Patents Examined by Katy Meyer
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Patent number: 7874573Abstract: A convertible toe strap for securing a toe area of a snowboarding boot is selectively and repeatedly convertible between different restraining configurations. The convertible toe strap includes a first configuration where one of toe lift or forward movement is resisted and a second configuration where both toe lift and forward movement is resisted.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2009Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: The Burton CorporationInventors: Christopher C. Cunningham, Christopher M. Doyle, Noah Decker, Bryan S. Davis
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Patent number: 7871089Abstract: A trash container hand truck system includes a container that has a bottom wall and a peripheral wall. Wheels are attached to the peripheral wall and a cover is hingedly coupled to the container. A post has a bottom end, a top end and a front side. A plate is attached to the front side of the post adjacent to the bottom end. The plate is positionable under the bottom wall. A support is attached to the post and extends laterally away in opposite directions from the front side of the post. A pair of hooks is attached to the support and engage the handle. An arm has a first end and a second end. The first end is hingedly coupled to the post and extends rearward of the front side. A wheel is rotatably coupled to the second end of the arm.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2007Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Inventor: Hilton J. Henderson
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Patent number: 7862054Abstract: An occupant retention structure for a child's stroller utilizes an abbreviated upper horn extending downwardly from the underside of the tray and an abbreviated lower horn that extends upwardly from the seat pan beneath the lower horn without connection therebetween. Other protuberances formed by the tray and seat structures cooperates with the upper and lower horns to prevent the passage of a small probe used to determine if a child's torso or head could pass through an opening. The tray is mounted on a forwardly extending mounting pin for rotation thereon, while being rotatable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the mounting pin to provide a swivel connection for the tray on one of the arm rests. A spring-loaded detent allows the tray to be released from the mounting pin for removal thereof from the stroller. The opposing end of the tray is latched to the other arm rest.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2007Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., LtdInventor: Joseph F. Fiore, Jr.
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Patent number: 7849952Abstract: A tractor has hydraulically driven wheels at a cab end and castor wheels at an engine end. It can be driven cab forward in a working mode with a header on the forward end. It is rotated to engine forward in the transport position for more stable higher speed travel. The driver's console is rotated in the cab with the steering and speed control elements moved with the seat for the driver to face forwards and its position is detected by switches. In the engine forward position for transportation, the control system detects the seat position and operates the controls for higher speed drive and to prevent operation of the header. The engine has a series of ratings which can be selected depending upon whether the header motor is engaged so that a highest engine speed is used only when the header is disengaged and the lower speed is used for higher fuel efficiency when the header is operating.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2007Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: MacDon Industries LtdInventors: Don MacGregor, Brent Gabriel, James Thomas Dunn, Leonard Bergman
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Patent number: 7841609Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle step device, capable of enhancing operability of a step having an elevating function to enhance ingress/egress ease into and from the vehicle. The step device includes an opening/closing mechanism that operates in synchronization with opening and closing operations of a slide door, and a step moving mechanism that transmits power of the opening and closing operations of the slide door through the opening/closing mechanism to a movable step, thereby moving the movable step. The step moving mechanism includes a slide lever for moving the movable rails forward and backward, X arms each having first and second arms and provided between each movable rail and the movable step, and a vertically moving lever that moves the first end of the first arm with respect to the movable rails to vertically move the movable step.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2008Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroki Okada, Ryoichi Fukumoto
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Patent number: 7832746Abstract: A non-motorized scooter is provided with a base and front and rear wheels mounted on the base. A seat is mounted on the base for folding between an upright riding position and a folded storage position. Handlebars are pivotally mounted on the base for movement between an upright riding position and a folded storage position. The seat and handlebars fold toward one another in a side-by-side position for storage. Outrigger wheels on the rear of the scooter maintain the scooter in an upright position without touching by a person. The height of the seat and handlebars can be adjusted for both the riding position and the storage position, such that the scooter can be used as a crutch or cane when the seat and handlebars are folded downwardly. Optional accessories may be provided for the scooter, including a light, a water bottle holder, and a storage basket.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2008Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Inventor: C. Dean Peterson
