Patents Examined by Vinh Luong
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Patent number: 10975931Abstract: A two-piece flexplate assembly having a ring gear welded to a central plate using a capacitor discharge welding process. The weld is established between a joining structure defined between the ring gear and the central plate using either an overlap arrangement, a projection arrangement, or a chamfer arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2018Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: MAGNA INTERNATIONALInventors: Guobin Yin, Markus R. Schuiki, Markus Reiterer, Alexander Dietrich
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Patent number: 10961758Abstract: A drive device for a movable furniture part includes an ejection force accumulator which can be tensioned, and an ejection element mechanically loaded by the ejection force accumulator and used to carry out an ejection movement of the moveable furniture part from a closed position into an open position. The ejection movement can be initiated by a compression movement of the movable furniture part into a compression position which is behind the closed position. The drive device also comprises a tensioning device for tensioning the ejection force accumulator with energy which can be emitted by the ejection movement. During the compression movement, at least 50% of the energy emitted by the ejection force accumulator during the ejection movement can be introduced into the ejection force accumulator by the tensioning device.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Julius Blum GmbHInventors: Fredi Dubach, Marco Ruecker
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Patent number: 10960858Abstract: An automobile pedal release system that includes a housing having first and second side walls spaced apart by a cleft, where each side wall includes a pocket recessed into an inner surface such that the two pockets oppose one another; a brake pedal assembly having a pivot member disposed in the cleft and defining a pivot axis, first and second bushings, and a brake pedal arm rotatable about the pivot axis relative to the two bushings, where each busing is disposed in a first portion of one pocket and receives one of two ends of the pivot member; and a striker assembly having a striker and two plugs, the striker having an elongated body extending in the cleft between the side walls, where each plug is disposed in a second portion of one pocket and includes a bore that receives one of two ends of the striker.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: FLEX-N-GATE ADVANCED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT LLC.Inventors: Steve A. Jarjoura, Terry Reid, Ramesh Periasamy
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Patent number: 10953750Abstract: An input device includes a base member, a motor, a rotation shaft, a worm gear, a first gear, a second gear, an elastic member, a rotor, an angle detection unit, and a controller. The rotation shaft is rotated by the motor. The worm gear is unitarily rotated with the rotation shaft. The first gear is rotatable and engaged with the worm gear. The second gear is coaxial with the first gear. The elastic member generates urging force. The rotor is rotatable relative to the base member, includes a third gear engaged with the second gear, and is rotated by an operator. The angle detection unit detects a first rotation angle of the first gear and a second rotation angle of the second gear. The controller performs drive control for the motor to change a sense of force applied to the operator.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2020Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Inventors: Takashi Uenomachi, Toshio Ogawa, Shinya Muto, Yoshitsugu Wakita, Ikuyasu Miyako, Wataru Kimura
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Patent number: 10946741Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a foldable accelerator pedal device and a foldable brake pedal device. The foldable accelerator pedal device is an organ-type foldable accelerator pedal device, a pendant-type foldable accelerator pedal device, or a pressure-operation-type accelerator pedal device. The foldable brake pedal device is an organ-type foldable brake pedal device, a pendant-type foldable brake pedal device, and a pressure-operation-type brake pedal device. The foldable accelerator pedal device and the foldable brake pedal device are mounted in a space below the driver's seat. The foldable accelerator pedal device, the foldable brake pedal device, and the space below the driver's seat are configured to accommodate any one of the foldable accelerator pedal devices in combination with any one of the foldable brake pedal devices.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2020Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Kyung Chang Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Eun Sik Kim, Hyeon Uk Kim, Sung Il Byun
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Patent number: 10932868Abstract: A surgical system (200) includes a surgical instrument (260) that is sensitive to backlash that would adversely affect the transmission of controlled torque and position to the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument (260) is coupled to motors in a surgical instrument manipulator assembly (240) via a mechanical interface. The combination of the mechanical interface and surgical instrument manipulator assembly (240) have low backlash, e.g., less than 0.7 degrees. The backlash is controlled in the surgical instrument manipulator assembly (240). From the drive output disk (545) in the surgical instrument manipulator assembly to the driven disk (964) of the surgical instrument, the mechanical interface has zero backlash for torque levels used in surgical procedures.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2014Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Todd R. Solomon, Anthony K. McGrogan, Thomas G. Cooper
