Patents Issued in October 24, 2017
  • Patent number: 9796198
    Abstract: A printing equipment housing box includes an equipment housing portion, an outer wall, and a cover. The equipment housing portion houses printing equipment. The outer wall includes a paper discharge port penetrating through the outer wall. The paper discharge port discharges, to the outside of the printing equipment housing box, a medium printed by the printing equipment in the equipment housing portion, The through hole extends in a first direction. The cover is provided between the outer wall and the equipment housing portion. The cover moves in a gap between the outer wall and the equipment housing portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The cover moves between a closed position and an open position along the inner side of the outer wall. The cover closes the paper discharge port in the closed position and the cover opens the paper discharge port in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Kurita, Takamine Hokazono, Hidenori Jo, Hitoshi Sanada
  • Patent number: 9796199
    Abstract: An ink jet apparatus includes: a head that discharges liquid; a circuit substrate that has a drive circuit for driving the head; a heat sink which has a part that is in direct or indirect contact with the circuit substrate and is able to dissipate heat generated in the circuit substrate; and a fan that generates air flow capable of cooling the heat sink. The heat sink is configured such that the air flow is not directly blown against the drive circuit and such that the air flow having changed a direction after blown against the heat sink is not blown against the drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Kitazawa, Toshio Kumagai
  • Patent number: 9796200
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a decoloring device is disclosed. A decoloring unit decolors an image formed with decolorable colorant on a sheet. A reading unit reads a surface of the sheet to determine whether the surface of the sheet is reusable. When the surface of the sheet read by the reading unit is determined to be not reusable, a marking unit adds a mark to the read surface. A first tray receives the sheet on which a mark is added by the marking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norifumi Yagi, Takao Ishida, Kanya Hiroi, Mamoru Nomura
  • Patent number: 9796201
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a heating section that heats an image on a sheet formed of decolorable color material; an image forming section that transfers the image formed of the decolorable color material to the sheet; a diagnosis image generating section that instructs the image forming section to generate a diagnosis image formed of a predetermined image on a sheet; a control section that controls the heating section to switch a fixing temperature for fixing the image formed of the decolorable color material on the sheet to a decoloring temperature for decoloring the image formed of the decolorable color material on the sheet; and a first transporting route that transports the sheet on which the diagnosis image of the decolorable color material is formed through the image forming section to the heating section maintained at the decoloring temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuharu Arima
  • Patent number: 9796202
    Abstract: There is described a method for manufacturing intaglio printing plates for the production of security papers, wherein a laser beam (2) is used to engrave intaglio printing patterns (3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3) directly into the surface of a laser-engravable, especially metallic, printing plate medium (1), wherein laser engraving of the printing plate medium (1) is carried out layer by layer in several individual engraving steps performed one after the other in register so that the intaglio printing patterns (3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3) are gradually engraved into the surface of the printing plate medium (1) up to desired engraving depths, the surface of the engraved printing plate medium (1) being cleaned from residues of the laser engraving process following and between each individual engraving step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: KBA-NotaSys SA
    Inventor: Jacques Perrier
  • Patent number: 9796203
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to various embodiments of a greeting card having at least one motor attached to a mechanism which causes movement to a mobile object and one or more attachments suspended from the mobile object. The mobile object may be a circular disc, a string or a swing structure. Each mobile object contains one or more attachments either attached directly thereto or suspended therefrom via a string or line. The motor may effect various movements in the mobile object such as circular motion, back-and-forth motion or bouncing or vibrating motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: American Greetings Corporation
    Inventors: Lynne Shlonsky, Dave Sapp
  • Patent number: 9796204
