Patents Examined by Jeffrey J. Restifo
  • Patent number: 11155157
    Abstract: A locking system for a fuel compartment assembly of a work vehicle, the locking system having a housing at least partially defining a fuel access compartment, a door pivotally coupled to the housing and movable between an opened position, at which the door provides access to the fuel access compartment, and a closed position, at which the door blocks access to the fuel access compartment, and a locking assembly configured to lock the door at the closed position. The locking assembly includes a catch fixed to the housing and positioned within the fuel access compartment, and a latch arm pivotably coupled to the door at a pivot point defined between first and second ends of the latch arm, the pivot point defining a first pivot axis, where the latch arm is configured to be pivoted about the first pivot axis to be selectively engaged and disengaged with the catch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Inventors: Jonathan Nistler, Evan Riskedahl, Joshua Yurek
  • Patent number: 11142232
    Abstract: A pallet jack assembly for use with a pallet jack is provided. The pallet jack assembly includes a tug assembly configured for attachment to a towing vehicle and a frame assembly configured to support the tug assembly. A plurality of caster assemblies is supported by the frame assembly. Each of the caster assemblies is configured to support a wheel. The pallet jack assembly facilitates use of the pallet jack as a hand-powered pallet jack or for towing by a towing vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventor: James Dusa, II
  • Patent number: 11123242
    Abstract: A motorized wheelchair chassis includes a frame assembly having a first frame element that supports first and second caster wheels at an end of the first frame element. The first frame element is designed to support a seat assembly, a battery support assembly secured to an underside of the frame assembly, at least one battery, first and second power drive assemblies disposed on lateral sides of the battery support assembly, and first and second drive wheels driven by the first and second power drive assemblies, respectively. The frame assembly further comprises a second frame element that is secured to the battery support assembly. The first frame element is supported onto the second frame element via a coupling structure comprising a ball-joint bearing permitting relative movement of the first frame element with respect to the second frame element in more than two degrees of freedom within a limited range of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: INVACARE INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventors: Axel Puschmann, Peter Jost, Julian Kyle Verkaaik
  • Patent number: 11124214
    Abstract: A beach trolley includes two lateral arms, a central arm therebetween and a pulling arm that is aligned with the central arm. Each of the two lateral arms and central arm having a removable inflatable wheel at one end and being joined at the other end for pivotal movement between a trolling configuration wherein the two lateral arms and the central arm generally lie within a same plane and a compact configuration wherein the two lateral arms and the central arm are generally parallel. The pulling arm is joined to the two lateral arms and the central arm for pivotal movements towards and away the two lateral arms and the central arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Leroux-Gamelin
  • Patent number: 11117607
    Abstract: A hand truck for moving an irregularly shaped object includes a rack alternately positionable between first and second use positions. In the first use position two support arms extend forwardly from the frame and in the second use position a substantially planar platform extends forwardly from the frame. The rack is adjustably positionable along the length of the frame. In embodiments, the support arms are positionable to vary the width therebetween. In other embodiments, a pivoting mechanism allows the rack to be readily positioned between the first and second use positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Anton John Selzer
  • Patent number: 11116678
    Abstract: A mobility aid, comprising a first frame member, a second frame member, and at least one pivoting member, which is connected to the first frame member and is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis to the second frame member. The pivoting member can be moved into a use position and into a transport position relative to the second frame member. A first locking device locks the pivoting member relative to the second frame member whenever the pivoting member is in the use position. A second locking device locks the first frame member relative to the second frame member whenever the pivoting member is in the transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventors: Dmitrij Hildebrand, Florian Doring
  • Patent number: 11110339
    Abstract: A release mechanism is provided for releasably connecting a strap to sports equipment. The strap is secured at a first end to the sports equipment and at a second end to the release mechanism. The release mechanism has a fastening part releasably connected to an engagement element. The engagement element interacts with a fastening part bail element that is pivotable about a pivot axle between a release position and an engaged position with the engagement element. The bail element can be secured in the engaged position by a securing element. The securing element and bail element are secured to the fastening part such that the distance between the pivot axle of the bail element and the securing element changes when a tensile load is applied to the bail element. The securing element releases the bail element when a defined release tensile force is exerted on the bail element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: UNLCKED UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
