Patents Examined by Vicky A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11904814
    Abstract: A latch mechanism for a pivoting bicycle rack provides a pivot release actuator on an extension that is added on to the bicycle rack. The latch mechanism comprises a connector body that is attached to the bicycle rack, and that may have an actuator for operating the pivot release. The rack extension assembly has an actuator and a linkage that connects to the connector body in the bicycle rack so that the actuator in the extension can release the pivot on the bicycle rack. The connector body may be shaped to guide the linkage during the process of attaching the extension assembly to the bicycle rack. The mechanism may be provided with a means for disconnecting the linkage from the connector body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Kuat Innovations LLC
    Inventor: Austin Harrill
  • Patent number: 11897574
    Abstract: An operating device comprises a base member, a first switch unit, and a first coupling structure. The first switch unit includes a first base and a first operating member. The first coupling structure couples the base member and the first base such that the first base is adjustable relative to the base member in a first direction and is adjustable relative to the first coupling structure in a first additional direction different from the first direction. The first coupling structure includes a first intermediate member and a first fastener. The first intermediate member is at least partially provided between the base member and the first base to guide the first base relative to the base member in at least one of the first direction and the first additional direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kosaka, Kentaro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11890932
    Abstract: A transformable knob for a vehicle comprises an axle extending along an axis and a body mounted to the axle and rotatable about the axis. The body comprises a face plate and a periphery wall defining a cavity, and with the periphery wall arranged to flex relative to the axis. The transformable knob comprises a plurality of engagement arms disposed within the cavity and movable toward and away from the axis, with the plurality of engagement arms configured to selectively engage and flex the periphery wall between first and second configurations. The transformable knob comprises an actuator in engagement with the plurality of engagement arms and arranged to move between first and second positions, with movement of the actuator facilitating corresponding movement of the plurality of engagement arms to flex the periphery wall between the first and second configurations, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Szczerba, Ki Hyun Ahn
  • Patent number: 11884379
    Abstract: A control system is for a high lift assembly of an aircraft. The assembly is controllable in two aerodynamic configurations each with different lift. The control system includes a manual control device operable by a pilot of the aircraft. The manual control device includes at least one member movable relative to a base body. The movable member can be moved relative to the base body between a rest position, a first position and a second distinct position. The manual control device includes a resilient return device for the movable member in the rest position. The manual control device issues a signal when the movable member reaches either the first or second position, to move the high lift assembly between two of the aerodynamic configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: DASSAULT AVIATION
    Inventors: Jérôme Le Borloch, François Pineau
  • Patent number: 11884355
    Abstract: A bicycle electronic control device having a support body configured for attachment to the bicycle handlebars. The control device includes a switch and a manual actuator for switching the switch and issuing a command. A de-coupling mechanism is interposed between the manual actuator and the switch for initially de-coupling the manual actuator from the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: CAMPAGNOLO S.R.L.
    Inventors: Gaetano Dalla Guarda, Marco Porro
  • Patent number: 11880219
    Abstract: This rotationally operated electronic component, with which it is possible to obtain a fixed, high operating torque in both of two shafts, is provided with: a first block body which is disposed on one side in an axial direction, and which has a first hole; a second block body which is disposed on the other side in the axial direction, and which has a second hole; an outside operating shaft having a first cylindrical portion which fits into the first hole in such a way as to rotate about the axis; an inside operating shaft which extends in the axial direction, penetrates through the first cylindrical portion and the second hole, and fits into the first cylindrical portion in such a way as to rotate about the axis; a rotating body which is fitted onto the inside operating shaft in such a way as to rotate integrally with the inside operating shaft, and which has a second cylindrical portion that fits into the second hole in such a way as to rotate about the axis; a first radial direction resilient member which i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO COSMOS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hajime Fukushima
  • Patent number: 11873801
    Abstract: The flywheel device includes a sealed housing section; a rotor located in the sealed housing section where the rotor is held in a vertical position by a magnetic system; a controller coupled to the magnetic system; and a braking annular ring mounted to the sealed housing section below the rotor, where the rotor contacts the braking annular ring when the rotor is lowered or otherwise dropped from the vertical position. The controller performs operations to provide control signals to provide first power to the magnetic system to hold the rotor in the vertical position and provide second control signals to provide second power to the magnetic system to lower the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Hari Dharan, LLC
