Patents Examined by Kip T Kotter
  • Patent number: 12049267
    Abstract: An endless track for traction of an off-road vehicle, such as an agricultural vehicle, an industrial vehicle (e.g., a construction vehicle) or a military vehicle, is provided. The endless track comprises an elastomeric belt-shaped body comprising an inner surface for facing wheels of the vehicle and a ground-engaging outer surface for engaging the ground. The endless track also comprises a plurality of elastomeric lugs, such as drive/guide lugs projecting from the inner surface and/or traction lugs projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface. An elastomeric lug may have a material composition defining an arrangement of zones of different materials which comprises a plurality of zones of different elastomeric materials. The elastomeric lug may exhibit a desired variation of a material property (e.g., a modulus of elasticity) across the arrangement of zones of different materials. A zone of the elastomeric lug may have a dedicated function, such as a sacrificial zone or a wear indicator zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Camso Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Lussier, Francois Leblanc, Patrice Boily
  • Patent number: 12043070
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of bent metal spokes. The non-pneumatic tire further includes a first overmolded foot at a first end of each bent metal spoke. Each first overmolded foot is attached to the inner ring. The non-pneumatic tire also includes a second overmolded foot at a second end of each bent metal spoke. Each first overmolded foot is attached to the outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Rimai, Anthony B. Duncan
  • Patent number: 12030342
    Abstract: A rim for a bicycle wheel includes a radially inner portion disposed along an inner circumference of the rim, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall spaced apart form the first sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall extend radially outward from the radially inner portion. The radially inner portion includes a stack of strips of material. The stack of strips includes a plurality of strips and a hole through the plurality of strips. The plurality of strips are nonparallel to each other. The plurality of strips are positioned about the hole through the plurality of strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: David Morse, Michael Hall, Ruan Trouw
  • Patent number: 12030567
    Abstract: A rubber crawler includes: a crawler main body; a main cord layer overlaid on a crawler outer circumferential side of a main body inner circumferential portion, and including a main cord extending in a crawler circumferential direction; a first bias cord layer overlaid on a crawler outer circumferential side of the main cord layer, and including a bias ply configured with a bias cord, which extends obliquely with respect to the crawler circumferential direction; a second bias cord layer overlaid on a crawler outer circumferential side of the first bias cord layer, and including a bias ply configured with a bias cord, which intersects with the bias cord; and a protective cord layer overlaid on a crawler outer circumferential side of the second bias cord layer and overlaid on a crawler inner circumferential side of a main body outer circumferential portion, and is formed by one sheet of protective ply configured with a protective cord, which extends along a crawler width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryo Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 12024244
    Abstract: An endless track for traction of an off-road vehicle, such as an agricultural vehicle, an industrial vehicle (e.g., a construction vehicle) or a military vehicle, is provided. The endless track a plurality of elastomeric lugs, such as drive/guide lugs projecting from the inner surface and/or traction lugs projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface. An elastomeric lug may have a material composition defining an arrangement of zones of different materials which comprises a plurality of zones of different elastomeric materials, may exhibit a desired variation of a material property (e.g., across the arrangement of zones of different materials. A zone of the elastomeric lug may have a dedicated function, such as a sacrificial zone or a wear indicator zone. An elastomeric drive lug may comprise an uneven drive surface, such as an angled or curved surface, for engaging a drive member of a drive wheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Camso Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Lussier, Francois Leblanc, Patrice Boily
  • Patent number: 12017710
    Abstract: A track drive of an agricultural production machine is disclosed. The track drive includes a driving wheel, a front deflection roller, a rear deflection roller, a continuous caterpillar track around the driving wheel and the deflection rollers, and middle rollers between the front and rear deflection roller. The track drive further includes a track frame and a swing frame. Using the swing frame, the track drive pivots about a first axis of the agricultural production machine, and the track frame pivots about a second axis of the swing frame. The second axis is at a distance from the first axis, and a spring system or damper system is positioned between the track frame and the pivot frame. The deflection rollers are positioned on the track frame with the middle rollers positioned on a common support element, which is positioned pivotably about a third axis on the track frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: CLAAS Industrietechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Felix Weingärtner, Sebastian Wagemann, Sascha Rackow
