Patents Issued in January 31, 2017
  • Patent number: 9555647
    Abstract: A printing device includes a paper medium print mode configured to execute printing on a paper medium; and a textile print mode configured to execute printing on a fabric medium, types of inks used in the textile print mode being greater in number than types of inks used in the paper medium print mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Sayama, Toru Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 9555648
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a recorded matter including applying a first ink including a volatile first liquid to an intermediate transfer medium having ultraviolet transmittance; applying, using an ink jet method, second ink including a coloring agent and a polymerizable compound polymerized by irradiation of ultraviolet to locations on the intermediate transfer medium where first ink is applied; partially polymerizing the polymerizable compound by irradiating surface side of the intermediate transfer medium to which the second ink is applied with ultraviolet rays from the opposite side surface; transferring the second ink irradiated by ultraviolet in the polymerizing of the polymerizable compound to a recording medium; and curing the polymerizable compound configuring the second ink transferred to the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyohiko Takemoto
  • Patent number: 9555649
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a sensor capable of detecting a state of an object; a drive unit capable of moving the sensor; and a control unit configured to control the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Seigo Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9555650
    Abstract: The recording device includes an adhesive belt extending across a plurality of rotating bodies configured to support and convey a recording medium, a first sensor configured to detect that the recording medium is separated relative to the adhesive belt in a first range, a second sensor configured to detect that the recording medium P is separated relative to the adhesive belt in a second range within the first range, a take-up unit configured to take up the recording medium, and a control unit configured to control the take-up unit so as to take up the recording medium when the first sensor detects that a separation position of the recording medium is within the first range, and control the rotating body to stop movement of the adhesive belt when the second sensor detects that the separation position of the recording medium is within the second range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomonori Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9555651
    Abstract: A method of controlling discharge of printed sheets, which makes it possible to acquire a desired number of printed sheets as a sheet bundle. A controller determines whether or not printed sheets are stored in the stacker. The controller detects the number of printed sheets stored in the stacker. A controller causes the stored printed sheets to be discharged from the stacker as a sheet bundle when the number of printed sheets stored in the stacker is equal to a desired sheet count set by a user. In a case where the set desired sheet count has been changed, if it is determined that the printed sheets are stored in the stacker, the controller causes the printed sheets stored in the sheet discharge unit to be discharged from the stacker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru Wakana
  • Patent number: 9555653
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a liquid discharge head including an energy generation element provided on an element substrate and configured to make energy act on a liquid to discharge the liquid from an orifice, a lower protection film having an electrical insulating property and provided on the element substrate while covering the energy generation element, a wiring layer provided between the element substrate and the lower protection film and configured to supply electrical signal for driving to the energy generation element, and a conductive upper protection film provided on the lower protection film is provided. The apparatus comprises a detection circuit configured to detect a potential of the upper protection film when the energy generation element is driven; and a determination circuit configured to determine a driving state of the energy generation element from information about the potential detected by the detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Kanno
  • Patent number: 9555654
    Abstract: A tape cartridge includes a tape roll around which a printing medium is wound, a platen roller that has a first fitting portion to be fitted to a drive shaft when the tape cartridge is mounted on a mounting section of a tape printer, and a second fitting portion that is disposed at a center of a tape roll in an axial direction of the tape roll and is fitted to an identification portion when the tape cartridge is mounted on the mounting section of the tape printer. In the tape cartridge, when the tape cartridge is mounted on the mounting section of the tape printer, the second fitting portion is disposed in a depressed portion facing the mounting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Sakano
  • Patent number: 9555655
    Abstract: A recording medium includes a substrate and a first ink-receiving layer. The first ink-receiving layer contains an amorphous silica having an average particle size of 1.0 ?m or more and an inorganic particle having an average particle size of 50 nm or less. The content of the amorphous silica in the first ink-receiving layer is 30 mass % or more and 95 mass % or less based on a total content of all inorganic particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Sugiura, Ryo Taguri, Arika Tanaka, Tomokazu Kotake, Takatoshi Tanaka, Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 9555656
