Patents Examined by Katy M Ebner
  • Patent number: 10343723
    Abstract: A mud flap is attachable to a selected group of through-holes of a vehicle running board. Plugs clamp to inclined surfaces of the through-holes, thereby firmly affixing a bracket portion of the integrally molded mud flap body to the running board. A flap portion of the mud flap body is connected to the bracket portion of the mud flap body only by a hinge portion. The hinge portion has a straight front surface, a straight rear surface and a thickness that is less than the overall thickness of the mud flap body. The flap portion has at least one wall portion that does not conform to any yz plane, stiffening the flap portion and inducing it to rotate around the hinge portion as a unit when a front-to-rear shear force impinges on the flap portion. A notch may be formed to interrupt an otherwise convexly curved rear flap portion surface so to receive a downwardly depending running board reinforcing member when the flap portion flexes out of its rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: MacNeil IP LLC
    Inventors: David F. MacNeil, Walter Malinowicz
  • Patent number: 10343051
    Abstract: A self-balancing electric vehicle may include a board having a frame, and a suspension system including at least one four-bar linkage coupling opposing end portions of a hub motor axle to the first end portion of the frame. The four-bar linkage(s) may have a first fixed link connected to the axle, a second fixed link comprising the frame, and two pivotable links joining the first fixed link to the second fixed link, such that the board is configured to be movable up and down relative to the axle. A shock absorber may be coupled to the four-bar linkage(s) and to the first end portion of the frame, such that the shock absorber is configured to damp up and down movement of the board relative to the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Future Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Jonathan Doerksen, Matthew Michael O'Brien
  • Patent number: 10336329
    Abstract: A saddled vehicle configured to be driven by a driver sitting on a saddle seat and steering with a handlebar can include a grasping grip to be grasped by a driver and a throttle grip for an accelerator operation respectively, two brakes for braking a front wheel and a rear wheel of the vehicle, each having a different braking operation target, and a cruise control for performing automatic propulsion control of the vehicle wherein the control by the cruise control is performed by changing a control degree in accordance with operation conditions of the first brake and the second brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Ohashi, Kazuyoshi Miyachi
  • Patent number: 10328965
    Abstract: A passenger transport carrier includes a lower frame having a first end and a second end, and an upper frame having a first channel defined therein, a first end, and a second end. The carrier also includes a rear frame extending from the second end of the lower frame to the second end of the upper frame. The carrier further includes a first upper seat support including a cross-member extending transversely across the carrier and having a first end and a second end, and a first elongate member extending from the first end of the cross-member of the first upper seat support and slidably received within the first channel of the upper frame. The first upper seat support is configured to move between a first seat position and a second seat position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Thule Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel William Britton, Matthew Stengler, Paramjit Singh
  • Patent number: 10322735
    Abstract: A collapsible trolley includes a body having a back panel, a shelf panel pivotally attached to a bottom edge of the back panel, a pair of back wing panels pivotally attached one each to opposing side edges of the back panel, a pair of shelf wing panels pivotally attached one each to opposing side edges of the shelf panel and one each to bottom edges of the pair of shelf wing panels. The body is movable between an unfolded use configuration and a folded storage configuration. A latching member is attached to the body and adapted to secure the body in the folded storage configuration. A pair of wheels is attached to the pair of back wing panels by brackets that trap the wheels between vertical abutment portions and the back wing panels, and the back wing panels have arcuate openings that align with the edge rims of the pair of wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventor: Eric G. Parker
  • Patent number: 10315509
    Abstract: A wheel unit includes a motor, a pinion gear fixed to a rotating portion of the motor, a wheel including an annular ground surface and rotating around a final gear support shaft, and a final gear disposed on one side in an axial direction with respect to the wheel. The wheel unit further includes a speed reduction mechanism which decelerates rotation of the pinion gear and transmits the rotation to the final gear and a gear case which accommodates the pinion gear. When viewed from the axial direction, the final gear support shaft and the motor shaft are disposed in different positions. The gear case includes a circular hole portion including a cylindrical inner peripheral surface which supports the rotation support portion. The inner peripheral surface of the circular hole portion comes into contact with an outer peripheral surface of the rotation support portion with lubricant interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadayuki Kanatani
  • Patent number: 10300784
