operation of the steering system based on a determination result from the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Watanabe, Yasuyuki Nozawa, Kei Kitahara
  • Patent number: 11891152
    Abstract: A vehicle is powered and steered by a rider's arm. The vehicle may be a cycle or a tricycle Propulsion occurs in response to the rider pushing and pulling on the handlebar along a fore-and-aft direction. The propulsion mechanism resists or prevents the cycle from unintentionally rolling in reverse. Steering occurs in response to the rider pushing the handlebar to the right or left. The steering mechanism responds the same no matter where the propulsion system is in its range of motion and can provide approximately a 5-foot turning radius for a rider steering input, by moving the handlebar approximately 1 foot right or left of center steer, while maintaining front wheel alignment. A shifting mechanism provides multiple settings between lower gears for hills and higher gears for speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventor: Gregory Allan Seljestad
  • Patent number: 11891117
    Abstract: A steering control unit and to a method of controlling the steering of a multi-unit vehicle is provided, the vehicle having a plurality of vehicle parts movably connected to one another and a plurality of steerable axle units. A first axle control unit is in conjunction with a first steerable axle unit and at least one second axle control unit is in conjunction with at least one second steerable axle unit. The steering control system has a central control module that is connected to the axle control units via a common data line for exchange of steering angle data. The axle control units have data interfaces for communication via the data line. The data interfaces transfer mutually identical data formats, whereby the steering control system is set up in a modular manner with a variable number of axle control units that can be integrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: HÜBNER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Uwe Bittroff
  • Patent number: 11884357
    Abstract: A suspension control system is provided for a suspension of a human-powered vehicle. The suspension control system basically includes a detector and an electronic controller. The detector is configured to detect information relating to a running condition of the human-powered vehicle indirectly indicative of a pedaling state of the human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to output a control signal to adjust an operating state of the suspension in accordance with the information detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Shahana
  • Patent number: 11884360
    Abstract: Provided is an electrical component mounting structure for saddled vehicle capable of concentrating a plurality of electrical components close to the center of the vehicle body while protecting the electrical components. An electrical component mounting structure places the control device to control the vehicle at a position surrounded with a vehicle body frame supporting a power unit of the saddled vehicle, a rear wheel that rotates by a driving force from the power unit, a seat for a rider. The electrical component mounting structure includes the case member including a lower case storing a drive unit, and an upper case covering the lower case from the above. The case member has a sensor storage part storing a sensor at a front end. The control device is attached to the upper case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shota Suzuki, Haruka Tsuda
  • Patent number: 11884348
    Abstract: A balance board coupled to a two-wheeled vehicle to provide a moving platform that an operator of the vehicle can use to stabilize the vehicle. The balance board includes a coupling mechanism, a frame, one or more moving elements, and one or more foot support pedals. In one example, the balance board is mechanically passive such that the balance board maintains contact with the ground surface without an externally applied force (e.g., by the operator/user of the vehicle). In one aspect, the balance board may be rotatable about multiple rotational degrees of freedom to allow the balance board to steer as the vehicle turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Amos G. Winter, Guillermo Fabian Diaz Lankenau, Lea Daigle, Patrick Tornes, Eric Koch, Samuel Ihns, Jana Saadi, Jessica Wu
  • Patent number: 11878754
    Abstract: An electrically operated steering system (1) is provided for a vehicle (2) with a rack (3) for attaching the steering system (1) to a frame of the vehicle (2), two steerable wheels (4) that are pivotably attached to the rack (3), a rod element (5) arranged on the rack (3), which is slidable in its longitudinal direction in relation to the rack (3), a kinematic unit (13), which is coupled to the rod element (5) and which transforms a movement of the rod element (5) into a steering rotation of the wheels (4), an electric machine (6), which is mechanically connected to the rod element (5) for effecting the movement of the rod element (5), and a lateral force absorbing mechanism (7), which is configured for absorbing a lateral force produced by the kinematic unit (13) in relation to the rod element (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Florian Trautner, Dominik Hartinger, Stefan Hannemann
  • Patent number: 11878746
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system for a vehicle is provided that includes a steering wheel actuator for moving and detecting movements of a steering wheel of the vehicle. The steering wheel actuator includes a steering wheel electric motor. The steer-by-wire steering system further includes an axle actuator for moving and detecting movements of wheels of an axle of the vehicle. The axle actuator includes an axle electric motor and an axle control unit. The steer-by-wire steering system an equivalent circuit, which measures a current induced by the steering wheel electric motor and provides the axle control unit with at least one measurement value depending on the induced current for controlling the axle electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Philipp Bergmann
