Patents Assigned to Perform, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5452676
    Abstract: A high speed planing hull is provided, which is generally of a deep Vee form and which is provided with multiple steps in the fore-and-aft direction in combination with variable dead rise from keel to chine in the steps. The arrangement is such that, when the hull achieves planing speeds, not only is the hull bottom ventilated at the fore-and-aft steps, but the variable dead rise configurations, which provide for elevation of the keel area in relation to the chine area, provide for increased support of the hull near the chines, and relatively less support near the keel. Reduced wetted surface, and therefore frictional drag, is realized, while at the same time providing for a safer and more comfortable ride by improving both longitudinal and lateral stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Global Marine Performance, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Fiore
  • Patent number: 5393282
    Abstract: A guide board exercising apparatus has a plurality of bumpers between which a person slides on their feet. The bumpers have an inclined surface which a person's feet contacts. The inclined surface is at an acute angle of approximately 18 to 22 degrees. The bumpers may be permanently attached to a sliding sheet or may be removably clamped to a sheet to permit adjustment of the length of the sliding surface or the relative angle of the bumpers. More than two bumpers are attached to a sliding sheet to form a completely enclosed sliding surface such that a user can exercise by sliding in any direction, in addition to side to side directions. The bumpers have a textured surface to increase friction with a person's feet and have a mounting flange to facilitate connecting the bumpers to the plastic sheet. A non-slip material, attached to the bumpers or sliding sheet, is placed between the sliding sheet and the floor to prevent the apparatus from moving over the floor during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Improve Human Performance, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin R. Maclean
  • Patent number: 5143372
    Abstract: A pair of oppositely disposed A-frames support a pivot arm on which a spring cushioned pad is pivoted at the lower end of the pivot arm. Free weights are selectively placed on the pivot arm to provide the desired resistance. The pad on the arm is positioned at a height requiring the player to initially crouch to gain maximum mechanical advantage when performing the exercise of moving forwardly and upwardly as required by the arcuate path of travel of the pivot arm. The device is free of equipment encumbrances on either side or on the opposite side of the pivot arm from the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Power Performance, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5092803
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment includes a spark plug supporting assembly for supporting a spark having a longitudinal axis such that the gap-defining end of the ground electrode of the spark plug extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A blade assembly is operably associated with the spark plug supporting assembly for splitting the gap-defining end of the ground electrode into at least first and second prongs of substantially equal size. The blade assembly includes a blade member having a longitudinal axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spark plug. An actuating member is operably associated with the blade assembly to displace the same between a storage position and an operating position while the gap-defining end of the ground electrode is positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spark plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Energy Performance, Inc.
    Inventor: C. Earl Johnson
  • Patent number: 5049034
    Abstract: A propeller hub assembly comprises a driven member having an outer cylindrical housing and an inner cylindrical housing. The inner cylindrical housing is coaxially fixedly coupled and radially spaced from the outer cylindrical housing, and includes a plurality of radially inwardly directed circumferentially spaced ribs oriented parallel to an axis of the inner cylindrical housing. The propeller hub assembly further includes a driving member which comprises a cylindrical member having an axis of rotation. An opening passes through the driving member coaxial with the axis of rotation and is adapted for receiving a drive shaft. The driving member further includes a plurality of radially outwardly extending ribs oriented parallel to the axis of rotation and terminating radially at a diameter substantially equal to an inner diameter of the inner cylindrical housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Mach Performance, Inc.
    Inventor: William L. Cahoon
  • Patent number: 4952240
    Abstract: A compound containing a tall oil fatty acid, oleic diethanol amide, aluminum oxide abrasive material, and organo-treated bentonite provides a polish for metals, such as aluminum, having a uniform viscosity and the abrasive particles uniformly dispersed throughout the carrier. Water may be added to form a scratch removing compound. Mineral spirits may be substituted for the fatty acid in the scratch remover to form a prepolish compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Pro-Max Performance, Inc.
    Inventor: Ray E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4895675
    Abstract: An essentially neutral pH vehicle wheel cleaner for coated alloy vehicle wheels includes a builder, a surfactant, a buffer, a clarifier or mild abrasive, and a fragrance in water. The builder and surfactant interact to produce strong buffering to prevent a significant change in pH due to alkaline brake dust, road soil, and acidic road salts. A preferred embodiment utilizes tetrapotassium pyrophosphate as the builder, a sodium salt of sulfonated oleic acid as the buffer, and a ethylene oxide adduct of octylphenol as the surfactant. Various fragrances are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: Pro-Max Performance, Inc.
    Inventor: Ray E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4859163
    Abstract: The rotary machine, for example an air pump, has two rotors and vanes carried by the rotors within a housing, to pump fluid between an inlet and an outlet on opposite sides of the housing. The vanes are guided by tracks, so that the vanes are withdrawn flush with the rotor surfaces at a contact line between the rotors. In one embodiment, ends of the vanes are carried in carriers by means of bearing blocks. The carriers rotate at an average speed equal to that of the rotors, to reduce the movement of the ends of the vanes. The mechanism can be employed in a single rotor machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Steven Schuller Performance Inc.