    Inventor: Klaas Gunnar Höpcke
  • Patent number: 11110338
    Abstract: Presented is one embodiment of a telemark-capable ski binding system which combines the conventional tech style toe piece or front coupling with a telemark tension assembly (110) that provides the necessary rotational resistance to a ski boot (300) but still allows the ski boot heel to be raised for a telemark style turn upon descent. Telemark tension assembly (110) can be adjusted to alter the engagement of telemark tension assembly (110) according to user preference and conditions for descent. Telemark tension assembly (110) can also be loosened to the point that adjustable restraint (112) can be rotated forward and rest unengaged in front of ski boot (300) for free rotation in toe coupling (100) during ascent or touring. This embodiment provides a lightweight telemark ski binding system that has improved resistance to undesirable snow gathering. Other embodiments are described that have adjustability features and alpine descent mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas Alan Miller
  • Patent number: 11104218
    Abstract: Power machine fuel tanks include a plug receptacle and a cover for the plug receptacle which seals the plug receptacle from an interior of the fuel tank. A receptacle insert positioned within the plug receptacle allows a fuel plug to be removably secured to the fuel tank. The cover prevents leakage from inside the fuel tank through the plug receptacle, regardless of whether the plug is secured within the receptacle insert, unless the cover has been removed from a sealing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
    Inventors: Craig R. Roske, Russell Honeyman
  • Patent number: 11097763
    Abstract: A sled for use in association with a waste container having a handle that enables a user to conveniently transport the waste container during snowy and/or inclement weather conditions, including a first ski, wherein the first ski includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, and a back end; and a wheel binding associated with the top surface of the first ski, wherein the wheel binding is adapted to releasably secure a wheel of a waste container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventor: Doug Klassen
  • Patent number: 11090549
    Abstract: A snowboard binding using for a snowboard is provided. The snowboard binding includes a baseplate, a boot supporter surrounding the baseplate, an interlocking assembly, and a stopper disposed on the interlocking assembly. The boot supporter includes a first side, a second side, and a rear side. The interlocking assembly is disposed at the first side of the boot supporter. A mutual positional relationship between the interlocking assembly and the snowboard presents an initial state. As snowboard boot touches the interlocking assembly to change the initial state while the snowboard boot is put in and fixed to the snowboard binding. Concurrently the interlocking assembly drives the stopper to rotate so that the stopper leaves or inserts into snowfield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Inventor: Ni-Shin Lee
  • Patent number: 11091014
    Abstract: A housing assembly for electrical storage means for a drive of an electrically powered motor vehicle comprises a tray arrangement, into which electrical storage means can be inserted, and a cover arrangement, which can be placed on the tray arrangement and can be releasably connected thereto, wherein the tray arrangement and/or the cover arrangement has a first formed part and a second formed part, each having a base and side walls; said first formed part and said second formed part being arranged adjacent to each other and joined together in a longitudinally extending joining region; said first formed part and said second formed part each being made of flexibly rolled steel sheet so as to have a variable sheet thickness in the longitudinal direction of the respective formed part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Muhr und Bender KG
    Inventors: Björn Scholemann, Daniel Mauser, Elisabeth Danger
  • Patent number: 11094988
    Abstract: Systems and methods to control recapture and use of energy to provide an APU include a vehicle having an electrically powered drive axle to provide supplemental torque to the vehicle to supplement primary motive forces applied through a separate drivetrain powered by a fuel-fed engine of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes an energy store to supply the electrically powered drive axle with electrical power or receive energy recovered using the electrically powered drive axle. The vehicle also includes the APU coupled to receive electrical power from the energy store for stopover operation and without idling of the fuel-fed engine. Further, the vehicle includes a hybrid control system for managing, based on an estimated travel time to a stopover location, an SoC of the energy store while the vehicle travels over a roadway to provide a target SoC of the energy store when the vehicle arrives at the stopover location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Hyliion Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Richter, Morgan Culbertson
  • Patent number: 11075414
