Patents Examined by Julie K. Smith
  • Patent number: 6829962
    Abstract: A steering column (10) includes a steering column member (12). A mounting bracket (66) connects the steering column (10) to a vehicle frame. The mounting bracket (66) has a surface defining an aperture (77). A support (24), through which the steering column member (12) extends, is connected with the mounting bracket (66). The support (24) supports the steering column member (12) for rotation about a longitudinal axis (26) of the steering column member (12) and is movable relative to the mounting bracket. A locking mechanism (130) prevents movement of the support (24) relative to the mounting bracket (66). A first portion (42) is connected with the support (24) and is movable with the support (24) and the steering column member (12) relative to the mounting bracket (66). A follower pin (63) extends from the first portion (42) and into the aperture (77) in the mounting bracket (66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Cartwright
  • Patent number: 6830381
    Abstract: An axial bearing unit made up of a cage (2) and races (3, 4) is in which the collar (5) located at the outer peripheral edge of the race (3) is extended by a first flange (7) and a protruding rib (8) is formed in an area made up of the collar (5) and the flange (7). The protruding rib faces inwardly to radically contain the cage (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Charles M. Schwab, J. Kevin Brown
  • Patent number: 6826977
    Abstract: A robot drive assembly for moving a working tool in x, y, z and theta directions comprising three independent, coaxially nested tubes, each tube being driven around a common central axis by drive belts attached to separate drive motors located in a mounting flange associated with the outermost tube. The motors, and the tubes which they drive, provide horizontal rotary motion to a robot arm attached to the upper end of the outer tube and the wrist and elbow of that arm. A fourth motor controls vertical motion of the whole assembly. The robot system also includes motor position adjustment structure and belt tension structure designed for ease of use and to eliminate movement of tensioned components once locked in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Innovative Robotic Solutions
    Inventors: Gaylen Grover, Dennis Wightman, Tomas Melendez
  • Patent number: 6810762
    Abstract: A gear change device comprising a select actuator for actuating a shift lever in the direction of selection and a shift actuator for actuating the shift lever in the direction of shift, and the select actuator has a shift lever support mechanism arranged in a casing to support the shift lever in such a manner as to slide in the axial direction and to rotate, an electromagnetic solenoid for operating the shift lever in the axial direction which is the direction of selection, a select position-limiting mechanism for limiting the operation position of the shift lever according to the thrust produced in response to the amount of electric power fed to the electromagnetic coils of the electromagnetic solenoids, and the shift actuator works to turn the shift lever support mechanism in the direction of shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Michinobu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6810769
    Abstract: A motor vehicle wiper gear motor includes a motor core and a reduction gear base, the core and the base having metal parts. The gear motor has a joint interposed between the core and the base, the joint including a sealing material and at least a metal element in contact with the metal parts of the core and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage
    Inventors: Dominique Gerrand, Pascal Renoux
  • Patent number: 6810759
    Abstract: An engine starter includes a recoil device, and a recoil cover for accommodating the recoil device therein also covers a flywheel operatively rotated with the recoil device, ring gears integrally fixed to the flywheel, and pinions which are components of a starter device and engage with the ring gears when the starter device is operated. The recoil cover is provided with a drain mechanism, including a boss formed integrally with the recoil cover, a drain pipe projected on the boss, and a drain cap plugged to the drain pipe and made of rubber so that it is manually detachable therefrom without using a tool. Thus a liquid such as muddy water which has entered from the recoil cover can be removed simply by pulling out the drain cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fusao Tachibana
  • Patent number: 6805024
    Abstract: An end play restriction wedge restricts the end play of a rotatable shaft with respect to a housing. The end play restriction wedge includes a female-wedge housing and a male wedge. The female-wedge housing has a U-shaped cross-section defined by an intermediate wall and outwardly extending side walls connected adjacent each end of the intermediate wall. The intermediate wall has a thrust plate surface along one side and an angled ramp along an opposite side. The angled ramp and outwardly extending side walls define a tapered aperture extending through the housing with an enlarged opening adjacent a first end of the housing. The male wedge is positioned adjacent the enlarged opening of the housing to be driven into the tapered aperture in response to an external force acting on an outer end of the wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Shufflebarger, Ned L. Kikly, Jones C. Fung
  • Patent number: 6805020
