Patents Examined by Marc Scharich
  • Wheelchair
    Patent number: 8573622
    Abstract: A wheelchair comprises a frame and first and second rear wheels that are each independently mounted to the frame via a respective mounting hub. Each rear wheel is detachably mounted to its respective mounting hub at two or more distinct hub mounting points. Either or both of the hub mounting points can be movable with respect to a remainder of the hub, for example via a pivoting arrangement. A disk can be positioned at the rear wheel and a stop element located at the mounting hub can be selectively operated to interfere with the disk to prevent rotation of that rear wheel. The frame can comprise first and second spaced apart and unitary tubes which each extending in an unbroken manner from a wheelchair seat to a wheelchair forward region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Lu Papi & Associates Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Luciano Papi, Steven Mark Smith
  • Electric power steering device
    Patent number: 8561753
    Abstract: An electric power steering device including an input shaft to which a steering wheel is connected, an output shaft connected to a wheel side, a torsion bar provided between the input shaft and the output shaft, and a torque sensor that detects steering torque input from the steering wheel. An electric motor is driven in accordance with the torque detected by the torque sensor. A worm wheel is provided on the output shaft to transmit rotation of the electric motor to the output shaft in a housing, wherein a boss of the worm wheel is fitted into an outer circumference of the output shaft, and a bearing fitted into the outer circumference of the boss is supported on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventors: Shingo Ishige, Yukio Tajima, Masanobu Miyazaki
  • Power steering systems and methods
    Patent number: 8561752
    Abstract: Power steering systems and methods to improve efficiency and performance of vehicle power steering systems. In one embodiment, there is provided an engine driven positive displacement hydraulic pump, a rotary valve coupled to a steering shaft for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure in a rotary valve inlet and providing a differential pressure to a steering rack piston for a steering boost responsive to a torque exerted on the steering shaft, valving coupled between an output of the hydraulic pump, the rotary valve inlet and the hydraulic pump input for controllably coupling the output of the hydraulic pump to the rotary valve inlet or an input of the hydraulic pump, and a controller coupled to valving to maintain a flow rate of hydraulic fluid coupled to the rotary valve responsive to a pressure sensor output. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sturman Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Rogers, Miguel Angelo Raimao, Jeffrey T. Gardner
  • System for selectively charging and discharging a steering accumulator
    Patent number: 8561751
    Abstract: A system and method for selectively charging and discharging a steering accumulator are provided. One vehicle steering system includes a hydraulic pump configured provide a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for use in steering the vehicle. The steering system also includes an accumulator configured to hold pressurized hydraulic fluid from the pump for use in steering the vehicle in case of need. The steering system includes a charging circuit configured to selectively allow the hydraulic fluid to flow from the hydraulic pump to the accumulator based on a fluid pressure applied by a first pilot and a second pilot. The steering system includes a charging bypass circuit configured to allow the hydraulic fluid to flow to a steering control unit and to bypass the charging circuit. The hydraulic pump supplies fluid to the charging circuit and the bypass circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Jerry Lee Brinkley, Adam Robert Rusciolelli
  • Towable impact attenuator
    Patent number: 8556286
    Abstract: A crash attenuator includes a crash cushion having a front end, a rear end, and a trailer hitch component disposed adjacent the front end. The trailer hitch component is capable of being secured to a mating hitch component located on a towing vehicle, such that the hitch components are capable of being rotated relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis. The crash attenuator further includes at least one wheel supporting the crash cushion. The wheel is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and is spaced rearwardly from the hitch component. A pair of tethers are positioned on opposite sides of the hitch component and are moveable relative to one or more retraction mechanisms connected to the crash cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Energy Absorption Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bret Eckert, Michael J. Buehler, James B. Welch
  • Payload module for mobility assist
    Patent number: 8550192
