Patents Examined by J. Allen Shriver, III
  • Patent number: 9809269
    Abstract: A scooter having a riding platform rotationally engaged to a front steering assembly is provided which significantly increases the ability of riders to perform tricks. The riding platform is rotationally engaged to the steering column which itself may be employed as a riding platform. An optional mechanism may be employed whereby the riding platform is rotated by a spin of the steering column with the handlebars. The scooter may also be equipped with skids to allow employment in the snow or on ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Bellon
  • Patent number: 8936123
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising a vehicle body frame (11), a front cowl (72) provided in front of the vehicle body frame, and a headlight unit (59) mounted within the width, in the vehicle's lateral direction, of the front cowl. The headlight unit has, on the opposite sides thereof, recesses (115L, 115R) recessed inward in the vehicle's lateral direction. Air intake openings (111L, 111R) for introducing air in front of the front cowl into the inner side of the front cowl are formed between the headlight unit and the front cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kogo, Eiji Toriyama, Kenji Morita, Gen Tanabe, Toru Ukawa, Hajime Soda
  • Patent number: 8919466
    Abstract: A generator is provided at a front portion of an engine provided between a pair of front side frames at an offset position on one side, in a vehicle width direction, of a vehicle, and an electricity-storage device, a convertor, and a battery are provided on the other side, in the vehicle width side, of the vehicle. Accordingly, the electricity-storage device, the convertor, and the battery can be restrained from receiving any improper heat influence from the engine, and the length of harnesses coupling the generator, the electricity-storage device, the convertor, and the battery can be shortened as much as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Seigo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8727051
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle has a first drive apparatus for driving wheels on a first axle by an internal combustion engine and a second electrical drive apparatus with two electrical machines for driving wheels on a second axle. At least one electrical energy store can be discharged when the two electrical machines are operated as a motor and can be charged when the electrical machines are operated as a generator. The two electrical machines of the electrical drive apparatus are combined with a respectively associated gearbox in an electrical axle to drive the individually suspended wheels on the first axle via universally jointed shafts. Two electrical converters are associated respectively with the two electrical machines and are combined in one converter unit, such that a basic module has the mechanical link to a bodywork structure, the link to a cooling circuit and the electrical link to an electrical energy store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jochen Schmid, Stephan Hennings
  • Patent number: 8668037
    Abstract: In an electrically-operated vehicle including rear wheels on right and left sides of a rear portion of a vehicle body, the electrically-operated vehicle includes a motor that drives the rear wheels, a battery 51 that is arranged above the motor, and a lower battery that is placed between the right and left rear wheels. The lower battery and the motor are arranged in a distributed manner over an axle of the rear wheels between a vehicle front side of the axle of the rear wheels and a vehicle rear side of the axle of the rear wheels. An upper end portion of a rear cushion is supported on a vehicle body frame, and the battery and the motor are supported on a lower end of the rear cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Shinde, Nobuo Nakai, Masahiko Takenaka
  • Patent number: 8430198
    Abstract: A muffler mounting structure of a vehicle, particularly a straddle-type four-wheeled vehicle. The muffler mounting structure is provided with a muffler, at least one muffler mounting portion provided in a body frame and having a mounting hole, and at least one mounted bracket provided in an upper part of the muffler and disposed on an upper surface of the muffler mounting portion. The mounted bracket having a fixing member insertion hole passing in the up and down direction, and at least one fixing member inserted into the fixing member insertion hole from the upper side and fixed to the mounting hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Orihashi, Masashi Fukuuchi, Atsushi Eto, Ryosuke Masuike, Tamotsu Hatada
  • Patent number: 8356824
    Abstract: A stroller illumination system includes a stroller frame and a child receiving member that is mounted on the stroller frame. The stroller frame includes a plurality of legs and a handle grip. Each of the legs has at least one of a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled thereto. A light emitting assembly is mounted on the frame. The light emitting assembly emits light when turned on to increase a visibility of the stroller frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Inventors: Randal J. Manweiler, Michael T. Coon
  • Patent number: 8113534