  • Patent number: 12017488
    Abstract: A tire, a wheel, and a vehicle are provided. The tire includes a tire body. The tire body has a plurality of cavities along the circumferential direction, each of the plurality of cavities has an opening located on an inner circumferential surface of the tire body, a connecting portion is formed between adjacent openings, the connecting portion comprises a middle connecting portion and an end connecting portion distributed along a width direction of the tire body, and a width of the middle connecting portion is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: NINEBOT (CHANGZHOU) TECH CO., LTD
    Inventors: Weixiang Wang, Xinjian Ji, Tuo Jiang
  • Patent number: 12017476
    Abstract: A wheel with flexible spokes, including a rim and hub, and spokes between the rim and hub made of fibrous material that causes the spokes to be both lighter in weight and stronger than comparable steel spokes. The spokes are also flexible and resilient such that they can bend while retaining their integrity and strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Inventor: Martin Connolly
  • Patent number: 12011956
    Abstract: The inflation system includes a pump and a dehumidifier fluidly connected between the pump and a reservoir, such as a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Aperia Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Brandon Richardson
  • Patent number: 12005734
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, a wheel hub assembly is provided that includes a hub body having an outboard end portion and an inboard end portion, a bearing assembly, and a seal. The seal includes a seal case and a sleeve. The hub body and seal case are rotatable relative to the sleeve. The wheel hub assembly further includes a stop of the bearing assembly configured to resist movement of the sleeve toward the outboard end portion of the hub body as the hub body, bearing assembly, and sleeve are advanced together in an inboard direction along a vehicle spindle. The stop permits the bearing assembly to transfer a force applied in an inboard axial direction against the bearing assembly, such as by tightening of a spindle nut, to the sleeve and urge the sleeve along a vehicle spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Consolidated Metco, Inc.
    Inventors: Connor Regan, Samant Khanna
  • Patent number: 12005977
    Abstract: A continuous track attachment assembly adapted be used on conveying equipment is disclosed. The assembly includes a pair of spaced apart side plates having a plurality of wheel mounting openings therethrough. The side plates have a frame connection opening therethrough. The assembly further includes a plurality of support wheels disposed between the side plates, each of the support wheels including a wheel axle receiving opening therethrough. A center support wheel has a diameter that may be greater than the diameter of two outer support wheels. The assembly further comprises an axle disposed through the wheel mounting openings of the side plate and through the shaft receiving openings of the support wheels to thereby support the support wheels between the side plates while allowing rotation of the support wheels. The assembly further comprises a continuous track disposed about the support wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Inventor: Arthur T. Gilles
  • Patent number: 11975574
    Abstract: A tire and wheel assembly includes a tire, a circular hub member for securing to a rotatable axle of a vehicle, the rim piece having a first annular ring flange for engaging the tire, a rim piece for engaging the hub member, a second annular ring flange for engaging the tire, and a plurality of cylindrical shafts for each axially engaging the first annular ring flange at one axial end of each of the shafts and the second annular ring flange at another opposite axial end of each of the shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Steven Amos Edwards, Michael Scott Deem, Ceyhan Celik, Arun Kumar Byatarayanapura Gopala
  • Patent number: 11968921
    Abstract: A depth gauge wheel for a row planter. The depth gauge wheel sets the planting depth for the seeds planted by the row planter. The depth gauge wheel sets planting depth by setting the cutting depth of the disk opener of the row planter. The depth gauge wheel also scrapes mud from the disk blade of the disk opener. The depth gauge wheel includes a rim, a tire attached to the rim and a ring attached to the rim. The tire contacts the surface of the ground to set the cutting depth of the disk opener and the ring scrapes mud from the disk blade of the disk opener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Jung Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventor: Allan F. Jung
  • Patent number: 11958322
