Patents Examined by John Walters
  • Patent number: 9737785
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sporting device (1), in particular a touring ski assembly. The sporting device (1) comprises a sliding body (2) on which a bottom side (3) is designed as a sliding surface (4). Furthermore, the sporting device (1) comprises a binding apparatus (6) disposed on the top face (5) of the sliding body (2) for fastening to a sporting shoe (7) of a user (8) in such a way that the fastening can be released as and when necessary, a circulating belt (13) having a first segment (14) for establishing a relative motion between the sliding body (2) and the ground (12) and a second, returning segment (15), as well as a drive apparatus (17) and at least one first deflecting apparatus (18) for the belt (13). The first segment (14) is disposed next to the bottom side (3) of the sliding body (2) and the second, returning segment (15) is disposed next to the top face (5) of the sliding body (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: ABP PATENT NETWORK GmbH
    Inventor: Hannes Burger
  • Patent number: 9738233
    Abstract: A mobile ballet barre apparatus includes a motor vehicle having a driver's seat and a passenger cabin behind the driver's seat, the passenger cabin disposed between opposed elongated sides of the vehicle. The vehicle is configured to travel on ground. The apparatus also includes an elongated ballet barre mounted to a frame of the vehicle on at least one of the elongated sides, each ballet barre extending longitudinally along a longitudinal first axis that is substantially parallel to the side of the vehicle to which it is mounted and substantially parallel to the ground vertically above which it extends in spaced apart relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Aggraziato LLC
    Inventor: Christina M. Schwefel
  • Patent number: 9731187
    Abstract: A restricted, preferably spring elastic and dampened movability of transversal struts (5a, b) in the longitudinal direction (10) with respect to a skid (2a) supporting the transversal struts prevents a transmission and build-up of vibrations through the connection units (3) at the piece of winter sports equipment (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Inventor: Peter Hurth
  • Patent number: 9731672
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a pair of right and left front wheels, a pair of right and left rear wheels, a main frame positioned between the front wheels and the rear wheels and defining a cabin in the main frame, and a cabin front wall defining a front end of the cabin. The cabin front wall includes a cabin front wall body separating the cabin and a bonnet chamber provided ahead of the cabin, and includes a wheel housing wall separating between the cabin and each of right and left front wheel housings. The utility vehicle further includes a cabin guard covering an outer surface of the cabin front wall body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideyoshi Kosuge, Kazumasa Hisada, Masato Kinoshita, Masayuki Shibata, Ryo Nishio, Yuichi Fujii, Takeshi Tanaka, Takuma Komatsu, Hirotaka Fujiki
  • Patent number: 9731591
    Abstract: A system is provided for directing airflow through an engine compartment of an off-road agricultural vehicle. The system may include an air dam that, in conjunction with an engine face, provides flow-directing baffling in the engine compartment that directs heated air from a radiator out discharge openings through side walls of a hood that covers the engine compartment. The air dam facilitates forcing heated air from the radiator sideways out the discharge openings of the hood, significantly reducing or preventing a radiator fan from pushing hot air to flow across the components of the rear engine compartment area, including preventing flow across a majority of air inlet components and engine surfaces that are rearward of the front engine face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Frederic George Kuhn, Kevin L. Weihing
  • Patent number: 9731589
    Abstract: A hybrid drive arrangement of a motor vehicle, which has a main transmission having an input shaft and housing. An electric machine, that can operate either as a motor and a generator, has a stator and rotor which, on the input side, is connected to the main transmission. A planetary gearset is arranged between the rotor and the transmission input shaft. The transmission input shaft has a central oil bore and transverse bores for supplying oil to the planetary gearset and the electric machine. The planetary gearset and the electric machine are accommodated in a hybrid housing. The hybrid housing is connected to the transmission housing of the main transmission by an oil return line. The oil stream passing into the oil return line is in heat-transferring connection, by way of a partition wall, with a coolant which flows through a cooling duct arranged radially outside the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rayk Gersten, Markus Baur
  • Patent number: 9731740
    Abstract: Embodiments include a foldable cart and methods of folding a cart for loading into a vehicle. In an illustrative embodiment, the leading legs are foldable from a use position to a collapsed position. To facilitate folding of the leading legs, the cart includes a leading leg folding system having: i) a release mechanism, ii) one or more leading leg supports to transfer motion from the release mechanism to the leading legs, and iii) an actuation system including an actuator wheel to initiate release of the release mechanism. The actuation system provides automatic release and folding of the leading legs during loading into the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: API GROUP, INC.
