Patents Examined by Michael R Stabley
  • Patent number: 11161567
    Abstract: An electric bicycle includes a front wheel, a rear wheel, a driving unit that transmits a driving force to at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel, a battery housing area that is able to house a battery that supplies power to the driving unit, a head pipe, and a down frame extending from the head pipe in a diagonally downward and rearward direction of a vehicle body. The down frame includes a first extension extending in the diagonally downward and rearward direction of the vehicle body and a second extension extending in the diagonally downward and rearward direction of the vehicle body and provided side by side with the first extension in a width direction of the vehicle body. The battery housing area is located at least partially between the first extension and the second extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Munemitsu Eguchi
  • Patent number: 11161564
    Abstract: A vehicle body frame includes a main frame that extends from a head pipe toward the vehicle rear side above an engine and a down-frame that extends downward from one end fixed to the head pipe. The main frame is assembled into a truss shape from a pair of left and right upper frames and a pair of left and right lower frames and reinforcing frames disposed between these upper frames and lower frames. Front end parts of the upper frames are fixed to the upper end side of the head pipe and front end parts of the lower frames are fixed to a part close to the head pipe in the single down-frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Sawasaki, Souichiro Makino, Hiroshi Okamura
  • Patent number: 11155294
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes: a torque sensor configured to detect a steering torque of a driver; a motor configured to assist in a steering force of the driver; a rotation angle estimation unit configured to estimate a rotation angle of the motor to output an estimated angle; a correction signal calculation unit configured to calculate a correction signal based on the steering torque; a frequency separation unit configured to separate the estimated angle into a first frequency component and a second frequency component; an estimated angle correction unit configured to calculate, as a control angle, a value obtained by adding a second-frequency-component corrected signal, which is obtained by correcting the second frequency component based on the correction signal, to the first frequency component; and an electric power supply unit configured to supply electric power to the motor based on the control angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuya Tsuchimoto, Isao Kezobo, Yuji Takatsuka, Akira Furukawa
  • Patent number: 11131368
    Abstract: An example robot includes: a leg having an upper leg member and a lower leg member coupled to the upper leg member at a knee joint; a screw actuator disposed within the upper leg member, where the screw actuator has a screw shaft and a nut mounted coaxial to the screw shaft such that the screw shaft is rotatable within the nut; a motor mounted at an upper portion of the upper leg member and coupled to the screw shaft; a carrier coupled and mounted coaxial to the nut such that the nut is disposed at a proximal end of the carrier; and a linkage coupled to the carrier, where the linkage is coupled to the lower leg member at the knee joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Potter, Zachary John Jackowski, Adam Young
  • Patent number: 11124258
    Abstract: A bicycle bottom bracket set has two bearing cups, the bearing cup has a built-in ring, a tightening socket and a bearing. The built-in ring and the tightening socket are provided with a guiding end and a connecting portion. When the bearing cup screw is installed, the guiding end of the built-in ring can be gradually opened and pressed against the inner wall of the bottom bracket. When the bottom bracket has inner diameter offsets caused by the heat expansion and contraction factor or the poor processing, the combination of the forced tension of the bearing cup can achieve the purpose of structurally limiting. The stability of the structural installation while ensuring the safety of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: MING SUEY PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jia-Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: 11124224
    Abstract: An electric power steering system includes a housing, a ball screw, a motor, an angular position sensor and a computing unit. The ball screw includes a nut and a threaded shaft. The motor is disposed in the housing and connected to the nut and includes a bushing and a metal component. The metal component is fixed on the bushing and includes a central portion, a first wing portion and a second wing portion. The first wing portion and the second wing portion are disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the central portion. The angular position sensor is disposed in the housing and fixed relative to the housing. The angular position sensor includes a first sensing unit and a second sensing unit. The computing unit is electrically connected to the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: HIWIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Eric Wang, Yi-Wei Liao, Cheng-Che Ho
  • Patent number: 11118680
