Patents Examined by Jeff Restifo
  • Patent number: 7314105
    Abstract: An electric drive axle includes a pair of center mounted electric motors that independently drive a pair of laterally spaced wheels. The electric drive axle includes an axle housing assembly that extends between the pair of laterally spaced wheels. Both center mounted electric motors preferably do not include connections to a chassis and are solely supported by the axle housing assembly near a vehicle centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Tomaz Dopico Varela
  • Patent number: 7314223
    Abstract: A skateboard includes a deck and a plurality of trucks connected to an underside of the deck. Each truck includes two shafts and two wheels are rotatably connected to the two shafts. At least one active device is connected to a top of the deck and controlled by user's foot. The at least one active device drives a driving member which is connected to a brake cable of at least one brake device so that the user can brake the wheels by the control from his or her feet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Great Lotus Corporation
    Inventor: Chorng-Jiang Lin
  • Patent number: 7311319
    Abstract: A frame has a top portion and lower portions. A wheel assembly includes a front and a rear axle. The wheel assembly also includes a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels. A steering assembly includes a lower tube. The lower tube is coupled to the front axle. The steering assembly includes an upper tube. The upper tube is adjustably received within the lower tube. A cross piece has handles. The handles are adapted to be held by a user for locomotion and for steering. A seat assembly has an upper planar support surface for a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Inventor: Kathryn McDaniel Ortega
  • Patent number: 7309080
    Abstract: An extendable arm that extends from a police vehicle towards a pulled over vehicle. The arm allows for two-way communication or document transfer. The police officer can position the extendable arm while seated in the vehicle. The extendable arm includes a main shaft having first and second opposed ends. The first end is pivotally attached to the vehicle. A telescoping assembly extends from the second end. The assembly has a free end that extends and retracts away from and towards the main shaft. The free end can have an accessory mounted thereon, such as a two-way audio visual camera, or a container for the retention of driver's licenses. During operation the distal end can be positioned adjacent the driver's window or the police officer's window. The free end is retracted, and the shaft is placed in a stowed position adjacent the motor vehicle when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Inventor: Gary W. Mein
  • Patent number: 7296818
    Abstract: A combination of a ski and a ski binding wherein a long part extends in the longitudinal direction of a ski, the long part being fixed at one end and movable at the other end in response to movement of the ski, with a damping device having a fixed part fixed to the ski and a movable piston movable in response to bending of the ski, and an easily removable adapter device for changing the piston. The fixed part of the long part can be changed in length. Guiding structure can also be provided for guiding movement of the long part on the ski.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Marker Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Krumbeck, Michael Mangold
  • Patent number: 7296807
    Abstract: The use of a pivotal coupling on a cart of the wheelbarrow type allows for a downwardly applied pressure to the user ends of the handles to tip the bucket to at least begin the dumping action of the cart. Following the initial downward pressure with the handles still elevationally displaced downward an upward lift applied to the user ends of the handles completes the dumping action of the cart. Use of multiple pivotal axises on the cart provide for an extremely efficient operation. Various enhancements are explained including locking of the orientation of the cart following the initial dump, wheel blocking to prevent rotation of the ground support wheel relative to the bucket during at least a portion of the final dumping action and stabilization enhancement to prevent lateral tipping of the cart during the final dumping action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Inventor: Felton Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 7290774
    Abstract: A wheel unit mountable on a ski of a ski-mounted vehicle includes an actuating plate defining a wheel attachment section and a piston attachment section The actuating plate is pivotally attached to the ski intermediate the wheel and piston attachment sections for pivotal movement about a plate pivotal axis. A wheel attachment assembly is provided for rotatably attaching the wheel to the wheel attachment section. An actuator is operatively coupled to the actuating plate for selectively pivoting the actuating plate about the plate pivotal axis between a plate deployed configuration and a plate retracted configuration wherein in the plate deployed configuration the position of the actuating plate is such that the wheel protrudes at least partially below the ski gliding surface for engaging the ground surface and in the plate retracted configuration the position of the actuating plate is such that the wheel is retracted above the ski gliding surface for preventing the wheel from engaging the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Inventor: Jean Després