    Abstract: The invention relates to a security element (1). The security element (1) has a viewing side and a back side that is opposite the latter. The security element comprises at least one luminous layer (2) that can provide light (20), and at least one mask layer (4) that, when the security element (1) is viewed from the viewing side, is arranged in front of the at least one luminous layer (2). The at least one mask layer (4) has at least one opaque region (5) and at least two transparent openings (41, 42). The at least two transparent openings (41, 42) has a substantially higher transmittance than the at least one opaque region (5) in respect of light (20) provided by the at least one luminous layer (2), preferably a transmittance that is at least 20% higher, particularly preferably a transmittance that is at least 50% higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: OVD KINEGRAM AG
    Inventors: Wayne Robert Tompkin, Harald Walter, Olga Kulikovska, Jorg Fischer, Andre Leopold
  • Patent number: 9796205
    Abstract: Embodiments include luminescent phosphor compounds that include one or more emitting ions and one or more disturbing ions, and methods for their production. An emitting ion in the compound may be characterized by a first decay time constant when the emitting ion is undisturbed. However, a corresponding disturbing ion in the compound, which is different from the emitting ion, causes the emitting ion to have a pre-defined, target disturbed decay time constant that is greater than zero and less than the first decay time constant. An embodiment of an authentication system is configured to measure the decay time constant of a phosphor compound applied to an article, and to determine whether the decay time constant corresponds to a phosphor compound that includes a particular disturbing ion (e.g., in order to determine whether or not the article is authentic).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Carsten Lau, James Kane, William Ross Rapoport
  • Patent number: 9796206
    Abstract: A bound system including a plurality of pages and a cover/divider bound to the plurality of pages and having at least one free edge. The cover/divider includes a tab secured to a body of the cover/divider such that the tab is movable between an extended position wherein at least part of the tab protrudes beyond the free edge and a refracted position wherein the at least part of the tab does not protrude beyond the free edge. The cover/divider has a slit/opening formed or pre-formed therein and positioned adjacent to the tab and spaced away from the free edge. The slit/opening is positioned such that at least part of the tab is receivable through the slit/opening when the tab is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward P. Busam, Bobby G. James, Jr., Michael D. Rowe, Ellisa A. Stone
  • Patent number: 9796207
    Abstract: A writing instrument 2 includes a pen tip mechanism 20, an ink tank 40, an ink induction mechanism 50, and a regulator mechanism 60. The ink tank 40 includes first and second ink tanks 40A and 40B. The pen tip mechanism 20 includes first and second pen tips 20A and 20B. The ink induction mechanism 50 includes first and second induction cores 50A and 50B. A regulator flow path set around the first induction core 50A and the second induction core 50B is partitioned into first and second regulator flow paths by the regulator mechanism 60. The first and second regulator flow paths are temporary accommodation spaces of inks and circulation spaces for sending air from the induction cores 50A and 50B to the ink tanks 40A and 40B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: V SPARK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 9796208
    Abstract: A multifunctional pen includes a penholder and a refill provided in the penholder. A clip is provided on the penholder. The penholder comprises an upper penholder and a lower penholder hinged to each other. The lower penholder may bend and tilt toward the upper penholder through a hinged joint. The clip is arranged on the upper penholder and across the upper penholder and the lower penholder. A tail end of the clip is raised and a pressing raised strips for a mobile phone is provided thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: TONGLU JINBANG PEN INDUSTRY CO., LTD., TONGLU IDO IMP & EXP CO., LTD
    Inventor: Kuanfei Xu
  • Patent number: 9796209
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing three-dimensional macroscopic patterns in liquid-crystalline coatings, patterned layers containing liquid-crystalline materials and produced by said method, and the use thereof in decorative and security products. In the method, the liquid-crystalline coating in a non-solidified state is brought into contact with a printing form for a relief printing method, with the result that depressions which are not deeper than 10 ?m arise in the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Goetz
  • Patent number: 9796210
    Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for streamlining wheels. In one implementation, a wheel streamlining device includes a cover assembly having a flexible connection extending around a periphery of a ring configured to contact a tapered portion of a wheel. A hook is configured to removably engage the cover assembly, and a bale is configured to releasably engage an inner surface of an opening in a face of the wheel. A springy portion extends between the bale and the hook and is configured to apply a tension force between the ring and the tapered portion of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Moochout LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan E. Fleck
  • Patent number: 9796211
    Abstract: A dual wheel adapter assembly for mounting dual wheel rims to a wheel hub is provided. The dual wheel adapter assembly may include a hollow cylindrical adapter, including a central bore defined by an inner surface of the adapter, a first contact surface, and a second contact surface. The dual wheel adapter assembly may also include an inboard wheel rim configured to support a tire, an outboard wheel rim configured to support a tire, and a wedge clamp configured to be coupled to the hub. The first contact surface may abut the hub and the wedge clamp may apply a compressive force to the second contact surface to couple the adapter to the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Fujan, Matthew J. Orvedahl, Frederick W. Loeber
  • Patent number: 9796212
    Abstract: Provided is a hub unit bearing wherein a cover can be firmly fitted with an outer ring member, and it is difficult for foreign matter to enter inside through a water drainage hole formed in the cover. The cover that covers the inside end section in the axial direction of the hub unit bearing includes a disk section, a small-diameter cylindrical section bent in the axial direction from the outer perimeter edge section of the disk section and a large-diameter cylindrical section. A cut and raised section that is cut and raised toward the inside in the radial direction is formed in the small-diameter cylindrical section, and a water drainage hole that passes through from inside to outside the cover is provided in the portion that is cut and separated from the small-diameter cylindrical section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9796213
    Abstract: A multidirectional wheel assembly for facilitating a cart to be moved in any direction at any time. The assembly includes a cup that is coupled to a leg of a cart. A sphere is rotatably positioned in the cup and the sphere rolls along a support surface. The sphere is rotatable in a selectable direction in the cup to facilitate the cart to be urged in the selectable direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew Menard, Michael Menard
  • Patent number: 9796214
    Abstract: To provide a pneumatic tire 34 in which weight reduction is achieved without deteriorating internal pressure maintaining performance. The tire 34 includes a liner 46 located inward of a carcass 42. The liner 46 includes a first inner liner 66 extending on and between one of beads and the other of the beads and along and inward of the carcass 42; and a pair of second inner liners 68 extending from ends 62a of a belt 44, respectively, along the first inner liner 66 substantially inward in a radial direction. The second inner liners 68 are located between the first inner liner 66 and the carcass 42. The first inner liner 66 is formed by a first rubber composition being crosslinked. A base rubber of the first rubber composition includes a butyl rubber. Each second inner liner 68 is formed by a second rubber composition being crosslinked. A base rubber of the second rubber composition includes a diene rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yukishige Adachi, Yutaka Ichiryu
  • Patent number: 9796215
    Abstract: A heavy duty pneumatic tire includes a tread portion provided with at least one circumferentially extending main groove, at least one circumferentially extending sub groove, and a plurality of lateral grooves to form repeated pitch elements each of which consists of one lateral groove and a block element. The sub groove includes a shallow bottom part with a depth smaller than that of the main groove. The shallow bottom part of the sub groove is provided with a groove bottom sipe. The lateral grooves include a shallow bottom part with a depth smaller than that of the main groove. The shallow bottom part of the lateral groove is provided with a groove bottom sipe. The lateral grooves have groove widths W2 in a range of from 5% to 15% in relation to a circumferential length L1 of the pitch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Kaori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9796216
    Abstract: A heavy duty tire is disclosed. The distance from the radially outer surface of a belt layer to the tire's inner surface is 15 to 23 mm when measured along a tire radial direction line passing through the bottom of a shoulder main groove. The width of the shoulder main groove is more than the width of a center main groove. The ratio Wc:Wm:Ws of the average width Wc of a center land portion, the average width Wm of a middle land portion, and the average width Ws of a shoulder land portion is 1.00:1.00 to 1.08:1.03 to 1.13. The middle land portion is provided with a plurality of middle axial grooves. The shoulder land portion is provided with a plurality of shoulder axial grooves. The width of the shoulder axial groove is more than the width of the middle axial groove. The angle ?s of the shoulder axial groove is more than the angle ?m of the middle axial groove with respect to the tire axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Todoroki
  • Patent number: 9796217
    Abstract: The pneumatic tire has main grooves; land portions which are sectioned by the main grooves; paired notches which face to each other as well as being open to a tread surface; the notches being concave portions which are formed in side surfaces of two land portions which are adjacent across the main grooves; tie bars which protrudes at a predetermined height from groove bottoms of the main grooves and connect between the paired notches; and dimples which are provided in the middle in a width direction of the tie bars. The dimples are arranged at least in a notch internal region which is surrounded by wall surfaces of the notches among the tie bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shingo Kuwano
  • Patent number: 9796218
    Abstract: Improving endurance of bead of radial tire for heavy vehicle. Tire has two beads (2) contacting rim (3) connected by carcass reinforcement (4) having carcass layer (5), with main part (6) wrapped, in each bead (2), axially from inside towards outside of the tire, around bead wire (7) having diameter (L), to form turnup (8) having free end (E). Each bead (2) has filling element (9) with filling compound (10) and extending radially towards outside from bead wire (7) and axially between turnup (8) and main part (6). The distance (I) between turnup (8) and main part (6) decreases continuously from bead wire (7) as far as a first minimum distance (a) reached at a first point (A) of turnup (8), then increases continuously from the first point (A) of turnup (8) as far as a first maximum distance (b) reached at a second point (B) of turnup (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Athanase Kollias
  • Patent number: 9796219
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wireless tire monitoring system for a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SALUTICA ALLIED SOLUTIONS SDN. BHD.
    Inventors: Kean Hoo Chong, Wee Yeoh Tan, Chang Tih Ho, Yoon Shing Pan
  • Patent number: 9796220
    Abstract: A device for detecting a pressure change in a tire includes a first temperature sensor located outside the tire, the first temperature sensor being configured to produce a first temperature signal indicative of a first temperature, an input apparatus configured to receive the first temperature signal from the first temperatures sensor, and to receive a second temperature signal from a second temperature sensor, the second temperature signal being indicative of a second temperature, and to receive a tire pressure signal from a tire pressure sensor, the tire pressure signal being indicative of a tire pressure of the tire, and a processor configured to output an evaluation signal including information about a change of tire pressure based on the pressure signal and based on the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Jens Graf, Milen Kourtev
  • Patent number: 9796221
    Abstract: A module for detecting a physical value of a gaseous medium includes a discrete component including a detection section on a surface, the discrete component being configured to detect the physical value of the gaseous medium that acts on the detection section, a supply-line component configured to introduce the gaseous medium to the detection section, a seal in contact with the supply-line component and the surface of the discrete component and configured to fluidly seal the detection section on the surface of the discrete component. The seal includes a seal lip configured to enclose the detection section such that the seal forms a sealing space, the sealing space including the detection section and being separated from an external space by the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Johannes Biegner, Jens Graf, Laurens Verhulst
  • Patent number: 9796222
    Abstract: An air maintenance tire assembly includes a tire having a tire cavity bounded by first and second sidewalls extending to a tire tread region, air pump for generating pressurized air for maintaining air pressure within the tire cavity at a preset pressure level, the tire having an elongate valve stem projecting outward from the tire cavity and having an internal valve stem air passageway in communication with the tire cavity and operative to direct pressurized air into the cavity, and a valve housing disposed adjacent an outward end of the valve stem and operative to selectively open and close pressurized air flow from the valve stem internal passageway into the tire cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Cheng-Hsiung Lin, Arun Kumar Byatarayanapura Gopala
  • Patent number: 9796223
    Abstract: An air maintenance tire assembly includes a tire having a tire cavity bounded by first and second sidewalls extending to a tire tread region, an air pump for generating pressurized air for maintaining air pressure within the tire cavity at a preset pressure level, and a faceted valve housing disposed adjacent an outward end of the valve stem and operative to selectively open and close pressurized air flow from the valve stem internal passageway into the tire cavity. The first sidewall has at least one bending region operatively bending within a rolling tire footprint and a sidewall groove defined by groove sidewalls positioned within the bending region of the first tire sidewall. The groove deforms segment by segment between a non-deformed state and a deformed, constricted state in response to the bending of the first sidewall bending region within the rolling tire footprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Robin Lamgaday, Cheng-Hsiung Lin
  • Patent number: 9796224
    Abstract: An air maintenance tire assembly includes a tire having a tire cavity bounded by first and second sidewalls extending to a tire tread region, an air pump for generating pressurized air for maintaining air pressure within the tire cavity at a preset pressure level, and a valve housing disposed adjacent an outward end of the valve stem and operative to selectively open and close pressurized air flow from the valve stem internal passageway into the tire cavity. The first sidewall has at least one bending region operatively bending within a rolling tire footprint and a sidewall groove defined by groove sidewalls positioned within the bending region of the first tire sidewall. The groove deforms segment by segment between a non-deformed state and a deformed, constricted state in response to the bending of the first sidewall bending region within the rolling tire footprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Robin Lamgaday, Cheng-Hsiung Lin, Arun Kumar Byatarayanapura Gopala
  • Patent number: 9796225
    Abstract: A method of preparing a tire for mounting includes providing a tire having a central axis and at least two bead portions, including a first bead portion and a second bead portion. The method also includes providing a plurality of members and moving the plurality of members outward until each of the plurality of members engages the first bead portion of the tire and causes the first bead portion to deflect outwards at a plurality of locations. The method further includes rotating at least one of the tire and the plurality of members about the central axis of the tire while the plurality of members engages the first bead portion of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Neel K. Mani, John L. Turner
  • Patent number: 9796226
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for moving a receiver associated with a hitch frame of a vehicle. The method includes receiving data indicating a hand wheel angle; determining, with a processor, a position for the receiver relative to the hitch frame based on the hand wheel angle; and outputting one or more control signals to a motor coupled to the receiver to move the receiver relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Phillip M. Turner, Richard O. Gillett, Jr., Stephen R. Pastor, Thomas A. Klingler, Xiaofeng Mao
  • Patent number: 9796227
    Abstract: A ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer is disclosed. The ball mount can comprise a ball portion for interfacing with a ball configured to couple with a tongue of a trailer, a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle, and a load measurement device associated with the hitch portion. The hitch portion can be configured to pivot relative to the hitch receiver about a fulcrum in response to a downward force on the ball, with the hitch receiver resisting rotation of the hitch portion about the fulcrum thereby inducing a load on the hitch portion. The load measurement device can be configured to determine a magnitude of the downward force on the ball based on the load on the hitch portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: WEIGH SAFE, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin McAllister
  • Patent number: 9796228
    Abstract: A system for determining a hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer is provided herein. An imaging device is configured to capture images of the trailer. A controller is configured to process image data to determine an optical flow. The controller distinguishes between optical flow vectors of pixels associated with the trailer and an operating environment. The controller calculates an average angular velocity for the pixels associated with the trailer and determines the hitch angle based on the average angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zheng Hu, John P. Joyce, Darrel Alan Recker
  • Patent number: 9796229
    Abstract: A locking device for obstructing towing of an unattached trailer has a lock base and a single-armed curved interlock bracket. The lock base has a cylindrical leg. The single-armed interlock bracket has an grooved arm sliding along an aperture on the cylindrical leg and may be permanently attached to the lock base. Grooves on the arm allows a locking means to be engaged with the lock bracket at different height. When engaged, the locking means may restrict the interlock bracket from swirling. The open end of the interlock bracket provides flexibility to accommodate trailer couplers with different cap/rim sizes. The cylindrical leg may have a sealed bottom end and may function as a handle. The locking device may also feature a push-in locking mechanism to lock the interlock bracket in a position without using a key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: Guoji Yuan
  • Patent number: 9796230
    Abstract: A safety device 100 for a hitch assembly 10 is provided, the safety device 100 containing a cover member or hitch clip 20 for securing a retainer pin 18 of the hitch assembly 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: James A. Buckner
  • Patent number: 9796231
    Abstract: Energy storing suspension components for use in suspension systems for wheeled vehicles and trailers, and suspension systems incorporating such energy storing suspension components are disclosed. The energy storing suspension components include an axle seat portion, a first end, and a first limb extending between the axle seat portion and the first end. The axle seat portion includes first and second surfaces with at least one of the first and second surfaces having at least two spaced apart recesses that are spaced from a center of the axle seat portion, the recesses being configured to receive respective protrusions extending from at least one suspension component that is connected to the energy storing suspension component when coupled within an axle coupling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: HENDRICKSON USA, L.L.C.
    Inventors: William Wilson, William Darcy Robertson, Ashley Thomas Dudding, Quang C. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9796232
    Abstract: A damper is provided having a twin tube construction interconnected to a gas reservoir. The connection of each of the inner and outer volumes of the twin tube to the gas reservoir is independently valved, and each of these valves are independently settable to change the differential pressure thereacross at which they open. The damper provides flow passages directly from the inner and outer volumes to enable flow form the compression to rebound sides thereof, as well as through the valved connections to the gas reservoir and at least one valved opening in the damper piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Paul Cox
  • Patent number: 9796233
    Abstract: An independent suspension system includes two suspension oil cylinders, respectively arranged between wheels at two sides and a frame: and a steering mechanism, configured to be driven by a steering booster oil cylinder to drive the wheels at two sides to turn. The independent system also includes two swing links arranged corresponding to the wheels at two sides, an end at one side of each of the swing links is hinged to a wheel hub of the wheel at the corresponding side via a spherical hinge, and an end at another side of each of the swing links is hinged to a fixing member fixed below a main speed reducer via two spherical hinges respectively along a fore-and-aft direction. A crane having the independent suspension system is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Xuzhou Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Honggang Ding, Li Li, Lei Zhu, Yunwang Ma, Jianjun Song, Fei Ma
  • Patent number: 9796234
    Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber includes a cylinder, a piston ring, a first valve seat forming an extension side oil path, a first valve opening and closing the extension side oil path, a second valve seat forming an inner-side channel through which oil flows separately from a flow of the oil causing the first valve to open the extension side oil path, a second valve opening and closing the inner-side channel, a spool provided to press the second valve toward the inner-side channel, a base member holding the spool, and an axially-movable free piston forming a back pressure chamber communicating with the inner-side channel and that houses the oil between the spool and the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Tsukahara, Tomohiro Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9796235
    Abstract: A suspension device for an in-wheel motor driven wheel is provided. An upper suspension arm is pivotally supported on the vehicle body for supporting the wheel in a vehicle upper position higher than an axle. A link member pivotally connects the wheel to the upper suspension arm and has an absorber connecting portion connected to a lower end of the shock absorber. The shock absorber connecting portion is disposed in the vehicle bottom position lower than an upper end portion of the in-wheel motor unit. The shock absorber is disposed between the vehicle body and the in-wheel motor unit and inclined so as to be closer to the vehicle body toward the lower end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Matayoshi, Tomoki Hirabayashi, Sakiko Suzuki, Jun Tamura
  • Patent number: 9796236
    Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber includes: an expansion-side passage and a contraction-side passage that connect an expansion-side chamber with a contraction-side chamber; an expansion-side valve body configured to open or close the expansion-side passage; a contraction-side valve body configured to open or close the contraction-side passage; an expansion-side back-pressure chamber configured to bias the expansion-side valve body; a contraction-side back-pressure chamber configured to bias the contraction-side valve body; a communicating channel communicating with the expansion-side back-pressure chamber through an expansion-side resistance element, and with the contraction-side back-pressure chamber through a contraction-side resistance element; an expansion-side pressure introduction passage connecting the expansion-side chamber with the contraction-side back-pressure chamber; a contraction-side pressure introduction passage connecting the contraction-side chamber with the expansion-side back-pressure chamber; a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Inagaki, Shinichi Hagidaira, Ryousuke Kamakura
  • Patent number: 9796237
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner is capable of selecting and changing an optimum operation mode so that a desirable air conditioning performance can be exerted on conditions such as an environment and a set temperature. A controller changes and executes at least one of a heating mode, a dehumidifying and heating mode, a dehumidifying and cooling mode, and a cooling mode. In the dehumidifying and heating mode, the controller shifts to the dehumidifying and cooling mode on the basis of a situation where heat absorption in a heat absorber (9) runs short or heat radiation in a radiator (4) becomes excessive, and also in this dehumidifying and cooling mode, the controller shifts to the dehumidifying and heating mode on the basis of a situation where the heat radiation in the radiator (4) runs short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Sanden Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Miyakoshi, Kenichi Suzuki, Hidenori Takei, Kouhei Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9796238
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a work vehicle being capable of suppressing an increase in temperature of a liquid crystal display device due to external factors. Regarding a tractor, which is a work vehicle in which a touch panel as a liquid crystal display device is provided in an instrumental panel in a cabin, a discharge opening for air, of which the temperature is adjusted by an air-conditioner unit, is provided on the upper portion of the instrumental panel, and a concave portion is provided in the instrumental panel, and the touch panel is provided on the bottom portion of the concave portion below the discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Kawashiri, Kiyoyuki Okuyama
  • Patent number: 9796239
    Abstract: Disclosed is a ventilation module for improving the efficiency of a vehicle HVAC system. The ventilation module includes a return air duct having an outlet to be coupled to the HVAC system. The ventilation module also includes a fresh air duct, a heat exchanger, and first and second doors. The first and second doors connect the return and fresh air ducts upstream and downstream of the heat exchanger. By selectively opening or closing the first and second doors, the ventilation module provides the HVAC system with desired return, fresh or mixed air through the outlet of the return air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Bergstrom Inc.
    Inventor: Brett Sean Connell
  • Patent number: 9796240
    Abstract: A cooling system is disclosed so that an operator cabin can be cooled even if the engine is off. An accumulator can be used to store high-pressure refrigerant until its release. When the compressor is off, the accumulator can release the high pressure refrigerant through the pressure reducer and to the evaporator where heat in the operator cabin can be removed by the refrigerant. An absorption bed with activated carbon can be used to adsorb the refrigerant from the evaporator in order to create a pressure gradient in A/C system. The refrigerant in the accumulator can also be used to subcool a refrigerant in the condenser through a heat exchanger. This allows the operator cabin to be cooled faster up on engine start up. The adsorption bed can also be used to create a pressure gradient in the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Brauer, Kory K. Leesman
  • Patent number: 9796241
    Abstract: A vehicle temperature control apparatus for controlling temperature of a temperature control object, which is at least one of inside air of a vehicle compartment and a vehicle component, includes a heat capacitive element capable of storing heat, a refrigeration cycle in which heat is absorbed from a low temperature side and is dissipated to a high temperature side, a heat exchanger that causes the heat capacitive element to exchange heat with refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle, and a heat dissipation portion which dissipates heat in the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle to the temperature control object. Thus, a temperature control by using the heat capacitive element can be effectively performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Takeuchi, Hiroshi Kishita, Yasumitsu Omi, Nobuharu Kakehashi, Hideaki Okawa, Kouji Miura, Michio Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9796242
    Abstract: In an air conditioner for a vehicle, a flow speed of air flowing through a first ventilation part of an evaporator is faster than a flow speed of air flowing through a second ventilation part of the evaporator when an intensive air-conditioning operation for a driver seat is operated, with respect to a case where a normal air-conditioning operation is performed. In this case, a correct target evaporator temperature is calculated to be higher by a predetermined temperature than a target evaporator temperature, and a detected temperature detected by an evaporator sensor is approached to the correct target evaporator temperature. Therefore, it can restrict the second ventilation part from being frosted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Mizutani, Koji Wakabayashi, Masashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9796243
