Patents Examined by Vicky A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11325674
    Abstract: An operating device comprises a base member, an operating member, a piston, and a coupling structure. The base member includes a cylinder bore having a cylinder center axis. The operating member is movable relative to the base member between a rest position and an operated position. The piston is movably provided in the cylinder bore and is coupled to the operating member to be pulled in a pulling direction in response to a pulling movement of the operating member from the rest position to the operated position. The operating member includes a cam surface including a curved surface. The base member includes a guide groove linearly extending in the pulling direction. The coupling structure includes a follower configured to be in contact with the cam surface to receive the pulling movement, and a guided part movably provided in the guide groove to move the follower in the pulling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kohei Obuchi, Nobuyoshi Fujii
  • Patent number: 11325570
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle operation pedal device comprising: an operation pedal which includes a depressing part provided thereto; a pair of upper support members which are fixed to a dash panel; a pair of lower support members which are fixed to the dash panel and also fixed to the pair of upper support members; an upper center support member which is laid between the pair of upper support members; and a connection hole which supports an operating rod protruding from the dash panel towards a vehicle rear side, such that the operating rod is rotatable with respect to the operation pedal. The upper center support member comprises a sliding receiving part. The pair of upper support members comprise an escape hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Tsuguma
  • Patent number: 11325675
    Abstract: A cleat for being attached on a sole of a cycling shoe to be engaged with a clipless pedal is disclosed. The cleat includes a front engagement portion, a rear engagement portion and a front attachment portion. A width of the rear engagement portion is greater than a width of the front engagement portion. The front attachment portion protrudes from the bottom of the front engagement portion and includes a U-shaped body and two abutment portions. The U-shaped body has two legs and an opening between outer ends of the two legs. The opening is toward the rear engagement portion. Each of the two abutment portions inward bendingly extends from the outer end of one of the legs so as to make a width of the opening between the abutment portions less than a distance between internal sides of the two legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Inventor: Chin-Long Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11318838
    Abstract: An accelerator device having an organ structure includes: a pad configured to be pressed by a driver; a case configured to be attached to a vehicle body; an inside movable mechanism housed in the case; and an arm that passes through an opening formed in an outer wall of the case and connects the pad to the inside movable mechanism. The arm has a rectangle shape in a cross section. An entire circumference of the opening is surrounded by a protrusion protruding toward the pad. The protrusion includes an upper surface, and the upper surface has an inclination portion that slopes down rightward or leftward, when viewed from the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuto Kita, Yasuhiro Ootaka
  • Patent number: 11318980
    Abstract: A steering section of a steer-by-wire system includes a handle having a center axis of rotation arranged in the front-rear direction, and a handle-support shaft having a center axis arranged in the front-rear direction and that is supported so as not to be able to rotate about the center axis with respect to the vehicle. The handle is rotatably supported so as to be able to rotate about the center axis of rotation with respect to the rear-end portion of the handle-support shaft. The center axis of the handle-support shaft is arranged so as to be offset upward with respect to the center axis of rotation of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NSK, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Kurokawa, Yuichiro Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11320852
    Abstract: A force sense imparting operation device that imparts a force sense in accordance with a load acting on an actuation device. The device includes an operation member, a displacement detector, a load detector, a force sense generator that imparts a force sense to an operator who operates the operation member, a current controller that performs an actual control and a preliminary control, the actual control increasing the force sense imparted by the force sense generator by increasing an excitation current in response to an increase in the load, the preliminary control supplying the excitation current to an excitation coil prior to the actual control, the excitation current supplied by the preliminary control being set to a preliminary current value lower than the excitation current supplied to the excitation coil under the actual control, and a current supplying portion that supplies the excitation current to the excitation coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Inoue, Hiroshi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11320037
    Abstract: One object is to provide a speed reducer that can absorb or relieve an impact acting thereon. A speed reducer of the present invention includes: a speed reducing unit a housing that houses the speed reducing unit and a shock absorbing means that allows the speed reducing unit to move with respect to the housing in a direction of a rotary shaft of the speed reducing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Makizoe, John Verzemnieks, Hideshi Shimada
