Patents Issued in March 25, 2025
  • Patent number: 12258076
    Abstract: A transparent spoiler for a vehicle including a first section, at least a portion of the first section having a first visual characteristic, and a second section, at least a portion of the second section having a second visual characteristic, the second visual characteristic defining a greater visibility through the second section than the visibility through the first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pirooz Moradnia, David J. Rose, Matthew L. Metka
  • Patent number: 12258077
    Abstract: A vehicle shown herein is a side by side powersports vehicle having a utility bed recessed in the rear body portion below an upper surface, the utility bed forming a stepped portion relative to the rear body portion and having a maximum lateral width greater than a diameter of at least one of the wheels, and a minimum width less than a diameter of at least one of the wheels, whereby a spare wheel may be stored on the stepped portion of the utility bed. As shown herein, the utility bed is defined as a removable tub, which can be removed from the rear body portion. The utility bed has defined troughs in a floor thereof angled rearwardly wherein the utility bed has drains which drain away from any heat source of the vehicle. The seats of the vehicle allow longitudinal movement and tilt capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron D. Deckard, Nick S. Levin, Jeffrey A. Ingham, Donovan Fredrickson, Dennis J. Lutz
  • Patent number: 12258078
    Abstract: A method to control a steer-by-wire steering system for a road vehicle including a steering device, a road wheel actuator to actuate road wheels, and a controller configured or programmed to generate a motor torque request for the road wheel actuator based on an actual or an estimated position and a position request, which is based on the position of the steering device, includes detecting a road wheel actuator power limit situation, modifying the position request so that it can be followed by the road wheel actuator within power limits, and using the modified position request to generate the motor torque request for the road wheel actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignees: Thyssenkrupp Presta AG, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Watanabe, Munetsugu Hanji, Hayato Miyakawa, Levente Pásztor, Péter Kakas, Krisztián Dömötör
  • Patent number: 12258079
    Abstract: Method for compensating for a friction between at least two parts, the method being based on a friction model (M), a speed (v) between at least one part and at least one other part of the at least two parts, the speed being measured, or estimated from a measurement, the speed (v) being input data of the model (M), the model (M) being based on an internal state (z) of friction, a time derivative (?) of the internal state (z) being a function of said internal state and of the speed (v) and of a first gain (?), the method comprising a step of saturation of the speed v at the input of the friction model, so that an absolute value |v| of the speed (v) remains lower than a saturation value, the saturation value being a function of the speed, of the first gain and of a second gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventor: Nicolas Baudouin
  • Patent number: 12258080
    Abstract: Provided is a steer-by-wire steering system (1) for a vehicle (2) that can appropriately bring the steered angle of the wheels to a prescribed relationship to the steering angle of a steering member (10) even when the steering angle of the steering member was changed while the vehicle was parked. When the steered angle of the wheels deviates from the prescribed relationship with the steering angle of the steering member upon startup (ST2: Yes), the control unit (15) drives at least one of the steering actuator (12) and the reaction force actuator (13) to bring the steered angle (?) of the wheels closer to the prescribed relationship with the steering angle (?) of the steering member (ST12) using a change in the transmission shift position from the park position (P) or the neutral position (N) to the travel position (D or R) as a trigger (ST8: Yes).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Yosuke Ojima, Munetsugu Hanji, Yoshinobu Watanabe, Imre Szepessy, Miklos Aranyi
  • Patent number: 12258081
    Abstract: Provided is a rotation angle detection device including: an intermediate signal generation unit configured to generate an intermediate signal based on a product of a sine signal and a cosine signal which are based on a rotation angle of a rotating body; a first multiplication unit; and a first rotation angle calculation unit. The intermediate signal generation unit includes: a first multiplier configured to calculate the product of the sine signal and the cosine signal; and a first low-pass filter configured to remove frequency components equal to or higher than twice a frequency of fundamental waves of the sine signal and the cosine signal from an output of the first multiplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Mori, Akira Furukawa
  • Patent number: 12258082
    Abstract: A leg assembly for a legged robot includes first through three motors, first through second legs, and a transmission component. The first motor is coupled to the second motor to drive the second motor to rotate, and a rotation axis of the first motor is substantially orthogonal to a rotation axis of the second motor. The second motor is coupled to the third motor to drive the third motor to rotate, and a rotation axis of the third motor substantially coincides with the rotation axis of the second motor. The third motor is arranged at a first end of the first leg, the second leg is pivotably coupled to a second end of the first leg, and the transmission component is coupled to an output shaft of the third motor and the second leg to drive the second leg to rotate relative to the first leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Robot Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yiyang Liu, Wenping Guo, Xiaomao Wei, Fang Zhi, Shuang Li
  • Patent number: 12258083