    Inventor: Steven C. Schuller
  • Patent number: 4581951
    Abstract: A transmission shifter (12) for controlling a transmission includes a pair of independent spring biasers (30,32) mounted by a housing (18) to bias an operating member (22) of the shifter and respectively control lateral movement of the operating member in opposite lateral directions independently of each other. Each spring biaser (30,32) preferably includes at least one helical spring (34,36 and 38) for providing the biasing with the lateral bias of one spring biaser greater than that of the other. One of the helical spring biasers (30) includes a pair of helical springs (34,36) one of which has a larger diameter and receives the other, and the other spring biaser (32) includes a single helical spring (38) identical to the larger spring (34) of the one biaser (30). The shifter (12) also includes a ball and pin construction (42,44) for mounting the operating member (22) and a seat and shim arrangement (56,60 and 58,62) for mounting the spring biasers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Hurst Performance, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald E. Watson
  • Patent number: 4485689
    Abstract: A shift control assembly for automatic transmissions having three shifting sticks which are sequence interlocked wherein each stick is shifted to perform a single gear change. Each of the shifting sticks is manually operated to rotate a common control shaft which is rotatably supported in a housing of the assembly. A mechanism is provided for transmitting the rotary motion of the control shaft to the automatic transmission to control the gear position of the automatic transmission. A button and plunger assembly and an interlock plate is provided for each of the shifting sticks to selectively allow the sticks to rotate the control shaft upon shifting of the sticks in a predetermined sequence and otherwise prevent rotation of the control shaft. A detent mechanism is provided to give each of the shifting sticks "feel". An optional staging stick may be provided with an over-center locking mechanism, the staging stick bypassing the interlock system provided for the three shifting sticks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Hurst Performance, Inc.
    Inventor: Emanuel F. Cambria
  • Patent number: 4397225
    Abstract: The present invention involves a draft stabilizing device mounted at the exit end of a draft vent or stack. The device is constructed from first and second cap members made in the form of open-bottomed cones which are substantially broader at their bases than they are high. The cones are joined together at their edges with their axes aligned. The lower cone has a large stack inlet opening at its apex which is connected to a stack. The lower cone also includes a plurality of outlet openings around its periphery. The area of the outlet openings exceeds the cross-sectional area of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Assignee: Perform, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence C. Patton
  • Patent number: 4382491
    Abstract: In a disc brake assembly, one braking pad is associated operatively with a piston, which moves in a cylinder, and another braking pad is associated with a caliper, which is movable together with the cylinder. A first biasing means retracts the braking pads from opposite faces of a disc upon release of hydraulic pressure from a piston. A second biasing means retracts the caliper upon release of such pressure. A drag part, which grips a shaft frictionally, is able to move axially along the shaft, if the force being transmitted by the caliper upon application of such pressure exceeds the force required to energize the second biasing means, so as to compensate for wear of the second braking pad. A limiting means, which cooperates with the drag part so as to limit retraction of the caliper to a fixed distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: Hurst Performance, Inc.
    Inventor: Victor L. Chun
  • Patent number: 4336605
    Abstract: A multiplexer for an ultrasonic ranging device for a vehicle having a resettable digital counter is disclosed herein. The digital counter receives a plurality of pulses from an oscillator and provides a counter output signal indicative of the stored count of the number of pulses. A plurality of logic gates are connected to the digital counter for control thereby. A plurality of ultrasonic transducers are connected to the logic gates, the logic gates sequentially energizing the transducers in response to the stored count in the digital counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1982
    Assignee: Hurst Performance, Inc.
    Inventor: John Vancha
  • Patent number: 4326273
    Abstract: An ultrasonic ranging device for use in a vehicle having a high frequency oscillator supplying continuous sine wave signals to a power amplifier through a first gate controlled by a timer. A second gate controlled by the timer supplies an amplified sine wave signal from the power amplifier to a piezoelectric transducer mounted on an exterior portion of a vehicle. The transducer produces a series of repeated ultrasonic pulses and receives echoes from nearby objects converting the echoes into electrical return signals. A receiver amplifies the return signals and supplies them to a coincidence gate, which is enabled for relatively short time intervals by a timer. The coincidence gate supplies an output signal to an indicator when the return signal is detected during the interval that the gate is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: Hurst Performance, Inc.
    Inventor: John Vancha
  • Patent number: 4180146
    Abstract: A brake assembly comprises(a) a carrier having a bore, and a piston slidable axially in the bore to transmit force of fluid pressure acting on the piston to a brake pad,(b) shaft structure defining an axis and extending axially to transmit auxiliary thrust to the piston,(c) a rotary actuator member rotatable about the axis,(d) coupling device responsive to rotation of the member in one direction to effect axial advancement of the shaft structure toward the piston and responsive to rotation of the member in the opposite direction to allow axial retraction of the shaft structure,(e) first wear compensation mechanism subject to adjustment to axially shift the shaft structure in response to fluid pressure produced axial displacement of the piston beyond a predetermined amount, and(f) second wear compensation mechanism subject to adjustment to axially shift the shaft structure in response to rotation of the member beyond a predetermined amount,(g) the first and second compensation mechanisms being operatively inte
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: Hurst Performance, Inc.
    Inventor: Franklin B. Airheart
  • Patent number: 3974711
    Abstract: The gear shift stick assembly permits shifting in four forward speeds and reverse. It includes a trigger located near the gear shift knob which may be pulled up or down while the stick is being shifted in position. A wire runs from the trigger down through the stick and engages a generally hat-shaped stop sleeve. When the trigger is not operated, the stop sleeve is in its lower position and abuts a fixed stop member that is mounted in the shift assembly in a position to prevent movement of the stick into the reverse gear-actuating position. If the stick is not in the third-fourth gear slot and the trigger is raised, the stop sleeve comes into the path of another stop member preventing movement of the stick toward the third-fourth gear slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1970
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1976
    Assignee: Hurst Performance, Inc.
    Inventors: George H. Hurst, Jr., James F. Hobbins
  • Patent number: D250844
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Assignee: Hurst Performance, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Rauh, Nick A. Marinelli
  • Patent number: D250845
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Assignee: Hurst Performance, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Juratovic, William R. Widdemer
  • Patent number: D250846
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Assignee: Hurst Performance, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Juratovic, William R. Widdemer
  • Patent number: D281409
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: Hurst Performance, Inc.
    Inventor: Emanuel F. Cambria