Patents Examined by Vinh T. Luong
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Patent number: 8205524Abstract: A torque limiting handle assembly is described. One member of a two member torque limiting handle assembly has resiliently depending legs extending about its rotational axis. The second member has features arranged such that on rotation of the first member, the features contact the legs so that when a reaction torque of the second member is less than a threshold value, the second member rotates with the first member and when a reaction torque of the second member is greater than the threshold value, the legs resiliently deflect so that the features simply pass across the legs and the second member does not rotate with the first member.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2008Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Leggett & Platt Canada Co.Inventor: Shaffeek A. Yusuf
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Origin restoration mechanism for operating member and multi-direction input apparatus using the same
Patent number: 8186239Abstract: An origin restoration mechanism includes a base unit arranged in X-Y directions to cross the axis of an operating member body of an operating member, a link mechanism arranged on the upper surface of the base unit and a pair of urging devices for urging a rotary unit of the link mechanism. The link mechanism includes the rotary unit arranged around the axis of the operating member body and our movable members arranged equidistantly around the axis of the operating member body inside the rotary unit on the surface of the base unit and having rear ends coupled rotatably to the rotary unit. Via urging forces, the portions inside of the distal end of the four movable members come into contact with different portions, respectively, of the outer surface of the operating member body located at the original position C, to hold the operating member body.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2006Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Hosiden CorporationInventors: Noboru Wakitani, Junji Takamoto, Daisuke Kumazaki, Katsunori Kondo -
Patent number: 8186244Abstract: A transmission casing for a bicycle has sufficient strength and rigidity and has a simple structure while being capable of hermetically sealing a transmission body of the bicycle. In a transmission casing for a bicycle is covered with a casing and a plurality of transmission shafts supported by the casing. The transmission casing includes a light-metal-made reinforcing member made of aluminum, a light alloy or the like which supports shaft portions of the plurality of transmission shafts, and a fiber-reinforced-plastic-made cover member which is integrally laminated to an inner surface of the light-metal-made reinforcing member so as to hermetically seal the transmission body.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2005Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinya Matsumoto, Kazutoyo Yasuda
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Patent number: 8181553Abstract: A position control mechanism is provided for a bicycle control device that has a shifting unit. The position control mechanism has an operating member that is configured to operate a positioning member that moves through two of a plurality of predetermined shift positions during a single progressive movement of the operating member. The operating member is configured in the preferred embodiment to operate both a hydraulic braking unit and the shifting unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2004Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Akira Tsumiyama
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Patent number: 8176811Abstract: A rear cover for a drive axle housing is provided that minimizes stresses in the weld joining the output shaft bearing tube to the rear cover. In one embodiment, the rear cover includes a stiffening rib extending transversely across part or all of the cover. In another embodiment, the rear cover includes a raised portions proximate the output shaft bearing tube that is substantially spherical in shape.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2004Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLCInventors: Glen Peterson, Leo Wenstrup, Matthew Neff
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Patent number: 8161840Abstract: A bicycle brake control device comprises a mounting bracket for mounting the device to a bicycle, a lever mounted to the mounting bracket for rotation around a pivot axis, and an adjustment unit. The adjustment unit comprises a first adjustment component and a second adjustment component, wherein the first adjustment component adjusts a selected position of the lever relative to the mounting bracket, and the second adjustment component adjusts a position of a brake operating element when the lever is in the selected position.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Daisuke Nago
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Patent number: 8156841Abstract: A manipulation lever connection structure for a vehicle eliminates a striking sound without losing an adjusting function of an adjustment nut. The manipulation lever connection structure for a vehicle includes an arm for operating a driving changeover device and for connecting a wire which extends from a manipulation lever to the arm. An adjustment bolt is mounted on a distal end of the wire with a joint slidably mounted on the adjustment bolt on an axis thereof. An adjustment nut for supporting the joint is fastened to the adjustment bolt. A pair of side plate portions, respectively, forming elongated holes which allow the joint to pass therethrough is mounted on the arm. The adjustment nut is inserted between the pair of side plate portions with a buffer cover being mounted on the adjustment nut with a clearance formed between the adjustment nut and the respective side plate portions.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2007Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiro Yasuda, Koji Sato, Hideo Yanai