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device configured to include a pressure section and a heating section for heating an image receiving medium and to execute a fixing processing for fixing an image formed on the image receiving medium with a decolorable color material at a fixing temperature or an erasure processing for erasing an image at a decoloring temperature, a reading section configured to be arranged at the upstream side of the fixing device in the conveyance direction of the image receiving medium to read an identifier indicating whether or not the color material of the image formed on the image receiving medium can be decolorized, and a control section configured to control the execution of the erasure processing of the image on the image receiving medium with the fixing device according to a result of reading of the identifier with the reading section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hidehito Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9555657
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a color erasing apparatus comprises a conveyance path, a color erasing section and a control section. The conveyance path conveys a sheet. The color erasing section erases the color of an image formed with color erasable recording agent serving as recording agent containing coloring agent the color of which can be erased by heating. The control section carries out a control, in a case where the image formed on the sheet is not an image formed with the color erasable recording agent, so that the sheet is not subjected to a color erasing processing by the color erasing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Takeda, Tsuyoshi Itou, Masahiro Ikuta, Takafumi Hara, Motonari Udo, Takayasu Aoki, Yasuhito Noda
  • Patent number: 9555658
    Abstract: A pocket divider including a major panel including a plurality of binding holes formed therein and a pocket panel coupled to the major panel and defining a pocket therewith. The pocket panel includes at least one binding hole formed therein. The pocket divider further includes a binding mechanism extending through the binding holes of the major panel and the at least one binding hole of the pocket panel. The at least one binding hole of the pocket panel is elongated to provide expansion capacity to the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Edward P. Busam
  • Patent number: 9555659
    Abstract: In a material web which is printed in a digital printing station and moved in an advancement direction, a first material-web strand, which is formed by at least one printed material-web portion, is combined with a second material-web strand, which is formed by two printed material-web portions, by folding. The two material-web strands are connected to one another by an adhesive. Subproducts are then severed from the thus interconnected material-web strands by cross-cutting. These subproducts comprise a first printed sheet, severed from the first material-web strand, and a second printed sheet, connected to the first printed sheet and severed from the second material-web strand. The subproducts are then positioned one upon the other to form a stack, the subproducts being connected to one another by an adhesive in the region of the subsequent folding line. The stacked subproducts are then folded about a folding line to form an end product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Franz Hunkeler, Erich Hodel
  • Patent number: 9555660
    Abstract: A reversible hinge greeting card with an electronic component is provided. The greeting card has a card body with a plurality of panels. One of the panels is a front panel, one of the panels is a back panel, and one of the panels is an intermediary panel. The intermediary panel and a connecting band connect the front panel to the back panel, such that the greeting card can open from right to left or from left to right. An electronic component is integrated within the connecting band. The electronic component includes at least one switch operably connected to the front panel and at least one switch operably connected to the back panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Hallmark Cards, Incorporated
    Inventors: Charity Robin Fluharty, Kaitlyn Marie Jerome
  • Patent number: 9555661
    Abstract: An electric pencil sharpener has a body, a cover and a cutter assembly. The body has a transmission device and a waste case having an opening. The cover is mounted on and closes the opening of the waste case. The cutter assembly is mounted in the waste case, is detachable from the waste case via the opening and has a connection base, a cutter bracket and a cutter. The connection base has a combining hole defined through the connection base. The cutter bracket is connected rotatably with the connection base and has a connection element connected with transmission device to make the cutter bracket driven by and rotate with the transmission device. The cutter is mounted on the cutter bracket. Accordingly, the cutter assembly is easily and conveniently replaceable when the cutter of the cutter assembly is damaged or worn off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SDI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Che-Chang Cheng, Chien-Hsing Chang, Liang-Liang Yao
  • Patent number: 9555662
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mass producing customized engraved articles of manufacture based on orders from multiple different customers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Cimpress Schweiz GmbH
