Patents Examined by James J Triggs
  • Vehicle and vehicle base structure
    Patent number: 11752853
    Abstract: Included are a pair of rockers, a floor panel disposed between the rockers, a battery pack disposed beneath the floor panel, a bracket that connects the battery pack to the rockers, and an under cover that covers a lower face of the battery pack. The battery pack includes a tray, a first partitioning plate that is disposed upon the tray and that extends in a front-rear direction, and a plurality of battery cells disposed on both sides of the first partitioning plate upon the tray. The under cover has a first portion and a second portion disposed beneath the tray with a spacing as to the tray. The second portion is situated on an upper side from the first portion. The second portion is disposed beneath the first partitioning plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shin Inoue, Katsuya Oshima
  • Battery protection apparatus and vehicle including the same
    Patent number: 11752854
    Abstract: A battery protection apparatus provided under a side sill of a vehicle and provided at least in a side surface of a battery pack under the vehicle, includes a protection apparatus main body, wherein a protrusion portion extending downwardly is formed in the side sill of the vehicle, the protrusion portion is positioned between the protection apparatus main body and the battery pack, and in a vertical direction, the highest point of the protection apparatus main body is higher than the lowest point of the protrusion portion with respect to the horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ozawa, Yusuke Okamoto, Shoshi Hidaka
  • Quick-change universal power battery for new energy vehicles
    Patent number: 11752850
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a quick-change universal power battery for a new energy vehicle. A battery body is provided with a quick-change connection port, a recessed structure, an independent liquid temperature-control loop and a multi-connection port structure. The battery body is provided with a recessed area, and the quick-change connection port is arranged in the recessed area. A power battery system is composed of no more than eight main models of quick-change universal power batteries to achieve battery selection and replacement of most new energy vehicles, and the power battery system is combined with charging to facilitate an electrical-energy supplement of the new energy vehicle. A vehicle and a replacement station are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Inventor: Ninghao Wang
  • Battery mounting structure of electric vehicle
    Patent number: 11745575
    Abstract: A battery mounting structure of an electric vehicle is provided. The battery mounting structure includes a battery case including a side case portion in which a recess portion concave inwardly is formed and a battery connection member mounted in a vehicle body and having an insert portion inserted into the recess portion and connected to the side case portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hyunsik Kim
  • Electric vehicle battery tray bracket
    Patent number: 11745574
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes an electric-vehicle battery tray including a frame member elongated along a vehicle-longitudinal axis. The electric vehicle includes a rocker rail elongated along the vehicle-longitudinal axis. The electric vehicle includes a subframe. The electric vehicle includes a bracket connecting the battery tray, the rocker rail, and the subframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rodrigo Alberto Marginet, James Brian Goff, Anuj Deshpande, Ohster Zapata, Corey John Jarocki, Jeffrey A. Walesch, Patrick W. Bain, Felicia Paluzzi, Peter Simeon Lazarevski
  • Integrated frame and battery pack structure for electric vehicles
    Patent number: 11745573
    Abstract: Integrated frame and battery pack structure for electric vehicles are disclosed. An example electric vehicle includes a frame of the electric vehicle to which a body of the electric vehicle is coupled, the frame including longitudinal frame rails, a mid-section of the frame not including frame cross-members. The example electric vehicle includes a battery pack mounted in the mid-section of the frame, the battery pack including battery pack cross-members, each of the battery pack cross-members connected to a top surface of the longitudinal frame rails and a bottom surface of the longitudinal frame rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ari Garo Caliskan, Kevin Mackenzie, Kyle Gary Mattinson, Jude Berthault
  • Skateboard platform for electric vehicle
    Patent number: 11745798
    Abstract: An embodiment skateboard platform for an electric vehicle includes a skateboard frame including a center module, a front module connected to a front of the center module, and a rear module connected to a rear of the center module, and a battery assembly mounted on the skateboard frame, wherein the battery assembly is detachably connected to the center module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Ho Sung Kwon
  • Working machine having an electrical energy storage unit
    Patent number: 11738978
    Abstract: A working machine including a machine body having an operator cab, a ground engaging propulsion structure to permit movement of the machine over the ground, a load handling apparatus coupled to the machine body and moveable by a movement actuator with respect to the machine body, and an electric energy storage unit for providing power to the working machine. The working machine includes a longitudinal axis, wherein the operator cab is positioned towards a first side of the working machine with respect to the longitudinal axis, and the electric energy storage unit is positioned towards a second side of the working machine with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second sides are located opposite each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: J. C. Bamford Excavators Limited
