Patents Examined by James A English
  • Patent number: 11661117
    Abstract: A foldable vehicle may include a chassis comprising a static support, a dynamic chassis frame that includes at least two substantially opposite frame parts and a folding mechanism for decreasing or increasing a distance between the at least two substantially opposite frame parts across a lateral axis of the vehicle between a folded state and an unfolded state; and a controller to control the folding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: City Transformer Ltd.
    Inventors: Asaf Formoza, Udi Meridor, Oran Levintant, Ani Dwilanski
  • Patent number: 11661099
    Abstract: A handwheel actuator for a steer by wire system may include a feedback actuator and a column for operably coupling a handwheel to the handwheel actuator. The column includes a column shaft extending from a first end of the column to a second end of the column. The feedback actuator is operably coupled to the second end of the column and provides tactile feedback to an operator responsive to movement of the handwheel. The feedback actuator includes a torsion bar coaxial with the column shaft. The column shaft is supported relative to a housing of the column by a first column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the first end of the column and a second column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the second end of the column. The torsion bar extends into the column shaft past the second column shaft bearing and is operably coupled to the column shaft via a removable fastener disposed at a portion of the torsion bar that extends past the second column shaft bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Erik William Soderlind, Steven Bryan Amburgy, Taras Palczynski
  • Patent number: 11654963
    Abstract: A lightweight suspension upright or knuckle for a vehicle including a bearing connection interface arranged coaxial with the rolling bearing and including a first sleeve element and a second sleeve element arranged radially outside the first sleeve element and including a BMC/LFT/DLFT annular body that is sandwiched between a first and second shell elements, which are coupled together in a radially superimposed manner and which are preferably obtained in a semi-cured state as self-supporting elements, to be chemically and mechanically bonded together and with the BMC/LFT/DLFT annular body in a later stage during a step of forming a core (11) to fill either completely or partially an empty space (12) delimited between the first and second shell elements (8,9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventors: Valentin Fleury, Marco Falossi, Remi Sarlin
  • Patent number: 11648718
    Abstract: An instrument panel unit (2) includes an instrument panel (3) and a decorative sheet (4). The instrument panel (3) includes a sticking portion (3a) and an exposed portion (3b). A plurality of insertion grooves (3c) and insertion holes (3d), into which bent pieces (4a) formed at rear end of the decorative sheet (4) are inserted, are formed alternately on a rear side end of the sticking portion (3a). A groove front-surface (3g) forming the insertion groove (3c) of the instrument panel (3) is formed in a tapered shape such that a width between the groove front-surface and an opposing groove rear-surface (3h) gradually increases upward. The bent piece (4a) of the decorative sheet (4) is thinner than a groove width at an upper part serving as an entrance part of the insertion groove (3c) and thicker than the groove width of a groove bottom-surface (3i) in the insertion groove (3c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yusa, Yusuke Takamura, Kenichi Chujo, Hajime Miyamoto, Toshio Kazami, Satoru Iriyama, Masahiko Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11648997
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle assembly. The vehicle assembly may include various portions, such as body panels. The body panels may be interconnected with various support portions that may interconnect select body panel and/or frame portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Brett Nagel
  • Patent number: 11642915
    Abstract: A person support apparatus includes a base frame with a plurality of caster wheel assemblies, each of the caster wheel assemblies including a caster brake actuator movable between a total braking position and a non-braking position. A linkage system is coupled to the caster brake actuators for controlling the caster brake actuators and is operable to move the caster brake actuators between their total braking positions and their non-braking positions. The linkage system is configured to compensate for tolerances in the linkage system wherein the linkage system can control the caster brake actuators to simultaneously move between their total braking positions and their non-braking positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob Paul Kloss, Charles Louis Crouch, Anish Paul
  • Patent number: 11643138
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a steering axle assembly. In one example, a system may include a tapered pin coupled to a steering knuckle and to an axle beam end. A set of bushings may circumferentially surround the tapered pin and enable rotation of the steering knuckle around the tapered pin without lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: Juliano Pansonatto
  • Patent number: 11643162
    Abstract: A representative system includes a personal transportation device with: first and second wheels aligned along an axis; an idler wheel rearward of the axis; a platform configured to support a user in a standing position; electric motors to drive the first and second wheels; first and second hand grips fixed in position at respective locations forward of the platform; and first and second control actuators disposed, respectively, on the first and second hand grips, the first and second control actuators being operative to control rotations of the first and second wheels and configured to be actuated by corresponding thumbs of the user while hands of the user are grasping corresponding ones of the first hand grip and the second hand grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: KOOLER ICE, INC.
