Patents Examined by J. Allen Shriver, II
  • Air intake configuration for an agricultural harvesting machine
    Patent number: 8978802
    Abstract: An agricultural work vehicle includes a vehicle body having longitudinally extending sides. An enclosed engine compartment is configured within the vehicle body. An air inlet is defined in side of the vehicle body for intake of air into the engine compartment. A grain bin forward of the engine compartment includes a grain bin extension skirt mounted above the grain bin. An intake housing is mounted over the air inlet in the vehicle body side and includes a forwardly extending portion mounted alongside the grain bin extension with an inlet opening oriented so as draw air primarily from an area forward of the engine compartment and above the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts
  • Drive train having a wet starting clutch for hybrid applications
    Patent number: 8978799
    Abstract: A starting clutch running in oil is present in the drive train of a motor vehicle which has an internal combustion engine and a starter generator. The rotor of the starter generator is supported on a clutch cover, at least indirectly, and the clutch cover is rotationally fixed to the clutch bell of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Johannes Arnold, Oliver Noehl, Ivo Agner
  • Hybrid vehicle drive system and method and idle reduction system and method
    Patent number: 8978798
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to a hybrid vehicle drive system for a vehicle including a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, a rechargeable power source, and a PTO. The hybrid vehicle drive system further includes a hydraulic motor in direct or indirect mechanical communication with the PTO and an electric motor in direct or indirect mechanical communication with the hydraulic motor. The electric motor can provide power to the prime mover driven transmission and receive power from the prime mover driven transmission through the PTO. The hydraulic motor can provide power to the prime mover driven transmission and receive power from the prime mover driven transmission through the PTO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Odyne Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Dalum, Joseph Mario Ambrosio
  • Mudguard structure for straddle-ride type vehicle
    Patent number: 8979132
    Abstract: A mudguard structure for a straddle-ride vehicle suppresses the enlargement of an attachment portion of a mud shield plate and makes satisfactory the external appearance of the circumference of a rear fender. A mudguard has left and right erecting walls erecting to the rear from respective left and right outer edges thereof and a front-lower concave portion integrally continuing into a lower portion of a rear wheel runout concave portion of a rear fender. A box-like attachment portion for attachment to the rear fender is located at each of both, left and right, sides of the upper end portion of the mudguard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Matsushima, Yusuke Inoue
  • Multifunction ski pole
    Patent number: 8973946
    Abstract: A ski pole comprises an elongate pole having a distal end and a proximal end. A grip is attached to the proximal end of the pole and is configured for grasping by a user. A basket assembly is coupled proximate to the distal end of the pole. The basket assembly comprises a generally disk shaped body and a plate defining a bottle opener embedded in the body, the bottle opener defines a plate opening configured for at least partially receiving a cap of a bottle therein and prying the cap from the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Alexander William Carr
  • All-terrain vehicle
    Patent number: 8967318
    Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle (10) includes a vehicle body frame (11), a drive shaft (23) in the form of a constant velocity ball joint, and a lower arm (33) extending laterally of the vehicle. The drive shaft extends substantially parallel with the lower arm and includes an intermediate shaft (101) and a bearing portion (102) mounted to a vehicle-body-side end of the intermediate shaft. The bearing portion (102) is disposed to be positioned substantially on a vertical line passing over a vehicle-body-side connection portion (33a) of the lower arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Kuwabara, Bunzo Seki
  • Vehicle driving apparatus
    Patent number: 8967306
    Abstract: A rear wheel driving apparatus (1) includes: a first right-left communication passage (FP) through which a left reservoir (RL) and a right reservoir (RR) are communicated with each other; and a second right-left communication passage (SP) which is provided in parallel with the first right-left communication passage (FP) and through which the left reservoir (RL) and the right reservoir (RR) are communicated with each other. Thus, flowability of a liquid fluid stored in a case (11) is enhanced, and smoothing of a fluid level is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takabumi Suzuki, Keiichi Ooiso, Yoshio Akiba
  • Mobilization device
    Patent number: 8967656
    Abstract: A mobilization device adapted to be attached to a piece of conveying equipment such as a gurney. The device includes a base having a top and a bottom. The base supports an axle housing. An axle is disposed in the axle housing and extends therefrom. Wheel assemblies are disposed on the axle. The device includes a coupling receiver mounted on the top of the base. The coupling receiver includes a receiving element that can hold a support structure of the conveying equipment and hold the wheels of the conveying equipment off of the ground. The wheel assemblies of the device are used to move the conveying equipment and include tires having a relatively larger height and width to aid in increasing the mobility of the conveying equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Enhanced Mobilization System, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Wilson Lawless
  • Haulage vehicle
    Patent number: 8967310
    Abstract: An opening through which air is delivered to a radiator for an engine installed in a haulage vehicle is split into separate portions via a support frame. Sound absorbing ducts are each mounted over one of the partitioned opening areas formed by splitting the opening via the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ogawara, Shinji Akino
  • Container for receiving and carrying elongate objects
    Patent number: 8967668
    Abstract: A container having substantially the shape of a cornet for receiving and carrying elongate objects, the container includes a container cladding having an inner surface and an outer surface, a first container opening on one end of the container cladding, and one or more mounting elements for mounting the container to a stroller, the mounting elements being arranged at a portion of the outer surface of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Inventor: Grace Guy Bollmann
  • Balance bike
    Patent number: 8967641
    Abstract: Balance bike having a frame provided with a steering bush or holder for rotatably holding handlebars with a front wheel fork whereby one or several front wheels are connected to the front wheel fork and whereby the balance bike having two back wheels, characterised in that the frame of the balance bike having two frame parts which are directly or indirectly hinge-mounted at a distance (D) from one another to the steering bush or holder by hinges from where the frame parts extend up to a distance thereof and are each provided with a back wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Chillafish Company NV
    Inventor: Sebastian De Roeck
  • Grille shutter apparatus
    Patent number: 8967308
    Abstract: A grille shutter apparatus includes a shutter mechanism arranged in an grille opening portion positioned at a front portion of a vehicle body of a vehicle to control a flow rate of air flowing from the grille opening portion to an internal portion of the vehicle body, and a frame supporting the shutter mechanism in the grille opening portion, the frame including a fixing portion at one end to be fixed in the grille opening portion, the frame including a protruding portion making contact with a front grille and generating a rotational moment at the frame in a case where the front grille arranged at an opening end of the grille opening portion moves rearward due to an occurrence of a collision of the vehicle, the rotational moment acting about the fixing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Saito, Tatsuya Shimizu, Masayuki Nomura, Hironori Kanasaki
  • Lever support assembly
    Patent number: 8967633
    Abstract: A support assembly for supporting and moving objects including a lever, such as a dolly, that utilizes a support portion, a base portion, and a fulcrum to support and move an object. The support portion forms a vertical support while the base portion is substantially horizontal. The object engages both portions. A fulcrum tilts the dolly for control and movement. At least one arm extends and retract from the support portion to provide additional surface area for the dolly for supporting heavy or bulky objects. The arms join the support portion at rotatable hinges that allow the arms to incrementally rotate as needed to achieve a desired width or angle for supporting the objects. The arms may also be detachable joined with the dolly. In this manner, the object may utilize the additional surface area of each arm for enhanced stability and leverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Inventors: Andy Drowanowski, Birgit Drowanowski
  • Directed gas systems for improving aerodynamics of a vehicle in cross wind conditions
    Patent number: 8967311
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that utilize exhausted gases from an internal combustion engine (e.g., piston engine, rotary engine, turbine engine, etc.) of a vehicle for reducing the aerodynamic drag thereon. In some disclosed examples, the systems and methods utilize a generated gas flow from, for example, electric fans, engine driven or pneumatically/hydraulically driven pumps, etc., for reducing aerodynamic drag. The generated gas flows in several disclosed examples are directed in a generally opposing direction of (i.e., against) prevailing cross winds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Smith
  • Four-wheeled vehicle
    Patent number: 8960348
    Abstract: A four-wheeled vehicle is provided which increases and secures the volume of an air cleaner while avoiding increase in the number of components and reducing the influence of the air cleaner on other components. The vehicle is equipped with a driver seat and a passenger seat arranged on a vehicle body frame side by side in the vehicle width direction, and is equipped with an engine disposed on the vehicle body frame substantially at the center in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. An air cleaner, constituting a part of an intake device of the engine and formed in an elongated shape in the vehicle width direction, is disposed between the driver seat and the passenger seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Shomura, Tadashi Oshima
  • Work vehicle with diesel particulate filter
    Patent number: 8960359
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a cooling fan, an engine, and a diesel particulate filter (DPF) purifying exhaust gas of the engine, placed under a hood in that order, beginning at the front. Exhaust gas from the engine is exhausted through an exhaust passage after passing through the DPF. The cooling fan supplies cooling air to the rear. The DPF is placed such that a length direction thereof follows a width direction of a vehicle body. The exhaust passage includes a first passage, a second passage, and a third passage. The first passage extends forward and upward from the DPF before extending along the length direction thereof on a front side of the DPF. The second passage extends downward from a downstream portion of the first passage. The third passage extends to the rear from a downstream portion of the second passage and also includes an exhaust outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Nogami, Hironori Tsuchihashi, Takahiro Shiraga, Eiji Sato, Akira Minoura, Takafumi Komatsu
  • Hollow fender
    Patent number: 8960725
    Abstract: A fender is disclosed for use with a mobile machine. The fender may have a first wall, a plurality of corrugations formed within the first wall and extending in a lengthwise direction, and a second wall spaced apart from the first wall to at least partially form a hollow enclosure. The fender may also have a first lip integral with a lengthwise edge of the first wall and a lengthwise edge of the second wall and extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the first and second walls; and a lengthwise recess disposed within the first lip. The first wall, the second wall, and the first lip may be fabricated from a plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony M. Rund, Scott R. Miller
  • Vehicle and electric storage apparatus
    Patent number: 8960350
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a floor panel and an electric storage apparatus fixed to a lower face of the floor panel and outputting an energy for use in running of the vehicle. The electric storage apparatus includes a first electric storage stack including a plurality of electric storage elements, an electronic device used to control charge and discharge of the electric storage apparatus and located below the first electric storage stack in the vehicle, and a case accommodating the first electric storage stack and the electronic device and fixed to the lower face of the floor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Kosaki, Shigeru Fukuda, Shigeto Ozaki, Takanori Kumagai, Yasutoshi Mizuno
  • Ski boot
    Patent number: 8960711
    Abstract: A ski boot comprises a sole portion (2) that is attached to one or more separate outsole elements (3, 4, 5) for location between the sole portion (2) and a ski binding. At least one of the outsole elements (3, 4, 5) is adjustably mounted on the sole portion (2) prior to a secure fixing of said outsole element (3, 4, 5) to the sole portion (2) by at least one fastener (13) so as to be adjustable in forward, rearward, lateral and medial directions relative to the sole portion (2) and so as to be rotatable clockwise and counter clockwise relative to a centerline of the boot. Preferably, at least one of the outsole elements (5) is adapted for attachment to the ski binding. Advantageously, a plurality of outsole elements (3, 4, 5) is provided that are adjustably mounted on the sole portion (2) independently of the other outsole elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: K-2 Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Svensson
  • Fuel cell vehicle
    Patent number: 8960344
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to efficiently mount a fuel cell system below a floor of a vehicle rear portion and to protect the fuel cell system when a forward impact force acts on a vehicle rear portion. To achieve this, a fuel cell vehicle in which a fuel cell system includes a gas tank is configured to store a fuel gas and a fuel cell unit formed by integrating a fuel cell stack, an intake duct, and an exhaust duct, the gas tank is disposed in a space below a rear floor connected to a front floor via a vertical wall portion and adjacent to the vertical wall portion, and the fuel cell unit is disposed behind the gas tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Ozawa, Toru Eguchi