Patents Assigned to Niwot Corporation
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Patent number: 10450005Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 14, 2015Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: NIWOT CORPORATIONInventors: Jesse Aaron Weifenbach, Raymond Puckett
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Patent number: 9751370Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: NIWOT CORPORATIONInventors: Jesse Aaron Weifenbach, James Roger Frens
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Patent number: 8746714Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 31, 2011Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Niwot CorporationInventor: James Roger Frens
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Patent number: 8544861Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 20, 2012Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Niwot CorporationInventor: James Roger Frens
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Patent number: 8469375Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Niwot CorporationInventor: James Roger Frens
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Publication number: 20120269596Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: Niwot Corporation, d/b/a Specialty Products CompanyInventor: James Roger Frens
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Publication number: 20120219379Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2011Publication date: August 30, 2012Applicant: Niwot Corporation, doing business as Specialty Products CompanyInventor: James Roger Frens
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Publication number: 20120104713Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2011Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: Niwot Corporation, d/b/a Specialty Products CompanyInventor: James Roger Frens
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Patent number: 7513514Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 31, 2005Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Niwot CorporationInventors: Richard D. Schlosser, James A. Bloemen
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Patent number: 7140601Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 6, 2004Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignees: General Motors Corporation, Niwot CorporationInventors: Thomas R. Nesbitt, Bryan J. Kudela
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Patent number: 4558869Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 21, 1984Date of Patent: December 17, 1985Assignee: Niwot CorporationInventors: Clinton E. Grove, Jeffery O. Golberg
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Patent number: 4252338Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 29, 1978Date of Patent: February 24, 1981Assignee: Niwot CorporationInventors: William E. Ingalls, Frank S. Bigelow
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Patent number: D783393Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Niwot CorporationInventors: Jesse Aaron Weifenbach, Raymond Puckett