Patents Examined by Joseph Rocca
  • Patent number: 9610985
    Abstract: Left and right front flanges are provided respectively in left and right front legs in a center frame. Left and right rear flanges are provided respectively in left and right rear legs in the center frame. Left and right front leg mounting members, and left and right rear leg mounting members, which protrude toward the center frame are provided respectively in left and right side frames. The respective front flanges are placed on the respective front leg mounting members, which are respectively fastened by bolts inserted therebetween in the upper-lower direction. The respective rear flanges are placed on the respective rear leg mounting members, which are respectively fastened by bolts inserted therebetween in the upper-lower direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Tochigi
  • Patent number: 9610987
    Abstract: An ice scratcher for attachment to a snowmobile includes first and second ice scratcher end portions opposite to each other, an elongate member connected to the second ice scratcher end portion, and a spring connecting the first ice scratcher end portion to the elongate member. The spring has a plurality of coils defining a coil radius. The spring is movable between an unbent configuration, wherein a centerline passing through respective centers of each coil of the plurality of coils defines a coil axis, and a bent configuration, wherein at least a portion of the centerline is displaced from the coil axis. At least a portion of the first ice scratcher end portion is radially spaced from the coil axis by a distance less than the coil radius and adapted for attachment to the snowmobile. Ice scratcher assemblies, kits and snowmobiles having the ice scratcher are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventor: Yvon Bedard
  • Patent number: 9610814
    Abstract: A tow strap and set of jumper cables in one. With this device, a driver can jump start a vehicle or tow a vehicle with a single device. The device has a set of jumper cables that are embedded within a pair of tow straps that are sewn together in one form; or where the strap is folded over the cable and sewn, in a second model. In both cases, exits are provided for the clip portions of the jumper cables. Clips can be attached to the strap to hold the clip portions of the jumper cables as well. One design uses alligator clips for the jumper cables. Other designs use DC plugs and threaded nuts. These connectors can be used in pairs or can be mixed as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Inventor: John Smith
  • Patent number: 9610970
    Abstract: A steering gear mechanism has a steering housing and a steering input shaft. The steering housing is sealed and has a receptacle through which the steering input shaft passes into the steering housing. The receptacle is sealed against the steering input shaft. A first opening is provided on the steering input shaft within the steering housing, and a second opening is provided outside of the steering housing. The first and second openings are in fluid communication with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Jörg Merker, Christian Wutzler
  • Patent number: 9610988
    Abstract: An track chain may comprise a first chain portion and a second chain portion each having a plurality of track links, and a plurality of joints interconnecting opposing track links of the first chain portion and the second chain portion. Each of the joints may include a bushing received by the opposing track links and the bushing may define a bore. Each of the joints may further include a pin received through the bore of the bushing, and the pin may have an outer diameter with at least one crowned region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Thorson, Robert Meyer
  • Patent number: 9615472
    Abstract: An apparatus for removably securing an electrical element within a tubular steerer tube within a frame element consists of a canister for housing the electrical element, an expandable sleeve, and an expansion bolt coupling the canister and expandable sleeve to actuate compression of the expandable sleeve thereby securing the assembly within the tubular steerer tube. A preload cap is secured to the assembly to retain a bearing system to permit the steerer tube to rotate relative to the frame. One or more of a light, switch, and connector may be disposed in the preload cap to provide system conditions, controls, charging, communication, and so on. In certain embodiments, requirements for a central extension bolt extending from preload cap to expansion bolt are obviated, providing a relatively uninterrupted volume within the steerer tube in which to house electronics, route wiring, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Inventor: Craig Calfee
