Patents Represented by Attorney Ulmer & Berne LLP
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Patent number: 7896379Abstract: A motorcycle includes a frame, a fork, a from wheel, an upper arm, a lower arm, a handlebar, and a suspension element. The fork is pivotable with respect to the frame about a steering axis. The front wheel is rotatably coupled with the fork. The upper arm and the lower arm are each pivotally coupled with each of the fork and the frame. The handlebar is pivotally coupled with the frame and is configured to facilitate steering of the front wheel. The suspension element is coupled with each of the frame and the fork.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2008Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventors: Daisuke Nagao, Kenji Tamura, Philip Tsiaras
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Patent number: 7896124Abstract: An exhaust system for a motorcycle includes a muffler configured for attachment at a location substantially beneath a motorcycle engine. The muffler includes a first input port and a second input port. A first exhaust pipe has a first longitudinal length. The first exhaust pipe is configured for extending between and connecting the first input port and a first exhaust port of a first motorcycle engine cylinder while being substantially entirely disposed forwardly of a motorcycle engine. A second exhaust pipe has a second longitudinal length substantially equal to the first longitudinal length. The second exhaust pipe is configured for extending between and connecting the second input port and a second exhaust port of a second motorcycle engine cylinder. A motorcycle including an exhaust system is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2008Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventors: Daisuke Nagao, Kenji Tamura
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Patent number: 7896771Abstract: A differential lock mechanism is provided for use in an axle assembly having a differential, an input member and first and second axles. A lock sleeve is co-axially disposed about the first axle, with the lock sleeve being rotatable with the first axle and laterally movable relative to the first axle. A lock collar is co-axially disposed about the lock sleeve and is laterally movable between outboard and inboard positions. A biasing member biases the lock sleeve toward the rotatable carrier and a lock fork is engaged with the lock collar. The lock fork is operable for moving the lock collar between the outboard and inboard positions. The lock collar is disengaged with the rotatable carrier when the lock collar is in the outboard position and is engaged with both the rotatable carrier and the lock sleeve when the lock collar is in the inboard position.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2008Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventor: Lee N. Bowers
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Patent number: 7891745Abstract: A wheel includes a hub, a rim, and spokes. The hub includes inner attachment portions and is configured to support the wheel about a rotational axis. The spokes are attached to the hub and the rim and are together configured to radially support the rim with respect to the hub. In one embodiment, the spokes are attached to the hub with fasteners extending into threaded apertures in the hub, and the spokes are attached to the rim with fasteners extending in a direction parallel with the rotational axis. In another embodiment, respective ones of the spokes, which are attached to a common inner attachment portion of the hub, are not attached to adjacent outer attachment portions of the rim. Vehicles and methods of manufacturing a wheel are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2008Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventors: Daisuke Nagao, Kenji Tamura
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Patent number: 7870926Abstract: A vehicle includes a front wheel, a rear wheel, an engine, and a jack shaft. The engine is coupled with the rear wheel and the jack shaft. The jack shaft is configured to selectively couple the engine with the front wheel.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2008Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventors: David W. Arnold, Michael Bury
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Patent number: 7861816Abstract: A motorcycle includes a main frame having left and right main frame members which each extend obliquely downwardly and rearwardly from a forward end to a rearward end. The forward end of the main frame includes a steering interface and the rearward end of the main frame includes a swingarm interface. An engine is attached to the main frame. A swingarm is attached to the swingarm interface and supports a rear wheel. A seat is attached to the main frame at an attachment location. The main frame, the swingarm, and the seat together at least partially define an open space of sufficient size to facilitate substantially complete access to the second cylinder head when the motorcycle is fully assembled.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2008Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventors: Daisuke Nagao, Kenji Tamura
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Patent number: 7854286Abstract: A motorcycle includes a wheel support member, a wheel, and a brake caliper. The wheel support member has a wheel mount portion. The wheel is rotatably attached to the wheel mount portion. The brake caliper is attached to the wheel support member at a location spaced from the wheel mount portion such that the brake caliper is at least substantially concealed from view by the wheel support member when the motorcycle is viewed in a direction from the wheel support member to the wheel along a rotational axis of the wheel.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2008Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventors: Daisuke Nagao, Kenji Tamura
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Patent number: 7849949Abstract: A motorcycle includes a frame and an engine supported by the frame. A continuously variable transmission is operatively and indirectly driven by the engine and is supported by the frame. A rotatable rear wheel is operatively and indirectly driven by the continuously variable transmission, which is generally vertically oriented.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2008Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventor: David W. Arnold
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Patent number: 7836990Abstract: Vehicles, such as all terrain vehicles, can be provided with a battery box. The battery box comprises a bottom wall, a top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall which together define a battery retention chamber having a front opening configured for passage of a battery. Vehicles having a battery box are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventors: Camas Reed, Ryan J. Holoweiko
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Patent number: 7836989Abstract: Vehicles, such as all terrain vehicles, can be provided with a battery box. The battery box comprises a bottom wall, a top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall which together define a battery retention chamber having a front opening configured for passage of a battery. Vehicles having a battery box are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventors: Camas Reed, Ryan J. Holoweiko
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Patent number: 7819453Abstract: A cargo lid assembly for a vehicle is provided and includes a cargo lid, at least one lid-engaging member and at least one hinge member that is integral with a respective one of the at least one lid-engaging member and is configured for hinged connection to a body structure of a vehicle. The cargo lid includes an inner member and an outer member that cooperate to define a cavity. The assembly further includes at least one stiffener positioned within the cavity between the inner and outer members of the cargo lid. At least one lid-engaging member is secured to at least one stiffener.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2009Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventor: David Michael Edwards
