Patents Assigned to Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10005506
    Abstract: A suspension assembly is provided for use with a vehicle having a chassis enclosing a drive system for rotatably driving a closed-loop track. The suspension assembly includes at least one elongated ground contact engaged with the closed-loop track, and an elongated swing arm angularly disposed in the closed-loop track. The swing arm extends between a front end portion adapted to be coupled to the chassis, and a rear end portion coupled to the at least one ground contact. A mounting arrangement is coupled to the swing arm for permitting at least rotation of the swing arm about a pivot axis extending longitudinally of the at least one ground contact wherein the mounting arrangement includes a wire rope mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Michael Muehlfeld, Gerald Ball
  • Publication number: 20160251043
    Abstract: A suspension assembly is provided for use with a vehicle having a chassis enclosing a drive system for rotatably driving a closed-loop track. The suspension assembly includes at least one elongated ground contact engaged with the closed-loop track, and an elongated swing arm angularly disposed in the closed-loop track. The swing arm extends between a front end portion adapted to be coupled to the chassis, and a rear end portion coupled to the at least one ground contact. A mounting arrangement is coupled to the swing arm for permitting at least rotation of the swing arm about a pivot axis extending longitudinally of the at least one ground contact wherein the mounting arrangement includes a wire rope mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Michael Muehlfeld, Gerald Ball
  • Patent number: 9346518
    Abstract: A suspension assembly adapted for use in a snowmobile having a closed-loop track includes at least one ground contact engaged with the closed-loop track. An elongated swing arm is angularly disposed in the closed-loop track and extends between a front end portion adapted to be coupled to the chassis, and a rear end portion coupled to the at least one ground contact. A front resilient member is disposed in the closed-loop track and has an upper end pivotably coupled to the front end portion of the swing arm, and a lower end pivotably coupled to the at least one ground contact. A rear resilient member is disposed in the closed-loop track and has an upper end adapted to be pivotally coupled to the chassis, and a lower end pivotally coupled to the at least one ground contact. A pivot arrangement is connected to the swing arm for permitting at least rotation of the swing arm about a pivot axis extending longitudinally of the at least one ground contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Polakowski, Christian Muehlfeld, Cody McKinney
  • Patent number: 9286882
    Abstract: A controlled noise source is for attachment to an exhaust pipe of a vehicle. The noise source comprises an axially compliant member that couples to the exhaust pipe such that an enclosed internal volume of the axially compliant member is in fluid communication with the interior of the exhaust pipe. A dynamic driver is coupled to the axially compliant member. The dynamic driver oscillates the axially compliant member so as to vary the internal volume of the axially compliant member and thereby introduce controlled pressure waves to the interior of the exhaust pipe that counteract sound produced by the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Polakowski, Steven G. Mattson, Greg A. Kangas, Zach R. Bustos
  • Publication number: 20150145188
    Abstract: A multi-stage shock absorber with closed ends has a plurality of tubular shock bodies telescopically interconnected together, and includes a piston arrangement slidably mounted within certain of the shock bodies to define a number of chambers variously containing damping and/or spring elements for enabling damping of shock forces applied to the shock absorber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: GREAT LAKES SOUND & VIBRATION, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Polakowski, Christian Michael Muehlfeld, Steven G. Mattson, David Labyak
  • Patent number: 8967346
    Abstract: A multi-stage shock absorber with closed ends has a plurality of tubular shock bodies telescopically interconnected together, and includes a piston arrangement slidably mounted within certain of the shock bodies to define a number of chambers variously containing damping and/or spring elements for enabling damping of shock forces applied to the shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Polakowski, Christian Michael Muehlfeld, Steven Mattson, David Labyak
  • Publication number: 20150034404
    Abstract: A suspension assembly adapted for use in a snowmobile having a closed-loop track includes at least one ground contact engaged with the closed-loop track. An elongated swing arm is angularly disposed in the closed-loop track and extends between a front end portion adapted to be coupled to the chassis, and a rear end portion coupled to the at least one ground contact. A front resilient member is disposed in the closed-loop track and has an upper end pivotably coupled to the front end portion of the swing arm, and a lower end pivotably coupled to the at least one ground contact. A rear resilient member is disposed in the closed-loop track and has an upper end adapted to be pivotally coupled to the chassis, and a lower end pivotally coupled to the at least one ground contact. A pivot arrangement is connected to the swing arm for permitting at least rotation of the swing arm about a pivot axis extending longitudinally of the at least one ground contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: GREAT LAKES SOUND & VIBRATION, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Polakowski, Christian Muehlfeld, Cody McKinney
  • Patent number: 8360449
    Abstract: A suspension assembly for a land vehicle comprises a spindle defining a steering axis for the land vehicle and configured to pivotably couple to a ground contact; an upper pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle; a lower pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle; a resilient member having an upper end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and a lower end pivotably coupled to the spindle; a caster adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of one of the upper pivotable member and lower pivotable member relative to the spindle to thereby adjust caster; and a camber adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of one of the upper pivotable member and lower pivotable member relative to the spindle to thereby adjust camber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Polakowski, Christian Michael Muehlfeld, Jeffrey Edward Pruetz