    Abstract: This invention relates to a safety buckle structure of baby stroller which shows a collapsible stand provided between rear wheels thereof, a main rod being provided at the central portion of a main joint of the collapsible stand, two upper rods being pivoted at the top end of the main rod and to the corresponding rear wheel rods at the other ends thereof, two lower rods being pivoted at the bottom end of the main rod and to the corresponding rear wheel rods at the other ends, a buckling means being pivoted at the pivot of the bottom end of the main rod and the lower rods, the main rod and lower rods are inserted and fixed in the buckling means. Thus, the front and rear wheel rods can be moved closely to the center to shrink the volume thereof as small as possible for facilitating assembly, storage or transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: Pao-Hsien Cheng
  • Patent number: 7918473
    Abstract: A wheelchair is constructed to be convertible into a push-cot. The wheelchair includes a main chassis and front and rear chassis that are removably received in the main chassis and are extendable in frontward and rearward directions. A reclining back frame is rotatably mounted to the rear side of the main chassis and is in driving coupling with the rear chassis so that when the rear chassis is extended, the reclining back frame is moved from a substantially upright position to a horizontal position to convert the wheelchair to a push-cot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventor: Meei-Huei Yao
  • Patent number: 7900951
    Abstract: A heel piece of a safety binding for a ski boot that is able to occupy at least two positions, an open position and a closed position in which it is able to hold a ski boot securely for skiing, the heel piece comprising a body (11) that occupies the same position in each of these two positions of the heel piece, the body (11) comprising a release mechanism to allow the boot to be released in the closed position of the heel piece if a force exceeds a predetermined level, the heel piece further comprising a lever (12) comprising jaws (14) in its anterior part, these being able to collaborate with the heel of a ski boot, the lever (12) being mounted so that it can rotate relative to the body (11) about a pivot (13) so as to occupy two different positions corresponding to the two, open and closed, positions of the heel piece, wherein at least one end of the pivot (13) is held near the body (11) of the heel piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Skis Rossignol
    Inventor: Frédéric Farges
  • Patent number: 7770857
    Abstract: An apparatus for locking a universal joint is provide. The universal joint comprises first and second ends, a first member pivotally connected to said first end about a first axis, and a second member pivotally connected to the first member about a second axis wherein the first axis and the second axis are perpendicular to and intersect each other and wherein the second end is operably connected to the second member. The apparatus comprises a ring rotationally connected to the second pivotable member about a plane containing the second axis, a restraint for restraining the ring from rotation about the first axis, and a lock for locking the ring relative to the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Francis Ruddy
  • Patent number: 7735270
    Abstract: A rooftop equipment support includes a polymer material block and a metal fastener support attached to an upper portion of the block. The fastener support has a fastener portion that is configured to receive one or more fasteners for securing piping or other equipment. According to one embodiment, folded-down lips of the metal fastener portion form a channel configured to accept one or more fasteners, such as pipe clamps. In another embodiment, the metal fastener portion is a plate having one or more threaded inserts. The threaded inserts may be located between a sheet metal part of the fastener portion and a top surface of the polymer material block. The polymer material block may be made of a polyurethane foam material. The metal fastener portion may cover at least part of the edges of a top surface of the polymer material block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: ERICO International Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond M. Olle, Raymond S. Laughlin
  • Patent number: 7712719
    Abstract: The present invention provides a portable support stand for various devices such as laptop computes, tablet PCs and other electronic equipment. The stand has a tripod configuration which promotes stability of the user device. The front legs of the tripod may be adjusted between compact and extended positions, and may be placed in a position relative to the rear leg anywhere from 0° in a fully closed position to approximately 180° in a fully open position. Audible indicators are used with overall stand adjustment and with adjustment of stoppers at the ends of the front legs. Adjustment of the front legs relative to the rear leg employs a pivot section, including a finger disc spring, an adjustment actuator and an engagement member between the spring and the actuator. The engagement member includes projections or dimples which engage receptacles on an engagement member to secure the stand in a desired arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Innovative Office Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley A. Derry, Robert Altonji, Odd N. Oddsen, Jr.