Patents Examined by Marc Scharich
  • Patent number: 9731782
    Abstract: A mounting bracket plate for a personal electronic device for attaching to a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Paleo-Tech Concepts
    Inventor: James W. Kondrat
  • Patent number: 9718493
    Abstract: A shock-absorbing member comprises held sections located at a plurality of locations in a circumferential direction and comprising paired held sections and non-paired held sections, and is constructed to have a non-circular cylindrical shape in cross-section. Portions where outer-diameter side end sections of held sections that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction are made continuous by way of outer-diameter side cover sections, and portions where inner-diameter side end sections of held sections that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction are made continuous directly or by way of inner-diameter side cover sections, in an alternating sequence in the circumferential direction. Drive-side arm sections are placed between the non-paired held sections, driven-side arm sections are placed between the paired held sections, and the outer circumferential surfaces of the drive-side arm sections are covered by the outer-diameter side cover sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Moriyama, Hiroshi Shibazaki, Toru Segawa, Takeshi Yamamoto, Kazuhiko Kojima
  • Patent number: 9580135
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension packing apparatus for providing undamped suspension system rebound in a vehicle suspension system includes a ratchet mechanism including a shaft having a longitudinal rack of engageable teeth and a pivoting pawl engageable with one of the rack of engageable teeth, engagement of the pivoting pawl with one of the rack of engageable teeth holding the shaft in an engaged position to thereby hold a coil spring in a compressed configuration, and disengagement of the pivoting pawl from the one of the rack of engageable teeth releasing stored system spring energy to thereby provide undamped suspension system rebound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas Peter Nuzzo
  • Patent number: 9493200
    Abstract: A drive unit couples to a steering unit for a multi-axle vehicle for conveying a passenger. The drive unit includes a chassis configured as a supporting structure of the drive unit, a drive module with a motor and a first axle with wheels for driving the vehicle, a coupling device for coupling the drive unit to the steering unit, an operating element for operating the drive module, and a seat arrangement for supporting the passenger. The drive unit is also configured such that a total center of mass of the drive unit is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in front of the first axle. A corresponding steering unit and a vehicle comprising a corresponding drive unit and a steering unit are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: IEM Schwenk GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Schwenk, Ludwig Thalhofer
  • Patent number: 9452805
    Abstract: A foldable tricycle includes a first frame, a second frame movably coupled to the first frame, and a seat for supporting a rider, wherein the seat operates as an actuator for moving the first and second frames relative to each other. Additionally, a method of handling a foldable tricycle movable between a first position and a second position includes applying a force to the seat of the tricycle, wherein the applied force on the seat causes the tricycle to move from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Huffy Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Barchek, Jason Jewell, Andrew Bean, Donald K. Jessie Jr.
  • Patent number: 9446514
    Abstract: Provided is a lower limb structure for a legged robot with which a load on an actuator for driving a knee joint can be reduced. The lower limb structure for the legged robot comprises: a hip joint main body (18); a thigh portion (12a); a hip joint coupling (22) for connecting the thigh portion (12a) to the hip joint main body (18); and a knee joint main body (19) joined to the thigh portion (12a). The lower limb structure for the legged robot provides a thigh portion auxiliary link (31) having one end portion joined to the hip joint main body (18) or the hip joint coupling (22) to be rotatable about one pitch axis and the other end portion joined to the knee joint main body (19) to be rotatable about another pitch axis. A knee joint actuator (4) increases and decreases a length from the one end portion to the other end portion of the thigh portion auxiliary link (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Nagatsuka
  • Patent number: 9440576
    Abstract: A trailer assembly for simultaneously transporting a personal watercraft and a pontoon includes a trailer that may be towed. A first support is hingedly coupled to the trailer and the first support may support a pontoon. A second support is coupled to the trailer and the second support may support a personal watercraft beneath the pontoon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Inventor: Jack Wierzba
  • Patent number: 9434225