    Inventors: John C. Marcos, Michael Kiy, Marcel Gerber, Edwin Sanders, Mark Hodak, Kristin R. Frias
  • Patent number: 9555663
    Abstract: There is provided an automotive wheel with a cavity between the bolt holes in a hub mounting section, and more particularly, to an automotive wheel with a cavity between the bolt holes in a hub mounting section, wherein a cavity between the bolt holes in a hub mounting section structured to secure an automotive wheel to a wheel hub is uniformly formed to reduce the weight and noise of the automotive wheel, and wherein a damper rubber is inserted into the cavity to reduce the vibration and noise generated during driving an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventors: Dong Gi Yu, Kwan Mug Kim
  • Patent number: 9555664
    Abstract: A wheel with a rim as well as a wheel spider, where the wheel spider has a hub and spokes. The wheel includes spokes including one or more linearly stretched textile strands as reinforcement material of a fiber composite and each linearly stretched textile strand runs at least once from the rim to the hub and back without interruption and thus forms at least one spoke. The textile strands are connected in a positive-locking manner and/or in substance with the hub and the rim. A process is provided for the manufacture of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP CARBON COMPONENTS GMBH
    Inventors: Jens Werner, Christian Köhler, André Bartsch, Sandro Mäke, Michael Dreβler, Martin Lepper, Werner Hufenbach
  • Patent number: 9555665
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel spinner which is quickly and easily released from a hub and has an inner ring formed segments, with blades protruding from each segment. The segments each mount a roller wheel riding in a groove in a supporting hub. The segments are releasably fixed together in the groove. The spinner can be quickly removed by disassembling the inner ring segments. A locking mechanism allows the spinner to be locked to the hub or released to rotate independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Burton
  • Patent number: 9555666
    Abstract: An assembly tool for assembly and replacement of bolts on a wheel hub is revealed. The tool includes a first tool set and a second tool set. The first tool set has a base and a fastener. The base is a circular body with a receiving part. A pad is disposed on the receiving part and a bearing is arranged under the pad. The fastener includes a hexagonal head, an enlarged part, a cylindrical part and an axial hole arranged with a thread. The second tool set has a first arm and a second arm pivotally connected to each other. A wheel bolt is pressed into the wheel hub by the first tool set while the wheel hub is positioned by the first and second arms of the second tool set fastened with the wheel bolts of the wheel hub for convenient assembly of the wheel bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SHOU KING ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ching-Chou Lin
  • Patent number: 9555667
    Abstract: A puncture-free inner tube has a hollow pipe shape, which is to be inserted in an annular space of an outer tire, which is to be mounted detachably on a tire rim having an annular shape. The tube contains a thermoplastic elastomer molded by injection molding into a transversal cross sectional shape that is similar or substantially similar to and is slightly larger than a transversal cross section of the annular space of the outer tire. The tube has a thickness that is gradually increased from a ground part toward an anti-ground part on a side of the tire rim. The tube is formed in an annular shape, and the tube is to be inserted in the annular space of the outer tire in a compressed state with a tensile stress of the outer tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKIGAISHA KATAZEN
    Inventors: Kumeo Kondo, Nobuji Kato, Yuuichi Kondo, Makane Fukushima
  • Patent number: 9555668
    Abstract: In the tire (1), a region of the tread portion (10) overlapping with a range of 80% of a length of the circumferential belt layer (40) in a tread widthwise direction around a tire equator line CL is a central region CR in the tire radial direction trd, and a remaining region of the tread portion (10) is a terminal region TR, a maximum curvature radius of the arc portion of the central circumferential groove 50a is R1, a minimum curvature radius of the arc portion of the terminal circumferential groove 50b is R2, a maximum depth in the tire radial direction trd from the tread surface (11) to a groove bottom 55a of the central circumferential groove 50a is D1, a maximum depth in the tire radial direction trd from the tread surface (11) to a groove bottom 55b of the terminal circumferential groove 50b is D2, and a relationship of R1/D1?0.130 and a relationship of R2/D2>0.195 are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Oono
  • Patent number: 9555669
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion with an asymmetric pattern including an outboard shoulder main groove, an inboard shoulder main groove, an outboard shoulder portion between the outboard shoulder main groove and an outboard tread edge, a middle portion between the outboard shoulder main groove and the inboard shoulder main groove, and an inboard shoulder portion between the inboard shoulder main groove and an inboard tread edge, wherein the outboard shoulder portion is provided with a three dimensional sipe that has a pair of sipe surfaces extending to a depth direction of the sipe while changing its direction or opening configuration, and the inboard shoulder portion or the middle portion is provided with a two dimensional sipe that has a pair of sipe surfaces extending to a depth direction of the sipe while maintaining its direction and opening configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Takemoto
