Patents Examined by T. Scott Fix
  • Patent number: 12678974
    Abstract: In the present disclosure, systems and apparatuses of a low deflection end-of-arm tooling configured to interface with robots are described. In one aspect, an apparatus may include a shaft with dimensions that include a length greater than a width and having lengthwise distal and proximal ends, and the distal end may be configured to interface with a tool. The apparatus may further includes a flange connected to the proximal end of the shaft and configured to interface with a robotic arm. The apparatus may further include a tool located at the proximal end of the shaft and configured to interface with a plurality of parts associated with vehicular assembly. The shaft may be configured to resist deformation beyond a configured amount when a respective load is applied by each part of the plurality of parts retained by the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Minwoo Jeon, Lukas Philip Czinger, Keith Mckay, Aron Derecichei
  • Patent number: 12649081
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a three-in-one fitness equipment, including a weight box configured for receiving at least one weight plate, a first installation position provided on one end of the weight box and configured for installing a handle thereon, and a second installation position provided at a center of bottom of the weight box and configured for connecting to a rod-shaped holding member. The fitness equipment is a kettlebell when the first installation position is installed with the handle, and the fitness equipment is a dumbbell or a barbell when the second installation position is connected to the rod-shaped holding member. The present disclosure provides the weight box as a foundation component configured for assembling with a handle or a rod, and further provides a locking device to fulfill the quick assembly of the box body and the box base when converting a dumbbell or barbell into a kettlebell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2026
    Assignee: Shenzhen Shenlaiyibi Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Longfei Wang
  • Patent number: 12643222
    Abstract: A parallel link robot according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a plurality of arm units and a movable part commonly connected to distal ends of the plurality of arm units. Each of the arm units includes a pedestal, a first arm rotatably supported on the pedestal, a second arm rotatably connected to the first arm, a motor installed in the pedestal, and a reduction gear installed in the pedestal and configured to transmit rotation of the motor to the first arm. The pedestal is provided with a mounting structure for individually mounting the arm unit to an external trestle. The pedestal is equipped with a cable connector for ensuring a direct connection with an external control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideo Matsui
  • Patent number: 12643648
    Abstract: There is provided a battery supporting structure to be provided in a vessel, the battery supporting structure including a supporting part that supports a battery, wherein the supporting part is movable between below and above a deck of the vessel by rotating around a rotary shaft provided in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuichi Hidaka
  • Patent number: 12638078
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a range input device and a shift by wire control device. The range input device accepts an operation of a gear shift lever by a driver. The shift by wire control device switches a transmission range including first and second ranges in response to the operation. The range input device has first and second range areas corresponding to the first and second ranges, respectively. When operated, the gear shift lever passes through the second range area to reach the first range area. The shift by wire control device measures a residence time at the second range area, switches the transmission range to the second range when the residence time is at least a switching time, and corrects the switching time based on the residence time when the gear shift lever is moved to the first range area after the transmission range is switched to the second range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2025
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2026
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichiro Terai
  • Patent number: 12630012
    Abstract: In a column-type electronic shift control apparatus of which position may be varied not only by driving a driving unit but also by a predetermined amount of external force, and which may prevent unintentional shifting when the position is changed by the predetermined amount of external force, and a method for controlling the same, the shift control apparatus includes a housing; a column module including a module body rotatably coupled to the housing, and a shift lever rotatably hinged relative to the module body and protruding from the housing; and a driving unit provided in the housing and engaged to the module body to rotate the module body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Yeon Yu, Yeong Jik Kim
  • Patent number: 12623362
    Abstract: A robot in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technology includes a leg assembly. The leg assembly defines a kinematic chain and includes a joint, a proximal link proximal to the joint along the kinematic chain, and a distal link distal to the joint along the kinematic chain. The joint is configured to allow for relative rotation between the proximal and distal links about a joint axis. The leg assembly also includes wiring extending between the proximal and distal links. The wiring includes slack and defines a wiring length and a rotational orientation perpendicular to the wiring length. The leg assembly further includes proximal and distal retainers carried by the proximal and distal links, respectively. The proximal and distal retainers are resilient and configured to register rotational orientations of the wiring at proximal and distal end portions, respectively, of the slack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: Agility Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Elise Fermier, Mark Sprenger, Dylan Thrush
