Patents Examined by Maurice L Williams
  • Patent number: 11712936
    Abstract: System for holding and storing disconnected lines of a tractor unit, each line comprising, at one end, a coupling configured to be coupled to a complementary coupling of a trailer so as to pneumatically or electrically connect the trailer to the tractor unit, the system for holding and storing comprising a first retaining mechanism comprising a bracket designed to be fixed on a rear wall of the tractor unit and at least one spring having a first extremity attached to the bracket and a second extremity on which at least one of the lines can be hung; and a second retaining mechanism for receiving and holding the couplings arranged at the end of the lines; the system for holding and storing further including a magnetic stabilizer configured for attracting and maintaining the spring in a rest position when the tractor unit is moving without trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Kondikoppad, Umesh Basavaraj Hamasagar
  • Patent number: 11712937
    Abstract: A hose line management system for a tractor-trailer includes a vertical tube rotatably mounted on the truck frame, between the cab and trailer, and a horizontal tube pivotally attached to the upper end of the vertical tube. The truck's electrical cables and air hoses are passed through the tubes and connected to the trailer. The tubes can move in both a vertical and horizontal plane according to vehicle movement to prevent the hoses from breaking or disconnecting. The tubes are biased to return to an original position when no longer stressed by vehicle movement or orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventor: Jerry Daugherty
  • Patent number: 11701276
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a driving device capable of walking and stair-climbing by electric power which adopts a combination of a walking mechanism and a climbing carrier to create inventive planetary gear transmission principles. When walking on a flat ground, a driving part drives a sun gear to rotate in a positive direction, two walking wheels are in contact with the ground at the same time, the sun gear drives a planet gear to rotate in a negative direction around a planet shaft, and inner teeth and outer teeth of a gear ring rotate in the negative direction synchronously with the planet gear, thereby a transmission gear drives the walking wheel to rotate in the positive direction to realize rotation of walking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventor: Daniel Kao
  • Patent number: 11679806
    Abstract: A work vehicle including an articulated vehicle chassis having a front frame portion and a rear frame portion pivotally coupled together at a generally vertical pivot axis. The front frame portion carries a front axle and the rear frame portion carries a rear axle. A steering system includes at least one steering cylinder connected between the front frame portion and the rear frame portion. A power plant provides motive power to the work vehicle, and a transmission receives power from the power plant and provides power to the front axle and rear axle. The work vehicle further includes a secondary clutch interconnected between the transmission and the rear axle. The steering system is configured to disengage the secondary clutch to provide reactive steering, whereby the front frame portion tows the rear frame portion. The rear frame portion freely articulates relative to the front frame portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Alessandro Benevelli
  • Patent number: 11673464
    Abstract: A two wheeled throwable robot comprises an elongate chassis with two ends, a motor at each end, drive wheels connected to the motors, and a tail extending from the elongate chassis. A rear portion having a deep recess securing the pair of motors with brackets, and batteries with brackets. The forward part having a shallow recess with a printed circuit board secured therein having control circuitry. The wheels are less than six inches in diameter and the robot weighs less than five pounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: ReconRobotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew M. Sellner, Alex J. Kossett, Jade Moreau, Andrew Drenner, Steve Gigi
  • Patent number: 11654996
    Abstract: A motorcycle, or saddle type vehicle, is disclosed that may have at least one seat and at least two wheels, at least one hub electric motor. A large dry storage compartment may be positioned between the rider and steering mount. A rechargeable battery and battery management system may be located below the storage compartment in a battery housing, where the battery housing may be a structural component of the chassis. A rear electronics housing may be attached to and located behind the battery housing, and may contain major electrical components such as electric motor controller and contactors. Two structural members, or frame side rails, may form sides of the storage compartment and extend between the electronics housing and steering mount. The electronics housing may also connect to the battery housing such that the battery housing reinforces and strengthens the chassis, or structural frame. A secondary storage compartment may be located under the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: FUELL Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Buell, Edward Matthew Laben, Daniel David Hurda
  • Patent number: 11648972
    Abstract: A motorized scooter cart system is a system that enables a user to comfortably move around while transporting objects or people. The system may include a scooter deck, at least one scooter wheel, a linkage arm, at least one seat assembly, a handlebar assembly, and a pushcart. The scooter deck is designed to support the weight of the user so that the user can freely maneuver the pushcart. The at least one scooter wheel provides the translational force necessary to move the present invention. The linkage arm enables the coupling of the scooter deck to the pushcart. The linkage arm also facilitates the maneuvering of the pushcart. The at least one seat assembly enables the user to comfortably seat while maneuvering the pushcart. The pushcart enables the transportation of objects or people mounted onto the pushcart. Finally, the handlebar assembly enables the control of the pushcart by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventor: Kermit Mallette
