Patents by Inventor Matthew B. Staal
Matthew B. Staal has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 12275482Abstract: A personal transport device convertible between a riding configuration and a stowed configuration is described. In one embodiment, a rear wheel and foot peg linking mechanism for the personal transport device includes foot pegs, including a first peg and a second peg, and a gear mechanism connected to the foot pegs. The gear mechanism is configured to rotate to move the foot pegs between an open position and a closed position. The rear wheel and foot peg linking mechanism also includes an arm connected to a rear wheel of the personal transport device and a post member extending outwards from the arm. The post member is configured to contact the gear mechanism to cause the gear mechanism to move the foot pegs from the open position to the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2022Date of Patent: April 15, 2025Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Matthew B. Staal, Jackie P. Porchay, Michael Jin Kim, Ming Hsein Lee, Ding Jong Chou, Sheng Yu Huang
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Patent number: 12275483Abstract: A compact personal transport device convertible between a riding configuration and a stowed configuration is described. In one embodiment, a steering assembly for the compact personal transport device includes a telescopic steering shaft, a neck disposed at a top of the telescopic steering shaft, and a rotatable collar connected via a rotation mechanism to the neck. A handlebar is secured to the rotatable collar and the steering assembly also includes a handlebar latching mechanism. In a locked configuration, the handlebar latching mechanism secures the rotatable collar from being rotated. In an unlocked configuration, the handlebar latching mechanism permits the rotatable collar to rotate relative to the neck.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2021Date of Patent: April 15, 2025Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Matthew B. Staal, Jackie P. Porchay, Michael Jin Kim, Ming Hsein Lee, Ding Jong Chou, Sheng Yu Huang
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Publication number: 20250074527Abstract: A mounting bracket for a foldable transport device includes a top portion, a bottom portion, a front wall connecting the top portion and the bottom portion, a first foot peg mounted to the mounting bracket by a first pin and moveably connected to the mounting bracket between a stowed configuration and a riding configuration, and a second foot peg mounted to the mounting bracket by a second pin and moveably connected to the mounting bracket between a stowed configuration and a riding configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2023Publication date: March 6, 2025Inventors: Nicholas P. ZIRALDO, Matthew B. STAAL, Michael Jin KIM, Jackie P . PORCHAY, Ming Hsein LEE, Ding Jong CHOU, Sheng Yu HUANG
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Publication number: 20250074536Abstract: A rear wheel latching mechanism for a personal transport device and a corresponding personal transport device are provided. The mechanism includes a rear wheel attached to an arm, which includes an inner extrusion that slides on one axis of a fixed frame in a horizontal direction. The fixed frame comprises an outer extrusion that surrounds the inner extrusion. The mechanism also includes a rear wheel cam-latch, configured to lock the inner extrusion and the outer extrusion together. The rear wheel cam-latch allows the rear wheel to articulate when the rear wheel cam-latch is unlatched between a stored state and a deployed state. The mechanism also includes a rear wheel pin that catches and holds the rear wheel in the deployed state to fix a front portion of the inner extrusion and a rear portion of the outer extrusion before the rear wheel cam-latch clamps the inner and outer extrusions together.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2023Publication date: March 6, 2025Inventors: Nicholas P. ZIRALDO, Matthew B. STAAL, Jackie P. PORCHAY, Ming Hsein LEE, Ding Jong CHOU, Sheng Yu HUANG
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Publication number: 20250074533Abstract: A rear wheel and seat linkage mechanism for a personal transport device and a corresponding personal transport device are provided. The mechanism includes a carrier, configured to slide along a track of a sliding mechanism. The mechanism also includes a seat post, connected at a first end to a top portion of the carrier and connected at a second end to a protruding seat pole. The mechanism further includes a rear wheel arm, comprising the rear wheel at a first end and connected at a second end to a bottom portion of the carrier. In the mechanism, the carrier is configured to slide between a front of the track and a rear of the track to transition, in unison, the seat post and the protruding seat pole above the track and the rear wheel and the rear wheel arm below the track between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2023Publication date: March 6, 2025Inventors: Matthew B. STAAL, Michael Jin KIM, Jackie P. PORCHAY
