Patents Examined by Stephen Gordon
  • Strap edge guard
    Patent number: 9221382
    Abstract: An edge guard to provide a barrier between a strap and a load comprising an angled plate, where the angled plate includes a first portion and a second portion that meet at a corner; tabs attached to the first portion of the angled plate, where the tabs receive the strap, and where the strap is positioned between tabs and the angled plate; and bolts to secure tabs to the angled plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Inventor: Perry Jesse
  • Method for transporting a curved wind turbine blade and associated transportation device
    Patent number: 9221379
    Abstract: A method of transporting a wind turbine blade with a curved central longitudinal axis includes loading the wind turbine blade onto a transportation device including first and second support bearings. The wind turbine blade is loaded in a first orientation in which the curved central longitudinal axis is located in a generally vertical plane. When the transportation device is preparing to turn, the wind turbine blade is rotated to a second orientation before or during turning such that the curved central longitudinal axis is located in a generally horizontal plane and bends around the turn. As a result, the curved wind turbine blade and transportation device can traverse tighter curves and turns during travel to an assembly site or quayside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Stephen Randall
  • Fatigue-resistant fingers for cup holder
    Patent number: 9216693
    Abstract: A container holder includes a housing that defines a cavity therein. A liner lines the cavity of the housing and includes a resilient portion that is laterally movable responsive to insertion of a container into the cavity, to accommodate and support containers of different sizes. At least one spring finger extends adjacent the resilient portion and opposes the lateral movement of the resilient portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: NYX, Inc.
    Inventors: Reginald Edward Poindexter, Jr., Yuriy Tsalenko
  • Offshore cargo rack for use in transferring palletized loads between a marine vessel and an offshore platform
    Patent number: 9216841
    Abstract: A cargo rack for transferring loads between a marine vessel and an offshore marine platform (for example, oil and gas well drilling or production platform) provides a frame having a base, a front, a rear, upper and lower end portions and side walls. The lower end of the frame has a floor. Openings in the base align with forklift tine tubes or sockets. The frame includes a pair of fixed side walls extending upwardly from the base that include at least left and right side walls. A plurality of gates are movably mounted on the frame including a gate at least at the front and at least at the rear of the frame, each gate being movable between open and closed positions. The gates enable a forklift to place loads on the floor by accessing either the front of the frame or the rear of the frame. Each gate can be pivotally attached to a corner column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Inventor: Daniel W. Ness
  • Support system for a bulkhead
    Patent number: 9211835
    Abstract: A system for supporting a removable bulkhead within a container. The system includes one or more arms that are removably fixed to opposed walls of the container. The arm includes a first arm, a second arm, a collar and an adjustment arm. Ends of the first and second arms are each disposed within the collar and the adjustment arm is engaged with the second arm. The collar includes opposed holders with bearing surfaces, with a shaft extending through the holder, and a spring disposed between the bearing surfaces. An end face of the first arm engages the bearing surface of the first holder, and an end face of the second arm engages the bearing surface of the second holder. Movement of the first arm linearly toward the second arm compresses the spring, which provides a resistance to compression and biases the first and second arms away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Ancra International LLC
    Inventor: H. Thomas Knox
  • Dump truck
    Patent number: 9205770
    Abstract: A dump truck is provided with a frame, hinge pins and a body (5). The body is provided on a lower surface of a floor board (11a) thereof with a rail (12) along a longitudinal direction of the frame. The rail is a hollow structure member comprised of two side rail plates (12a) and a bottom rail plate (12b). The two side rail plates (12a) extend downwardly from the lower surface of the floor board (11a) of the body and oppose each other with an interval therebetween in a lateral direction of the frame, and the bottom rail plate (12b) is arranged in contact with respective lower end surfaces (12a-1) of these two side rail plates (12a). The dump truck (1) satisfies a relationship of Ts<Tb<Tf, where Ts is a thickness of the side rail plates, Tb is a thickness of the bottom rail plate, and Tf is a thickness of a top frame plate (2a-2) of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kitaguchi, Takayuki Satou, Kazunori Ishihara, Takeshi Iwaki, Jun Ikeda, Yasuki Kita
  • Wide-top decking beam
    Patent number: 9199572
    Abstract: The present invention provides a wide-top decking beam configured for installation in a cargo container. The beam comprises an elongate, hollow body forming an approximately rectangular shape. Flanged edges extend laterally from both sides of the top surface along the length of the beam, wherein the top of the beam has a greater width than the bottom. Obliquely angled struts run along both sides of the beam connecting the sides of the beam body to the undersides of the flanged edges thereby forming triangular trusses along the length of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: B2B Casuals, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerrell P. Squyres