    Inventor: Kerry Seymour
  • Patent number: 11639096
    Abstract: A suspension apparatus configured to support a wheel of a vehicle includes an in-wheel motor. The suspension apparatus includes a suspension member extending substantially in a front and rear direction of the vehicle and coupled to a carrier at a plurality of coupling portions spaced apart from each other in an up and down direction. The carrier holds the in-wheel motor. A reference point of an upper one of the plurality of coupling portions is located on an inner side of a reference point of a lower one of the plurality of coupling portions in a widthwise direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiko Yamada, Satoshi Adachi
  • Patent number: 11639151
    Abstract: A seat belt positioning mechanism that has a vehicle seat and an elastic tensioning member. The vehicle seat has a frame structure, a cushion portion covering the frame structure and a cover material covering the cushion portion. The cushion portion defines a main seating section and an outboard side seat section extending laterally outboard from a corresponding side of the main seating section. The side seat section defines an opening extending through the cushion portion. The opening is dimensioned to receive a seat belt extending therethrough. The cover material has a cover extension extending into the opening. The elastic tensioning member has a first end fixed to the frame structure and extends under the cover extension into the opening. The elastic tensioning member is dimensioned and shaped to bias the cover extension in an outboard direction against a part of the seat belt located within the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Niko Jovicevic
  • Patent number: 11639198
    Abstract: A vehicle lower structure includes a battery pack arranged under a floor panel and having: first and second battery units that are separately arranged from each other on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the propeller shaft; and a battery cover. The battery cover has a first battery accommodation section, a second battery accommodation section, and a coupling section that couples the first and second battery accommodation section and extends in the vehicle width direction. The coupling section includes a fragile section between the first and second battery accommodation sections in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kohara, Katsumasa Sogame
  • Patent number: 11628701
    Abstract: The invention relates to a first leaf spring bracket having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis which is configured to be secured to a vehicle frame and which receives a rear end portion of a leaf spring so as to allow the leaf spring rear end portion to slide longitudinally relative to the first leaf spring bracket, characterized in that the first leaf spring bracket comprises an insert comprising an insert pad extending transversally and two perpendicular arms, the insert comprising a bottom surface and a top surface and being made of austempered ductile iron, and a bracket comprising a bracket pad extending transversally and two perpendicular arms, the bracket comprising a bottom surface and a top surface, the bottom surface of the bracket pad being configured to receive the top surface of the insert, the bracket being made of spheroidal graphite cast iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Venkatachalam Ramasamy, Ramachandran Sandrasekaran
  • Patent number: 11623471
    Abstract: An omnidirectional wheel and a three-wheeled vehicle using the same are provided. The omnidirectional wheel includes a tire that is formed in the shape of an open torus having an open portion and a main rotation unit that is connected to the tire to rotate the tire about a main rotation axis passing through the center of an inner opening formed in a circular hole shape by the tire. A circumferential rotation unit connects opposite ends of the tire that form the open portion therebetween and rotates the tire about a circumferential axis formed in a circumferential direction of the tire to move the tire in a direction parallel to the main rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Joo Young Chun, Eun Ho Seo, Hun Keon Ko, Jun Hwan Park
  • Patent number: 11618296
    Abstract: Provided is an on-demand shock stiffening system. The on-demand shock stiffening system operates to immediately stiffen the shocks in response to a user activating the system. The system may include a main body with an oil flow aperture and a flow control system that operates to restrict the flow of oil between the reservoir and the shock. The on-demand shock stiffening system may be coupled between the reservoir and the bridge of the shock and operates to restrict flow of the oil in order to stiffen the shock immediately in an on-demand manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Shock Therapy Suspension, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin Smith
  • Patent number: 11613323
    Abstract: To realize disposition of a retainer that can improve an occupant comfort of a passenger of a saddled vehicle. In a saddled vehicle including: a vehicle body including a head pipe that supports a steering system and a down frame that extends downward from the head pipe; a retainer provided behind the head pipe; an inflator; and an airbag accommodated in the retainer, the airbag being configured to be expanded by gas released by the inflator and deployed in front of the passenger, the retainer is provided with a fastening portion that fastens the retainer to the vehicle body, and the fastening portion includes a plurality of fastening members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiichi Kurohori, Yutaka Aikyo, Takashi Sato, Makoto Fuma, Masaru Habu, Sho Murakami
  • Patent number: 11613179
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes a first shaft provided to be rotatable around a first rotational axis of the hydraulic pump driven by the engine. A second shaft is rotatable about the first rotational axis to rotate the power take shaft. A clutch is rotatable about a second rotational axis that is substantially parallel to the first rotational axis and is vertically below the first rotational axis. The clutch has a first rotating portion and a second rotating portion arranged to face each other in the second rotational axis. A first rotating portion is connectable to and separable from the second rotating portion. The first rotation transmission mechanism is configured to transmit rotation of the first shaft to the first rotating portion. A second rotation transmission mechanism is configured to transmit rotation of the second rotating portion to the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Inaba, Ryota Kobayashi, Shunsuke Odashima
  • Patent number: 11602967
    Abstract: A suspension for a leaning vehicle having a central frame, the central frame having a first longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Inventor: Mark Wagner
  • Patent number: 11603060
    Abstract: A system includes a seat belt routing module and a user interface device (UID) control module. The seat belt routing module is configured to: determine a routing of a seat belt relative to an occupant in a vehicle seat based on input from a webbing payout sensor; and determine the seat belt routing based on an input from an in-cabin sensor. The in-cabin sensor includes at least one of a camera, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a radar sensor, and a lidar sensor. The UID control module is configured to control a user interface device to indicate that the seat belt is being worn improperly when: the seat belt routing determined using at least one of the webbing payout sensor and the in-cabin sensor is improper; and the seat belt routing determined using the webbing payout sensor corresponds to the seat belt routing determined using the in-cabin sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scott D. Thomas, Michael Baltaxe, Kobi Nistel
  • Patent number: 11603897
    Abstract: A bushing includes a cylindrical body and a flange extending from the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body has an inner face defining a bore. The flange includes an outer rim and a face extending radially between the bore and the outer rim. At least one groove is formed in the face. The at least one groove extends from a first end intersecting the bore to a second end adjacent the outer rim such that grease supplied to the bore of the bushing is able to flow through the at least one groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: K.M. Gehman Incorporated
    Inventor: K. Marlin Gehman
  • Patent number: 11590646
    Abstract: A modular movable robot includes a lower plate provided with a traveling unit, an upper plate spaced above the lower plate, a plurality of lower supporting frames vertically elongated between the lower plate and the upper plate, a top plate spaced above the upper plate, a plurality of upper supporting frames vertically elongated between the upper plate and the top plate, and a housing surrounding edges of the lower plate, the upper plate, and the top plate. A longitudinal length of the housing is longer than a horizontal width of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Chungin Jung, Sunho Yang, Eulpyo Hong