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Patent number: 10927931Abstract: An arm assembly of a robot includes a servo coupled to the chest of the robot, an upper arm driven by the servo, a forearm rotatably coupled to the upper arm, a hand connected to an end of the forearm and rotatable about a first axis extending along a lengthwise direction of the forearm; and a hand transmission mechanism configured to transmit motion from the servo to the hand so as to drive the hand to rotate about the first axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORPInventors: Youjun Xiong, Zuyi Mao, Xinpu Chen, Gao Yang, Defu Liu
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Patent number: 10920869Abstract: A system, a differential, and method for maintaining temperature of a fluid circulating in a housing enclosing a gear system, contains a first heat exchanger positioned interior the housing. A first insulation layer is coupled to the housing and having a face in complete contact with the housing. A second fluid passageway formed between the outer surface of the gear and the primary heat transfer surface for the flow of the fluid circulating within the housing therethrough, wherein the fluid is brought into heat transfer relationship with the first heat exchange fluid flowing through said heat exchanger by means of rotation of the gear system.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Inventors: Ihab Edward Gerges, Dario Bettio, Michael J. R. Bardeleben
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Patent number: 10901451Abstract: An input device includes a base member, a motor, a rotation shaft, a worm gear, a first gear, a rotor, a movement member, an elastic member, a change amount detection unit, and a controller. The rotation shaft is rotated by the motor. The worm gear is rotated by the rotation shaft. The first gear is rotatable and engaged with the worm gear. The rotor is rotatable relative to the base member, includes a second gear engaged with the first gear, and is rotated by an operator. The movement member is moved as the worm gear is moved. The elastic member generates urging force. The change amount detection unit detects a change amount of a state that is changed in accordance with the movement of the movement member. The controller performs drive control for the motor to change a sense of force applied to the operator.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2020Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Inventors: Takashi Uenomachi, Toshio Ogawa, Shinya Muto, Yoshitsugu Wakita, Ikuyasu Miyako, Wataru Kimura
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Patent number: 10892113Abstract: A rotating handle device formed by the the mounting of an assembly including an attachment base that receives a grip and a sliding button, a sliding limiting drive member, and a fixing cover. The fastening between the sliding button, grip, attachment base, and fixing cover is achieved by pressure fastening engagements snap-fits. The assembly includes a mounting method that prevents removal of the grip from the attachment base unless the sliding button is removed first, and a mounting or dismounting process between the grip and the attachment base that may only take place upon the coincidence between pairs of flaps and passing recessions.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2018Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: WEG DRIVES AND CONTROLS AUTOMAÇÃO LTDAInventor: João Paulo Abdala
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Patent number: 10889226Abstract: An assembly includes a floor, a vehicle pedal disposed above the floor, and a cover. The cover is rotatably connected to the floor. The cover is rotatable relative to the floor from a closed position in which the cover is disposed above the vehicle pedal to an open position in which the vehicle pedal is disposed above the cover.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2019Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: William Henry Dean, Gregory Pfirman, John Q. White, Pablo Isaac Villalva Sanchez, Steffen Schoenfuss, Richard Alan Kreder
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Patent number: 10882578Abstract: A motorcycle metal handle bar assembly for receiving a length of an internally routed wire harness assembly. The motorcycle metal handle bar assembly includes a first pipe having a first open end defined by a first angled cut, wherein the first open end defines a first periphery; a second pipe having a second open end defined by a second angled cut, wherein the second open end defines a second periphery; a joint at an interface of the first open end and the second open end, wherein at least one of the first open end and the second open end is flared.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2018Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Magnum Shielding CorporationInventor: Scott L. Hurwitz
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Patent number: 10876623Abstract: A compensating arrangement for compensating axial play for a transmission housing unit, having a housing base body and a rotatable shaft, a first guide surface transversely to the axial direction and a second guide surface obliquely to the axial direction, wherein the shaft is supported between the guide surfaces with the interposition of the compensating arrangement, is configured in the shape of a wedge and is displaceable along the second guide surface in a feed direction transversely to the axial direction in order to compensate axial play of the shaft, wherein the transmission housing unit contains a pre-stressed spring element for the compensating arrangement in the feed direction, wherein the compensating arrangement is configured to increase the frictional force at least in the direction opposite the feed direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: NIDEC MOTORS & ACTUATORS (GERMANY) GMBHInventors: Rainer Bruhn, Jian Yang
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Patent number: 10864963Abstract: A crank arm for a bicycle may include a body extending along a body axis and having a first body end and a second body end axially spaced apart from the first body end. The insert may also include an insert provided toward the first body end. The insert may include a base portion having a radially outer surface. At least one extension may extend outwardly from the radially outer surface and may be encased within a corresponding recess in the body whereby relative planar movement between the body and the at least one extension in a first plane. The retaining portion may have a retaining portion width measured in the first direction and the retaining width may be greater than the throat width thereby inhibiting relative radial movement between the at least one extension and the recess and preventing radial extraction of the extension from the corresponding recess.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2019Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Staples, Paul Sidlick
