Patents Examined by Joseph Rocca
  • Rear wheel steering apparatus for vehicle
    Patent number: 9469335
    Abstract: A rear wheel steering apparatus for a vehicle includes a housing, an electric motor, a planetary gear mechanism, a linear motion mechanism including a nut member and a rod threadedly engaged with the nut member, the housing including a cylindrical body which includes a lock portion provided at an inner surface of the cylindrical body, the housing including a connection cover, a cylindrical holding member holding a ring gear within the cylindrical body in a state where the ring gear is prevented from rotating, and a bearing, wherein the bearing and the cylindrical holding member are disposed and held between the lock portion and the connection cover, and the cylindrical holding member is held to be non-rotatable relative to the cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Teruhide Sato, Shimpei Fujii, Akiya Taneda
  • Collapsible support frame
    Patent number: 9469326
    Abstract: A collapsible support frame particularly for an infant pushchair comprises in an erect configuration at least a centrally located elongate spine and a seating cavity within the support frame in which to receive a seat. The spine being coupled at or towards one end to a coupler and at or towards its other end to a handle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel Blackburn Pearce
  • Alignment restoration device for load transporting apparatus
    Patent number: 9463833
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a load transporting apparatus that automatically aligns a support foot of the apparatus with a load-bearing frame connected to the load transporting apparatus during a recovery phase of an incremental walking movement. In particular, the load transporting apparatus includes a linking device attached to a support foot of the apparatus and a biasing device connected to the linking device that is deflected during non-linear load transporting movements, where the biasing device acts to automatically return the support foot to an aligned position relative to the load-bearing frame after a non-linear movement has been completed and the support foot is raised above a ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: ENTRO INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Shawn R. Smith, Harlan B. Smith
  • Straddle-type vehicle
    Patent number: 9463838
    Abstract: A straddle-type vehicle includes a bracket including a first attachment portion, a second attachment portion and a coupling portion. The first attachment portion is attached to a down frame. The second attachment portion is attached to an engine and is located rearward of the first attachment portion. The coupling portion is located between the first and second attachment portions and couples the first attachment portion with the second attachment portion. The first and second attachment portions extend in the front-to-rear direction. The first attachment portion is offset relative to the second attachment portion in a vehicle width direction. In a plan view of the vehicle, the coupling portion is oriented in or substantially in a front-to-rear direction with respect to the vehicle and extends in a direction different from that of the first and second attachment portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuki Murayama
  • Straddle-type vehicle
    Patent number: 9463843
    Abstract: Disclosed is a straddle-type vehicle including a seat cushion, a foot rest lever, and a vehicle shell. The vehicle shell includes a foot pedal and a back shell portion connected to each other. The back shell portion includes a central cover portion, a front side cover portion, a bearing cover portion, and a back side cover portion. The front side cover portion has an upper portion and a lower portion. A front end portion of the upper portion is located further forward than a back end portion of the lower portion. The bearing cover portion has a bearing face for bearing the foot rest lever. An imaginary extension line extending from the bearing face passes through the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuan Tseng
  • Quick-release ATV skis
    Patent number: 9457831
    Abstract: Quick-release skis couple to the front wheels of an ATV or other wheeled vehicle, to permit the ATV to travel over snow. The rear ATV wheels may be left unaltered, or more commonly, tracks may be substituted for the rear wheels. The ski coupling includes a drive-on runner and coupling having in one embodiment width-adjustable side walls, an over-center clamp, and a lock for securing the over-center clamp. In a second embodiment, a pivotal tire cage allows the ATV tire to be driven onto the ski, but simply by forward travel of the tire the cage pivots to constrain the tire thereon. A strap then binds the tire and cage to ensure the tire stays in place on the ski. In a third embodiment, an ATV track is converted to a runner by the application and tensioning of a ski. Additional embodiments are illustrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventors: Gregory A. Rivard, Justin G. Rivard
  • Recreational bobsleigh
    Patent number: 9457830
    Abstract: A bobsleigh for recreational use has a monolithic body having a nose section, two sides, and an underside. Each side towards the rear of the bobsleigh has a push handle. The nose section, the sides; and the underside defining an interior seating pit comprised of a long seat which forms an integral part of the underside. The underside has a plurality of grooves for directional control. The underside defines a hollow volume. Inside the pit, the grooves and space in between the grooves define a floor area. The seat has a top portion defining a seating surface, two sides, a front portion; and a rear portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventors: Nicolas Raymond, Mercier Raymond
  • Dual track
    Patent number: 9457850