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system includes a controller configured to execute a steering control process and a determining process of determining a converted operation amount by converting an actual wheel steering amount to an operation amount of an operation member based on an inverse of a steering gear ratio. In the determining process, when the steering gear ratio abruptly changes, the controller converts a gap of the converted operation amount generated at a time point of occurrence of the abrupt change to a gap of the wheel steering amount to grasp a converted steering amount offset value. While gradually decreasing the converted steering amount offset value, the controller thereafter re-converts the converted steering amount offset value to the gap of the converted operation amount based on the inverse of the steering gear ratio to determine a converted operation amount correction value and corrects the converted operation amount based on the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Iida, Yuko Otsuka, Atsushi Ishihara, Junya Miyake
  • Patent number: 12258084
    Abstract: Disclosed in the present disclosure are a lift axle control method for a vehicle and a lift axle control system for a vehicle, wherein the method comprises the following steps: step 1) acquiring a load M of the vehicle; step 2) judging whether it needs to lower the lift axle according to the load, and if so, controlling the vehicle to lower the lift axle, and entering into step 3); otherwise, returning to step 1); step 3) calculating an optimal position of lifting the lift axle, controlling the vehicle to lift the lift axle at the optimal position, and entering into step 4); step 4) calculating an optimal position to lower the lift axle, controlling the vehicle to lower the lift axle at the optimal position, and then returning to step 3). The method of the present disclosure can reduce the damage to the road surface and achieve the economy of fuel consumption during running of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Xiamen Yaxon Zhilian Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yankai Tu, Junfang Lai, Gang Ji
  • Patent number: 12258085
    Abstract: A dropper seatpost assembly is disclosed. The dropper seatpost assembly includes a lower post and an upper post configured to telescopically move with respect to the lower post. The dropper seatpost assembly also includes a translating mechanism configured to maintain an orientation such as a lateral orientation, a rotational orientation, or both a lateral orientation and a rotational orientation of the upper post with respect to the lower post as the upper post telescopically moves with respect to the lower post, the translating mechanism comprising two or more vertically offset features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Coaplen, John Ralph Kiffmeyer
  • Patent number: 12258086
    Abstract: A device has a seat cover suitable for being fastened to a seat of a motorcycle, whose upper surface is divided in a plurality of portions, each positioned on a right side or a left side of the seat cover, each portion of the plurality of portions being associated to a respective vibration motor, configured to generate vibrations perceivable by a motorcyclist sitting on the seat of the motorcycle, and an electronic unit configured to control the vibration motors and provided with connectors to an onboard electronic box of the motorcycle. The electronic unit is configured to receive from the onboard electronic box a signal relating to an activation status of directional indicators of the motorcycle and to control the vibration motors as a function of the signal relating to the activation status of the directional indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Inventor: Vincenzo Maresca
  • Patent number: 12258087
    Abstract: In the saddle-ride vehicle, a front fork includes a fender support portion, the fender support portion is located on an inner side of a vehicle body relative to an inner surface of the front fender, and a fork guard is disposed on a rear side of the fender support portion, and the fork guard extends to an inner side of the vehicle body relative to the fender support portion. In the saddle-ride vehicle, the front fender includes an extending portion extending from the inner surface of the front fender to an inner side of the vehicle body, and the extending portion is disposed in front of a space formed between the fender support portion and the inner surface of the front fender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takazumi Hayashi, Yuya Nonoyama, Kanji Hayashi, Kota Murakami, Yoichi Nishida
  • Patent number: 12258088
    Abstract: There is provided a straddle-type vehicle including: a head pipe; a steering stem rotatably supported in the head pipe; a front fork; an upper bracket connecting an upper end portion of the front fork to the steering stem; a lower bracket located below the upper bracket and connecting an upper portion of the front fork to the steering stem; a front wheel supported by a lower end portion of the front fork; a front fender covering the front wheel from above; a front cowl covering an upper front portion of the straddle-type vehicle; a shroud located above the front fender and covering a lower portion of the front cowl; and a lower bracket cover located above the front fender and covering the lower bracket from below. The shroud has an opening through which the front fork passes. The lower bracket cover is provided below the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihito Deguchi, Makoto Satou
  • Patent number: 12258089
    Abstract: A bicycle tracker mounting assembly is provided. The bicycle tracker mounting assembly includes a connection unit mounted on an inner wall of a bicycle tube. The connection unit includes a first shift block, a second shift block, a first carrier, a second carrier, and a positioning member. The first shift block and the second shift block have a first guiding surface and a second guiding surface, respectively. The first guiding surface and the second guiding surface are complementary to each other. The positioning member passes through the first shift block and the second shift block, and the connection unit is configured to be fixed to the inner wall of the bicycle tube or disengaged from the inner wall of the bicycle tube by rotating the positioning member to displace the first shift block and the second shift block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Inventor: Ming-Ta Tsai