    Abstract: An illuminated trailer hitch cover assembly that is removably attached to a hitch receiver of a vehicle. The illuminated trailer hitch cover assembly is configured to display one or more illuminated indicia when the vehicle's taillights or brake lights are activated. At least one indicia is projected onto the ground surface below the illuminated trailer hitch cover assembly. The illuminated trailer hitch cover assembly is configured such that different indicia can be displayed through use of interchanging display indicia assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventor: Mark Anthony Corsaut
  • Patent number: 9421835
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wheeled scooter having a main body with a bottom, a front side, a rear side and two opposite lateral sides. A plurality of engagement lugs are formed on the front side of the main body. A plurality of engagement grooves are formed in the rear side of the main body and are adapted to engage with engagement lugs on a main body of an additional scooter to connect the main body of the scooter to the main body of the additional scooter. The scooter includes a grip mounted to each respective lateral side of the main body, each grip including an inner bar and an outer bar operably mounted to the respective lateral side of the main body by front and rear bars. The outer bar of each grip is configured to shield and protect a user's hand while holding the inner bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Inventor: Chia-Liang Kao
  • Patent number: 9415823
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a body having an interior which houses a spare wheel of the motor vehicle, a seat and removable headrest of the motor vehicle, and removable accessories stored in the motor vehicle. The removable accessories include at least a collapsible frame and a geared drive mechanism. The frame, the spare wheel, the removable headrest and the drive mechanism can be assembled together to form a bicycle which is separate from the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, James Chih Cheng, Kristin Marie Schondorf
  • Patent number: 9403567
    Abstract: A trailer including a frame supporting a trailer bed and having rotatable wheels and a tongue for pivotal attachment to a land vehicle hitch. The trailer frame includes left and right side structural members and crossbeam members attached between the side members. Each side member includes a U-shaped portion having a branch leg and attachment leg and an L-shaped portion including a branch leg and attachment leg. The branch leg of the U-shaped portion is integrally formed with the branch leg of the L-shaped portion. The crossbeam members are Z-shaped and the flanges thereof are attached to the attachment legs of the U-shaped portion and the L-shaped portion with rivets. Front and rear U-shaped end members are attached to the terminal ends of the side members. A torque tube is also attached between the side members. A tongue pocket is attached to the torque tube and the front end member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Novae Corporation
    Inventor: Steven P. Bermes
  • Patent number: 9394028
    Abstract: A stabilized rubber mounted drivetrain includes a standard rubber mounted drivetrain, further comprising a swingarm pivotal axle, rubber isolators, support brackets; and swingarm stabilizers, which each further include a stabilizer cap, a thrust bearing, and a spacer, such that a swingarm stabilizer is mounted to both ends of the swingarm pivot axle. The stabilized rubber mounted drivetrain provides increased stability of the rubber isolators and the swing arm pivotal axle, to ensure the drivetrain is held in place during driving events with lateral forces. The stabilizer cap can include a stabilizer cap head, a stabilizer cap flange, and a stabilizer cap body, and can be machined from one piece of a metal alloy or assembled from separate parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Inventor: Bruce R. Woltz
  • Patent number: 9376015
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a 4WD vehicle is provided. The control apparatus includes a driving force source, main driving wheels, auxiliary driving wheels, a driving force transmission shaft, a first disconnection mechanism, a second disconnection mechanism, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: (i) control one of the first disconnection mechanism and the second disconnection mechanism to be engaged and then engage the other one of the first disconnection mechanism and the second disconnection mechanism when a disconnect state is canceled; and (ii) set, when the disconnect state is canceled, an increasing gradient of a rotation speed of the driving force transmission shaft in accordance with a condition that the electronic control unit determines to cancel the disconnect state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Takaira, Kunihiro Iwatsuki, Hiroyuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 9365255
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for, and method of, raking a motorcycle, and to a motorcycle with a raked frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Inventor: Paul Yaffe
  • Patent number: 9359005