  • Patent number: 9604692
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hands-free balancing scooter steered twistedly with feet that includes: a housing; a controller mounted on the upper portion of the housing to control driving and direction changes of the balancing scooter; motors mounted on both sides of the housing and having wheels mounted on the shafts thereof; a battery mounting portion formed on the bottom surface of the housing so as to mount a battery therein; a foothold located on top of the housing to allow a rider's both feet to be stepped thereon and having a handle formed on one side thereof and two through holes formed thereon to allow manipulating rods of rotary motion sensors embedded into the housing to protrude therefrom; and turntables mounted on the foothold in such a manner as to be assembled to the manipulating rods of the rotary motion sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ROBO3 CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Joon-Hyung Kim
  • Patent number: 9604689
    Abstract: An apparatus, includes a first pair of brackets coupled to a first bicycle frame component, and one of the first pair of brackets has a radially-inwardly extending first protrusion. The apparatus includes a first gear component coupled to a second bicycle frame component, and the gear component is rotatably coupled within the first pair of brackets. The first gear component has a first set of recesses radially spaced from each other about a periphery thereof. The apparatus further includes a first clamping component engaging at least one of the first pair of brackets and selectively biasing the first protrusion into one of the first set of recesses to rotatably lock the first gear component with respect to the first pair of brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Robert George Thompson
  • Patent number: 9608495
    Abstract: One variation may include a product comprising: an integrated electric bicycle motor comprising: an inrunner ring motor, a rotor mount coupled to the inside of the inrunner ring motor, and at least one battery assembly coupled to the rotor mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jussi A. Timonen
  • Patent number: 9604693
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an adjustable suspension system for a vehicle comprises at least one strut. In one embodiment, the stanchion (or slider) is non-uniform with a major and minor circumferential stiffness and is adjustable relative to a fore and aft axis of the vehicle in order to provide a differing amount of stiffness relative thereto. In another embodiment, a portion of the stanchion is circular and a reinforcement is annularly disposed therearound with axial retention formations, The reinforcement has a non-uniform circumferential characteristic and is rotatable relative to the fore/aft axis of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Galasso, Wesley E. Allinger
  • Patent number: 9604680
    Abstract: Left and right front flanges are provided respectively in left and right front legs in a center frame. Left and right rear flanges are provided respectively in left and right rear legs in the center frame. Left and right front leg mounting members, and left and right rear leg mounting members, which protrude toward the center frame are provided respectively in left and right side frames. The respective front flanges are placed on the respective front leg mounting members, which are respectively fastened by bolts inserted therebetween in the upper-lower direction. The respective rear flanges are placed on the respective rear leg mounting members, which are respectively fastened by bolts inserted therebetween in the upper-lower direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Tochigi
  • Patent number: 9598127
    Abstract: Provided is a side stand for supporting a two-wheeled vehicle on a ground. The side stand comprises a first link, a second link and a stand. The first link has two ends respectively pivoted to a base part of the two-wheeled vehicle and the stand. The second link also has two ends respectively pivoted to the base part of the two-wheeled vehicle and the stand. The stand has a lower end, and a pivot end where the first and second links and are pivoted to. The lower end of the stand abuts against the ground when the stand is in an open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: GOGORO INC.
