Patents Issued in December 29, 2020
  • Patent number: 10875326
    Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one printhead array arranged to deposit the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation curing device arranged to cure the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, a sensor array arranged to monitor the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, and a rewinder arranged to receive the thermoformable substrate and to form the thermoformable substrate into a second roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven R. Moore, Xin Yang, Alexander J. Fioravanti, Paul J. McConville, Vincent M. Williams, David P. Lomenzo, Michael F. Leo, Jason O'Neil, Wayne A. Buchar
  • Patent number: 10875327
    Abstract: A printer includes a first blade configured to be movable between a standby position and a cutting position, a second blade configured to contact the first blade located in the cutting position, a drive mechanism configured to drive the first blade, and a first elastic member configured to pull the first blade located in the cutting position. When the first blade is located in the cutting position, the first elastic member pulls the first blade in a direction in which the first blade moves to the standby position, and pulls the first blade in a direction in which the first blade approaches the second blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Inoue, Tetsugo Ishida
  • Patent number: 10875328
    Abstract: Described is an assembly of a guiding structure and a print head carriage, the print head carriage comprising a base carriage controllably movable relative to the guiding structure along a first horizontal axis, the print head carriage comprising a sub-carriage controllably movable relative to the base carriage along a second horizontal axis. The print head carriage comprises an intermediate carriage controllably movable relative to the base carriage along a vertical axis, the sub-carriage mounted on the intermediate carriage for moving together with the intermediate carriage relative to the base carriage, the sub-carriage controllably movable relative to the intermediate carriage along the second horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: CANON PRODUCTION PRINTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Fabian T. Rosenboom, Wilhelmus H. J. Nellen
  • Patent number: 10875329
    Abstract: The present teachings disclose various embodiments of a printing system for printing a substrate, in which the printing system can be housed in a gas enclosure, where the environment within the enclosure can be maintained as a controlled printing environment. A controlled environment of the present teachings can include control of the type of gas environment within the gas enclosure, the size and level particulate matter within the enclosure, control of the temperature within the enclosure and control of lighting. Various embodiments of a printing system of the present teachings can include a Y-axis motion system and a Z-axis moving plate that are configured to substantially decrease excess thermal load within the enclosure by, for example, eliminating or substantially minimizing the use of conventional electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Kateeva, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Lowrance, Alexander Sou-Kang Ko, Justin Mauck, Eliyahu Vronsky, Aleksey Khrustalev, Karl Mathia, Shandon Alderson
  • Patent number: 10875330
    Abstract: A printing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a housing and a frame having a supported portion which is supported by the housing on a first side and an unsupported portion not supported by the housing on a second side. A printer is provided on the frame. An upper sheet carrying guide is provided below the frame. A lower sheet carrying guide is provided below the upper sheet carrying guide. The lower sheet carrying guide is shaped and positioned to form a gap, into which a sheet to be printed by the printer is inserted, between the upper sheet carrying guide and the lower sheet carrying guide. A stopper is provided on the upper sheet carrying guide. The stopper being shaped and positioned to abut against the lower sheet carrying guide when the frame is deformed around the supported portion within an elastic deformation range of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akira Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10875331
    Abstract: An inner ribbon mounting opening is provided at a lower side of a cover member (202) that is rotatably connected with a housing (201), the cover member (202) housing a ribbon unit that holds an ink ribbon (302) held so as to be freely fed and freely taken up. An outer ribbon mounting opening (301) is further provided at an upper side. Thus, work can be performed from both directions above and below the cover member (202). As a result, work can be performed selectively using the outer ribbon mounting opening (301) or the inner ribbon mounting opening, and the workability for mounting and removing the ink ribbon can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignees: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD., CITIZEN SYSTEMS JAPAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Mori, Takehiro Kikui
  • Patent number: 10875332
    Abstract: A recording device includes a recording unit; an inverting path that inverts a medium that recording has been performed on and sends the medium back to the recording unit; a feeding roller an outer circumferential surface of which is in contact with the medium at both a first position in the inverting path before inverting the medium and a second position in the inverting path after inverting the medium; and a cleaning unit that cleans the outer circumferential surface of the feeding roller; in which the cleaning unit, before a contact portion on the outer circumferential surface of the feeding roller in contact with the medium at the first position reaches the second position with rotation of the feeding roller, is disposed at a position in contact with the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Soichiro Kii
