Patents Examined by S. Joseph Morano
  • Patent number: 11858607
    Abstract: The present invention provides an angle changeable apparatus and an oar such that the shaft angle is easily adjustable. Disclosed is an angle changeable apparatus 1 for variably changing an angle of a shaft 110 inserted in a sleeve 10, including: a shaft-side member 20 fixed to the shaft 110; a sleeve-side member 30 fixed to the sleeve 10; and a slider 40 configured to slide between the shaft-side member 20 and the sleeve-side member 30, wherein the shaft-side member 20 has a first guiding part extending in a shaft direction, the sleeve-side member 30 has an elongated hole 31 extending in an oblique direction relative to the shaft direction, the slider 40 has a groove 41c guided by the first guiding part and a slider main body 41 guided by the elongated hole 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: KUWANO BOATS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Nishiyama, Tetsushi Ozawa
  • Patent number: 11858600
    Abstract: Cuff assemblies for sports board leashes, where the cuff assembly includes a central section that having a precurved molded insert that is configured to connect to a cord of the sports board leash, a first wing attached to a first side of the central section, and a second wing attached to a second side of the central section. The maximum width of the central section of the cuff assembly is greater than the maximum width of either of the first wing or second wing, and the first wing and second wing are configured to overlap and fasten to each other in order to secure the cuff assembly around a person's limb portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Dakine IP Holdings LP
    Inventors: Zachary West, John Martin, Brian Fletcher, Mirona Motoc, Jay Willet, Aaron Ambuske
  • Patent number: 11858566
    Abstract: A track link having sensor-receiving cavities and a method of producing a track link is disclosed. The track link may include a link body and a cavity formed in the link body configured to receive a sensing device. The track link may also include a protrusion substantially surrounding the cavity. The protrusion may include a substantially flat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Caterpillar Inc., AsiaTrak (Tianjin) Ltd.
    Inventors: Donald J. Kalmes, William P. Shoemaker, Yaodong Zhou, Li Zhang
  • Patent number: 11862955
    Abstract: A thruster power control box assembly includes a housing having a cover. Inside the housing is a switch circuit and a switch control circuit. The switch circuit directs current from an external battery to a pair of thruster cables that are connected to a thruster. The switch control circuit controls the switch circuit by configuring the direction in which current from the battery flows to the thruster cables so that the thruster can operate in both directions. The housing incudes bushings through which the various cables and conductors pass, and are sealed by a compliant plug and a compression nut on each bushing. A terminal box can be used to connect the various cables of the thruster to their corresponding cables of the thruster power control box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: The Yacht Group, LLC
    Inventor: Gerald Berton
  • Patent number: 11851140
    Abstract: Water walking skis and a method for boarding them, in which each ski has an elongated body with a bow end in the form of a monohull and a stern end in the form of a twin hull. The skis can be combined with a pair of poles for balance, and binding straps for binding the skis and poles together while boarding/reboarding. The deck of each ski typically has a recessed area for foot placement, and two parallel side extensions protrude downward from the deck. The side extensions, the deck, and an underside or bottom cover together form a tunnel within the ski, the tunnel having a screen-covered first opening for admitting water and a rear opening for expelling water. Traction gates are mounted within the tunnel and spaced apart therein for permitting water flow therethrough when the ski moves forward, while preventing water flow when moving in the reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventor: Michael Anton Schirmang
  • Patent number: 11851138
    Abstract: Various implementations include a seat assembly having one or more track brackets, one or more slide brackets, and a seat bottom. A track face of each of the track brackets defines one or more tracks. A first end of each of the tracks is closer than a second end of the respective track to a fore edge and a bottom edge of the track bracket. The slide brackets include one or more pins slidably engaging one of the tracks. The slide brackets are slidable between a first slide position and a second slide position. At least one of the pins is located adjacent the first end of the track in the first slide position and one of the pins is located adjacent the second end of the track in the second slide position. The seat bottom is coupled to the slide brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Protomet Corporation
    Inventor: Dale Lee Lambert
  • Patent number: 11850886