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Patent number: 7832754Abstract: A device for binding an article of footwear to a sports article, such as a binding for securing a boot to a cross-country ski, including a locking mechanism adapted to cooperate with a connecting member of the article of footwear, and including a user-manipulable opening system for controlling the opening of the mechanism, the opening system being directly or indirectly manipulable independently according to at least two distinct directions of manipulation for controlling the opening of the mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2006Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Salomon S.A.S.Inventors: François Girard, Eddy Yelovina
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Patent number: 7828094Abstract: A driving system, vehicle, and control method in which a difference between the detection value of an intake air pressure sensor and an atmospheric pressure sensor is computed as a detection value difference in the engine stop condition. An estimate of a potential for an abnormality of the detection value difference is determined, or the abnormality of the detection value difference is determined according to the duration time of an unusual state having the detection value difference of greater than a preset reference value. In an ignition-on state, when a delayed activation is requested, it is identified whether the abnormality in the detection value difference is to be determined. The delayed activation is requested in response to confirmation of a potential abnormality condition where there is a potential for an abnormality in the detection value difference but the abnormality in the detection value difference is not determined.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2009Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyoe Ochiai, Takehiro Koga
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Patent number: 7828095Abstract: A motor has a stator core, a coil, a rotor, and a motor case in which the stator core, the coil, and the rotor are housed. The motor is also provided with a fluid carrying member that is arranged around a coil end of the coil in the motor case and has an inlet hole that is communicated with a fluid supply source and a distribution hole that is communicated with a space inside the motor case.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2007Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoshi Murata, Michitaka Tsuchida, Hiroaki Urano
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Patent number: 7823671Abstract: A cooling structure includes a plurality of plate-shaped heat generating members such as battery parts, DC voltage converters and electrical member (e.g., relay). In the cooling structure, the heat generating members are arranged in a plate-thickness direction to have predetermined spaces for forming fluid passages each of which is provided between adjacent heat generating members, and the fluid passages are provided to pass a fluid for cooling the heat generating members. Accordingly, all the heat generating members can be effectively cooled while the cooling structure can be made compact.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2006Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Yoshimitsu Inoue, Masamichi Makihara, Takashi Yamanaka
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Patent number: 7810589Abstract: A main body portion has a front, a rear, a top, a bottom and laterally spaced sides and an air intake. A housing in the vehicle contains a turbine/flywheel adapted to be rotated in response to air entering the housing from the air intake. A starter generator in the housing is adapted to be rotated by the rotation of the turbine/flywheel. A main drive generator in the housing is adapted to be rotated by the rotation of the turbine/flywheel. An electric drive motor in the vehicle is powered from the main drive generator.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2008Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Inventor: Edward Michael Frierman
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Patent number: 7810833Abstract: A ski boot binding securable to an alpine ski. The binding includes a heel unit having a base heel release threshold in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the ski to which the binding is attached. The heel unit includes a compensation mechanism that dynamically changes the base heel release threshold as a function of force conditions encountered by the ski during skiing.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2006Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Vermont Safety DevelopmentsInventors: Carl F. Ettlinger, David J. Dodge
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Patent number: 7806418Abstract: A blade holder for holding an ice skate blade and for attachment to a skate boot. The blade holder comprises a body having a top portion for attachment to a skate boot and a bottom portion for receiving an ice skate blade. The body is at least partly made of clear material and defines a cavity. The blade holder also comprises a graphical element inside the cavity and visible through the clear material. An ice skate comprising such a blade holder and a method of customizing the appearance of the blade holder are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2004Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Bauer Hockey, Inc.Inventors: Ivan Labonté, Chris Langevin
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Patent number: 7806211Abstract: When a catalyst temperature ?c is higher than a threshold value ?ref (S320), an increase coefficient Kf is set so as to tend to be larger as opening and closing timing of an intake valve is advanced, an intake air flow Qa is larger, and a rotation speed Ne of the engine 22 becomes higher (S340), a target fuel injection quantity Qf* is set based on a product of a basic fuel injection quantity Qftmp set based on the intake air flow Qa and an increase coefficient Kf (S350), and fuel injection of the set target fuel injection quantity Qf* is performed (S360).Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2007Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hitoki Sugimoto