  • Patent number: 12624756
    Abstract: A shift-by-wire transmission system includes a gear shifting operation portion provided at an end portion of a body and configured to shift a gear, a housing provided inside the body, a haptic element provided in contact with the housing and configured to generate a vibration when the gear is shifted to a predetermined gear shifting stage to transmit the vibration to the housing, and a groove member coupled to the gear shifting operation portion and configured to operate in conjunction with a gear shifting operation of the gear shifting operation portion and transmit the vibration of the haptic element, which is transmitted to the housing, to the gear shifting operation portion by constantly maintaining a state in contact with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, LS Automotive Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bum Jun Kim, Kyeong Hwan Choi, Sung Won Cho, Won Lee, In Hyuk Im
  • Patent number: 12617084
    Abstract: A robot apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a robot body and a transfer leg for transferring the robot body. The robot body includes a robot arm mechanism and a sensor device for detecting an external force applied to the robot arm mechanism. The sensor device includes a sensor bottom plate to be installed on a robot installation table, a sensor top plate attached to the bottom surface of a base of the robot arm mechanism, and a sensor body for detecting the displacement between the sensor bottom plate and the sensor top plate. The transfer leg is configured to be able to fix the base or the sensor top plate to a transfer table in such a manner as to prevent the sensor bottom plate from coming into contact with the transfer table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junya Fujita
  • Patent number: 12605855
    Abstract: A supernumerary robotic limb (SRL) system can include a plurality of rigid links, a joint that connects one rigid link to another rigid link in the plurality of rigid arms, and two variable stiffness actuators (VSAs) configured to drive the plurality of rigid links in order to complete at least one task. The VSAs can exhibit infinite rotation and infinite stiffness. The VSAs can include an output link. Additionally, the VSAs can include a set of elastic elements mounted on the output link. The VSAs can include an input link configured to provide kinetic energy for the output link. The VSAs can include a dynamic chassis configured to connect with the input link. Additionally, the VSAs can include a stiffness adjustor included in the dynamic chassis and configured to adjust an elastic transmission between at least one elastic element of the set of elastic elements and the output link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: Khalifa University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Mohammed Ismail Awad, Mohammed Ahmed Ramadan, Basma Bashir Mohamed Hasanen, Irfan Hussain, Seneviratne Mudigansalage Seneviratne
  • Patent number: 12583105
    Abstract: A robot includes a first link, a driving device configured to cause the first link to rotate, a transmission member configured to transmit a rotation of the driving device, a first stopper provided on the first link, and a second stopper provided on the transmission member, wherein the first stopper and the second stopper are brought into contact with each other by a relative movement between the first link and the transmission member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Fukuda, Yohji Nakajima, Masaru Ogata, Hidetada Asano
  • Patent number: 12564940
    Abstract: The invention includes a screw actuator. The screw actuator includes a screw having a screw shaft and a screw nut. The screw shaft defines a first longitudinal axis along its length. The screw nut at least partially surrounds the screw shaft. The screw actuator includes a motor having a stator and a rotor. The rotor is mechanically coupled to the screw shaft. The stator at least partially surrounds the rotor. The screw actuator includes a first rigid member having a length dimension oriented along the first longitudinal axis. The screw actuator includes a second rigid member mechanically constrained relative to the first rigid member. The second rigid member is configured to move along a direction of the first longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2026
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Katz, Joao Luiz Almeida de Souza Ramos
  • Patent number: 12560229
    Abstract: A drive for a harmonic gear assembly, comprising an input shaft having a shaft axis (A) and an epicyclic carrier unit removably mounted around, and coaxial with the input shaft, the epicyclic carrier unit comprising a carrier having an interior circumference designed to match the outer circumference of the shaft and further comprising a first roller assembly mounted at a first location around the circumference of the carrier unit and comprising a first roller shaft extending substantially parallel to the shaft axis and a first roller rotatably mounted around the first rotor shaft, and a second roller assembly mounted at a second location around the circumference of the carrier unit and comprising a second roller shaft extending substantially parallel to the shaft axis and a second roller rotatably mounted around the second rotor shaft, the first and second rollers extending radially outwards from the carrier to define a major axis between the radially outer surfaces of the first and second rollers, and wherei
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventor: Neil Stuart Russell Whitfield
  • Patent number: 12552015
