Patents Examined by Michael R Stabley
  • Load-dependent trailer brake system and method of controlling such
    Patent number: 11279334
    Abstract: A trailer brake system that generates load-dependent braking forces. Variable trailer load information is used to generate load-dependent control signals which serve to control an electrically-controlled proportional valve. A load sensing valve serves to modify brake command signals in dependence on a control pressure that is regulated by the proportional valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Eric Bongaerts, Michiel Nijsten
  • Hydraulic steering system
    Patent number: 11273861
    Abstract: A method of operating a steering system having a rotatable steering control, a steering actuator having a rod movable along a range of travel, a rotary device coupled to the steering control, and a valve assembly disposed between the rotary device and the steering actuator includes rotating the steering control in a first direction, displacing the rod toward an end of the range of travel, and determining when the rod reaches the end of the range of travel. The method also includes, after determining, actuating the valve assembly from a first position in which the rotary device is not in fluid communication with the steering actuator, to a second position in which the rotary device is in fluid communication with the steering actuator, and inhibiting further rotation of the steering control in the first direction due to back pressure on the rotary device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Clayton Emmert, Troy Schick
  • Motor control device
    Patent number: 11267503
    Abstract: To provide a motor control device capable of reducing noise without requiring preparation of a plurality of PWM carrier waves, an offset voltage is added equally to each phase of three-phase voltage command values from an inverter to output modified three-phase voltage command values, which are compared to a PWM carrier wave to output three-phase terminal voltages to a motor, and an offset voltage is switched among n offset candidate voltages (n is a natural number of three or more) having different values at set time intervals for output to vary timings to turn on and timings to turn off the three-phase terminal voltages equally for all phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Cornoration
    Inventors: Tatsuya Mori, Takayuki Kifuku, Akira Furukawa
  • Steering device
    Patent number: 11267509
    Abstract: A steering device for a vehicle includes a steering rod and at least one drive unit, wherein the steering rod can be displaced along its longitudinal extent by the drive unit. The steering device also includes at least one first sensor device for determining a displacement position of the steering rod. The steering rod, as seen along its longitudinal extent, exhibits at least one change in its cross section, in particular diameter, wherein the first sensor device is designed to sense the change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hendrik Buering, Wolfgang Abele, Andreas Kruttschnitt, Arnulf Heilig, Ralf Redemann, Vitali Haag, Ossmane Krini, Stefan Scherb, Arthur Rupp
  • Gear shifting system
    Patent number: 11267531
    Abstract: A gear shifting system includes a drive shaft, a face gear, and at least one power transmission component(s). The gear system also includes a pinion gear assembly, which is coupled to the first end of the drive shaft. The pinion gear assembly is configured to mesh with one of the concentric gear-rings on the face gear, so that the rotational movement of the gear-ring is transmitted to the shaft. The gear shifting system is easy to operate, mechanically simple, can smoothly shift between gears under any gear shifting conditions, and exhibits decreased component wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: CeramicSpeed Sport A/S
    Inventors: Jason Smith, Noah Granigan, Colin Diamond, William Golding, Garrett Gerchar, Morten Opprud Jakobsen, Alexander Jacobson Rosenberry
  • Body frame of saddle riding vehicle
    Patent number: 11260931
    Abstract: In a body frame, a pair of left and right main frames extend downward to the rear from the upper portion of a head pipe and a down frame extends downward to the rear from the lower portion of the head pipe, a gusset is provided in the body frame, the gusset being joined to the head pipe, and the gusset includes a center wall portion and lower extension portions, the center wall portion being disposed between inner side wall portions of the left and right main frames, the lower extension portions extending downward from the center wall portion and being joined to outer side surfaces of the down frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoya Matsuo, Kyohei Hosoya, Hideaki Kawase, Shinya Morooka
  • Inside frame rail impact release mounted tow hook with and automotive vehicle with impact release mounted tow hooks
    Patent number: 11260709
