Patents Examined by Josh Skroupa
  • Patent number: 11248658
    Abstract: A dual plunging constant velocity (CV) drive shaft is provided for communicating rotational forces from a transaxle to a drive wheel of a vehicle. The dual plunging CV drive shaft comprises a drive shaft that transfers torque from the transaxle to the drive wheel. An inboard plunging CV joint is coupled between the transaxle and the drive shaft, and an outboard plunging CV joint is coupled between the drive shaft and the drive wheel. The inboard and outboard plunging CV joints each comprises an elongate housing that receives a CV joint coupled with the drive shaft. The inboard and outboard plunging CV joints communicate rotational forces from the transaxle to the drive wheel during vertical pivoting of a trailing arm coupled with the outboard plunging CV joint. The elongate housings allow the drive shaft to “float” longitudinally, as needed, during extreme pivoting motion of the suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventor: Robby Gordon
  • Patent number: 11248643
    Abstract: A composite element (10) for use in construction, in particular building construction or civil engineering, which composite element comprises at least two components and at least one fastening element (11) for connecting the components. A first component has at least one assembly pin (13), which is cylindrical in particular. The fastening element (11) is configured as a clamping element such that it can be force-fittingly connected to the assembly pin (13). The invention further relates to a use of a fastening element (11) configured as a clamping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: ACO SEVERIN AHLMANN GMBH & CO. KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAAFT
    Inventors: Stephan Meier, Christian Philip Schumann-Hammermann
  • Patent number: 11242896
    Abstract: A constant velocity ball joint uses a star shaped sleeve with a splined connection to its shaft. The sleeve is longitudinally retained on its shaft using a retaining ring in an outwardly facing groove of the shaft. The star shaped sleeve has a 30° assembly assist chamfer angle on one side, as well as a 45° transition chamfer angle and a 65° ramp chamfer angle facing the opposite direction. These angles control the diameter of the retaining ring as it is compressed inward into the groove during assembly and disassembly. The star shaped sleeve can be used in a dynamic length CV joint, with the splines of a configuration that allows longitudinal sliding of the sleeve on the shaft, so the shell of the dynamic length CV joint still can be of the spherical race type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Zhejiang CFMOTO Power Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuying Cheng, Zhenxiang Kuang, Jiajun Li
  • Patent number: 11242895
    Abstract: A coupling device for the torque-transmitting connection of a transmission with an electric machine, includes a drive element and an output element which are coupled with each other in a torque-transmitting manner. The drive element and the output element are electrically separated from each other by way of an electrical insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Dominik Birle
  • Patent number: 11242888
    Abstract: A drive shaft coupling for connecting a rotating tube cleaning shaft to a tube cleaning machine wherein high pressure fluid is pumped through the coupling, wherein the coupling is sealed to contain the high pressure fluid, and wherein a machine driven rotary flexible shaft passes through the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Crossford International, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph J. Franzino
  • Patent number: 11236512
    Abstract: A rotatable structural bracket includes a top plate for placement in a horizontal rest position on an end of a structural section that has an internal void. The rotatable structural bracket also includes a rotatable extension for placement into the internal void of the structural section. The rotatable extension can be configured as a wedge that is rotatable out from the internal void to angle the top plate at any acute angle relative to the horizontal rest position of the top plate. The top plate and the rotatable extension are of single-piece construction, and the rotatable extension rotates relative to the structural section and internal of the structural section. The rotatable extension also encompasses an opening of the internal void at any acute angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: CityPost LLC
    Inventors: Nathan A. Williams, Michael M. Mosback
  • Patent number: 11230843
    Abstract: Various embodiments of cable railing systems are disclosed. Although not limited to these applications, the embodiments are particularly useful in connection with cable railing systems with hollow metal support members or with solid concrete support members with weld plates. The embodiments include straight and corner cable termination assemblies that are designed to support a metal cable railing, particularly one that is heavy gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Donald Erik Kennedy
  • Patent number: 11226008
    Abstract: A system for axially retaining two coaxial components includes an inner component having an annular compression groove formed in a radially outer surface thereof, an outer component having an annular engagement groove formed in a radially inner surface thereof, and a split retaining ring installed in the annular compression groove of the inner component, wherein the split retaining ring is adapted for movement between a radially compressed condition to facilitate axial engagement of the inner component within the outer component and a radially expanded condition to facilitate radial engagement of the split retaining ring in the annular engagement groove of the outer component, so that the inner and outer components are axially locked together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron M. Finke, Stephen Michael Bortoli, Mark J. Franklin
  • Patent number: 11225773
    Abstract: A bushing assembly comprises a flanged bushing including a flange portion including a flange anti-rotation feature, and a shaft portion with an outer cylindrical surface extending from the flange portion, terminating at a free end, the outer cylindrical surface including external threads disposed proximate the free end, and a retaining ring including an annular configuration defining an inner cylindrical surface defining internal threads complimentarily shaped to mate with the external threads of the outer cylindrical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Robert Stolz
  • Patent number: 11226009
    Abstract: A shaft assembly includes a yoke having a yoke body having an exterior surface extending between a first end and a second end along a first axis. The yoke body defines a first bore and a second bore. The first bore extends along the first axis between the first end and the second end. The second bore extends partially across the yoke body along a second axis that is disposed transverse to the first axis. The second bore at least partially intersects the first bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Cymbal, Carl R. Castanier, Mike E. Partyka, William J. Knight
  • Patent number: 11215208