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Publication number: 20240317341Abstract: A foldable seat assembly for a personal transport device is described. The seat assembly includes a seat having a seat surface and a seat post attached to an underside of the seat. The seat assembly also includes a latching mechanism having a pivot mechanism, a clamp located above the pivot mechanism, a latch arm attached to the pivot mechanism at a pivot end of the latch arm, a hooked catch disposed at a catch end of the latch arm opposite the pivot end, and a catch receiver associated with the underside of the seat. The catch receiver engages with the hooked catch of the latch arm. When the clamp is in a locked position, the hooked catch exerts a downward clamping force on the catch receiver to secure the seat in a riding configuration so that the seat surface has a horizontal orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2023Publication date: September 26, 2024Inventors: Nicholas P. ZIRALDO, Matthew B. STAAL, Ming Hsein LEE, Ding Jong CHOU, Sheng Yu HUANG
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Publication number: 20240317352Abstract: A compact personal transport device convertible between a riding configuration and a stowed configuration is described. In one embodiment, a seat post release and handlebar holding mechanism for the personal transport device includes a frame post attached internally and a seat post including an opening on one side that fits onto the frame post. The seat post release and handlebar holding mechanism also includes a latch connected inside the frame post to a pivot point. The latch extends outwards from one side of the frame post and extends through the opening in the seat post in a secured position. The seat post release and handlebar holding mechanism also includes a lever member attached to the latch at a first end and having an engaging surface at an opposite second end extending out from the frame post on an opposite side from the latch.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2023Publication date: September 26, 2024Inventors: Nicholas P. ZIRALDO, Matthew B. STAAL, Ming Hsein LEE, Ding Jong CHOU, Sheng Yu HUANG
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Patent number: 12005988Abstract: An electric transport device included an outer casing including a top, a bottom, a front, a back, and an interior space. A rear wheel assembly is mounted to the outer casing. The rear wheel assembly extends rearward of the back of the outer casing when the electric transport device is in a riding configuration. A locking mechanism is configurable in a first configuration to engage the rear wheel assembly to lock the rear wheel assembly in a riding position. The locking mechanism is configurable in a second configuration to disengage the locking mechanism from the rear wheel assembly permitting the rear wheel assembly to be moved relative to the outer casing to move the rear wheel assembly from the riding position to a stowed position.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2023Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Matthew B. Staal, Jackie P. Porchay, Michael J. Kim, Ming Hsein Lee, Ding Jong Chou, Sheng Yu Huang
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Publication number: 20240034121Abstract: A system and method for regulating temperatures inside of a vehicle while an electric personal transport device is charging inside the vehicle by a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) controller including at least one processor is described. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a signal from at least one of an electric personal transport device presence sensor or a charging unit for an electric personal transport device, the signal indicating that an electric personal transport device is charging inside the vehicle. The method also includes receiving an ambient temperature inside the vehicle from a temperature sensor and comparing the ambient temperature inside the vehicle to a threshold temperature. Based on the comparison of the ambient temperature to the threshold temperature, the method further includes operating at least one heating and cooling system of the vehicle to regulate the temperature inside the vehicle within a temperature range.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2022Publication date: February 1, 2024Inventors: Robert M. UYEKI, Matthew B. STAAL
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Patent number: 11827300Abstract: A seat for a personal transport device is provided. The seat includes a first seat body portion and a second body portion disposed on an opposite side of a midline from the first seat body portion. The midline is aligned along a longitudinal direction of the seat. The seat also includes a folding mechanism attached to the first seat body portion and the second seat body portion. The folding mechanism is configured to fold the seat along the midline to transition the seat between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration. In one embodiment, the folding mechanism includes a spine extending underneath the seat in the longitudinal direction, a pair of plates disposed at opposite ends of the spine, a plurality of support members attached at one end to the spine and at an opposite end to the first seat body portion or the second seat body portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Matthew B. Staal, Jackie P. Porchay, Michael Jin Kim, Ming Hsein Lee, Ding Jong Chou, Sheng Yu Huang