    Abstract: A wheel unit includes a motor, a pinion gear fixed to a rotating portion of the motor, a wheel including an annular ground surface and rotating around a final gear support shaft, and a final gear disposed on one side in an axial direction with respect to the wheel. The wheel unit further includes a speed reduction mechanism which decelerates rotation of the pinion gear and transmits the rotation to the final gear and a gear case which accommodates the pinion gear. When viewed from the axial direction, the final gear support shaft and the motor shaft are disposed in different positions. An initial stage composite gear of the speed reduction mechanism meshes with the pinion gear. The initial stage composite gear is supported by the final gear support shaft such that the initial stage composite gear and the final gear are rotatable relative to the gear case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadayuki Kanatani
  • Patent number: 10286288
    Abstract: A torsional stabilizer increases the torsional rigidity of skis without influencing the ski's flexural characteristics. There are numerous embodiments of the invention disclosed for preventing torsional rotation of a ski about its longitudinal axis while at the same time having little to no impact on the flexing characteristics of the ski. The innovations defined by the invention may be delivered through exoskeletal means (via mechanisms and linkages attached directly to snow skis) or through dynamic structural members or mechanisms integrated within the ski design itself. In all cases, the stabilizers according to the invention effectively reduce the ski's tendency to twist about its longitudinal axis when subjected to the turning forces created during the sport of alpine skiing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Alpine Radius Control Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Steven Kendall Gross
  • Patent number: 10285894
    Abstract: A hoverboard walker attachment apparatus to motorize a standard walker using a hoverboard. The apparatus has a principal support having a vertical stem, a pair of arms, and a hoverboard clamp on a base of the principal support. The hoverboard clamp is removably disposed on a middle of a hoverboard such that it is completely fixed. A pair of walker clamps is disposed on a distal end of each of the pair of arms. Each of the pair of walker clamps is removably disposed on a leg of a walker such that it is completely fixed. A user sits on a seat of the walker and places his or her feet onto a pair of platforms of the hoverboard. A kill switch is in operational communication with the hoverboard and may be disposed on the walker, wherein the kill switch is configured to cut power to the hoverboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Inventor: Robert Haenel
  • Patent number: 10286977
    Abstract: A hoverboard walker attachment apparatus to motorize a standard walker using a hoverboard. The apparatus has a principal support having a vertical stem, a pair of arms, and a hoverboard clamp attachment on a base of the principal support. The hoverboard clamp attachment is removably disposed on a hoverboard clamp disposed on a middle of a hoverboard such that it is completely fixed. A pair of walker clamps is disposed on a distal end of each of the pair of arms. Each of the pair of walker clamps is removably disposed on a leg of a walker. A user sits on a seat of the walker and places his or her feet onto a pair of platforms of the hoverboard. A kill switch is in operational communication with the hoverboard and may be disposed on the walker, wherein the kill switch is configured to cut power to the hoverboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Inventor: Robert Haenel
  • Patent number: 10278323
    Abstract: An agricultural implement having ground engaging components and inboard and outboard frame members are safely unfolded by using a radar or laser sensor to detect the presence of an obstacle in the unfolded position. A warning signal or disabling the unfolding process occurs when an obstacle is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Parvathy K. Hadley, Dean A. Knobloch
  • Patent number: 10279239
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and apparatus relating to a touring snowboard binding comprising an adjustable lateral leverage device. In some embodiments, the adjustable lateral leverage device may comprise at least one first attachment generally at a top corner of a highback of a touring snowboard boot and at least one second attachment generally at an ankle portion of the binding. The adjustable tensioning element may extend generally diagonally between the at least one first attachment and the at least one second attachment such that when the tension in the adjustable lateral leverage device is increased the lateral support to the boot is increased proportionally and when the tension in the adjustable lateral leverage device is decreased the lateral support to the boot is decreased proportionally. Some embodiments also provide a touring snowboard boot comprising an adjustable leverage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Inventors: Tyler G. Kloster, Bryce M. Kloster
  • Patent number: 10272004
    Abstract: A front wheel drive powered wheelchair is provided and may include a support frame, a pair of opposing drive wheels, a pair of drives, and a pair of rear wheels. The frame may include a front portion, a seat post, and two independent arms extending rearward from the front portion. Each drive wheel may be coupled to the front portion of the frame. Each drive may be mounted to the front portion of the frame and may be operatively connected to a respective drive wheel of the pair of drive wheels. Each rear wheel may be coupled to a respective independent arm of the support frame. Each independent arm may be capable of flexing independent of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Pride Mobility Products Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Art, Gerald White, Matthew Tolan, Christopher Grymko
