Patents Examined by Jake Cook
  • Robot
    Patent number: 11518050
    Abstract: A robot includes a robot torso, a robot arm, a main controller, and a plurality of bundles of cables; wherein a plurality of shoulder effectors are configured to drive the robot arm to move are disposed on the robot torso, a plurality of arm effectors that are relatively movable are disposed in sequence on the robot arm, and the main controller is disposed on the robot torso and configured to control a corresponding effector to operate, such that the robot arm has a plurality of degrees of freedom; any adjacent two of the main controller, the plurality of shoulder effectors, and the plurality of arm effectors are electrically connected by a cable bundle, each of the plurality of bundles of cables is disposed on an outer surface of the shoulder effector or the arm effector which the bundle of cables travels through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: CLOUDMINDS ROBOTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haotian Cui, Cheng Luo
  • Robot arm
    Patent number: 11511447
    Abstract: A robot arm including a rotating body connected to a base, an arm rotating about a central axis of the rotating body, a moving pulley provided at the arm and revolving along a circular track which is concentric with the rotating body, a reference pulley provided at the base and positioned on an inner side with respect to the circular track, a spring embedded in the arm and compressed or stretched in a lengthwise direction of the arm, a string compressing the spring and wound around the moving pulley and the reference pulley, and a plurality of roller bearings arranged to be spaced apart from each other along an outer circumference of the rotating body, rotating about a rotation axis parallel to the central axis of the rotating body, and configured to be in contact with the string is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Changwoo Son
  • Dial selector unit with a panel having a concave surface
    Patent number: 11512773
    Abstract: A selector unit includes a panel, and a dial member that protrudes in a first direction from an opening of the panel. A surface of the panel includes a concave surface having a depth that increases toward the opening. The dial member has an operation portion gripped by a user, and a base shaft portion that extends from the operation portion through the opening of the panel. At least a part of an outer circumferential surface of the base shaft portion is an inclined surface that is inclined radially outward as being away from the panel, and the inclined surface is opposed to the surface of the panel in the first direction. The distance from the surface of the panel to the inclined surface of the dial member in the first direction continuously increases, as a radial distance from the opening to the inclined surface increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazunori Masaoka, Naoki Yamada, Junya Ono, Naofumi Ota
  • Jamming protection apparatus of shift lever for vehicle
    Patent number: 11506282
    Abstract: An embodiment method of operating a vehicle comprises detecting a first position of a shift lever, determining whether the first position of the shift lever is in a normal state or an abnormal state, and, in response to the first position of the shift lever being in the abnormal state, moving a detent portion of a housing relative to a contact portion of the shift lever in accordance with pre-stored position data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Jae Sung Heo
  • Ball screw
    Patent number: 11506269
    Abstract: A ball screw includes a screw, a nut, a plurality of balls and a ball return path. A spiral screw groove is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the screw shaft. The nut is disposed around the screw shaft. A spiral screw groove is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the nut. The balls are housed in rolling paths formed by the two screw grooves facing each other. The ball return path circulates the balls in no more than one turn of the rolling paths. A length of the ball return path between scoop-up points where the balls are scooped up from the screw groove of the screw shaft is set to a value which is from ?0.1 to +0.3 times of a diameter of the balls with respect to an integer value of a number of the balls filled between the scoop-up points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Keitaro Oka
  • Single-arm robotic device with compact joint design and related systems and methods
    Patent number: 11504196
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various robotic surgical devices and systems that include first and second elongate bodies, first and second driveshafts disposed through the second elongate body, and an in-line shoulder joint with a robotic arm coupled thereto. In certain implementations, the in-line shoulder joint has a differential yoke and a dual shaft disposed within the yoke lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Joseph Palmowski, Shane Farritor
  • Gear selection and shifting actuating mechanism and method
    Patent number: 11506283