    Abstract: A ground vehicle and a method for articulating a payload module for mobility assist are disclosed. The ground vehicle comprises a chassis; and a payload module capable of articulating relative to the chassis to assist the mobility of the ground vehicle. The method comprises articulating a payload module relative to a chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Clemens, John C. Dunne, Michael S. Beck, Wendell H. Chun, Jon T. Stinchcomb
  • Swing arm for miniaturized vehicle
    Patent number: 8550201
    Abstract: A pair of left and right arm portions integrally formed by molding with a pivot portion formed on front ends and an axle support portion formed on rear ends. An opening portion with a peripheral portion endlessly contiguously formed by a pivot portion that connects front ends of both arm portions, a cross portion and both arm portions. A pair of left and right indented recessed portions is formed on an inner surface of a wall having support bosses projecting out of a lower surface of the wall. A pair of left and right reinforcing ribs that is positioned outside both recessed portions in the vehicle widthwise direction are integrally formed on the inner surface of the wall on which the support bosses is formed in a projecting manner toward the inside of the cross portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Uchiyama, Hirotsugu Kuboyama, Shinichi Ozeki
  • Stepper bike
    Patent number: 8540264
    Abstract: A four wheel stepper bike having a body with an internal chamber containing a drive mechanism for transmitting power to a wheel, a steering linkage, and a brake. Foot pedal units on opposite side of the body are moved by an operator's feet to apply force to the drive mechanism. A steering column with handles hinged to the body and connected to the steering linkage is selectively movable to steer the bike and move between upright and folded positions. Bumpers attached to an end of the body support the bike in an upright position on a support surface when the steering column is in the folded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventor: Phillip E. Schlangen
  • Flexible bicycle derailleur mount
    Patent number: 8534691
    Abstract: Derailleur mounts for use in bicycles. The derailleur mount comprises an elastic element having a functional state and a collapsed state. The elastic element is configured for reducing at least some of an impact force of at least 300 Newton (N) applied on the bicycle by switching from the functional state to the collapsed state. The elastic element is configured for reverting from the collapsed state to the functional state after the impact force is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Alon Schaffer
  • Mobile climbing robot and service system having a climbing robot
    Patent number: 8534395
    Abstract: The mobile climbing robot (15) according to the invention comprises a central joint (3), by which a first leg (1) is connected to a second leg (2). In addition, the robot comprises a first foot (8) which is connected to the first leg (1) by way of a first foot joint for rotation (5) and a first foot joint for tilting (4). A second foot (9) is connected to the second leg (2) by way of a second foot joint for rotation (7) and a second foot joint for tilting (6). A mounting (11) for attaching an implement (10; 12) is disposed on the first foot (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Niederberger Engineering AG
    Inventor: Anton Niederberger
  • Steering apparatus for a vehicle
    Patent number: 8528927
    Abstract: A steering apparatus for a vehicle includes a stem pipe disposed in a head pipe by upper and lower bearings interposed therebetween, a seal member for covering the upper bearing, and bottom and top bridges mounted on lower and upper ends of the stem pipe, respectively. A single fastening bolt, having a step formed between a head and a threaded surface thereof, is fitted in a pipe insertion hole of the top bridge and the upper threaded portion of the stem pipe. The stem pipe is firmly tightened and supported by a stem pipe slot-tightening mechanism of the top bridge. The fastening bolt is tightened by only a tightening force required to keep the fastening bolt from loosening. Also, a number of components required for the inventive steering apparatus is reduced, since an additional component, previously used for preventing loosening of a fastening bolt, is made unnecessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yotaro Mori, Mikio Uchiyama, Kazuhiko Gogo
  • Reconfigurable tilt wheelchair
    Patent number: 8511699
    Abstract: A modular wheelchair assembly is adapted to be reconfigured between a fixed angle of tilt, a dynamically adjustable tilt-in-space configuration with the tilt axis being near the user's knees and a dynamically adjustable tilt-in-space configuration with the tilt axis being near the user's center of gravity. The reconfiguration is achieved by modifying a limited number of selectively removable components of the support assembly or the pivot assembly of the wheelchair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: PDG Product Design Group Inc.
