Patents Examined by Vinh Luong
  • Patent number: 11820171
    Abstract: An axle assembly and method of assembly. The axle assembly may include a drive pinion and a preload nut. The drive pinion may have a recess. The preload nut may have a deformable ring. The deformable ring may engage the drive pinion inside the recess to inhibit rotation of the preload nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Dhanapal Vittala Raya
  • Patent number: 11820348
    Abstract: A user-manipulable signal generating apparatus includes a base plate and an elongate pedal lever having first and second lever ends separated by a lever body. The first lever end is hingedly connected to the base plate. The second lever end is spaced apart from the base plate for pivotal movement with respect thereto. The lever body is configured to move pivotally between a predetermined home position and a maximum pivot position. An elongate resilient biasing beam has first and second beam ends longitudinally separated by a beam body. The first beam end is connected to the base plate. The second beam end is connected to the lever body. A sensor detects pivotal motion of the lever body and generate a signal responsive thereto. The beam body is biased toward an unflexed condition and, when in the flexed condition, urges the lever body in a return direction toward the home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety US Inc.
    Inventor: Blaise J. Ganzel
  • Patent number: 11813998
    Abstract: A foldable pedal apparatus for a vehicle, includes a pedal module popped up to be manipulated by a driver in a manual driving mode in which a driver drives manually, wherein the pedal module may be hidden so as not to be manipulated by the driver in a self-driving mode, and the foldable function of pedals may be implemented by moving the pedal module forwards and backwards by the rotation of the rotation module by operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Eun Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 11814130
    Abstract: An operating device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a base member and an electric communication port. The base member extends in a longitudinal direction. The base member includes a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is configured to be coupled to a handlebar. The second end portion is opposite to the first end portion in the longitudinal direction. The electric communication port is configured to be electrically connected to a connector of an electric cable. The electric communication port is closer to the second end portion than the first end portion in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Hidaka, Yasuyuki Komada
  • Patent number: 11814132
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device includes a main body, a speed shafting unit, a brake lever, a fluid pressure generating assembly, a first operation assembly and a second operation assembly. The speed shafting unit is disposed on the main body and includes a reel and a shaft. The reel is disposed on the shaft. The brake lever is rotatably connected to the main body. The fluid pressure generating assembly is disposed on the main body and includes a cylinder, a piston assembly and a reservoir. The reservoir is located above the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: AD-II ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Kai-Hung Hu, Chung-Ren Chang
  • Patent number: 11814134
    Abstract: A pivoting crank arm apparatus that increases the user's torque. The pivoting of the crank arms further allows the user to quickly move the pedals out of the dead zones at the top dead center and bottom dead center of the crank cycle. This prevents the user from stalling in these dead zones while climbing hills and other high torque or slow pedal speed situations. The pivoting crank arm apparatus is comprised of a set of crank arms attached by a spindle. Each crank arm is further comprised of a pivot arm with a pedal. The pivot arm being pivotally attached to the crank arm and configured to allow for the pivoting action of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventor: John Daniel Corder
  • Patent number: 11806573
    Abstract: A solid, multi-plastic handlebar is provided. The handlebar includes an inner substrate component made of a load-bearing, structural plastic material. In one embodiment, the substrate component includes a first set of circumferentially-spaced, longitudinally-extending locking members. The handlebar also includes an outer component overlying the substrate component and made of a plastic material less rigid than the plastic material of the substrate component. The outer component is configured to be gripped by a human hand. The outer component includes a second set of circumferentially-spaced, longitudinally-extending locking members which interlock with the first set of locking members to mechanically lock the substrate component and the outer component together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: JVIS-USA, LLC
    Inventors: Darius J. Preisler, Alexis Antonio Silva Perez
  • Patent number: 11794850
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a pedal for use on a device such as a bicycle or stationary bicycle are provided. A pedal may include a pedal body member having an internal cavity. The pedal may include an axle having a shaft adapted to extend into the internal cavity. A sliding bearing block may be secured to a distal end of the axle shaft. The pedal body member may be adapted for transverse or side-to-side rotatable movement relative to a longitudinal axis of the axle shaft. The pedal body member may be self-centering and include one or more springs to apply force to move the pedal body member toward a home or resting position relative to the axle shaft. The pedal may be adapted so that the user's foot can be placed on either a top surface or a bottom surface of the pedal body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventor: Kenneth Belknap
  • Patent number: 11794848
    Abstract: A control device for a hydraulic brake for a bicycle includes a reservoir for hydraulic fluid. The reservoir has a variable volume. The control device also includes a reservoir cover at least partially defining the reservoir, and a support that is attachable to a handlebar of the bicycle via an inner annular surface of the support. A handlebar proximity zone is radially outer relative to the inner annular surface of the support and is within two centimeters of the inner annular surface of the support. At least part of the reservoir cover is within the handlebar proximity zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: Charles Dunlap, Brian Jordan, Braden Snead
  • Patent number: 11794851
    Abstract: A spacer is provided for adjusting the tread of a bicycle pedal. The sole can fit to its tread force receiving surface without causing damage to a user's foot or shoe. The non-slipping effect is high. A spacer is detachable from the main body of a bicycle pedal and includes an elastic material for adjusting a height from a deck surface and, when tread force is applied to the elastic material, is pushed down in the direction of thickness according to the tread force, and the tip of a stud pin attached to the main body of the pedal is exposed more from the spacer. The detachable spacer can cover and protect a large portion of the exposed part of the stud pin when no foot is placed on the pedal, and when a foot is placed on the pedal, a stud pin protrudes to provide the non-slipping effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventor: Shinji Marui
  • Patent number: 11794849