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Patent number: 7802641Abstract: A vehicle has a frame with a body including a front and roof. The vehicle includes an electric motor energized by a battery pack, containing batteries, and connected to a battery charger/regulator. A driveshaft operatively connected to and driven by the motor propels the wheels of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes at least a pair of venturi effect air nozzle windstream accelerators comprising the design of the front of the vehicle, the front of the vehicle being wedge-shaped, having a sharp edge, generally horizontal and close to the surface or road upon which the vehicle travels, the front sloping backward and upward to the roof of the vehicle, thereby scooping up the horizontal headwind column of air developed upon vehicle movement. The accelerators further include at least a pair of venturi effect structures mounted on the roof, each containing a wind-electric generator, operatively connected to the battery charger/regulator.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2008Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Inventor: John Friedmann
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Patent number: 7802644Abstract: A snowmobile having a hood releasably secured to the snowmobile via interlocking male-female members, the hood being manually releasable from the snowmobile without the use of tools. A snowmobile having a hood releasably secured to the snowmobile via a hook and elastic connector, and having fairings with a moveable section constructed and arranged to conceal or cover the hook and elastic connector.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2006Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.Inventors: Jacques Brodeur, Claude Vaillancourt
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Patent number: 7789175Abstract: A wheel assembly for a small-scale machine includes a pair of opposing, individually-driven wheels, associated motors and possibly one or more gear assemblies. The motors receive separate drive signals from a control electronics subsystem of the wheel assembly. The motors can be connected to the wheels via the gear assemblies. Because the wheels are separately driven, driving the two wheel assemblies at similar or different speeds drives the wheel assembly over straight or curved paths. An orientation assembly allows the orientation of the wheels to the machine to be controllably altered. A height adjusting assembly allows the distance between the wheels and a point on the machine where the wheel assembly is attached to be adjusted. The rotational axis that the wheel assembly rotates about when re-oriented need not pass through either wheel of the wheel assembly. The wheels can be driven by control signals generated by on-board control electronics.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Cycogs, LLCInventors: Wayland E. Tobey, Peter D. Davis
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Patent number: 7780175Abstract: A wheel assembly and a method of using the wheel assembly are provided. The wheel assembly is attachable to various objects and capable of quickly and easily collapsing or folding to become more compact for more efficient and cost-effective transportation or shipping. It is then capable of being quickly and easily expanded.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Pinnacle Products International, Inc.Inventor: Stephen McCalley
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Patent number: 7775547Abstract: A stroller has a frame structure with two laterally spaced apart sides. A seat is supported between the sides of the frame structure. A frame extension is provided on each side of the frame structure. Each frame extension projects rearward of the seat. The frame structure is at least collapsible laterally from a side-to-side in-use spacing between the frame extensions to a side-to-side compact spacing less than the in-use spacing between the frame extensions. A cross-brace extends between and interconnects the frame extensions. The cross-brace is selectively reconfigurable from a stiff condition to a loose condition with the frame extensions in the in-use spacing. In the stiff condition the brace maintains the in-use spacing between the frame extensions and in the loose condition the brace permits the frame extensions to collapse to the compact spacing. A cup holder can be carried on the cross-brace to be collapsible with the frame structure.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2006Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.Inventors: Michael A. Dotsey, Todd D. Sorzano, Roy L. Dean
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Patent number: 7770912Abstract: A front wheel foldable device for a golf cart includes a main body, a wheel frame, a positioning member, a sleeve, a stop member, and an elastic member. Thus, the wheel frame is pulled outwardly relative to the main body so that the locking portions of the positioning member are moved to detach from the locking grooves of the main body respectively. Then, the wheel frame is rotated through ninety (90) degrees and is released, so that the post of the wheel frame is retracted into the main body by a restoring force of the elastic member, the locking portions are locked in the locking grooves respectively, the front wheel is turned from an upright state to a horizontal state, and the front wheel is parallel with and rested on the cart frame when the cart frame is folded.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2007Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Unique Product & Design Co., Ltd.Inventor: Gordon Liao