    Abstract: A hydrostatic drive includes a transmission having a pump and motor disposed on a center section, and a charge pump to provide fluid to a charge gallery. A power take off (PTO) driven by a prime mover includes a clutch assembly, solenoid valve, and PTO drive member driven by a prime mover input. When the solenoid valve is in a first position, fluid flows from the charge gallery to the clutch to connect the input with the PTO drive member, and when the solenoid valve is in a second position, fluid flows from the PTO mechanism to the sump to disengage the PTO drive member from the input. A filter may be disposed on a land on the center section and seated in a filter pocket in the housing. The filter engages with a bottom surface of the filter pocket to maintain a seal against the land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Thomas J. Langenfeld
  • Patent number: 11110593
    Abstract: Automated storage and retrieval systems which include robots that move along ceilings and/or walls to retrieve and/or transport goods. The robots use magnetic adhesion to hold to the surfaces. The robots adjust the magnetic adhesion force in response to changes in weight or other conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ferromotion Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Vira Tarbaieva, Andriy Volodymyrovych Shvydky, Mykhailo Anatolievich Smetaniuk, Victor Anatolievich Smetaniuk
  • Patent number: 11097799
    Abstract: A wing member includes a first wing, a second wing, and a connection section connecting one-end sides of the first wing and the second wing. Both the wings are disposed with a spacing therebetween in the longitudinal vehicle direction, and the first wing is located on a vehicle body front upper side relative to the second wing. The connection section connects the one-end sides of both the wings that extend from a cowling toward a transverse-directionally outer side. A front edge of the first wing is inclined such that its transverse-directionally outer side portion is located on the vehicle body rear side relative to its transverse-directionally inner side portion, in plan view of the vehicle body. A rear edge of the first wing is inclined such that its transverse-directionally outer side portion is located on the vehicle body front side relative to its transverse-directionally inner side portion, in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sosuke Miki, Jun Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11091194
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has an electrically assisted steering system. A steering angle velocity of the motor vehicle, and a driver manual torque change applied by a driver of the motor vehicle are determined. At least the steering angle velocity and the driver manual torque change are analyzed to determine whether the driver manual torque change and the steering angle velocity are not correlated. An error signal is output if the driver manual torque change and the steering angle velocity are not correlated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Simon Nolden, Jens Dornhege, Stephan Klein, Goetz-Philipp Wegner
  • Patent number: 11090990
    Abstract: A vehicle hitch assistance system includes a controller acquiring data from an external portable electronic device including position and orientation data of a trailer, including a coupler thereof, and deriving a vehicle path to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler using the position and orientation data of at least one of the trailer and the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Yu Ling
  • Patent number: 11084653
    Abstract: A transport device for transporting a dolly-style trash bin using a vehicle includes a protective tow pad. The protective tow pad includes a trunk latch opening, a right wing portion extending to the right of the trunk latch opening, and a left wing portion extending to the left of the trunk latch opening, wherein the trunk latch opening is adapted to permit the operation of a trunk latch mechanism of a vehicle through the trunk latch opening to pinch the right wing portion and the left wing portion between a trunk door and a trunk jamb and thereby secure the transport device to the vehicle. The transport device further includes a bin handle cradle secured to the protective tow pad and adapted to receive a dolly handle of the dolly-style trash bin. A tandem trash bin arrangement is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas J. Weber
  • Patent number: 11077912
    Abstract: The invention solves the issue of stiff mounting of a wheel to a bicycle frame. The essential feature of the invention is that in the seating nests of the axle are bulges and hollows with slanting surfaces. The outer contour of the axle's wall section, which is parallel to the wheel symmetry plane which goes through the slanting surface, has a non-circular shape, preferably the shape of a regular polygon or similar to a regular polygon or an irregular polygon or the shape of an irregular closed curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventor: Mariusz Kozak
  • Patent number: 11072385