  • Patent number: 10259422
    Abstract: A vehicle hood structure includes a hood outer panel and a hood inner panel that is disposed at a back surface of the hood outer panel. In vehicle hood structure, the hood inner panel includes an outer peripheral frame that is arranged in an outer peripheral portion of the hood inner panel, a proximate surface that is arranged inside from the outer peripheral frame and is joined to the back surface of the outer panel, and a connection vertical wall that connects an inner peripheral vertical wall configuring an inner periphery of the outer peripheral frame and the proximate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA ENGINEERING KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Nakasako, Hidetaka Inagaki, Yoshihiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10259304
    Abstract: A battery housing of a motor vehicle traction battery includes at least one base plate, and two side walls which extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle and are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle. Formed between the side walls is a number of receiving spaces, within each of which at least one battery module of the traction battery of the motor vehicle is accommodated. A plurality of deformation elements which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle are attached to the inner sides of the side walls. The battery modules are arranged in the receiving spaces in such a manner that, in the region of the deformation elements, lateral deformation spaces are formed between the battery modules and the side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Brausse, Philipp Heinz, Michael Raciti
  • Patent number: 10245933
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a center tunnel which is formed on a floor panel so as to extend in a front-rear direction; a high-voltage battery which is disposed on the center tunnel; and a frame member which holds the high-voltage battery, wherein leg portions are provided on a bottom portion of the frame member so as to extend obliquely downwards, and wherein the frame member is fastened to inclined surfaces of the center tunnel via the leg portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ikeuchi, Tetsuya Takezawa
  • Patent number: 10239550
    Abstract: A child stroller apparatus includes a first and a second leg portion, a handle frame having a side segment that is coupled with the first leg portion via a pivot connection, a child seat assembled on the first leg portion, the child seat being slidable along the first leg portion, and a linkage respectively connected with the side segment and the child seat, whereby a sliding movement of the child seat along the first leg portion is linked to a rotation of the handle frame relative to the first leg portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Anthony V. Ruggiero, Robert E. Haut, Andrew J. Taylor
  • Patent number: 10238952
    Abstract: A roller board device like a skateboard or scooter operated by a user with one or more user-maneuverable wheel assemblies that are automatically returned to their “true north” position is provided according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Roll, Inc.
    Inventors: Dave Clos, William Charles Vetter, Troy A. Pongratz
  • Patent number: 10232906
    Abstract: An electrically assisted street scooter includes a handlebar, a deck, front and back wheels, a battery pack integral with the deck, an electrical motor for driving at least one of the wheels, and a drive circuit for controlling electrical supply to the electrical motor from the battery pack. The drive circuit includes a switch for setting the drive circuit in a low power-mode where the electrical motor is not powered when the switch is off, or for setting the drive circuit in a drive mode where the electrical motor can be powered when the switch is on. An auto-power on circuit automatically switches the switch on when a user pushes the street scooter. An auto-power off circuit automatically switches the switch off when the scooter is not used during a predetermined duration. The level of electrical assistance is determined based on the peak value after each leg push.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: MICRO-BEAM SA
    Inventors: Thierry Bieler, Laurent Cardoletti, Christian Fleury, Christian Koechli, Simon Tinguely
  • Patent number: 10231792
    Abstract: A portable surgical robot includes a surgical device and a cart. The surgical device is coupled to the cart. The cart includes a chassis, a mount coupled to the chassis, a carriage pivotally coupled to the mount, and a set of wheels. The carriage includes a first bracket positioned at a first lateral end of the carriage and a second bracket positioned at a second lateral end of the carriage. A first wheel of the set of wheels is coupled to the first bracket and a second wheel of the set of wheels is coupled to the second bracket. The carriage is configured to pivot relative to the mount to prevent at least one of (i) rocking of the portable surgical robot, (ii) fluttering of the first wheel, (iii) fluttering of the second wheel, and (iv) tipping of the portable surgical robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Paul Shiels, Alan Ross