Patents Examined by Kevin Hurley
  • Patent number: 11958565
    Abstract: A crank assembly for a bicycle includes a crank axle rotatably mounted to a frame of the bicycle, and a carrier shaft slidably mounted on the crank axle and configured to slide in a direction substantially parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the crank axle and relative to the crank axle. The crank assembly also includes an elliptical sprocket mounted on the carrier shaft. The elliptical sprocket rotates to move the bicycle in response to a rotation of the crank axle. A start time of a power stroke of the elliptical sprocket is changed by sliding the carrier shaft relative to the crank axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Lance A Heitz
  • Patent number: 11958548
    Abstract: An adjustable trailer hitch and king pin assembly that may be moved longitudinally to adjust the position and weight distribution of a trailer relative to a truck. The disclosed assembly may allow a trailer to be utilized with various different sized and configured trucks while maximizing the cargo carrying capability and efficiency thereof. In one example, an adjustable trailer hitch is provided having a slidable king pin assembly that may be adjusted forwards or backwards to move the king pin to the desired location relative to the truck and trailer. In another example, a removable king pin may be provided that may be removed and moved to a different location according to the weight and desired weight distribution of a truck and trailer combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MAC TRAILER MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Scott A. Kibler, Allen Gordon
  • Patent number: 11958552
    Abstract: A bionic robot is provided, which includes a body; a plurality of sets of wheeled leg devices arranged at intervals in a front-rear direction, each comprising two wheeled leg devices arranged symmetrically in a left-right direction, each comprising a leg assembly and a travel wheel, and a power output shaft connected to the travel wheel; and a suspension device disposed in the body and connected to at least two sets from the plurality of sets of wheeled leg devices. The at least two sets of wheeled leg devices are located at the foremost end and the backmost end respectively. The suspension device comprises a plurality of drive assemblies, each connected to a corresponding leg assembly, which each comprise: an electric cylinder being configured to drive a telescopic rod to extend or retract; a damper connected between the body and the leg assembly; and an elastic member fitted over the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: INNER MONGOLIA SU MENG TECHNOLOGY POWER EQUIPMENT CO., LTD., CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING & TECHNOLOGY, BEIJING
    Inventors: Jianwei Zhao, Hai Zhang, Zhikang Chi, Haichao Zhang, Chaoyi Liu, Xiaofei Ma
  • Patent number: 11951787
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a trailer dampening system for dampening during variable road conditions experienced during long hours of travel. Secondly, the trailer dampening system encompasses a universal design that will allow for easy installation and application to multiple trailers. The trailer dampening system is provided having a barrel assembly joined to the trailer, a cylinder rod assembly adjoined to the barrel assembly by a connection assembly wherein a connection assembly first opening is configured to receive a coupler end cap proximal end of the cylinder rod assembly. In some embodiments, there is a reservoir system having a main reservoir, a valve assembly, and at least one connection line. In some embodiments, the trailer dampening system further comprises an electrical control system connected to the valve assembly and having an input device configured to receive an input, a battery, a plurality of sensors, and a microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventor: Colton Farquer
  • Patent number: 11951620
    Abstract: An automated order fulfillment system and mobile robot are disclosed, where the mobile robot includes a compliant drive for moving between levels of a multilevel storage structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: William J. Fosnight, John G. Lert, Jr., Michael Duquette, Martin R. Elliott, Julian Warhurst, Charles W. Su, Alan Grant
  • Patent number: 11952075
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosed embodiments, an apparatus for a vehicle includes a locking plate configured to be coupled to a first shaft of a suspension rod. A housing is configured to be coupled to a second shaft of the suspension rod that moves relative to the first shaft. The housing extends along a first longitudinal axis. A pin is configured to rotate about a second longitudinal axis. A locking mechanism is configured to lock the pin in starting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Turn 14 Distribution, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley J. Smith, Paul Perebijnos, Scott Boyer
  • Patent number: 11945268
    Abstract: A connecting system and a method for connecting a towing vehicle to a semitrailer includes a first plug unit configured to be fixed to a rotor of a semitrailer unit rotatably mounted on the semitrailer unit about an axis of rotation and having a first coupling portion, and a second plug unit having at least one mounting portion configured to be attached to a coupling plate of a commercial vehicle and a second coupling portion, wherein the first and second coupling portions are configured to be coupled together along a coupling axis such that the coupling axis is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and spaced from the axis of rotation, and such that the first coupling portion is displaceable relative to the rotor and/or the second coupling portion is displaceable relative to the mounting portion along the coupling axis to engage or disengage the respective opposite coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: SAF-HOLLAND GmbH
