Patents Examined by Katy Meyer
  • Patent number: 7654350
    Abstract: Drive and steering unit for a wheel of a floor conveyor, in which a driving motor and a steering motor are disposed coaxially one below the other and are each one coupled via a drive gear or a steering gear, respectively, with a shaft of the wheel or the bearing equipment of the wheel, respectively, wherein one shaft extends as a hollow shaft and the other shaft extends through the hollow shaft, and an electronic control for the driving motor and the steering motor, which is connected with desired value transmitters for the rotational speed and the steering angle, characterised in that the electronic control has at least one circuit board which is coaxially arranged between the driving motor and the steering motor and/or the steering motor and the steering gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Manken, Ulf Schipper, Martin Von Werder, Hans Rudolf Wrede
  • Patent number: 7641215
    Abstract: Gliding board equipment systems and individual components are disclosed herein. A gliding board equipment system of one embodiment includes a gliding board, a boot having an upper cuff and a lower boot, and a binding selectively attaching the boot to the gliding board. The upper cuff of the boot defines opposed slots, and a respective pin passes through each slot to couple the upper cuff to the lower boot and allow the upper cuff to move laterally relative to the lower boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Inventor: Matthew Wade Ellison
  • Patent number: 7641009
    Abstract: Upon incompletion of abnormality detection of an air-fuel ratio sensor provided in an exhaust pipe of an engine during operation of the engine (steps S310 and S320), when the state of charge SOC of a battery is lower than a preset reference charge level Sref or when the accelerator opening Acc is not less than a preset reference opening Aref (steps S330 and S340), the abnormality detection is not performed (step S350). When the state of charge SOC of the battery is not lower than the preset reference charge level Sref and when the accelerator opening Acc is less than the preset reference opening Aref (steps S330 and S340), the abnormality detection is performed to identify abnormality or normality of the air-fuel ratio sensor based on an air fuel ratio AF output from the air-fuel ratio sensor (steps S360 to S420).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hikokazu Akimoto
  • Patent number: 7635040
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided for a battery unit and a motor control unit of a hybrid vehicle. Preferred cooling systems can have a compact structure and can efficiently cool the battery unit and the motor control unit mounted in a vehicle using air, thus ensuring stable operation of the battery unit and the motor control unit and maximizing utilization of space in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Halla Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Young-Jin Seo, Jin Ho Park, Dae-Woong Lee
  • Patent number: 7621360
    Abstract: A drive unit for a floor trolley, with at least one steered wheel (1), which is attached to a vehicle chassis (3) so that it can swivel about an essentially vertical swivel axis (2), a drive motor (4) with a drive shaft (5) being arranged coaxially with the swivel axis (2). The motor is in driving connection with the at least one wheel (1) via a gear system (10). The drive motor (4) and the gear system (10) are mounted in a common housing (16), consisting essentially of two separate housing portions, namely, a lower and an upper housing (portion 16a, 16b), that can be joined together by a fastening mechanism (18), and is mounted to rotate on the chassis (3) via at least one roller bearing (19). A drive unit is provided that at least one of the two housing portions (16a, 16b) is associated with a drawbar connection (20) formed integrally therewith by way of the housing (16) being swiveled relative to the chassis (3) about the swivel axis (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Frank Stübner, Dirk Bald
  • Patent number: 7618054
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: The Burton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Cunningham, Christopher Doyle, Noah Decker, Bryan Davis
  • Patent number: 7617898
    Abstract: A system configured to lift a hood includes: a first mounting member, provided on a rear part of the hood; a second mounting member, provided on a body of the vehicle body; a connecting member, including: a first portion, supported on a first position of the first mounting member; and a second portion, supported on the second mounting member; a detector, configured to detect a collision of the vehicle body with an object; an actuator, configured to lift the rear part of the hood when the detector detects the collision; and a stopper, configured to restrict a rising amount of the hood, the stopper including: a third portion, s supported on the first mounting member, the third portion being located in a rear side of the first portion; and a fourth portion, supported on the second mounting member coaxially with the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Loo Weng Leong
  • Patent number: 7614638
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: The Burton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Cunningham, Christopher Doyle, Noah Decker, Bryan Davis
  • Patent number: 7614642
    Abstract: A stroller has a frame structure with spaced apart sides and is collapsible from an in-use arrangement to a compact collapsed arrangement. The stroller has a seat supported by the frame structure and has a tray assembly with a front. The tray assembly is supported between the sides of the frame structure and is spaced from the seat when the frame structure is in the in-use arrangement. A foot is provided as part of the tray assembly. The foot is in an extended position projecting outward relative to the front of the tray assembly when the frame structure is in the collapsed arrangement. The foot is in a stored position when the frame structure is in the in-use arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Graco Children's Product Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Dotsey, Todd D. Sorzano, Roy L. Dean
  • Patent number: 7607674
    Abstract: A manually retractable side step assembly for a vehicle includes a rotatable step having a latch mechanism and a spring system that work in concert to rotate the step from a stowed position to a deployed position. In a stowed position, the step is in line with the running board of the vehicle. However, depressing a release button automatically rotates the step 180°, thus exposing an enlarged step area for providing ease of access to a roof rack on a minivan, SUV, or sport wagon, or if used with a pick-up truck, ease of access to a toolbox that is located in the rear of the truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Magna International
    Inventor: Brad E. Watson
  • Patent number: 7597333
    Abstract: Brake assemblies, and scooters and skateboards incorporating the same. The brake assemblies include an actuator that is positioned rearward of the body of the scooter or skateboard and includes a brake member that is selectively pivoted or otherwise moved into braking contact with a rear wheel assembly responsive to rider-applied braking inputs to the actuator. In some embodiments, the rear wheel assembly includes a truck with a chassis that is pivotally coupled to the body and to which the rear wheels are rotatably mounted. In some embodiments, the brake member is adapted to apply braking forces to a ground-contacting surface of at least one of the rear wheels responsive to braking inputs applied by a rider to the actuator. In some embodiments, the brake assembly is configured to maintain its orientation relative to the rear wheel regardless of the pivotal orientation of the body relative to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Acorn Products, LLC
