Patents Examined by J. Allen Shriver, II
  • Work vehicle
    Patent number: 9186981
    Abstract: A work vehicle capable of cooling an engine compartment in a simple structure is provided. A partition wall partitions an internal space of an exterior cover into an engine compartment housing the engine and a cooling compartment housing the air blower. The partition wall includes a first wall portion extending at a relatively large inclination with respect to a direction in which an upper side plate of the exterior cover located on the cooling compartment side with respect to the partition wall extends, and a second wall portion extending at a relatively small inclination. An upper opening portion as an air intake port connecting an external space and the internal space of the exterior cover is provided in the upper side plate so as to be located to face the second wall portion. The first wall portion is provided with an opening connecting the engine compartment and the cooling compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Yukihisa Sakai
  • Vehicle radiator support structure
    Patent number: 9186980
    Abstract: A vehicle radiator support structure which includes a plurality of upper holding members each attached to an upper shroud member which is one of a plurality of structural members of a vehicle body and configured to hold an upper portion of a radiator in such a manner as to restrict a horizontal relative displacement thereof. At least one pair of lateral elastic members is each attached to a respective one of right and left lateral portions of the radiator. At least one pair of lateral engagement members is each attached to another one of the structural members other than the upper shroud member and configured to come into contact engagement with at least an upper portion of a respective one of the lateral elastic members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Shibutani, Naomi Hayashi, Hirosato Izumi
  • Running board mechanism for vehicle
    Patent number: 9187041
    Abstract: A running board assembly for a vehicle may include a stationary board fixed to a vehicle body, a movable board separately coupled to the stationary board and selectively movable up and down with respect to the stationary board, a stopper pin selectively coupling the movable board and the stationary board to stop a vertical motion of the movable board to a predetermined position, and a stopper pin-manipulation unit included in the movable board and connected to the stopper pin, wherein when the movable board may be subjected to a load, the stopper pin-manipulation unit decouples magnetically the stopper pin from the stationary board, and wherein when the movable board may be not subjected to the load, the stopper pin-manipulation unit maintains a state of the stopper pin being coupled to the stationary board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dong Eun Cha, Seung Mok Lee, Ki Chang Yi, Young Wook Song
  • Wheel-unit-ready ski for ski-mounted vehicle
    Patent number: 9180900
    Abstract: The invention is a snowmobile ski that is adapted to accommodate wheel units that are movable between a deployed position and a stowed position. The floor of the ski has one or more wheel openings, which allow wheels to drop down to the deployed position. A wheel unit may have a single wheel or two wheels in tandem. The wheel units may be mounted on the kingpin, the side wall, inner ribs, or on the steering spindle. A snow guard is provided on the ski body, to prevent snow or ice from hindering operation of the wheel unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: Michael J. Ouellette
  • Mobile robot
    Patent number: 9168786
    Abstract: A mobile robot configured to be widely versatile in its use. For example, the mobile robot can be configured for being used on a wide assortment of surfaces, regardless of the orientation and/or shape of the surfaces. Alternatively or in combination, the mobile robot can be configured for effective and efficient movement on the surfaces it traverses. In some cases, the mobile robot is configured with two or more component units. In some cases, the component units are configured with magnets and a control system for orientating the magnets. In some cases, one or more component couplings join the component units. In some cases, the mobile unit is configured with Mecanum wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Helical Robotics, LLC
    Inventors: Keith L. Schlee, Bruce A. Schlee
  • Regenerative energy system
    Patent number: 9168821
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a product for storing and using energy delivered through a vehicle's drive wheel. A rotatable element may rotate with the drive wheel. A first rotating mechanism may provide an input energy when rotated by the rotatable element. A storage device may receive and store the input energy. A second rotating mechanism may rotate in reaction to selective delivery of the input energy from the storage device to the second rotating mechanism, and may drive the rotatable element. The rotatable element may be adapted to rotate in a first rotational direction to rotate the first rotating mechanism, and may rotate in the same direction when rotated by the second rotating mechanism. A heat transfer device may surround at least part of the storage device. The exhaust system may be routed through the heat exchange device to heat the storage device and increase stored energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Pritchard, Thaddeus Kopp
  • Pivot hanger assembly secured to a tubular support location associated with a vertically actuating vehicle lift
    Patent number: 9168783