    Abstract: Method for the producing of an extruded frame element with battery pack profile for use in a bicycle frame comprising a plurality of frame elements, where the frame elements are interconnected and constitute a structure with such great rigidity that the bicycle frame under ordinary loading does not change its geometrical shape, wherein the at least one frame element is extruded with variable material thicknesses in a given cross sectional profile, and a recess is made in the at least one extruded frame element, as well as a bicycle frame comprising such a frame element, wherein a stable bicycle frame with sufficient strength is achieved, and wherein the bicycle frame becomes as discreet as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Lynx Aps
    Inventor: Lars Munksø
  • Patent number: 11072214
    Abstract: A hitch mounting system capable of attaching to a vehicle, where, the vehicle includes a frame and a load bed is disclosed. The hitch mounting system may include at least one rail, the rail being a generally continuous member, where the rail includes at least one end portion, and where the end portion is deformed in a shape capable of attaching to the frame of the vehicle. The hitch mounting system may also include at least one mounting aperture located in the rail, the mounting aperture capable of having secured thereto an accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventor: Richard W. McCoy
  • Patent number: 11072362
    Abstract: The vehicle steering system includes a rack shaft and a conversion mechanism that converts rotation of a rotating shaft of the motor into reciprocating motion of the rack shaft. The conversion mechanism includes a drive pulley that rotates with the rotating shaft, a driven pulley rotatable about an axis of the rack shaft and a toothed belt extending around the drive pulley and the driven pulley, and converts rotation of the rotating shaft into reciprocating motion of the rack shaft when rotation of the drive pulley is transmitted to the driven pulley via the toothed belt. The vehicle steering system further includes a determination circuit that determines tooth skipping that is a change in meshing position between the drive pulley and the toothed belt, and a calculation circuit that calculates an integrated value obtained by integrating a prescribed value indicating that tooth skipping is determined by the determination circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yousuke Shirauchi
  • Patent number: 11066124
    Abstract: A device for sensing a bicycle pedaling torque input includes: a housing; a bearing defining a rotational axis; a bearing support member that positions the bearing with respect to the housing, the bearing support member including one or more beams; an output member configured to be coupled to a chain ring, the output member being coupled to an inner race of the bearing to enable the output member to rotate with respect to the housing about the rotational axis; a spindle configured to be coupled to a bicycle pedal crank, the spindle functionally coupled to the output member to enable a rider pedaling force applied to the spindle to cause rotation of the output member; and one or more strain gauges, each of the one or more strain gauges being coupled a beam of the bearing support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Neal Tate Saiki, Charles Raymond Teixeira, IV
  • Patent number: 11034201
    Abstract: A vehicle hitch assembly is provided that includes an angled trailer tow bar configured to be supported at the rear of a vehicle, a hitch receiver movably coupled to the tow bar such that the receiver may move on the tow bar, and a locking mechanism for locking the receiver in a fixed position on the tow bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Jack Marchlewski, Joshua Robert Hemphill, Robert Reiners
  • Patent number: 11035443
    Abstract: A pedal lifting and angle adjusting mechanism includes an upper fixing block, a first push rod and a second push rod. The upper fixing block is fixed to a front end of a wheelchair frame. The first push rod includes a first housing. The second push rod includes a second housing. Both an upper end of the second housing and the first housing are hinged and fixed to the upper fixing block. A first push tube of the first push rod is hinged and fixed to a part deviating from the upper end of the second housing. A pedal is fixed to a second push tube of the second push rod. The first push rod is inclined. A hinged part of the first housing and the upper fixing block is located on a rear side of a hinged part of the first push tube and the second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG LINIX MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kaituo Lv
  • Patent number: 11029692
    Abstract: A robotic device for providing vertical mobility has a payload disposed inside a central compartment and can move up and down through spring load to keep intimate contact with the surface and cross over bumps. The apparatus uses a flexible seal to create a reliable vacuum chamber. The flexible seal comprises a foam ring inside fabric pocket. A plurality of rod and spring strips are configured to apply a downward force to the flexible seal to conform with surface curvatures. The fabric pocket fills in the gaps or seams to maintain a vacuum. The air flows inside a manifold and passes through a filter to avoid debris from damaging the vacuum motor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignees: InnovBot, LLC, Research Foundation of the City University of New York
    Inventors: Jizhong Xiao, Kenshin Ushiroda, SaiadiVishnu Sanigepalli, Guoyong Yang, Yifeng Song