  • Patent number: 12258090
    Abstract: A chain separator for separating a chain of a bicycle from a sprocket of the bicycle. The chain separator includes a body defining an outer surface and at least one projection extending from the body to define a sprocket channel. The chain is disengaged from the sprocket and positioned on the outer surface and the chain separator is positioned on the bicycle such that the sprocket is positioned within the sprocket channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: TILT INDUSTRIES LLC
    Inventors: Bradley Scott Maxfield, Mitchel Richard Murdock, Travis James Mittanck, Grant Reuben Fawson
  • Patent number: 12258091
    Abstract: A headlight device including a headlight configured to emit light frontward of a leaning vehicle to form a lower light beam, an upper central light beam, an upper left light beam and an upper right light beam, and a control device that controls light emission from the headlight without any user operation. The control device forms both the upper left and the upper right light beams while the leaning vehicle is traveling straight, and reduces a brightness of the upper left and upper right light beams, responsive to a vehicle being illuminated by the upper left and upper right light beams respectively, and forms the upper left and upper right light beams respectively while the leaning vehicle is turning left and right, and maintains the brightness of the formed upper left or upper right light beam regardless of whether any vehicle is illuminated by the upper left or upper right light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yumi Kimura, Takehiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 12258092
    Abstract: A saddle type two-wheeled vehicle includes: a frame extending along a vehicle longitudinal axis; a swing arm journaled to the frame and adapted to support a rear wheel; and a drive system including one or more drive sources configured to deliver a driving force to the rear wheel. The one or more drive sources include a first drive source and a second drive source, the first drive source comprises at least one mounting portion integrally formed to at least a portion of the first drive source, at least one mounting portion is configured for removably mounting the first drive source on at least a portion of the swing arm, and the second drive source is detachably mounted on the rear wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: TVS MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Ankit Rawat, Mugilan Meibalan, Chithambaram Subramoniam
  • Patent number: 12258093
    Abstract: A lower fork alignment system for a vehicle is described. The lower fork alignment system includes: a brace detachably coupling a first lower tube and a second lower tube of a lower fork, wherein the first and second lower tubes include: first and second receiving adjustment mechanism configured for receiving corresponding interfacing mechanisms of the brace, wherein upon receipt of alignment features of the interfacing mechanisms, one of the first lower tube and the second lower tube is enabled to be adjusted in a horizontal direction along a horizontal axis, and the other of the first lower tube and the second lower tube is enabled to be adjusted in a vertical direction along a vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Mario Galasso
  • Patent number: 12258094
    Abstract: A covering tape for bicycle handlebars includes an elongated foldable body extending along a main longitudinal direction (X-X) between opposite axial ends. At one of the axial ends, the body is mechanically integral with a cylindrical closing cap of a hollow end of the bicycle handlebars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: SELLE ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Bigolin
  • Patent number: 12258095
    Abstract: A suspension assembly for a cycle includes a plurality of links pivotably connected to one another by a plurality of pivots. A rotation sensor measures an angular relationship between two links and a setpoint of the suspension assembly is adjusted based on the angular measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventor: David Weagle
  • Patent number: 12258096
    Abstract: A saddle-ride vehicle includes a chain slider. The chain slider is integrally provided with an upper slider portion, a lower slider portion, and a vertical connection portion, while the chain slider has an open loop shape in which a front end portion of the upper slider portion and a front end portion of the lower slider portion are formed to be separable from each other. A swingarm has an engagement projection that is provided in a front portion of the swingarm and that protrudes outward from a surface of the swingarm. The front end portion and the front end portion engage, while overlapping with each other, with the engagement projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Suzuki, Masayuki Hiramaru
  • Patent number: 12258097
    Abstract: A battery powered electric scooter (100) having two front wheels, a deck (102) and tiller (104), and a dual mode steering system responsive to turn the wheels upon rotation of the tiller (104) about a vertical axis and/or upon rotation of the deck (102) about a horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Inventors: Andrew John Dray, Jeremy Williman
  • Patent number: 12258098
    Abstract: A control device having two brake master cylinders both of which may be simultaneously operated by the same single manual control lever according to a combined or integral braking mode is provided. A switching member associated with the manual control lever may exclude one of the two brake master cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: RAICAM DRIVELINE S.R.L.