    Abstract: A manual input device which comprises a mechanism, a major function select switch, a confirm switch, a display unit, and a controller. The mechanism is composed of: a laterally movable motor for applying an external force which is mounted on a frame; a knob fitted to a drive shaft of the motor; an encoder for detecting rotation of the knob; a stick controller for detecting lateral movement of the motor; a first guide plate and a second guide plate for limiting a range of movement of the knob; and a first solenoid and a second solenoid for driving the guide plates individually. The guide groove pattern is different between the first and second guide plates. The range in which the knob can be moved when the first guide plate only is engaged with the drive shaft of the motor is different from that when both the first and second guide plates are engaged with the drive shaft of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mikio Onodera
  • Patent number: 6796202
    Abstract: In a switch operating mechanism, a switch of a circuit board is disposed between a first pressing arm and a second pressing arm of a pusher having a substantial U-shape when seen in side view, and the first pressing arm is positioned directly above the switch. A front end of an operating knob is disposed between the circuit board and the second pressing arm. When the operator moves the operating knob upward, the front end of the operating knob moves the second pressing arm of the pusher downward. Thus the pusher moves straight along the direction perpendicular to the plane of the circuit board, and the first pressing arm of the pusher presses and activates the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Toshihito Takai, Shinji Watanabe, Mamoru Miyako
  • Patent number: 6792827
    Abstract: An adjustable brake and throttle pedal assembly for a vehicle which includes a throttle pedal arm and support arm pivotally mounted to a bracket. An electronic throttle control unit is mounted to the bracket at the pivot point of the pedal arm assembly. A first adjustment drive mechanism extends in a space formed between the support arm and throttle pedal arm. The adjustable brake and throttle pedal assembly also includes a brake pedal arm mounted to the bracket. A second adjustment mechanism is operatively attached to the brake pedal arm. The second adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the first adjustment mechanism, to cooperatively position the throttle pedal arm and the brake pedal arm at a selected position between a retracted position and an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: KSR Industrial Corporation
    Inventor: Larry G. Willemsen
  • Patent number: 6793394
    Abstract: A pair of thrust hydrodynamic bearing portions are made to communicate with each other to form fluid circulating passages for equalizing a pressure imbalance between both thrust hydrodynamic bearing portions. Even in a case where a pressure imbalance has occurred in a lubricating fluid inside the thrust hydrodynamic bearing portions due to such a cause as the deformation of a thrust plate, the lubricating fluid is allowed to move between the pair of upper and lower thrust hydrodynamic bearing portions through the fluid circulating passages so as to overcome the pressure imbalance, thereby making it possible to stably obtain the amount of floatation in the thrust hydrodynamic bearing portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masato Gomyo, Kazushi Miura
  • Patent number: 6786109
    Abstract: A safety device is here described for supporting pedals in motor vehicles, especially passenger cars, with a bracket support arranged in the area of a wall area of a splash wall or bulkhead that is noticeably deformed into a passenger compartment in the event of a vehicle head-on collision, in which bracket support a pedal pivot shaft of at least one swivelling pedal, especially a brake pedal, acting on a push rod is mounted. At the same time the pedal pivot shaft is mounted in the bracket support in a guide extending at least basically horizontally, the guide has limits in each horizontal direction. In addition the pedal pivot shaft in normal operation is fixed in a forward position of the guide, viewed in the forward direction of travel, and the fixing is neutralized in the event of a head-on collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Martin Mueller, Dieter Papenhagen
  • Patent number: 6786108
    Abstract: A motorized beach vehicle has a gear lever clutching structure for prevention of gear slip. The gear lever, the linking arm and the swing arm are connected to form a substantially “h”-shaped structure. The gear lever may be pivoted to combine the combination stud of the swing arm with the combination hole of the combination arm, so that the gear lever may be moved to shift the universal connector of the crank so as to change the speed. After the gear lever accomplishes the gear shifting work, the combination stud is detached from the combination hole of the combination arm. Thus, the crank cannot be moved to shift gear in the gearbox due to vibration or shock applied on the vehicle body, thereby preventing from incurring gear slip of the gearbox of the motorized beach vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Taiwan Power Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tai-Yang Luh
  • Patent number: 6776061
    Abstract: An apparatus for guiding a threaded spindle in rotation, which spindle is used to ensure the displacement in translation of a mobile element connected to a threaded female piece engaged on this threaded spindle, which threaded spindle has a certain length and is connected, by one of its opposite ends, to a motor device for driving in rotation about its longitudinal axis in such a way as to allow the displacement in translation of the threaded female piece, wherein this apparatus includes at least one device for elastic absorption of an axial force which force, directed axially with respect to the threaded spindle and toward either one of its opposite ends, arises between this threaded spindle and the threaded female piece, and which force, when exceeding a certain limit, is considered likely to distort in particular the surfaces by which the threaded spindle and the threaded female piece cooperate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Tornos SA
