Patents Examined by Kevin Hurley
  • Patent number: 11903885
    Abstract: A wheelchair armrest storage system may include a housing for a wheelchair, where: the housing includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side, the housing extends longitudinally between the proximal portion and the distal portion, and at least one cover receiving cavity is defined in each of the first lateral side and the second lateral side. The wheelchair armrest storage system may further include a storage area defined within the housing, and a cover configured to translate within each of the at least one cover receiving cavity defined in each of the first lateral side and the second lateral side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Lee, Douglas A. Moore
  • Patent number: 11904975
    Abstract: Disclosed is a folding car for children. The folding car comprises a rear frame, rear frame is connected with a seat; a front frame connected to the rear frame in a back-and-forth movable manner; a front lateral rod, a front portion of which is rotatably connected with the front frame; a rear lateral rod rotatably connected to the front lateral rod and the rear frame; a pedal rod rotatably connected to the front frame; and a connecting rod connected with the rear frame in a back-and-forth movable manner, and a front portion of the connecting rod being connected with the pedal rods in a slidable and rotatable manner. The folding car for children realizes the folding of a seat-type scooter for children, has a simple and new overall structure, is convenient to fold and has a small volume after being folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Goodbaby Child Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hui Cai, Yu Ding
  • Patent number: 11904980
    Abstract: A vehicle propellable by a human comprising a front assembly having a front wheel and a pair of hand pedals connect thereto; a rear assembly having a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel rotatably connected thereto; a chest rest located between the front assembly and the rear assembly, the chest rest configured to support the chest of a rider lying forward on the vehicle; and a first foot support structure operatively coupled to rotate the first rear wheel, and a second foot support operatively coupled to rotate the second rear wheel wherein the first rear wheel and second rear wheel are independently rotated by opposite feet of a rider when said feet are within said first and second foot support, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventors: Dylan Weitz, Ashraf Elghandour, Gabriel Elghandour
  • Patent number: 11897551
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for controlling a feedback torque actuator in a steering system. The steering system comprises a steering assistance actuator (140) with a torsion bar (128) and a feedback torque actuator (130) with an Electric Control Unit, ECU, for giving feedback to a driver, a steering wheel (120) to which the driver applies a driver torque, TD. Only the torsion bar of the steering assistance actuator (140) comprises a torsion-bar torque sensor, and a target torque for the feedback torque actuator (130) is a target steering feel torque compensated for torque sensed in the torsion bar (128).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SENTIENT IP AB
    Inventors: Johan Hultén, Jochen Pohl
  • Patent number: 11897556
    Abstract: The present invention reduces motor size in a steering device. To this end, this steering device (1) to be installed in a vehicle has: a power steering unit (12) positioned below the floor section (7) of the vehicle compartment (2); and a coaxial motor (20) which is provided directly above the power steering unit (12) and in a manner such that the output shaft thereof is coaxial with the input shaft of the power steering unit (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Junpei Okutani, Haruyuki Hosoya, Kousuke Kawakami
  • Patent number: 11897578
    Abstract: A snow vehicle is disclosed comprising a uni-body frame having a forward engine compartment, a propulsion unit coupled to the frame, and a front ski steered by a steering mechanism. The snow vehicle has a chain coupling the sprocket of the propulsion unit located outside of the frame and directly coupled to the belt drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Allen M. Mangum, Jimmy D. Brooks
  • Patent number: 11897298
    Abstract: A weight distributing trailer hitch and associated method are described. The weight distributing trailer hitch can include a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle. The weight distributing trailer hitch can also include a ball portion to facilitate coupling with a tongue of a trailer. In one embodiment, the weight distributing trailer hitch can further include a spring bar vertically pivotal relative to the hitch portion, and an adjustment mechanism actuatable to selectively adjust a tilt angle of the spring bar relative to the hitch portion to vary preload on the spring bar and adjustably distribute weight of the trailer relative to the vehicle. In another embodiment, the weight distributing trailer hitch can further include a spring bar for distributing weight of the trailer relative to the vehicle, and a load measurement device to determine a magnitude of a downward force on the hitch ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Weigh Safe, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin McAllister, Morgan McAllister, Todd Mendenhall, Brandon Doman
