Patents Examined by Vinh T. Luong
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Patent number: 8069750Abstract: A compact vehicle pedal includes a mounting bracket having a lower arm with guide slot. A swing plate having a mounting face and upper arm with guide slot is pivotally interconnected to a mounting bracket upper arm at a first axis by a pivot pin disposed within the swing plate guide slot, and the swing plate upper end has a first degree of freedom. An electronically controlled pedal arm assembly is mounted on the swing plate. A screw member connected to a drive apparatus has an end connected to the swing plate and operatively connected to the mounting bracket slot at the second axis, and the swing plate lower end has a second degree of freedom that is greater than the first. Activation of the drive apparatus displaces the screw member to pivotally constrain movement of the swing plate about the first axis and the second axis.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2007Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: KSR Technologies Co.Inventors: Larry Willemsen, Dan O'Neill
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Patent number: 8069749Abstract: A shift control apparatus for a bicycle comprises an output transmission member that moves to at least a first output position and a second output position, a position maintaining mechanism, and a release control mechanism. The position maintaining mechanism includes a position maintaining member that moves between a position maintaining position and a position release position, wherein the position maintaining position maintains the output transmission member in one of the first output position and the second output position. The position release position allows the output transmission member to move toward the other one of the first output position and the second output position. The release control mechanism includes a release member that moves between a first release member position and a second release member position.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2003Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Toshio Tetsuka, Tetsuya Hino
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Patent number: 8056438Abstract: A bicycle shift control device includes a housing, at least one operating lever, a rotatable member, a flexible elongated member, and a gear indicator portion having a window. The rotatable member has a guide member and is disposed within the housing. The rotatable member is configured to rotate in response to movement of the at least one operating lever. The flexible elongated member has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is connected to the rotatable member for movement therewith and extends at least part-way along the guide portion of the rotatable member. The second end portion is configured for movement along the gear indicator portion with at least a tip of the second end portion of the flexible elongated member being visible through the window of the gear indicator portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2006Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Shimano Components (Malaysia) SDN. BHD.Inventors: Chan Jin Lim, Seng Loong Ng, Mohd Arif Husin
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Patent number: 8051743Abstract: A throttle control device for a hand held tool, such as a chain saw, is provided. The tool is provided with a forwardly extending wire for transmitting a motion from a throttle control lever turnably arranged about a first axis to a throttle valve. One end of the wire is secured to a wire arm that is turnably arranged about a second axis. The wire arm is provided with one or several teeth cooperating with the throttle control lever and the second axis is arranged behind the first axis.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2004Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: Husqvarna ABInventors: Stefan Kullberg, Roger Rogersten, Pär Martinsson, Oskar Bergquist
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Patent number: 8047097Abstract: A steering wheel assembly, comprising: an insert comprising an armature, a rim portion and at least one spoke connecting the armature to the rim portion; a rim assembly comprising a first rim portion and a second rim portion, the first rim portion and the second rim portion each being configured to be disposed around a periphery of the rim portion of the insert and the first rim portion and the second rim portion are configured to be secured to each other about the rim portion of the insert, the first rim portion and the second rim portion each being separately formed from a polymeric material prior to the securement of the rim assembly to the rim portion of the insert; and a decorative cover disposed about an exterior surface of the rim assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2007Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Barry C. Worrell, James J. Simpson, Philip W. Hopf, Frank G. Meyer
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Patent number: 8028601Abstract: A bicycle shift operating device is provided with a support structure, a take-up unit and a shift positioning mechanism. The support structure has an inner wire fixing part. The take-up unit includes a rotating body mounted on the support structure to rotate about a first axis, and an inner wire routing pulley mounted on the rotating body to move with the rotating body about the first axis and to rotate independently of the rotating body about a second axis that is offset from the first axis of the rotating body. The shift positioning mechanism is operatively coupled to the take-up unit to selectively hold the take-up unit in one of a plurality of shift positions.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2007Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Yoshimitsu Miki