    Inventors: Tom Rushton, Richard Brooks
  • Vehicle in-wheel drive motor and a body side drive motor
    Patent number: 11738630
    Abstract: A vehicle drive device uses in-wheel motors to drive a vehicle and includes in-wheel motors that are provided in wheels of a vehicle and drive the wheels, a body side motor that is provided in a body of the vehicle and drives the wheels, and a controller that controls the in-wheel motors and the body side motor based on requested output power of a driver, in which the controller causes the body side motor to generate a driving force and the in-wheel motors not to generate driving forces when the requested output power of the driver is less than predetermined output power and the controller causes the body side motor and the in-wheel motors to generate driving forces when the requested output power of the driver is equal to or more than the predetermined output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Toda, Seiyo Hirano, Kei Yonemori, Hideki Sanai
  • Fold-out trailer with retractable wheel assembly
    Patent number: 11738815
    Abstract: A trailer includes a trailer frame having a hitch. A stationary support base is joined to the trailer frame. Two supports are slidably guided on the support base toward and away from each other. A wheel assembly is mounted to an end of each of the supports remote from the other support such that a distance between the wheel assemblies varies with movement of the supports on the support base. A locking device selectively locks each support to the support base in a first position where the wheel assemblies are furthest from each other and a second position where the wheel assemblies are closer to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: AWOL OUTDOORS, INC.
    Inventors: Cedar Jon Vandergon, Kevin Arnold Fleischhacker, Scott Alan Davidson
  • Efficient electrical passenger car with motor control
    Patent number: 11738736
    Abstract: An electrical passenger car, the electrical passenger car including: at least two electrically driven motors; motor control electronics; sensors; and wheels, where the wheels include a first wheel and a second wheel, where the second wheel has a radius at least 7% greater than a radius of the first wheel, and where the motor control electronics control the at least two electrically driven motors to provide a greater torque to the second wheel than to the first wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Or-Ment LLC
    Inventors: Zvi Or-Bach, Brian Cronquist
  • Fuse and contactor with active current injection
    Patent number: 11738664
    Abstract: A system including a vehicle having a motive electrical power path, a power distribution unit comprising a current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path, the current protection circuit comprising a thermal fuse and a contactor in a series arrangement with the thermal fuse. The system further including a current source circuit electrically coupled to the thermal fuse and structured to inject a current across the thermal fuse, a hardware filter electrically coupled to the thermal fuse, the hardware filter comprising a cutoff frequency determined in response to an injection frequency of the current source circuit, and sa voltage determination circuit electrically coupled to the thermal fuse and structured to determine an injected voltage amount in response to the filtered injected current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: Brandon William Fisher
  • Trailer step assembly
    Patent number: 11731562
    Abstract: A trailer, retractable stair assembly, and method of operating same is provided. The trailer includes a frame that defines an interior cavity. A retractable stair assembly is movable between a stowed position in which the retractable stair assembly is positioned within the interior cavity and a deployed position in which the retractable stair assembly extends out of the trailer frame to establish a plurality of steps out of the trailer to an egress surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventors: Kurt Josef Honer, William L. Gibson
  • Battery tray for protecting the vehicle battery of a hybrid motor
    Patent number: 11731498
    Abstract: An assembly provides impact protection for a vehicle battery of a hybrid motor vehicle, in particular a mild hybrid motor vehicle. The hybrid motor vehicle can have at least a first vehicle seat, a second vehicle seat arranged adjacent to the first vehicle seat, a center console arranged therebetween, and a center tunnel arranged below the center console and a vehicle battery. The assembly can include a battery tray having an upwardly directed opening for receiving the vehicle battery which is arranged, or can be arranged, in the region of the center console between the first vehicle seat and the second vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki, Frank Michel, Tachafine Machaar
  • Transport container and method for displaying data on a transport container
    Patent number: 11735077
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transport container having: a frame structure which encloses a transport chamber, a lateral wall which is connected to the frame structure, an opening device for converting the lateral wall between a closed position, which lies against the frame structure and in which a lateral loading opening of the frame structure is closed by the lateral wall, and an open position, which releases the lateral loading opening, a display device for displaying data on the exterior of the lateral wall, a measuring device for detecting the open position of the lateral wall, and a release device for releasing the display device for displaying data upon detecting the open position of the lateral wall. The invention additionally relates to a method for displaying data on a lateral wall of a transport container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: LORRYGRAM GMBH
    Inventors: Johann Strasser, Jr., Johann Strasser, Sr.
