Patents Examined by Michael Stabley
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Patent number: 9457633Abstract: A cross member system for a coupling device of a motor vehicle includes a tubular cross member, which extends between two lateral fastening consoles and a coupling mounting, which is connected with the cross member in a central section of the cross member. The cross member has a varying cross sectional course in longitudinal direction and is formed from a cut-to size-plate by a U/O-forming and is longitudinal seam welded. A central section of the cross member has a polygonal cross section. The cross member further has lateral end sections with a cross section which deviates from the polygonal cross section.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBHInventor: Ryan Krieger
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Patent number: 9445968Abstract: A system for aiding the crawling mobility of children or young adults is disclosed. The system consists of central hub supported by four legs. The patient is enclosed in a harness which is coupled to a support cord extending through the central hub. A lifting force partially offsetting the patient's weight is supplied by tension on the support cord, which is locked relative to the central hub via a locking device. Coupling between the support cord and harness is provided by carabineers which are clipped to āDā rings on the harness. The balance point can be adjusted by moving the attachment point to various āDā ring locations.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2015Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Inventor: Amir Burstein
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Patent number: 9440690Abstract: A personal mobility scooter can include a front frame portion and a rear frame portion detachably coupled to the front frame portion. The front frame portion can have a front frame, at least one front wheel rotatably coupled to the front frame, and a rear suspension coupled to the front frame. The rear suspension can have at least one biasing member. The rear frame portion can have at least one rear attachment member, a pair of drive wheels, and at least one drive configured to power the drive wheels. The rear suspension is configured to (i) engage the at least one rear attachment member when the rear frame portion is coupled to the front frame portion and (ii) remain with the front frame portion when the rear frame portion is detached from the front frame portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2013Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Pride Mobility Products CorporationInventors: Doug Manternach, James Kosco, Brian Thomas
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Patent number: 9440700Abstract: Disclosed herein is a body frame for a bicycle which is able to provide higher strength in such a way to use a carbon material even when the outer diameters of a top tube, a bottom tube, a seat tube, a chain tube, etc. have the thickness of a body frame of a classical bicycle, while relatively reducing the weight of the body frame. For this, the body frame for a bicycle according to the present invention is configured in such a way that each of the top tube, the bottom tube and the seat tube is made in a circular shape wherein the outer diameters are same from one end to the other end of each tube, and the flesh thickness of each tube is relatively thicker at the other end portion than one end portion, and each tube is made of a carbon material.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2015Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: WIN & WIN CO., LTDInventors: Dong Won Park, Ung Je Choi
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Patent number: 9440504Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: David L. Bagnariol, Stephen J. Kemp, G. Jay McKoskey
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Patent number: 9434586Abstract: A crawler undercarriage configured for modular attachment of work tools wherein the crawler undercarriage operates on at least two endless crawler tracks. Each crawler track extends around and is driven by a crawler sprocket at one extremity of its travel and extending around an idler roller at its other extremity of travel. The crawler undercarriage configured for modular attachment of work tools comprising a longitudinally extending center channel for securing a modular tool. The crawler undercarriage also includes at least one substantially vertical support member extending upwardly from the center channel. The crawler undercarriage also includes at least one mounting bracket secured to extending upwardly from the substantially vertical support member, wherein the modular member is secured to the at least one lower mounting bracket on the substantially vertical support member.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2014Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Custom Truck & Equipment LLCInventors: Fredrick Martin Ross, Jr., James H. Esch
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Patent number: 9434440Abstract: A supporting structure includes: a step stay which is mounted to a motorcycle frame structure and configured to support a foot step for a passenger; an unit supporting portion provided at the step stay and configured to support an operation unit for manually adjusting a characteristic of a rear wheel shock absorber; a pannier supporting portion provided at the step stay and configured to support a front portion of a pannier mounted to a side portion of a motorcycle body; and a tank supporting portion configured to support a reservoir tank for brake oil. The pannier is disposed rearward of the operation unit, and an operation portion of the operation unit is disposed at a position at which overlap of the operation portion with the step stay and the pannier is avoided as viewed from an outer lateral side.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Youhei Kunisada