  • Patent number: 10875333
    Abstract: An ink jet type printer includes a recording head that performs recording on a paper sheet by ejecting ink, a carriage that reciprocates in a width direction while supporting the recording head, and a power supply unit that supplies electricity to driving targets including a driving source of the carriage and the recording head. The power supply unit is disposed such that at least a part thereof overlaps with a moving region of the carriage on an upper side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Espon Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Shimomura, Hiroshi Shiohara, Akira Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 10875334
    Abstract: In an example, a condenser apparatus to condense vapored fluid has a gas inlet, a mesh, a cooling element, and a gas outlet. The mesh is configured to carry a layer of condensed fluid. The cooling element is configured to cool the layer of condensed fluid. The mesh is configured to let pass through vapored fluid and to create bubbles including vapored fluid in the layer of condensed fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Assaf Pines, Peter Nedelin, Mark Sandler
  • Patent number: 10875335
    Abstract: A thermal transfer printer comprising: first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool of ribbon; a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first spool support to the second spool support; a printhead configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate, the printhead pressing the print ribbon and substrate together against a print roller; a substrate drive configured to cause movement of a substrate past the printhead; a sensor configured to monitor rotation of the print roller and generate a signal indicative thereof; and a controller configured to determine a measure of movement of the substrate and/or ribbon past the print roller based on the signal output by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Martin McNestry, Philip Hart, Gary Pfeffer
  • Patent number: 10875336
    Abstract: An indexing image for craft stamps that is opaque to the eye but transparent to UV light is produced by printing a wavelength-specific solvent-based ink on the stamp substrate. This eliminates the step of printing a separate adhesive-backed indexing image sheet and applying it to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: CHEMENCE, INC.
    Inventor: John P. Maneira
  • Patent number: 10875337
    Abstract: An apparatus for texturing or patterning discrete substrates by imprinting a curable lacquer with a discrete flexible stamp and curing the imprinted lacquer resulting in an additional functional textured layer on a discrete substrate is provided having at least a first and a second clamp, a first roller and at least one driven belt connected with the first clamp and with the second clamp and capable of moving the clamped flexible stamp wherein either the roller is not able to cause its own rotation, but is driven by the stamp which in turn is driven by the belt which in turn is driven by a belt driving device, or the roller is driven at the same speed as the belt by a roller driving device which follows the belt driving device in a master slave configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: MORPHOTONICS HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Jan Matthijs Ter Meulen, Bram Johannes Titulaer, Adrianus Johannes Van Erven, Ludovicus Vugts, Jules Kierkels
  • Patent number: 10875338
    Abstract: Provided are web-offset lithographic ink compositions that contain an alkyl thioether surfactant, an alkoxylated modified rosin, or a combination thereof. The ink compositions can be oil-based inks or water-based inks that can be radiation-curable. The resulting ink compositions can be used in web-offset lithographic printing to substantially reduce or eliminate the ink feedback and ink build-up that occurs during printing. Also provided are methods for reducing or eliminating ink feedback and build-up during lithographic printing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: SUN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ramasamy Krishnan, Jeff Jones, Matthias Helliblau
  • Patent number: 10875339
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and compositions to produce high resolution, highly scalable patterns on a variety of substrates. A high resolution sacrificial negative of the desired pattern in inkjet printed on the substrate with an inkjet printable ink. A viscous solution is coated or deposited over the negative pattern and substrate. The solution is stabilized such as by drying and adheres to the substrate. The sacrificial negative is removed, leaving the dried solution in the high resolution form factor defined by the removed negative. This allows the solution to be formulated without regard to meeting inkjet printing requirements but results in a high resolution final positive pattern on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Claussen, John Hondred, Loreen Stromberg
  • Patent number: 10875340
    Abstract: This receiving solution for inkjet recording inks contains a resin emulsion as the resin; the polyvalent metal salt contains ions of a polyvalent metal and anions of an organic material; the (organic value)/(inorganic value) ratio, namely the OV/IV value of the anions of the organic material is 0.25 or more but less than 1.30; the HLB value of the surfactant is from 9 to 19 (inclusive); and the surfactant is represented by general formula (1). (In the formula, R1 represents an optionally branched alkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms (inclusive); R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an optionally branched alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms (inclusive); R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an optionally branched alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms (inclusive); A represents 2 or 3; X represents ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide; and n represents an integer).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: DNP Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiya Maegawa, Fumie Yamazaki, Naoki Shiraishi, Kisei Matsumoto, Kentaro Otomo
