Patents Examined by Maurice Williams
  • Patent number: 8544572
    Abstract: A car having a rotatable wheel, the car being able to run by rotating the wheel, the car having a leg used by the car for walking, and an attitude stabilization section for stabilizing an attitude of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Chiba Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Takayuki Furuta, Masaharu Shimizu, Hideaki Yamato, Yu Okumura, Tetsuo Tawara, Masaki Shimomura, Ken Endo
  • Patent number: 8540038
    Abstract: A track assembly and vehicle for omnidirectional travel. The track assembly includes a driving arrangement and two or more closed loop linking members connected to the driving arrangement. The track assembly also includes freely rotatable rollers for contacting a surface, the rollers supported on the closed loop linking members. The rollers travel a roller path defined by the motion of the closed loop linking members. An omnidirectional vehicle includes two or more track assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Stuart G. Ullman
  • Patent number: 8540258
    Abstract: A rack-assist type electric power steering apparatus, in which when a ball nut slides a rack bar while rotating, a vibration and a noise in the axis direction and the radial direction, generated from the rack bar and a rack housing, are absorbed. This facilitates the operation of the ball nut and the rack bar, and reduces the vibration and the noise, thereby resulting in an effect for providing a comfortable steering feeling to a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Hong Yong Bae, Joo Namgung, Hee Kwon Jo
  • Patent number: 8540040
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-purpose ground vehicle (10) that may serve as a platform (12) for carrying a payload (14). The vehicle has a chassis (16) and a suspension (18) mounted to the chassis (16) for varying ride height and for influencing a response of the chassis (16) to underlying terrain. Track modules (22, 24, 26, 28) are associated for the suspension. These modules (22, 24, 26, 28) can be reoriented independently of each other. Preferably, at least some of the track modules (22, 24, 26, 28) include a band track (38) that circumscribe one or more wheels (30, 32) that are associated with a given track module (22, 24, 26, 28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: GSE Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Glen Raymond Simula, Luke Stephen Luskin, David Jon McKinstry
  • Patent number: 8534695
    Abstract: A hitch assembly includes a housing bracket having side members and a connecting member. A lower platform is attached to the housing bracket such that a cavity is formed between the lower platform and the connecting member. An L-shaped upper platform is configured to engage the cavity. A mounting bracket is connected to the housing bracket and has at least one adjustment aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: John R. Columbia
  • Patent number: 8505667
    Abstract: Provided is a throw-type compact reconnaissance robot, which is used for military purposes or counter-terrorism and is capable of ensuring a long operational time as well as drop safety by efficient spatial layout of a battery. The throw-type compact reconnaissance robot includes a cylindrical body (100) with a camera (140), drivers (200) made up of two tires (270) that are disposed on opposite sides of the body (100) and is drivable individually, and battery units (300) supplying power used to operate the robot and disposed in inner spaces of the tires (270) of the drivers (200) on the opposite outermost sides of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Soohyun Kim, Kyung-Soo Kim, Jeehyoung Kim, Wonsuk Jung, Chulyoung Kim, Yunsic Hong, Hyunsoo Park, Kyuje Yoo
  • Patent number: 8499863
    Abstract: In a friction drive device comprising first free rollers and second free rollers contacting each other at the outer circumferential surfaces thereof to frictionally transmit power from the second free rollers to the first free rollers, in order to minimize the slippage between the first and second free rollers, minimize the power loss and cause the first free rollers to move as designed, an outer peripheral part of each first free roller defining an outer circumferential surface thereof has a different stiffness from that of an outer peripheral part of each second free roller defining an outer circumferential surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takenaka, Makoto Hirano, Hideharu Izumi, Kazuya Kuwabara, Taiji Koyama, Shinichiro Kobashi, Hiroshi Gomi, Masao Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8496083
    Abstract: A rear wheel suspension device of a motorcycle has rear end portions of an upper arm member and a lower arm rotatably joined to a knuckle member, which pivotally supports a rear wheel. The rear wheel suspension device can obtain a progressive cushion property while avoiding an increase in the number of parts. At the same time, the rear wheel suspension device can make the acquisition of extra rigidity of the vehicle body frame unnecessary. One end of a rear cushion unit is joined to one of an upper arm member and a lower arm member. A rear end portion of another of the upper arm member and the lower arm member is rotatably joined to a knuckle member in front of a rear wheel support portion of the knuckle member. Another end of the rear cushion unit is joined to one of another arm member and knuckle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Igarashi, Toshiaki Takamura, Shinji Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 8496262
    Abstract: A bicycle that includes a main frame, a front wheel mounted for rotation relative to the main frame, a rear dropout, and a rear wheel mounted for rotation relative to the rear dropout. The rear wheel defines a center plane of the bicycle. The bicycle further includes a rear stay that couples the rear dropout to the main frame. The rear stay has an inner surface facing the rear wheel and an outer surface facing away from the rear wheel. The rear stay includes a steep portion having an outer surface at a steep angle of between about 25 degrees and about 75 degrees relative to the center plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Callahan, Christopher P. D'Aluisio
  • Patent number: 8490742
    Abstract: A hydraulic power steering unit has an assist force generating unit that uses oil to generate assist force for steering by a steering device, a variable flow oil pump unit that supplies oil to the assist force generating unit, and a controller that controls the oil pump unit. The controller has a command flow setting device that sets a command flow rate Qc of the oil supplied from the oil pump unit to the assist force generating unit in accordance with a vehicle quantity of state such as a vehicle speed, steering angle or the like. The controller also has a flow correcting device that corrects the command flow rate Qc in accordance with the speed of the oil pump unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8485288
    Abstract: A drilling device, comprising a chassis, two undercarriage units which are arranged laterally on the chassis and supported in a pivotable manner, two oscillating cylinders for pivoting the undercarriage units relative to the chassis, with an oscillating cylinder being assigned to each undercarriage unit, and hydraulic lines which are arranged on the oscillating cylinders for actuation of the oscillating cylinders, wherein the hydraulic lines of the two oscillating cylinders are connected to one another in order to pivot the undercarriage units in opposite directions. A safety device to be provided for line breakage safety on at least one hydraulic line for each oscillating cylinder, with each safety device having at least one remote-controlled stop valve for blocking the respective hydraulic line in the case of line breakage, and in that a remote-control device is provided for simultaneously opening the stop valves during normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Klemm Bohrtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph Kaethner, Albert Clemens
  • Patent number: 8479860
    Abstract: An all terrain endless track vehicle of the present invention comprises a front suspension assembly and a rear endless track assembly supported by a chassis. The front suspension assembly is engageable with the ground by a steerable set of skis or wheels. The endless track assembly supports an engine, transmission and first and second shock absorbers. The first shock absorber connects to the endless track assembly forward of the engine, while the second shock absorber connects to the endless track assembly rearward of the engine. A rear swing arm supports a rearwardly positioned main driver mechanically linked to the transmission by way of a chain or belt. A plurality of idler wheels disposed on the endless track assembly, along with the main driver, define an endless track contour. An endless track or belt disposes on the plurality of idler wheels and the main driver. The engine, transmission, and shock absorbers are each contained within the contour of the endless track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: LRET, Inc.