    Abstract: A joint structure for a robot includes a hollow first member, a second member, and an actuator that relatively rotates the first member and the second member about a first axis. The actuator includes a motor that is housed in the first member and that rotates a shaft about a second axis intersecting the first axis. A reducer decelerates a rotation of the shaft to transmit the rotation to the second member, and a power transmission mechanism transmits power from the motor to the reducer. The power transmission mechanism includes a first gear fixed to the shaft, a second gear coaxially mounted on the reducer meshes with the first gear, and a holder mounts the first gear so as to be positionally adjustable in a direction along the second axis and mounts the second gear so as to be positionally adjustable in a direction along the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wataru Amemiya
  • Patent number: 12553274
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a driving device for driving a swing member which has a driving power source, a power transmission assembly driven by the driving power source, a screw assembly and a clutch assembly arranged between the power transmission assembly and the screw assembly. The screw assembly has a nut and a screw rod screwed with each other. The screw rod has an end connected with the swing member. The nut can be operated by the clutch assembly to connected to or release the power transmission assembly. When the nut is connected to the power transmission assembly, the power transmission assembly is driven by the driving power source, so that the nut is driven by the power transmission assembly to move the screw rod and allow the swing member to be operated by an external force in any status during a power-driven operation of opening or closing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignees: HSIN CHONG MACHINERY WORKS CO., LTD., FUZHOU MINGFANG AUTOMOBILE PARTS INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kai-Hsiang Chen, Chih-Ta Hou, Chi-Dah Chiang
  • Patent number: 12546986
    Abstract: An apparatus has a ring adapter coupled to a magnification adjustment ring of a scope and a slider assembly carried on a portion of a firearm spaced from the adapter. The slider assembly has a slider configured for longitudinal translation relative to the firearm and has at least one front pulley located forward of the slider, and a pair of rear pulleys are located below the ring adapter. A cable couples the slider to the ring adapter, the cable extending from one portion of the ring adapter and around one of the rear pulleys, the cable then extending forward and around the front pulley and then rearward and around the other of the rear pulleys to another portion of the ring adapter. The slider is coupled to the cable, so that translation of the slider causes motion of the cable about the pulleys and corresponding rotation of the ring adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Inventors: Arrius Sorbonne, Benjamin Latham Griffith
  • Patent number: 12539726
    Abstract: Provided is a linear motion mechanism having a further enhanced strength of a structure. The linear motion mechanism including an intermediate link including a conversion mechanism that converts a rotational force from a motor into a driving force in a linear direction, the intermediate link extending in the linear direction, a first link that linearly moves toward a first side in the linear direction from an end of the intermediate link on the first side on the basis of the driving force in the linear direction, and a second link that linearly moves toward a second side opposite to the first side from an end of the intermediate link on the second side on the basis of the driving force in the linear direction, in which the first link and the second link linearly move symmetrically in the linear direction in conjunction with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2026
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhisa Kamikawa
  • Patent number: 12529361
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided which utilizes a plurality of heavy spinning masses in a coplanar and coaxial orientation which when utilized together magnify and reinforce frame dragging effect and create a frameshift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2026
    Inventor: Douglas C Wyatt
  • Patent number: 12529413
    Abstract: An actuator includes an input shaft, a wave generator, a pair of flex splines, a pair of earth annuli, and an output annulus. Each of the pair of flex splines are earthed to an earth annulus. The output annulus comprises a circular spline. The wave generator is configured to be activated by rotation of the input shaft, and the wave generator is configured to elastically deform both of the pair of flex splines when the input shaft activates the wave generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2026
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Jack William Timms, Neil Stuart Whitfield, Jonathan Alan Darby
  • Patent number: 12519382
    Abstract: Various examples include an apparatus to provide motion in at least two linear-axes, where each of the linear-axes are substantially orthogonal to one another. The apparatus can include a load stage having a first actuator (e.g., a modified linear-motor) coupled to the load stage to provide a linear motion to the load stage in a first direction. A wide-magnet pack is coupled to or included as a portion of the first actuator. The wide-magnet pack has a width sufficient to allow movement of the load stage in a second direction without impairing the linear motor operation, the second direction being substantially orthogonal to the first direction. A second actuator is also coupled to the load stage to provide the linear motion in the second direction, substantially within magnetic-field constraints of the wide-magnet pack. Other systems, apparatuses, and devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2026
    Assignee: Onto Innovation Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen W. Into, Gregory William Weiss