  • Patent number: 10875341
    Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided that effectively prevents the risk of ink bleeding so as to obtain a high-quality print result. The printing apparatus includes an inkjet head that ejects droplets of ink using inkjet technique so as to adhere the ink to the medium, and an ultraviolet light source that radiates ultraviolet light. The ink contains a colorant, an ultraviolet absorbent, a resin, and an aqueous solvent that emulsifies or suspends the resin. The ultraviolet light source irradiates the ink adhered to the medium with ultraviolet light to heat the ink to a temperature lower than a boiling point of the ink and high enough to prevent the ink from bleeding, so that the aqueous solvent is at least in part volatilized and removed from the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanobu Shinohara, Takashi Namiki
  • Patent number: 10875342
    Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments concern printing systems configured to deposit flexible dye sublimation inks onto flexible transfer materials. Together, the flexible ink and transfer material allow images to be transferred onto complex-shaped, i.e. non-planar, surfaces of a substrate. The flexible ink may be, for example, a thermoformable UV dye sublimation ink or a superflexible UV dye sublimation ink. In order to transfer an image onto the substrate, the transfer material is pressed onto the surface of the substrate. The substrate, transfer material, or both are heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the ink to sublimate. During the sublimation process, dye is able to permeate the substrate and form a transferred image. The flexible ink formulation may also include a soluble or solvent-sensitive component. In such embodiments, a solvent can be jetted onto the substrate and/or transfer material to remove residual ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.
    Inventor: Paul Andrew Edwards
  • Patent number: 10875343
    Abstract: Formation of a multi-colored image in thermochromic material involves controlling operation of first, second, and third heat sources. The first heat source heats pixels of the thermochromic material to activate the pixels. The second and third heat sources are selectively controlled to heat different sets of pixels using neither, one, or both of the second and third heat sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Fatemeh Nazly Pirmoradi, Christopher L. Chua, Kyle Arakaki, Jacob N. Chamoun
  • Patent number: 10875344
    Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to a recording medium including a substrate, a first coating applied to the substrate, and a second coating applied to the first coating. The first coating can include inorganic pigment, fixative agent, and a first binder. The second coating can include inorganic nanoparticles, aluminum silicate, and a second binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Beverly Chou, Tao Chen, Xulong Fu, Or Brandstein, Fereshteh Khorrami
  • Patent number: 10875345
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a printable recording media comprising a cellulose based substrate and a composite ink receiving layer that includes a first distinct layer and a second distinct layer. The second distinct layer is applied on top of the first distinct layer and comprises, at least, a polymeric binder, nano-size inorganic pigment particles and an ionene compound. Also disclosed herein is a method for making the printable recording media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Xiaoqi Zhou, Xulong Fu, Haowen Yu
  • Patent number: 10875346
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lithographic printing plate precursor that enables a lithographic printing plate formed therefrom to have excellent image visibility and a long press life, as well as a lithographic printing plate manufacturing method and a printing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Nakamura, Atsushi Matsuura, Tsuyoshi Hirokawa
  • Patent number: 10875347
    Abstract: A dual page bookmark for encouraging personal reading goals includes a planar anchor having a flap extending therefrom. The anchor has an interior edge conforming to the spline edge of a page and a top edge. The flap has an interior edge extending from a point about the midsection of the top edge of the anchor. The interior edge converges with an outer edge of the flap at an end point even with the midsection of the top edge of anchor. The outer edge is formed with a pronounced curvature, which is necessary to the automatic repositioning of the flap as one page of the book is turned to present the next page. A curved interface between the planar portion of the flap and the top edge of the anchor, which biases the planar portion of the flap in the direction of the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventor: Franco De Silva
  • Patent number: 10875348
    Abstract: A decorative greeting article comprising a sheet of paper having a written inscription inscribed upon its center portion, readable in an unrolled position, and formable into a rolled cylinder having a hollow interior and an opening in a rolled position. The opening of the cylinder can receive a decorative member which can be a natural or an artificial flower or a bouquet of flowers or other novelty item, and a stem part that extends into the hollow interior of the cylinder. A securing means, optionally decorative, including an adhesive surface, releasably secures the sheet of paper in the rolled, cylinder position. A user can grasp and pull a pull tab to release the securing means from the cylinder, releasing the sheet to be unrolled and viewed by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventor: Lisa Murphy Taylor
  • Patent number: 10875349
    Abstract: A tie article that includes an attachment portion and a bib portion, where the bib portion includes at least one arm segment and at least one closure device (e.g., a retention wire, tin tie, clasp tie, and the like), where the attachment portion and the bib portion are integrally fabricated from a printed sheet having a first surface and a polymeric film adhered to the first surface of the printed sheet such that the closure device(s) is disposed between the first surface of the printed sheet and the polymeric film at the attachment portion. Multiple tie articles may be manufactured with an in-line process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: BEDFORD INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Colin O'Donnell, David Schiller, Mike Schultz, Axel Wass, Terry Langland, Joshua Platt, Jay Milbrandt, Jeffrey Tschetter
  • Patent number: 10875350
    Abstract: An anti-counterfeiting structure includes a substrate having a surface, and an device structure positioned on the surface. A side opposite to the side on which the substrate is positioned with respect to the device structure is an observation side, and the device structure comprises an optical device layer that emits predetermined light towards the observation side, and an information portion that contains given information. The information portion comprises a first substance having optical transparency, wherein the first substance is changeable to a second substance having a different optical characteristic from the first substance by laser irradiation, and the second substance representing information. The device structure has a display surface that is a surface opposite to the surface on which a surface of the substrate, and is configured so as to display information contained in the information portion via the display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shizuka Yamada
  • Patent number: 10875351
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a structure of electrical component assembly on flexible materials. In an exemplary embodiment, the method and the structure include patterning metal on a tape, creating one or more holes in the tape, attaching one or more electronic devices to the tape in the one or more holes such that a profile of the tape and the one or more electronic devices is less than a threshold, electrically connecting the one or more electronic devices to the patterned metal, cutting the tape, resulting in one or more component portions of the tape and one or more excess portions of the tape, where the one or more component portions comprises at least one of the one or more electronic devices, attached to the patterned metal, and bonding the one or more component portions to a ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank R. Libsch, Ghavam G. Shahidi
  • Patent number: 10875352
    Abstract: A wall mounted display board system includes a frame; a hinging system to mount on a wall surface and engage with the frame; a panel mounted on a front of the frame; and a castor mounted on a bottom portion of the frame to rest on a ground surface; the hinging system allows the frame and panel to pivot; and pivoting of the hinging system and the frame moves the castor along the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventors: Dony Dawson, Jeffrey R. Weilert, Stephen Savoie
  • Patent number: 10875353
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a decorated object is provided. In this manufacturing method, a foil is attached to a medium to obtain the decorated object. The manufacturing method includes: a foil layer forming step of attaching the foil to an adhesive layer formed on the medium, so as to form a foil layer in a manner that the adhesive layer is partly exposed; and an ink layer forming step of applying an ink to the foil layer on which the adhesive layer is partly exposed, so as to form an ink layer in a manner that the ink contacts an exposed part of the adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junki Kasahara, Akira Takatsu
  • Patent number: 10875354
    Abstract: A Paint tray with a triple embodiment in an inverted, reversible arrangement comprises a master surmount planar board embodiment and when inverted encapsulates dual smaller Paint trays with a furcate separation section the side walls of the Paint tray encapsulates dual binary Paint stirring implements which are extricated and detachable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Jiangsu Weixu M&E Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Alec Robinson
  • Patent number: 10875355
    Abstract: A bicycle component comprises a first structural member made of a conducting material, an electrical insulation layer provided to the first structural member, and a second structural member configured to be attached to the electrical insulation layer by adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toru Iwai, Tetsu Nonoshita, Toyoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10875356
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide aerodynamic bicycle rims and wheels. Embodiments can include a bicycle rim that is wider than the width of the tire proximate to the outer edge of the rim and is shaped so that there is a tangent line tangent to the rim and the tire. The tangent line can be tangent to the rim on the sidewall or elsewhere on the rim. The widest part of the rim can be radially inward from the outer edge of the rim or elsewhere on the rim and the tangent line can be tangent at the widest part of the rim or elsewhere on the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: HED CYCLING PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Arthur Hed, Christopher Andrew Edin
  • Patent number: 10875357
    Abstract: A fixed type constant velocity universal joint includes an outer joint member having a cup shape, an inner joint member, which is received in the outer joint member, and transmits torque between the inner and outer joint members through intermediation of balls while allowing angular displacement, and a hollow shaft, which is coupled to the inner joint member so as to allow torque transmission. A threaded hole is formed in a bottom portion of the outer joint member along an axial direction. A recessed hole is formed to be open in a shaft end portion of the hollow shaft opposed to the threaded hole. An embedded stopper that enters the threaded hole is press-fitted into the recessed hole. The embedded stopper is retractable into the hollow shaft in a press-fitting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoshige Kobayashi, Yuichi Asano
  • Patent number: 10875358
    Abstract: A high load pivoting caster with integral jack preferably includes a wheel mounting base, a pair of wheels, a high load jack, a slewing ring, an wheel axle and an attachment cube. The wheel mounting base includes a base plate, and first and second pairs of wheel support plates. The first wheel is retained between the first pair of wheel support plates. The second wheel is retained between the second pair of wheel support plates. The wheel axle is inserted through the pair of wheels and the first and second pair of wheel support plates. The slewing ring preferably includes a stator ring, a rotor ring, an indexing plate and a set of rotary bearings. An opening is formed through the indexing plate to receive an outer perimeter of the high load jack. The attachment cube is preferably attached to a top of the indexing plate with welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventor: Patrick J. Santini
  • Patent number: 10875359
    Abstract: The present utility model refers to a rolling device and, more particularly, an improved multi-directional ball caster-type device having an increased slope, which means a smaller angular slope level, or a more acute inclination angle between the central vertical axis of the device and the surface upon which it rolls. The slope, or inclination angle of the present improved device is from 62° to 50°, or less. As the inclinations angle can be more acute, the object supported on the rolling system, e.g. a luggage case, can be more sloped without having friction between the main ball involving structure and the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventor: Romualdo Monteiro De Barros
  • Patent number: 10875360
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread, side walls, beads, a carcass, a belt layer, an inner-liner layer, and a sealant layer. The inner-side surface of the inner-liner layer to which the sealant layer is adhered has profile that satisfies L1<L2<L3, L1?5 mm, L2?9.5 mm, and L3?11 mm, where L1, L2 and L3 represent heights in a radial direction measured from a base height point to the inner-side surface of the inner-liner layer at positions located in an axially inward direction from an axial outer edge of the belt layer by 5%, 10% and 15% of a maximum width of the belt layer, and the base height point is a point on an axial-direction line through the intersection where a radial-direction line passing through the axial outer edge of the belt layer intersects the inner-side surface of the inner-liner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Yukawa
  • Patent number: 10875361
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is provided with, in the tread surface, land portions that include a rib or a plurality of blocks. The land portions are provided with a plurality of narrow shallow grooves and a plurality of recessed portions in a contact patch. The opening area ratio Se of the recessed portions in the end portion regions in the tire lateral direction of one continuous contact patch and the opening area ratio Sc of the recessed portions in the central portion region in the tire lateral direction have the relationship Sc<Se, where the central portion region is defined as the region in the central portion in the tire lateral direction occupying 50% of the continuous contact patch of the land portions, and the end portion regions are defined as the regions in the left and right end portions in the tire lateral direction occupying 25%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventor: Hiroshi Furusawa
  • Patent number: 10875362
    Abstract: Tire tread comprising elongate block (3) of rubbery material extending in a circumferential direction (X) when the tread (1) is mounted on the tire. The elongate block (3) comprises a ground contact surface (5) delimited by first and second lateral walls (7,9), with a plurality of cutouts (11a, 11b) that open onto it. The cutouts (11a, 11b) extend in an oblique direction from the first lateral wall (7) in the direction of the second lateral wall (9) as far as cutout ends (13a, 13b). For at least one cutout (11a) that opens onto the first lateral wall (7), its end (13a) does not open onto the second lateral wall (9), and when this cutout (11a) reaches its cutout end (13a), another cutout (11b) starts out from the first lateral wall (7), at a same circumferential level (N) on the elongate block (3). The cutouts (11a, 11b) are sipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Olivier Muhlhoff, Benoit Durand-Gasselin
  • Patent number: 10875363
