Patents Assigned to Niwot Corporation
  • Patent number: 10450005
    Abstract: An offset washer for adjusting the camber angle in a vehicle is disclosed. The offset washer includes a body having an upper surface and a lower surface, an aperture extending through the body, and a protrusion having a longitudinal width different than the body thickness. The protrusion is configured to be inserted into a receiving aperture on a flange of a vehicle suspension system. The protrusion is defined by a formed upset defining a step in the material along a portion of the edge of the aperture, which is formed by upsetting the portion of the edge of the aperture when forming the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: NIWOT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jesse Aaron Weifenbach, Raymond Puckett
  • Patent number: 9751370
    Abstract: Discussed herein is an adjustable control arm that includes a first arm and a second arm that may be independently adjustable relative to one another. The first arm and the second arm may have intersecting axes that pass though the kinematic center of joints located at both ends of each arm. The control arms are adjustable allowing for variable positioning of the joint located at the intersection of the axes. The control arms may pivot relative to one another at the intersection of their axes. The connection of the control arms may also house a ball joint minimizing the height of the connection with the ball joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: NIWOT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jesse Aaron Weifenbach, James Roger Frens
  • Patent number: 8746714
    Abstract: The present invention includes a cam, an arm plate, and a slide plate, wherein the cam defines at least one opening, the arm plate defines at least one channel, and the slide plate defines at least one hole. The control arm length may be adjusted by rotation of the cam and fixedly securing the cam to the arm plate to the slide plate with a bolt and at least one bolt securing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Niwot Corporation
    Inventor: James Roger Frens
  • Patent number: 8544861
    Abstract: An adjustment bolt for adjusting the camber angle in a vehicle. The adjustment bolt includes a head, a neck, a lobe, and a threaded portion. The head is configured to provide a gripping surface for a tightening tool (e.g., pliers, wrench). The neck extends eccentrically from the bottom surface of the head and the neck has a first diameter and a first centerline. The lobe extends eccentrically outward from a bottom surface of the neck and the lobe has a second diameter and a second centerline. The threaded portion extends eccentrically outward from a bottom surface of the lobe and has a third centerline. The first centerline, the second centerline, and the third centerline are different from one another. Additionally, the lobe diameter is substantially the same as an aperture diameter for an adjustment aperture in a knuckle operably connected to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Niwot Corporation
    Inventor: James Roger Frens
  • Patent number: 8469375
    Abstract: An adjustment bolt for adjusting the camber angle in a vehicle. The adjustment bolt includes a head, a neck, a lobe, and a threaded portion. The head is configured to provide a gripping surface for a tightening tool (e.g., pliers, wrench). The head has a first diameter and a first centerline. The neck extends eccentrically from the bottom surface of the head and the neck has a second diameter and a second centerline. The lobe extends eccentrically outward from a bottom surface of the neck and the lobe has a third diameter and a centerline that is the same as the first centerline. The threaded portion extends eccentrically outward from a bottom surface of the lobe and has a third centerline. The first centerline, the second centerline, and the third centerline are different from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Niwot Corporation
    Inventor: James Roger Frens
  • Publication number: 20120269596
    Abstract: An adjustment bolt for adjusting the camber angle in a vehicle. The adjustment bolt includes a head, a neck, a lobe, and a threaded portion. The head is configured to provide a gripping surface for a tightening tool (e.g., pliers, wrench). The neck extends eccentrically from the bottom surface of the head and the neck has a first diameter and a first centerline. The lobe extends eccentrically outward from a bottom surface of the neck and the lobe has a second diameter and a second centerline. The threaded portion extends eccentrically outward from a bottom surface of the lobe and has a third centerline. The first centerline, the second centerline, and the third centerline are different from one another. Additionally, the lobe diameter is substantially the same as an aperture diameter for an adjustment aperture in a knuckle operably connected to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Niwot Corporation, d/b/a Specialty Products Company
    Inventor: James Roger Frens
  • Publication number: 20120219379
    Abstract: An adjustment bolt for adjusting the camber angle in a vehicle. The adjustment bolt includes a head, a neck, a lobe, and a threaded portion. The head is configured to provide a gripping surface for a tightening tool (e.g., pliers, wrench). The head has a first diameter and a first centerline. The neck extends eccentrically from the bottom surface of the head and the neck has a second diameter and a second centerline. The lobe extends eccentrically outward from a bottom surface of the neck and the lobe has a third diameter and a centerline that is the same as the first centerline. The threaded portion extends eccentrically outward from a bottom surface of the lobe and has a third centerline. The first centerline, the second centerline, and the third centerline are different from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Niwot Corporation, doing business as Specialty Products Company
    Inventor: James Roger Frens
  • Publication number: 20120104713
    Abstract: The present invention includes a cam, an arm plate, and a slide plate, wherein the cam defines at least one opening, the arm plate defines at least one channel, and the slide plate defines at least one hole. The control arm length may be adjusted by rotation of the cam and fixedly securing the cam to the arm plate to the slide plate with a bolt and at least one bolt securing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Niwot Corporation, d/b/a Specialty Products Company
    Inventor: James Roger Frens
  • Patent number: 7513514
    Abstract: The present invention includes a ball joint assembly having a first stud extending upward from a ball joint housing and a second stud extending from the ball joint housing opposite the first stud. The ball joint assembly is adapted to adjustably connect with a control arm through a slotted connection. The rotational position of the second stud of the ball joint assembly relative to the control arm as well as the linear position of the first stud of the ball joint assembly within the slot can be adjusted to affect the camber and/or caster angles for wheel alignment on motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Niwot Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Schlosser, James A. Bloemen
  • Patent number: 7140601
    Abstract: A compact air-bump stop (jounceshock) provides improved motor vehicle suspension system accommodation of jounce and rebound than is provided than by a conventional shock absorber, bump cushion and/or air-bump stop. In an independent jounceshock, a primary shell and a secondary shell are reversibly collapsible into each other, and a valved piston demarcates a primary chamber within the primary shell and a secondary chamber within the secondary shell, both of which being filled with a mixture of pressurized gas, preferably nitrogen, and oil. The valving of the valved piston allows for selectively unidirectional, metered movement of the oil therethrough in concert with the direction of movement of the secondary shell with respect to the primary shell. In an integrated jounceshock, a compact air-bump stop is integrated with a shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, Niwot Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Nesbitt, Bryan J. Kudela
  • Patent number: 4558869
    Abstract: A boot for enclosing a flexible rotating joint. The boot body has a generally tubular shape with end openings and at least one longitudinal seam running from one end opening to the other. The seam is formed by two edges. One edge mates with the other edge to form a boot with an annular cross-section. The edges of the seam are interbonded to one another by a thin, flexible bond extending along the contact surface between them. Adapter rings placed within the end openings permit a single boot size to be fitted to several different axle and housing sizes and shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Assignee: Niwot Corporation
    Inventors: Clinton E. Grove, Jeffery O. Golberg
  • Patent number: 4252338
    Abstract: A method and device for adjusting camber and caster in a solid axle steerable structure including a yoke, and a steering knuckle rotatably carried in the yoke by a pair of ball joints, by inserting a connecting offset and/or skewed bushing in at least one of the ball joint receiving openings in the yoke and positioning the connecting bushing to accommodate the steering knuckle in the desired, aligned position relative to the yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1981
    Assignee: Niwot Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Ingalls, Frank S. Bigelow
  • Patent number: D783393
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Niwot Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse Aaron Weifenbach, Raymond Puckett