Patents Examined by Jacob D. Knutson
  • Patent number: 11760143
    Abstract: A first crossmember is divided into a right crossmember and a left crossmember. A right fastened portion of a towing hook is inserted into the right crossmember, and a bolt is fastened by being passed through a bolt insertion hole of the right crossmember and a bolt insertion hole of the right fastened portion of the towing hook. A left fastened portion of the towing hook is inserted into the left crossmember, and a bolt is fastened by being passed through a bolt insertion hole of the left crossmember and a bolt insertion hole of the left fastened portion of the towing hook. Hereby, the attachment strength of the towing hook can be secured sufficiently, and even in a case where an input at the time of towing of a vehicle is excessive, the towing can be performed successfully.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsuya Asai
  • Patent number: 11753067
    Abstract: Vehicle steering systems are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a first gear, a first pinion engaged with the first gear, a second pinion fixed to the first gear, a second gear engaged with the second pinion, and a third pinion fixed to the second gear, the third pinion to engage with a steering rack of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Washnock, Jack E. Barry, Soungjin Wou, Garry Robert Smith, Jennifer Laz, James Philip Cooper, Daniel Steven Payne, Rohit Kadam
  • Patent number: 11753114
    Abstract: A snowmobile has an air intake system integrated into the snowmobile body, and with air intake vents facing rearwardly towards the rider. The air intake system includes a plenum defined by a portion of the body and ducting extending within the body. The ducting is porous to allow the air input noise to be dissipated within the engine compartment. The snowmobile further comprises couplings which may be realigned to accommodate wear. A frame coupler allows multiple differently configured frame tubes to be connected to the tunnel. The chassis of the snowmobile includes a casing for receiving the gears which drive the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Jan R. Vistad, Dustin A. Mertens, Andrew J. Mills, Michael A. Hedlund
  • Patent number: 11753093
    Abstract: An improved suspension system for a track-driven work vehicle includes a roller beam and at least one roller wheel assembly coupled to the roller beam. The roller wheel assembly includes an inboard roller shaft, an inboard roller wheel coupled to the inboard roller shaft, an outboard roller shaft, and an outboard roller wheel coupled to the outboard roller shaft. Additionally, the roller wheel assembly includes a pivot mechanism coupling the inboard roller shaft to the outboard roller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Jason Edward Weyer, Brian Vik, Daniel J. Zurn
  • Patent number: 11753066
    Abstract: A multifunctional electric recirculating ball steering system for commercial vehicles and its control method are described. The system comprises three modules: an electric power module, a mechanical transmission module, and a control module. The system introduces a dual-rotor motor and a common power motor, working together to act on the input end of a recirculating ball steering gear. The dual-rotor motor offers high redundancy, increased output torque, and improved reliability for control-by-wire operations. A fork assembly enables synchronous and asynchronous rotation of the dual rotors, achieving both steer-by-wire and electric power steering functions. Leveraging the high reduction ratio capability of the recirculating ball steering gear maximizes power torque and simplifies the system architecture while ensuring reliability in both traditional control and control-by-wire functionalities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY OF AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS
    Inventors: Wanzhong Zhao, Ziyu Zhang, Chunyan Wang, Xiaochuan Zhou, Gang Wu, Zhongkai Luan, Yulin Ye
  • Patent number: 11752815
    Abstract: A height adjustable hitch receiver is disclosed and described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Weigh Safe, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin McAllister
  • Patent number: 11753092
    Abstract: Interchangeable track systems for interchangeable deployment with vehicle wheels on a forestry harvester vehicle having a front axle and a rear axle may include a pair of front roller frame mount arms and a pair of rear roller frame mount arms configured for mounting on the front axle and the rear axle, respectively. A pair of front track assemblies and a pair of rear track assemblies may be configured for removable mounting on the pair of front roller frame mount arms and the pair of rear roller frame mount arms, respectively. Each of the pair of front track assemblies and the pair of rear track assemblies may include an elongated roller frame configured for pivotal attachment to the corresponding one of the pair of front roller frame mount arms and pair of rear roller frame mount arms. A front idler roller and a rear idler roller may be carried by the roller frame. A track may be trained on the front idler roller and the rear idler roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: G&R Manufactured Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Glyn Jordan, Robert Reeves
  • Patent number: 11738811
    Abstract: A trailer neck reinforcement structure includes a first beam reinforcement structure including: (i) a first beam inner insert connected to an inner side of the first beam; and, (ii) and a first beam outer insert connected to an outer side of the first beam. A second beam reinforcement structure includes: (i) a second beam inner insert connected to an inner side of the second beam; and, (ii) and a second beam outer insert connected to an outer side of the second beam. Internal cross members extend between the first and second beam inner inserts. A first group of external cross members is located between the first beam outer insert and the left side rail, and a second group of external cross members is located between the second beam outer insert and the right side rail. Each external cross member comprises an inner segment connected to an outer segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: East Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Howard D. Booher, Derek Davies
  • Patent number: 11712935
    Abstract: The mounting system may be utilized for towing vehicles wherein the mounting system may selectively accommodate either a fifth wheel hitch or a gooseneck hitch. The mounting system may include a structural frame member including at least one rail capable of being connected to a vehicle frame, wherein the rail includes at least one socket. The socket may be engaged with a receiving member, wherein the receiving member may be engaged with a leg of a fifth wheel hitch. A mid rail may be connected to the rails and may include a hitch ball socket that is capable of engagement with a hitch. Also provided is an underbed hitch mounting system having at least one socket and receiving member exposed above a bed of a vehicle. The system includes trim and ring brackets configured to cover the exposed socket and receiving members along the bed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. McGory, Piyush Pradeepkumar Khater, Joel Thomas Runyan