    Inventor: Cheruvari Karthik Hari Dharan
  • Patent number: 11874683
    Abstract: A scissor assembly includes a scissor apparatus having a first scissor jaw and a second scissor jaw that are coupled together. The first scissor jaw has a first jaw face, and the second scissor jaw has a second jaw face that opposes the first jaw face. The scissor apparatus is configured to actuate between a closed position and a plurality of open positions. The scissor assembly includes a pivot pin extending through the first and second scissor jaws. The first and second jaws are configured to rotate around the pivot pin as the scissor apparatus actuates between the closed position and the open positions. The scissor assembly includes a dynamic pin positioned between the first jaw face and the second jaw face. The scissor assembly includes a biasing member positioned at least partially around the scissor apparatus and configured to bias the scissor apparatus toward the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventors: Lee M. Morin, Chad A. Shultz
  • Patent number: 11874684
    Abstract: An operation input device to be mounted on a vehicle includes a support part to be attached to the vehicle, an operating member supported by the support part and configured to be operated by a person, an operation sensing part configured to sense an operation on the operating member, a tactile feedback generating part provided inside the operating member and configured to give tactile feedback to the person, and a control part configured to control the tactile feedback generating part to produce the tactile feedback when the operation is sensed in the operation sensing part, the operating member is provided so as to extend from the support part in a first direction intersecting the traveling direction of the vehicle, and the operating member is restricted so as not to rotate in a swing operation in which a direction intersecting the first direction serves as the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Asuka Koike, Takeaki Maehata
  • Patent number: 11857284
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes: an adjustable end effector; an elongated instrument shaft defining an internal bore; and a drive assembly including a housing coupled to an end of the instrument shaft and an input device configured to facilitate controlled adjustment of the end effector via a drive cable extending along the bore of the instrument shaft. The input device includes: a drive shaft attached to a first portion of the drive cable, the drive shaft including an upstanding stem portion having a radially tapered outer surface; and a capstan attached to a second portion of the drive cable, the capstan defining an internal bore sized to receive the stem portion of the drive shaft, at least a lower portion of the internal bore having a radially tapered inner surface. The capstan and drive shaft are configured to transition from a disengaged state to an engaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Grant M. Kadokura, William A. McDonald, II
  • Patent number: 11860665
    Abstract: An active operating module comprising an operating lever that is pivotably mounted about at least one pivot axis and for each of the at least one pivot axis at least one first active actuating force module, which generates a torque acting on the operating lever, against which a user has to deflect the operating lever out of a rest position. The at least one first active actuating force module is arranged below the at least one pivot axis and is effectively connected directly to the operating lever by a transmission. The active operating module further comprises at least two first active actuating force modules, wherein these comprise in particular a conical region and are arranged at a 90° angle to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ELOBAU GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Dorn, Ulrich Morent
  • Patent number: 11852473
    Abstract: To provide a vehicle operating pedal apparatus with a compact space for mounting an angle sensor that detects the angle of rotation of an operating pedal. A vehicle operating pedal apparatus (10) includes: a left support member (20) and a right support member (22) that face each other; an operating pedal (12) that is provided at the upper end with a boss (18), and supported between the left support member (20) and the right support member (22) in such a manner as to be pivotable via a pivot bolt (26) and a collar (29) that are inserted into the boss (18); and an angle sensor (50) configured to detect the angle of rotation of the operating pedal (12). The angle sensor (50) includes: an IC (56) provided on an inner side between the left support member (20) and the right support member (22); and a magnet (58) provided at the upper end of the operating pedal (12), facing the IC (56), to be detected by the IC (56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD., AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro Tsuguma, Jyunya Abe, Masashi Momiyama, Kota Saito, Naoya Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 11834024
    Abstract: A non-hydraulic pedal simulator may include: a housing part; a piston part inserted into the housing part, and moveable in connection with a pedal rod part; a mounting reaction part mounted on the piston part; a support reaction part inserted into the housing part, disposed on a moving path of the mounting reaction part, and configured to support the mounting reaction part; and a moving reaction part disposed between the piston part and the support reaction part, configured to elastically support the piston part, and supported by the support reaction part while being moved by the piston part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Hyun Kim, Myeon Gyu Cha
  • Patent number: 11827094
