Patents Examined by Vicky A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11789485
    Abstract: A pedal apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The pedal apparatus includes a pedal arm coupled to a pedal housing such that the pedal arm is rotated with respect to a first axis by an actuating force applied to a pedal pad disposed on a distal end of the pedal arm, a pressing member for applying a force to a proximal end of the pedal arm in response to the pedal arm being rotated, a pedal reaction force generating unit disposed between the pedal arm and the pressing member to generate a pedal reaction force corresponding to the actuating force, a first friction member disposed at the pressing member to contact the proximal end of the pedal arm, and a second friction member disposed at the proximal end of the pedal arm to contact an inner surface of the pedal housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventor: Taejo Kim
  • Patent number: 11788601
    Abstract: A centrifugal pendulum device having at least one flange and at least one centrifugal weight disposed displaceably on the flange. The centrifugal weight is guided displaceably on the flange by roller elements; the flange has openings with guide tracks situated radially outwardly, and the centrifugal weight has two side elements with a guide rail arranged therebetween and has guide tracks; the guide rail is inserted into an opening in the flange; the weight guide tracks are arranged radially inside the flange guide track such that they oppose each other in the radial direction at the same axial height, and roller elements are arranged radially therebetween; the flange having first and second openings with respective first and second guide tracks; the at least one centrifugal weight being inserted into one of the first or second openings depending on the choice of rotary vibration to be damped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Pascal Strasser
  • Patent number: 11787491
    Abstract: A control device includes an actuation lever, a bearing mounted in the actuation lever, an axle extended through the bearing, and a base supported by the axle, whereby the actuation lever is rotatably coupled with the base, via the bearing and the axle, for rotation relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Wolf Tooth Components, LLC
    Inventor: Michael W. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 11787373
    Abstract: Embodiments herein are directed to an emulator assembly. The assembly includes a housing with a cavity, a pedal arm, an elongated member, a carrier, an end plate and a compressible member. The pedal arm is at least partially received in the cavity and has a pedal pad on one end. The elongated member extends and couples to the pedal arm on one end and couples to a carrier on an opposite other end. The end plate is spaced apart from the carrier. The compressible member is positioned in the space between the carrier and the end plate. When the pedal pad is depressed, the elongated member moves the carrier in a direction towards the end plate which drives the carrier into the compressible member such that the compressible material compresses to generate a force feedback onto a foot positioned on the pedal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KSR IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Dan O'Neill
  • Patent number: 11773829
    Abstract: A flywheel arrangement comprising a shaft with a flywheel fixedly connected thereto. The flywheel comprises at least one cavity and that cavity is at least partially filled with particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Gary Murphy
  • Patent number: 11769644
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes an electronic control unit and a pedal assembly. The electronic control unit selectively switches between a powered off state and a powered on state. The pedal assembly includes pedal arm, a target, and a switch. The pedal arm moves between a plurality of positions. The target moves with the movement of the pedal arm. The target generates a magnetic field strength. The switch activates when the magnetic field strength of the target exceeds a predetermined threshold. When the switch activates, a signal is sent to the electronic control unit to activate the electronic control unit from the powered off state to the powered on state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: KSR IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Lingmin Shao
  • Patent number: 11761388
    Abstract: A throttle operating device includes: a fixing member which is fixed to a vicinity of a grip formed at a tip of a handlebar of a vehicle; a throttle lever which is attached by extending from the fixing member and configured to be pivoted while the grip is gripped; and a detection sensor configured to detect a rotational operation angle of the throttle lever. A drive source of a vehicle is controlled based on the rotational operation angle of the throttle lever detected by the detection sensor, and a cover member is provided to cover an opening of the fixing member, and the cover member is formed with an accommodation portion capable of accommodating the detection sensor at a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ASAHI DENSO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yukio Oshiro
  • Patent number: 11760404
    Abstract: An electrical device of a motor vehicle component (1) such as a steering wheel, comprising: a first electrical circuit part (5) of the electrical device, —a second electrical circuit part (6) of the electrical device; and an insert (2) which is at least partially visible by an occupant of the vehicle, said device being characterized in that: the device comprises a fastening clip (7) which is permanently in electrical contact with the first and second electrical circuit parts (5, 6), and the insert (2) comprises a zone (21) that interfaces with the fastening clip (7), the interface zone (21) being arranged, so as to compress contact zones (51, 61, 511, 513, 611, 613) of the first and second electrical circuit parts (5, 6), when the insert (2) is in a mounted position on the vehicle component (1), such that a contact resistance between the fastening clip (7) and the first and second electrical circuit parts (5, 6) is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Anthony Duverger
  • Patent number: 11762411
    Abstract: A throttle operating device includes: a fixing member which is fixed to a vicinity of a grip formed at a tip of a handlebar of a vehicle; a throttle lever which is attached by extending from the fixing member and configured to be pivoted while the grip is gripped; a detection sensor configured to detect a rotational operation angle of the throttle lever; and a resistance force applying unit configured to generate friction during a rotational operation of the throttle lever to apply a resistance force. A drive source of a vehicle is controlled based on the rotational operation angle of the throttle lever detected by the detection sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ASAHI DENSO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yukio Oshiro
  • Patent number: 11761168
    Abstract: A shovel includes an upper swing structure, a cab mounted on the upper swing structure, and an operating lever provided in the cab. The operating lever includes a lever part to which a grip part is fixed, a holder part to which the lever part is connected, and a joint part connecting the lever part and the holder part. The lever part is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the holder part in a tool-free manner with a predetermined manual operation on the joint part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuji Shiratani, Hiroyuki Kurokawa, Hajime Aragaki
  • Patent number: 11762412
    Abstract: A joystick device 10 disclosed herein provides a return function for urging a lever 20 to its initial position. The device includes a first spring 30 and a second spring 40, each of which extends along the lever 20 and is disposed between an upper spring seat 32 and a lower spring seat 34. The springs 30 and 40 are subjected to compression to provide an urging force as the lever 20 is tilted from the initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: APEM
    Inventor: Howard Spink
  • Patent number: 11755055
    Abstract: A controller assembly functioning as a joystick includes a driving unit, a sliding member, a potentiometer, and a controlling module. The driving unit includes a driving mechanism, a worm, and a worm wheel, the worm wheel connected to the sliding member. Through the worm, the driving mechanism rotates the worm wheel, causing the sliding member to move up and down only. The potentiometer detects rotation of the worm wheel, the controlling module obtains movement accordingly of the sliding member. The controlling module obtains a user's operating force applied to the driving mechanism, and compares the positional information and the operating force information with preset values to obtain comparison results. The sliding member is driven to move according to the two comparison results. An electronic device with the controller assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: HONGFUJIN PRECISION ELECTRONS (YANTAI) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Hsiang Hao, Chien-Heng Chen, Yao-Che Peng
  • Patent number: 11755052
    Abstract: A foldable pedal device for a vehicle is configured to cause a pedal pad to protrude toward a driver to be exposed in a pop-up state so that the driver can operate the same in a manual driving mode in which the driver directly drives the vehicle, and to cause the pedal pad to be hidden in a hidden state so that the pedal pad is not exposed to the driver and the drive cannot operate the same in an autonomous driving situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Eun Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 11745359
    Abstract: A coupling device is described herein for coupling two objects. The coupling device includes a body having a receiving member, a bore, and a locking pin situated inside the bore. The locking pin is translatable beyond the bore to intercept a portion of an attachment region of an object to removably couple the object to the coupling device. A lever connected to the locking pin allows a user to rotate the locking pin. Upon rotation of the lever, components in the body cause the locking pin to rotate and translate towards the object to intercept the portion of the attachment region of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Think Surgical, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Dixon
  • Patent number: 11744654
    Abstract: The systems and methods of the present disclosure are for use in a medical procedure, in which a connection mechanism is provided with a first end connected to a medical system interface at a first joint and a second end connected to an anatomic orifice device at a second joint. The anatomic orifice device is fixedly coupled to a patient. A flexible portion is provided between the first and second ends, the flexible portion being able to provide flexibility in at least one degree of freedom in response to movement of the anatomic orifice device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Rohr Daniel, David W. Bailey, Stephen J. Blumenkranz, Christopher R. Carlson, Matthew D. Inouye
  • Patent number: 11747851
    Abstract: An organ-type electronic pedal apparatus includes a high-load spring module and a hysteresis lever and configured for tuning a pedal effort, a stroke, and a hysteretic force, which are required to vary depending on the types of vehicles, by changing components of the hysteresis lever, as necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, Kyung Chang Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun Sik Kim, Hyeon Uk Kim, Ji Soo Kim, Jong Hwan Han
  • Patent number: 11745822
    Abstract: The bicycle handlebar grip assembly is disclosed. The assembly comprises an inner core having a first contact surface and an outer sleeve having an inner surface and a third contact surface on the inner surface. The outer sleeve is configured to enclose at least a major part of the inner core, when the grip assembly is installed to a handle-bar. The inner core and the outer sleeve are separate parts, which are configured to be bonded together by friction force acting between the first contact surface of the inner core and the third contact surface of the outer sleeve, when the grip assembly is installed to a handlebar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Herrmans Bike Components Ltd
    Inventors: Thomas Finnäs, Joel Savikko
  • Patent number: 11745386
    Abstract: A method for binding a cylindrical part by the tensioned winding of fibers, the method including a preliminary step of passing the fibers around at least two braked tensioning cylinders in order to increase the tension in the fibers, wherein the method includes increasing the diameter of the cylinders as the tension in the fibers increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ENERGIESTRO
    Inventor: André Gennesseaux
  • Patent number: 11747503
    Abstract: A system (1) and a method provide for detecting the presence or the absence of a hand on a steering wheel (9) that is provided with one or more conductive wires (2, 2a, 2b, 3), and the system (1) includes a detection device (5) with an input circuit (6) providing an input signal (11) to at least one conductive wire (2, 2a). The input signal (11) is an RF frequency electrical signal and an output circuit (7) is configured for sensing the impedance of the at least one conductive wire (2) or for sensing the inductive coupling between the at least one conductive wire (2a) and at least one second conductive wire (2b) in response to the input signal. The detection device (5) is configured for detecting a change in impedance of the at least one conductive wire (2, 2b) or for detecting a change the inductive coupling between the at least one conductive wire (2a) and the at least one second conductive wire (2b), to indicate the presence or the absence of a hand on said steering wheel (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventors: Lorenzo Menaldo, Luigino Gugole, Valerio Poli
  • Patent number: 11739582
    Abstract: A confinement cabin has a load-bearing structure, confinement walls connected to the load-bearing structure to delimit an inner space of the cabin, an access opening to the inner space, and a door connected to the load-bearing structure to close the access opening. The door is movable in opening and closing with a pivoting-tilting movement and has a movable arm which at a first end is rotationally connected to the load-bearing structure to rotate around a hinging axis, and a closing panel rotationally connected to a second end of the movable arm to rotate around a tilting axis. Rotation of the panel around the tilting axis is synchronized with rotation of the movable arm around the hinging axis by an elastic transmission system between a first pulley coaxial to the hinging axis and a second pulley coaxial to the tilting axis. Rotation of the panel around the tilting axis is in the opposite direction to rotation of the movable arm around the hinging axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: FARO S.R.L.
    Inventor: Lorenzo Dal Canale