  • Patent number: 11878751
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a climbing machine and a moving method therefor. The climbing machine includes a machine body, a mechanical arm, and at least two ropes, each rope connects a suspension mechanism and the machine body; the suspension mechanism is connected to or disengaged from an object structure, the length of the rope between the suspension mechanism and the machine body is variable; through dragging or pulling of the rope, the machine body can move on the object structure; the mechanical arm connects a gripping mechanism and the machine body; the gripping mechanism can grip and move any suspension mechanism and disengage a gripped suspension mechanism. In the present invention, the machine body moves without interference, and can be pulled not only on a smooth surface but also on a hollow or bending surface, and features a simple structure, a wide application scope, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignees: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY, HANGZHOU FUYA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Xin Li
  • Patent number: 11873055
    Abstract: An embodiment personal mobility includes a main body provided in a box shape, a steering device comprising a steering handle configured to extend outwardly from the main body or to retract so as not to protrude from the main body, and a front wheel and a rear wheel installed on a front side and a rear side of the main body, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Rowoon An, Ilsun Song, Jae Yul Woo, Seunghyun Woo, Soobin Kim
  • Patent number: 11872168
    Abstract: A stair lift, including: a carrier portion, configured for carrying a person or an object; a lift portion, configured for moving relative to the carrier portion; and a driver mechanism, configured for inducing the relative movement. The carrier portion and the lift portion are connected and supported via a guide mechanism, and are configured for freely translating along an X-Z plane relative to each other. The driver mechanism includes a circulation moving mechanism, and the circulation moving mechanism includes a driving pin (moving member), configured for moving along a predetermined closed track under the driving of a single gear motor. The driving pin (moving member) is connected to the lift portion, such that the carrier portion and the lift portion are configured for moving relative to each other along the track, whereby enabling the stair lift to go upstairs or downstairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: Lin Qiu
  • Patent number: 11865961
    Abstract: A trailer frame constructed from a polymer that cannot rust or corrode. The trailer employs a support plate that reinforces an inner and outer wall forming beams that includes a matrix of crisscrossed support walls. A top deck is releasably secured to the frame allowing refinishing of the trailer should the deck be damaged without replacement of the frame. Alternatively the top deck can be a foundation for an enclosure, shield, fence or any other known securement structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Steve French Enterprises Ltd, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen M. French
  • Patent number: 11858578
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a foot-deck device and a vehicle. The foot-deck device includes: a bracket; two deck assemblies oppositely disposed on the bracket, the two deck assemblies each including a deck and a rotating shaft, the rotating shafts being pivotally disposed on the bracket, and the decks being disposed on the rotating shafts; and a linkage mechanism, the rotating shaft of one deck assembly being coupled to the rotating shaft of the other deck assembly through the linkage mechanism, the linkage mechanism being used to cause the rotating shafts of the two deck assemblies to rotate synchronously and cause the decks of the two deck assemblies to rotate synchronously to respective folded positions or unfolded positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Ninebot (Changzhou) Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xuanyu Huang, Can Wang, Ke Chen, Chao Ren
  • Patent number: 11858585
    Abstract: Provided is a straddle vehicle that allows for high design flexibility, that can absorb strong shocks applied in the up-down direction, and that can avoid contacting obstacles on the ground. The straddle vehicle includes a supported structure and a shock absorber. The supported structure includes a first element that performs a first function and a second element that performs a second function, the second element being located above a rear of the first element. The shock absorber includes an upper mounting portion and a lower mounting portion. The lower mounting portion of the shock absorber is connected to a swing arm, and the upper mounting portion of the shock absorber is connected to the second element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 11858583
    Abstract: A bicycle subassembly includes a bicycle component having a socket and a tube having a first tube portion received in the socket and a second tube portion extending outwardly from the socket. The tube includes a cold worked region spanning at least a portion of the first tube portion and at least a first portion of the second tube portion. The tube includes a non-cold worked region spanning at least a second portion of the second tube portion. Methods for making the tube and subassembly are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Thomas, Josh Lau, Sarah Blakeslee