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal device of the present invention includes: an accelerator pedal; a hysteresis generation mechanism that generates a hysteresis in pedal effort during a depression operation and a return operation of the accelerator pedal; a reaction force addition mechanism that adds a reaction force in a direction to push back the accelerator pedal; and a control unit that controls the drive of the reaction force addition mechanism in a manner that, with a predetermined target opening degree at which the accelerator pedal is depressed as a boundary, a ratio of change in the pedal effort in an opening degree range above the target opening degree becomes relatively larger than a ratio of change in pedal effort in an opening degree range below the target opening degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: MIKUNI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun Nagashima
  • Patent number: 11827195
    Abstract: A pedal operating unit having a brake pedal, which is mounted to be pivotable about a first pivot, and a restoring mechanism, wherein the restoring mechanism is designed to apply a restoring force to the brake pedal in the direction of its rest position when the brake pedal is deflected out of the rest position thereof. The restoring mechanism has at least one first restoring device and one second restoring device. An increase in the restoring force is effected, in particular exclusively, by the first restoring device over a first angular range of a pivoting movement of the brake pedal about the first pivot, and an increase in the restoring force is effected, in particular exclusively, by the second restoring device over a second angular range of a pivoting movement of the brake pedal about the first pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Sebastian Biba, Manfred Rüffer, Andreas Bischoff, Horst Krämer
  • Patent number: 11828336
    Abstract: Provided is a spring lock mechanism including: a lock drum (11) provided on either one of a first member (20) and a second member (20); a coil spring (12) secured to the other member, abutting on the lock drum (11), and locking turning of the second member (30) in one direction relative to the first member (20) due to a frictional force; and a switching mechanism causing the second member (30) to turn relative to the first member (20) to switch a state in which the locking has been established and a state in which the locking has been released and held, in which the coil spring (12) abuts on an inner circumferential surface of the lock drum (11), the diameter of the coil spring (12) increases through compression of a spring wire material of the coil spring (12) in a longitudinal direction caused by the turning of the second member (20), the coil spring thus further presses the inner circumferential surface of the lock drum (11) and locks the turning due to the frictional force, and the switching mechanism acc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: BIZEN HATSUJO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Taniguchi, Tokuzo Kobayashi, Kengo Tamura, Arata Shimizu, Yasushi Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11827093
    Abstract: A throttle assembly (26) for a vehicle (20) having a handlebar (22) with a grip (36) extending along a grip axis (GA). A housing (42) is adapted for attachment to the handlebar (22) adjacent to the grip (36) and defines a housing axis (UA) adapted to be substantially parallel to the grip axis (GA). A link (48) is slidably supported by the housing (42) between a first link end (48A) and a second link end (48B). A thumb trigger (44) is coupled to the first link end (48A) and moves with the link (48) between first and second trigger positions (44A, 44B). A track mechanism (50) operatively attached to the housing (42) and to the second link end (48B) of the link (48) guides the link (48) along a curvilinear path (54A) such that movement of the thumb trigger (44) to the second trigger position (44B) slides the thumb trigger (44) away from the housing (42) with the thumb trigger (44) traversing the housing axis (UA) during at least a portion of the movement between the first and second trigger positions (44A, 44B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: KA Group AG
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Hetu, Lionel Thiebault
  • Patent number: 11813124
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are gross positioning systems for use with robotic surgical devices to provide gross positioning of the robotic surgical devices. The gross positioning systems have a base, a first arm link operably coupled to the base, a second arm link operably coupled to the first arm link, a third arm link operably coupled to the second arm link, and a slidable coupling component slidably coupled to the third arm link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Mark Reichenbach, Shane Farritor
  • Patent number: 11815154
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a drive train for a motor vehicle containing an internal combustion engine, a transmission connected downstream thereof, drive wheels and a differential arranged between the drive wheels and the transmission. In order to eliminate or at least reduce the vibrational eigenmodes behind the transmission, a centrifugal pendulum is assigned adjacent to the differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Vincent Meyer, Nicolas Waltz
  • Patent number: 11789484
    Abstract: A foot pedal for a mobile machine may include a foot support, an arm, and a mounting frame. The arm may have a first end coupled to the foot support and a second end opposite the first end. The arm may have a change in curvature, a concave side, and a convex side opposite the concave side. The mounting frame may be configured to be mounted to a surface extending in a first direction. The convex side may face the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Rex Dare, Michael D. Case, Mihai Lazaroiu, Hunter Smalley, Carson Osmond, Reid Gramm, Tim Carstens