  • Patent number: 11643021
    Abstract: Bicycle carriers or racks for attachment to vehicles may be provided with a pivoting mechanism to rotate the rack in a vertical plane to provide access to the rear of the vehicle without removing bicycles from the rack. An actuator may be provided for a user to engage and disengage the pivoting mechanism to respectively secure the rack in a desired orientation or allow it to pivot from one desired orientation to another. The actuator may be coupled to a bar that engages one or more protrusions in the pivoting mechanism to secure the pivoting mechanism at a desired orientation. In some mechanisms the actuator may be actuated by hand or by foot, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Kuat Innovations LLC
    Inventors: Luke Kuschmeader, Joshua H. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 11628895
    Abstract: A novel sprocket for a track drive of a mobile robot may allow for some deformation of the track so that the track better conforms to the surface on which the robot travels. The novel sprocket also may prevent excessive track deformation or deflection that may result in undesirable de-tracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Roman Sanchez, Andrew Paul Czop, Adam Shaker
  • Patent number: 11613315
    Abstract: A jackknife-prevention system for a tractor-trailer rig wherein the present invention is operable to engage the front brakes of the tractor-trailer tractor so as to oppose and reverse a jackknife movement upon detection thereof. The present invention includes a lateral-acceleration sensor that is mounted in the cab of a tractor trailer and transmits power from a source to a left-side circuit or right-side circuit if the tractor is skidding leftward or rightward, respectively. A steering direction sensor is configured to transmit power from said left-side circuit to both of two stopcock assemblies when steering is leftward or from said right-side circuit to both of two stopcock assemblies when steering is rightward, the stopcock assemblies responding to power input by decompressing both front-wheel brake chambers. This action, allowing the front wheels to roll when steered in the direction of a sideward skid, helps align the tractor with its trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventors: David M Regen, Ingrid L Regen, Samuel M Regen
  • Patent number: 11608127
    Abstract: Trailer electrical connector assemblies can facilitate the automatic coupling and decoupling of a trailer. A trailer electrical connector assembly can include a vehicle portion and a trailer portion. The vehicle portion can include a hitch ring that is secured to a hitch ball and guides within which contacts are positioned. The trailer portion can include a sleeve that is positioned around a coupling mechanism of the trailer and a sleeve ring that forms receivers within which contacts are positioned. When the hitch ball is inserted into the trailer's coupling mechanism, the receivers can be automatically coupled with the guides to thereby form an electrical connection between the vehicle and the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Mod.al Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Erick Vega, Kreg Peeler, Angela Brimhall, Jeremy Carter
  • Patent number: 11607952
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for controlling differential wheel speeds of multi-independent-wheel vehicles, such as four-wheel-drive electric tractors (4WD-ETs). Specifically, a method comprises determining a target speed for each wheel of the vehicle based on at least the steering input. The linear travel speeds (corresponding to these target speeds) of any two wheels are different when the vehicle turns (steering input deviates from a no-steering baseline) or the same when the vehicle travels in a straight line (steering input is at the no-steering baseline). Each target wheel speed is then used to control the rotational speed of the corresponding electric motor, which independently drives one of the vehicle's wheels. This process of determining the target wheel speeds and independently controlling all electric motors is frequently repeated such that the vehicle can be propelled through the turn at the desired speed with minimal wheel slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: DIMAAG-AI, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Wright
  • Patent number: 11598070
    Abstract: Disclosed are power systems, and power machines employing the power systems, having dual in-line pumps configured to supply hydraulic fluid to respective left and right side travel motors of the power machine. In some exemplary embodiments, pump pintle arm controls and a single centering mechanism for the pintle arm controls are provided. The single centering mechanism is configured to center the pintle arms for each of the two pumps. Also in some exemplary embodiments, a mechanical control linkage configuration allows the separate pump pintle arm controls to be positioned on a side of the pump substantially one behind the other. This allows hydraulic connections to the pumps to be placed on top of the pump assembly, improving the routing of hydraulic hoses in the power machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventor: Craig Roske
  • Patent number: 11548573
