Patents Examined by James M Dolak
  • Patent number: 11072357
    Abstract: A moving body includes a travel drive section, and a transporting section that is disposed above the travel drive section (a drive housing and a power housing). In the moving body, the transporting section has a substantially rectangular shape and is provided with a vertical bumper at any of corner portions in top view, the vertical bumper extending in a height direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki Nakaura
  • Patent number: 11065951
    Abstract: A passive shutter mechanism (10; 20) for a cooling pack (2) in a vehicle (1) adapted to selectively close at least part of an airflow path into the cooling pack (2), wherein the shutter mechanism comprises at least one blocking member (11; 21) adapted to be displaced between an open position, wherein air may flow into the cooling pack (2), and a closed position, wherein air is prevented from flowing into at least part of the cooling pack (2), depending on the movement of the vehicle (1). A vehicle (1) comprising such a passive shutter mechanism, as well as a method of operating such a passive shutter mechanism is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CO.
    Inventor: Robert Moestam
  • Patent number: 11066001
    Abstract: An device for moving a construction barrier includes a connection member, an alignment member, and an engagement member. The connection member is configured to removably attach the device to a vehicle. The alignment member is configured to attach to the connection member and to the engagement member, and the engagement member extends at an angle away from the vehicle. When the device is attached to the vehicle and engages a construction barrier, the engagement member is configured to move the construction barrier behind the vehicle and toward a path of travel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: KOKOSING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Tom Swisshelm
  • Patent number: 11066109
    Abstract: A tire protection system includes a magnet assembly disposed in front of or behind a tire of a vehicle. The magnet assembly attracts and collects metallic debris on the roadway in front of the tire as the vehicle travels along the roadway, thereby preventing the debris from damaging the tire. The magnet assembly may be integrated into a wire-type housing and/or frame that is coupled to a mud flap, lower windscreen, and/or body-side molding located near the undercarriage of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventor: Anthony David
  • Patent number: 11059507
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stackable transport trolley, in particular a stackable shopping trolley, comprising a chassis and a basket; the chassis includes a support frame and a frame of rods which is arranged on the support frame, the frame of rods supporting the basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: WANZL GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Dirk Webert, Johann Daminger, Hermann Eichele, Markus Riesenegger, Ralf Maier, Michael Gerstmaier, Paul Ruf, Karl-Heinz Horn, Georg Wiedemann, Thomas Gasche
  • Patent number: 11056806
    Abstract: A housing device is provided which houses a storage battery having a first connector. The housing device may include a storage battery holding part which holds a storage battery and a drive part which (i) moves a second connector that is to be connected to the first connector of the storage battery toward the first connector and/or (ii) moves a second connector that has been connected to the first connector of the storage battery in a direction away from the first connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Etsunagi, Ryo Oshima, Tomoyuki Koketsu, Michihito Okado, Takumi Shiiyama
  • Patent number: 11045712
    Abstract: Method and apparatus directed to cushioned concave pads, cushioned traction pads, and grip tape for self-balancing vehicles. The method and apparatus includes front cushioned pads and/or front cushioned traction pads having top surfaces and bottom surfaces; attaching the bottom surfaces of the front cushioned pads and/or the front cushioned traction pads to a first deck portion disposed at a first end of a frame; selecting rear cushioned pads and/or rear cushioned traction pads having top and bottom surfaces. The top surfaces of the rear cushioned pads and/or rear cushioned traction pads can have a rear kicktail extending integrally upwardly and rearwardly. The method and apparatus further include attaching the bottom surfaces of the rear cushioned pads and/or the rear cushioned traction pads to a second deck portion disposed at a second end of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventor: Paul Orehek
  • Patent number: 11050108
    Abstract: A battery module includes a first liquid battery and a first solid battery. The first liquid battery is a unit cell. The first solid battery is a unit cell that has a larger volume than a volume of the first liquid battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Tsutsui, Yuta Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11046252
    Abstract: A vehicle side or step rail includes a longitudinal extending vehicle side rail having a vehicle frame-facing side arranged to mount to the frame of a motor vehicle and an outward-facing side to which a leading end of one or more steps is connected to the rail but the trailing end is not. The connection may be in the form of a brace. Depending on where the vehicle mounting points are located relative to the leading end of the step, one or more additional braces can be added. Regardless of whether additional braces are used, the trailing end of the step is not braced or connected to the rail and always extends past the brace. The step surface of the step is always spaced apart from the rail, leaving a gap between it and the outward-facing side of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Iron Cross Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy D. Bundy, Don Bundy, Eric Long, Cole Stevens
  • Patent number: 11040742
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, a floor, a wheel, and a fender box. The fender box is moveable from a first position in which the fender box is located adjacent the wheel to a second position in which the fender box is spaced apart from the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: LGS Pace, LLC
    Inventor: Franklyn M Yankovich
  • Patent number: 11040608
    Abstract: A housing for an energy store is arranged on the floor of a vehicle body. The housing has a cover, a bottom, and a peripheral frame. Fastening components are provided on a side transverse section of the frame that is at the rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction, on which fastening components the front ends of two stiffening braces extending in the shape of a V are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Georg Lange, Siegfried Massun, Florian Tesch, Benjamin Werner
  • Patent number: 11014592
    Abstract: A collapsible cart may include a first frame member, a second frame member, a front spacing member, a rear spacing member, and a base member. The front and rear spacing members are configured to separate the first frame member and the second frame member for a predetermined distance to create a receiving space for the cart when it is in a fully open status. The base member may have a plurality of base connecting bars and a center unit that has four opening to pivotally engage with the base connecting bars, and the center unit and the four base connecting bars are positioned on the same plane surface when the cart is in a fully open status. The user can start collapsing the cart by simply pushing down the center unit to disengage the center units with the base connecting bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventor: Shou Qiang Zhu