    Inventors: Patrick Schuettel, Kurt Dreier
  • Patent number: 6776532
    Abstract: A needle roller bearing includes a plurality of needle rollers that each have first and second end portions and that are disposed circumferentially around a shaft, a cylindrical first retainer member having a plurality of first notches each respectively adapted to rotatably support the first end portion of a respective one of the rollers, and a cylindrical second retainer member located spaced apart from and opposite the first retainer member and having a plurality of second notches each respectively adapted to rotatably support the second end portion of a respective one of the rollers. A plurality of voids are provided to form grease-containing spaces between the adjacent rollers and between the first and second retainer members so that the roller bearing is sufficiently lubricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Isel Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 6766714
    Abstract: A case member mounting structure, in which a case member (5) is mounted to an engine body (2, 3, 4) by fixing an outer circumference of the case member (5) to the engine body (2, 3, 4) with a plurality of fastening means (34) to cover a power transmission mechanism, includes at least one projecting portion (40, 41) which projects from one or both of the inner wall surface of the case member (5) and the outer wall surface of the engine body (2, 3, 4) for contact with the other, and a seal member (44) applied to the contact surface at the distal end of the projecting portion (40, 41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Iwata, Keiko Yoshida, Atsushi Tanaka, Yuuji Ishimura
  • Patent number: 6748820
    Abstract: A terminal assembly for connecting a core member of a remote control cable assembly to a control member includes a housing, an isolator secured to the housing with a snap-fit connection and having a deflectable wall at least partially forming a passage for receiving the control member, an adjuster movable between an installed position wherein the adjuster prevents outward deflection of the wall away from the passage and an uninstalled position wherein the wall is free to outwardly deflect away from the passage. The adjuster is secured to the isolator with a snap-fit connection in the installed position. The isolator includes a flange within the passage which is adapted to cooperate with the control member to secure the control member to the isolator when the adjuster is in the installed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies,Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Phillip Ruhlander
  • Patent number: 6742625
    Abstract: A lubrication device lubricates traveling lubrication sites, such as on a belt (1), in particular, on a roller or chain belt (1). The lubrication device includes a lubricating apparatus (2) having a catch (C) that is capable of assuming a resting position and a catching position relative to the belt (1). In the catching position, a lubricating head (D) of the lubricating apparatus (2) is moved to a lubrication site by relative lateral motion between the belt (1) and the lubricating apparatus (2) in order to supply lubricant to the lubricating site. At the end of the run path, the lubricating head (D) as well as the catch (C) moves relative to the belt (1) to return back to the resting position. Also, before or simultaneously while the catch (C) is brought into engagement with the belt (1), the lubricating apparatus (2) can be extended in a longitudinal direction of the lubrication site motion at a boosting speed, which is greater than zero and less than the speed of the belt (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Lincoln GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl Rodemer, Heinz Rühl
  • Patent number: 6739213
    Abstract: First and second spoke cores are arranged linearly through the boss plate so that most of the lower ends of the first and second spoke cores are located above a middle line. A third spoke core is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the first and second spoke cores. A pair of tine portions are provided in the third spoke core so as to be connected to the first and second spoke cores, thereby the tine portions and the first and second spoke cores intersect each other obliquely. In the tine portions, through holes and reception seats are provided so that the air bag module is fixed with screws and the through holes while the air bag module abuts on the reception seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Sonobe, Ichizo Shiga
  • Patent number: 6736240
    Abstract: A cam drive is provided for a valve control of a mixture-lubricated internal combustion engine that has a cylinder, and a cylinder head in which is disposed a poppet valve which is actuated by a pivotable rocker arm. Mounted in a cam chamber is a control cam that is driven by the crankshaft of the engine and on the cam path of which rests a drag lever that transfers the cam lift to the rocker arm. To achieve a reliable mixture lubrication, a flow guidance element is disposed in the annular chamber between the peripheral wall of the cam chamber and the maximum diameter of the path of a cam nose. The flow guidance element is provided with a flow edge that is disposed adjacent to the drag lever in the vicinity of the path diameter of the cam nose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co.
    Inventors: Bernhard Dürr, Harald Schliemann, Manfred Rabis, Jörg Schlossarczyk