    Inventor: Mario Sebastian Köster
  • Patent number: 11945545
    Abstract: Drive disks are configured to rotate a main wheel by applying a frictional force thereto. Each of the drive disks includes a base and a plurality of rollers. The base includes a first sheet metal member and a second sheet metal member. The first sheet metal member includes a first central part and a plurality of first arm parts. The second sheet metal member includes a second central part and a plurality of second arm parts. Each of the rollers has a first end and a second end in an axial direction thereof. Each of the first arm parts and each of the second arm parts support the first end of one of two rollers adjacent to each other and the second end of the other of the two rollers adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru Yada, Ritsuya Oshima, Hiroshi Gomi
  • Patent number: 11945526
    Abstract: An electric vehicle that comprises a vehicle main body, a driving apparatus that includes a motor unit which includes a motor and a reduction gear which is attached to the motor unit, and a travel unit configured to drive by a driving force of the driving apparatus. The travel unit includes a plurality of wheels that at least includes a front wheel arranged on the side of a front end portion of the vehicle main body and a rear wheel arranged on the side of a rear end portion of the vehicle main body, and a crawler belt wound around the front wheel and the rear wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Kohigashi, Tsuyoshi Yoshigasaki, Naoki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11945267
    Abstract: A sensor device for a towing vehicle coupling or forming part of a towing vehicle coupling with which a trailer vehicle can be coupled to a towing vehicle wherein the towing vehicle coupling has a coupling element for releasably coupling a coupling mating element, which can be secured to the towing vehicle and the trailer vehicle, and when coupled together can rotate relative to one another about at least one joint rotational axis, forming a joint, where the sensor device has a follower mounted on a bearing body such that it can rotate relative to the coupling element about a follower rotational axis; can be rotatably carried about the follower rotational axis, by the rotation of the coupling mating element about the at least one joint rotational axis, to sense a rotation of the coupling mating element relative to the coupling element about the at least one joint rotational axis, and the sensor device has at least one sensor for sensing a respective rotational position of the follower relative to the bearing
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: WESTFALIA-AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Jürgen Peitz, Kevin Stieben
  • Patent number: 11945541
    Abstract: An electric tricycle including a frame having a front end coupled to a steering assembly, the steering assembly having a front wheel, and a rear end coupled to a rear wheel assembly, the rear wheel assembly having two rear wheels. At least two pedals rotatably coupled to the rear wheel assembly and configured to move in a reciprocating motion, the at least two pedals having an engaged configuration wherein the at least two pedals are engaged with the two rear wheels and configured to rotate the two rear wheels in a first direction, and a disengaged configuration wherein each of the at least two pedals is disengaged from the two rear wheels and aligned with another of the at least two pedals. An electric motor electrically coupled to a battery and configured to engage with the two rear wheels and to rotate the two rear wheels in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Roberts, Ryan J. Hamblin
  • Patent number: 11945523
    Abstract: A sensor device for a monitoring of a coupling state of a coupling element, in particular a coupling bolt, preferably a kingpin, of a trailer, in particular a semitrailer, with a corresponding coupling element of a towing vehicle, in particular a semitrailer tractor, with at least one sensor which is at least configured for a recognition, in particular a detection, of a relative position of the coupling elements with respect to each other, wherein the sensor is realized as an ultra-wideband sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ETO MAGNETIC GMBH
    Inventors: Benjamin Bönisch, Helmut Schuster
  • Patent number: 11945529
    Abstract: A modular slave vehicle articulatable at one end thereof to another slave vehicle and at another end thereof to an independently driven master vehicle, simultaneously. The slave vehicle comprising a body including a driving system; a structural frame supporting said body; a master coupling system in the form of a mechanical stress absorbing coupling mechanism; at least one first slave coupling device; at least one second slave coupling device; said first and second coupling devices, when mounted to two adjacent slave vehicles intended to be articulated to each other, are detachably connectable to each other to form a tandem coupling configured to constrain all DOF therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Plasan Sasa Ltd.
