Patents Examined by J. Allen Shriver, II
  • Patent number: 9010777
    Abstract: A skateboard truck assembly comprising a base plate, a hanger, and at least one tensional and/or compressible member interposed therebetween that utilizes rotation of the hanger to at least partially and temporarily deform the tensional and/or compressible member, thereby creating zones of tension and/or compression within the tensional and/or compressible member and facilitating smooth, near frictionless, and efficient motion of the skateboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Braden Boards, LLC
    Inventors: Jared Braden, Roger Braden
  • Patent number: 9010469
    Abstract: A generation control device for a hybrid vehicle in which an electrical generator is driven by an engine, and a battery is charged by operation of the electrical generator and the engine, includes: a shift position detection unit that detects a shift position; a brake detection unit that detects whether a brake is on or off; a charging start unit; an increasing/decreasing unit that conducts increasing operation or decreasing operation; and a control unit that starts to charge the battery when the shift position is a non-travel position, the brake is on, and the charging start unit is operated. The control unit that, after starting to charge the battery, increases a parameter related to the electrical generation when the increasing operation is conducted, or the decreases the parameter when the decreasing operation is conducted. The control unit controls the engine and the power generator based on the set parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Saito
  • Patent number: 9010480
    Abstract: A bulldozer is equipped with a cab, a cooling device, an engine cover, an engine, and an exhaust emission control device. The cooling device is situated behind the cab. The engine cover is situated in front of the cab. The engine is situated inside the engine cover. The engine includes a crank shaft that extends in the longitudinal direction of the bulldozer. The exhaust emission control device includes a main body pipe part and a connecting pipe part connecting to the main body pipe part. The exhaust emission control device cleans the exhaust from the engine inside the main body pipe part. The main body pipe part is situated in the front of the engine. At least a portion of the main body pipe part is situated to overlap with the engine in the front view of the bulldozer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Sakai, Taisuke Mizuno, Hirokazu Asaka
  • Patent number: 9010797
    Abstract: The present invention includes a modified ski and climbing skin plate kits. The climbing skin plate kit is for use with a ski and includes at least one rigid plate, at least one front bracket, and at least two protrusions. The modified ski includes a ski and two protrusions protruding from either side of the ski.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Elevation Ski Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Elliott
  • Patent number: 9010470
    Abstract: Wheeled vehicles, such as wheelchairs, that are adapted to traverse obstacles are provided. The wheeled vehicles include a frame, drive wheels, front anti-tip wheels positioned in front of the drive wheels and rear anti-tip wheels positioned behind the drive wheels. One exemplary vehicle includes front anti-tip wheels supported by rigid arms that are fixed to the frame and drive assemblies that are independently suspended from the frame. Another exemplary vehicle includes a linkage that links the front and rear anti-tip wheels, such that movement of one of the front or rear anti-tip wheel relative to the frame causes movement of the other wheel relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Invacare Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Cuson, Robert A. Bekoscke, Daniel J. Strothard
  • Patent number: 9010774
    Abstract: The invention relates to a raiser (2) for skidpan practice with motorcycle, comprising a supporting portion (3) with support wheels (5a-c) and a raising portion (6). The raising portion (6) is attachable to the front wheel of the motorcycle in such a way that it allows the front wheel to rotate around a first rotational axis. The raising portion is raisable and lowerable with respect to the supporting portion. The raising portion is rotatable around a second axis of rotation that essentially extends in the direction of motion of the front wheel, allowing the raiser to be used with motorcycles as they lean sideways in curves. In one embodiment, the second axis of rotation of the raiser is arranged below the upper end of the supporting wheels or below the rotational axes of the supporting wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Cedergrens Mek. Verkstad Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Curt Cedergren
  • Patent number: 9010771
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting carts including a machine body, a steering control arranged on the body, a steering pedestal pivotally arranged with respect to the body, and a selection mechanism adapted to be selectively coupleable between the body and the steering pedestal providing for a caster mode and a steering mode respectively. A method of using a dual mode utility machine including depressing a first lever thereby engaging a pivoting selector into a steering pedestal engaging position and controlling the direction of the machine by rotatably manipulating a tiller, and depressing a second lever thereby disengaging the pivoting selector from a steering pedestal engaging position to a body engaging position and controlling the direction of the machine by pushing and/or pulling a machine from side to side via a fixed tiller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Dane Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul David Holtan, Andrew L. Dvorak
  • Patent number: 9010773
    Abstract: A frame for a baby carriage includes two side supporting members, a handling member, a traverse connecting member and a central supporting member. The handling member has opposite ends connected to the two side supporting members, respectively. The traverse connecting member has opposite ends connected to the two side supporting members, respectively and spaced apart from the handling member. The central supporting member is arranged between the two side supporting members so as to form two side-by-side seat areas and terminating at the traverse connecting member so as to form a T-shaped structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited
    Inventors: Andrew J. Horst, Dylan A. Mellinger, Curtis M. Hartenstine, Andrew J. Winterhalter
  • Patent number: 9010798
    Abstract: A dolly assembly including a plurality of hollow interior guide members and one or more rail members, cooperatively structured, configured and dimensioned to be selectively disposed in an operative, weight supporting orientation or a self-contained orientation of reduced dimension and configuration, which facilitates storage. The operative orientation comprises the one or more rail member removably interconnecting the two guide members in spaced relation to one another, wherein a plurality of castors are removably connected to and disposed in movable supporting relation with the interconnected guide and rail members, when in the operative orientation. The self-contained orientation comprises the guide members detached from the operative orientation and the guide members removably connected in confronting, predetermined facing relation to one another, such that the rail members and castors are enclosed within one or both of the hollow interiors of the confronting guide members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventors: Luca Buttazzoni, Andres Bernal
  • Patent number: 9004524
    Abstract: A buggy for transporting children has a frame and wheels that are rotably mounted relative to the frame to support the frame above a ground surface. A primary seat is operatively supported by the frame for supporting a first child. A secondary seat is operatively supported by the frame for supporting a second child. The buggy is convertible between an in use configuration for transporting children and a folded storage configuration, whether or not the secondary seat is attached. The secondary seat may be detachable. The secondary seat may be positioned at least partly behind and at least partly below the primary seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Phil and Teds Most Excellent Buggy Company Limited
    Inventors: Campbell Gower, Philip Brace
  • Patent number: 9004503
    Abstract: A binding system for snowboards that minimizes leg pain while snowboard users are approaching or are riding on a chairlift. The rotatable binding system enables one of two boot bindings attached to a snowboard to rotate up to 90 degrees placing a user's boot in parallel with the long sides, and sliding direction, of the snowboard. The binding system includes a base plate, which is fixed to the snowboard, and a top plate that is rotatably attached to the base plate by a center screw, and a boot binding harness mounted to the top plate. A hinge plate can connect the base plate to a mid static disk, which can in turn rotatably attach to the top plate. The binding system can include a latch lever that acts as a hands-free locking system that is mounted through an outer ridge of the base plate and connected to a retractable plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Snowboard Sport Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Kurt Bryce Sorenson
  • Patent number: 9004538
    Abstract: A motor vehicle mud flap is a plate-like body having a suspension section, a quadrant section, and an extension section. The suspension section is adapted for attachment to a mud flap bracket for suspension of the mud flap therefrom. The quadrant section is coupled with the suspension section and has an array of elongate through-openings. The extension section is coupled with the quadrant section and has an array of elongate through-openings. The array of elongate through-openings is defined by alternating recesses and ribs in parallel and longitudinal disposition. Each recess is configured as a pair of opposed elongate shallow recesses fluidly coupled by an elongate through-opening having a width less than the width of each recess. Water and air can flow through the recesses, and debris larger than the width of the through-openings is deflected by the mud flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Fleet Engineers, Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley K. Eklund, Thomas Gerst, Gary Roberts, Walter Hill
  • Patent number: 9004207
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a charging unit for externally charging a power storage unit with electric power received from an external power supply, and an electric power generation unit capable of generating electric power from drive force received from an engine. The power storage unit is configured to be internally chargeable with electric power received from the electric power generation unit. The vehicle travels in selected one of EV priority mode restricting internal charging of the power storage unit and HV priority mode controlling internal charging such that a state of charge of the power storage unit is kept within a predetermined range. When a predetermined operating condition is satisfied while the vehicle is traveling, a control apparatus generates an operation request to the engine. The control apparatus changes the operating condition of the engine depending on whether the mode is EV priority mode or HV priority mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyoda Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuta Teraya