    Inventors: Sandro Bonardo, Roberto Canale
  • Patent number: 12258099
    Abstract: In some implementations, the anchor stowage safety system may include a contactless switch having a first contact half configured to be disposed on a portion of an anchor rode and a second contact half configured to be mounted to a stationary portion of a boat at a predetermined position. In addition, the anchor stowage safety system may include where the contactless switch is configured to be in a closed position when the first contact half and the second contact half are positioned adjacent to one another and is configured to be in an open position when the first contact half and the second contact half are positioned separated from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Inventor: Joseph Raffaele Spatola
  • Patent number: 12258100
    Abstract: A convertible seating system for a marine vessel has a leaning post and a reversible seat having a first seat side and a second seat side which is transversely oriented to the first seat side. The reversible seat is coupled to the leaning post and movable into and between a forward seating position located above the leaning post and a rearward seating position located adjacent to the rear of the leaning post. In the forward seating position the first seat side provides a forward seating surface for supporting a seated occupant facing the bow and the second seat side provides a forward backrest surface for supporting the seated occupant facing the bow. In the rearward seating position the second seat side provides a rearward seating surface for supporting a seated occupant facing the stern and the first seat side provides a rearward backrest surface for supporting the seated occupant facing the stern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Fabrizio De Luca, Daniel S. Freer, J. Andrew Campbell
  • Patent number: 12258101
    Abstract: A boat, having a transom, includes one or more aft-facing seats. Each aft-facing seat is positioned proximate to the transom and includes a seat bottom that is inclined at a downward angle in a direction extending from aft to fore, a seatback, a headrest, a seat support structure having at least one hidden compartment therein, and at least one pivot mechanism attached to the seatback and the headrest and configured to allow the seatback to move between a first position in which the seatback is capable of supporting the back of a person seated in the seat and a second position in which the seatback is pivoted upwardly to allow access to the compartment and the headrest to move between an upright position and a folded position. A plurality of handles may be provided for each aft-facing seat, with one at an outboard side and another at an inboard side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: MasterCraft Boat Company, LLC
    Inventors: Chadrick E. Curts, Daniel P. Vieira, Rosemary M. Bennett, David F. Ekern
  • Patent number: 12258102
    Abstract: In one example, a method includes positioning, within a mold, a device with a movable element that defines a portion of a volume, and the volume is contained within the mold, as part of a molding process, at least partly defining a molded watercraft by introducing plastic into the mold, disposing the plastic about the movable element, and with the movable element, excluding the plastic from the portion of the volume that is defined by the movable element so as to define a recess and an undercut that are integral with the watercraft and extend lengthwise with respect to a centerline of the watercraft, and the recess and undercut are integral, and communicate, with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Lifetime Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel S. Robbins, Dennis Jay Norman
  • Patent number: 12258103
    Abstract: A deck extender for a personal watercraft can include a deck member supported in a cantilevered configuration over an edge of the deck of the personal watercraft. The deck extender can include mounting sleeves fixed to an upper deck of a personal watercraft with mounting tabs of the deck member received within the mounting sleeves. The deck member can include mounting mechanisms having a receptacle and a pivoting cleat mounted above the receptacle configured for mounting accessories to the deck member. The deck member can have recessed channel members for mounting accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
    Inventors: Scott Jeffery Watkins, Erik Allen Holmen, Robert Owen Brady, Brian Travis Johnson, Louis Robert Doucette, Michael James Ricciardi
  • Patent number: 12258104
