Patents Examined by Matthew D Lee
  • Patent number: 11957074
    Abstract: A work vehicle including a vehicle body, a pair of left and right driving wheels that movably support the vehicle body, a pair of motors capable of rotatably driving the left and right driving wheels respectively, a pair of maneuvering levers pivotally supported to the vehicle body to be pivotable about a horizontal axis extending in a vehicle body transverse direction and capable of adjusting rotational speeds of the left and right driving wheels respectively, and a pair of solid dynamic vibration absorbing portions supported to respective free end portions of the maneuvering levers and capable of suppressing vibrations of the maneuvering levers, wherein each solid dynamic vibration absorbing portion of the pair of solid dynamic vibration absorbing portions includes a weight within an elastic body, wherein the weight and the elastic body have equal longitudinal lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuto Fujii, Justin McCallister, Hideki Aoki
  • Patent number: 11952061
    Abstract: A drop deck trailer is provided with a deck that has the ability to raise and lower to conveniently load and unload goods and materials on the deck. A pneumatic system can raise and lower the deck and also serve as a suspension system for the trailer to dampen the relative movement between a frame and the deck. In addition, some embodiments of the trailer have a deck with a movable carriage that can move along the deck to automatically load a vehicle such as a golf cart. The carriage has rollers that secure the front wheels of a vehicle, and the carriage moves along the decks to pull the vehicle onto the deck. Moreover, various embodiments of a trailer frame can selectively connect to different decks to allow each deck to be specialized for particular goods and materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventors: Gary L. Griffee, Nathan Boyer
  • Patent number: 11938778
    Abstract: A clamp for securing a link to a bar or a rod in order to accommodate multiple connection points. The clamp or sway bar clamp includes multiple connection points for securing a link to a sway bar. The sway bar clamp goes over the end of the sway bar. It converts a sway bar with one connection point to a sway bar with multiple connection points to adjust flex of the sway bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Shock Therapy Suspension, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin Smith
  • Patent number: 11926186
    Abstract: A suspension device includes: a hydraulic damper including a rod provided with a valve for generating a hydraulic pressure when the rod is displaced between a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber; and an electric damper configured to electrically displace the rod by an actuator. The electric damper includes: an outer cylinder; an inner cylinder; a piston provided on the rod and configured to stroke in the inner cylinder; and a communication passage disposed inside the inner cylinder at a central portion where the piston strokes. The communication passage establishes communication between the first liquid chamber at one axial end side of the piston and the second liquid chamber at another axial end side of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Yamazaki, Takashi Yanagi, Kazuya Konada
  • Patent number: 11912222
    Abstract: An embodiment vehicle panel assembly includes an inner panel configured to wrap a roof and opposite pillars of a vehicle body, the inner panel including a second inner assembly portion provided at pillar-side opposite side parts and a guide portion provided at an upper side of the second inner assembly portion, and an outer panel configured to be loaded from above the inner panel and coupled to the inner panel to wrap an outside of the inner panel, the outer panel including a second outer assembly portion provided at a side part, the second outer assembly portion configured to be guided downwards by the guide portion when loaded from above and facing the second inner assembly portion after loading, wherein the second outer assembly portion is fastened to the second inner assembly portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Hyun Cheol Yun, Dong Ho Kang, Jin Young Mo
  • Patent number: 11912368
    Abstract: A scooter, for example an electric scooter, having two wheels, an elongated platform mounted on the two wheels and arranged to receive at least one foot of a user, a steering handlebar articulated relative to the platform and connected to one of the wheels, wherein the scooter comprises a safety device with an inflatable cushion arranged to be deployed in case of sudden deceleration of the scooter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Elin Villeius, Emma Lindholm, Hassan Jan, Louise Melin
  • Patent number: 11912095
    Abstract: A suspension system includes a rotation inducing member for causing a cylinder to rotate relative to piston rod in response to an axially-applied force. In examples, the rotation inducing member may be embodied as a bushing structure. In other examples, the cylinder and/or the piston rod may include the rotation inducing member. The inducement of rotational motion may help overcome stiction or similar frictional forces between the piston rod and the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ZOOX, INC.