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Patent number: 8136425Abstract: A steering wheel comprises a rim connected to spokes. A covering material is provided to enclose at least a portion of the rim and/or the spokes. The covering material includes an outer cover and a light element positioned under the outer cover. The light element is configured to emit light through at least a portion of the outer cover. The light element is positioned over a casing that is provided to give shape to the steering wheel so that a vehicle driver may easily grasp the steering wheel. The light element may provide continuous, pulsed, or non-continuous lighting.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2011Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventor: William E. Bostick
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Patent number: 8132484Abstract: A sprocket cover arrangement for a hand-held chain saw has a housing and a sprocket cover that has an opening and is connected to the housing. At least one stud bolt having a first end secured to the housing and having a second end that is a free threaded end is provided. The free threaded end projects through the opening of the sprocket cover to an exterior side of the sprocket cover when the sprocket cover is positioned in an operating position on the housing. A nut is screwed onto the free threaded end of the at least one stud bolt on the exterior side of the sprocket cover so as to secure the sprocket cover on the housing. The nut is secured captively, rotatably and with play in the opening of the sprocket cover.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2007Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KGInventors: Gerhard Pfleiderer, Maximilian Eberhardt, Günter Wolf, Jürgen Bernert
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Patent number: 8127639Abstract: A telescopically collapsible vehicular steering column assembly includes inner and outer shaft tubes which are joined in a sliding fit by a bushing. The bushing includes a pair of spaced journal bearings formed of steel-backed PTFE held in a plastic carrier body. The bushing is located in a receiving chamber in the outer shaft tube. A clearance compensator reacts against the receiving chamber to exert a radial compressive force through the carrier body and the journal bearings to improve the sliding fit with the inner shaft tube and remove lash. The clearance compensator can take any form, such as a hollow annular rib, a skirt with a flexible free end, or an array of nubs carried in thinned sections of the carrier body. The clearance compensator in all of these variations operates within a clearance space and has dimensional attributes which can be changed during the design and manufacturing phases of the bushing to optimize a characteristic of the steering column assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2005Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Company, a Delaware corporationInventors: Marvin V. Manwaring, Richard K. Riefe, Ray G. Armstrong, Ravi Ravindra
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Patent number: 8127640Abstract: A detachable coupling for connecting a pull cable connected to a shift actuator to a shifting cable connected to an internal gear hub for transmitting a shifting movement of the shift actuator to the internal gear hub. The detachable coupling includes an internal gear hub casing having a cable guide extending therefrom and a connecting sleeve having a contoured slot configured to be removably attachable to the cable guide. An end of the shifting cable is configured to be removably coupled to an end of the pull cable for transmitting the shifting movement along a cable transmission path.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2003Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: SRAM Deutschland GmbHInventors: Werner Steuer, Peter Kainzner, Gunter Pehse
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Patent number: 8122786Abstract: Locking arrangement for locking a first element which is movably mounted in a first direction, by means of a second element which is movably mounted in a second direction transversely with respect to the first direction. First element has a toothed contour with at least two teeth and a tooth gap which lies between. Second element has a projection which has a projection length which is shorter than the tooth gap length. The projection can be introduced into tooth gap when there is movement in the second direction, to lock the first element. Each tooth has a face which points towards the second element and has a first contour. Projection has a face which points towards the first element and has a second contour. First and second contours are matched to one another so that the projection is deflected by the teeth from becoming inserted into tooth gap if first element moves faster than a predetermined locking speed and slower than a maximum speed of first element.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2007Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: GETRAG Getriebe- und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & Cie KGInventor: Markus Kirchner
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Patent number: 8117942Abstract: A vehicle handle with improved vibration proof function. A balance weight has an inner balance weight portion with a center-of-mass positioned in a handle pipe, and an outer balance weight portion. A floating damper interposed between an outer periphery of the inner balance weight portion and an inner surface of the handle pipe supports the balance weight in one location that includes the center-of-mass of the balance weight.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2006Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaaki Kuwata, Yoshihiro Suzuki