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Patent number: 9428217Abstract: To suppress the loosening of a bush when an ambient temperature varies. A motor-driven power steering apparatus according to the present invention includes a rack shaft moving steered portions based on the steering in a steering wheel, an end case covering the rack shaft and having an inner peripheral groove along a circumferential direction of the rack shaft on an inner peripheral surface facing the rack shaft and a bush arranged inside the inner peripheral groove of the end case and supporting the rack shaft so as to slide. Here, an outer peripheral surface of the bush includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion protruding toward a bottom portion of the inner peripheral groove at different positions in an axial direction of the rack shaft. The bottom portion of the inner peripheral groove includes a first groove and a second groove receiving the first protrusion and the second protrusion.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichi Tokura, Ryo Takahashi
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Patent number: 9428238Abstract: A body frame structure for a saddle type vehicle includes a pair of left and right main frames extending rearward from a head pipe. A down frame extends downward from the head pipe, and a pair of left and right reinforcement members range between the main frame and the down frame. Each of the reinforcement members is formed in a roughly U-shaped form in sectional view, and ranges between the main frame and the down frame in the state where an opening portion of its roughly U-shaped sectional form is oriented inward in the vehicle width direction. Its end portions are welded respectively to the main frame and the down frame.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shinichiro Ishida, Kota Noguchi
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Patent number: 9428232Abstract: A snowmobile includes a plurality of ground engaging members, a frame supported by the ground engaging members, and a powertrain assembly supported by the frame. Additionally, the snowmobile includes a front suspension assembly supported by the frame. The front suspension assembly includes an upper control arm operably coupled to the frame and a lower control arm operably coupled to the frame. The lower control arm is forged. At least a portion of the lower control arm includes an artificially-induced area of localized stress, and the lower control arm is configured to absorb energy at the area of localized stress.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Anthony J. Ripley, Luc C. Wilson, Martin E. Sampson, Jeffrey A. Eaton, Lyle J. Dahlgren, Matthew M. Sweere
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Patent number: 9422023Abstract: The present bicycle enables a user to selectively ride or walk the bicycle by providing a clearance or enclosure between the front portion of the bicycle and the rear portion of the bicycle. The enclosure is created by bending two top tubes laterally outward and away from each other, and bending two down tubes laterally outward and away from each other, so that the user can stand or walk within the enclosure, with his body between the two top tubes and between the two down tubes. The space provided by the enclosure is sufficient to permit pedaling while seated and permit walking while standing, without excessive bumping into the bicycle frame.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2015Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Inventor: Steven Aloysius Espenschied
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Patent number: 9421997Abstract: An apparatus for removing hysteresis of motor driven power steering (MDPS) may include: a motor driving unit for rotating a motor; a key on/off sensing unit for sensing a key on/off of a vehicle; and an electronic control unit (ECU) for receiving a key off state of the vehicle from the key on/off sensing unit and repeating a sweep function a preset number of times. The sweep function may include applying a current having an asynchronous frequency, which does not coincide with a synchronous frequency of the motor, to the motor through the motor driving unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.Inventor: Jin Qyu Seo
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Patent number: 9415821Abstract: An article storage structure for an automatic two-wheeled vehicle 1 includes a cover member 20 which covers a vehicle external side, an article storage portion 30 which is disposed inside the cover in ember 20 and enables to store an article, and a lid member 31 which opens or closes an opening portion 30a of the article storage portion 30. A pivot 31b which defines a rotational axis C along an external surface 31s of the lid member 31 is provided in the lid member 31. A rotary damper 50 is provided on the rotational axis C and engaged with one end portion 31be of the pivot 31b so as to dampen a rotation of the lid member 31.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2014Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kenichi Oishi, Ryo Hasunuma