  • Patent number: 7287613
    Abstract: A carrier structure has an inside member formed of a plastic material, an outer member formed of steel coupled to the inside member, and a bracket formed at a lower end of the outer member for reducing the weight of the carrier. The bracket is coupled to the inner member at a portion for mounting a radiator by an over-molding method, thereby enhancing the mounting strength of a cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Myeong-ki Kim
  • Patent number: 7273121
    Abstract: A raised distal end portion of a strut portion is in a non-joined state to a back side of an upper duct wall portion and is made up of a spherical abutting and sliding portion which can be brought into abutment with the back side by virtue of point contact and which is allowed to slide relative to the back side. When a downward pressure is exerted on to the spherical abutting and sliding portion from the upper duct wall portion, the spherical abutting and sliding portion is caused to slide relative to the back side and a root portion of the strut portion is deformed at the same time, whereby the strut portion is allowed to incline and fall obliquely downwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kino, Hiroshi Iwao
  • Patent number: 7273215
    Abstract: The tool creeper is a rectangular box of a predetermined size related to work area requirements. The tool creeper has a plurality of compartments and drawers to accommodate tools. A plurality of creeper wheels having mounts are attached in a spatial relationship on the outside of a bottom panel to provide tool creeper movement that can readily follow a similar movement of the mechanic in a work space. Additionally, a proximal top surface has a pivotally attached lid for easy access and securement of the contents inside the tool creeper. On the rear of the tool creeper is a power cord socket to provide AC and DC power available for use in the work area. AC and DC power outlets are provided at a side panel of the tool creeper. A work area illumination light is provided along a rear top surface of the tool creeper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Inventor: Kevin Smith
  • Patent number: 7270204
    Abstract: An electrically motorized wheel assembly is provided which may be used in automotive vehicles. The wheel assembly is equipped with at least one electric motor having an output shaft located eccentrically from an axle of a wheel. The wheel assembly includes a protective cover which closes an opening of the wheel to define a substantially enclosed inner chamber within which a belt-driven torque transmission mechanism is disposed to protect it from foreign objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Taniguchi, Takuzou Mukai
  • Patent number: 7267369
    Abstract: A truck has a power unit including a main casing for housing drive apparatus and a platform onto which an operator may step and ride while controlling the truck. The casing includes at least one substantially rigid wall member and an operator support pad associated with the wall member. The support pad includes a main body having a first portion defining a deformable pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Gallagher, Robert J. Henshaw
  • Patent number: 7258184
    Abstract: A battery replacement system for an industrial truck has an electrical propulsion drive and at least one battery compartment for holding a battery block. The battery block can be moved essentially in a horizontal direction into the battery compartment or out of the battery compartment. An external holding apparatus independent of the industrial truck is provided for the battery block. The industrial truck can be maneuvered over the holding apparatus such that the holding apparatus is positioned beneath the battery compartment. The battery block located within the battery compartment can be lifted slightly by the holding apparatus. The force required to lift the battery block can be produced by the electrical propulsion drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andrew Shorney, Paul John Eckersley, Keith Francis Messer
  • Patent number: 7258353
    Abstract: A stroller includes a main frame, a pedal, a front wheel frame, and a positioning device. The positioning device includes a lower cover, an upper cover, a rotation knob, and a locking rod. Thus, the front wheel frame is locked to and unlocked from the main frame by moving the drive plate of the rotation knob, so that the positioning device is operated easily and rapidly. In addition, when the positioning device is unlocked, a click sound is produced so as to notify the user that the positioning device is unlocked and the front wheel frame is rotatable relative to the main frame freely, thereby facilitating the user judging the state (locked or unlocked) of the front wheel frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Unique Product & Design Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gordon Liao
  • Patent number: 7252295