  • Patent number: 11702125
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system for motor vehicles includes an electronically controlled steering actuator acting on steered wheels of the vehicle responsive to a steering demand and a feedback actuator transmitting retroactive effects of the road to a steering wheel, wherein the feedback actuator and the steering actuator have a redundant power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Imre Szepessy, Botond Hamori, Peter Kakas
  • Patent number: 11702158
    Abstract: A track shoe for an endless track assembly has a base and an opposing hull. The hull of the track shoe has opposing sidewalls that are angled to meet at an apex, thus forming an inverted V-shape. The apex of the hull extends the width of the track shoe. Laterally-disposed ridges are spaced apart from the apex. and the height of the ridges tapers outwardly from the hull to form, respectively, a leading lip and a trailing lip of the track shoe. The track shoe may have upward bends at the ends of the width of the track shoe and optionally, may have secondary hulls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Epiroc Drilling Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Vipond, James Hannah, Caleb Obholz
  • Patent number: 11685424
    Abstract: An eddy current brake for a steer-by-wire steering system of a vehicle that includes a steering wheel may include magnets and a magnet carrier. The eddy current brake may be connected in a force-transmitting manner to an axle to which the steering wheel is connected, and to the steering wheel, in a force-transmitting manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Robert Kopiniok, Alexander Ein Waldt
  • Patent number: 11685204
    Abstract: A first assembly combinable to the heavy equipment and a second assembly pivotally attached to the first assembly for rotation about a first axis and configured for pivotal attachment to the vehicle for rotation about a second axis. A tow rod extending from the first assembly with a third axis extending therethrough and combinable to the heavy equipment and configured for rotation with respect to the heavy equipment about the third axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Swivel King, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Jaeger, Kyle Moore
  • Patent number: 11685425
    Abstract: An electric power steering device includes: an electric motor; a rack shaft configured to move axially; a conversion unit configured to convert rotational driving force of the moto into movement of the rack shaft; a first housing configured to cover a part of an outer surface of the rack shaft and including a first leg portion fixed to a vehicle; a second housing configured to cover a part of the outer surface of the rack shaft and including a fourth connecting portion covering the conversion unit and a second leg portion fixed to the vehicle; and an intermediate housing disposed between the first and second housings and configured to cover a part of the outer surface of the rack shaft 3 and including a motor support portion supporting the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Enomoto, Takayuki Tetsuka
  • Patent number: 11679824
    Abstract: A track wheel for moving an object across a surface having a non-planar obstruction to allow smoother, easier and safer movement of the object over the obstruction. The track wheel has a track frame, a first wheel assembly, a second wheel assembly and a fluid-filled track assembly. The track frame interconnects the two wheel assemblies. The track assembly encircles the two wheel assemblies and frame in an endless loop manner. A mounting assembly connects the track frame to the object. The track assembly has a track link assembly and a pair of dampener tubes in the track link assembly. The track assembly passes into and out of a shield of the wheel assemblies that cleans the track assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Douglas G. Willis
  • Patent number: 11679634
    Abstract: An upper deck frame assembly for a trailer chassis includes a flushed floor section defining a first floor height, and a header section, with a header, forward of the flushed floor section and defining a second floor height above the first floor height. A towing assembly may be secured to the header. A reduced size header section increases usable floor space, and the towing assembly is securable to the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: LIPPERT COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy D. Schultz, Mohammed Taqiuddin
  • Patent number: 11667348
    Abstract: An ebike comprises a front wheel, a rear wheel, a frame structure supported on the front wheel and the rear wheel, a crank assembly, and a battery assembly. The frame structure can include a front fork supported on the front wheel, a head tube coupled to the front fork, and a down tube extending downward and rearward from the head tube, the down tube defining a down tube axis and being open at its lower end. The crank assembly can be supported by the frame structure and can be rotatable about a crank axis that is spaced rearward from the down tube axis. The battery assembly can be at least partially secured in the down tube in an installed position and can be slidable into the down tube from the lower end of the down tube along the down tube axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Marc Pallure, Marco Werner Sonderegger, Jan Talavasek, Vincent Patureau
  • Patent number: 11667341
    Abstract: A ground-engaging track system includes a track having a first track chain and a second track chain, and an idler having pockets formed in an outer idler rim to receive inboard rail protrusions on track links in the first track chain and the second track chain. The inboard rail protrusions project from an inboard link side, and a central pad of an upper rail surface in the track link includes an anti-scalloping bump-out formed on the inboard rail protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David Jennings Hakes
  • Patent number: 11661125
    Abstract: A track assembly for providing traction to an off-road vehicle, such as an agricultural vehicle, a construction vehicle, or another work vehicle, in which the track assembly may comprise a suspension between a frame of the track assembly and a bogie carrying roller wheels of the track assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Camso Inc.
    Inventor: Dewaine Kautsch
  • Patent number: 11660956
    Abstract: A tank mounting structure includes a frame, a band, and a tank protector. The frame is configured to fix the tank. The band is configured to fix the tank in a state where the band sandwiches the tank with the frame and the band deforms in accordance with expansion or contraction of the tank. The tank protector is configured to be fixed to an inner side of the band or an outer side of the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Manabu Fujii