    Abstract: An automatic climate controller device identifies an operating zone of the climate control system according to at least two input factors, and identifies a discharge temperature of the climate control system. Based on the operating zone and the discharge temperature, the automatic climate controller device determines whether to perform at least one override action to override a climate control system setting to reduce the possibility of evaporator core icing. The automatic climate controller device also adjusts an evaporator set point according to the at least one override action to reduce the discharge temperature. The input factors may include evaporator temperature and cabin relative humidity. The actions may include one or more of increasing blower speed or increasing use of recirculated air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary A. Dage, Steven L. Lambert
  • Patent number: 9796244
    Abstract: A thermal management system and method for a vehicle can include providing an engine, a transmission, a radiator, and a thermostat. A first heat exchanger can be in fluid communication with the transmission to heat or cool transmission fluid. A hot branch line can extend from the engine to the first heat exchanger to supply engine coolant to the first heat exchanger. The hot branch line can be in fluid communication with each of the engine and the first heat exchanger. A heat exchanger return line can be in fluid communication with each of the first heat exchanger and an inlet of the thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michael D Cook, Matthew R Scott, Joaquin A Pelaez, Timothy Bressau
  • Patent number: 9796245
    Abstract: A grille for a vehicle wall opening may comprise a frame, a pair of first louvers, and a second louver. The frame may be receivable on the vehicle wall in an installed position extending around the opening, and may have an inboard side and an outboard side. The pair of first louvers may be supported on the frame, and may be transversely inclined to an outboard direction at a first angle. The second louver may be located between the first louvers, fixed relative to the first louvers, and inclined to the outboard direction at a second angle different from the first angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Lon E. Switzer, Fred P. Siebert
  • Patent number: 9796246
    Abstract: A heat pump device is provided with: a first refrigerant guide-in unit that guides in the high temperature, high pressure refrigerant discharged by the compressor from outside the housing; a water refrigerant heat exchanger that can dissipate heat from the high temperature, high pressure refrigerant guided in from the first refrigerant guide-in unit into a cooling fluid; and a housing accommodating the water refrigerant heat exchanger. The heat pump device is further provided with a cooling fluid guide-in unit that can guide the cooling fluid from outside the housing into the water refrigerant heat exchanger, a cooling fluid guide-out unit that can guide the cooling fluid out of the water refrigerant heat exchanger to the outside of the housing, and a first refrigerant guide-out unit that guides the refrigerant that has passed through the water refrigerant heat exchanger to the outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshitoshi Noda
  • Patent number: 9796247
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner which can enlarge an effective range of a dehumidifying and cooling mode to realize comfortable air condition in a vehicle interior. A controller changes and executes at least one of a heating mode, a dehumidifying and heating mode, a dehumidifying and cooling mode, and a cooling mode. In at least the dehumidifying and cooling mode, the controller controls a capability of a compressor (2) on the basis of a temperature of a heat absorber (9), and controls a valve position of an outdoor expansion valve (6) on the basis of a temperature or a pressure of the radiator (4), and executes a radiator temperature prior mode to enlarge the capability of the compressor (2), in a case where heat radiation in the radiator (4) runs short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Sanden Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Miyakoshi, Kenichi Suzuki, Hidenori Takei, Kouhei Yamashita