    Abstract: A stud pin includes a tip and a body portion provided around a center axis of the stud pin. The body portion includes an upper flange, a lower flange, and a shank portion connecting the upper flange and the lower flange. A first side surface of the lower flange includes a first curved surface recessed inward in relation to the body portion. A second side surface of the upper flange includes a second curved surface bulging toward a periphery of the body portion, and a pair of flat surfaces configured to connect the second curved surface to interpose the second curved surface. A trough portion where the first curved surface is most recessed and a peak portion where the second curved surface is most bulged are located at an identical orientation position about the center axis as viewed from the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventor: Kenichi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10875364
    Abstract: A method of monitoring the pressure of a tire of an aircraft, the method including: taking two or more pressure readings from the tire at different times; calculating an estimated deflation rate based on the pressure readings; and calculating a time for the tire to deflate to a reference pressure level based on the estimated deflation rate. Two or more temperature readings are each associated with one of the pressure readings, and the estimated deflation rate is calculated by normalising each pressure reading based on its associated temperature reading and a common reference temperature to obtain a temperature-normalised pressure reading, and calculating the estimated deflation rate based on the temperature-normalised pressure readings. The estimated deflation rate is compared with a threshold, and a warning provided if the estimated deflation rate exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bill
  • Patent number: 10875365
    Abstract: A portable tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) tool includes a tire sensor trigger device ensuring the TPMS tool is in close proximity to a TPMS tire sensor to trigger or awaken the sensor to emit measured tire data. In one example, a manually displaceable trigger signal contact device in the form of a push button is used. On manual displacement of the push button against the tire, the tool generates the tire sensor trigger signal. In another example, the tool includes a first power source in the form of a high density capacitor. In another example, a second power source in the form of a lithium button-type battery is used to selectively provide power or recharge the first power source between function cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: ATEQ
    Inventors: Jacques Mouchet, Pascal Keller, Bruno Rousseau
  • Patent number: 10875366
    Abstract: A tire pressure sensor device (122) for a wheel (112) of an aircraft (102) including a pressure sensor (124) for measuring the internal pressure of a tire, a temperature sensor (126) for measuring a temperature local to the tire (116), a memory unit (131) local to the tire for storing data, and a control unit (128) local to the tire arranged to record in the memory unit (131) data of the readings taken at intervals of time. The data recorded for each reading includes an indication of the time of the reading, the tire pressure and the temperature local to the tire. Measurements may be taken and recorded over time, both when the aircraft is on the ground and when the aircraft is in flight. Data may be uploaded to a portable handheld device (140) for analysis when maintaining the tires in their correctly inflated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Raymond Bill
  • Patent number: 10875367
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powerplant, such as an engine, configured to power front and rear wheels, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, brake a first of the front wheels and a first of the rear wheels while powering a second of the front wheels and a second of the rear wheels to warm those tires, and subsequently brake the second front wheel and the second rear wheel while powering the first front wheel and the first rear wheel to warm those tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ethan D. Sanborn, James Fritz
  • Patent number: 10875368
    Abstract: A weight distributing anti-sway trailer hitch has a pair of spring arms extending rearwardly from the head unit and a pair of hookup brackets for connecting a remote end of each spring arm to a trailer. The hookup brackets have a hookup plate and a hookup strap that sandwich a trailer frame therebetween to secure the bracket to the trailer, and further have a clamp that can be opened and closed to secure the remote end of the spring arm to the trailer frame during towing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Camco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Andrew Angel, Steven L. Spencer
  • Patent number: 10875369
    Abstract: A controlled-flexing trailer hitch system and method to facilitate vehicle-to-trailer attachment and maneuvering by providing a flexible state during attachment, detachment, and low-speed maneuvering of a trailer, and automatic change to a fixed in-line state upon the in-line pulling of the trailer, by providing disengageable spring-return stiffening members and a flexible segmented towing member, where the spring-return stiffening members can be disengaged to allow flexible movement of the flexible towing member, and where, upon commencement of the in-line pulling of the trailer, the spring-return stiffening members engage to place the controlled-flexing trailer hitch into a fixed in-line state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventor: Gameel Gabriel
  • Patent number: 10875370
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle with only two parallel independent drive wheels, capable of moving on a solid or semi-solid ground, as well as on water if provided with blades on the wheels. The vehicle is stable in that it has a unit for lowering the center of gravity, which are housed in the wheels, which are in turn internally hollow for this purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: DEF-TECH SAS. DI ETTORE DE FRANCESCO & C.