    Abstract: A tow hook has a front portion extending forwardly from a front side of a side frame rail of an automotive vehicle and a rear portion received in a channel of the frame rail. The tow hook is releasably mounted to the side frame rail so that it releases at low impact force. The rear portion of each tow hook has at least one open slotted mounting member having a slot therein that extends rearwardly from an open front end of the slot. Each open slotted mounting member of the rear portion of each tow hook is secured to a wall of the side frame rail to which it is mounted. A vehicle has the tow hook mounted to a left side frame rail and another such tow hook mounted to a right side frame rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Gorman, Charles R Buttler, Jagan M Mummadi, Eric A Darin
  • Two-wheeled vehicle
    Patent number: 11260712
    Abstract: A two-wheeled vehicle includes a frame having a front frame portion, a mid-frame portion, and a rear frame portion. The mid-frame portion is coupled to the rear frame portion and the front frame portion. The vehicle further includes a plurality of ground-engaging members for supporting the frame. The front frame portion is removably coupled to the mid-frame portion with a plurality of frame members extending between the front frame portion and the mid-frame portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Indian Motorcycle International, LLC
    Inventors: David L. Bagnariol, Jeffrey M. O'Halloran
  • Saddle riding vehicle
    Patent number: 11260929
    Abstract: A saddle riding vehicle includes a body frame, an engine supported by the body frame, an exhaust sensor that detects exhaust air of the engine, and a radiator for the engine. The engine is supported by an engine hanger portion disposed in the body frame. The exhaust sensor is disposed on an exhaust pipe of the engine at a position on a front with respect to the engine hanger portion and is positioned underneath the radiator. At least a part of the exhaust sensor overlaps the engine hanger portion as viewed in a front view of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyotaro Yamamoto, Kei Mayuzumi, Masaomi Yamada, Kazuya Sawasaki, Souichiro Makino
  • Shock-absorbing front fork assembly of motorcycle
    Patent number: 11260933
    Abstract: A shock-absorbing front fork assembly of a motorcycle includes a front fork, a pressure buffering cylinder and a control valve disposed between the front fork and the pressure buffering cylinder and electrically connected with a brake system to control the communication between the front fork and the pressure buffering cylinder according to the operation of the brake system. When the brake system is not actuated, the control valve is open to make the front fork communicate with the pressure buffering cylinder, thereby making the spring supporting force relatively smaller. When the brake system is actuated, the control valve is close to make the front fork not communicate with the pressure buffering cylinder, thereby making the spring supporting force relatively larger. Therefore, the spring supporting force is adjusted by the brake operation, that raises the riding comfort and safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Inventor: Chih-Hung Tseng
  • Trailer-mounted mock landing gear
    Patent number: 11260708
    Abstract: An example apparatus is configured to couple to a trailer and a tow vehicle. The apparatus includes a frame; one or more clamps mounted to the frame and configured to couple the frame to an underplate of the trailer; and a shaft having a first end rotatably coupled to the frame and a second end configured to couple to at least one replicated element of a towed vehicle. The at least one replicated element is configured to engage the tow vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christian Brunckhorst, Nicholas James Brimlow
  • Tow truck support assembly
    Patent number: 11254255
    Abstract: A support beam for stabilizing a motorcycle on the wheel lift of a tow truck is provided. The support beam includes a mount that positions the beam horizontally on a rear portion of the tow truck at a level generally equal to the level of the motorcycle's handlebars when the motorcycle is resting on the wheel lift. The beam includes a first end attachable to the motorcycle's left handlebar using a left strap, and a second end attachable to the motorcycle's right handlebar using a right strap. With the motorcycle resting on the tow truck's wheel lift, and the beam configured to provide support to the motorcycle's handlebars, the motorcycle is secured to the wheel lift, stabilized, and able to be towed. In some embodiments, the mount is designed to be received into a wheel lift cable guide through-hole thereby securing the beam to the wheel lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Jessie Jones
  • Side-stand for motorcycle and manufacturing method thereof
    Patent number: 11254382
    Abstract: A side-stand for a motorcycle enables both improvement in appearance and weight reduction by using a tapered pipe member. A side-stand for a motorcycle includes an elongate portion having a hollow structure, and a grounding portion. An outer shape of the elongate portion is tapered in appearance toward the grounding portion and, in a state in which the side-stand is unfolded, the elongate portion looks thinner as a whole in a side view than in a front view of a vehicle body. The elongate portion has a wall thickness on the distal end side equivalent to or smaller than a wall thickness on a proximal end side. The elongate portion is formed by increasing a diameter of a distal end side inner peripheral portion of a round pipe member by cutting, and then swaging an outer peripheral portion to reduce the diameter and obtain a tapered shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takao Yamamoto, Hidekuni Kawasaki