  • Transportation of wind turbine blades, in particular along curved roads
    Patent number: 9199570
    Abstract: A system for supporting a blade for a wind turbine, in particular a wind turbine blade having a curved portion is described. The system includes a first support arrangement with (a) a root support element adapted to support a root portion of the blade such that the root portion is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the blade, and (b) a root elevation element adapted to adjust a vertical position of the root support element. Further, a transport vehicle for transporting a blade for a wind turbine is provided. The transport vehicle includes (a) a front platform, (b) a rear platform, and (c) a system as described above, wherein the first support arrangement is mounted at the front platform and the second support arrangement is mounted at the rear platform. Furthermore, a method of transporting a wind turbine blade having a curved portion is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Tom Pedersen, Jens Thomsen
  • Dunnage bag hanger apparatus and method
    Patent number: 9193293
    Abstract: A dunnage bag hanger apparatus includes a dunnage bag hanger and a handle mounted applicator block operative to support and affix the dunnage bag hanger. The dunnage bag hanger is fabricated from three distinct and separate parts: a generally planar support substrate and two release papers covering adhesive patches or regions on the support substrate. The support substrate in one embodiment is a sheet that is further divided into two contact members separated by a resilient coupler. Each contact member preferably has a contact body, a hanging loop distal to the resilient coupler, and an adhesive coating. The two adhesive couplings are preferably on opposite sides of the support substrate sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Inventors: John R. Wilson, William M. Wilson
  • Tie-down fixture
    Patent number: 9193294
    Abstract: A fastener for securing straps, includes a base member defining a pair of anchor receiving holes, wherein the base member is configured to be engaged with a receiving frame in such a way that the base member faces an interior side of the receiving frame and axes of the anchor receiving holes define a non-normal angle with respect to the receiving frame. The fastener further includes an anchor comprising a pair of arms, wherein the arms are received by the anchor receiving holes, wherein the anchor is configured to traverse along the anchor receiving holes without being disengaged from the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Inventor: Donald S. Egigian
  • Impact absorbing member and bumper device
    Patent number: 9193320
    Abstract: An impact absorbing member is formed by bending one sheet of a metal plate material and then joining adjacent end parts thereof. The impact absorbing member includes the following integrally-connected portions: a fixing plate, an impact absorbing part having two first side wall plates and two second side wall plates, two flange plates, and two bridge plates. The impact absorbing part overall has an approximate square or rectangular tube shape after being bent. Joining parts are provided at each opposing end parts of the first and second side wall plates. The adjacent end parts of the first and second side wall plates overlap and are joined. The end parts of the two flange plates are also joined to the end parts of the two bridge plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: UACJ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka Yamada, Sunao Tanaka, Koshi Okada, Takuya Fukunaga, Masaki Kumagai
  • Motorcycle transport inflatable protector
    Patent number: 9187025
    Abstract: Inflatable bumper system that stabilizes and protects one or more motorcycles during transport by applying force on both sides of each motorcycle and the walls of the truck or trailer, securing each motorcycle in an upright position, and absorbing any forces resulting from poor road conditions or abrupt driving actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Inventor: William M. Watson
  • Utility vehicle
    Patent number: 9187023
    Abstract: A utility vehicle is equipped with a chassis, one or more rows of seats disposed on the chassis, and a cargo bed disposed behind the one or more rows of seats. The cargo bed is rotatably supported by a pivot shaft of the chassis so as to be movable up and down between a normal position in which the cargo bed is in a non-raised state and a dump position in which the cargo bed is in a raised state. Concave portions for cargo bed raising use that are used to raise the cargo bed by hand are integrally formed respectively in the left and right side walls of the cargo bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji Takahashi, Yoshinori Tsumiyama
  • Method of removing a retractable door of a center door assembly on a dump trailer
    Patent number: 9181740