    Abstract: An actuating mechanism includes a gear shifting motor, a first transmission gear, second transmission gears, gear shifting screws, a push block, a shift fork, a shift block and a linear driving device. An output shaft of the gear shifting motor is provided thereon with the first transmission gear engaged with the second transmission gears; the second transmissions gears are fixedly connected to the gear shifting screws; the gear shifting screws are in screw thread connection with the push block provided thereon with a through hole; one end of the shift block is connected to the linear driving device, and the other end is aligned with a groove on the shift fork after inserting into the through hole. The linear driving device corresponding to a shift position drives the shift block; the gear shifting motor drives the first transmission gear; and the second transmission gears drive the gear shifting screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: WEICHAI POWER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenchao Che, Yong Fang, Dejun Wang, Yunqian Qiao, Lipeng Sun
  • Extendable device
    Patent number: 11491639
    Abstract: This extendable device includes: a base member; a first ball screw that is provided to the base member and that rotates according to a driving force supplied from a drive source; a first movable member that is coupled to the base member via the first ball screw and that moves relative to the base member as the first ball screw rotates; a second ball screw that is provided to the first movable member and that rotates as the first movable member moves; a third ball screw that is provided to the first movable member; a transmission mechanism that transmits the rotation of the second ball screw to the third ball screw; and a second movable member that is coupled to the first movable member via the third ball screw and that moves relative to the first movable member as the third ball screw rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Takehiro Shindo
  • Micro head and stage mechanism using the same
    Patent number: 11493116
    Abstract: Provided is a micro head having a simple structure and yet entailing extremely little backlash. A micro head includes a spindle, a sleeve, a thimble, a backlash absorbing member, and a collar, wherein the cylindrical backlash absorbing member is fixed to the sleeve in a state where the spindle is inserted at a position in the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: BIBLIOS Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Nakatomi, Takeshi Onodera, Shinji Suzuki
  • Reduction of play of a worm gear of an electromechanical power steering system by means of a bimetal spring
    Patent number: 11492034
    Abstract: A worm gear for an electromechanical power steering system of a motor vehicle, includes a worm shaft that meshes with a worm wheel. The worm wheel and the worm shaft are arranged together in a gear housing. An eccentric lever and a bimetallic spring that is operatively connected to the eccentric lever are configured to compensate for a temperature-related play in the engagement between the worm wheel and the worm shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Andreas Bachmann
  • Movable barrier operator and gearbox thereof
    Patent number: 11486183
    Abstract: A movable barrier operator that includes a motor, an armature shaft of the motor, and a worm screw assembled with a distal end portion of the armature shaft. The movable barrier operator further includes a worm wheel engaged with the worm screw and a rotatable drive member connected to the worm wheel. Turning of the armature shaft and worm screw mounted thereto causes turning of the worm wheel and rotatable drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
    Inventor: Zoltan Sostarecz
  • Shift device for vehicle that includes a shift lever and a control lever that are separately supported by a baseplate
    Patent number: 11486491
    Abstract: A shift device for a vehicle includes a baseplate, a shift lever having a spherical shaft part at a lower end, and a control lever connected to the shift lever. The spherical shaft part of the shift lever is supported by the baseplate and configured to turn relative to the baseplate. A cable coupling part is provided at an upper part of the control lever. A turning shaft part supported by the baseplate is provided at a lower part of the control lever outward of the spherical shaft part of the shift lever in a vehicle width direction, and the turning shaft part is configured to turn relative to the baseplate. The control lever has a branched part between the cable coupling part and the turning shaft parts, and the branched part is located above the spherical shaft part and branched in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO, TSUDA INDUSTRIES CO., LTD., MANNOH INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shori Kato, Atsushi Toyama, Takaaki Fukushima, Naotaka Nishikawa
  • Linear joint and legged robot having the same
    Patent number: 11485028
    Abstract: A linear joint includes a motor assembly includes a rotating shaft for outputting motion; a transmission mechanism including a screw and a nut threadedly connected to the screw, the nut being coaxial with respect to and securely connected to the rotating shaft so as to be rotatable together with the rotating shaft; and a rod connected to a first end of the screw so as to move together with the screw along a lengthwise direction of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP LTD
    Inventors: Zhihua Zhang, Mingguo Zhao, Hailei Li, Kang Li, Weining Zhang, Guangjun Hei, Xiaoyu He, Youjun Xiong
  • Transmission element for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 11473655