    Inventors: Eduardo De Francesco, Ettore De Francesco, Ruggero De Francesco
  • Patent number: 10875371
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a suspension system, and a chassis with the same. The system includes: a fixing frame having an opening; a suspension frame disposed at the opening; and a driving wheel rotationally coupled to the suspension frame. In which, two ends of the suspension frame are respectively disposed on two ends of the fixing frame at the two sides of the opening to be selectively moved up and down along a height direction of the fixing frame, and two elastic members are respectively disposed between each of the two ends of the suspension frame and the corresponding end of the fixing frame at the two sides of the opening. In the present disclosure, the fixing frame and the suspension frame can move with respect to each other in a vertical direction, and the resetting adjustment is realized through the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP
    Inventors: Youjun Xiong, Kunlei Zhao, Wenhua Yu, Libing Zhou, Hailang Zhou
  • Patent number: 10875372
    Abstract: The invention relates to suspension design. The present vehicle suspension comprises a quadrangular frame. Each corner portion of the frame has a wheel block kinematically attached thereto so as to form two pairs of wheels—a front pair and a rear pair. On each side of the frame, longitudinal and transverse coupling cables are fastened for movement therealong inside housings. Each wheel block consists of a body that is simultaneously connected to two coupling cables. Movably mounted on the body are parallel horizontal arms, the first of which is fastened to the body by its middle portion. A knuckle with the hub of a wheel is attached to an end of the first arm and to another end of the second arm, and two coupling cable dampers are attached to the other end of the first arm. The housings of the cables are attached to the body of the corresponding wheel block. The free end of each cable is enclosed in a damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventors: Georgiy Volodymyrovych Beylin, Sergiy Yuriiovich Petrenko
  • Patent number: 10875373
    Abstract: An axial ball joint for a length-adjustable two-point link having a housing and a ball stud supported in the housing by a joint ball to be rotatably and swivelably movable and which extends in an axial direction out of the housing in undeflected state. The housing has a connection pin integrally connected to the housing that extends perpendicular to axial direction. A length-adjustable two-point link has two angle joints connected to one another via a connection element, particularly a connection pipe. One angle joint is formed as an axial ball joint connected to the connection element to be adjustable in length. The other angle joint is formed as a radial ball joint and is rigidly connected to the connection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Günter Reddehase, Janina Altmeppen
  • Patent number: 10875374
    Abstract: A frame unit for utility vehicles includes outer and inner parts and a transverse region, wherein the transverse region extends substantially transversely to the outer part and/or the inner part, wherein the transverse region is integrally formed with the outer part or the inner part, the outer part and/or the inner part has a fastening region for being secured to a vehicle frame, the outer part has an outer bearing region and the inner part has an inner bearing region, an axle guide can be arranged between the outer and inner bearing regions and can be secured to the bearing regions such that the axle guide can pivot about a bearing axis, and wherein the transverse region secures the outer part and/or the inner part against pivoting about an orthogonal in relation to the bearing axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: SAF-HOLLAND GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Borde, Muhammet Arpaci, Philipp Bergmann
  • Patent number: 10875375
    Abstract: At least one controller configured to control an actuator of an active suspension system. The at least one controller includes circuitry configured to determine an actuator state, and apply the actuator state and a commanded state to an inverse model of the actuator to produce an actuator command. The circuitry is configured to produce the actuator command by a process that includes performing low pass filtering and phase compensation to correct a phase introduced by the low pass filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Giovanardi, Brian Alexander Selden, Jaganath Chandrasekar