Patents Examined by John Olszewski
  • Patent number: 12703418
    Abstract: A steering assembly for a steer-by-wire vehicle comprises a rotatably mounted steering column configured for attachment of a steering member at one end, the steering column being rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The steering assembly further comprises a damper having a housing defining a volume for receipt of damping fluid; a rotor within the housing, the rotor being coupled with the steering column and rotatable therewith; a stator mounted within the housing, the stator being moveable within the housing within a defined range of movement; and a biasing arrangement acting on the stator. Each of the stator and rotor comprises a shear surface, the shear surfaces of the stator and the rotor being positioned adjacent one another to generate a resistance to rotation of the rotor when the housing contains damping fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2026
    Assignee: ZF Automotive UK Limited
    Inventor: Mark Anthony Wilkes
  • Patent number: 12703211
    Abstract: A mount apparatus for mounting a hitch-mountable device on a front end of a vehicle includes a base plate with a front surface and a back surface each extending between a top edge and a bottom edge of the base plate and between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the base plate. A hook is coupled to the top edge of the base plate. The hook extending rearwardly and downwardly from the top edge and is configured for engaging a top of the vehicle grill guard to attach the base plate to the vehicle grill guard. A receiver hitch tube is coupled to and extending forwardly from the front surface of the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2026
    Inventor: Ross Hardwick
  • Patent number: 12692900
    Abstract: A displacement unit includes a pin, a sleeve, a plurality of rolling elements, and a rolling element cage. The pin includes a plurality of external raceways. The sleeve includes a plurality of internal raceways. The sleeve is configured to receive at least a portion of the pin. The rolling element cage includes a plurality of openings configured to each accommodate a rolling element of the plurality of rolling elements. The rolling element cage is configured to be received around the pin and disposed radially between the pin and the sleeve. The plurality of rolling elements are configured to be received at least partially within (i) the plurality of external raceways of the pin and (ii) the plurality of internal raceways of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2026
    Assignee: NEUMAYER TEKFOR ENGINEERING GMBH
    Inventors: Arthur Dumler, Martin Lehmann
  • Patent number: 12691712
    Abstract: Connecting straps for use for example in sports activities and methods of attaching the connecting straps. In one example, a connecting Y-strap for connecting two motorcycles together includes a body portion including a webbing sleeve and a band of elastic material disposed within the webbing sleeve, the band of elastic material being secured to the webbing material at each of a first end and a second end of the body portion, and first and second peg strap portions extending in a Y configuration from the first end of the body portion. Each of the first and second peg strap portions may have a peg loop formed at respective distal ends of the first and second peg strap portions. Examples of the connecting Y-strap may further include a strap length extending from the second end of the body portion, the strap length having an end loop at its distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2026
    Inventor: Eric Michael Landis
  • Patent number: 12691970
    Abstract: A drive assembly of a vehicle operable with muscular power and/or motor power. The drive assembly including a drive unit, a frame interface, wherein the drive unit is arranged at least partially between a first wall and a second wall of the frame interface, a first bracket holding the drive unit on the first wall, and a second bracket holding the drive unit on the second wall. The first bracket comprises a first damping sleeve inserted into a first opening of the drive unit, the second bracket comprises a second damping sleeve inserted into a second opening of the drive unit, wherein each damping sleeve is screwed to the corresponding wall by means of a screw. Each damping sleeve comprises a sleeve, and a damping element which at least partially surrounds the sleeve and is formed from a vibration-damping material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2026
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Sigmund Braun, Adolf Dillmann, Alexander Elter, Daniel Hettinger, Harald Hundt, Julian Binder, Stefan Holst
  • Patent number: 12692899
    Abstract: A bearing assembly, preferably a wheel bearing assembly, includes at least one first ring and at least second ring, at least one of the first and second rings being rotatable and a bearing interior being defined between the first and second rings. The first ring(s) are designed to be attached with press fit to a component formed of a first material with a first coefficient of thermal expansion, the first ring (s) being formed of a second material with a second coefficient of thermal expansion different than, preferably lower than, the first coefficient of thermal expansion. At least one seal unit is provided to seal an axially outer side of the bearing assembly and includes a carrier element formed of a third material with a third coefficient of thermal expansion, the third coefficient of thermal expansion is at least as high as the first coefficient of thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2026
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: Padelis Katsaros
  • Patent number: 12686278
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for actuating an electric drive of a trailer vehicle with a towing vehicle, including the steps: determining a current slip of at least one driven wheel of a towing vehicle pulling the trailer vehicle, determining an expected slip for the driven wheel of the towing vehicle, determining an acceleration demand depending on the determined current slip and the determined expected slip and actuating the electric drive depending on the acceleration demand. The disclosure also relates to a control unit for executing the method, a towing vehicle, a trailer vehicle and a vehicle combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Global GmbH
    Inventors: Nikolai Flaum, Johannes Heseding, Janik Ricke, Torsten Wallbaum
  • Patent number: 12686463
    Abstract: This invention relates to polygonal frame structures made from anisotropic materials, and methods for their construction. The polygonal frame structures include at least one frame member that is constructed as a torsion box. The torsion box is constructed with layers of anisotropic materials, resulting in a lightweight, torsionally stiff polygonal frame. Natural and/or man-made anisotropic materials may be used. Wood may be used as a natural anisotropic material. The invention is applicable to bicycles and other vehicles, as well as other products, where frame structures having light weight and torsional stiffness are advantageous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: TimberWolf Cycles Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Timan
  • Patent number: 12679485
    Abstract: Disclosed is an unmanned vehicle suitable for mountains and hills and an attitude adjustment method, relating to the technical field of intelligent agricultural equipment in mountainous and hilly regions. The unmanned vehicle includes a frame and side arms arranged on both sides of the frame. The lower end of each side arm is provided with a traveling device, and each side arm is provided with an attitude adjustment device. The attitude adjustment devices are respectively connected to both sides of the frame, and the attitude adjustment devices are configured to adjust an attitude of the frame. The frame is provided with a control structure and a triaxial angle sensor, both of which are electrically connected to the control structure, and the triaxial angle sensor is configured to detect an angle of inclination of the frame. The unmanned vehicle can achieve the slope adaptation in the mountainous and hilly areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: Zhejiang University
    Inventors: Xiaoli Li, Wenkai Zhang, Xuelun Luo, Yong He, Qinghai He, Yueping Xu
  • Patent number: 12679152
    Abstract: A mobility scooter tow arrangement generally includes a horizontal member, a locking arrangement, and a vertical member. The locking arrangement detachably connects a first end portion of the horizontal member to the rear of a mobility scooter. The vertical member is attached to a second end portion of the horizontal member and positioned to project upwardly and transverse to the horizontal member. The vertical member is designed to be positioned to project into and through an opening in the bottom of a cage basket of a retail shopping cart to permit a user to tow the retail shopping cart from the front with a mobility scooter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Inventor: Wayne Thibodeaux
  • Patent number: 12679275
    Abstract: A vehicle step device includes: a step portion that is attached to a side of a vehicle and is deployed from a retracted position to a getting-on/off position when an occupant gets on and off the vehicle; and a drive unit configured to drive the step portion between the retracted position and the getting-on/off position. The drive unit deploys the step portion to a traveling position located outward of the retracted position in a vehicle width direction when a predetermined condition is satisfied in a vehicle traveling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kimihiro Sekine, Masashi Miwa, Ryota Tachi
  • Patent number: 12673617
    Abstract: A smart safe console system is provided herein. The smart safe console system includes a smart safe console assembly for mounting in a vehicle, having a safe body suitable for securing an electronic device, a button configured for controlling input and output to and from the electronic device when a vehicle hosting the smart safe console system is in use, and a wireless charging apparatus. Such smart safe console system is useful for improving the safety of a user when traveling in a vehicle with an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: SMARTSAFE CONSOLE, LLC
    Inventor: Tarkan Bastiyali
  • Patent number: 12668188
    Abstract: A vehicle including a mat, an air flow unit and a processor is disclosed. The mat may include a top wall, a bottom wall and plurality of through-holes disposed in the top wall. The air flow unit may be configured to blow pressurized air in a mat interior portion. The processor may detect a trigger event, and cause the air flow unit to blow the pressurized air in the mat interior portion responsive to detecting the trigger event. The ambient air in proximity to the top wall may be pulled towards the mat interior portion via the plurality of through-holes when the air flow unit blows the pressurized air in the mat interior portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Aed M. Dudar, Oliver Lei, Somak Datta Gupta
  • Patent number: 12669148
    Abstract: A guide device is equipped with a rail having a first surface in contact with a mounting surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a through hole penetrating between the first surface and the second surface, and a recessed portion that is an opening on a first surface side of the through hole and is formed to be recessed from the first surface toward the second surface, wherein the recessed portion includes a third surface that is a surface orthogonal to the first surface and orthogonal to a width direction of the rail; the recessed portion receives an eccentric part that rotates eccentrically with respect to a reference axis orthogonal to the mounting surface to apply a force to the third surface in the width direction of the rail; and the through hole has a diameter shorter than a length of the recessed portion in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Mizutani, Marina Takeda, Kazutoshi Harima, Minami Tsuiki
  • Patent number: 12661977
    Abstract: A modular assembly for a fuel-cell vehicle is configured to connect to a bracket arranged along a longitudinal frame of the vehicle. The modular frame can include one or more components for powering the vehicle, including one or more of a fuel cell, a battery, a battery cooling system, and hydrogen storage tanks. The modular assembly can communicate with the fuel-cell vehicle through standard integration components regardless of the particular components in the modular assembly. The modular assembly can be readily removed from the fuel-cell vehicle and replaced with a different modular assembly containing different components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc.
    Inventors: Willem Jacobus Nieuwland, Neha Roy, Bram Kuipers, Joost Hoogduin, Narendra Gupta, Menno de Lint
  • Patent number: 12662180
    Abstract: A control method for a stair climber having a support frame; a motorized mechanical group; a stabilizing element; a sensor detecting steps during the descent process; and a processing and control logic unit connected to the sensor, the stabilizing element, and the mechanical group. The control method includes a descent process, in which the logic unit commands the mechanical group to advance the climber until the sensor detects a first step; the logic unit stops the mechanical group interrupting the advancement of the climber; the logic unit commands the extraction of the stabilizing element to arrange it in an operating configuration; the logic unit commands the mechanical group so that the climber advances until the sensor detects a second step; the logic unit commands the retraction of the stabilizing element to arrange it in a rest configuration; and the logic unit commands the group so that the climber advances again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Inventors: Arianna Zonzini, Claudio Zonzini, Laura Zonzini, Jacopo Zonzini
  • Patent number: 12650147
    Abstract: The vehicular wheel bearing includes a wheel hub; at least one inner ring; an outer ring; a plurality of rolling elements; an inboard-side sealing member; and an outboard-side sealing. The outboard-side sealing member includes a frame press-fitted to the outer ring and an elastic sealing part integrally attached to the frame. The frame includes a press-fitting part and a flange part bent and extending from the press-fitting part. The elastic sealing part includes a base part with which all or a part of the frame is covered, one or more of sealing lips formed to extend from the base part, an overmold part extending beyond an inner axial end portion of the press-fitting part of the frame and is mounted in close contact with an outer circumferential surface of the outer ring, and the overmold part is axially spaced apart from the press-fitting surface of the press-fitting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2026
    Assignee: ILJIN GLOBAL Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Min Chul Park, Yong Won Kim
  • Patent number: 12635598
    Abstract: A drive wheel and equipment attachment combination for self-propelled hydro-static wheel drive lawn care equipment platforms that converts rear two-wheel drive zero turn equipment with a mower deck to a four-wheel drive with a universal front implement mount lawncare equipment platform and articulated front steering drive frame and equipment mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2026
    Inventor: Troy Eberly
  • Patent number: 12636207
    Abstract: An auxiliary drive device for a wheelchair has at least one freely pivotable electrically driven drive wheel and a coupling mechanism for coupling the auxiliary drive device to the wheelchair. The coupling mechanism includes a movable locking element which is movably supported in the coupling mechanism. The movable locking element can be in a locking position in which it causes locking in a positive-locking manner so that the auxiliary drive device is coupled to the wheelchair and, by operation of a handle, the locking element can be moved in a release position in which uncoupling of the auxiliary drive device from the wheelchair is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2026
    Assignee: ALBER GMBH
    Inventors: Joachim Menig, Miroslaw Rodewald
  • Patent number: 12631218
    Abstract: A rolling bearing apparatus includes a first machine element, a second machine element, a rolling bearing, a seal, and a bypass device forming an electrical connection between the first machine element and the second machine element. The rolling bearing has an axially aligned axis of rotation, a first bearing ring, a second bearing ring arranged concentric to the first bearing ring on the axis of rotation and fastened to the first machine element, and rolling elements arranged radially between the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring. The seal is arranged radially between the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring. The bypass device has an electrically conductive bypass conductor formed from loop-shaped stitched fibers and a holder holding the bypass conductor in an electrically conductive manner. The holder is fastened to the second bearing ring radially between the first machine element and the second bearing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Sebastian Giehl