  • Patent number: 9555670
    Abstract: A tire includes an annular decoration printing portion, at least a portion thereof being provided on an outer surface of a side portion further toward a tire radial direction outer side than a tire maximum width position. The decoration printing portion includes an annular design portion and an annular gradation portion provided at least on the tire radial direction outer side of the design portion. The gradation portion incrementally decreases in value outward in the tire radial direction, with a value of 100% being a pure color and a value of 0% being pure black in an HSV color space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuo Himuro, Atsushi Miyasaka
  • Patent number: 9555671
    Abstract: In a method for determining identifiers of wheel units and positions relative to the vehicle of the wheels on which the wheel units are fitted, the vehicle is equipped with a speed sensor for each wheel and elements for transmitting at a predetermined angular position of the corresponding wheel about its axis a message including the identifier of the wheel unit. A central processing unit receives the message and information from the speed sensors. The method includes a) counting, for each identifier, of a number “nt” of receptions of the identifier, b) statistical processing of the numbers “nt” to determine candidate identifiers of a wheel unit of the vehicle, until the number of candidate identifiers at least equals the number of wheels, and c) determining that a candidate identifier is the identifier of a wheel unit if the candidate identifier meets a predetermined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Fink, Nicolas Guinart, Gregor Kuchler, Jürgen Spotka, Marc Pflugmann
  • Patent number: 9555672
    Abstract: A pressure control device for a vehicle tire inflating system is configured to receive compressed air via a ventilating inlet, activate at least one seal for sealing an air chamber between a stator and a rotor of a rotary feedthrough via a seal actuating outlet, and ventilate a tire at a ventilating outlet pressure via a ventilating outlet and the feedthrough. A control valve is pneumatically controllable by a control pressure, the ventilating outlet being ventilated at the outlet pressure by the control valve only when the control pressure is at least a defined minimum pressure. In response to pressure build-up at the ventilating inlet at least to the minimum pressure, the control pressure and the seal actuating pressure are built up for ventilating, but build-up of the control pressure is delayed with respect to the seal actuating pressure. Activation of a seal prior to ventilation of the ventilating outlet is possible without additional actuating channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Bernhardt, Thomas Dieckmann, Christian Wiehen, Frank Zielke
  • Patent number: 9555673
    Abstract: A system is provided for automatically adjusting the air pressure of a tire based on variations in loading to improve tread wear. For a particular loading of the tire, the system provides for the determination of a preferred air pressure setting designed to minimize tread wear. This preferred air pressure, Pp, is determined from an analysis of the longitudinal stresses that occur within the contact patch of the tread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: William Bennett Clayton, Dave Michael McKibben, Zachary Alexander Merrill, Lawrence Otis Williamson, Wayne Carl Yount
  • Patent number: 9555674
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel information acquiring device includes a vehicle wheel sensor and a vehicle-body-side device. The vehicle wheel sensor is configured to revolve around an axle with a rotation of a vehicle wheel. The vehicle-body-side device includes a reception unit, a processing unit, a rotation position acquiring unit, an on-reception rotation position storage unit, and a determination unit. The determination unit is configured to determine whether a revolution position of the vehicle wheel sensor is included in an insufficient received intensity area during a stopping operation of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuji Taki
  • Patent number: 9555675
    Abstract: A sensor support is provided for tire inspection or testing that can be used over a range of tire profiles and widths to place one or more sensors at a surface of the tire. The shape or profile of the sensor support is adjustable to accommodate tire surfaces of different shapes or profiles. A locking feature can be provided to maintain the shape of the sensor support during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Bradley D. Schober, Frank E. Gramling
  • Patent number: 9555676
    Abstract: A hydraulic towing system for use with towing vehicles lacking hydraulics including a hydraulic housing which is mounted to a towing device. The hydraulic housing includes an internal compartment which stores a hydraulic system for controlling the towing device. A reservoir, pump, and control are used to control flow of hydraulic fluid through a plurality of hydraulic conduits. First and second hydraulic conduits are linked with a lift actuator which acts to transition the towing device between a lowered position for use and a raised position for storage. Third and fourth hydraulic conduits are linked with a catch actuator, which acts to mount the towing device to a towed vehicle by extending an engaging member to through a hitch of the towed vehicle. Thus, a self-contained hydraulic system may be provided for a towing device where the towing vehicle does not include its own hydraulic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Safe-T-Pull, Inc.