    Inventors: Amir Ben Shoshan, Asaf Engel
  • Patent number: 11937538
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a work vehicle that can be controlled automatically. The work vehicle includes HST's for feeding power for traveling to at least either front wheels or rear wheels mounted on a traveling vehicle body, traveling levers for operating driving of at least either the front wheels or the rear wheel, traveling links operably coupling the traveling levers with the HST's, traveling drive sections for driving either the traveling levers or the traveling links, and a traveling control section configured to activate the traveling drive sections in response to receipt of a traveling instruction for the traveling levers in the automatic control mode for automatically controlling the traveling vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Matsuda, Katsuhiko Uemura, Yasuhiro Manji, Ryo Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11939022
    Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides a folding bicycle (10) comprising a first frame section (12a); a second frame section (12b) movably mounted to the first frame section so that the first and second frame sections may be moved relative to each other from an unfolded position to a folded position; a front wheel (40) mounted to the first frame section; a rear wheel (42) mounted to the second frame section; a chainset (48) mounted to the first frame section comprising a pair of crank arms (48a) fixed to a bottom bracket axle (74) and defining a crank shaft axis orthogonal to the first and second frame sections; wherein, the bottom bracket axle comprises first and second axle members (74a) extending orthogonally to the crank arm axis and a bridge portion (74b) connecting the first and second axle members, the bottom bracket axle defining a void between the first and second axle members, and wherein, when in a folded position the front and rear wheels are positioned at least partially within the void defined betw
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Quinten John Northfield
  • Patent number: 11939020
    Abstract: A saddle-type vehicle includes an engine, a vehicle body frame, a fuel tank, and a fuel pump configured to supply fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. The vehicle body frame includes a head pipe, one main frame extending rearward and downward from the head pipe, a cross member connected to the rear end of the main frame and extending in the vehicle width direction, a pair of left and right body frames extending downward and rearward from the cross member, and a pair of left and right seat rails connected to the pair of left and right body frames, respectively. The cross member is disposed in front of the fuel pump. The pair of left and right body frames are arranged to sandwich the fuel pump in the vehicle width direction in a top view, and are connected to the cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kashihara, Hiroshi Tamura, Satoshi Morotomi
  • Patent number: 11938997
    Abstract: A zero turn vehicle is disclosed, having an operator platform located adjacent to the rear of the frame. An upright riser is disposed on the frame. The vehicle uses first and second electric drive transmissions to drive the output wheels. An electrical bus or controllers may be mounted on a panel of the upright riser or on the drive transmissions to assist in providing a compact design. A pair of drive levers is mounted on the upright riser for controlling the output of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Brian D. Laymon, K. Mike McCoy
  • Patent number: 11939018
    Abstract: A motor is coupled to a rocker switch. A threaded shaft is mechanically coupled to the motor. A threaded fitting is coupled to the threaded shaft. The threaded fitting has a first leg and a second leg positioned substantially opposite the first leg. A first foot is coupled substantially perpendicular to the first leg. A second foot is coupled substantially perpendicular to the second leg. The peg brace is coupled to the first leg and the second leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Kim Andrew Sadberry
  • Patent number: 11932051
    Abstract: A wheel is assembled and fitted with a frame of the scooter, and includes a bearing support, a hub, at least one bearing and a hollow area. The bearing support includes an inner surface facing towards a rotation center of the wheel. Each bearing includes an outer ring and an inner ring, the outer ring is fixedly connected to the hub, and the inner ring and the frame are fixedly connected to the bearing support, respectively. The hollow area is surrounded by the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Qinling Hou
  • Patent number: 11932347
    Abstract: A control device and a transmission system are configured to improve riding comfort of a human-powered vehicle. The control device includes an electronic controller that is configured to control a transmission device of a human-powered vehicle so that a transmission ratio at which the vehicle is started becomes equal to a designated transmission ratio. The electronic controller is configured to set the designated transmission ratio based on reference information that excludes information related to a gradient of a road surface, information related to manual operation of the transmission device, and information related to propulsion assistance of the human-powered vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki