Patents by Inventor Jim Gerhardt

Jim Gerhardt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20210129584
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bicycle hub that provides improved drive line efficiency and bike-to-rider torque feedback. The drive line efficiencies are due to lower rolling resistance resulting from a novel bearing and sprag clutch configuration, a lightweight design, and immediate torque transfer from the cassette drive to the hub body. The bike-to-rider feedback has been improved as the torque transfer is smooth, predictable, and immediate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Christianson Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Gerhardt, Shannon Hansen
  • Patent number: 10787033
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bicycle hub that provides improved drive line efficiency and bike-to-rider torque feedback. The drive line efficiencies are due to lower rolling resistance resulting from a novel bearing and sprag clutch configuration, a lightweight design, and immediate torque transfer from the cassette drive to the hub body. The bike-to-rider feedback has been improved as the torque transfer is smooth, predictable, and immediate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: CHRISTIANSON SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Jim Gerhardt, Shannon Hansen
  • Publication number: 20200079152
    Abstract: A sprag clutch based freehub system that has an easily swappable free hub portion is provided. The freehub system uses a cassette driver adapter shaft (also referred herein as “driver”) that is positioned within the hub. The cassette driver adapter shaft (driver) and freehub body have a separable interface. This allows for easy interchanging of freehub bodies by the user while not risking contamination or damage to the hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: Christianson Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Gerhardt, Shannon Hansen, Daniel Orellana
  • Patent number: 10119579
    Abstract: Forward movement of a bicycle results when force is transfer from the chain or belt to a sprocket on a cassette. The cassette is splined to the cassette driver and causes the wheel of the bike to rotate when torque is applied from the cassette to the cassette driver. The cassette driver is typically made of a strong hard material such as steel to withstand the forces in parted thereon by the cassette. The present disclosure provide a hub configuration and method that enables the cassette driver to be made with construction of a lighter weight material such as aluminum yet still withstand the toque applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Christianson Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Gerhardt, Shannon Hansen, Patrick Robert Jensen
  • Patent number: 10113597
    Abstract: Forward movement of a bicycle results when force is transfer from the chain or belt to a sprocket on a cassette. The cassette is splined to the cassette driver and causes the wheel of the bike to rotate when torque is applied from the cassette to the cassette driver. The cassette driver is typically made of a strong hard material such as steel to withstand the forces in parted thereon by the cassette. The present disclosure provide a hub configuration and method that enables the cassette driver to be made with construction of a lighter weight material such as aluminum yet still withstand the toque applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Christianson Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Gerhardt, Shannon Hansen, Patrick Robert Jensen
  • Publication number: 20180274651
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a new chainring system and method of installing and removing a chainring. The system eliminates the need for the use of special tools to install and remove a chainring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Jim Gerhardt, Shannon Hansen, Patrick Robert Jensen
  • Publication number: 20170334242
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bicycle hub that provides improved drive line efficiency and bike-to-rider torque feedback. The drive line efficiencies are due to lower rolling resistance resulting from a novel bearing and sprag clutch configuration, a lightweight design, and immediate torque transfer from the cassette drive to the hub body. The bike-to-rider feedback has been improved as the torque transfer is smooth, predictable, and immediate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: Christianson Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Gerhardt, Shannon Hansen
  • Publication number: 20170284481
    Abstract: Forward movement of a bicycle results when force is transfer from the chain or belt to a sprocket on a cassette. The cassette is splined to the cassette driver and causes the wheel of the bike to rotate when torque is applied from the cassette to the cassette driver. The cassette driver is typically made of a strong hard material such as steel to withstand the forces in parted thereon by the cassette. The present disclosure provide a hub configuration and method that enables the cassette driver to be made with construction of a lighter weight material such as aluminum yet still withstand the toque applied thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Jim Gerhardt, SHANNON HANSEN, PATRICK ROBERT JENSEN
  • Publication number: 20170284482
    Abstract: Forward movement of a bicycle results when force is transfer from the chain or belt to a sprocket on a cassette. The cassette is splined to the cassette driver and causes the wheel of the bike to rotate when torque is applied from the cassette to the cassette driver. The cassette driver is typically made of a strong hard material such as steel to withstand the forces in parted thereon by the cassette. The present disclosure provide a hub configuration and method that enables the cassette driver to be made with construction of a lighter weight material such as aluminum yet still withstand the toque applied thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Jim Gerhardt, Shannon Hansen, Patrick Robert Jensen
  • Patent number: 9662938
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bicycle hub that provides improved drive line efficiency and bike-to-rider torque feedback. The drive line efficiencies are due to lower rolling resistance resulting from a novel bearing and sprag clutch configuration, a lightweight design, and immediate torque transfer from the cassette drive to the hub body. The bike-to-rider feedback has been improved as the torque transfer is smooth, predictable, and immediate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Christianson Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Gerhardt, Shannon Hansen
  • Publication number: 20150314642
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bicycle hub that provides improved drive line efficiency and bike-to-rider torque feedback. The drive line efficiencies are due to lower rolling resistance resulting from a novel bearing and sprag clutch configuration, a lightweight design, and immediate torque transfer from the cassette drive to the hub body. The bike-to-rider feedback has been improved as the torque transfer is smooth, predictable, and immediate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Jim Gerhardt, Shannon Hansen
  • Patent number: 9102197
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bicycle hub that provides improved drive line efficiency and bike-to-rider torque feedback. The drive line efficiencies are due to lower rolling resistance resulting from a novel bearing and sprag clutch configuration, a lightweight design, and immediate torque transfer from the cassette drive to the hub body. The bike-to-rider feedback has been improved as the torque transfer is smooth, predictable, and immediate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: ChristiansonSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Gerhardt, Shannon Hansen
  • Publication number: 20140225424
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bicycle hub that provides improved drive line efficiency and bike-to-rider torque feedback. The drive line efficiencies are due to lower rolling resistance resulting from a novel bearing and sprag clutch configuration, a lightweight design, and immediate torque transfer from the cassette drive to the hub body. The bike-to-rider feedback has been improved as the torque transfer is smooth, predictable, and immediate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Christianson Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Gerhardt, Shannon Hansen
  • Patent number: 8313300
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved rotor of a centrifugal compressor. The rotor includes a blade arrangement and geometry that increase the overall efficiency of the rotor. In particular, blades within the rotor are curved and inclined in a manner that improves the overall efficiency of the rotor. The present disclosure also provides a method of manufacturing the improved rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Christianson Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Gerhardt, Shannon Hansen
  • Publication number: 20090142196
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved rotor of a centrifugal compressor. The rotor includes a blade arrangement and geometry that increase the overall efficiency of the rotor. In particular, blades within the rotor are curved and inclined in a manner that improves the overall efficiency of the rotor. The present disclosure also provides a method of manufacturing the improved rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Jim Gerhardt, Shannon Hansen