  • Patent number: 11312023
    Abstract: A coupling device is described herein having a body situated between a mounting member and a receiving member. The mounting member mounts to a portion of a machine and the receiving member receives a tool to couple the tool to the machine. The body includes a housing having a locking pin disposed therein. The locking pin includes a plurality of teeth radially positioned about an outer surface of the locking pin. A plurality of pawls disposed in the body engage with the plurality of teeth to lock a rotational position of the locking pin. 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 tool to impose a force on a portion of the tool to rigidly connect the tool to the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Think Surgical, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Dixon
  • Patent number: 11307606
    Abstract: A vehicle pedal assembly comprising a pedal housing. A rotatable pedal includes a drum extending into the pedal housing. The drum includes a friction contact surface. A pedal friction pad extends in the pedal housing and includes a pedal friction surface in contact with the friction contact surface on the drum. The pedal friction surface is shaped and positioned to provide for a line frictional contact between the pedal friction surface and the drum. In one embodiment, the pedal friction surface in contact with the drum is arc-shaped. In one embodiment, the pedal friction surface includes a first curved converging segment, the arc-shaped surface segment defines the second surface segment and extends between the first and a third straight converging segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher M. Byrd, Michael L. Wurn, Thomas A. Hallberg
  • Patent number: 11305828
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a link mechanism to be equipped with a work implement, a drive mechanism to drive the link mechanism to ascend and descend the work implement, and a control lever is to be operated to ascend and descend the work implement. The work vehicle includes a first displacement transmission mechanism, an additional operational mechanism, and a second displacement transmission mechanism. The first displacement transmission mechanism links the drive mechanism and the control lever to transmit a displacement of the control lever to the drive mechanism. The additional operational mechanism is configured to operate the control lever at a location apart from a position of the control lever. The second displacement transmission mechanism mechanically links the additional operational mechanism and the control lever without interposing the first displacement transmission mechanism to shift the control lever in accordance with an operation of the additional operational mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Sera, Takashi Oda, Hisao Mukai, Takuya Tanigawa
  • Patent number: 11294415
    Abstract: A controller for operative connection to a power assisted transport vehicle that is at least partially directed by a human operator in physical contact with the vehicle, the controller including: a contact surface with a deadman switch, a first sensor and a second sensor each responsive to manual actuation of the contact surface, each sensor having a respective first sensor output signal and a second sensor output signal, and a signal processing means adapted to process the first and second output signals, and control the mode of operation of the controller in accordance with the state of the deadman switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: RED MILAWA PTY LTD
    Inventors: Tilo Schmidt, Brendon Ashley Savin, Ashley Campbell Daff
  • Patent number: 11287841
    Abstract: An operating device according to the present invention includes magnetic field generation means. The magnetic field generation means includes a coil generating a magnetic field when energized, and a yoke forming a magnetic path for the magnetic field passing through a rotor. A control unit includes magnetization means and rotational torque control means. The magnetization means supplies a current to energize the coil such that a residual magnetic field in the yoke is held at a predetermined magnitude. The rotational torque control means adjusts a current value applied to the coil in accordance with the magnitude of the residual magnetic field in the yoke. An absolute value of a maximum value of the current value applied to the coil by the rotational torque control means is smaller than an absolute value of a current value applied by the magnetization means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventors: Asuka Koike, Kazunari Takahashi, Misuzu Takahashi, Atsushi Goto, Ryuichiro Yasuhara
  • Patent number: 11286980
    Abstract: A rolling-element bearing transmission includes a first rolled-on element, at least one second rolled-on element and a third rolled-on element. Each of the rolled-on elements has a raceway configured to support a plurality of rolling elements. A first set of rolling elements is disposed between the first rolled-on element and the at least one second rolled-on element and a second set of rolling elements is disposed between the at least one second and the third rolled-on elements. Each of the rolled-on elements comprises or supports at least one transmission element, and the at least one transmission elements are disposed and configured to form a transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: Bernd Stephan
  • Patent number: 11279435
    Abstract: An operation unit structure of the embodiment includes a switch case disposed close to a grip part of a handlebar of a straddle-type vehicle, an operating element provided in the switch case, and indicators and provided in the switch case common to the operating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sekai Yamazaki, Jun Yoneda
  • Patent number: 11279437
    Abstract: A shift operating device includes a frame body, a cable spool assembly, a first elastic component, an upshift lever, a driving pawl, a positioning pawl, a movable component, and a downshift lever. The cable spool assembly is disposed on the frame body. The first elastic component can force the cable spool assembly to rotate along a first direction. The upshift lever can rotate the cable spool assembly along a second direction by the driving pawl. The positioning pawl is disposed on the frame body and engaged with the cable spool assembly. The movable component is linearly and movably disposed on the frame body and in contact with the positioning pawl. The downshift lever is disposed on the frame body and in contact with the movable component. When the downshift lever is pivoted, the downshift lever forces the movable component to detach the positioning pawl from the cable spool assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TEKTRO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: John L. Calendrille, Jr., Chung-Sheng Tsai
  • Patent number: 11279434
    Abstract: A stem assembly and an electric vehicle are provided. The stem assembly includes: a stem telescoping mechanism including a first hollow tube, a second hollow tube, and a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism having a locked state and an movable state; a handle folding mechanism arranged to the stem telescoping mechanism, the handle folding mechanism including a handle assembly and a first limiting member, the first limiting member being movably arranged, and having a first limiting position and a first evading position; and a driving mechanism connected to both the locking mechanism and the first limiting member, and configured to be operated to control the stem telescoping mechanism and the handle folding mechanism to synchronously move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ninebot (Changzhou) Tech Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Can Wang, Xuanyu Huang
  • Patent number: 11279391
    Abstract: A steering wheel includes: a hub; a rim connected to the hub through a plurality of spokes; and a first steering wheel remote control and a second steering wheel remote control arranged on sides of the hub, respectively, in a symmetric manner. A biological parameter measuring apparatus includes: a first conductive bezel arranged around the first steering wheel remote control; a second conductive bezel arranged around the second steering wheel remote control; and a signal processor, which is electrically connected to the first and second conductive bezels, configured to process and calculate a biological parameter based on a signal detected by at least one of the first conductive bezel or the second conductive bezels. The first conductive bezel is spaced apart from the second conductive bezel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dae Yun An, Eung Hwan Kim, Gyun Ha Kim, Jin Young Koh, Won Lee
  • Patent number: 11273803
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle operation pedal device comprising: an operation pedal which includes a depressing part provided thereto; a pair of upper support members which are fixed to a dash panel; a pair of lower support members which are fixed to the dash panel and also fixed to the pair of upper support members; an upper center support member which is laid between the pair of upper support members; and a connection hole which supports an operating rod protruding from the dash panel towards a vehicle rear side, such that the operating rod is rotatable with respect to the operation pedal. The upper center support member comprises a sliding receiving part. The pair of upper support members comprise an escape hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Tsuguma
  • Patent number: 11261933
    Abstract: A pendulum damping device including a support that rotates about an axis, at least one pendulum body and at least one rolling member guiding the movement of the pendulum body relative to the support, the rolling member engaging with at least one rolling track rigidly connected to the support and with at least one rolling track rigidly connected to the pendulum body. The rolling member includes a first part defining a first axial end, a second part defining a second axial end, and a resilient element arranged in the rolling member so as to axially separate these two parts so that the rolling member exerts an axial clamping force on one of the pendulum body and the support during the movement of the pendulum body relative to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: VALEO EMBRAYAGES
    Inventors: Matthieu Malley, Olivier Fafet, Antoine Vigreux, Didier Couvillers, David Salvadori, Franck Cailleret, Adrien Nerriere, Jonathan Rost
  • Patent number: 11254269
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems for providing a pathway for at least one electrical conductor to supply current from a vehicle or marine craft power source to a steering wheel comprising at least one working element for heating or controls. The present invention utilizes a clock spring assembly inside a channel created by a housing mount and a housing base and encased in a housing cover for infinite rotation of the steering wheel while still maintaining a path for current to travel through the clock spring to the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: SYMTEC, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Bauer, Riley T. Harlan, Tom Donnillon