    Inventor: Burnell R. Kringstad
  • Patent number: 9555677
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for covering a hitch receiver. That apparatus includes a rotating cover displaceable between a first position concealing a hitch receiver from view and a second position allowing access to the hitch receiver. In one embodiment the cover includes two cooperating lugs and pivots about two pivot pins. In another embodiment the cover slides along opposed guide channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Carlos Emilio Merino Almeida, Jonatan Leff Yaffe, Jorge Manuel Rodriguez Vazquez
  • Patent number: 9555678
    Abstract: The present invention provides, with reference to FIG. 1, an amphibian for use in land and marine modes comprising: a planing hull; three wheel stations, two of the three wheel stations being front wheel stations provided one on each side of and in the front half of the amphibian, and the third wheel station being a rear wheel station provided in a central region in the rear half of the amphibian; at least one wheel provided at each wheel station, each wheel being movable between a protracted land mode position and a retracted marine mode position; land propulsion means to propel the amphibian on land in the land mode, the land propulsion means comprising at least one of the wheels; and marine propulsion means to propel the amphibian on water in the marine mode, the marine propulsion means comprising at least two impellers or propellers provided one on each side of the rear wheel station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GIBBS TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventor: Alan Timothy Gibbs
  • Patent number: 9555679
    Abstract: A modular bicycle and board apparatus having a buoyant board, a front wheel, a rear wheel and handlebars mountable and usable in a first configuration as a bicycle in which the buoyant board is the bicycle's frame and in a second configuration as a surfboard by changing the orientation of the front wheel and handlebars with 90 degrees with respect to the buoyant board, the surfboard being steerable from the handlebars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventor: Leonard Pezza
  • Patent number: 9555680
    Abstract: An amphibious motorcycle with a hull that provides desirable buoyancy for the vehicle to float while in the water and yet allows the vehicle to lean/turn during use on land is provided. The amphibious motorcycle has a front wheel with a front suspension system and a rear wheel with a rear suspension system. Also included can be at least one wheel retraction system that is operable to move the front wheel and/or the rear wheel between a deployed position for use of the amphibious motorcycle on land and a retracted position for use of the amphibious motorcycle on or in the water. The amphibious motorcycle also has a hull that can have a center portion with a center bow and two oppositely disposed and spaced apart side portions each with a side bow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Gibbs Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Alan Timothy Gibbs, Simon James Longdill
  • Patent number: 9555681
    Abstract: Transformation method of hybrid transportation vehicle for ground and air includes the following transformation and reciprocal steps: Tilting the compensation cover (7) on. Expansion of both whole wings (1) from the transportation vehicle longitudinal position around two vertical axes (2) into the flying position. Expansion of rear parts of wings (1) from the top front parts of wings (1) into the spread flying position by tilting the rear of each wing (1) around a horizontal axis (3). The take-off and landing tilting of wings (1) by an angle of attack alpha=0 to 40° of the wings onset. Front wheels track (5) is reduced by axially shifting the front wheels (5) towards the fuselage. Furthermore, a corresponding hybrid transportation vehicle for ground and air is described which contains reciprocal transformation mechanisms for transformation from a sterling double or four-track automobile into a sterling aircraft for take-off and landing on the ground or water, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: AEROMOBIL, S.R.O.
    Inventor: {hacek over (S)}tefan Klein
  • Patent number: 9555682
    Abstract: A wheel support for arrangement on a motor vehicle axle is disclosed on a multi-link axle having a flange for receiving a wheel hub and at least two receptacles for rotatable coupling to links, the wheel support being coupled to a trailing link by means of thermal joining, which wheel support is distinguished by the fact that the wheel support is configured as a welded component and has a main body region which has at least two sheet metal components which are coupled to one another by way of thermal joining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Detlev Peitz
  • Patent number: 9555683
    Abstract: A four-point link for the suspension of a rigid axle which has four bearing seats. Two bearing seats can be articulated on the axle and two can be articulated on the vehicle frame. The link has a single-piece link body which is inscribed by the trapezoid formed by the bearing seats. The link body is formed of a fiber-composite arrangement that comprises at least one longitudinal fiber arrangement. The longitudinal fiber arrangement encases the bearing seat, at least along half circumference thereof and extends along at least a portion of the link body in order to optimize loading, reduce mass and increase its application. Torsional compliance makes it possible to use relatively small and/or hard rubber bearings for articulating the four-point link or the vehicle axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jens Eismann, Matthias Quaing, Eike Helm, Holger Bublies, Matthias Gercke, Thomas Eifflaender, Daniel Wolf, Markus Steffens, Frank Anna