    Inventor: Scott H. Stillinger
  • Patent number: 7597163
    Abstract: A wheelchair suspension is provided. The wheelchair suspension includes a frame, a pivot arm, a front caster, a drive assembly, and a rear caster. The pivot arm is pivotally coupled to the frame. The front caster is coupled to the pivot arm. Movement of the drive assembly in a first direction causes the pivot arm to substantially remain in a first position. Movement of the drive assembly in a second direction urges the pivot arm away from the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Invacare Corporation
    Inventors: Gerold Goertzen, William A. Null, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7588255
    Abstract: A collapsible clamping table has open and closed positions. In the open position, a clamping table top is supported by legs in an elevated, generally level position. The legs and table top fold together to collapse the table for storage or transportation. A load platform and wheels mount to the table so that the table may be used as an L-shaped push cart when the table is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: ZAG Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Amir Katz
  • Patent number: 7581735
    Abstract: A skateboard/ski combination wherein the four wheels of a traditional skateboard have been removed, while the skateboard trucks remain in place, and are then replaced with four ski apparatuses. An anchoring plate connects springs from the underside of the skateboard deck to the ski apparatus base that maintains a traditional ski shape, with rails that protrude outward from the front and rear of the ski base, still maintaining a traditional ski shovel shape. The ski base, which has a flat or concave surface perpendicular to the length of the ski, contains a radius positioned longitudinally to the ski length (rocker) that then transitions to a small radius at the front and rear of the skis, thereby providing a traditional ski shovel in the front and rear of the ski base. Metal or plastic rails are mounted to the ski base on opposing sides of the base in a vertical fashion, extending below the surface of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Inventors: Brad Birdsell, Eric Raymond Hansen, David M. Shipley
  • Patent number: 7565941
    Abstract: A motorized vehicle includes a vehicle body having a rigid frame in a shape of a tractor; and a plurality of audio and visual devices disposed on the vehicle body, including a camera. The vehicle can be remote-controlled, and the vehicle body may be armored and may include a weapon system. The camera may be one of a motion, thermal, digital, and near infrared camera, and may be retractable into a housing. In another embodiment, the motorized vehicle, which may be remote-controlled, includes a vehicle body having a rigid frame in a rectangular shape with sloped sides; at least one storage unit accessed by doors, disposed within the vehicle body; and a camera disposed on the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Inventor: John P. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 7562737
    Abstract: A vehicle power unit supporting apparatus supports a transversely-mounted power unit having a power source and a speed reduction gear connected to each other. The power unit is supported on a vehicle body by at least a power-source-side mount and a speed-reduction-gear side mount on both of the left and right sides in the vehicle width direction. These mounts are disposed at a position higher than a position of the center of gravity of the power unit. Spring axis lines of the power-source side mount and the speed-reduction-gear side mount are inclined to intersect with each other at a position higher than the position of the center of gravity of the power unit when the vehicle is viewed from the front. An elastic center of the entire power unit supporting apparatus is located at a position lower than the position of the center of gravity of the power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tetsuya Miyahara, Tatsuhide Sakai, Masafumi Kyuse, Mutsuru Ozaki
  • Patent number: 7559559
    Abstract: A travel cooler includes a base, a plurality of wheels mounted to the base for rolling movement of the base and an insulated container having sidewalls supported by the base and defining an interior, insulated space for receiving and preserving perishable food items. The base includes a portion that extends beyond at least one of the sidewalls to define a cargo receiving area for receiving items for transport. Additionally, or alternatively, an arm member is mounted to the base and configured to move between a retracted position to define a cargo receiving area and a protracted position substantially eliminating the cargo receiving area. Alternatively, a travel cooler includes a bracket removably mounted to an insulated container. The bracket defines the cargo receiving area for receiving items for transport exterior to the insulated container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: M & C Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Alexander Vanderberg, Ian D. Kovacevich, Daniel Lee Bizzell, Chris Hoy
  • Patent number: 7559580
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a system for fixing fenders in motorcycles. It is essentially characterized in that it comprises applying a key 1, 5 to a specific fixing area of the fender, such key being either interchangeable, so that the holes thereon are made to match the holes in the fender, or able to move along the fixing area. Therefor, it is respectively provided with specific holes that are adapted to each model of motorcycle or with slant openings which, by sliding the key, allow for a coincident location with horizontal openings of the fender's fixing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Polisport-Pedro & Paulo Araujo Plasticos, S.A.
    Inventor: Pedro Araújo
  • Patent number: 7559561
    Abstract: A collapsible skateboard includes an upright handle having lower portion on which is fixedly mounted a bracket, a connector having a curved slot having a lower end formed with a horizontal recess, an upper end formed with a vertical recess, and a circular hole under the vertical recess, an adjust pin inserted into the vertical recess of the connector and the elongated hole of the bracket, a pivot pin fitted through the circular hole of the connector and the circular hole of the bracket, a spring having an upper end connected to the adjust pin and a lower end to the pivot pin, and a platform on which is fixedly mounted the connector, whereby the skateboard can be easily folded up as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Razor USA LLC
    Inventor: Shui-Te Tsai
  • Patent number: 7559387
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle that includes an engine and an electric machine that selectively drives the engine. A control module monitors a deceleration rate of the vehicle and regulates fueling of the engine based on the deceleration rate. The control module regulates rotation of a crankshaft of the engine based on the deceleration rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Goro Tamai