Patents Examined by Robert A. Siconolfi
  • Patent number: 12043079
    Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle includes an inner tube at least partially defining an inner fluid compartment and an outer tube enclosing at least in part the inner tube therein. Together, the inner tube and the outer tube at least partially define an outer fluid compartment therebetween. The inner tube defines a bypass zone having a plurality of bypass apertures that fluidly communicate the inner fluid compartment with the outer fluid compartment. A piston is movably mounted within the inner tube and moves in compression and in rebound. The piston defines a piston passage extending through the piston for permitting fluid flow between a first side and second side of the piston. An electronically controlled valve is connected to the piston and controls fluid flow through the piston passage. A method for controlling the shock absorber is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventor: Daniel Leclerc
  • Patent number: 12044051
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a variable torsion spring damping rotating shaft. The shaft includes a movable unit, a fixed unit, a first connection mechanism, a second connection mechanism, and a torsion spring; the fixed unit is detachable in inserting connection with the movable unit; the first connection mechanism is arranged inside the fixed unit, and the first connection mechanism is connected to an end of the fixed unit; the torsion spring is sleeved on the first connection mechanism, an end of the torsion spring is in inserting connection with the fixed unit, and another end of the torsion is in inserting connection with the movable unit; the second connection mechanism is arranged in the movable unit and is in cooperation with the first connection mechanism; and the second connection mechanism is configured to rotate on the first connection mechanism, to drive the movable unit to move towards the fixed unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: OPPLE LIGHTING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Donghong Zou
  • Patent number: 12044283
    Abstract: A damper device for providing a braking force includes a cylinder member having an inner wall, and a piston member slidably disposed in the cylinder member, the braking force being generated by movement or relative movement of the piston member. The piston member includes a seal member having an attachment base, and a lip portion extending from the attachment base and contacting the inner wall of the cylinder member, and a bending regulation portion assembled with the seal member for regulating an outer surface of the attachment base of the seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Seto
  • Patent number: 12046400
    Abstract: Exemplary inventive practice provides a structure that is attributed with superior resistance to loading. For example, an inventive structure includes two coaxial axisymmetric (e.g., cylindrical) shells and a granulation-filled matrix material occupying the peripheral space between the shells. According to some inventive embodiments, the granulation-filled matrix material has a loading-responsive matrix (e.g., shear-thickening fluid or highly rate-sensitive polymer) and granules dispersed therein. When the inventive structure encounters pressure loading at its exterior shell, the consistency of the loading-responsive matrix becomes thicker or firmer and thereby promotes, among the granules, interactive mechanisms (e.g., friction and/or arching) that reinforce the granulation-filled matrix material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Philip J. Dudt, H. John Nasrin, Hiren D. Balsara
  • Patent number: 12038063
    Abstract: A valve seat member is provided in a cap member. A first sub valve is provided in another side chamber. A second sub valve is provided in a cap chamber formed between a bottom portion of the cap member and the valve seat member. In a second passage, an orifice is disposed on an upstream side or a downstream side from the first sub valve in flow by which the first sub valve is opened. In a region in which a piston speed is low, a valve of a second damping force generating mechanism is opened in a state in which a valve of a first damping force generating mechanism is closed. In a speed region in which the piston speed is higher than in another region, the valve of the first damping force generating mechanism and the valve of the second damping force generating mechanism are both opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventor: Mikio Yamashita
  • Patent number: 12037036
    Abstract: A brake/ballast assembly for a movable structure. The brake/ballast assembly includes a movable brake/ballast plate movable between a movable brake/ballast plate first position in which the movable brake/ballast plate is positioned proximate the fixed member and a movable brake/ballast plate second position in which the movable brake/ballast plate is spaced from the fixed member. An engagement member is connected to the movable brake/ballast plate. The engagement member is movable between an engagement member first position and an engagement member second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: AQUA CONSCIENCE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Bartley J. Eckhardt, Bret W. Johnson, Marcus A. Mazza, Chad Phillips, Jorge Torres
  • Patent number: 12031606
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shock absorber including: a cylinder which is filled with a working fluid; a piston which is slidably provided in the cylinder and divides an inside of the cylinder into two chambers; a piston rod which is connected to the piston and extends outside the cylinder; a first passage and a second passage through which the working fluid flows due to movement of the piston; a first damping force generating mechanism which is provided in the first passage and generates a damping force; and a second damping force generating mechanism which is provided in the second passage and generates a damping force. The second damping force generating mechanism includes a sub valve provided on one side of the second passage, and a volume variable mechanism that changes a volume of a volume chamber provided in parallel with the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Mikio Yamashita, Takamasa Kotani