    Abstract: A positioning locking mechanism of a rotational member comprising a rotational positioning member provided with a positioning groove; a rotational member pivotally connected with the rotational positioning member and rotating around the rotational positioning member; a positioning member arranged in the rotational member and movably meshed with the positioning groove; and a locking operation member arranged in the rotational member to control the motion of the positioning member. The positioning locking mechanism can effectively ensure that the positioning and locking of the rotational member cannot be invalid due to accident collision or component fatigue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventor: Xiaoming Chen
  • Patent number: 11209033
    Abstract: A plastic component with a substrate including a plastic and at least one first fastening piece that is embodied for a form-fitting engagement with a complementarily formed second fastening piece and has at least one anchoring element embedded and fixed in a position in the substrate; the substrate includes soft foam with a weight per unit volume of 120 kg/m3 to 300 kg/m3 and a Shore A hardness of 5 to 100 and the fastening element includes a thermoplastic plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: David Spitzer
  • Patent number: 11208829
    Abstract: A connector for pivotably connecting two structural members together includes a generally planar member having a plurality of semi-circular tabs extending from the planar member. The tabs are semi-circular to pivotably receive a vertically extending rod member of one of the structural elements. The connector may include a semi-cylindrical wall portion that is adapted to receive and capture a horizontally extending rod member of one of the structural members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: XcelTek LLC
    Inventors: Lee L. Reneau, Phillip Lawson
  • Patent number: 11203880
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention surround a reusable construction guardrail or stanchion. In certain embodiments, the reusable construction guardrail has features that aid in easier and faster assembly and disassembly. In certain embodiments of the invention, the construction guardrail is transportable, having telescoping features and folding features to allow greater ease in packing and transporting. Certain embodiments of the invention include a reusable construction guardrail having a uniform construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Beziup Stanchion, LLC
    Inventors: Juan Ramon Enoch Baca, Karen Sue Major Baca, Dan Pieper
  • Patent number: 11199228
    Abstract: A system and method for replacing a sealing arrangement of a grid coupling without removing or disturbing a mechanical connection of the coupling with driver and driven shafts connected to the coupling includes providing combined seal members having gasket seal portions that are integrally formed with radial seal portions and that are disposed between portions of the housing and the rotating seal group of the grid coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Dodge Acquisition Co.
    Inventors: Galen Burdeshaw, Thomas Kuckhoff
  • Patent number: 11193545
    Abstract: A multi-disk coupling includes a first flange, a second flange, and a disk pack via which the first and second flanges are connected to one another in a torque-transmitting manner. A first fastener connects the multi-disk to one of the first and second flanges, and a second fastener is detachably connected to the first fastener and connected to the multi-disk via a material-fit connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: FLENDER GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Kleinewegen
  • Patent number: 11187005
    Abstract: A protective barrier includes a first end post including a first plastic outer cover, the first plastic outer cover including a first opening with a first pin-receiving socket formed therein, a second end post including a second plastic outer cover, the second plastic outer cover including a second opening with a second pin-receiving socket formed therein, a first hollow plastic rail including a first end disposed in the first opening of the first end post such that a first through hole in the first end is aligned with the first pin-receiving socket, and a second end disposed in the second opening of the second end post such that a second through hole in the second end is aligned with the second pin-receiving socket, a first pin extending through the first through hole in the first end of the hollow plastic rail, the first pin having a proximal end disposed in the first pin-receiving socket and a distal end disposed in a third pin-receiving socket, and a second pin extending through the second through hole in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: McCue Corporation
    Inventors: David S. McCue, David DiAntonio, Thomas Ustach, Russell Harris, Timothy David Stratford, Fernando Fraga, Amanda Gene Meltzer
  • Patent number: 11187275
    Abstract: A device for connecting a steering column to a steering gear housing comprising a shaft (2) having an end portion (20), a clamping collar (1) comprising two arms (10, 11) arranged relative to one another in such a way as to delimit a cavity (3) able to guide the shaft (2) into a position of engagement and keep the shaft (2) in the engaged position, and means (16) for clamping the arms (10, 11) onto the shaft in the engaged position with a set torque, the cavity (3) comprising a coupling zone (4) and an entry zone (5) situated to the rear of the coupling zone in the direction of insertion and dimensioned in relation to the coupling zone (4) in such a way as to prevent the clamping means from being clamped to the set torque when the end portion is situated in the entry zone (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventors: Emmanuel Mottier, Benjamin Coudere, Olivier Coulon
  • Patent number: 11187255
    Abstract: A device for securing safety guards around machinery includes a portable wedge clamp device which is inserted through both the safety guard and the post. The portable wedge clamp device includes a base wedge member and a cooperating drive wedge member. The bullet-shaped end of the drive wedge member is modified to include a groove around which a cable tie is used to prevent the drive wedge member from rattling and from moving and becoming unlocked. Alternatively, the bullet-shaped end of the drive wedge member includes a slot through which the cable tie is secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Vandergeest Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Vandergeest, Karen Vandergeest
  • Patent number: 11187006
    Abstract: A fence accessory includes at least two ornament bodies, each of the at least two ornament bodies including a first connecting part and a second connecting part at two opposing ends thereof. The first connecting part of one of the at least two ornament bodies and the second connecting part of an other one of the at least two ornament bodies are configured to be connected to a fence bar and clamped together as one unit. Moreover, each of the first connecting part and the second connecting part includes a hook and a slot at two opposing sides of the first connecting part and the second connecting part. The hook of the first connecting part of one ornament body is configured to connect to the slot of the second connecting part of an adjacent accessory body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventor: Alan Qing-Lin Zhu