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Patent number: 11703988Abstract: A server and method for social interaction-based display control is provided. The server acquires information associated with a first user of an electronic device. The server determines social connections of the first user based on the acquired information. The server analyzes an interaction of the first user with second users based on a communication between the second users and the first user. The second users may be associated with the social connections. The server determines, based on the analyzed interaction a connection score indicating a degree of interaction between the second users and the first user. The server transmits display information indicating the determined connection score to the electronic device. The electronic device may adjust display characteristics of a user interface (UI) element associated with the second users based on the display information.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Christopher John Tarchala, Hanna Gee, Macarena Rojas Bustamante, Matthew B. Staal
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Publication number: 20230074978Abstract: A personal transport device in the form of an electric scooter is described. The personal transport device includes an outer casing having an opening extending along a top surface. The personal transport device also includes a front wheel, a rear wheel, a steering assembly, and a sealed storage compartment located inside the outer casing. The sealed storage compartment is configured to receive at least a portion of the steering assembly when the personal transport device is in a stowed configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2021Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: Michael J. KIM, Matthew B. STAAL, Jackie P. PORCHAY, Nicholas P. ZIRALDO
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Patent number: 11260784Abstract: A vehicle and passenger carrying apparatus usable with a vehicle, wherein the passenger carrying portion includes a seating surface and a moveable footrest below the seating surface. The footrest is moveable from an ingress/egress position to a transport position that is closer to the seating surface than the ingress/egress position. The passenger carrying portion further includes a footrest movement mechanism, wherein the footrest movement mechanism controls movement of the moveable footrest between the ingress/egress position the transport position.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Matthew B. Staal, Nelson Vanwagoner, Jonathan G. Moss, Rudolph Carruolo, Bradford D. Kent, Bharat Naran
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Patent number: 11214328Abstract: A vehicle, vehicle frame, and steering system usable with the vehicle and vehicle frame. The steering system including a first and second knuckle mounted to a vehicle frame and configured to rotate with respect to the vehicle frame to turn the wheels, and a pitman arm link rotatable relative to the vehicle frame. The steering system further includes a first tie rod operably connected to the first knuckle to the pitman arm link bracket via a pitman arm and pitman connector, and a second tie rod connecting the second knuckle to the pitman arm link. A pitman connector is rotatably operatively connected to the pitman arm link, wherein the pitman arm thereby transfers pivoting or rotational motion applied via a steering input from the pitman arm to the pitman arm link, to respective knuckles via the first and second tie rods.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Matthew B. Staal, Nelson Vanwagoner, Jeremy N. Rolon, Jonathan G. Moss
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Publication number: 20200307434Abstract: A vehicle and passenger carrying apparatus usable with a vehicle, wherein the passenger carrying portion includes a seating surface and a moveable footrest below the seating surface. The footrest is moveable from an ingress/egress position to a transport position that is closer to the seating surface than the ingress/egress position. The passenger carrying portion further includes a footrest movement mechanism, wherein the footrest movement mechanism controls movement of the moveable footrest between the ingress/egress position the transport position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2019Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Matthew B. Staal, Nelson Vanwagoner, Jonathan G. Moss, Rudolph Carruolo, Bradford D. Kent, Bharat Naran
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Publication number: 20200307732Abstract: A vehicle, vehicle frame, and steering system usable with the vehicle and vehicle frame. The steering system including a first and second knuckle mounted to a vehicle frame and configured to rotate with respect to the vehicle frame to turn the wheels, and a pitman arm link rotatable relative to the vehicle frame. The steering system further includes a first tie rod operably connected to the first knuckle to the pitman arm link bracket via a pitman arm and pitman connector, and a second tie rod connecting the second knuckle to the pitman arm link. A pitman connector is rotatably operatively connected to the pitman arm link, wherein the pitman arm thereby transfers pivoting or rotational motion applied via a steering input from the pitman arm to the pitman arm link, to respective knuckles via the first and second tie rods.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2019Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Matthew B. STAAL, Nelson Vanwagoner, Jeremy N. Rolon, Jonathan G. Moss