Patents Examined by Thomas Diaz
  • Patent number: 10144481
    Abstract: A control module, which is mounted on a handlebar of a bicycle, includes a base, a grip, a control bar, and a bolt. The base has a hole, and the hole has a first section and a second section, wherein the second section is bigger than the first section. The base is fitted to the handlebar whereby a sidewall of the first section touches the handlebar. The grip is fitted to the handlebar, and has a portion received in the second section of the hole of the base. The control bar is provided on the base to control a brake module or a derailleur module. The bolt is provided on the base, wherein both the base and the grip are fixed to the handlebar at the same time by tightening the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Lee Chi Enterprises Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Hsin Lin
  • Patent number: 9771126
    Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly is basically provided with a bicycle crank arm and an electrical unit. The bicycle crank arm includes a crank portion and a sprocket mounting portion. The sprocket mounting portion includes at least one sprocket mounting arm having a distal end part forming a sprocket mounting structure. The electrical unit includes a first attachment part that is disposed on a first sprocket mounting arm of the at least one sprocket mounting arm at the sprocket mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Toshio Tetsuka
  • Patent number: 9695804
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for reducing the load on a supporting structure comprising a housing defining a chamber, at least one object having a first face and a substantially opposite second face mounted in the chamber by means of the supporting structure and is displaceable relative to the housing leaving free a gap provided with a seal separating a first section and a second section of the chamber, an exposing means for exposing at least the first face to a gas pressure, thereby generating an upward differential pressure force at least partially compensating the object weight, wherein the seal is supported by a movable part of the housing and the device further comprises a means for adjusting the position of at least said movable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: S4 Energy B.V.
    Inventor: Carl Maria De Vries
  • Patent number: 9688343
    Abstract: A tubular handlebar includes an internal peripheral surface and a stem head with a mounting system for a mobile device. The tubular handlebar includes a open end, a closed end, at least one speaker unit embedded into at least one through hole of the internal peripheral surface, and a bass reflex system to enhance the acoustic characteristics of the sound generated by the at least one speaker unit. The tubular handlebar has a sound box affixed to the internal peripheral surface of the tubular handlebar and housing a rear part of the at least one speaker unit. The bass reflex system includes a bass reflex duct connecting the sound box with the first end. The mounting system further includes a first connector to electrically connect the mobile device to a second connector. The second connector can be detached or reattached to the at least one speaker unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Shin Takanashi, Yuji Matsumoto, Shimpei Hirano
  • Patent number: 9683629
    Abstract: A centrifugal force pendulum having a pendulum mass pair and a pendulum flange, in which an arcuate cut-out with a cut-out contour is provided, wherein the pendulum masses of the pendulum mass pair are situated on both sides of the pendulum flange and are connected to each other by at least one spacer bolt which is guided through the cut-out, wherein the spacer bolt has a damping arrangement which includes a stabilizing element and an elastic damping element, wherein the damping element is designed to damp a striking of the spacer bolt on the cut-out contour of the cut-out, wherein the damping element and the stabilizing element of the damping arrangement are positioned relative to each other so that the damping element is able to strike the cut-out contour of the cut-out directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thorsten Krause, Kai Schenck
  • Patent number: 9638241
    Abstract: The link for an aircraft comprises at least two portions respectively made of metal and of composite material together forming a common section of a middle segment of the link in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Guillaume Gallant, Julien Guillemaut
  • Patent number: 9638238
    Abstract: A terminal supporting apparatus is provided with: a hub that is attached to an end of the outer cable and is provided with a flange on an outer periphery; a cushion member that is provided to surround the outer periphery of the hub and abuts on the flange at both a front surface and a back surface of the flange; and a housing that houses the cushion member. The cushion member includes a large-diameter portion that abuts on the flange. At least within a range contacting with the hub, at least a part of an outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion is fixed to an inner surface of the housing, while a clearance is formed between the cushion member and the inner surface of the housing over an entire region of an end surface of the large-diameter portion in a cable axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: CHUO HATSUJO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiko Aoki, Kazuyoshi Nono, Takashi Goto, Yuichi Hirata
  • Patent number: 9632525