    Abstract: A center door assembly for a dump bed and a method for removing the door from the dump bed. A frame is mounted in a wall of the dump bed and has a pair of opposite and spaced apart channels. A pair of elastomeric inserts are removably mounted in the channels. A retractable door has a pair of edges slidably received in the inserts and is movable linearly within the channels between a closed position and an open position. A pivot linkage assembly is operatively connected to the door for linearly moving the door between the closed and open positions. The elastomeric inserts are removed from the channels through a bottom opening in the channels providing lateral space between the channels to enable the door to be removed from the frame. The elastomeric inserts are provided with bend areas enabling them to be compressed for removal from the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: MAC TRAILER MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: James A. Maiorana
  • Cargo decking beam system
    Patent number: 9180807
    Abstract: The present invention provides an adjustable decking system for use within a cargo container. The system comprises vertical mounting posts that include a plurality of spaced openings and a slider track with obliquely angled guide channels. Decking beams are selectively adjustable in height along the posts by engaging the openings with end assemblies slidably disposed within the ends of the beams. The posts can accommodate alternative beam end configurations. One configuration includes a foot with angled guide edges slidably captured within the guide channels. An alternate configuration comprises coupled plates that fit directly into the openings and a swivel latched to provide a retaining force. This alternate configuration has an identical latch mechanism at both ends and is reversibly mountable within the decking beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: B2B Casuals, Inc
    Inventor: Jerrell P. Squyres
  • Cup holder for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 9180806
    Abstract: A motor vehicle is provided with a cup holder incorporated into a center console, the cup holder including, but not limited to a front wall, a back wall, two side walls and a base wall, which delimit a receiving space for at least one object, a dividing element, able to be fastened at the upper end region of the receiving space in a dividing position, for dividing the receiving space into a first receiving compartment for a first object and into a second receiving compartment for a second object. The dividing element is constructed from a first part dividing element and a second part dividing element and the first and second part dividing elements are connected pivotably with one another by at least one intermediate joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Schreiber, Wilhelm Sulzbacher, Michael Graf, Marian Piskon, Ralf Venino, Holger Thums, Stephan Walter
  • Transport vehicle
    Patent number: 9174562
    Abstract: A control valve device (19) controls supply and discharge of pressurized oil to and from a hoist cylinder (12) which tilts a vessel (3). A throttle (24C) that limits a flow rate of hydraulic oil which is discharged from a hydraulic pump (13) and flows in a return line (16) through a pump line (15), a first directional control valve (24) and a center bypass oil passage (23) is provided in the floating position (F) of the first directional control valve (24). When the first directional control valve (24) is in the floating position (F), the upstream side of the throttle (24C) is connected to the pump line (15), and the downstream side of the throttle (24C) is connected to the return line (16). In addition, a rod-side actuator line (18) communicated with rod-side oil chambers (12E, 12F) in the hoist cylinder (12) is connected to the pump line (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori Uozu, Yohei Nakate, Takashi Yagyu
  • Auto-rack railroad car vehicle wheel chock
    Patent number: 9168857
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel chock for a vehicle restraint system for an auto-rack railroad car which secures a vehicle in the auto-rack railroad car. The vehicle wheel chock is configured to be positioned on a grating adjacent to a tire of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Standard Car Truck Company
    Inventors: John D. Anderson, Walter J. Peach, Michael K. Burke
  • Two or three wind turbine blades as one unit
    Patent number: 9168858
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transporting two or three pre-bend wind turbine blades for a wind turbine and to a wind turbine blade transport unit, the wind turbine blades each having a length extending from a first end, e.g. a root end describing a first end plane, to a second end, e.g. a tip end, where the length is at least 35 meters, the wind turbine blades each having a central longitudinal axis extending perpendicular from the first end plane and towards the second end, the wind turbine blade additionally having an aerodynamically shaped body having a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The wind turbine blades are fixed in specific positions in relation to one or two other wind turbine blades as a single transport unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Envision Energy (Denmark) APS
    Inventors: Wout Ruijter, Jan Westergaard
  • Bowtie shaped roof bow
    Patent number: 9156500
    Abstract: A roof bow for a vehicle is provided that has a “bow-tie” shape including a central portion flanked by two triangular portions. The triangular portions are joined to right and left roof brackets that are, in turn, joined to right and left roof rails. The bow-tie roof bow may be assembled from extruded tubular parts. The bow-tie roof bow may be assembled in a clamshell structure including an upper shell and a lower shell that are joined together by welding. The roof bow may be formed in one piece as a sheet metal stamping having side portions that are wider than the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammed Omar Faruque, Fubang Wu, Michael M. Azzouz, Yijung Chen, David Anthony Wagner, James Chih Cheng