    Inventors: Chien-Cheng Lu, Chia-Hao Chang
  • Patent number: 9598134
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cardboard-based unit, structural elements comprising said unit and land-vehicles comprising said units and structural elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: I.G. CARDBOARD TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventor: Izhar Gafni
  • Patent number: 9598136
    Abstract: A self balancing scooter steered with thighs is provided, which includes: two wheels having motors mounted; a motor housing for mounting the motors therein so as to allow rotary shafts of the motors to be located linearly; a footrest disposed on top of the motor housing; an erecting housing located on top of the footrest and having a battery and a controller mounted, the controller being adapted to control driving and direction change of the self balancing scooter, a cover disposed on top thereof, and an insertion hole formed on the center of the cover; a saddle having a seatpost fitted to the insertion hole of the cover; and a thigh steering plate mounted just on the underside of the saddle through the seatpost so as to be turned in left and right sides through the thighs of the rider sitting on the saddle to perform the direction change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ROBO3 CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joon-Hyung Kim, Hwa Sung Jun
  • Patent number: 9598103
    Abstract: A vehicle and vehicle drive apparatus having a hydraulic pump and a first and second hydraulic motor, each disposed on a center section, is disclosed. A main housing having a housing cover contains the hydraulic pump and the first and second hydraulic motors, which in turn drive first and second motor shafts, respectively. The first and second motor shafts are enclosed in first and second motor shaft housings, respectively, and the main housing combined with the housing cover and the first and second motor shaft housings form a sealed sump. The main housing has mounted thereon a pinion shaft, a pinion gear and a steering rack meshed with the pinion gear. A first steering arm is rotatably mounted to the first motor shaft housing and connected to the steering rack and a second steering arm is rotatably mounted to the second motor shaft housing and connected to the steering rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Thomas J. Langenfeld, Ryan S. Buescher
  • Patent number: 9592877
    Abstract: There is provided a saddle-ridden type fuel cell vehicle. The fuel cell vehicle includes: a body frame; a steerable wheel; a driving wheel; a motor; a fuel cell; a fuel tank; and a tank valve. The body frame includes: a head pipe; a down frame portion; a pair of upper main frame portions; a pair of lower main frame portions; and up frame portions. A tank placement portion is formed in a region encircled by the upper main frame portions and the lower main frame portions in the middle portion of the body frame in the front and rear direction. The fuel tank is placed on the tank placement portion so that an axis thereof extends in the front and rear direction. A guard frame is installed between the up frame portions to traverse the rear of the tank valve in a right and left direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichiro Takada, Toru Eguchi, Kazuyuki Hirota
  • Patent number: 9592169
    Abstract: A wheelchair (100) includes a chassis (101) defining a seat (102), a backrest (103), one or more armrests (104,105), and an undercarriage (106). One or more front caster wheels (118,119) are coupled to, and selectively detachable from, the undercarriage. One or more rear wheel assemblies (120,121) each include a rear wheel (125), an axle (127), and a mounting post (129) extending distally from the axle at a substantially orthogonal angle relative to the axle. One or more quick release devices (130,131) couple each mounting post of each rear wheel assembly to the undercarriage such that the each the one or more rear wheel assemblies is selectively detachable from the undercarriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Medline Industries, Inc
    Inventors: Zach Eddy, Nicodemus Winata, Maggie Andersen
  • Patent number: 9592872
    Abstract: A motorcycle is provided which can enhance a cooling effect of a radiator while suppressing traveling resistance generated by a front fender. In a motorcycle which includes a front fender which is arranged between the left and right fork assemblies which constitute a front fork, and covers the front wheel from above, radiators are provided as a pair of left and right radiators, respective inner edges of the left and right radiators and the front fender overlap with each other as viewed from a front side, and a pair of left and right openings which extends in a vertical direction is formed in a rear portion of the front fender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Takasaki, Takashi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9586450
    Abstract: A trailer hitch assembly sized and shaped to fit within a trailer hitch receptacle, wherein the trailer hitch assembly includes a first tubular element and a second tubular element. Each tubular element has an angled end, wherein the angled ends of the first tubular element and the second tubular element are complementary to each other. The trailer hitch assembly may further include at least one guide to assist in aligning the first tubular element with the second tubular element along the angled ends. The trailer hitch assembly may further include an actuator configured to engage both the first tubular element and the second tubular element and to diagonally displace the first tubular element relative to the second tubular element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Dixon Ford
  • Patent number: 9586616
    Abstract: An electric power steering device includes a torque detector including an input shaft rotational angle detector and an output shaft rotational angle detector configured to respectively detect rotational angles of an input shaft and an output shaft coupled by a torsion bar arranged in a steering system of a vehicle; an electric motor configured to be controlled based on a torque detection value detected by the torque detector, and to generate a steering assistance force to be exerted on the output shaft; a motor rotational angle detector configured to detect a motor rotational angle of the electric motor; and a noise suppression unit configured to reduce a noise in a signal of the rotational angle of the output shaft detected by the output shaft rotational angle detector, by using the motor rotational angle detected by the motor rotational angle detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Sugawara, Yousuke Imamura, Masahiro Maeda