    Inventor: Kristopher J. Jorgenson
  • Patent number: 8474567
    Abstract: A method for the readjustment of an actuator of an all-wheel drive clutch of a motor vehicle that includes determining a clutch slip value corresponding to a difference between the speed of a primary axle and the speed of a secondary axle; determining a reference secondary axle torque corresponding to the proportion of a driving torque which is transmitted to the secondary axle and for which a clutch slip value of substantially zero is expected; and comparing the clutch slip value with a threshold value and comparing a desired clutch torque with the reference secondary axle torque. A desired clutch torque/control signal relationship for the clutch actuator is changed in dependence on the result of these comparisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Parigger
  • Patent number: 8465041
    Abstract: A means for electrically connecting a vehicle electrical system to a trailer is disclosed which automatically connects the same when the hitch of the trailer is mounted on the vehicle hitch. Four different embodiments of the invention are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Inventor: Gary Riibe
  • Patent number: 8459393
    Abstract: A rear rear-fender bracket integrally coupled to an upper portion and a lower portion of a rear rear-fender that is mounted to a rear portion of a vehicle body of a motorcycle, extending rearward and downward, and covering a rear wheel from upward and rearward, is provided to the rear rear-fender, and forms, with an internal surface of the rear rear-fender, a closed space having an inverted triangular shape when viewed from a vehicle side in which a space is gradually narrowed from an upper portion to a lower portion. Further, at the time of mounting, the rear rear-fender and the rear rear-fender bracket are coupled by being screwed together by rear winkers on sides of the vehicle (long holes). Further, a lower portion of the rear rear-fender and a lower portion of the rear rear-fender bracket are coupled by being screwed together by a license plate mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Takayo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8454044
    Abstract: A bicycle damping system is arranged to reduce vibrations that originate at the bicycle wheel and are transmitted to the rider of the bicycle. Desirably, a front fork assembly is configured to be supported by a bicycle frame and includes a pair of fork legs, which extend in a downward direction along opposing sides of a front wheel of the bicycle. Preferably, the fork legs are configured to support the front wheel at their lower ends. Each of the fork legs can define a cavity and a damping member is positioned within the cavity. The damping member can be forced into contact with a surface of the fork leg. Seat stays, chain stays, the seat post and other components of the bicycle can also include a damping system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle L. Chubbuck, Christopher P. D'Aluisio
  • Patent number: 8454045
    Abstract: A tricycle has a frame, a front wheel with drive pedals, a seat, and a footboard. The footboard of the novel tricycle can optionally be mounted on the frame in a first orientation and in at least one second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Heinz Kettler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Kettler, Karin Kettler
  • Patent number: 8448741
    Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed having a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system includes a steering input and a feedback to the steering input. In another aspect of the disclosure, an adjustable gain is provided between steering inputs to the system and the steering output from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Scott J Breiner, Mark J Cherney
  • Patent number: 8444165
    Abstract: A guard bar apparatus is configured to protect the legs of ATV riders, and provide a secure mounting location for shock absorbing tunable footpegs. The guard bar assembly provides for a pivot point for allowing rapid turns around fixed objects. The footpeg apparatus is configured with a cradle having a receiving cavity within which one or more elastomeric balls may be positioned to function as shock absorbers. A foot contact component is pivotally mounted to provide a foot engagable surface and an oppositely disposed biasing surface which pivotally moves against the balls within the receiving cavity to achieve a shock absorbing function. A travel limiting feature limits the travel of the foot contact component and may be utilized to preload the receiver cavity containing balls into compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventors: Jessica Renee Houser, John Abbott Houser, Jeffrey David Houser
  • Patent number: 8430419
    Abstract: A vehicle coupling device 10 for coupling a vehicle to another vehicle. The coupling device 10 comprises a mount 12 for mounting the coupling device 10 to the vehicle. The device 10 also comprises a first coupling 14 and a second coupling 16. Each of the first and second couplings 14, 16 is connected to a support 18 and movable relative to the mount 12 between an operative position and an inoperative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Ian Garth