Patents Examined by Kevin Hurley
  • Patent number: 11603164
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric drive system for a bike comprising a portable electric friction drive device and a bike bracket. A first drive device attachment point is located at a rear part of the friction drive device. A second drive device attachment point is located between the front part of the friction drive device and the rear part of the friction drive device. An inclination control arrangement is configured to control the inclination of the imaginary line between the second drive device attachment point and a contact point of the drive wheel by adjusting the tilt of the friction drive device over the second drive device attachment point. The bike has at least one wheel, comprising the electric drive system, wherein the drive wheel is arranged to be contactable to the tire of said wheel at said contact point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Zipforce AB
    Inventors: Tore Bengtsson, Møns Bengtsson
  • Patent number: 11603147
    Abstract: A track system for a vehicle has an attachment assembly mountable to a chassis of a vehicle and defining an attachment-assembly-pivotable connector pivot axis; a track assembly including a support frame disposed laterally outward from the attachment assembly, the support frame including a leading frame assembly and a trailing frame assembly, each frame assembly including a frame member connectable to the attachment assembly pivotable connector and a frame-suspension pivotable connector; at least one wheel-load-bearing connector, and at least one idler wheel being at least indirectly connected to the frame member via the at least one wheel-load-bearing connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SOUCY INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Yves Sauvageau, Branislav Nanac
  • Patent number: 11602962
    Abstract: The present invention provides an articulated safety hitch which is a more secure and flexible replacement for the conventional hitch and ball towing systems long used in light to heavy duty towing, thus improving safety, longevity, strength, serviceability, and ease of manufacture. Instead of a single ball typically used in conventional hitch and ball towing systems, the inventive articulated safety hitch can move in all directions with wide bearing separation and without binding up or slipping off. In addition, the inventive articulated safety hitch is simple to build and uses readily available, off-the-shelf components as wearable items, such as existing trailer tongues and ball coupler designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Inventor: Milton J. Redden
  • Patent number: 11602963
    Abstract: An example apparatus is configured to couple to a trailer and a tow vehicle. The apparatus includes a frame; one or more clamps mounted to the frame and configured to couple the frame to an underplate of the trailer; and a shaft having a first end rotatably coupled to the frame and a second end configured to couple to at least one replicated element of a towed vehicle. The at least one replicated element is configured to engage the tow vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christian Brunckhorst, Nicholas James Brimlow
  • Patent number: 11597455
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid surface traversing apparatus adapted to be adhered to a (e.g., submerged or in air) surface by a non-flow-through pressure differential, the apparatus includes a frame forming a chamber; a seal (e.g., closed-cell foam) having a closed seal perimeter (e.g., a closed polygon, a quadrilateral, and the like) defining an opening of the chamber, the seal perimeter adapted substantially for rolling relative to the chamber and for contact with the surface to be traversed to prevent leakage and maintain a non-flow-through seal with the surface; a suction pump structured and arranged to produce the (e.g., negative) pressure differential and cooperate with the seal to adhere the apparatus to the surface; and a drive configured to move the apparatus relative to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: International Climbing Machines, Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel J. Maggio
  • Patent number: 11597271
    Abstract: A vehicle fuel tank mounting assembly configured to secure a vehicle fuel tank to a vehicle is described. The assembly comprises a first elongate securing member having at least a first fixing point attachable to a vehicle body. The elongate securing member extends at least partially around the fuel tank in an assembled configuration. The assembly comprises a support member having a first end attachable to the first fixing point, and a second end configured to engage at least one of the elongate member and a wall of the fuel tank at a point remote from the fixing point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Spurling, Robert William Sleath
  • Patent number: 11597434