  • Patent number: 11897549
    Abstract: The present embodiments may provide a steer-by-wire type steering apparatus which can significantly reduce production cost by reducing the number of components and simplifying the assembly procedure, by eliminating a pinion gear, etc., and sensing the position of a sliding bar on the basis of rotation information detected from a gear box which transfers the rotational force of a motor to the sliding bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: In Hwan Jeon
  • Patent number: 11891152
    Abstract: A vehicle is powered and steered by a rider's arm. The vehicle may be a cycle or a tricycle Propulsion occurs in response to the rider pushing and pulling on the handlebar along a fore-and-aft direction. The propulsion mechanism resists or prevents the cycle from unintentionally rolling in reverse. Steering occurs in response to the rider pushing the handlebar to the right or left. The steering mechanism responds the same no matter where the propulsion system is in its range of motion and can provide approximately a 5-foot turning radius for a rider steering input, by moving the handlebar approximately 1 foot right or left of center steer, while maintaining front wheel alignment. A shifting mechanism provides multiple settings between lower gears for hills and higher gears for speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventor: Gregory Allan Seljestad
  • Patent number: 11890903
    Abstract: A pin box assembly with gooseneck coupler for coupling a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle is described. The pin box assembly may include a first member capable of being secured to a towed vehicle and a second member pivotally coupled to the first member about an axis of rotation relative to the first member. The pin box assembly may further include a gooseneck ball coupler coupled to the second member, and a suspension system coupled to at least one of the first and second members, the suspension system damping motion between the first and second members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventors: Michael R. Curl, Richard W. McCoy
  • Patent number: 11891153
    Abstract: A skid frame for a snowmobile is disclosed including a generally planar skid surface extending between front and rear idler wheels. The front and rear idler wheel are offset from one another and define a longitudinal direction. A track encircles the skid frame having the skid surface positioned over a center of the track such that a major longitudinally extending portion of the track that is coextensive with the skid surface has first and second unsupported lateral portions on either side of the skid surface. The first and second unsupported lateral portions extend in the horizontal direction at least 25 percent of a width of the track. A suspension arm member may mount the skid rail and include mount portions for mounting to a tunnel and spanning a distance at least twice the width of the longitudinal beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Arctic Cat Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Beavis
  • Patent number: 11884348
    Abstract: A balance board coupled to a two-wheeled vehicle to provide a moving platform that an operator of the vehicle can use to stabilize the vehicle. The balance board includes a coupling mechanism, a frame, one or more moving elements, and one or more foot support pedals. In one example, the balance board is mechanically passive such that the balance board maintains contact with the ground surface without an externally applied force (e.g., by the operator/user of the vehicle). In one aspect, the balance board may be rotatable about multiple rotational degrees of freedom to allow the balance board to steer as the vehicle turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Amos G. Winter, Guillermo Fabian Diaz Lankenau, Lea Daigle, Patrick Tornes, Eric Koch, Samuel Ihns, Jana Saadi, Jessica Wu
  • Patent number: 11884116
    Abstract: A weight distribution hitch system comprising a vehicle attachment member comprising a forward end configured to rigidly attach to a vehicle, and a rearward end extending rearwardly toward a trailer, the rearward end comprising an upper portion comprising a trailer attachment member configured to pivotally attach to a coupler of the trailer, and a lower portion configured to receive a moment bar, a moment bar forward end attached to the lower portion of the rearward end of the vehicle attachment member so as to prevent rotation about a horizontal axis, and a moment bar rearward end; a tension member comprising a top end configured to be supported by a frame member of the trailer, and a bottom end configured to support the rearward end of the moment bar, and wherein, when the tension member is in tension, it imposes an upward force on the moment bar rearward end, which, in turn, imposes a forward moment on the vehicle; and wherein the length of the moment bar is less than 28 inches is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hall, David R. Hall, Thomas Corie, Dallin Clawson, Jeffery Duncan, Justen Hansen
  • Patent number: 11884360
    Abstract: Provided is an electrical component mounting structure for saddled vehicle capable of concentrating a plurality of electrical components close to the center of the vehicle body while protecting the electrical components. An electrical component mounting structure places the control device to control the vehicle at a position surrounded with a vehicle body frame supporting a power unit of the saddled vehicle, a rear wheel that rotates by a driving force from the power unit, a seat for a rider. The electrical component mounting structure includes the case member including a lower case storing a drive unit, and an upper case covering the lower case from the above. The case member has a sensor storage part storing a sensor at a front end. The control device is attached to the upper case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shota Suzuki, Haruka Tsuda
  • Patent number: 11884349
    Abstract: Spacer for spacing a headset from a stem of a bicycle. The spacer comprises a cable guide, in particular for brake cables and gear shift cables. The cable guide is provided with a cable guide opening and a cable guide wall enclosing the cable guide opening. The cable guide wall is interrupted by a cable insertion gap, allowing lateral insertion of a cable. Optionally, the cable guide comprises cable retaining means for retaining an inserted cable within the cable guide opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventors: Sierd Heida, Richard Hofs
  • Patent number: 11878754
    Abstract: An electrically operated steering system (1) is provided for a vehicle (2) with a rack (3) for attaching the steering system (1) to a frame of the vehicle (2), two steerable wheels (4) that are pivotably attached to the rack (3), a rod element (5) arranged on the rack (3), which is slidable in its longitudinal direction in relation to the rack (3), a kinematic unit (13), which is coupled to the rod element (5) and which transforms a movement of the rod element (5) into a steering rotation of the wheels (4), an electric machine (6), which is mechanically connected to the rod element (5) for effecting the movement of the rod element (5), and a lateral force absorbing mechanism (7), which is configured for absorbing a lateral force produced by the kinematic unit (13) in relation to the rod element (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Florian Trautner, Dominik Hartinger, Stefan Hannemann
  • Patent number: 11878765
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a snowmobile including an engine mounted on the chassis, a drive track in contact with the chassis, and a drive train, operatively interconnecting the engine with the drive track for delivering propulsive power to the drive track. The drive train includes a driveshaft, comprising a tubular driveshaft including two or more interior channels, the channels positioned in a substantially longitudinal orientation, two or more sprocket driving features on an exterior surface of the tubular driveshaft, and one or more fitting components, positioned at one or more distal ends of the driveshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Arctic Cat Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin David Thompson, Gary O. Homme, Devin Joseph Danielson, Andrew Jon Ellsworth
  • Patent number: 11878768
    Abstract: A saddled vehicle includes an air cleaner and a vehicle body movement sensor. The air cleaner takes travel wind in an air cleaner box to purify air of the travel wind and supplies the purified air to an internal combustion engine. The vehicle body movement sensor is received in a recess and measures movement of a vehicle body. The recess is defined by a flat surface that crosses a rear wall of the air cleaner box. This provides a saddled vehicle including a vehicle body movement sensor that is disposed without reducing the volume of an air cleaner box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kontani, Takeji Kawazumi, Hiroshi Kurata, Satoru Okoshi, Atsushi Ogahara
  • Patent number: 11878558
    Abstract: A weight distribution hitch system comprising a vehicle attachment member comprising a forward end configured to rigidly attach to a vehicle, and a rearward end extending rearwardly toward a trailer, the rearward end comprising an upper portion comprising a trailer attachment member configured to pivotally attach to a coupler of the trailer, and a lower portion configured to receive a moment bar; a moment bar having a modulus of elasticity, the moment bar comprising a moment bar forward end attached to the lower portion of the rearward end of the vehicle attachment member so as to prevent rotation about a horizontal axis, and a moment bar rearward end; a tension member comprising a top end configured to be supported by a frame member of the trailer, and a bottom end configured to support the rearward end of the moment bar; wherein, when the tension member is in tension, it imposes an upward force on the moment bar rearward end, which, in turn, imposes a forward moment on the vehicle; and wherein the modulus o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hall, David R. Hall, Thomas Corie, Dallin Clawson, Jeffery Duncan, Justen Hansen
  • Patent number: 11878750
    Abstract: A drive component is disclosed. The drive component may include a base of a first material having a first hardness and a plurality of wear inserts of a second material having a second hardness greater than the first hardness. The plurality of wear inserts may extend from an interior of the base to an exterior surface of the base. The base and the plurality of wear inserts may be a composite casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Prest, Benjamin Jones