    Inventor: Brad Chafin
  • Patent number: 9731186
    Abstract: A snowmobile ski protector that packs down the snow in front of the ski to reduce drag. It also protects the front of the ski from wear. It also repairs skis that are already worn out in the front. The present invention also stops worn skis from flexing and causing a snagging hazard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Inventors: Lawrence Tiede, Michael Philips, Justin Wark
  • Patent number: 9731707
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for improving a distance to empty (DTE) of a hybrid electric vehicle. The method includes: a hybrid control unit of the hybrid electric vehicle performing a warning against gasoline fuel exhaustion at a gasoline fuel exhaustion point in time depending on the DTE; deciding whether or not a mode of the hybrid electric vehicle is changed from an HEV mode into an EV mode depending on the warning against the gasoline fuel exhaustion; and driving the hybrid electric vehicle in the changed EV mode, and again changing the mode of the hybrid electric vehicle into the HEV mode when all of the electricity amount is exhausted at the time of driving the hybrid electric vehicle, thereby exhausting a remaining gasoline fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kang Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 9731658
    Abstract: A liftgate cargo module having an integrated tailgate that unfolds from a hatch or liftgate of a vehicle that adds additional storage and provides a cargo load floor. When unfolded, there is an integrated pass through door formed in the hatch or liftgate permitting longer items to be hauled, while keeping the hatch or liftgate completely closed. The integrated tailgate includes an integrated tailgate taillight that indicates when the vehicle is braking or backing up. The integrated tailgate taillight also helps to show that the integrated tailgate is folded down from and extending from the hatch or liftgate of the vehicle. The integrated tailgate also includes integrated anchor points formed on the cargo load floor so items may be tied down and secured. An all-weather enclosure that is connectable to the cargo load floor for enclosing contents that are being hauled on the integrated tailgate may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Steven M. Kowalski
  • Patent number: 9730855
    Abstract: A collapsible personal wheeled conveyance comprises a first and second collapsible side frame, each having ground-contacting wheels, and at least one adjustable crossbar configured to physically connect the two collapsible side frames, the adjustable crossbar(s) having a selectively adjustable length. The adjustable crossbar(s) may be lockable or non-lockable. One or more of the adjustable crossbars may comprise seat-supporting adjustable crossbars. A seat can be configured to move laterally along such a seat-supporting adjustable crossbar to permit selective adjustment of the lateral position of this seat with respect to the side frames. One or more locking mechanisms can serve to lock the seat at a particular position. By one approach the aforementioned seat-supporting adjustable crossbar can include spacing indicia to visually indicate when the seat is centrally located between the first and second collapsible side frames for a particular selected length of the seat-supporting adjustable crossbars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Medline Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhiliang Wang, Margaret M. Andersen, Frank Martorelli
  • Patent number: 9731741
    Abstract: A collapsible cart having a frame that extends from a handle to an opposing wheel housing is provided. The wheel housing may provide a plurality of wheel, each wheel independently movable between a folded condition nested therein and an extended condition operably protruding from the wheel housing so that a user manipulating the handle steers the collapsible cart along a supporting surface. A plurality of collapsible brackets and crates may be provided along the frame so as to be movable between an operable configuration for transporting objects and a collapsed configuration for storage of the collapsible cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Inventor: Yolanda Lorraine Lucas
  • Patent number: 9725042
    Abstract: A first stationary rail and a second stationary rail are attached to the recreational vehicle. A first bearing pad is combined to the first stationary rail and a second bearing pad combined to the second stationary rail. A first sliding rail is engaged against the first bearing pad and a second sliding rail engaged against the second bearing pad. A first step positioned between the first sliding rail and the second sliding rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: HWH Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Hanser, Vincent Buls
  • Patent number: 9724593