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Patent number: 9409596Abstract: In a broad respect, vehicles that are capable of making a low- to zero-radius turn using the independent rotation of drive wheels and by turning the non-driving steerable structure or structures (such as wheels) with a steering input device (in some embodiments, the driving wheels also may be capable of being turned). This may be accomplished using a steering system, a speed control system and an integration device (together, a control system) that are configured to work together to provide correct steering in forward and reverse, and, in some embodiments, to reduce the speed of the outboard drive wheel of the vehicle when it enters an extreme turn under constant speed input. Different systems configured for use in such vehicles are included.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2011Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: MTD Products IncInventors: Hans Hauser, Ian David Cornwell
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Patent number: 9403571Abstract: A motorcycle comprising a hollow self-supporting shell integrating the steering column, means for securing the engine and means for securing the suspension system, said shell having an inner space forming a petrol tank, said shell also including the driver's seat. Said shell has hollow spaces which are closed on either side of the median longitudinal vertical plane. The driver's seat is preferably formed by an extension of the hollow spaces.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2013Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: RDMOInventor: Olivier Midy
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Patent number: 9398989Abstract: A wheelchair grip ring, its components, and a corresponding method for making a wheelchair grip ring are described herein. The grip ring can be mounted to, and removed from, one or more of the wheels of a wheelchair. The grip ring has a substantially rigid central ring, a polymer cover which is integral with the central ring and which covers some, or all, of the central ring. The grip ring can also have one or more mounting devices which connect either the polymer cover or the central ring to the wheel of the wheelchair. The method involves placing the central ring into a mold, and adding a polymer material into the mold. The mold can thus produce a central ring having a polymer cover which is integral with the central ring, and which covers some, or all, of the central ring.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Pratiko, Inc.Inventors: Michel Landry, Jean-Marc Landry
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Patent number: 9399974Abstract: One or more throttle bodies and a surge tank are disposed behind a cylinder head, and an intercooler is disposed by being adjacent to the surge tank at a position behind the cylinder head and the one or more throttle bodies. A supercharger is provided in front of the intercooler.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Keisuke Ito, Ken Shibano, Yoshisato Inayama, Kei Hasegawa, Yuta Endo
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Patent number: 9394860Abstract: In an air cleaner unit having a casing body of carbon fiber and configured to introduce outside air into an engine, a lamination layer part formed by laminating plural kinds of materials is arranged in a region of at least a portion of the air cleaner unit. The lamination layer part is formed of a carbon fiber layer and an elastic material layer. The casing body is provided with an opening to be connected to an air intake duct. The lamination layer part is formed of a first lamination layer part and a second lamination layer part of which the elastic material layer is thicker than that of the first lamination layer part. The second lamination layer part is arranged around the opening.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2015Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shin Nishimura, Takeshi Noumura, Yasuhiro Fukuyoshi
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Patent number: 9387879Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes an input shaft to which steering force from a steering wheel is applied, an output shaft to which assisting force generated by an electric motor is applied, and a torque detection sleeve. One of the input shaft and the output shaft includes a cylindrical portion having a female stopper portion and a circumferential groove. The other of the input shaft and the output shaft has a male stopper portion being in concave-convex engagement with the female stopper portion and relatively rotatable in a given angular range. An edge of a base end portion of the torque detection sleeve is clinched to the circumferential groove. The circumferential groove is provided on a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion radially overlapping a stopper engagement region in which the female stopper portion and the male stopper portion are engaged with each other.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2014Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: NSK LTD.Inventor: Taishi Shigeta
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Patent number: 9388878Abstract: A suspension device intervenes between a vehicle body and a wheel in a vehicle. The suspension device includes an outer tube coupled to the vehicle body, an inner tube inserted into the outer tube so as to allow the inner tube to advance and retreat, and a wheel-side bracket that includes a tubular holding portion into which an end portion on the wheel side of the inner tube is inserted and couples the inner tube to the wheel. The holding portion includes an annular ring disposed on the outer tube side and having an inner peripheral surface standing along an outer peripheral surface of the inner tube. The ring includes an outer peripheral tapered surface formed on an outer peripheral surface of the ring continuously from the end portion on the outer tube side of the inner peripheral surface and having a diameter gradually expanded to the holding portion side.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2013Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: KYB CorporationInventors: Kazuto Shindou, Hideaki Ogura