    Abstract: A pivot hanger assembly adapted to being mounted to a structural supporting location associated with a vehicle lift. A clamp subassembly includes a plurality of assembleable and inter-adjustable brackets adapted to being affixed around a rectangular tubular perimeter corresponding to the structural supporting location of the vehicle lift. A selected one of the brackets exhibits at least a first hinge collar support extending along a vertically extending edge, with an elongated arm exhibiting at least a second hinge collar support along a proximal end which aligns with the first collar support in order to define a continuous channel. A hinge pin inserts through the continuous channel and in order to hingedly mount the arm to the clamp subassembly in a load bearing permitting fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventors: Charles Black, Gary Wade McMullen
  • Device having legs which extend and retract and method of use
    Patent number: 9168940
    Abstract: A device has four legs each leg having a plurality of teeth. The device further includes a body which has four gears wherein each of the four gears meshes with the teeth of a different leg. A first gear is connected to a second gear by a first shaft, and a third gear is connected to a fourth gear by a second shaft. The first gear meshes with the third gear, and the second gear meshes with the fourth gear. The legs can be selectively positioned to a retracted position adjacent to the body or to an extended position projecting away from the body. A biasing mechanism urges the four legs to the extended position. A locking mechanism locks the legs in either the retracted position or the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventors: Maciej Rafal Leszczak, Grzegorz Jerzy Martyniak
  • Exhaust gas guide for a road milling machine
    Patent number: 9162563
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the exhaust gas guiding of a road milling machine. The road milling machine comprises an internal combustion engine, an engine air inlet, via which the engine air flows from the outside to the internal combustion engine, an engine air outlet, via which the engine air is conducted out of the road milling machine, a device for generating a flow movement of the engine air from the engine air inlet to the engine air outlet, and an exhaust system which is implemented for discharging the exhaust gases occurring during operation of the internal combustion engine from the internal combustion engine out of the road milling machine, having an exhaust gas outlet. The engine air is used to cool the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Lubischer, Markus Lang, Moritz Starkmeth
  • Home appliance with unitary anti-tip bracket
    Patent number: 9163842
    Abstract: A home appliance, such as a range, for floor-standing operation, including an appliance body, a floor-standing frame supporting the appliance body, the frame including a traverse frame member and an anti-tip bracket mounted to a support surface, the anti-tip bracket including a stanchion and an engagement member projecting from the stanchion in an generally horizontal manner and a tooth projecting downwardly from a distal end of the engagement member for engagement with a portion of the traverse frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventors: David Adams, Sibyl Perkins, Michael Rutherford
  • Folding mechanism for supporting table machine
    Patent number: 9156486
    Abstract: A folding mechanism operatable between an extended position and a received position is disclosed to include a rack for supporting thereon a table machine, a pair of first legs and a pair of second legs respectively pivoted to the rack for supporting the rack above the floor, two first links respectively pivoted to the rack, two sliding units slidably and respectively sleeved onto the first legs and pivotally and respectively connected with the first links, and two second links respectively pivoted to the sliding units and the second legs. The first and second links and the sliding units are moved with the second legs toward the first legs upon folding the folding mechanism from the extended position to the received position, and at the same time the sliding units are slid along the first legs, assuring safety and stability of the folding action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: DURQ MACHINERY CORP.
    Inventor: Chia-Sheng Liu
  • Foldable cart
    Patent number: 9150233
    Abstract: A foldable cart includes a frame mechanism, a wheeled rear support mechanism and two spaced-apart handle units. The frame mechanism can be in a collapsed state or an expanded state. The wheeled rear support mechanism is mounted pivotally to a rear side of a main frame body of the frame mechanism and movable between a supporting position and a fully folded position with respect to the main frame body. The handle units are rotatably connected to the main frame body to drive the frame mechanism to be in the collapsed state or the expanded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Inventor: Chung-Hsiu Su
  • Tote transport
    Patent number: 9150234
    Abstract: A tote transport assembly that includes a base, a handle, a partition, and a lid. The base includes a plurality of wheels that facilitate vertical or tipped transportation of the ice cart through an environment. The base and the partition and the partition and the lid are shaped to facilitate a stacked and secure cooperation of multiple containers, totes, or buckets with the cart assembly. The partition and the lid movably cooperate with the handle to facilitate secure and sanitary cooperation of the containers with the cart assembly as well as convenient and expedient filling and emptying of the discrete containers. The stacked orientation of the multiple containers and alternate transport modalities provide a compact assembly for conveniently transporting loaded or unloaded containers throughout even tight quartered environments and in a manner that reduces the effort associated with such activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: San Jamar, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Beaver, Bernie Ziebart, Orlando Ochoa, Sr.
  • Dual steerable vehicle
    Patent number: 9150273
    Abstract: A tricycle may be operable between a first mode of operation steerable by a tricycle rider, and a second mode of operation steerable by an individual pushing the tricycle. In both such first and second modes, the frame of the tricycle is configured to rotatably support the rear wheels and configured to support the head tube at a distance from the rear wheels such that a distance between the head tube and rear wheels need not necessarily be changed even when the front wheel axis location is changed from one mode to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Smart Trike MNF PTE LTD
    Inventor: Yoram Baron
  • Collapsible shopping cart
    Patent number: 9145155
    Abstract: Provided is a dynamic shopping cart with collapsible walls. The shopping cart can either be used with the collapsible wall in place or in collapsed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Inventor: Rafael Iryami
  • Electric vehicle
    Patent number: 9145050
    Abstract: A drive unit and a rear cushion overlap each other in a vehicle front view. Since the rear cushion is disposed to overlap the drive unit, the dimension in a vehicle width direction can be made smaller than that in the case where the cushion is disposed on the vehicle width center side of the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yohei Kawasaki, Masaru Odajima
  • Vehicle drive system
    Patent number: 9145961
    Abstract: Two motor and planetary gear type speed reducers are disposed sequentially from an outer side in a width direction of a vehicle, whereby the speed reducers are disposed between the motors. A radially outer edge of a ring gear of one of the speed reducers is formed smaller than the smaller one of the two radially outermost edge portions of the motors. An offset space that is recessed further radially than an imaginary line that connects the radially outermost edge portion of one motor with the that of the other motor is provided radially outwards of the ring gear of one of the speed reducers, and at least part of a breather chamber of a breather unit and at least part of a strainer accommodation compartment are disposed within the offset space. It is thus possible to expand a volumetric capacity room that communicates with an interior of a case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takabumi Suzuki, Yoshio Akiba, Keiichi Ooiso
  • Double kingpin skateboard truck incorporating a double hole bushing
    Patent number: 9145030
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a novel ‘double kingpin’ type skateboard truck having multiple elastomeric bushings, where one or more of such bushings is an elongated bushing having two staggered mounting holes incorporated herein for the purpose of mounting the bushing upon two bolts in the double kingpin truck mechanism. The novel placement and novel form of the said bushing provides both enhanced overall stability to the truck, as well as a wider range of tension adjustability features to the double kingpin truck system. Moreover, increased shock absorption capabilities, ‘wheel wobble’ resistance and overall truck mechanism balance, permit the ‘double kingpin’ type truck to be more useable for higher speed skateboard riding purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Inventor: Alfred Williams
  • Storage system
    Patent number: 9139331
    Abstract: A storage assembly is provided that includes plural bins having registering vertical dovetail slots. Connecting rods having reverse expanding dovetail formations are used to slide into the registering vertical dovetail slots of the side-by-side bins to fix the side-by-side bins together. The same dovetail slots on the bins can be used to mount accessories such as golf bag retainers, baseball bat racks, storage bins or other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventor: Mark Tavolino
  • Splitboard binding apparatus
    Patent number: 9138628
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a binding apparatus for use on a splitboard. The binding apparatus may be used to change the splitboard between a snowboard for riding downhill in a ride mode and touring skis for climbing up a hill in a tour mode. The binding apparatus can include at least one board joining device. The binding apparatus can also include a binding interface configured to receive a boot and selectively attach to a ride mode interface in a snowboard configuration and to a tour mode interface in a ski configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventors: Bryce M. Kloster, Tyler G. Kloster