    Abstract: An actuator that applies force to a member associated with steering, and a control device that controls the actuator, have duplex configuration. First and second control devices compute the same controlled variable as first and second controlled variables, respectively. In a normal mode, the control device controls the actuator according to the first controlled variable. The first and second control devices send and receive respectively computed controlled variables to and from each other via communications. When a discrepancy arises between the first and second controlled variables, or an abnormality occurs in communications between the first and second control devices, the operating mode is switched from the normal mode to an independent mode. In the independent mode, the first and second control devices control the first and second actuators, according to the first and second controlled variables, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JTEKT CORPORATION, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaharu Yamashita, Atsushi Sato, Masataka Okuda, Yosuke Yamashita, Shintaro Takayama, Shunsuke Hiromasa, Toshiyuki Mikida, Shoji Kubota, Yuji Fujita, Kenichi Abe, Toshimitsu Sakai
  • Patent number: 11597427
    Abstract: Steering actuators for vehicles are described herein. An example actuator includes a rack to be coupled to a knuckle of a vehicle, a ball nut coupled to the rack, a ring gear coupled to the ball nut, and a motor with a pinion engaged with the ring gear. The motor is to rotate the ball nut, via the pinion and the ring gear, to move the rack linearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Washnock, Soungjin Jason Wou, Jack Barry, Jennifer Laz, Garry Robert Smith
  • Patent number: 11597435
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drilling rig with a drilling tower, a base structure, on which the drilling tower is arranged, and at least three support units being part of the base structure, each support unit having at least one wheel rotatable around a horizontal wheel axis, wherein at least one of the support units comprises a vertical steering axis, around which the at least one wheel can be turned by a steering drive. The invention further relates to a method for moving such a mobile drilling rig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: BAUER Maschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Hartl
  • Patent number: 11597245
    Abstract: An electric scooter hitch assembly is configured to be quickly attached to and removed from an electric scooter. The hitch assembly provides a mechanism for selectively securing a carry-on or other towable item to a variety of electric scooters. The hitch assembly is compact and easily transportable thereby making it an ideal solution for a rider to temporarily adapt an electric scooter, including rental electric scooters, to transport towable items such as trailers, luggage, carts, or other suitable items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Mod.al Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Preston Ruff, Kreg Peeler
  • Patent number: 11597464
    Abstract: A rod piece connection device, comprising: a first connection piece and a second connection piece. The first connection piece includes a first rod piece connection end and a first joggle joint end opposite to the first rod piece connection end. Wherein, the first joggle joint end includes a protrusion head tongue portion and a neck portion. The second connection piece includes a second rod piece connection end and a second joggle joint end opposite to the second rod piece connection end. The second joggle joint end is located corresponding to the first joggle joint end for them to form into a joggle joint. The second joggle joint end includes a protrusion bottom groove portion and a pillow portion. Wherein the protrusion head tongue portion is disposed corresponding into the protrusion bottom groove portion, and the neck portion is located corresponding to the pillow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventor: Lennart Pieter Middel
  • Patent number: 11597469
    Abstract: A bicycle crankarm provided with an electric/electronic system, including a battery power unit, a processor having a standby mode and a running mode, and a wake unit that emits a wake signal of the processor, wherein the wake unit is completely supported by or in the crankarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventors: Fabiano Fossato, Keith Joseph Wakeham
  • Patent number: 11590039
    Abstract: A propulsion assist device for a wheelchair having a hand rim slideably housed inside a channel of a frame pivotably connected to a lever arm. The frame is further comprised of a portion of grip material positioned inside the channel along an underside of a top of the frame. When a pair of devices are installed on a pair of hand rims of the wheelchair, the wheelchair is moved forward by a coordinated rowing motion of both lever arms forwards and then backwards along the hand rim. The pivoting motion of the frame causes the grip material sandwiched between the frame and the hand rim to pressure grip the hand rim and turn it when a user moves the lever arms through their rowing motion. Repositioning the frame along the hand rim causes the gripping material to release and slide along the hand rim before repositioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventor: John W. Britz
  • Patent number: 11590812
    Abstract: A system for connecting trailer towing components may have a pin having a first leg and a second leg. The system may also have a torsion bar having a first set of splines, and a main beam for a trailer. The main beam may have an insert adapted to selectively receive the torsion bar therein. The main beam may also have at least one guide aperture adapted to selectively receive one of the pin legs. The system may also have a secondary beam adapted to be selectively located at least partially within the main beam. The secondary beam may have apertures adapted to receive at least one of the legs of the pin and the torsion bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Bil-Jax, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Warren Reyes, Keith Raymond Bruner, Brice Melvin Knick-Koppenhofer