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation and an outer ring coaxial with the inner ring. The non-pneumatic tire further includes support structure extending from the inner ring to the outer ring. The support structure is constructed of a thermoplastic material and having reinforcement cords embedded therein. The non-pneumatic tire also includes a circumferential tread extending about the outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Adam K. Nesbitt
  • Patent number: 11951768
    Abstract: A hub and spoke assembly includes a hub body having a first end and a second end. Projections are on each end. The projections are spaced apart from each adjacent projection about a rotational axis of the hub. Each projection comprises a base portion joined to the hub body and a support extending from the base portion to a free end. A plurality of spokes is provided. Each spoke comprises an elongated braided fiber having a loop at a first end and a second end configured for attachment to a rim. At least one spoke is joined to each support of each projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: BERD L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bradley Leo Guertin, Charles Steven Spanjers, Allison Lynne Horner
  • Patent number: 11938754
    Abstract: An anti-loosening device for a fastening unit of a motor-vehicle wheel is configured to be coupled with a wheel hub. The anti-loosening device is configured to be arranged within the wheel hub along an axial direction, so that a main axis of the anti-loosening device coincides with the wheel axis. The anti-loosening device includes a gear arranged to cooperate with inner teeth of the wheel hub, an elastic element extending axially with respect to the gear, and a coupling element obtained on a sector of said gear, arranged to receive a corresponding fastening. During assembly of the wheel—hub assembly, the anti-loosening device is arranged to create a compressed configuration, wherein the gear is decoupled with respect to the inner teeth, and is arranged within a cavity portion obtained on the inner surface of the wheel hub, so as to allow rotation of the anti-loosening device around the main axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: FCA ITALY S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Lucà, Renato Badino
  • Patent number: 11938757
    Abstract: A wheel suspension system, comprising, a wheel rim, a plurality of adaptors equidistantly mounted on inner periphery of the wheel rim, a plurality of suspension curved elastic members having drafted ends configured to be circumferentially and linearly disposed into the adaptor along the wheel rim, and a multi-layered hub having a plurality of interlocked holders away from its centre towards the wheel rim for interlocking the elastic members at the centre. The wheel suspension system is cost effective for both users and manufacturers, user friendly, comfortable, easy to assemble or disassemble, comfortable and provides safety in cases of accidents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventors: Mitesh Rasal, Shubham Sutar, Suraj Ettam
  • Patent number: 11932054
    Abstract: A wheel of a vehicle has a rim, a hub portion and at least two spokes connecting the hub portion to the rim. At least one spoke intermediate space between the spokes is at least partially covered by a single-piece cover element. A wing portion of the cover element is deformed axially away from the wheel when heat is supplied. The cover element is connected directly to the wheel, and the single-piece cover element is formed from a single material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Martin Schindlbeck
  • Patent number: 11919340
    Abstract: An improved resilient composite structure for connecting two surfaces together where the structure includes an elastomeric joint body connected to one of the two surfaces and at least one reinforcement membrane at one end of the resilient composite structure, where the reinforcement membrane wraps around the end of the resilient composite structure such that one end of the reinforcement membrane is positioned along a side of the resilient composite structure and the other end of the reinforcement membrane is positioned on the opposite side of the resilient composite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Kevin Corbett Miles, Steven M Cron, Ryan Michael Gaylo
  • Patent number: 11912356
    Abstract: A tracked vehicle, in particular a construction machine, more particularly a road construction machine, with at least one drive motor and a travel pump of a travel drive hydraulic circuit, which is driven by the drive motor, for generating a drive pressure; at least one track unit, said track unit comprising a drive wheel driven via the travel drive hydraulic circuit, at least one guide wheel, a track endlessly running around the drive wheel and the guide wheel, as well as a track tensioning apparatus for tensioning the track, and the track tensioning apparatus comprising an adjusting device with a track tensioning hydraulic cylinder with which the distance between two wheels of the track unit, in particular the drive wheel and the guide wheel, is adjustable for tensioning the track, the track tensioning hydraulic cylinder being connected via a hydraulic tensioning line to a hydraulic pretensioning source via which it can be loaded with an initial pretensioning pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: BOMAG GMBH
    Inventors: Johannes Forster, Jonathan Stahl