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Patent number: 8024991Abstract: An actuator, especially for seat adjusting devices with at least one electrical engine having subordinated reduction gear and a disconnecting device for manual operation. The generic actuator is provided with a disconnecting device that can be used in all operating processes in a large number of different applications and that guarantees reliable functioning of the disconnecting device without being over-dimensioned and thus uneconomical. The disconnecting device has a coupling insertion spring which determines the release force of the disconnecting device and a reset spring is provided which resets an actuating device.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2007Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: Buehler Motor GmbHInventor: Stefan Weber
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Patent number: 8015898Abstract: An air breather structure for an automatic transmission. The structure includes a transmission case housing a power train accommodating a plurality of friction engagement devices, and an extension case housing a rotational member. The extension case and the transmission case are united with each other to constitute an automatic transmission housing. A breather chamber is located upside the automatic transmission housing in a state where the automatic transmission is mounted in a vehicle, and formed with an air vent for communication with outside air. An end wall is provided for partitioning the transmission case and the extension case therebetween to define a transmission case-side space and an extension case-side space.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2007Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: JATCO LtdInventor: Masato Kitamura
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Patent number: 8011269Abstract: An actuator has a rotatable input member coupled to a drive member such that rotation of the rotatable input member under an input load causes rotation of the drive member on a first axis. The drive member is coupled to a driven member such that rotation of the drive member causes rotation of the driven member on a second axis which is laterally offset from the first axis. A coupling between the drive member and the driven member is arranged to provide a rotational reduction from the drive member to the driven member. The driven member is arranged for connection to a wire of a Bowden cable having a sleeve seatable in relation to a housing for the actuator such that rotation of the driven member causes extension or retraction of the cable.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2006Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Capro Ltd.Inventors: Andrew James Elliot, Wayne Andrew Harris
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Patent number: 8006589Abstract: In a flywheel in which narrow portions to be engaged with a coil spring included in the flywheel are formed of recessed portions made by recessing the surface of a flywheel cover, the portions of a sensor plate welded to the front cover, which confront with the recessed portions are made more fragile than adjacent portions of the sensor plate. With this configuration, when the front cover is deformed, stress applied to welded portions adjacent to the recessed portions can be suppressed since the fragile portions are easily deformed. Accordingly, even if the recessed portions are formed to the surface of a flywheel cover, stress can be prevented from being concentrated on the coupling portions of the flywheel cover and the sensor plate.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2007Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuo Muraki, Satoru Ookuma
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Patent number: 8006583Abstract: A fixed support is provided on a base member near a moving lever. A moving support is provided on the moving lever. A coil spring comprises a coil and a pair of arms extending from the coil. The fixed support is wound with the coil. The moving support is held between the two arms of the coil spring and pressed by outward force of the coil spring thereby assuring smooth reverse of a direction of the force.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2007Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Mitsui Mining and Smetting Co.Inventor: Yuji Yoda
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Patent number: 7997163Abstract: A novel, adjustable locking windage and elevation knob assembly for the improved accuracy of scopes wherein an adjustment turn knob may be raised from its locked position to rotate freely for desired windage or elevation adjustments and thereafter be pushed back down into a locked position.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2005Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Gamo Outdoor USA, Inc.Inventor: Juan Carlos Casas
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Patent number: 7992465Abstract: A drive unit (10) actuates drives in a motor vehicle with a first housing part (12), in particular a pole pot (12), and a second housing part (14), in particular a gear housing or electronic housing (14, 15), which can be connected with connecting elements (40), wherein the first housing part (12) features receptacles (38) for the connecting elements (40), wherein the receptacles (38) are embodied as centering holes (36) for corresponding centering pins (48), which are arranged on the second housing part (14).Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2003Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Walter Haussecker, Stefan Freund, Thomas Huck, Markus Ochs
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Patent number: 7984664Abstract: An organ type accelerator pedal includes a footplate, a housing, and a pedal arm. One end of the footplate is fixed to a floor panel, which is provided below a driver's seat. The housing is spaced apart from the footplate and fixed to a dashboard. A middle portion of the pedal arm between both ends thereof is attached to the housing by a first connector so as to elastically rotate, and one end of the pedal arm facing the footplate is attached to the other end of the footplate by a second connector so as to elastically rotate. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the durability and life span of the accelerator pedal, to significantly improve operation feeling and safety of the accelerator pedal, and to prevent operation noise from being generated.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2007Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Donghee Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kyungmin Kim, Donghwan Kim, Taeho Kim
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Patent number: 7963189Abstract: An adjustable pedal includes a mounting bracket and guide housing having a gear sector formed therein. The gear sector pivots about a fixed pivot during adjustment, and the mounting bracket upper arm includes an arcuate slot having a radius of curvature centered at the fixed pivot. A swing plate is slidingly supported within the arcuate slot in the mounting bracket upper arm at a second non-fixed pivot point located radially inboard from the first pivot point. The swing plate includes a gear sector that cooperates with the guide housing gear sector. A pedal arm with pedal pad is attached to the swing plate. An adjustment mechanism adjusts the pedal pad position. The guide housing gear sector pivots about the fixed pivot, engaging the swing plate gear sector and varying the position of the non-fixed pivot within the slot in the mounting bracket arm, constraining travel of the pedal pad.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2008Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: KSR Technologies Co.Inventors: Larry Willemsen, Dan O'Neill, Mike Olajos, Rob Sotenos
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Patent number: 7958801Abstract: A force generator for an active vibration control (AVC) system provides a mass located upon an inner circular member which is movable within an outer circular member to simultaneously complete one revolution about its axis as it orbits within the outer circular member to compensate for sensed vibrations. A crank mounts the inner circular member and a counterweight. The crank is rotated by a prime mover such as an electric motor. The mass will therefore generate a sinusoidal inertial force in a straight line. Multiple systems are suitably arranged to be used in conjunction with one another to provide a wide range of inertial force outputs.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2003Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft CorporationInventor: Kirk Charles Frederickson
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Patent number: 7954398Abstract: A common use pedal device for automotive vehicles comprises a base plate and a pedal pivotably attached to the base plate and having a push rod extending downwards from an underneath surface of the pedal. A rotating member is mounted to the base plate in such a manner that the rotating member can be depressed and rotated by the push rod of the pedal, the rotating member having a pulling arm adapted to pull a manual operating cable in response to rotation of the rotating member. A rotation detecting sensor is provided on one side of the base plate for detecting the degree of rotation of the rotating member and then notifying an electronic control unit of the degree of rotation thus detected. This pedal device can be employed in common in a manually controlled pedal type vehicle and an electronically controlled pedal type vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2005Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sang Heon Lee, Kwang Joo Choi
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Patent number: 7954399Abstract: A steering control for vehicles, such as for automobiles or motorcycles in the form of a steering wheel or of a handlebar, with a gripping zone presenting an elastically variable geometry deformable under the action of the hand or the hands of the driver gripping the steering control fast and forcefully in case of danger. Thus, in the event of panic, an hydraulic or pneumatic sensor located inside the gripping zone is activated. The sensor extends over essentially the whole gripping zone of the steering control that can be gripped by at least one hand of the driver, and includes a tube of elastic material, filled with a liquid, and embedded entirely in a foamed plastic material. The steering control exhibits then high effectiveness and reliability of a safety device, in the elimination of potential danger caused by mistaken reactions of the driver, and in the economic feasibility of the inventive device.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2005Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Aphrodite Agencies LimitedInventor: Gian Mario Rubboli
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Patent number: 7950307Abstract: The bicycle brake and shift operation device is a device mounted on a drop handle of a bicycle, and includes: a bracket, a lever member, a winding body, a positioning mechanism, and a shift position display portion. The bracket is mounted on the drop handle. The lever member is a member that is pivotally supported by the bracket. The winding body is mounted to be rotationally movable on a support shaft provided on the lever member, and engages with a shift cable. The positioning mechanism, supported by the lever member, is a mechanism for positioning the winding body to positions that correspond to a plurality of shift positions of a rear derailleur. The shift position display portion is mechanically interlocked with the rotational movement of the winding body to display shift positions.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2006Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Yoshimitsu Miki
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Patent number: RE42607Abstract: A clipless bicycle pedal employing a clamping mechanism which engages a binding plate on the bottom of a rider's shoe. The clamping mechanism includes two units which pivot about the same axis to engage the binding plate and which may share a biasing mechanism. The pivot axis maybe the same axis as the pedal shaft. The overall structure of the preferred embodiment provides a clipless pedal which is lightweight and easy to assembly and maintain.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2002Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Inventor: Shinji Marui