  • Patent number: 11590813
    Abstract: A silencer assembly for trailer hitches and a method of use thereof. The silencer assembly includes a sheet of material that is durable, abrasion-resistant, wear-resistant, ultra-violet light resistant, and sound dampening. An adhesive is applied to a bottom surface of the sheet which is then placed on a portion of the drawbar that is selectively receivable in a bore of receiver tube of the trailer hitch. The adhesive fixedly secures the sheet to the drawbar. The drawbar is inserted into the receiver bore. The sheet occupies part of a gap defined between an exterior surface of the drawbar and an interior surface of the receiver tube reducing relative movement between the drawbar and the receiver tube, and thereby reducing rattling noises. An additional sheet of material and one or more shims may be used to further reduce the gap between the drawbar and receiver tube, and thereby further reduce rattling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: RATTLE SILENCER, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas L. Brunson
  • Patent number: 11590814
    Abstract: A trailer retainer assembly having a riser section extending above a ball mount area and a retainer member arranged to move along the riser section from an upper position to a lower position; wherein when the retainer member is placed in a lower position it at least partially covers the ball mount area such that a trailer coupler secured to the ball mount area is retained by the retainer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventors: Ryan B. Schreier, Charles B. Reinken
  • Patent number: 11591017
    Abstract: A pilot neutralizing system of a work vehicle may include a pilot neutralizer. The work vehicle may include a first frame portion and a second frame portion. The work vehicle has an actuating assembly used to pivot the first frame portion relative to the second frame portion. The pilot neutralizer is electrically coupled to a controller receiving a signal indicative of an articulation position. The pilot neutralizer is hydraulically coupled between an operator control member and a steering valve to selectively change a pilot signal at the steering valve. The pilot signal is used to switch the steering valve to change a direction of a hydraulic fluid flowing from the steering valve to the actuating assembly. When the articulation position reaches a cushion region during steering, the pilot neutralizer is de-energized or energized by the controller to change the pilot signal at the steering valve to resist the actuating assembly from moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Scott R. Stahle, Brian K. Kellogg, Grant R. Henn
  • Patent number: 11591041
    Abstract: A motorized self-balancing vehicle is provided. The vehicle may include at least two wheels. The vehicle may include a self-balancing mechanism. The vehicle may include a manual-drive mechanism. The self-balancing mechanism may constantly update the self-balancing vehicle in order to maintain the balance of a rider of the vehicle, while the rider is engaged in human motion on the manual-drive mechanism. The human motion may include pedaling and/or stepping. The vehicle may include an electric motor. The vehicle may include only an electric motor. The vehicle may include only a manual-drive mechanism. The vehicle may include both the manual-drive mechanism and the electric motor. In the embodiment including the manual-drive mechanism and the electric motor, the power generated by the electronic motor may be combined with power generated by the manual-drive mechanism in order to move the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Joel Weiss
    Inventor: Joel Weiss
  • Patent number: 11584470
    Abstract: A cargo bike transport carrier for accommodating cargo includes a bottom element, two mutually opposite side walls, a rear wall and a front wall. To allow for an inexpensive and simple manufacture of the cargo bike transport carrier, according to a preferred embodiment, the latter is made up of two plastic parts each constituting half of the transport carrier, wherein the two halves are separated by a vertical parting plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: RTI Sports GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Rasche, Franc Arnold, Arndt Graeve
  • Patent number: 11584476
    Abstract: An electric motor bicycle system with an electric motor driven gear adapted to drive a wheel gear coupled to a bicycle hub. The motor driven gear is coupled to the wheel gear with a chain. The chain may be tensioned with one or more tensioners, which allow for a tighter system geometry. The motor may be supported with a bracket adapted to mount to industry standard disc brake mounting interfaces. In some aspects, the motor driven gear is coupled to the disc mounting interface of a wheel hub. In some aspects, the electric motor bicycle system may also have a disc brake system integrated therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: MSNS, LLC
    Inventor: Neal Saiki