    Inventors: Nancy Balcom, Louis Belanger, Torr Brown, Janusz Krawczynski, Phil Mundy, David Harding, David Cheng Cheng
  • Anti-jackknife system for backing-up a trailer
    Patent number: 8511702
    Abstract: The anti jackknife system has locking mechanisms which automatically lock caster type wheels at the rear of a trailer in a fixed position in the direction parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the trailer and to the line of direction of travel of the tow vehicle pulling the trailer forward. In this forward configuration the tongue of the trailer freely rotates on a trailer hitch insert. In a back up configuration a locking mechanism automatically locks the trailer tongue into linear alignment with the trailer hitch insert. The caster type wheels rotate freely about a vertical axis, and when the trailer is backed up by the tow vehicle the trailer will stay in linear alignment with the tow vehicle. The caster type wheels will automatically turn in a direction corresponding to the front wheels of the tow vehicle, thereby completely preventing jackknifing of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Jeffrey E. Howell
  • Steering system
    Patent number: 8511419
    Abstract: A steering system includes a motor that rotates a power transmitting member, a rotating body to which rotative power of the motor is transmitted via the power transmitting member, a rack shaft that is driven in its axial direction according to rotation of the rotating body, a rack housing that houses the rack shaft and the rotating body, and a bearing interposed between the rack housing and the rotating body. A receiving portion of the rotating body which engages with the power transmitting member is provided at an opposed surface as a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the rotating body which is opposed to an output shaft of the motor, and the bearing is provided on a non-opposed surface other than the opposed surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Yuki Bando
  • Three-wheeled scooter device
    Patent number: 8505945
    Abstract: A human-powered scooter propelled by side-to-side movement of the user. The scooter has a steering mechanism coupled to a front wheel, and two frame arms pivotably coupled to the steering mechanism and extending rearward, to which two rear wheels are respectively coupled. A novel linking piece such as a mechanical plate member coupled to the steering mechanism can releasable engage with the frame arms in order to restrict their pivoting to equal magnitude in opposite directions. The linking piece can also disengage from the frame arms to allow the frame arms to be folded up. The pivoting axes of the two frame arms are predetermined such that, when folded, the frame arms are as near as possible to being parallel to a main steering control shaft of the steering mechanism. A mechanism for directly braking at least one of the rear wheels is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: Shane Chen
  • Motor drive apparatus
    Patent number: 8499885
    Abstract: A power transducer failure detection device detects a failure on a power transducer, making a power transducer control device stop driving the power transducer. A first switching control device turns off a first power supply relay of a power supply source switching device and turns on a second power supply relay of the power supply source switching device. While the power transducer stops driving, a motor may rotate due to an external force to generate a regenerative voltage. The regenerative voltage is then regenerated in a battery through a route from the power transducer via the second power supply relay being turned on and a parasitic diode of the first power supply relay. This can protect elements such as switching elements and a smoothing capacitor of the power transducer against a regenerative voltage and prevent the elements from being destroyed or reducing the useful life due to overvoltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Satou, Jiro Hayashi
  • Snowmobile having front tracks with brakes
    Patent number: 8499876
    Abstract: A central endless drive track is disposed below the seat of a snowmobile. At least two left wheels are operatively connected to a left track frame disposed forwardly of the seat. A left track engages the left wheels. A left brake is connected to the left track frame and selectively engages one of a first left wheel and the left track to brake the left track. At least two right wheels are operatively connected to a right track frame disposed forwardly of the seat. A right track is disposed around the right wheels. A right brake is connected to the right track frame and selectively engages one of a first right wheel and the right track to brake the right track. A brake lever causes the left and right brakes to brake the left and right tracks respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Mercier, Guillaume Longpre, Alain Massicotte, Etienne Guay
  • Wheelchair bag transporting mechanism
    Patent number: 8496260
    Abstract: A storage apparatus (10) attachable to a wheelchair (44) is pivotable and slidable from a storage position against the back of a wheelchair backrest to an access position adjacent to a wheelchair armrest. Pivoting and sliding is accomplished under power of an operator with the storage apparatus and slide mechanism (11) rotating substantially 90 degrees around vertical pivot member (30) and then sliding on a block member (18). A handle (24) is used to aide with the movement of the storage apparatus and to operate a locking mechanism (28), which secures the storage apparatus in access and storage positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Inventors: Leonard Jutkiewicz, Krzysztof Kotapka
  • Electric power steering apparatus
    Patent number: 8485308
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus including a motor includes: a steering torque sensor; a speed sensor; an auxiliary steering force setting unit configured to output a signal representing a linear change of a gradual increase or decrease; a map setter configured to receive a signal output from the auxiliary steering force setting unit and to set an auxiliary steering force map where a maximum steering torque, a maximum target motor current, or a ratio of a target motor current to a steering torque at a specific speed gradually increases or decreases; a current signal supply configured to output the steering torque signal and a target motor current signal corresponding to the speed signal according to the auxiliary steering force map; and a motor driving unit configured to supply a current corresponding to the target motor current signal to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Jin Hwan Lee
  • Electric power steering apparatus
    Patent number: 8474570
    Abstract: An electrical angle estimation section calculates an estimative electrical angle on the basis of an inductive voltage generated in a motor, and obtains an estimative electrical angle by correcting the estimative electrical angle by an electrical angle correction amount. On the basis of a detection value which represents the difference in electrical angle between the q-axis and the ?-axis calculated by an electrical-angle-error detection section, an electrical-angle-correction-amount computation section calculates an electrical angle correction amount such that the electrical angle of the ?-axis falls within a prescribed angular range, which lags behind the q-axis in terms of electrical angle. Thus, when sensorless control is performed, a phenomenon in which the motor loses synchronism can be restrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kohei Yanai