  • Patent number: 11008030
    Abstract: Various apparatuses and methods relate to coolers or other containers having attachment features to which modular accessories may be attached. Various apparatuses and methods relate to wheel and modular accessory attachment systems for attaching to a cooler or other container. Various apparatuses and methods relate to rails and channels for sliding attachment couplers. Various apparatuses and methods relate to keyed male-female attachment couplers. Various apparatuses and methods relate to a chassis configured to adjust in size for adapting the chassis to fit a variety of container sizes. Various apparatuses and methods relate to a coupler assembly for mechanically securing a container to a container undercarriage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Santiva Outdoors, L.L.C.—Series IP
    Inventors: William Jason Cohen, Tomas L. Ortiz Ferrer, Nicholas Zager, R Barrett Kotnik
  • Patent number: 11001164
    Abstract: An improved electric vehicle powered by a plurality of rechargeable batteries which are discharged and simultaneously charged during the vehicle's operation. The batteries are discharged as the energy used to operate the vehicle is drawn from the batteries. The operation of the vehicle activates two power systems configured to generate voltage and to recharge the depleting batteries. The two power systems are: (1) dual-purpose electric motors configured to convert the mechanical energy created by the rotation of the vehicle's wheels into electric current; and (2) a thermocouple which converts energy created by temperature difference between two objects into voltage, a process commonly known as the thermoelectric effect or Seebeck effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Inventor: Isaac M Aburto
  • Patent number: 11001250
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery (WHR) hybrid power system can be utilized in vehicles to convert heat energy into mechanical energy. The WHR system can include a WHR power unit structured to convert thermal energy into rotation of a WHR drive shaft. A motor/generator having a motor/generator shaft can selectively operate as a motor or a generator. A mechanical linkage can be structured to selectively link a output shaft to one of the WHR drive shaft and the motor/generator drive shaft independently of the other of the WHR drive shaft and the motor/generator drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Manik Narula, Timothy C. Ernst, Michael J. Ruth, Jonathan A. Dickson, J. Steven Kolhouse, Nimish Bagayatkar
  • Patent number: 11001122
    Abstract: A vehicle temperature regulation system includes: a power unit including a motor driven by a supply of electrical power from a battery to cause wheels to rotate; a first cooling unit including a first heat exchanger disposed at a vehicle front side of the power unit, and a first circulation path that allows refrigerant to circulate between the power unit and the first heat exchanger to perform heat exchange; a second cooling unit including a second heat exchanger disposed at a vehicle rear side of the power unit, an air conditioning unit, a compressor, and a second circulation path that allows refrigerant to circulate between the second heat exchanger, the air conditioning unit, and the compressor to perform heat exchange; and a duct that interconnects the air conditioning unit and the battery and through which cool air or warm air is supplied from the air conditioning unit to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Ajisaka
  • Patent number: 11001398
    Abstract: A wireless remote controlled rotorcraft tug assembly and method of maneuvering a rotorcraft positions a rotorcraft, of the type having skids, through use of a remote controlled low-profile tug vehicle that maneuvers in a tight 360° motion to maneuver the rotorcraft to a desired location, and operates multiple arms to raise, lower, and support the rotorcraft. A forward support arm and at least one lever arm are selectively movable through hydraulic or electrical means to engage the undercarriage of the fuselage for raising, lowering, and supporting the rotorcraft. A lateral arm connects to the skids from free ends to raise and lower the rotorcraft by the skids. A motor advances the tug vehicle by powering a drive wheel. A guide wheel attaches to a steering mechanism and enables 360° turns and precise maneuverability. A radio receiver and transmitter work to remotely control the motor and the arm control subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Inventor: Jim D. Salyer
  • Patent number: 11002359
    Abstract: A hybrid drive module, comprising a housing (170) enclosing a chain drive (120) connecting an electrical motor (110) with a crank shaft (22) of an associated internal combustion engine (20) via at least one coupling (130, 140). Said housing (170) further comprises a reservoir (190) having an inlet (212) configured to receive oil from the chain (126) during operation, and an outlet (214, 214?) arranged to distribute oil back to the chain (126).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Inventors: Hans Aulin, Robin Gustafsson, Tim Olsson, Bradley Duane Chamberlin, Rupert Tull De Salis
  • Patent number: 10980686
    Abstract: A collapsible mobility aid with two frame elements, on each of which at least one wheel is secured or can be secured, and with a folding mechanism by which the frame elements are connected to each other, and a distance between the frame elements in a first position of the folding mechanism can be adapted to a transport distance and in a second position of the folding mechanism can be adapted to a use distance, wherein the folding mechanism has a central element with a slide arranged moveably with respect thereto, at least two connection arms which are each articulated on a frame element and on the central element, and at least two levers which are each articulated on a connection arm and on the slide, wherein the swivel axes, about which the levers are arranged on the connection arms and the slide such that they can be swiveled, are on one plane when the folding mechanism is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: OTTO BOCK MOBILITY SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Florian Doring, Dmitrij Hildebrand, Christof Meier
  • Patent number: 10974754
    Abstract: Proposed is a baby carriage having improved convenience of use, the baby carriage including a main frame, a seat frame, a storage basket, and a wheel unit, wherein the baby carriage is generally used as a single baby carriage and a seat is detachably coupled to the rear of the single baby carriage such that the single baby carriage is utilized as a twin baby carriage when a second baby is born, and wherein it is possible to carry a pet in the baby carriage irrespective of carrying a baby or an infant in the baby carriage, whereby the baby carriage is used in various forms depending on circumstances of a user or a home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: BRAN-NEW INTERNATIONAL
    Inventor: Yejin Choi