    Abstract: A household and shopping laundry cart has a cart basket (1) with a first-side wheel (7) and a second-side wheel (8) that are positioned on sides aft of a linear center. A tow handle (10) is pivotal vertically on a tow hitch (11) on a front-end wall (4). A stair-climber incline (14) is extended slantingly downward and rearward from near a front of a bottom (6) of the cart basket to the wheels. A front support (15) proximate a front-bottom edge holds the cart basket level when stopped on a horizontal surface and aids in stair climbing. A basket cover (13) is extendable from a first top side (53) to a second top side (56). Side walls of the basket are tapered inwardly from-top-to-bottom for telescopic storage of a plurality of the household and shopping laundry carts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Inventor: Aaron Bludworth
  • Patent number: 7252167
    Abstract: An inverter apparatus includes a liquid path in which cooling water flows, and in which the cooling water performs cooling at a cooling part located directly underneath the power circuit part of the inverter apparatus. The liquid path includes a first partial structure part formed between a feed pipe and the cooling part, and having a liquid path cross-sectional profile that is gradually reduced in the short-side direction of the cooling part and that is gradually enlarged in the long-side direction thereof; and a second partial structure part formed between the cooling part and a drain pipe, and having a liquid path cross-sectional profile that is gradually enlarged from the short-side of the cooling part and that is gradually reduced from the long-side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Nakamura, Akihiro Tamba, Ryuichi Saito, Atsuo Nishihara
  • Patent number: 7246804
    Abstract: A snowboard with a handle includes a gliding plate, a rotary shaft mounted on the upper side of the gliding plate on its front side and having a central axis passing across the gliding plate, and a handle portion disposed on the upper side of the gliding plate. The handle portion has its bottom end mounted pivotally to the rotary shaft so that the top end of the handle portion can swivel upwardly and downwardly around the rotary shaft The portion of the gliding plate that extends from the point where the central axis passes across the gliding plate toward its front end is narrower than the portion of the gliding plate that is located at the point where the central axis passes across the gliding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: NEXAM Inc.
    Inventor: Kohichi Onoguchi
  • Patent number: 7246813
    Abstract: A casing (32) included in a baby carriage folding mechanism is mounted on a substantially middle part of the handle of a folding baby carriage. Hinged joints (33) each having a stationary member (34) and a movable member (35) are connected to the opposite ends of the casing (32), and pipes (18) forming the handle are connected to the hinged joints (33), respectively. The pipes (18) are connected to the movable members (35) of the joints (33). Actuating members (38a and 38b) capable of being operated by an operating mechanism included in the casing (32) are connected to the movable members (35) of the hinged joints (33). The actuating members (38a and 38b) turn the movable members (35) relative to the corresponding stationary members (34) for folding and developing the folding baby carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Co{dot over (m)}bi Corporation
    Inventors: Kojiro Yamazaki, Yuichi Arai, Mikiya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7246803
    Abstract: A size-adjustable in-line skate having a base carrying a plurality of wheels thereon. An upper is secured to a top surface of the base and defines a heel portion, a toe portion, and diametrically opposed side wall portions. The upper is supported by a support structure that includes a heel cup and a toe cup. The toe cup is secured to the toe portion of the upper and slideably coupled to the base so that the toe cup can slide longitudinally with respect to the base. An actuator is coupled to the toe cup and travels therewith. When the actuator is translated, engagement members on the actuator disengage with detents on the base to allow the toe cup to freely slide between longitudinal positions to adjust the shoe size of the skate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: K-2 Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Sauter, Darrin John Haugen
  • Patent number: 7243749
    Abstract: A motor-driven wheel includes a wheel disc, a wheel hub, a knuckle, a hub bearing, a constant-velocity joint, an in-wheel motor, and a spring. The center of swing of the constant-velocity joint is placed closer to the outside of the vehicle relative to the hub bearing. Since such components of the constant-velocity joint as an inner race, balls and a cage are placed differently in position from the hub bearing, the hub bearing can be reduced in diameter. An outer race of the constant-velocity joint is integrated with the wheel hub into a single part and has an opening facing the outside of the vehicle. Since the opening is large and shallow, the work of installing the cage, balls and inner race and securing them with a snap ring is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuma Kakinami, Takeo Yamamoto, Shigekazu Yogo