  • Patent number: 8167073
    Abstract: A suspension assembly for a snowmobile is provided that rotatably supports a closed-loop track in the rear tunnel of the snowmobile and also supports both vertical and horizontal travel of said closed-loop track during suspension system travel. The suspension assembly includes at least one elongated ground contact that supports rotational travel of the closed loop track and at least one swing arm angularly disposed in the closed-loop track and having a front end portion pivotably coupled to the rear tunnel and a rear end portion coupled to the at least one ground contact. In the preferred arrangement, a front resilient member is arranged to bias against displacement between the chassis and the at least one ground contact during suspension assembly travel and a rear resilient member arranged to bias against displacement between the chassis and the swing arm during suspension assembly travel. A tensioner couples the rear end portion of the swing arm to the at least one ground contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Polakowski, Steven G. Mattson, Christian Muehlfeld
  • Publication number: 20110115180
    Abstract: A suspension assembly for a land vehicle comprises a spindle defining a steering axis for the land vehicle and configured to pivotably couple to a ground contact; an upper pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle; a lower pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle; a resilient member having an upper end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and a lower end pivotably coupled to the spindle; a caster adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of one of the upper pivotable member and lower pivotable member relative to the spindle to thereby adjust caster; and a camber adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of one of the upper pivotable member and lower pivotable member relative to the spindle to thereby adjust camber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Polakowski, Christian Michael Muehlfeld, Jeffrey Edward Pruetz
  • Publication number: 20110101579
    Abstract: A multi-stage shock absorber with closed ends has a plurality of tubular shock bodies telescopically interconnected together, and includes a piston arrangement slidably mounted within certain of the shock bodies to define a number of chambers variously containing damping and/or spring elements for enabling damping of shock forces applied to the shock absorber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Polakowski, Christian Michael Muehlfeld, Steven Mattson, David Labyak
  • Publication number: 20090294197
    Abstract: A suspension assembly for a snowmobile is provided that rotatably supports a closed-loop track in the rear tunnel of the snowmobile and also supports both vertical and horizontal travel of said closed-loop track during suspension system travel. The suspension assembly includes at least one elongated ground contact that supports rotational travel of the closed loop track and at least one swing arm angularly disposed in the closed-loop track and having a front end portion pivotably coupled to the rear tunnel and a rear end portion coupled to the at least one ground contact. In the preferred arrangement, a front resilient member is arranged to bias against displacement between the chassis and the at least one ground contact during suspension assembly travel and a rear resilient member arranged to bias against displacement between the chassis and the swing arm during suspension assembly travel. A tensioner couples the rear end portion of the swing arm to the at least one ground contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Polakowski, Steven G. Mattson, Christian Muehlfeld
  • Patent number: 7594557
    Abstract: A suspension assembly for a snowmobile is provided that rotatably supports a closed-loop track in the rear tunnel of the snowmobile and also supports both vertical and horizontal travel of said closed-loop track during suspension system travel. The suspension assembly includes at least one elongated ground contact that supports rotational travel of the closed loop track and at least one swing arm angularly disposed in the closed-loop track and having a front end portion pivotably coupled to the rear tunnel and a rear end portion coupled to the at least one ground contact. In the preferred arrangement, a front resilient member is arranged to bias against displacement between the chassis and the at least one ground contact during suspension assembly travel and a rear resilient member arranged to bias against displacement between the chassis and the swing arm during suspension assembly travel. A tensioner couples the rear end portion of the swing arm to the at least one ground contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Polakowski, Steven G. Mattson, Christian Muehlfeld
  • Patent number: 7128180
    Abstract: A rear suspension system for a snowmobile includes a plurality of adjacent closed-loop tracks disposed in a rear tunnel of the snowmobile. Each of the plurality of adjacent closed-loop tracks are rotatably driven by a drive system. One of a plurality of independent suspension assemblies is disposed in each closed-loop track and the plurality of independent suspension assemblies articulate independently of each other during travel of the rear suspension system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Polakowski, Steven G. Mattson
  • Publication number: 20050183899
    Abstract: A rear suspension system for a snowmobile includes a plurality of adjacent closed-loop tracks disposed in a rear tunnel of the snowmobile. Each of the plurality of adjacent closed-loop tracks are rotatably driven by a drive system. One of a plurality of independent suspension assemblies is disposed in each closed-loop track and the plurality of independent suspension assemblies articulate independently of each other during travel of the rear suspension system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Applicant: Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Polakowski, Steven Mattson
  • Patent number: 6926108
    Abstract: A rear suspension system for a snowmobile includes a plurality of adjacent closed-loop tracks disposed in a rear tunnel of the snowmobile. Each of the plurality of adjacent closed-loop tracks are rotatably driven by a drive system. One of a plurality of independent suspension assemblies is disposed in each closed-loop track and the plurality of independent suspension assemblies articulate independently of each other during travel of the rear suspension system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Polakowski, Steven G. Mattson