    Abstract: A jackknife prevention apparatus configured to be mounted intermediate the trailer and cab of a tractor-trailer rig extending bilaterally wing-like from the tractor's frame rails to which it is hinged horizontally. The jackknife prevention apparatus can swing up or down on its hinge between lowest and highest positions by action of a motor which responds to tractor conditions so as to promote safety, maneuverability and convenience. Specifically, when the tractor is parked, the apparatus tilts down near the ground and constitutes a stairway from ground up to the frame-rail tops. When the tractor is unparked, the apparatus swings up to near horizontal, where it is inactive. If tractor speeds exceed perhaps 20 or 30 mph, the apparatus rises to its highest position where it blocks further nearing of a trailer's front corner to the tractor's cab at a tractor-trailer angle of perhaps 15 to 20 degrees, thereby preventing a jackknife accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventors: David M Regen, Ingrid L Regen, Samuel M Regen
  • Patent number: 11547051
    Abstract: A hydrostatic transaxle includes: a casing that is provided with an openable and closable filter insertion port and is filled with hydraulic oil; a hydraulic continuously variable transmission that is arranged inside the casing; a filter holding member that includes a support base that is a hollow cylindrical portion and oil-tightly partitions an inside of a cylinder and an outside of the cylinder, and a filter connection port that is a hollow cylindrical portion extending from a peripheral side surface of the support base and communicating with the inside of the cylinder, the support base communicating the inside of the cylinder to the port, and arranged between the center section and the casing facing the port; and a filter body that is freely inserted to and removed from the casing via the filter insertion port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: KANZAKI KOKYUKOKI MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Yasuda, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Daisuke Murashima, Masaru Iida, Koji Iwaki
  • Patent number: 11535337
    Abstract: A bicycle includes a transmission having two switchable drives between a driver body on which rear sprockets are positioned and a wheel hub of a rear wheel. The bicycle has actuation elements for switching between drives and operating elements for operating the actuation elements. The bicycle includes only a single front sprocket. The actuation elements are embodied in an electrical version and the operating elements are electrically coupled to the actuation elements. By advantageously selecting the drives of the driver between the cassette housing and wheel hub, a front derailleur may be omitted. The driver allows operation with only little energy, since the chain need not be shifted. consequently, the actuation elements require little energy for changing the drive between the crank axle and the wheel hub of the bicycle, so that it is pre-eminently suitable for these actuation elements and their operation to be executed as an electrical version.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: ADVANCING TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Roƫll Marie Van Druten, Johannes Gijsbertus Antonius Van Den Brand
  • Patent number: 11535323
    Abstract: A telescopic apparatus comprises a first tube, a second tube, and a non-contact detector. The second tube is configured to be telescopically received in the first tube. The non-contact detector is provided inside at least one of the first tube and the second tube configured to detect a position of the second tube relative to the first tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toyoto Shirai, Yuki Sakagawa, Yoshimitsu Miki, Norikazu Taki
  • Patent number: 11529833
    Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch assembly is shown and described. The fifth wheel hitch system may comprise a jaw fixed about a pivot pin and a biasing member biasing the jaw to a closed position. The fifth wheel hitch assembly may also include a kingpin guide positioned opposite the jaw, where the kingpin guide is adapted to engage and retain a kingpin against the jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Mark Scruggs, Curt Nowack, Tom Stalder, Gregoire Mercier
  • Patent number: 11529989
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a steering apparatus capable of improving a function of a bearing that supports a steering shaft. A steering apparatus includes a steering shaft, a first housing member, a second housing member, and a bearing. The steering shaft rotates according to a rotation of a steering wheel. The first housing member is located on one side in a rotational axial direction of the steering shaft, and includes a cylindrical portion and a flange portion. The cylindrical portion surrounds the steering shaft. The flange portion extends in a radial direction with respect to a rotational axis of the steering shaft to an outer side of the cylindrical portion in the radial direction. The second housing member is provided on the other side in the rotational axial direction, and forms a housing together with the first housing member. The second housing member includes a connection portion and a containing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventor: Osamu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11530005
    Abstract: A remotely-engaging handle for a fifth wheel hitch system is provided. The remotely-engaging handle may comprise a body and a latching assembly that may be securely attached to the body and capable of engaging with a fifth wheel hitch. The latching assembly may comprise a locking member and an actuating member. The actuation of the actuating member may position a portion of the locking member from an unlocked position to a locked position. The locking member may comprise a latching arm rotating about a pivot point and a biasing member operatively attached the body. The biasing member may bias the locking member into a transitory position. In one embodiment, the actuating member may further comprise an electrically-operated button or a software-based interface. In particular embodiment, the locking member may further actuated by a solenoid and the connecting member may further comprise a wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Curt Nowack, Gregoire Mercier