    Abstract: A tire traction assembly for enhancing traction of vehicle tires on a slippery driving surface includes a pair of traction frames that can each be positioned on a slippery driving surface upon which a vehicle is not capable of driving due to a loss of traction. A plurality of nets is each integrated into a respective one of the traction frames. The plurality of nets includes a set of top nets and a set of bottom nets. Moreover, each of the set of top nets frictionally engages a respective vehicle tire and each of the bottom nets frictionally engages the slippery driving surface when the traction frames are positioned on the slippery driving surface. Additionally, each of the top nets and each of the bottom nets is comprised of a resilient material to resist being deformed by the weight of the vehicle tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventor: Zedekiah Worsham, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11851141
    Abstract: The utility model discloses a marine mounting part, and relates to the field of a marine accessory. A main body thereof is a mounting part, and the mounting part is provided with a mounting base and an accessory mounting portion, characterized in that the mounting base is provided with a quick connector, and the mounting base and the accessory mounting portion are movably connected through the quick connector. The quick connector is easy and flexible to operate, and the mounting base and the accessory mounting portion are connected through the quick connector, so that the user can easily and quickly dismount and replace the accessory mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: NINGBO KAYAKA SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bingrui Chen
  • Patent number: 11851144
    Abstract: A vessel hull stabilization system includes a housing having a rotatable shaft mounted thereto, the shaft configured to connect to a fin such that the fin is located on an outside of the vessel hull and the housing is located on an inside of the vessel hull. A drive system is mounted to the housing and includes a motor and a drive element. The motor is connected to a central shaft of the drive element. The drive element includes a plurality of teeth positioned between the outer element and the central shaft such that when the motor rotates the central shaft, the plurality of teeth oscillate inwards and outwards to interact with teeth in the outer element and thereby cause rotation of a fin shaft connected to the outer element or to the gear having the oscillating teeth. A controller receives sensor readings to determine control signals to send to the motor(s) to impart rotation of the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Naiad Maritime Group, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Venables, Steven J. Venables, Cameron Costen, Ryan W. Knapp
  • Patent number: 11845313
    Abstract: A truck trailer system including a connector vehicle with retractable wheels that are designed to engage with a railroad track is provided. The connector vehicle includes main wheels and at least one pair of secondary wheels, and an actuator assembly operably connected to the pair of secondary wheels. The actuator assembly is designed to actuate in a first direction to extend the pair of secondary wheels to engage with the railroad track, and in a second direction to retract the pair of secondary wheels to disengage with the railroad track. The truck trailer system may include a reinforcement assembly comprising at least one cable provided within a conduit, for connecting multiple units to be pulled at the same time via truck or locomotive. In embodiments, the reinforcement assembly may enable hauling of at least 10, or up to about 50 units via a single locomotive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventor: Randall Karl Ashbaugh
  • Patent number: 11845522
    Abstract: A robotic fish comprises one or more torque reaction engines and a fish body, wherein the torque reaction engine cyclically oscillates and causes a wave to propagate across the fish body, including through a flexible wing, accelerating thrust fluid and propelling the robotic fish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Fishboat Incorporated
    Inventor: Martin Spencer Garthwaite
  • Patent number: 11845481
    Abstract: A rail and train system has at least a rail pair on which a rail vehicle that is provided with at least one wagon is movable. In the wagon, at least one lifting device is accommodated with which containers can be transported through an opening in the floor of the wagon and which is movable transverse to the length direction of the wagon. The rail vehicle can be provided with a chassis that is formed by two chassis parts that are positioned at a distance behind each other in the travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventor: Franz Kerner
  • Patent number: 11845342
    Abstract: A current collector for a non-track-bound, electrically driven vehicle for feeding electrical energy from a two-pole overhead line system with two contact wires. Two upper arms are rotatably connected to an adjustable lower arm by toggle joints. Each upper arm carries a contact rocker for contacting the contact wires. Coupling bars are rotatably connected to the upper arms and articulated so that adjustment of the lower arm forces adjustment of the upper arms. A compensating rocker compensates for a height difference between the contact rockers with a rocker stand and a rocker beam. The rocker stand can be rotatably connected to the vehicle and the rocker beam is connected to the coupling bars by way of compensating joints on either side of the rocker joint. At least one stop element limits a rotational movement of the rocker beam about a rocker joint axis of the rocker joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Francke, Matthias Nelkel