    Abstract: A vehicle pedal with a contacting position sensor. The pedal includes a housing with an interior housing wall that divides the housing into first and second interior housing chambers. The drum of the pedal arm is located in the first interior housing chamber and the sensor rotor is located in the second interior housing chamber. First and second housing side covers cover the first and second interior housing chambers respectively. The drum is mounted on and supported by the interior housing wall and the first housing cover for rotation of the drum in the first interior housing chamber relative to the pedal housing. A retainer with a pin and a clip extend through respective through-holes in the rotor and into respective slots in the drum and the clip engages against an interior shoulder in the drum for locking the rotor on the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: CTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Murray Kaijala
  • Patent number: 9616861
    Abstract: An electrical-mechanical brake apparatus includes a bracket and a pedal arm supported by the bracket. The bracket has a cam surface. An arm extends from the pivot arm to a follower. As the pedal arm moves toward the bracket, the follower moves along the cam surface, compressing the cam bias for simulating the feel of a purely mechanical brake system. In certain embodiments, the earn body rotates while in others the cam follower rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: KSR IP Holdings LLC.
    Inventors: Jarek Soltys, Nack J. Sung
  • Patent number: 9605746
    Abstract: A vent for a motor vehicle transmission includes a housing attached to a bell housing of the transmission and a plate mounted in the housing. The housing has an opening, and the plate has an open position to enable heat to dissipate from the interior of the bell hosing through the opening of the housing and a closed position to prevent debris or water from entering through the opening of the housing into the interior of the bell housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Greg Alan Weeter, Nilesh Patil
  • Patent number: 9599188
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damping arrangement for a drivetrain of a vehicle includes a carrier arrangement that is rotatable around an axis of rotation, a deflection mass movable in a circumferential direction relative to the carrier arrangement, and at least one radially extending, elastically deformable restoring element by which the carrier arrangement and the deflection mass are coupled to be rotatable relative to one another. A supporting element is associated with the restoring element and movable radially relative to the restoring element by which the restoring element is supported in circumferential direction with respect to the carrier arrangement at a radial position of the supporting element. A stiffness of the coupling between the carrier arrangement and the deflection mass which is brought about in circumferential direction by the restoring element has an abrupt course at least one radial position of the supporting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Dögel, Uwe Grossgebauer, Andreas Orlamünder
  • Patent number: 9593741
    Abstract: The present teachings provide for a torsional damper and a transmission having a torsional damper. The torsional damper can include first and second members. The first member can include a first hub, a first outer portion, and a plurality of first spokes. The first hub can be non-rotatably coupled to an input member of the transmission. The first spokes can extend radially between the first hub and the first outer portion. The first spokes can couple the first outer portion to the first hub. The second member can include a second hub and a second outer portion. The second hub can be non-rotatably coupled to an output member of the transmission. The second outer portion can be radially outward of the second hub and can be fixedly coupled to the second hub and to the first outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: e-AAM Driveline Systems AB
    Inventors: Magnus Hederstad, Erik J. Sten
  • Patent number: 9592880
    Abstract: A bicycle operating apparatus is provided with a base member, a ratchet, a pawl member and an operating member. The ratchet is rotatably disposed around a ratchet axis, and biased in a first direction about the ratchet axis. The operating member moves the pawl member from a first position to a second position. The pawl member has a pawl portion and first and second support portions. The pawl portion engages with the ratchet teeth while the pawl member is in the second position to regulate rotation of the ratchet in the first direction. The first support portion pivotally supports the pawl member around a first axis as the pawl member moves from the first position to the second position. The second support portion pivotally supports the pawl member around a second axis while the pawl member is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Kawakami
  • Patent number: 9587669
    Abstract: A terminal (10) for a motion transmitting remote control assembly (12) securable to a control member (14) in a vehicle includes a housing (44) for connection to a core element (20) of the motion transmitting remote control assembly (12) with the housing (44) defining an aperture (48) forming at least one open end (50). The terminal (10) also includes a connecting member (60) having a body (62) disposed in the aperture (48) with the body (62) having a cavity (66) for receiving the control member (14) and a groove (84) in communication with the cavity (66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: KONGSBERG DRIVELINE SYSTEMS I, INC.