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Patent number: 7806437Abstract: A roll bar assembly is provided that includes a base member configured for mounting on a frame of a vehicle. The roll bar assembly also includes an upper member secured to the base member and an armrest member secured to the upper member. The armrest member includes first and second armrests spaced apart from one another and also includes a connecting portion extending between and interconnecting the first and second armrests. The connecting portion of the armrest member is spaced apart from the base member and the upper member and is configured for mounting on the frame of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2008Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventor: Lee N. Bowers
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Patent number: 7805180Abstract: Described herein is a medical imaging technique that includes directing ultrasound waves into a portion of a body of interest during at least a portion of a time period during which an MR imaging process is simultaneously performed on the portion of the body of interest such that the MR signal is altered by the application of the ultrasound waves. The ultrasound waves may be applied continually during the MR imaging process, or only during a portion thereof. The frequency of the ultrasound waves may be substantially the same as, or different than that of the MR signals. Images may be produced from only the MR imaging process or both the MR imaging process and the application of ultrasound waves prior to the imaging sessions.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2007Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Hitachi Medical Systems America, Inc.Inventor: Michael Steckner
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Patent number: 7802816Abstract: A vehicular frame assembly is provided and includes a pair of control arm support brackets. Each of the control arm support brackets define a pair of recesses. The first control arm support bracket and the second control arm support bracket are substantially identical and are configured to be positioned along a vehicular frame such that one of the pairs of recesses defined by a control arm support bracket receives forward legs of right and left suspension support members and the other of the pairs of recesses defined by the other of the control arm support bracket receives rearward legs of right and left suspension support members. A vehicle is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2008Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Company Ltd.Inventor: Jeremy T. McGuire
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Patent number: 7793751Abstract: An all terrain vehicle includes a frame and a control assembly that can be directly or indirectly attached to the frame. The control assembly includes a control knob which can be readily accessible to an operator during operation of the all terrain vehicle. The control knob has a rotational axis that can be substantially parallel to the rotational axis of a driven wheel of the all terrain vehicle. The control assembly can be connected with a cable to a transmission of the all terrain vehicle such that the control knob can be rotatable to disable a reverse inhibitor system of the transmission. The control assembly can further include a shaft having a first stop and a base having a second stop, such that the first and second stops can be configured to selectively contact each other during rotation of the control knob.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2005Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventor: Eric Stevens
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Patent number: 7781678Abstract: A grommet is inserted into a notch in a channel and partially supports a seal strip attached to the channel. The grommet includes a main segment and first and second end segments. The main segment extends from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis and has a first side surface and a second side surface. The first end segment is attached to the main segment adjacent to the first end of the main segment. The second end segment is attached to the main segment adjacent to the second end of the main segment. The main segment, the first end segment, and the second end segment together define a passageway extending through the grommet parallel to the longitudinal axis. A cable harness including a grommet and a vehicle including a grommet are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2010Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventors: Camas Reed, Darin King, Mark Hegemann
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Patent number: 7770981Abstract: An apparatus connects a dump bed to a frame structure of a vehicle and facilitates tipping of the dump bed in a selected one of a plurality of directions from a load carrying position. The apparatus includes a ball joint assembly. The ball joint assembly is configured to selectively facilitate tipping of the dump bed as directed by an actuator. Vehicles including a ball joint assembly are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2008Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventors: Darin D. King, Scott T. Blanford
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Patent number: 7765744Abstract: A construction block is provided that includes at least one base member that includes a plurality of lower side wall receptacles. The construction block further includes a plurality of side wall assemblies. Each of the side wall assemblies includes a plurality of interconnected panels. Each of the panels is hingedly connected to each adjacent one of the panels of the respective one of the side wall assemblies. Each of the side wall assemblies defines a hollow load chamber having an open top and an open bottom. At least some of the panels of each of the side wall assemblies are angled relative to one another. Each of the lower side wall receptacles receives one of the side wall assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2007Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Global Shelter Systems, Inc.Inventor: Burke A. Herron
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Patent number: 7758014Abstract: A miniature needle valve having an improved internal body-to-bonnet metal-to-metal seal. The body seal incorporates a novel dovetail feature that improves the metal-to-metal contact forces as pressures increase. The space requirements of the seal are minimized in order to fit within a miniature valve body. The valve body can use dual outlet passageways to further minimize space requirements and improve the valve's flow characteristics. The body-to-bonnet seal improvements increase the pressure limits of the valve beyond similar-sized miniature needle valves of the prior art.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2006Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Noshok, Inc.Inventor: Michael F. Lancaster
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Patent number: 7753021Abstract: A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, includes an engine and a frame. The engine includes a cylinder housing and a spark plug. The cylinder housing defines a spark plug aperture. The spark plug is received within the spark plug aperture. The frame supports the engine and comprises a frame member. The frame member is adjacent to the cylinder housing and defines an access aperture. The access aperture is substantially aligned with the spark plug aperture. The access aperture is configured to facilitate installation and removal of the spark plug with respect to the spark plug aperture. Methods of installing and replacing a spark plug are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2008Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventors: David W. Arnold, Philip Tsiaras