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Patent number: 8117943Abstract: A torsional vibration damper includes a one-piece integral hub and annular inertia mass assembly. Between the hub and the inertia mass are intermediate rings connected integrally with the mass and the hub connected integral spokes. Elastomeric members are compression fitted within spaces formed between the hub and the mass.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2007Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Metavation, LLCInventor: Suhale Manzoor
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Patent number: 8113086Abstract: A park brake includes a brake lever that is movable about a primary and secondary pivot. The brake lever selectively rotates about the primary and secondary pivots changing a ratio of rotation of the brake lever relative to a cable.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2007Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brian J. Eckerle, Ronald J. Hanna, James Allen
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Patent number: 8109170Abstract: An umbilical member motion limiting device is provided on a robot which has a forearm, a wrist portion, an operating tool attached to the end of the wrist portion, and the umbilical member connected to the operating tool through the forearm, for limiting the motion of the umbilical member corresponding to the motion of the robot. The motion limiting device comprises a swing portion attached to the wrist portion so as to swing around a swing axis and a limiting portion arranged on the swing portion for limiting the motion of the umbilical member. Thus, the motion limiting device can minimize interference due to surplus length of the umbilical member and avoid contact of the umbilical member with external equipment.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2009Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Fanuc LtdInventors: Munehiro Jinushi, Masahiro Morioka, Satoshi Adachi
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Patent number: 8096208Abstract: A positioning apparatus for a shift control device for a bicycle transmission comprises a movable member having a positioning element, a positioning member having a positioning element structured to engage the positioning element of the movable member, and a biasing member that biases the positioning member towards an engaged position wherein the positioning element of the positioning member engages the positioning element of the movable member. The positioning member moves toward and away from a plane of movement of the movable member. A releasing member is disposed between the movable member and the positioning member, wherein the releasing member moves between an initial position and an operating position. The releasing member allows the positioning member to be in the engaged position when the releasing member is in the initial position, and the positioning member moves to the disengaged position when the releasing member moves to the operating position.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2007Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Shimano (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventor: Yau Yong Sean
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Patent number: 8091450Abstract: A torsional vibration damper includes a one-piece integral hub and annular inertia mass assembly. Between the hub and the inertia mass are intermediate rings connected integrally with the mass and the hub connected integral spokes. Elastomeric members are compression fitted within spaces formed between the hub and the mass. With this design, the damper can be formed from a polymeric material with an embedded annular weight.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2008Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Metavation, LLCInventors: Suhale Manzoor, Bruce G. Christenson
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Patent number: 8079286Abstract: A two-piece motion-transmitting cable assembly includes first and second cables, each having a core wire surrounded by a conduit; a male housing connected to the first cable and having a ridged length adjustment section; a spring retainer slideably interconnected with the exterior of the male housing and having a female retaining clip at a first end; a female housing connected to the second cable and having a male retaining clip engaging with the female retaining clip when the male and female housings are mated; an adjustment clip engaging with the ridged length adjustment section to lock the male housing in a position relative to the female housing; and a spring contained between the exterior of the male housing and the interior of the spring retainer and interacting with the spring retainer, in conjunction with the retainer clip, to bias the first cable in a direction toward the second cable.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2006Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: J. Martin Nagle, Michael J. Konn
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Patent number: 8074534Abstract: A flywheel includes a hub portion concentrically defined around a center of the flywheel. A body portion located peripherally around the hub portion has a driver-side face and a driven-side face. A plurality of passageways in the body portion extend through the flywheel and fluidly connect the driver-side face with the driven-side face. Each of the plurality of passageways is adapted to receive a flow of lubricant spilling onto the driver-side of the body portion when the flywheel is rotating, and to expel lubricant out of the driven-side face of the body portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2007Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Satish Savant, David Fee, Bradford Kough, Jonathan Baumann, Perry Cruce, Matthew Dames