  • Patent number: 9555684
    Abstract: A gas spring assembly includes an end member, a piston assembly and a flexible sleeve secured therebetween. An end closure secures an end of the flexible sleeve to the piston assembly. A connector fitting connects the end closure to a support post of the piston assembly. The connector fitting includes a fitting passage and a first annular groove. A jounce bumper assembly is supported on the connector fitting. The jounce bumper assembly includes a bumper body and a bumper mount. The bumper mount includes securement pin having a second annular groove. A retaining member is received within the first and second annular grooves such that the jounce bumper assembly can freely rotate relative to the connector fitting while substantially restricting axial displacement of the jounce bumper assembly relative to the piston assembly during such rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Street, James D. Boomer
  • Patent number: 9555685
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air outlet device (1) that includes a first blade (4), extending longitudinally and being rotatable around a longitudinal axis (A), and at least one second blade (6), extending transversely and being rotatable around a transverse axis (B), the device comprising an actuator (8) connected to the first (4) and to the second blade (6) and being rotatably secured to the first blade (4) and being translatably mobile on said first blade (4). The first blade (4) includes at least one projection (38) extending transversely from a longitudinal surface (22) of the first blade (4), the actuator (8) comprising an opposite projection (40) that extends transversely opposite said longitudinal surface (22) such that the projection (38) pushes the opposite projection (40) when the actuator (8) is translatably moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
    Inventor: René-Louis Coutel
  • Patent number: 9555686
    Abstract: Temperature control systems and methods can be designed for controlling the interior climate of a vehicle or other the climate of another desired region. The temperature control system for a vehicle can have a thermoelectric system providing heating and/or cooling, including supplemental heating and/or cooling. The thermoelectric system can transfer thermal energy between a working fluid, such as liquid coolant, and comfort air upon application of electric current of a selected polarity. The thermoelectric system can supplement or replace the heat provided from an internal combustion engine or other primary heat source. The thermoelectric system can also supplement or replace cold energy provided from a compressor-based refrigeration system or other primary cold energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
    Inventors: Marco Ranalli, Martin Adldinger, Todd Robert Barnhart, John LaGrandeur, Lon E. Bell, Lakhi Nandlal Goenka
  • Patent number: 9555687
    Abstract: Provided is a cold-storage heat exchanger. The cold-storage heat exchanger includes a pair of header tanks, and tubes which are arranged in three rows with respect to the direction of the flow of air and connected at opposite sides thereof to the header tanks. A cold-storage medium is stored in the tubes that are disposed in a middle row, and refrigerant circulates through the tubes that are disposed in front and rear rows. Therefore, the cold-storage medium can effectively store cold-energy transferred from the refrigerant. When the engine of a vehicle is stopping, the cold-storage heat exchanger can discharge the cold-energy that has been stored into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, thus preventing the temperature in the passenger compartment from rapidly increasing, thereby creating pleasant air-conditioned conditions for a user, and minimizing the energy and time required to re-cool the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Hong-Young Lim, Kwang Hun Oh, Yong Jun Jee, Young-Ha Jeon, Jin Hyuck Kim, Duck-Ho Lee, Jun Young Song
  • Patent number: 9555688
    Abstract: A temperature adjustment system for a vehicle including a closed network of interconnected fluid pathways disposed in at least one of a headliner, a door, and an instrument panel of the vehicle. A fluid is disposed in the closed network. A fluid pump pushes the fluid through the closed network. The closed network is not open to an interior cabin of the vehicle and thermodynamically influences a cabin temperature of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Paul Bryan Hoke
  • Patent number: 9555689
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for providing adaptive automatic climate control functionality for a vehicle. A sensor is configured to detect when a manual override of an automatic climate control feature of a vehicle has occurred. A processor is coupled to the sensor, and is configured to initiate the automatic climate control feature for the vehicle and adjust a calibration of the automatic climate control feature when the manual override has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bibin Sebastian, Todd M. Tumas
  • Patent number: 9555690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating device for heating the interior of a motor vehicle, comprising a plurality of heating modules arranged in at least one heating unit, each heating module comprising at least one heating resistor, at least one heat exchanger configured for delivering heat generated by the heating resistor to an airflow, and a rectangular frame surrounding the at least one heating resistor and the at least one heat exchanger, each frame having openings in opposed frame legs, wherein in the at least one heating unit the frame legs, comprising openings, of adjacent heating modules face one another and electrical connection elements reaching through the openings electrically connect the heating modules to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Klingebiel, Stephan Weinhold