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for an AGV that includes a drive unit for propelling the AGV and a steering unit for steering the AGV. The drive unit has a drive motor, drive transmission, and a drive wheel. The steering unit has a steering motor. Both motors are fixedly mounted on the AGV and remain stationary relative to each other while the drive motor rotates the drive wheel and the steering motor steers the drive wheel. The drive transmission couples the drive motor to the drive wheel and can be at least partially mounted within a gear housing that is rotatably mounted via a bearing so that the drive motor can be operated to move the AGV via power transferred to the drive wheel via the drive transmission, and the steering motor can be operated to steer the drive wheel by rotation of the gear housing and drive wheel via the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Fori Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul George Doan, Dean Colwell, LiKe Xu
  • Patent number: 9359043
    Abstract: A power-assistance bicycle using a sensor having multiple magnet blocks evenly distributed in a housing, related to electric power-assistance bicycles that provide a power-assistance signal with multipoint magnetic induction. The sensor comprises: a sensing element, a power-assisted model processor, a digital-to-analog converter and an operational amplifier. The sensing element comprises a rotating disk and an annular-groove fixing disk fitted with each other, and a permanent magnetic block and the Hall element are provided in a cavity of the rotating disk and the annular-groove fixing disk. A plurality of permanent magnetic blocks that are opposite in adjacent magnetic polarities are fixedly provided on the rotating disk. The Hall element is provided on the fixing disk and in proximity to the permanent magnetic blocks. The sensor is sleeved on an exterior of a medial axis. The operational amplifier is connected with the motor controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignees: CHENGDU KUANHE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Qiang Huang
  • Patent number: 9346485
    Abstract: A fixation member is circularly formed to surround a wheel turning shaft and includes an abutment surface in abutment with an end surface of a bearing on one axial side. The fixation member fixes the bearing to a housing by being fixed in the housing with the abutment surface in abutment with the end surface of the bearing. When being mounted, the fixation member is provided by being moved from an opposite axial end side to one axial end side of the nut. The abutment surface of the fixation member is formed on at least a radially inner side of the fixation member. The fixation member includes a cutout portion provided on the radially inner side of the fixation member and formed to prevent interference with a circulation member when the fixation member is inserted in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS STEERING, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Muto, Keisuke Kitamura, Shogo Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9327790
    Abstract: To provide a vehicle body frame for a motorcycle which includes a head pipe having good dimensional accuracy. A head pipe includes a left half which is obtained by die forming, a right half which is obtained by die forming, and beads with which the right half is integrated with the left half by laser welding. The head pipe is formed by joining the left half and the right half to each other with the first and second beads which are laser weld beads. Laser weld beads are significantly smaller in bead width than arc weld beads, and therefore their shrinkage after their solidification is significantly smaller. As a result, a head pipe having good dimensional accuracy is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Matsuo, Yusuke Inoue
  • Patent number: 9327801
    Abstract: A battery-assisted bicycle includes a driving unit that accurately detects a failure in each of a torque detector, a crank rotation detector, and a motor rotation detector. The driving unit includes a crankshaft to which pedals are to be connected, a motor rotation detector that detects rotation of an electric motor, a torque detector that detects a torque generated at the crankshaft, a crank rotation detector that detects rotation of the crankshaft, and a sensor failure detector that detects a failure in at least one of the motor rotation detector, the torque detector, and the crank rotation detector based on detection results from the motor rotation detector, the torque detector, and the crank rotation detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuyasu Arimune
  • Patent number: 9321316
    Abstract: A trailer hitch storage apparatus including a rectangular base plate, a hollow rectangular male member having a first front end welded to the base plate, and a hollow rectangular female member having a second front end welded to the base plate. The male member is removably disposed within a trailer hitch receiver which receives an open first rear end of the male member. A ball mount is removably disposed within the female member through a second rear end. A right portion of a pin is slidably and continuously disposed through a first pair of openings disposed through the female member and a second pair of openings disposed through the ball mount. A left portion of a pin is slidably and continuously disposed through a first pair of apertures disposed through the male member and a second pair of apertures disposed through the trailer hitch receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Inventor: Richard Beal