    Abstract: A farm implement includes an undercarriage including at least a front crossbeam and a rear crossbeam and first and second dual track propulsion systems. Each dual track propulsion system includes a first track assembly and a second track assembly. Each track assembly includes at least a track frame, at least two wheels and a track belt looped around the wheels. Each track assembly also includes a track support beam coupled to the track frames of the first and second track assemblies. The track support beam is pivotably coupled to the front and rear crossbeams such that said track support beam can pivot about a first axis of rotation parallel to a longitudinal axis of the track support beam, thereby allowing the first track assembly to move generally upwardly and downwardly in the opposite direction of the second track assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Van Mill
  • Inverted pendulum type vehicle
    Patent number: 9457861
    Abstract: An inverted pendulum type vehicle includes a control device for controlling a plurality of electric motors, and a portable device, such as a portable telephone, for displaying a center-of-gravity display point indicating the position of a center of gravity and outputting a command for moving the vehicle. The control device controls a first actuator device and a second actuator device so as to move the vehicle according to the command output from the portable device and the tilting of an occupant boarding member. Such inverted pendulum type vehicle makes it possible to learn how to steer the inverted pendulum type vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Araki, Shinya Shirokura, Toru Takenaka
  • Electric scooter
    Patent number: 9457869
    Abstract: In an electric scooter, a swing arm is swingably supported on a vehicle body frame having a lower frame extending to the rear from a rear end of a down frame extending downwardly to the rear from a head pipe, and a pair of left and right rear frames provided to be connected to a rear end part of the lower frame and inclined upwardly to the rear at least beneath a riding seat, a power unit employing an electric motor is provided on the swing arm, a rear wheel is axially supported on a rear part of the swing arm, and a battery box housing a battery is disposed between the pair of left and right rear frames beneath the riding seat, wherein a single support shaft swingably supporting the front end part of the swing arm on the vehicle body frame is disposed beneath the battery box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Kashiwai, Hideki Inaizumi, Takato Watanabe
  • Bicycle brake assembly
    Patent number: 9457867
    Abstract: Various bicycle brake assemblies are described. In some embodiments, a bicycle brake assembly for applying a braking force to a wheel comprises a brake arm comprising a frame pivot joint and a brake pad pivot joint, the frame pivot joint configured to pivotally connect the brake arm to a bicycle frame to enable pivoting of the brake arm about a first axis of rotation; and a brake pad pivotally coupled to the brake arm at the brake pad pivot joint to enable pivoting of the brake pad about a second axis of rotation, the brake pad comprising a braking surface for engaging a wheel rim to apply a frictional force to the wheel rim, the frictional force having a frictional direction, wherein the first axis of rotation is not parallel to the frictional direction of the frictional force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher P. D'Aluisio, David Tyson Buckenberger
  • Vehicle
    Patent number: 9452806
    Abstract: At least a portion of a tie rod of a steering force transmitting mechanism overlaps with a portion of a first support member or a second support member when viewed from a front of a vehicle in a fully-tilted condition in which the vehicle body frame is fully tilted in the left-right direction. At least a portion of the tie rod is disposed below a second cross member, above a first front wheel and a second front wheel, behind a front end of the first front wheel and a front end of the second front wheel, and ahead of a first axis of a first side member and a second axis of a second side member when viewed from the left or right of the vehicle when the vehicle body frame is in an upright state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Hirayama, Toshio Iizuka, Yutaka Kubo, Takahiro Watanabe, Noboru Miyamoto, Kaoru Sasaki, Hirokatsu Ogawa
  • Power-steering device
    Patent number: 9452777
    Abstract: A power steering device is provided with a device body and a hollow motor. The device body has a steering system in which a piston is disposed on an output shaft via a ball screw mechanism so that a steering (rotational) torque is transmitted from an input shaft to the output shaft and converted to rotation of a sector shaft by axial movement of the piston for steering of steerable wheels. The hollow motor is connected to the outer circumference of the input shaft and driven by energization control based on driving support information from a vehicle-mounted camera and the like. A key and a key groove are provided on the outer circumference of the input shaft and the inner circumference of a rotor of the hollow motor, respectively, so as to constitute a key connection between the input shaft and the hollow motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS STEERING, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiro Yoda, Takuya Ishihara
  • Foldable tricycle with seat actuation
    Patent number: 9452805
    Abstract: A foldable tricycle includes a first frame, a second frame movably coupled to the first frame, and a seat for supporting a rider, wherein the seat operates as an actuator for moving the first and second frames relative to each other. Additionally, a method of handling a foldable tricycle movable between a first position and a second position includes applying a force to the seat of the tricycle, wherein the applied force on the seat causes the tricycle to move from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Huffy Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Barchek, Jason Jewell, Andrew Bean, Donald K. Jessie Jr.