    Abstract: A battery cooling control device includes a power storage device management portion that detects a temperature of a power storage device, an electronic control portion that changes over a traveling mode of a vehicle between an EV traveling mode and an HEV traveling mode, and based on a detection result of the power storage device management portion, outputs a cooling start instruction and a cooling stop instruction, and a cooling system that starts cooling the power storage device in response to a receiving of the cooling start instruction and stop cooling the power storage device in response to a receiving of the cooling stop instruction. The electronic control portion changes set values of the cooling start temperature and the cooling stop temperature in accordance with whether the traveling mode is the EV traveling mode or the HEV traveling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hokuto Yokotsuji, Katsuyoshi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 11065964
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle, including an electric machine and a coupling device, which, in a first coupling state, couples the electric machine to a drivetrain and, in a second coupling state, decouples the electric machine from the drivetrain, wherein the method includes the following steps: a) registering an item of coupling information, which specifies whether the coupling device is in the first or second coupling state, b) analyzing a recuperation condition, the fulfillment of which is dependent on the coupling information, wherein the recuperation condition is fulfilled or can only be fulfilled if the coupling device is in the second coupling state, and c) braking the electric machine by operating the electric machine as a generator if the recuperation condition is fulfilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Andreas Hölzl, Uwe Feldmann
  • Patent number: 11065166
    Abstract: A motion-based push activation power assist system for manual wheelchairs. The system uses motion-based measurements to determine when the user applies a push to the wheelchair handrims and brakes with the handrims. The push recognition activates a drive system that provides an assistive driving force-pulse to the wheelchair to reduce the demand on the user during propulsion. The brake recognition deactivates the power assist. The provided power assist is proportional to the sensed push and can be modulated to different proportional settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: MAX MOBILITY, LLC
    Inventor: W. Mark Richter
  • Patent number: 11059510
    Abstract: Strollers with removable seats and related methods are disclosed herein. An example stroller includes a wheeled frame, a receiver coupled to the frame, and a seat. The seat includes a hub, a mount, and a lock disposed in the mount. The lock is to move from a first positon to a second position when the mount is disposed in the receiver to removably couple the seat to the frame. The seat includes a handle and a pin disposed between the handle and the hub. The handle is moveable from a retracted position to an extended position when the pin is in a third position relative to the handle and the lock is to move from the second position to the first position when the handle moves from the retracted position to the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: KOLCRAFT ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Eyman, Peter Rolicki, Wes Thomas, Kenneth J. Bargo
  • Patent number: 11052931
    Abstract: A trolley case handle and a trolley case are disclosed. The trolley case handle includes a handle body and at least one bracket. The handle body has at least one groove for accommodating the at least one bracket. Each of the at least one bracket is connected to the handle body through a connecting shaft. The connecting shaft functions as a rotation shaft about which the bracket is capable of rotating relative to the handle body. Each of the at least one bracket is provided with a U-shaped notch. In addition, a handle top cover is disposed on a top portion of the handle body. When the handle top cover is in an open state, the connecting shaft is accessible and can be detached from the handle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SHANGHAI NEWEST LUGGAGE CO LTD
    Inventor: Xiangjun Wang
  • Patent number: 11052878
    Abstract: A stabilizing system includes a plurality of jacks, each operated by a corresponding hydraulic actuator. A hydraulic fluid transfer pump supplies hydraulic fluid to and receives hydraulic fluid from one or more pressure chambers of the actuator. A pilot-operated check or directional valve may be provided in fluid communication with one or more of the pressure chambers and configured to regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the pressure chamber. A directional control valve may connect the pump output with the jacks via respective pilot-operated directional valves. The directional control valve may include a plurality of switch positions respectively connecting the pump output with pairs of the jacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Lippert Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Kinder, Robert L. Tiedge, Nicholas Cornett
  • Patent number: 11052932
    Abstract: A foldable tricycle is provided and has a frame having a first end and a second end, a seat connected to the frame, a front wheel adjacent the first end of the tricycle, and a rear wheel adjacent the second end of the tricycle. A head tube housing is provided adjacent the first end of the main frame, and a fork is provided adjacent the first end of the tricycle. The front wheel is rotatedly secured to the fork. A stem extends from the fork and supports a handlebar, wherein a portion of the head tube housing is slidingly connected to the stem, and wherein the tricycle can be manipulated between a use position and a folded position by sliding a portion of the head tube toward the handlebar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Radio Flyer Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett DeBry, David Packowitz