    Inventor: Johannes Edren
  • Patent number: 11910898
    Abstract: A support device for wheels of transportable containers, such as trolley cases or the like, has at least two parts fixed to each other, including a first and a second part, so that the two parts have a relative movement therebetween, from a condition of maximum approach to a condition of maximum distancing. The first part is integral with the container and the second part is formed by an arm adapted to support at least one wheel, rotatably fixed to the arm. Furthermore, the first and the second part each have at least one magnetic element, and the at least two magnetic elements are arranged in opposite positions so as to generate a magnetic force of repulsion between the two parts, aimed at permanently maintaining the two parts in a condition of maximum distancing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventor: Alessio Boninsegni
  • Patent number: 11904949
    Abstract: A vehicular steering device includes a turning shaft, a housing storing therein the turning shaft, a stopper provided at a shaft end of the turning shaft, and an annular elastic body. An opening of the housing is formed in a U-shaped cross-sectional shape and in an annular shape opened toward the stopper by an external cylinder portion and an internal cylinder portion. The elastic body includes a first elastic portion and a second elastic portion. The first elastic portion is supported by an inner circumferential surface of the external cylinder portion and the bottom surface, and is provided with a first clearance from an outer circumferential surface of the internal cylinder portion. The second elastic portion extends toward the stopper from the first elastic portion, and is provided with a second clearance larger than the first clearance from the inner circumferential surface of the external cylinder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 11904943
    Abstract: An embodiment chassis frame includes a plurality of partitions extending downwardly from an upper frame and having lower portions and a reinforcing member detachably connected to the lower portions of adjacent ones of the partitions. An embodiment chassis frame includes a plurality of partitions extending downwardly from an upper frame and having lower portions and a reinforcing member detachably connected to the lower portions of adjacent ones of the partitions, the reinforcing member including a first end portion and a second end portion opposing the first end portion, the first end portion and the second end portion detachably connected to the lower portions of the corresponding partitions, respectively, and a second reinforcing bracket at least partially surrounding an exterior surface of the second end portion, the second reinforcing bracket detachably connected to the lower portion of the corresponding partition through a second bolt and a second nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Han Jong Lee
  • Patent number: 11884338
    Abstract: A driverless transportation vehicle for piece goods has a chassis, a traction drive, a load-transfer device with a load-transfer drive, and a control system. The chassis has at least two wheels arranged on an axle and the traction drive is configured to drive the wheels. The load-transfer device picks up an item of piece goods and transfer its center of mass on the vehicle. The control system controls the traction drive to prevent the transportation vehicle from tilting about the axle of the chassis, while the driverless transportation vehicle balances on only the at least two wheels. The control system additionally actuates the load-transfer drive in such a way that the position of the center of mass of the cargo is adapted for a driving maneuver that is to be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Körber Supply Chain Logistics GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Enenkel, Michael Matt, Max Umbach
  • Patent number: 11884329
    Abstract: A connector for connecting a frame member to one or more other frame members of a space frame assembly is disclosed. The connector includes a body defining a surface and a projection extending outwardly from the surface along a main axis to define an axial end surface away from the surface. The axial end surface defines a curvature having continuity across an expanse of the axial end surface to facilitate formation of a full penetration weld joint between an end of the frame member and the axial end surface upon a contact of the end of the frame member with the axial end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Oliver Zalanka, Chad Michael Arnold
  • Patent number: 11883338
    Abstract: A caster-wheel assembly (100; 200) for a vehicle, for example a wheelchair or powered wheelchair. The caster-wheel assembly comprises a switch (13) coupled to a housing (3); a castering wheel bracket (9) configured to receive a wheel (10), wherein the bracket is rotatably mounted about a caster pivot axis (28) with respect to the housing; biasing means (15) configured to provide a biasing force such that the wheel bracket is biased away from the housing; and a switch-actuating member (13) coupled to the wheel bracket such that movement of the wheel bracket towards the housing and against the biasing force causes the switch-actuating member to actuate the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventor: Brian Harrison