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Patent number: 10851869Abstract: A crank cap assembly provided with a crank cap rotatably supporting a crankshaft includes a mass portion, two cap bolts fixing the crank cap to an engine body, and an elastic supporter disposed between the two cap bolts. The elastic supporter elastically supports the mass portion with respect to the crank cap in an axial direction of the crankshaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2018Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoyuki Ono
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Patent number: 10844955Abstract: Provided are an actuator and a vehicle transmission including the same. The actuator includes a magnet gear unit which transmits a driving force and a driving unit which drives the magnet gear unit. The magnet gear unit includes a first magnet, a second magnet disposed outside the first magnet to face the first magnet, and a pawl member inserted in parallel between the first magnet and the second magnet. The driving unit includes a circular rotor on a central axis, and any one of the first magnet, the second magnet or the pawl member is mounted to the rotor; a third magnet mounted along a circumference of the rotor: and a stator including an annular core having a plurality of protrusions that face the third magnet and coils connected to the protrusions.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: SL CorporationInventors: Chunnyung Heo, Minsoo Kim, Sungjin Kim, Yongjae Kim
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Patent number: 10836363Abstract: A brake pedal assembly installation method includes installing a brake operation simulator to a lower part of a dashboard; pivotally mounting a brake pedal arm to a mounting feature associated with brake operation simulator; providing an elastic member with first and second free ends that are normally biased toward one another; securing the first free end of the elastic member to a yoke mounted to an end portion of the push rod; extending the elastic member and securing the second free end of the extended elastic member to the brake pedal arm; aligning an opening on the brake pedal arm with an opening on the yoke; and inserting a lock pin through the openings of the brake pedal arm and the yoke to secure the yoke to the brake pedal arm.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2018Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: David J. Bartlett, Evan R. States, Scott A. Paul, Akihiko Koike
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Patent number: 10830307Abstract: Vibration isolators can be dimensioned for securement between a rotational motion source and a rotational motion target. The vibration isolators can include a first end member and a second end member supported in substantially-fixed axial position but axially-rotatable relative to the first end member. An intermediate member can be disposed between and operatively engaging the first and second end members. A rotational motion-to-axial motion conversion system is operatively disposed between the intermediate member and the first end member such that rotation of the intermediate member and the second end member generates axial displacement of the intermediate member relative to the first and second end members. A biasing element can be operatively disposed between the intermediate member and one or more of the first and second end members to bias the intermediate member in an axial direction. Rotary power transmissions or system are also included.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2019Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLCInventors: Joshua R. Leonard, Pradipta N. Moulik
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Patent number: 10822050Abstract: Embodiments relate to a pedal system having a cuff for retaining a foot or footwear at the pedal in a manner that supports different sizes and form factors of feet or footwear. The pedal system has a rod secured to a pedal in a rotatable manner and the cuff is coupled to the rod. A lever may be coupled to the rod in a manner where engagement of the lever by the user's foot or footwear affects the rod and thus, a position of the cuff relative to the user's foot or footwear. The lever and the cuff may retain the user's foot or footwear at the pedal in an engaged mode and release the user's foot or footwear from the top surface in a disengaged mode. The pedal system is switchable between the engaged mode and the disengaged mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2018Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Vectus SportInventors: Gregory William Davis, Robert Edward Glaspie
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Patent number: 10816081Abstract: A spur gear transmission with at least two intermeshing spur gears the teeth of which are in meshing engagement with one another, and each of which are rotatable via an axis of rotation. The spur gear transmission has an enveloping wall which surrounds the two spur gears in circumferential direction and in the direction of the axes of rotation. The enveloping wall has an inner contour which is adapted to the outer diameter of the spur gears in such a manner that two annular gaps which merge into each other are formed between the enveloping wall and the spur gears. One annular gap respectively is arranged at least substantially concentrically with respect to a respective axis of rotation. The enveloping wall is formed by a two-part housing which is closed along a parting line and which has an upper part and a lower part.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Voith Patent GmbHInventors: Steffen Kämmerer, Matthias Rauch, Marco Schneider