  • Load-handling apparatus and methods
    Patent number: 11724727
    Abstract: A framework includes axially spaced apart stands each including a front extremity and a rear extremity extending upright between an upper end and a lower end, the front extremities, the back extremities, the upper ends, and the lower ends defining the framework's front section, rear section, top, and ground-engaging bottom, respectively, and an axle and a rung intermediate the top and the bottom, the axle between the front section and the rear section and coupled between the stands and the rung coupled between the back extremities. A load-supporting roller carried by the axle intermediate the top and the bottom between the front section and the rear section is above the rung and configured to rotate. The framework defines a load-reception area open to the roller between the stands along the rear section from the rung to the top and along the front section from the top to below the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventor: Steven B. Lillo
  • Electric vehicle with transfer case
    Patent number: 11712957
    Abstract: Electric vehicle conversion kits for IC vehicles and converted electric vehicles. An electric vehicle conversion kit may include an electric motor directly coupled to an axle. Another electric vehicle conversion kit may include an electric motor mechanically coupled to an axle via a driveshaft. Another electric vehicle conversion kit may include an electric motor coupled to a transfer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Current EV Motors, LLC
    Inventor: Rocco West Calandruccio
  • Virtual gearing in an autonomous electronic bicycle
    Patent number: 11714415
    Abstract: An autonomous electronic bicycle comprises a frame, a wheel that can be powered by a first electronic motor, and a pedal assembly connected to a pedal motor. The pedal assembly is not mechanically connected to the wheel, but the autonomous electronic bicycle simulates a mechanical connection by powering the rear wheel proportional to the user's pedaling force. The autonomous electronic bicycle uses a virtual gear ratio based on the cadence of the rider, the current incline of the bicycle, and the current speed of the bicycle. The virtual gear ratio can be a ratio between a torque of the set of pedals and a torque of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: WEEL AUTONOMY INC.
    Inventors: Justin Allan Corbett, David Carlyle Hansen
  • Method and structures to isolate dissimilar metal structures
    Patent number: 11707977
    Abstract: A structural enclosure includes a pair of aluminum rails with an upper wall and a lower wall spaced apart from the upper wall, a plurality of sleeves extending into and captured within the aluminum rails, and each of the plurality of sleeves having a head with a predefined thickness disposed on an outer surface of the aluminum rails and configured to separate the outer surface of the aluminum rails from a steel vehicle chassis to which the aluminum rails are mounted. The structural enclosure can be an aluminum battery box for an electric vehicle and the aluminum battery box can be mounted to and electrochemically isolated from the steel vehicle chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kimberly Ann Lazarz, Michael William Danyo, Sean Brady, Mike Popovski, Anil Reddy Pullalarevu, Saravanan Paramasivam
  • Prime mover RPM limiting control
    Patent number: 11707982
    Abstract: A side-by-side off-road utility vehicle comprising a vehicle operational status switch for controlling the operational status of the vehicle, a side-by-side seating structure, a plurality of safety restraint devices operable to retain one or more vehicle passenger in the side-by-side seating structure, and a prime mover RPM controller. The prime mover RPM controller operable to output commands to the one or more prime mover of the vehicle to limit a rotational speed of the prime mover(s) when the vehicle is in an On operational status and a selected one or more of the one or more safety restraints is in a disengaged status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Shane Christopher Reid, John Lawrence Stocks, Matthew Lawrence O'Donnell