  • Patent number: 9004212
    Abstract: A first panel includes an engaging section configured to engage with an engaged section so as to allow displacement of the engaged section according to swinging of a hood between a closed position and an open position and restrict the swinging of the hood in a state where an opening section is opened. The engaging section engages with the engaged section such that the engaged section is detachable by being displaced in a predetermined first direction. The machine main body further includes an auxiliary supporting section provided in a machine room and configured to restrict, by detachably supporting the engaged section detached from the engaging section, the swinging of the hood in a state where the opening section is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Noda
  • Patent number: 8997907
    Abstract: A cowling assembly (10) is installed about the radiator (R) of a vehicle (V). A frame (12) fits about the radiator and defines an opening through which air can flow into the radiator. A rack and pinion drive (600) for moving a sheet (618) over the frame to expose a portion of the opening and allow air to flow into the radiator, the frame and sheet producing a smoother flow of air over and about the front of the vehicle thereby reducing the amount of drag on the vehicle while still allowing air flow into the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Aero18, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Rode
  • Patent number: 8998243
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a buggy (10) or collapsible perambulator, comprising a sliding frame which, in the unfolded state, runs in an inclined plane and has a division, in the region of which joints (17, 18) are located, and therefore, upon collapsing, an upper portion (11) of the sliding frame is pivotable in relation to a lower portion (12) of the sliding frame about the approximately horizontal axis (21) of said joints, and furthermore comprising an underframe with wheels, wherein, in the collapsed state, the lower portion and upper portion of the sliding frame and at least parts of the underframe are virtually parallel or are at a flat angle to each other and the buggy assumes a flat, compact state, wherein the two sliding-frame portions which are pivotable in relation to each other each have approximately the shape of a U bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Greentom IP and Licensing BV
    Inventor: Bart Bost
  • Patent number: 8997906
    Abstract: A method for reversing an air mover to remove debris from a cooling system of a work vehicle. In one embodiment, the largest required fan speed for cooling the engine coolant, hydraulic oil and the charge air is used as the set point speed for a fan. The fan is operated at the set point speed to generate airflow across each of the heat exchangers. Multiple conditions are evaluated for reversing the direction of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Rex Schertz, Gerald R. Johnson, Daniel Soldan
  • Patent number: 8998218
    Abstract: The invention includes a pivoting floor member coupled to the bottom shelf of a shopping cart. The floor member is pivotally arranged so that it assumes a first position when nothing is placed upon it and a second position when any object having more than a predetermined weight is placed upon it. The floor member is mechanically coupled to a mechanical indicator which assumes a first indicating position when the floor member is in its first position and a second indicating position when the floor member is in its second position. The indicator may be a rod and sleeve arrangement and the rod may include indicia such as one or more colored stripes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventors: Steven Salvatore Bitondo, Steven Michael Bitondo
  • Patent number: 8997905
    Abstract: A utility vehicle can comprise a wheeled platform, a motor coupled to the platform and configured to propel the platform, at least one cleaning element coupled to the platform, wherein the at least one cleaning element is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, and one or more controls configured to move the at least one cleaning element between the collapsed position and the expanded position. The at least one cleaning element can also be movable between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the wheeled platform, and the one or more controls can further be configured to move the at least one cleaning element between the raised position and the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Dane Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel T. Johnson, Andrew L. Dvorak
  • Patent number: 8997915
    Abstract: A wheel loader includes a vehicle frame, an engine, an operating fluid tank, a stand, a rear support frame, and a base member. The engine is mounted on the vehicle frame. The operating fluid tank is disposed in front of the engine. The stand is fixed to the vehicle frame and supports the operating fluid tank. The rear support frame is disposed facing the stand with the engine interposed there-between and fixed to the vehicle frame. The base member is disposed above the engine and has one end fixed to an upper part of the stand and the other end fixed to an upper part of the rear support frame. A diesel particular filter, a nitrogen oxide reduction catalytic converter, and a connecting pipe are all mounted on the base member with the connecting pipe connecting the diesel particulate filtering device and the nitrogen oxide reduction catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Hayashi, Nobuo Matsuyama