Patents Examined by Bradley J. Van Pelt
  • Patent number: 6584871
    Abstract: An adjustable pedal assembly for a vehicle includes an adjustment bracket adapted for mounting on a vehicle, and the adjustment bracket includes a pair of outwardly extending side portions having a vertically extending arcuate slot. The adjustable pedal assembly also includes a pedal arm pivotally attached to the adjustment bracket using a pivot pin, such that an end of the pivot pin is slidably disposed within the arcuate slot in the adjustment bracket. The adjustable pedal assembly further includes a pedal pad mounted to the pedal arm, and a pedal adjustment mechanism operatively attached to the pedal arm, for adjusting the position of the pedal arm along a predetermined path, such that the pivot pin is slidably positioned in the arcuate slot relative to the predetermined path of the pedal arm to ergonomically position the pedal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: KSR International, Inc.
    Inventors: Pat Burton, Dan O'Neill, Rob Soteros, Dave Kelloway
  • Patent number: 6578447
    Abstract: A rotary indexing apparatus for positioning an external component secured thereto at one of a plurality of incrementally arranged detent positions. The apparatus includes a race ring having a race surface facing inwardly toward a central axis of the ring. The surface has alternating hills and valleys, each valley corresponding to a detent position. A detent wheel on a selection shaft is rotatable within the ring via the shaft. Two spring loaded, opposed race wheels on axles movably mounted within the detent wheel roll along the race surface while the shaft is being rotated. The race wheels roll into valleys upon a halting of the rotation. The apparatus facilitates positive positioning of the selection shaft while reducing friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Charles R. Fraser
  • Patent number: 6564676
    Abstract: A pedal includes a pedal body (1) carrying engagement members (2, 3) of a hooking element fixed below a cyclist's shoe, as well as a casing (7) containing a pedal axle (8) adapted to be fixed to a pedal crank. The casing is connected to the pedal body by a support member (10) including adjustment elements (10, 12, 20, 21) of the transverse position and the angular position of the pedal body relative to the pedal axle. For adjusting the angular position, the adjustment elements comprise a set of interchangeable support members each defining a predetermined different angular position from one support member to the other. The support member comprises an elongated seat (12) receiving the casing of the pedal axle and this seat is provided with a tapping (21) adapted to coact with a screw thread (20) on said casing to permit the continuous adjustment of the transverse position of the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Look Cycle International
    Inventor: Nicolas Jean-Guy Bezet
  • Patent number: 6510764
    Abstract: The present invention is a automatically tightening pedal strap, which has a front member sized and shaped for placing a user's front of a foot in a shoe into the device. The front member has a top portion and a bottom portion. The bottom portion includes a strap tightening driver moving mechanism for moving connecting device forwardly wherein the strap tightening driver moving mechanism moves in response to insertion of one's foot in a shoe into the device. There is also connecting device connecting the strap tightening driver moving mechanism and a strap member in which, when the strap tightening driver moving mechanism is moved forward within the front member, the strap member automatically tightens by movement of the connecting device on the strap member in response to the forward movement of the strap tightening driver moving mechanism. The strap tightening driver moving mechanism may be a slider or an end string attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: John Vito
  • Patent number: 6505528
    Abstract: The invention is a device for fast taking out and putting in, especially the device can fast take out a chip from a wafer to put in another chip receptacle, wherein, the invention includes a gear set, which consists of a first big gear, a second big gear and a small gear; at least two driving device, which consists a first driving device and a second driving device; a link mechanism, which cooperates with the gear set to proceed that the link mechanism moves forth toward a non-horizontal direction and back toward the reverse direction, and moves down toward a non-vertical direction and up toward the reverse direction as well; a lift mechanism, which is driven by the first driving device, and a mold plate with gear set and link mechanism is then driven either to complete the actions of moving down toward a non-vertical direction and up toward the reverse direction as mentioned above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Corp.
    Inventors: Weng-Jung Lu, Chin-Yuan Liu, Yuan-Tsu Wan, Chun-Kuei Lai, Chao-Hsien Huang, Chih-Min Lin, Chun-Hsien Liu