    Abstract: A watercraft comprising a battery ballast system is shown and described. The battery ballast system comprises a plurality of carriage assemblies, each comprising a plurality of tiers along the watercraft's height axis, and each being movable along the watercraft's length axis. The batteries sit on movable supports that are movable along the watercraft's width axis. Each tier is loaded to less than 50 percent with batteries and battery supports so that the batteries in each tier can be moved along the ship's width axis relative to the hull in a manner that will affect the ship's list. The carriage assemblies occupy a portion of the length along which they are movable so that they can be moved along the ship's length axis relative to the hull to affect the ship's trim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Inventor: John F. Corcoran
  • Patent number: 12258105
    Abstract: A stern operatively mounted universal transducer for boat includes a mounting device, having upper and lower brackets, for securement to the boat, preferably its transom, the upper and lower brackets secure a drive cylinder, which when operative, lowers a drive rod for shifting a sonic transducer upwardly above the water, or downwardly into the water to scope the surrounding underwater typography. A pair of guide rods shiftably extend through the upper and lower brackets, and at their upper ends, secure to a motor and gear housing, the guide rods at their lower ends secure to a base plate. A transducer shaft extends into the motor housing which provides for its pivoting, and at its lower end, extends downwardly through the base plate, and secures a transducer mounting plate, to which the transducer is affixed, in preparation for its usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: CLEARWATER CONCEPTS OF MISSOURI, LLC
    Inventor: Michael L. Roller
  • Patent number: 12258106
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating powersport vehicles during an operator-vehicle separation condition are provided. One method includes detecting the operator-vehicle separation condition using a first tetherless criterion and a second tetherless criterion. In response to detecting the operator-vehicle separation condition using both the first tetherless criterion and the second tetherless criterion, the method includes preventing propulsion of the powersport vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: TAIGA MOTORS INC.
    Inventor: Samuel Bruneau
  • Patent number: 12258107
    Abstract: An overboard detection system includes a fob to be carried by a user on a watercraft, an overboard sensor to detect a user overboard event when the user carrying the fob falls overboard, and a communicator on the watercraft to wirelessly communicate with the fob and to transmit a rescue intention notification indicating a rescue intention to the fob carried by the user involved in the overboard event. The fob includes a transmitter operable to provide the rescue intention notification to the overboard user upon reception of the rescue intention notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoju Takano, Makoto Ito
  • Patent number: 12258108
    Abstract: A system for joining swarm-communication modules comprising modular elements and attachable components, including a male end adapted to join a single-piece female end by rotating the male end into the single-piece female end such that data bus terminals align and power bus terminals align. The system can be assembled from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed systems for each mission. The joints connecting the modules are designed such that power and data connections between modules are reliably made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Eric Seeley, Jacob Snow
  • Patent number: 12258109
    Abstract: A field configurable vehicle includes bladders located interior of the vehicle hull walls. One or more of the bladders can be filled with fluids of varying densities to manage the buoyancy, mass properties, and thermal heat dissipation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Eric Seeley
  • Patent number: 12258110
    Abstract: A pontoon boat including a thruster system is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Fishburn, Blair A. Donat, Gabriel A. Marshall, Michael J. Fuchs, Andrew C. Schmid
  • Patent number: 12258111
    Abstract: Swivel mounts, mounting assemblies for boating accessories, and boats having such are disclosed. The swivel mounts include a support member, a mounting member, and a swivel element for enabling the mounting member to swivel relative to the support member. In some cases, a trolling motor mount bracket and/or a trolling motor may be coupled to the swivel mount. In further embodiments, the swivel mount may be coupled to a surface of a boat, such as but not limited to a boat gunnel. In particular, a swivel mount may be configured and disposed above an upward facing surface of the gunnel such that a mounting member of the swivel mount is able to swivel about an axis that is perpendicular to and passes through the upward facing surface of the gunnel. Mounting members having a hole pattern to accommodate different types of trolling motors is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Sea Swivel Inc.