  • Patent number: 12030744
    Abstract: A cable-braking apparatus includes a main body unit at which a main cable is positioned, a drive unit provided at the main body unit so as to generate a drive force, an elastic compression unit configured to compress or release the main elastic element using the drive force generated by the drive unit, a press unit actuated by the elastic compression unit so as to move a press plate thereof to thus press the main cable, and a movement control unit configured to lock or release an anchor pin to thus control movement of the press unit. The main elastic elements are compressed and released by the action of the gear train and the clutch, thereby offering an effect of preventing malfunctions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: HUMAN NT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hoo Geun Bae
  • Patent number: 12025194
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a brake including a magnetic yoke iron core, a movable plate, a friction disk, a coil, an armature and an elastic part; a first mounting space penetrates through a center position of the magnetic yoke iron core in the axial direction; an opening of a second mounting space faces a second shaft end; the movable plate is located in the first mounting space and close to a first shaft end; the friction disk is arranged in the first mounting space and located at a side of the movable plate close to the second shaft end; the coil is arranged in the second mounting groove; the armature is located at the second shaft end, and the armature is connected with the movable plate through a connector; and the elastic part has pre-tightening force that enables the armature to be far away from the magnetic yoke iron core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Altra Industrial Motion (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cha Lu, Kongjian Wu, Atkesone Bernard
  • Patent number: 12025205
    Abstract: A damper comprises a pressure tube extending longitudinally between a first pressure tube end and a second pressure tube end, a piston arranged in sliding engagement inside the pressure tube, a piston rod coupled to the piston, a hydraulic rebound stop positioned in a first working chamber and including a sealing ring circumferentially extending around the piston rod and within the pressure tube. The sealing ring at least partially defining a high-pressure region within the pressure tube during a rebound stroke the damper further comprising a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the high-pressure region. The pressure relief valve being operable to allow pressurized fluid from the high-pressure region to pass therethrough once a predefined pressure threshold has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: DRiV Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew L. Roessle
  • Patent number: 12024260
    Abstract: A brake assembly for a handlebar of a bicycle is disclosed. The brake assembly may be configured so that the position of the brake lever relative to the handlebar may conveniently be adjusted to fit the preferences of the rider/operator of the bicycle (e.g. adjustment of the default position of the lever relative to the handlebar for the “reach adjust” feature). Adjustment of the default position of the lever relative to the body and handlebar may be provided between a near distance/position through an intermediate distance/position to a far distance/position (e.g. adjustment of “finger contact point”/reference point on brake lever relative to handlebar for preference of a rider/operator of the bicycle).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: HAYES BICYCLE GROUP INC.
    Inventor: John L Thomas
  • Patent number: 12025200
    Abstract: A method for sealing a liquid composite spring, includes the steps of: placing a sleeve-shaped outer wall around an upper portion of a core shaft, and forming an upper liquid chamber and a lower liquid chamber inside the outer wall; and arranging a sealing member at a bottom of the outer wall to seal the lower liquid chamber, wherein the sealing member is made of flexible material. The liquid composite spring is provided with the rigid outer wall and the flexible sealing member. The volume and shape of the lower liquid chamber can be changed through the flexible sealing member, so that the chamber is formed as a flexible chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: ZHUZHOU TIMES NEW MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yongguan Wang, Guijie Liu, Xingwu Ding, Zhangyang Xia, Jiling Bu
  • Patent number: 12017625
    Abstract: The current invention relates to a method for monitoring a wear of a brake element (6) of a rail wagon (1) by means of a monitoring system (9, 4), said rail wagon (1) comprising a brake assembly (2) comprising said brake element (6), said brake assembly (2) further comprising a brake regulator device (7) comprising a first part (71) at a first end and a second part (72) at a second end for automatic adjusting of a clearance (13) with respect to said brake element (6), said clearance (13) relating to a braking of a wheel (3) of said rail wagon (1), said method comprising a plurality of steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: OVINTO CVBA
    Inventor: Frederick Ronse
  • Patent number: 12012131
    Abstract: A method for operating a tractive vehicle and a vehicle combination are disclosed. A tractive vehicle includes a first friction brake device for generating a first stopping braking-force, a traction device for generating a tractive force and a control device for controlling at least the traction device. The method includes a step whereby the traction device activated if a first undesired kinematic state is detected. Activation of the traction device would take place in such a way that a tractive force, counteracting the first undesired kinematic state, is generated and provided for deceleration to a standstill and/or for holding the tractive vehicle at a standstill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Kretz, Christoph Oertli, Manuel Ayala, Peter Brugger, Peter Christener, Rüdiger Kögel