  • Patent number: 11878742
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a vehicle body frame and a cargo bed supported by the vehicle body frame, the cargo bed including a side wall unit. The side wall unit includes a side wall, a tail lamp mounted on a rear end portion of the side wall, and a bolt including a shaft portion and a head portion. The tail lamp is secured to the side wall by the bolt oriented in a vehicle width direction. The head portion of the bolt is hidden by a part of the side wall unit when viewed from behind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Iwata, Yusuke Nakashima
  • Patent number: 11872878
    Abstract: There is provided a truck, comprising a cab and a plurality of storage tanks secured behind the rear of the cab, wherein the storage tanks are configured to contain hydrogen gas. An energy conversion system is configured to receive hydrogen gas from the storage tanks and to convert the chemical energy of the hydrogen into mechanical or electric energy. A cooling arrangement is configured to cool the energy conversion system. A wall is provided behind the cab and laterally of the storage tanks, the wall having its main extension in a vertical plane, wherein said wall houses at least a part of said cooling arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Arne Andersson, Staffan Lundgren
  • Patent number: 11873050
    Abstract: A saddle riding-type vehicle includes a retainer that is provided behind a head pipe; an inflator; and an airbag that is housed in the retainer, inflates by gas discharged by the inflator, and is deployed in front of an occupant. The airbag includes a proximal end portion that is positioned in the retainer when the airbag is deployed and an outward deployment portion that extends from the proximal end portion and is deployed to the outside of the retainer when the airbag is deployed. A tab is provided on the proximal end portion, and the tab is fixed to the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Yutaka Aikyo, Ryota Ishigaki, Masaru Habu, Makoto Fuma
  • Patent number: 11858564
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, a first axle assembly coupled to the frame and including a first pair of tractive elements, a second axle assembly coupled to the frame and including a second pair of tractive elements, a prime mover coupled to the frame and configured to drive the first axle assembly and the second tractive assembly to propel the vehicle, a ballast movably coupled to the frame, and a ballast actuator configured to reposition the ballast relative to the frame to shift a center of gravity of the vehicle relative to the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Payne
  • Patent number: 11851023
    Abstract: Provided is a pre-tensioner for a seat belt, the pre-tensioner including a housing, a carrier disposed on a first surface of the housing, a fixing member connected to the carrier, a first pulley disposed in a first zone of the first surface of the housing, a second pulley disposed in a second zone of the first surface opposite to the first zone with respect to the carrier, a driving unit having at least a portion coupled to the second pulley, and a belt disposed to mesh with the first pulley, the second pulley, and the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, Samsong Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae Woon Kim, Jung Woo Park, Won Ryong Song
  • Patent number: 11845372
    Abstract: A transport vehicle includes a pair of left and right vehicle body frames extending in a front and back direction; driving wheels disposed at a middle portion in the front and back direction of the pair of left and right vehicle body frames; auxiliary wheels disposed at a lower portion of an end portion in the front and back direction of each of the right and left vehicle body frames; lifter mechanisms disposed at an upper portion of an end portion in the front and back direction of each of the right and left vehicle body frames; a connection frame connecting upper portions of the right and left vehicle body frames to each other; and a lower frame disposable between the right and left vehicle body frames, the lower frame being removably fixed at lower portions of the right and left vehicle body frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoki Odawara, Kotori Maki
  • Patent number: 11807182
    Abstract: A ROPS frame for a work vehicle includes: a first pipe having an end; a second pipe having an end facing the end of the first pipe; a plate-shaped first joint coupled to the end of the first pipe and oriented orthogonally to a longitudinal direction of the pipes; a plate-shaped second joint coupled to the end of the second pipe and oriented orthogonally to the longitudinal direction of the pipes, the second joint being placed on the first joint; and a bolt extending through the first and second joints and fastening the first and second joints to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kohta Nakao, Yuki Monde