    Inventor: Mark S. Berta, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12258112
    Abstract: A system includes an outboard motor, a lift actuator, a sensor, and a controller. The sensor detects motion information indicating an up-and-down directional motion of a bow of a watercraft. The controller is configured or programmed to selectively set either a lift-up direction or a lift-down direction as a lift direction in accordance with the up-and-down directional motion of the bow based on the motion information. The controller is configured or programmed to control the lift actuator to cause the outboard motor to perform the lift motion in the lift direction, and set a duration of the lift motion to be different between when the outboard motor is caused to perform the lift motion in the lift-up direction and when the outboard motor is caused to perform the lift motion in the lift-down direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoru Hamada
  • Patent number: 12258113
    Abstract: A marine vessel includes a hull, an operator station having an operator interface configured to receive a mode input and a lever position input, a left propulsion system, a right propulsion system, and a control module. Each of the propulsion systems includes an engine, a transmission, a troll valve configured to adjust clutch slip, a shaft, a shaft speed sensor configured to detect the speed of rotation of the shaft, and a propeller. The control module is configured to receive the mode input and the lever position input from the operator interface, receive signals from the left shaft sensor indicating a left shaft speed, receive signals from the right shaft sensor indicating a right shaft speed, determine if the vessel is operating in a trolling state, and determine if a sync mode is active, based on the mode input. If the sync mode is active and the vessel is in a trolling state, the speed of the left shaft and the right shaft are synchronized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Neathery, Cameron S. Gandy
  • Patent number: 12258114
    Abstract: An outboard engine includes a steering mechanism having a pod propulsion device disposed in water outside a hull; a propulsive drive mechanism that is disposed in the hull and gives a propulsive drive force to the pod propulsion device; and a circulation cooling circuit which has an outward flow path that supplies a cooling oil to the steering mechanism and the propulsive drive mechanism, and an inward flow path which recovers the cooling oil from the steering mechanism and the propulsive drive mechanism, in which the inward flow path and the outward flow path of the circulation cooling circuit communicate with each other inside a case body of the pod propulsion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Mihara
  • Patent number: 12258115
    Abstract: A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel including a joystick, at least one steerable and trimmable marine drive, and a control system configured to receive a user input to engage full vessel control mode, receive a vessel speed parameter, and receive a joystick position from the joystick. The control system determines a thrust command, a steering command, and a trim command for the at least one marine drive based on the joystick position and the vessel speed parameter and to control the at least one marine drive accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew E. Derginer, Troy R. Brockdorf, Travis C. Malouf
  • Patent number: 12258116
    Abstract: The present invention provides a forward propulsion system for a wind driven vehicle which includes one or more of a mast or a mast sleeve having a pliant sheet coupler capable of orientation at a mast front with a pliant sheet extending from the pliant sheet coupler over either a mast first side or a mast second side to a connection behind the mast to achieve configurations which move the force vector of the airflow acting on the pliant sheet further toward the forward direction of the wind driven vehicle, as compared to conventional sail configurations, to increase forward thrust and forward velocity of the wind driven vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Tetrahedron Racing, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward VanDyne
  • Patent number: 12258118
    Abstract: A thermal protection system is provided for a vehicle moving with velocity through a free stream of air. The system comprises a substrate layer having coolant feed holes through which coolant can pass, and an insulation layer bonded to the substrate layer and covering the coolant feed holes of the substrate layer. The system also comprises a honeycomb layer including (i) a first major surface bonded to the insulation layer, (ii) a second major surface opposite the first major surface and exposed to the free stream of air, and (iii) a cell structure that shifts a thermal boundary interface from between the insulation layer and the first major surface of the honeycomb layer to the second major surface of the honeycomb layer. Surface cooling of the insulation layer and the substrate layer is provided by coolant passing through the coolant feed holes of the substrate layer into the insulation layer as the vehicle moves with velocity through the free stream of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andrew R. Tucker, David Conradi
  • Patent number: 12258119
    Abstract: A resistive and locking system for locking rotation of a shaft. The system includes a housing defining an axis AX therethrough. The housing includes a drive shaft mounted in the housing and extending axially from a bottom end of the housing and a first stage comprising a resistive mechanism provided in the housing. The housing also includes a second stage comprising a locking mechanism arranged in the housing above the first stage. The locking mechanism is biased axially to frictionally engage with and lock the first stage mechanism to prevent rotation of the drive shaft, the locking mechanism including a magnetic unlocking mechanism configured to remove the frictional engagement with the first stage on application of power to the locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: RATIER-FIGEAC SAS