    Abstract: A pedal for bicycles includes a pedal pin that extends along a reference axis and has a first axial end structured to be coupled to a pedal crank of a bicycle and a second axial end opposite to the first end and a pedal body that comprises a hub coupled in a freely rotatable manner to the pedal pin so as to be able to rotate around the reference axis. On the pedal pin there are at least two inner chambers having a circular section and extending along the reference axis coaxial thereto, a sensor circuit coupled to the pedal pin, an electronic circuit configured to determine the mechanical deformation of the pedal pin, and an electric storage device arranged in an inner chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: FAVERO ELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Gino Favero
  • Patent number: 11791689
    Abstract: A mechanical energy accumulator system has a housing with a first pair of flywheels, a second pair of flywheels and a third pair of flywheels. Each of the flywheels is formed of a ceramic material. A stator is positioned in an interior area of each of the flywheels. A pipe shaft is positioned interior of the stator. The pipe shaft has a plurality of magnets therein. A circular pipe is embedded within each of the flywheels. The circular pipe has a fluid contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventor: Mario H. Gottfried
  • Patent number: 11772746
    Abstract: A bicycle including a frame with a fork, the fork having dropouts between which a wheel axle is mounted. The wheel axle includes a sensor and/or an electric component arranged to be connected to a control element. A detachable electric connection is provided between the sensor and/or electric component and the control element. The detachable electric connection is positioned between the wheel axle and the thru-axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: ADVANCING TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Roëll Marie Van Druten, Johannes Gijsbertus Antonius Van Den Brand
  • Patent number: 11768366
    Abstract: The apparatus features a rotating collar and a static collar, in which one collar has an adjustment lever. The rotating collar is attached to a rotating portion of a focus knob for a device, which in one example is a night vision device. The static collar is attached to a non-rotating portion of the device immediately adjacent to the focus knob. The movement of the rotating collar and the focus knob that the rotating collar is attached to is constrained by mechanical interference between a static stop, the adjustment lever, and an adjustable stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Executive Firearms, LLC
    Inventor: Joshua Gilman
  • Patent number: 11760439
    Abstract: Bicycle including a frame with a fork, the fork having dropouts between which a wheel axle is mounted. The wheel axle includes a sensor and/or an electric component arranged to be connected to a control element. A detachable electric connection is provided between the sensor and/or electric component and the control element. The detachable electric connection includes a short range wireless connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ADVANCING TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Roëll Marie Van Druten, Johannes Gijsbertus Antonius Van Den Brand
  • Patent number: 11761527
    Abstract: Described is a transmission device (1) for an electrically driveable vehicle having a transmission element (2), a parking lock (6), by which the transmission element (2) can be blocked and which has a parking lock actuator (8), and a transmission housing (9), which encloses the transmission element (2) and the parking lock (6). A pressure equalization apparatus (14) is connected to an exterior of the transmission housing (9) in a gas-permeable manner. The pressure equalization apparatus (14) has a lead-through element (16) which passes through a transmission housing opening (15) and a fluid guiding element (17), the first end of which is connected to the interior of the parking lock actuator (8) and the second end of which is connected to the lead-through element (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventors: Christian Gerhard Fürstenhöfer, Bernd Haas
  • Patent number: 11745783
    Abstract: A steering wheel includes a steering wheel axis, a hub for fastening the steering wheel to a steering shaft rotatable about a steering wheel axis, and a steering wheel rim connected to the hub and at least partially surrounding the hub in the circumferential direction. A mounting projection for fastening an operating unit is formed on the steering wheel rim and includes a coupling element for detachably fastening the operating unit as well as a positioning portion for fixing the operating unit in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: DALPHI METAL ESPANA, S.A.
    Inventors: Ramon Baña Castro, Pedro Pereiro Coto, Miguel Segovia Romero, Alberto Santorio Cancelas, Rafael Carballido, Laurent Bauvineau, Clément Lemele, Nathalie Richeux Guilloux
  • Patent number: 11745787
    Abstract: A system for adjusting a rake of a steering column includes a rake actuator. The system also includes a jacket assembly. The system further includes a first bracket operatively coupled to the jacket assembly, the first bracket defining a first slot. The system yet further includes a second bracket defining a second slot, the second bracket fixed in a stationary position relative to the first bracket, the first and second slots oriented at different angles, but partially aligned. The system also includes a cam follower operatively coupled to the rake actuator, the cam follower having an arm extending through the first slot and the second slot, wherein translation of the cam follower adjusts the angular position of the first bracket and the jacket assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Patrik Ryne, George E. Arlt
  • Patent number: 11745824
    Abstract: A control device mountable to a handlebar of a bicycle includes a housing, a lever coupled to and pivotable relative to the housing, and a master cylinder portion supported by the housing. The master cylinder portion has a fluid cylinder. The fluid cylinder has a first end and a second end opposite the first end with a cylindrical wall therebetween. An opening extends through the master cylinder portion, from the first end to the second end. The control device also includes a plug removably connected to the master cylinder portion via the opening at the first end of the fluid cylinder, and a piston assembly supported by the housing. The piston assembly is movable relative to the master cylinder portion. The housing is made of a first material, and the master cylinder portion is made of a second material. The second material is different than the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Neil Swanson, Doug Mahoney, Ryan Grimm
  • Patent number: 11742725
    Abstract: Provided is a gear motor including a motor, a speed reducer, a first detector disposition section in which a first rotation detector that detects rotation of a rotor shaft is disposed, a second detector disposition section in which a second rotation detector that detects rotation of an output member of the speed reducer is disposed, and a third detector disposition section in which a torque detector is disposed, in which the gear motor is operable when the first rotation detector is disposed in the first detector disposition section, the second rotation detector is disposed in the second detector disposition section, and the torque detector is disposed in the third detector disposition section, and is operable even when a portion thereof is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Sebastian Markert, Andreas Mueller