  • Wind turbine nacelle, transport system for a wind turbine nacelle and method for transporting a wind turbine nacelle
    Patent number: 9453493
    Abstract: A transport system for a wind turbine nacelle is provided. The transport system comprises a first trailer and a second trailer, as well as a first leg arrangement attached to a front end or a rear end of the nacelle and a second leg arrangement attached to a bottom portion of the nacelle. A bridge assembly interconnects the first trailer and the second trailer and is fixed to the first leg arrangement and to the second leg arrangement to define a stable frame suspended between the first trailer and the second trailer for the nacelle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Henning Poulsen
  • Arm stopper mechanism mounting apparatus and steering apparatus using same
    Patent number: 9446786
    Abstract: Disclosed is an arm stopper mechanism mounting apparatus including: an output shaft; a housing that is provided with a hole for inspecting the sealability of the interior thereof; a sealing member that seals the hole, and can be detached from the hole when the sealability is inspected; and an arm stopper mechanism that has a steering arm and a stopper. The steering arm includes an output shaft hole into which the output shaft is fitted; two tie rod holes to which the tie rods are respectively attached; and two striking surfaces which strike against the stopper. The stopper includes two contact surfaces. An angle made by the two contact surfaces of the stopper is greater than an angle made by the two striking surfaces of the steering arm, and is 90° or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuya Murakami
  • Lower limb structure for legged robot, and legged robot
    Patent number: 9446514
    Abstract: Provided is a lower limb structure for a legged robot with which a load on an actuator for driving a knee joint can be reduced. The lower limb structure for the legged robot comprises: a hip joint main body (18); a thigh portion (12a); a hip joint coupling (22) for connecting the thigh portion (12a) to the hip joint main body (18); and a knee joint main body (19) joined to the thigh portion (12a). The lower limb structure for the legged robot provides a thigh portion auxiliary link (31) having one end portion joined to the hip joint main body (18) or the hip joint coupling (22) to be rotatable about one pitch axis and the other end portion joined to the knee joint main body (19) to be rotatable about another pitch axis. A knee joint actuator (4) increases and decreases a length from the one end portion to the other end portion of the thigh portion auxiliary link (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Nagatsuka
  • Trailer assembly
    Patent number: 9440576
    Abstract: A trailer assembly for simultaneously transporting a personal watercraft and a pontoon includes a trailer that may be towed. A first support is hingedly coupled to the trailer and the first support may support a pontoon. A second support is coupled to the trailer and the second support may support a personal watercraft beneath the pontoon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Inventor: Jack Wierzba
  • Cushioning system for trailer drawbar
    Patent number: 9441696
    Abstract: A trailer drawbar has a housing with a cylindrical outer chamber and a cylindrical inner chamber separated from one another by a stop. First and second compressible bushings respectively fit in the outer and inner chambers. The bushings have aligned bores. A rod extends through the bores in the bushings. One rod end contains an annular base, which abuts the first bushing, and a drawbar eye. The other rod end is threaded. An annular seal is positioned on the rod adjacent to the second bushing. The first bushing has a length and compressibility such that the seal remains entirely within the inner chamber when the first bushing is compressed to a pre-determined level. The second bushing has a length and compressibility such that the first seal is not located completely inside of the inner chamber when the second bushing is compressed up to a second pre-determined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Premier Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Zachery McCurter
  • Electric bicycle
    Patent number: 9434446
    Abstract: An electric bicycle is provided that can increase the diameter of the joining section between a crankshaft and a crank arm, suppress an increase in manufacturing cost, and minimize a size increase of a hanger with a torque sensor disposed in the hanger. A crankshaft 17 is divided into a crankshaft body 17A on the periphery of which a torque sensor 23 is disposed, and an auxiliary crankshaft 17B connected to one side of the crankshaft body 17A. A diameter D1 of the joining section between the auxiliary crankshaft 17B and a crank arm 18B and a diameter D3 of the joining section between the crankshaft body 17A and a crank arm 18A are larger than a diameter D2 of the connecting section between the crankshaft body 17A and the auxiliary crankshaft 17B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masafumi Kawakami