    Inventor: Harry Edward Koontz
  • Patent number: 9570957
    Abstract: A gear box includes a gear box body of a reducer to which a motor is mounted. The gear box body includes a worm, wheel holding section where a worm wheel of the reducer is held, and a motor holding section, where a part of the motor is contained, the motor holding section having a motor mounting opening. The motor holding section is configured such that a bottom of the motor holding section is provided in a region between a line L1 and a line L2. Here, the line L1 passes through the center C of the worm wheel holding section and is perpendicular to the axis line X of a motor shaft. The line L2 is a tangent line passing through an outer edge portion located near a circular outer peripheral wall of the worm wheel holding section on a motor side and is perpendicular to the axis line X of the motor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Takashi Tamaki, Satoshi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9562600
    Abstract: The cam follower roller device including a body, a shaft mounted on the body, a roller mounted on the shaft in a rotationally movable manner, and at least one friction element mounted on the shaft axially between the roller and the body. The friction element is separate from the body and from the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: François Champalou, Richard Corbett, Aurelien Ghilbert-Simon, Benoît Hauvespre, Julien Maffucci
  • Patent number: 9562604
    Abstract: An axle includes a differential, a cover, and a heat absorber. The differential has a ring gear disposed within a housing. The ring gear is configured to pump a lubricating fluid. The cover is attached to the housing. The heat absorber is attached to the cover within a pump path of the ring gear. The heat absorber has a phase-change material disposed within the heat absorber configured to absorb heat from the lubricating fluid. A method to control fluid temperature in a vehicle axle is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sunil Katragadda, W. Cary Cole, Michael Levin, Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Danrich Henry Demitroff, Mathew John Fast
  • Patent number: 9550477
    Abstract: A vehicle pedal device includes a main bracket with a pair of side plates supporting a pedal and attached to a dash panel, and a sub-bracket coupling a main bracket rear end and reinforcement. Where both ends of a clinching pin inserted through coupling holes formed in side plate rear ends are inserted through insertion holes of sub-bracket side plate portions, the both ends are axially clinchingly compressed, whereby the rear ends are clinchingly attached to the portions to be overlapped, inner peripheral edges of the coupling and insertion holes having a non-circular shape, distances from their centers circumferentially varying, the portions being extended outward to be separated further away from the side plates toward the panel, and the insertion holes formed in the portions having an elongated hole shape whose length allows the both ends protruding from the side plates to pass therethrough where the portions are extended outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Kitaguchi
  • Patent number: 9551383
    Abstract: A transaxle includes an input shaft, a brake, an output shaft, a mechanical transmission, a transaxle casing, and a spacing system. The brake is provided on the input shaft. The brake includes layered friction elements. The transmission transmits power from the input shaft to the output shaft. The transaxle casing includes a housing defining both a brake chamber and a transmission chamber. The brake chamber incorporates the brake. The transmission chamber incorporates the transmission. The spacing system is configured so as to provide the transaxle casing with a partition wall between the brake chamber and the transmission chamber, so as to hold a bearing in the partition wall to journal the input shaft, and so as to provide a spacer for the layered friction elements of the brake, the spacer defining a space in the axial direction of the input shaft in correspondence to a thickness of the layered friction elements in the axial direction of the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Fukuda, Michio Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9545690
    Abstract: A method for structuring at least one sliding surface (4) of a machine element (1), wherein the at least one sliding surface (4) is provided by a first structuring method with a first microstructure (5) for holding lubricant. To be able to now realize the best possible sliding properties for the sliding surface, during the course of a second structuring method, recesses are formed in the at least one sliding surface (4), by which a second microstructure (6) is defined with less depth in comparison with the first microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Holger Patzold