  • Patent number: 11845482
    Abstract: An obstacle detection device installed in a train includes: a sensor that monitors surroundings of the train and generates a range image that is a result of monitoring; a storage unit that stores map information including position information of structures installed along a railroad track on which the train travels; a correction unit that corrects, using the range image acquired from the sensor and the map information stored in the storage unit, first train position information that is information acquired from a train control device and indicates a position of the train, and outputs second train position information that is a result of correction; and a monitoring condition determination unit that determines a monitoring range of the sensor using the second train position information and the map information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Ueda, Akira Nakanishi, Yoshitsugu Sawa, Emiko Kurata
  • Patent number: 11845516
    Abstract: A pontoon boat includes port and starboard pontoons and cross members connecting the pontoons. A shock absorber may be installed at each point of connection of the pontoons to the cross members. A cross member may be embodied as a double-webbed beam having first and second parallel flanges and first and second webs disposed between and connected to the flanges. Each pontoon may include a two-stage lifting strake having a first surface and a second surface inclined from the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: BARLETTA BOAT COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: William Fenech, Mark Neibert
  • Patent number: 11832607
    Abstract: Some embodiments may be of spearfishing apparatus fitted with at least one magnet configured to repel sharks away from the spearfishing apparatus. The spearfishing apparatus may be one or more of: a spearfishing shaft, a spearfishing tip, and/or a spearfishing gun. Such magnets may be electromagnets powered by batteries in some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: Brian Chase Watson
  • Patent number: 11834134
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for lifting and stowing water-borne vessels. The systems and methods can be used, for example, to lift a small vessel, such an inflatable dinghy, onto a larger water-borne vessel equipped with an outboard motor; and to stow the dinghy above the outboard motor. The systems and methods permit the dinghy to be lifted out of the water from a position behind the larger vessel, with any need to remove, disassemble, or move the outboard motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: John Livingston
  • Patent number: 11827252
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical connecting apparatus for supplying power to cars which are coupled to one another, including a first plug-in connector to which at least one cable is connected, and a corresponding second plug-in connector which is intended to be fastened to a car wall, in particular in a vertical lateral wall. The first plug-in connector and the second plug-in connector are each provided with one or more corresponding first contact elements or second contact elements which can be plug-connected in an insertion direction (A), and the cable of the first plug-in connector exits from the first plug-in connector in a first cable outlet direction (B) which is angled away in relation to the insertion direction (A). Also disclosed is a rail vehicle having at least two coupled cars, wherein each of the two coupled cars is provided with at least one electrical connecting apparatus as above described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventors: Jens Horstmann, Albert Ferderer, Frank Quast
  • Patent number: 11827317
    Abstract: A marine vessel and method for carbon capture and sequestration are described. The marine vessel includes a buoyant hull, a cryogenic storage tank within the hull, and a gaseous carbon dioxide loading manifold. The marine vessel also includes a carbon dioxide liquefaction system in fluid communication with the cryogenic storage tank downstream of the carbon dioxide liquefaction system and with the gaseous carbon dioxide loading manifold upstream of the carbon dioxide liquefaction system. Finally, the marine vessel includes a carbon dioxide supercritical system in fluid communication with the cryogenic storage tank. In operation, the marine vessel moves between multiple locations, where gaseous carbon dioxide is onboarded, liquified and stored. Thereafter, the marine vessel transports the liquified carbon dioxide to a location adjacent an offshore geological reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: StoreCo2 UK Limited
    Inventor: Keith William Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 11827250
    Abstract: An IBC storage box assembly is elevated from a railcar. A vertical beam is used to elevate the storage box off the railcar so that the storage box is more easily accessed from a rail platform. Additionally, the vertical beam may provide some clearance for the storage box so that the storage box is not impacted by the railcar coupler during transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: TRINITY RAIL GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Huck, Ross E. Hill