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to pusher tips including a body with a top section and a base section. The top section can be configured for attachment to a paddle shaft and the base section can be configured for placement against a surface. The base section can define a substantially convex, continuous and planar surface. Exemplary embodiments are also directed to pusher tip systems and paddle shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: HAMBOARDS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Donald A. Sandusky
  • Patent number: 9724591
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for cleaning recesses in ski boots and installing such apparatuses on various surfaces are disclosed. A user may insert a portion of the apparatus that projects from the surface on which it is installed into a gap between a steel rod in their ski boot designed for use with a ski binding and the sole of the ski boot in order to clear the recess in which the steel rod is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventor: Jacob Slaughter
  • Patent number: 9724959
    Abstract: A bicycle disc wheel or spoked wheel (10) is disclosed, comprising a hub (12), a rim (14) and at least one disc or spoke-type structural element (60) integral with the hub (12) and the rim (14), wherein said at least one structural element (60) is pretensioned. A process for manufacturing thereof comprises the sequential steps of providing a hub (12) and a rim (14), applying a compression on the rim (14) towards the hub (12) elastically deforming it, rendering at least one disc or spoke-type structural element (60) integral with the hub (12) and the rim (14), and removing the compression onto the rim (14) applied in step a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Mario Meggiolan
  • Patent number: 9725227
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a laundry hamper system configured to maintain a level of contained items at or near an opening of the container. The laundry hamper system comprise one or more of a receptacle, a receptacle lid, a coupling mechanism, one or more sensors, a controller, a user interface, a platform, a lift mechanism, one or more wheels, a power source, and/or other components. One or more sensors may be configured to facilitate the lift mechanism to maintain the level of the one or more items contained by the receptacle at or near the opening by moving the platform away from the opening responsive to the one or more items contained by the receptacle breaching the threshold level, moving the platform toward the opening responsive to the one or more items contained by the receptacle failing to breach the threshold level, and/or other operations, in accordance with some implementations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventor: Doris King Chow
  • Patent number: 9718458
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a motor, a rotary electric machine, a battery, and an ECU. The ECU is configured to control the rotary electric machine to generate electric power when the engine is started during the motor traveling mode and provide a cranking torque to the engine, the electric power generated by the rotary electric machine increasing as a vehicle speed increases, and determine whether or not to start the engine based on a comparison between a sum of electric power and a value corresponding to electric power acceptable by the battery. The sum of electric power is a sum of first electric power actually input into and output from the battery during the motor traveling mode and second electric power predicted to be generated by the rotary electric machine while the cranking torque is provided to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Endo, Koji Hokoi
  • Patent number: 9718377
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle includes a vehicle frame, an electrical unit, a first fixing member, and a second fixing member. The vehicle frame includes a lower frame and an upper frame. The electrical unit is connected to the lower frame and the upper frame. A lower portion of the electrical unit is connected to the lower frame with a first holding force in a vehicle up-down direction via a first fixing member. An upper portion of the electrical unit is connected to the upper frame with a second holding force in a vehicle front-rear direction via a second fixing member. The second holding force is smaller than the first holding force. The second fixing member is provided at a position in which a load applied in the vehicle front-rear direction is exerted to the second fixing member more than to the first fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Murase
  • Patent number: 9718345
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dump truck or to a truck, comprising a diesel electric traction drive and a cooling system, wherein two radiator fans and/or cooler blowers of the cooling system are hydraulically driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Liebherr-Mining Equipment Colmar SAS
    Inventors: Sebastien Nicolas Hoffmann, Kai Kugelstadt, Burkhard Richthammer, Klaus Graner