    Inventor: Pierre-Alex Picard
  • Patent number: 12258120
    Abstract: An arrangement for influencing liquid flow comprises a first section selectively configurable to provide a vortex generator surface to induce vortices in the liquid flow. The arrangement further comprises a second section, wherein the first section and second section are movable relative to one another to provide the vortex generator surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS PLC
    Inventors: Weichao Shi, Mehmet Atlar, Callum Stark, Matthew Thompson, Mortiz Troll, Leon Malcolm Sweet
  • Patent number: 12258121
    Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft with a fuselage that forms an aircraft interior region, the fuselage comprising an upper primary skin that separates the aircraft interior region from an aircraft upper deck arranged above the fuselage, the upper primary skin being mounted on top of a predetermined number of supporting beams; wherein the aircraft upper deck comprises an engine accommodating region with a firewall arrangement, the engine accommodating region accommodating at least one aircraft engine within the firewall arrangement such that the firewall arrangement defines a fire proof separation at least between the at least one aircraft engine and the aircraft interior region; and wherein the firewall arrangement comprises at least a funnel-shaped lower firewall arranged between the at least one aircraft engine and the upper primary skin of the fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Axel Fink, Manuel Kempf, Philipp Walch, Luca Specht
  • Patent number: 12258122
    Abstract: An aircraft drive shaft that includes an outer shaft with a first diameter that is configured to couple a first gearbox and a second gearbox to provide power transfer between the two gearboxes. An inner shaft that is concentric with the outer shaft and has a second diameter that is configured to provide structural support to the outer shaft. A gap is located between an outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the outer shaft. The gap has a size from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface that is at least as large as a largest ballistic projectile cross-section size that the aircraft is expected to encounter on an upcoming mission. A sleeve is located at least at a first end of the outer shaft and connects the outer shaft to the inner shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Inventors: Mark R. Gurvich, Michael King, Brayton Reed, Joyel M. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 12258123
    Abstract: Flaperon actuation systems for aircraft are disclosed herein. An example aircraft includes a wing including, a fixed wing portion, a flaperon, and an actuation system. The actuation system includes a first actuator coupled to the fixed wing portion. The first actuator is operable to move the flaperon along a first degree of freedom between a stowed position in which the flaperon is aligned with the fixed wing portion and a deployed position in which the flaperon is moved downward relative to the fixed wing portion. The actuation system also includes a linkage assembly coupled between the fixed wing portion and the flaperon. The linkage assembly includes a second actuator operable to move the flaperon along a second degree of freedom to pitch the flaperon between an upward position and a downward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Kevin Raylin Tsai
  • Patent number: 12258124
    Abstract: A payload retrieval apparatus including a support structure having an upper end and a lower end; a first sloped surface secured to the support structure and a second sloped surface positioned adjacent the first sloped surface; an opening between the first and second sloped surfaces leading to a space to allow a payload retriever attached to a tether suspended from a UAV to travel into the space; an angled channel positioned beneath the first sloped surface having a tether slot to allow for passage of the tether as the payload retriever is drawn through the angled channel; and a payload holder positioned at the end of the angled channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Wing Aviation LLC
    Inventors: Andre Prager, Ivan Qiu, Jasper Lewin
  • Patent number: 12258125
    Abstract: A lift system for an aircraft includes a first galley cart, a second galley cart, a floor deck, and a frame. The frame defines a first storage zone, a second storage zone, and a third storage zone that are stacked. A bottom end of the first storage zone is aligned with the floor deck, a top end of the second storage zone is aligned with the floor deck, and a bottom end of the third storage zone is aligned with a top end of the first storage zone. The lift system also includes a first lift configured to move the first galley cart from the first storage zone to the second storage zone and a second lift configured to move the second galley cart from the first storage zone to the third storage zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Sergey D. Barmichev, Aaron J. Kutzmann
  • Patent number: 12258126
    Abstract: Embodiments related to a monument for an aircraft cabin. On the monument, a screen is provided for displaying the images captured by a video surveillance device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: LUFTHANSA TECHNIK AG
    Inventors: Christian Kurz, Thorben Wienholtz