Patents Examined by John D. Walters
  • Patent number: 11155161
    Abstract: An automobile-motor driving device equipped with speed reducer which has improved supply of lubrication oil to inside of the rolling bearings without sacrificing the function of the bearings, to reduce deformation in the rolling bearing outer ring. A parallel shaft gear speed reducer provides an automobile-motor driving device equipped with speed reducer. The parallel shaft gear speed reducer includes a plurality of gear shafts having two ends supported via rolling bearings fitted into bearing fitting holes in a speed reducer casing which houses the parallel shaft gear speed reducer. A groove in an inner circumferential surface of the bearing fitting hole into which the rolling bearing is fitted communicates between a space that houses the speed reducer and an inside space of the bearing fitting hole, at a location not crossed by the line of action of a load acting upon the rolling bearing due to the meshing of the gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoaki Makino, Isao Hirai, Yusuke Shibuya
  • Patent number: 11148518
    Abstract: An electric work vehicle includes front wheels and rear wheels for traveling, right and left machine body frames extending along a front/rear direction and an electric motor. The electric motor includes at least one of a front output shaft protruding forwards and a rear output shaft protruding rearwards. The electric motor is supported to front portions of the machine body frames to be located forwardly of the front wheels as seen in a side view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Uemura, Hirokazu Ito, Yasuhiro Manji
  • Patent number: 11148738
    Abstract: A vehicle including: a pair of suspension towers, each of which houses, in an upright state, a suspension unit configured to provide suspension to a front wheel; a power unit compartment that is provided between the pair of suspension towers, and that houses at least a drive unit configured to drive the front wheels; at least one of a high voltage component or a low voltage component, configuring a sub unit disposed at a vehicle upper side of the suspension towers; and a driving seat that is disposed in a vehicle cabin at the vehicle upper side of the power unit compartment, and that is provided such that feet of a driver are positioned further toward a vehicle lower side than upper ends of the suspension towers and such that a head of the driver is positioned further toward the vehicle upper side than the sub unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hara, Ayano Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 11148516
    Abstract: Provided are: a battery case structure for electric-powered vehicles wherein restrictions on the size or the like of a battery mountable on electric-powered vehicles are alleviated, and the attaching/detaching operability is improved; and an electric-powered vehicle. A battery case structure is equipped with: a cover member which is disposed below the center in the longitudinal direction of a main frame and rocks in the transverse direction of the vehicle; and a lower frame which is connected to the main frame, and is disposed in such a manner as to go around the bottom of the cover member. A battery is detachably inserted into the cover member through the detachable opening separated from the main frame. When the detachable opening is brought close to the main frame, the battery housed in the cover member is supported on the lower frame and housed between the lower frame and the main frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoto Ogawa, Yusuke Mutoh
  • Patent number: 11148890
    Abstract: An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a base structure of a carrier on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels mounted to at least two motors to provide at least two wheel assemblies, the at least two wheel assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Berkshire Grey, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wagner, Kevin Ahearn, John Richard Amend, Jr., Benjamin Cohen, Michael Dawson-Haggerty, William Hartman Fort, Christopher Geyer, Jennifer Eileen King, Thomas Koletschka, Michael Cap Koval, Kyle Maroney, Matthew T. Mason, William Chu-Hyon McMahan, Gene Temple Price, Joseph Romano, Daniel Smith, Siddhartha Srinivasa, Prasanna Velagapudi, Thomas Allen
  • Patent number: 11148698
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transporting objects using a cart that is driven by human action or self-driving vehicle is disclosed. The cart system and method comprises a chassis portion supporting a payload to be moved by the cart. The cart system further comprises of a first side rail and a second side rail. A first front wheel and first rear wheel is attached to the first side rail and a second front wheel and second rear wheel is attached to the second rail. The handle portion pushes the cart which comprises of a handle bar supported by vertical support members. The brake actuator is used to engage and release the brakes on the rear wheel. A horizontal engagement bar is used which comprises of a plurality of engagement pads. A payload-bearing surface bears payload such that the payload can be transported by the cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Clearpath Robotics Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Rendall, Daniel Cantor, David William Bergsma, Scott Waters
  • Patent number: 11148695
    Abstract: A device (1) for the accurate positioning of a transport pallet (2) includes a coupling unit (3, 4) for coupling to the transport pallet (2), a handle element (6) which is arranged on the coupling unit (3, 4) for the handling of the device (1) by an operator, and a locking unit (7, 8) for locking the coupling unit (3, 4) non-rotatably to the transport pallet (2) in a fixed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: DEUTSCHE POST AG
    Inventor: Hendrik Meiner
  • Patent number: 11152665
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery pack, seats, and seat rails. The battery pack has a battery case and a battery unit accommodated in the battery case. The seat rails are frame members disposed over the battery pack and fixed to the vehicular body. The battery case has an upper portion with four openings located under the seat rails and formed through both an upper surface of the battery case and a side surface of the battery case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki Shimada
  • Patent number: 11142074
    Abstract: The present application provides an explosion-proof valve, a battery pack, and an electric vehicle. The explosion-proof valve includes a first connection member, a second connection member, a resilient connection member, and an explosion-proof film. An upper port is formed on the first connection member that includes an ejector pin. The second connection member is disposed at an interval from the first connection member. The first and second connection members are tightly in a sealed connection with the resilient connection member. The explosion-proof film is disposed at the upper port and seals the upper port, and the explosion-proof film is located above the ejector pin. Because the explosion-proof valve is directly disposed on a base plate of a case in a vehicle body using the first and second connection members, the explosion-proof valve can fully use narrow space between the base plate of the battery pack and the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventor: Haidong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11135993
    Abstract: An airbag arrangement (3) for a vehicle (1). The airbag arrangement comprises an inflatable airbag (5) and an external extension control member (7) being operatively associated with said airbag. The airbag is adapted to be inflated in a longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle to a position between an interior portion (13) of the vehicle in front of a seated vehicle occupant (17) and an upper body region (19) of the seated vehicle occupant. The external extension control member has a selectable operative length (lo). The external extension control member controls deployment of the airbag by means of the selectable operative length. The present disclosure also relates to a vehicle comprising the airbag arrangement and a method for deploying an airbag of the airbag arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Rutelin, Johan Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 11135872
    Abstract: A bicycle rim assembly includes a rim defining a central plane and comprising annular inner and outer walls. The outer wall includes first and second bead seats separated by a center well. First and second annular projections are spaced laterally from each other relative to the central plane and extend substantially radially outwardly from the outer wall. Each of the annular projections includes a radially outer face and a laterally inner face. Right and left covers are spaced from each other and are preferably coupled to the rim to cover at least a portion of the laterally inner face and the radially outer face of the first and second annular projections, respectively, and also the first and second bead seats, respectively. One or both of the right and left covers can be fiber reinforced. First and second pieces of tape can be overlapped and used to secure the covers to the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventor: Charles Raymond Teixeira, IV
  • Patent number: 11130514
    Abstract: The sanitary shopping cart handle cover covers the handle of a cart. The sanitary shopping cart handle cover forms a sanitary barrier that prevents pathogens living on the handle with infecting a client using the cart. The sanitary shopping cart handle cover incorporates a primary structure, a plurality of gloves, and a pocket. The plurality of gloves and the pocket attach to the primary structure. The primary structure covers the handle. The primary structure forms a barrier that prevents the transfer of a pathogen from the handle to a client. The pocket forms a sanitary storage structure that allows a client to store a domestic article without placing the domestic article within the containment space of the cart. The plurality of gloves are worn on the hands of the client. The plurality of gloves form personal barriers that prevent the pathogens from reaching the hands of the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Inventors: Laina Picchi, Maria Picchi
  • Patent number: 11130511
    Abstract: Various configurations of light weight pick carts are disclosed; some embodiments may alternate between a first configuration having two shelf racks and a second configuration having both a shelf rack and a flatbed. A first shelf rack has multiple accessory support units attached, having multiple different configurations to facilitate holding differing shapes, sizes, or weights of accessories. Swivel casters and multiple handle locations can enhance maneuverability; and proper selection of material and use of perforation and wire frames may reduce weight to ease operation. For stability, a removable second shelf rack may engage the first shelf rack using hooks, while a removable flatbed unit may engage the first shelf rack using notches. The second shelf rack provides more discrete storage locations, while the flatbed permits transportation of larger or heavier items. This versatility enhances the utility of the cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Tawfeek Abohammdan, Jeff Green, Paul Durkee
  • Patent number: 11124152
    Abstract: Buckle assemblies having electronic engagement indicating devices for use with child seats and other restraint systems are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a restraint system for use with a child seat can include first and second web connectors which each have a corresponding tongue, and a buckle assembly including a housing that encloses a latch configured to engage the tongues. The buckle assembly can further include a magnet operably coupled to the latch, and an electronic switch operably positioned in the housing. The latch is configured to move between a first latch position in which the latch is disengaged from the tongues, and a second latch position in which the latch is engaged with the tongues. Movement of the latch from the first latch position to the second latch position moves the magnet relative to the electronic switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Shield Restraint Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian George Babin
  • Patent number: 11124075
    Abstract: A dump truck 100 including: an engine 1; a generator 10 driven by the engine 1; and a pair of driving wheels 3L and 3R arranged to the left and right of a vehicle body frame 7 includes: a traveling electric motor 12L including a plurality of electric motors 12La, 12Lb, and 12Lc that are coupled to the driving wheel 3L and simultaneously drive the driving wheel 3L; and a traveling electric motor 12R including a plurality of electric motors 12Ra, 12Rb, and 12Rc that are coupled to the driving wheel 3R and simultaneously drive the driving wheel 3R. Thereby, drive systems corresponding to loads of dump trucks or the like can be configured using identical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Kaneko, Shinji Sugimoto, Takayoshi Nakamura, Tadashi Osaka, Masatsugu Arai, Naoki Fukuda
  • Patent number: 11117605
    Abstract: A transportation dolly can have a frame, two axles pivotally coupled with the frame, each axle having two distal ends and a wheel assembly coupled at each distal end and a synchronous steering system. The synchronous steering system can include an intermediate link pivotally coupled with the frame, the intermediate link having a two distal ends, and a first push-pull rod coupling one of the two axles with the intermediate link, and a second push-pull rod coupling the other of the two axles with the intermediate link. The first push-pull rod is coupled to one distal end of the intermediate link and the second push-pull rod is coupled to the opposing distal end of the intermediate link. The first push-pull rod, the second push-pull rod, and the intermediate link provide counter phase synchronous pivoting of the two axles relative to the transportation dolly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Par-Kan Company, LLC
    Inventors: Brent Eckerley, George Donald Thomas Shoebridge, Elizabeth Claire Vinson
  • Patent number: 11117043
    Abstract: A truck includes a base plate, a hanger, a kingpin, and a bushing assembly. The base plate includes a coupling portion and a contact portion. The kingpin is disposed within a portion of the hanger to rotatably couple the hanger to the base plate. The bushing assembly includes at least one bushing disposed in a recess of the contact portion and in contact with the hanger. The bushing assembly including a bushing adjustment coupled to at least one of the base plate or the hanger and configured to selectively engage the at least one bushing to transition the bushing assembly between a first configuration in which the at least one bushing exerts a first force in response to rotation of the hanger and a second configuration in which the at least one bushing exerts a second force different from the first force in response to rotation of the hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Skate One Corp.
    Inventors: George A. Powell, Michael T. Mete
  • Patent number: 11117603
    Abstract: The motorized medicine cart is a motorized vehicle. The motorized medicine cart is configured for use in distributing medication. The motorized medicine cart transports the medication and an individual designated to distribute the medication within a medical facility. The motorized medicine cart is driven by the designated individual. The motorized medicine cart comprises a medication cabinet, a vehicle structure, and a control circuit. The medication cabinet and the control circuit attach to the vehicle structure. The vehicle structure transports the medication cabinet and the individual through the medical facility. The control circuit controls the operation of the vehicle structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Shelia Hunter
  • Patent number: 11117608
    Abstract: An adjustable all-terrain dolly system (100) having a chassis assembly (110) that includes a frame (120) which has a right-side rail (122), a left-side rail (124), a first-adjustable cross member (126) and a second-adjustable cross member (128), and a first-rolling assembly (160) to include a first-set of inline wheels (164) and a second-rolling assembly to include a second-set of inline wheels (174) and at least one adjustable-locking mechanism (180). The frame of the dolly system defines a load-supporting platform, and the platform has a length which is at least about twice the front-to-rear length of each of the two sets of wheels. Furthermore, each wheel of the dolly system has a peripheral surface which is shaped to engage the underlying surface at a substantially single point to enhance the maneuverability of the dolly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Eddie Lee Turner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11117604
    Abstract: A wagon for transporting beach articles and elongated water sport boards has a bed with a peripheral frame with two cross tubes beneath a bottom wall. The frame is carried on front and rear wheel assemblies. Front and rear walls are mounted to the frame, and side walls are adjustably positioned with respect to the frame. Each side wall has two tubular extensible support members which telescope within the frame cross members. When a side wall is positioned outwardly, the extensible support members are positioned to receive a water sport board thereon, such that it extends through front and rear slots defined between the front and rear walls and the extended side wall. A latch is associated with each side wall and actuatable to alternatively secure or release the wall. The latch may be a clamp with an elastomeric plug expandable from an extensible support member withing a cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: The E.A.C.H. Company LLC
    Inventors: Curt Adam Kramer, Blake H. Wagner