  • Patent number: 12012060
    Abstract: A shock-absorbing member wherein a columnar shaped-wood member is supported by a stopper bolt (a pressure-receiving member) at its axially one end side and is configured such that an impact load is applied to its axially other end side, and wherein the wood member is axially collapsed by the impact load applied thereto, thereby absorbing a portion of the impact load, and that may include a shaft (a reinforcement member) that extends in a direction intersecting with an axis of the wood member while being embedded in the wood member, so as to reinforce the wood member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Shatal Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihisa Miura, Kazunari Kojio, Mitsuhiro Katou
  • Patent number: 12005966
    Abstract: A vehicle body mount assembly includes an inner metal sleeve, a polymer mounting bracket with a damper opening oriented coaxially with the inner metal sleeve, an elastomeric damper disposed within the damper opening between the inner metal sleeve and the polymer mounting bracket, at least one fastening element embedded in and extending from the polymer mounting bracket, and a ferrule disposed at least partially within the inner metal sleeve. A polymer outer sleeve can be included and disposed between elastomeric damper and the polymer mounting bracket. Also, the at least one fastening element can be a stud bolt with a head embedded in the polymer mounting bracket, a nut embedded in the polymer mounting bracket, or a metal sleeve configured for a bolt to extend therethrough embedded in the polymer mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: The Pullman Company
    Inventor: Zoren E. Gaspar
  • Patent number: 12006995
    Abstract: A suspension strut includes a cylinder having a piston moveable in the cylinder, a coil spring arranged around the cylinder, and an abutment element for mounting the coil spring. The position of the abutment element is adjustably fixable along the longitudinal direction of the cylinder with respect to one direction, the cylinder has a male thread, and the abutment element has a female thread corresponding to the male thread. A thread insert is arranged in the abutment element, the thread insert has a holding region and an actuating region, and the region between the holding region and the actuating region can be arranged in the threads of the male thread of the cylinder. A holding means for the holding region is in the abutment element, the actuating region is mounted moveably in the abutment element, and the diameter of the thread insert is variable by movement of the actuating region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: KTM AG
    Inventor: Markus Priewasser
  • Patent number: 12005751
    Abstract: A shock absorber including: a first cylinder having an interior, first and second ends and defining an axis, wherein the interior includes a damping fluid chamber and a damping piston movably mounted therein for movement between the first and second ends, wherein the damping piston is mounted on a first end of a shaft, wherein the first end of the shaft is movably retained within the interior of the first cylinder; first and second bypass openings configured for opening into the damping fluid chamber at first and second axially spaced-apart positions; a bypass channel fluidly coupling the first and second bypass openings; a fluid metering valve; and a floating piston dividing a portion of the shock absorber into a gas chamber and the reservoir chamber, wherein the fluid metering valve and the floating piston define the reservoir chamber there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: John Marking, Vegard Hamso
  • Patent number: 11999437
    Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic assembly includes a casing, a first piston, and a second piston. The casing has a hydraulic chamber, an inlet channel, and an outlet channel connected to the hydraulic chamber. The first piston is located in the hydraulic chamber. The second piston is sleeved on the first piston. The second piston has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to each other. The first end portion is wider than the second end portion located farther away from the inlet channel than the first end portion. When the first piston is moved a distance smaller than a threshold distance, the first piston is moved relative to the second piston while the second piston is stationary relative to the casing. When the first piston is moved a distance greater than the threshold distance, the first piston forces the second piston to move relative to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: TEKTRO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: En-Liang Chu
  • Patent number: 11999337
    Abstract: A pedal emulator for a vehicle is provided comprising a base part for mounting the pedal emulator to a structure of the vehicle. A pedal lever is pivotable around a rotary axis of the base part. A force generation unit exerts a counterforce on the pedal lever by means of at least one coupling element for mechanically coupling the force generation unit with the pedal lever. The counterforce works counter to an actuating force exerted on the pedal lever. The force generation unit and the coupling element are designed and arranged in such a way that a progression of the counterforce along a pedal travel of the pedal lever (6) takes the form of a non-linear progression in a pedal travel-counterforce diagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Werner Austermeier, Dennis Mark Burke, Kerim Florian Huge, Andreas Mueller, Ralf Ridder, Claus Viethen