  • Low profile trolley for a tow saddle
    Patent number: 11247517
    Abstract: A trolley that couples to a tow saddle is provided. The trolley includes an upper plate and a lower plate. The upper and lower plate are secured against a rear portion of a tow saddle. One or more support bars are coupled to the upper plate. The bars provide structural support for the upper plate and deflect a chain that transits apertures in the upper plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: ATC Transportation LLC
    Inventor: Donald W. Schuettenberg
  • Motorcycle with pivotable fuel tank
    Patent number: 11247743
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes an internal combustion engine, a frame, a fuel tank for carrying a fuel to be consumed by the internal combustion engine, and a container connected to the internal combustion engine and the fuel tank. The container is configured to store fuel evaporating from the fuel tank, and the container in a position of use is at least partially covered by the fuel tank. The fuel tank is supported pivotably relative to the frame between a maintenance position and the position of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: KTM AG
    Inventors: Juan Domenech, Luca Francesco Contardo
  • Cellulose-containing gear
    Patent number: 11242913
    Abstract: A gear is provided that has excellent continuous moldability for practical use, and both high slidability and high durability. The provided gear is a molded resin constructed of a resin composition comprising a thermoplastic resin (A) and cellulose nanofibers (B) with an average fiber diameter of 1000 nm or smaller, and having a number average molecular weight of the thermoplastic resin (A) in the range of 10,000 to 150,000, wherein a sliding surface of the gear with another gear teeth has an arithmetic mean surface roughness Sa of 3.0 ?m or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Tsuzuki, Sara Kusumoto
  • Battery lock for an electric vehicle
    Patent number: 11235838
    Abstract: A vehicle having an electrically operated drive motor, a battery for the energy supply of the drive motor, the battery being secured by a battery lock in a battery compartment of the vehicle and being removable from the battery compartment after unlocking the battery lock, and a control unit for the battery lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: ABUS AUGUST BREMICKER SOHNE KG
    Inventor: Stefan Heinemann
  • Straddled vehicle
    Patent number: 11235832
    Abstract: A straddled vehicle includes a radiator arranged forward relative to an internal combustion engine and an ECU arranged sideward of the internal combustion engine. At least a portion of a tubular air passage through which the air for cooling the ECU passes is formed between a support cover supporting the ECU and an outer cover. A front cover, an upper cover and an under cover form a groove portion, which extends rearward from a front end portion located upward and forward relative to the radiator and is recessed inward in the vehicle width direction. An inlet opening that communicates with the air passage is formed in the groove portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomohiro Kawabata
  • Steerer tube protector
    Patent number: 11235830
    Abstract: An bicycle includes a frame assembly having a head tube and a fork having a steerer tube mounted for rotation in the head tube. The bicycle further includes wheels supporting the frame assembly, and a component line positioned at least partially in the head tube and between the head tube and the steerer tube. The bicycle further includes a protector positioned in the head tube and separating the component line from the steerer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Robin François Ramon Lechevallier, Jan Talavasek, Marco Werner Sonderegger, David Huwiler, Rudy Megevand
  • Transverse wheel suspension system
    Patent number: 11230150
    Abstract: A wheel suspension system is disclosed. The wheel suspension system may include a suspension assembly that may include a sub-frame adapted to be connected to a reference frame of a vehicle, a wheel interface adapted to rotatably support a wheel of the vehicle and to define a wheel rotation axis and a wheel rotation plane, and one or more linking units. Components of the linking unit(s) may be pivotally connected to each other, to sub-frame and to the wheel interface using pivoting connection that may cause components of the linking unit(s) to rotate about axes that are substantially perpendicular to the wheel rotation axis. The components of the linking unit(s) may be dimensioned, and positions of the pivoting connections may be set to cause a substantially linear motion of the wheel interface along a reference wheel interface motion axis that is perpendicular to the wheel rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: REE AUTOMOTIVE LTD
    Inventors: Amit Aknin, Ran Dekel, Ahishay Sardes