  • Patent number: 9555691
    Abstract: A climate control device for conditioning the climate of a plurality of components and an interior of an electric vehicle, the climate control device having a plurality of fluid circuit units, which are configured to heat and/or cool the electric vehicle, a first fluid circuit unit being configured to control the climate of a first component of the electric vehicle, a second fluid circuit unit being configured to control the climate of the interior of the electric vehicle, a coolant circuit being configured to control the climate and dehumidify the interior of the electric vehicle, and a third fluid circuit unit being configured to utilize the waste heat of the second heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Oliver Tschismar
  • Patent number: 9555692
    Abstract: Each fin shaft of auxiliary fins passes through each of upper and lower bearing parts in a first wall part. A pair of transmission shafts provided for the upper and lower fin shafts is arranged outside of the first wall part. A cam member is rotationally arranged outside of the first wall part. A fin shaft of a main fin is rotationally supported by the first wall part. The fin shaft of the main fin has an arm and a transmission shaft. The cam member has cam holes in which the transmission shafts of the upper auxiliary fin are fitted, cam holes in which the transmission shafts of the lower auxiliary fin are fitted, and a long hole in which the transmission shaft of the fin shaft of the main fin is fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Shibata, Nobuhiro Terai, Kenji Asano
  • Patent number: 9555693
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air intake device (16) of a vehicle-interior ventilation system (10), in particular of a vehicle air conditioner, having a filter chamber (18) which is arranged upstream of a fan blower (34), and a filter (32) which is arranged in the filter chamber (18), the filter chamber (18) having a fresh air inlet (22) upstream of the filter (32) and a filter maintenance opening (40) which makes it possible to install and dismantle the filter (32). Furthermore, the air intake device (16) comprises an air-guiding component (24) which can be dismantled and has a fresh air intake opening (28), which air-guiding component (24) forms a fresh air duct (26) which extends from the fresh air intake opening (28) to the fresh air inlet (22) of the filter chamber (18), and which air-guiding component (24) closes the filter maintenance opening (40) by way of a cover section (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: VALEO KLIMASYSTEME GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hopf, Albert Gwosdek, Roland Haussmann
  • Patent number: 9555694
    Abstract: A vehicle door may include a door outer panel defining an exterior surface of the vehicle door; a common door inner panel located inboard of the door outer panel and configured to mount door hardware, with the common door inner panel having a periphery; and a panel extension extending around essentially all of the periphery of the common door inner panel, the panel extension being attached to the periphery of the common door inner panel and attached to the door outer panel to secure the common door inner panel to the door outer panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: James C. O'Kane, Anil K. Sachdev
  • Patent number: 9555695
    Abstract: A door structure of a vehicle comprises a door trim and a door trim frame that combines with the door trim to increase stiffness of the door trim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dongmin Jeon, Dongmin Bae, Jongwon Lee, Hyungsik Choi
  • Patent number: 9555696
    Abstract: A tarp distributing apparatus includes a tarp guide device held in an immobile condition adjacent to and extending upright to above a rear location on a truck load bed so as to establish the height to which a tarp can be moved to above and over the rear of a cargo on the truck load bed, a tarp draught device mounted in a mobile condition adjacent to and extending upright to above the truck load bed forwardly of the tarp guide device so as to undergo movement relative thereto and along the truck load bed for engaging and pulling the tarp relative to the tarp guide device forwardly over the cargo, and an actuation mechanism configured to manipulate and move the tarp draught device relative to the tarp guide device and the cargo so as to accomplish distributing the tarp over at least a portion of the cargo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventor: David R. Munter
  • Patent number: 9555697
    Abstract: An adjustable canopy bracket for adjustably supporting a canopy to a roll bar of a vehicle, including a lower bracket plate securely positionable about a lower portion of a roll bar member of the roll bar; an upper bracket plate securely positionable about an upper portion of the roll bar member, the upper bracket plate engageable with a forward portion of the canopy; and an adjustable height mechanism engageable with a rearward portion of the canopy, the adjustable height mechanism operable with a rearward portion of the upper bracket plate, wherein adjusting the adjustable height mechanism raises and lowers the rearward portion of the canopy to provide a desired angle of the canopy relative to the roll bar member. An adjustable canopy for attaching to a roll bar of a vehicle is also disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: THE CLAUDE PERRY COMPANY
    Inventor: Jerrod Chance Cook