    Abstract: A transmission element for a controllable air inlet of a motor vehicle and configured to produce a pivoting movement to pivotably mounted closing elements. Each closing element is connected by a link part which is arranged outside the pivot axis, to a corresponding link element of the transmission element (Ü).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Magna Exteriors (Germany) GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Knauer
  • Stowable shift lever assembly
    Patent number: 11473672
    Abstract: A shift lever assembly includes a shift lever, a folding device, and a fold interlock device. The shift lever is adapted to move between park and gear positions. The shift lever includes a base structure and an arm pivotally engaged to the base structure about a first axis. The folding device is adapted to pivotally move the arm with respect to the base structure about the first axis and between deployed and stowed states. The fold interlock device is adapted to move between locked and released positions, and includes a locking member adapted to abut the arm in a circumferential direction with respect to the first axis when in the locked position to prevent movement from the deployed state to the stowed state, and to circumferentially clear the arm when in the released position to enable actuation of the folding device from the deployed state to the stowed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: FICOSA NORTH AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Abad García, Carlos López Rodríguez
  • Ball screw device
    Patent number: 11466762
    Abstract: Provided is a ball screw device which enables easy production and assembly of a nut member and formation of an endless circulation path for balls in the nut member with high accuracy. The nut member includes a plurality of nut components arranged in a superposed manner along an axial direction of a screw shaft. At a boundary portion between the nut components which are adjacent to each other, a raceway path for balls extending around a periphery of the screw shaft is formed. A joining surface of each of the nut components used for joining with another one of the nut components includes: a raceway forming surface which is annularly formed around the through hole; and an abutment surface for joining which is formed on an outer side in a radial direction with respect to the raceway forming surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Nishide, Sho Iwashiro
  • Power tool
    Patent number: 11469645
    Abstract: A power tool includes an electric motor having an output shaft, a transmission having a transmission housing, a spindle rotatable in response to receiving torque from the transmission and a pinion coupled to the output shaft. The pinion includes a bushing portion, a toothed portion for driving the transmission, and a cylindrical portion between the bushing portion and the toothed portion. The power tool further comprises a fan coupled to the bushing portion of the pinion and a bearing arranged between the cylindrical portion and the transmission housing for rotatably supporting the pinion and the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryan A. Dedrickson, Ian Duncan, Timothy R. Reichert
  • Electro mechanical power actuator
    Patent number: 11454307
    Abstract: An actuator is for use in petroleum exploitation and is configured for displacing a rod for engaging a well barrier device. The actuator has a housing for at least a portion of the rod; at least two roller screws rotatably arranged in the housing; rotational means connected to the roller screws via one gear systems for each roller screw for simultaneous rotation of the roller screws; and a roller nut engaging each roller screw. The roller screws and roller nuts are configured such that rotation of the roller screws result in displacement of the roller nuts relative to the roller screws. Each roller nut is coupled with one actuation element via spherical bearings, and each actuation element is configured for mechanical coupling to an end portion of the rod for displacing the rod in operational use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Electrical Subsea & Drilling AS
    Inventor: Egil Eriksen
  • Steering device of vehicle
    Patent number: 11447171
    Abstract: According to the embodiments, it is possible to mitigate noise by compensating for the clearance inside the bearing supporting the rotation of the ball nut and the clearance between the ball nut and the ball screw and prevent excessive friction between the ball nut and the ball screw and inside the bearing to thereby allow the driver a better steering feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventors: Seong Moo Heo, Won Pyo Gong
  • Adjustable shift lever mount
    Patent number: 11441672
    Abstract: A shift lever mount assembly including a rotatable member having a ball portion formed with at least a partially arcuate surface and a shift lever connection portion extending from the ball portion to be connected to a shift lever, a casing formed to at least partially surround the ball portion of the rotatable member and having an inner surface forming a spherical bearing with the ball portion, the casing having a top opening through which the shift lever connection portion extends, a plurality of position fixing members to selectively contact the rotatable member so as to fix the rotatable member at a desired position, and a coupling member to selectively couple the casing to a control lever of a transmission shift assembly, wherein the spherical bearing allows rotational and angular movement of the rotatable member so that the rotatable member is selectively movable to the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventor: Kevin Ford