Patents Examined by Brian Johnson
  • Patent number: 5215156
    Abstract: A vehicle having an electro-generating system which includes a dynamoelectric generator. The shaft of the dynamoelectric generator is linked directly or indirectly with the rotating axle of the road wheels of the vehicle, preferably via a mechanical turns amplifier. The turns amplifier will multiply the rotation rate of the electro-generating system and increase the production capacity of electric power. The dynamoelectric generator can be utilized to recharge a storage battery driving the vehicle while the car is in motion, especially automatically when the vehicle is going down hill. The vehicle's electric motor can be driven directly from a dynamoelectric generator in place of a storage battery after the vehicle is moving. In railroad cars (freight and passenger) the electro-generating system can be utilized to charge storage batteries, with their electricity utilized for other electro-energy requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Nathan Stulbach
    Inventors: Nathan Stulbach, Seymour C. Yuter
  • Patent number: 5215356
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for a baby carriage is provided comprising two wheels mounted on opposing ends of a shaft supported by a shaft holder fixed at an end of a supporting rod of a baby carriage. The shaft is coupled to the two wheels and a combining disc is secured to the shaft by small projections inserted within an annular groove formed in the shaft. A cap covers a recessed aperture of each wheel and is pressed inwardly to compress the combining disc for disengagement of the combining disc from the shaft and the wheel from the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Inventor: Kuo-Liang Lin
  • Patent number: 5213359
    Abstract: A binding including a fixed jaw and a movable jaw adapted to retain, on the ski, the tip of a boot provided with a transverse journal axle. The mechanism for closing the binding includes a knuckle joint formed, on the one hand, by a lever journalled on a slide bearing the movable jaw, and on the other hand, an elastic frame which is itself journalled on the lever that is supported on the mounting plate fixed on the ski. The support zone of the frame on the plate is elastically mobile frontwardly along a limited path. This displacement occurs by deformation of an elastic tongue carried by the base plate, which enables the binding to be closed even in the presence of a thin wedge of snow lodged between the jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventor: Francois Girard
  • Patent number: 5211411
    Abstract: A device for supporting roofing material such as shingles, shakes and the like, upon the roof deck to facilitate the installation thereof. It consists of a planar support plate for a bundle of shingles or the like, ahead of the roofer and upon the usually upwardly sloping roof deck. It is supported by two sets of castor wheels on the underside of the deck so that it can be moved readily and easily, upwardly, sideways or at any angle therebetween. A pair of deck engaging gripping members extend rearwardly and downwardly from the front or lower edge of the plate, to prevent downward movement of the assembly. When engaging the deck surface, these are endpointed to engage the deck. When adjacent a wall or when the capping is being installed, these may be replaced with alternate grippers with rubber pads which are pivotably attached to the end sharpened gripping members and which then engage the already laid roof material without damaging same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Inventor: Peter Oleksiuk
  • Patent number: 5207453
    Abstract: An add-on structural support arrangement for a convertible-type vehicle rear passenger shoulder belt system comprising a pair of mirror image composite pillars fixedly disposed at each rear corner of the rear seat compartment. Each pillar includes three vertically elongated sheet metal members, i.e. a forward seat attaching panel member, an intermediate anchor panel member, and an aft channel member, substantially coextensive in length and welded in flatwise abutment. A horizontal tie bar interconnects the upper ends of the forward panel members, while lower oblique wing of each anchor panel member is bolted to an associated portion of the body floor pan. A shoulder belt retractor is mounted on a lower rear face of each pillar while each aft channel member provides a vertically extending guideway for passage for its associated shoulder belt. The anchor panel is formed with a U-section in cross-sectional view defining a pair of side flanges each provided with a midpoint attachment ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Inventors: Dennis F. Stedman, Stuart A. Ehrhardt, Roy A. Carlstrom, Robert A. Choinard, Gerald H. Gillett, Raymond N. Kreucher, Jr., John S. Latimer, II
  • Patent number: 5207455
    Abstract: A device collects and discharges the splashed water thrown up by a vehicle wheel, and comprises a plurality of collection channels which are disposed side by side and spaced apart. The channels are held on the wheel arch of the vehicle in a position facing a tire tread, and collection channel openings, inclined downwards in their longitudinal direction, are each covered over by a respective recessed rebound wall on which a part of the impinging splashed water is thrown back into the associated collection channel. In order to enable greater efficiency of the device in the collection of splashed water to be achieved, the rebound walls associated with the collection channels are each, as viewed in cross-section, in the form of arcuately curved guide vanes, whereby a major part of the impinging splashed water is deflected by return flushing into the collection channel openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Hans Gotz, Klaus Muller
  • Patent number: 5207446
    Abstract: Cross country ski binding of the type that includes a retention device for the tip of the boot. The retention device includes a channel having an upwardly facing opening and in which nests a transverse latching bar carried by the front of the boot. The channel includes a fixed portion and a movable portion, the movable portion being adapted to be spaced from the fixed portion by biasing a spring under the effect of a longitudinal force, which serves to free the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventors: Paul Arnulf, Emmanuel Jacquet
  • Patent number: 5205571
    Abstract: A cart apparatus for lifting and moving aircraft chair units is described. The cart comprises a U-shaped frame with two sets of swivel-mounted casters on the bottom of the frame for mobility. A pair of upright support tube members with angle support members at their ends extend above the frame to support the rear stretcher bar of the chair unit. The baggage bar of the chair unit is held in place by a stop at the end of each leg of the U-shaped frame. A releasable retaining device for holding the baggage bar against the stop is also provided. The cart enables a single person to easily place the chair unit on the cart and move the cart and chair unit from place to place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Inventors: Allen J. Geier, George F. Engebrecht
  • Patent number: 5203589
    Abstract: A ski pole is formed with a handle having spaced lugs mounted thereon divided by parallel slots. The lugs include an arcuate rear face and a planar forward face, with the planar forward face positioned above an arcuate recess of a convex configuration to enhance grasping and securement of the ski pole. The ski pole head mounting the lugs includes a swivel connection permitting angular orientation of the ski pole handle relative to the ski pole shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Inventor: Richard C. Tio
  • Patent number: 5203580
    Abstract: A canoe toting apparatus which enables an individual to manually mount and transport a canoe or similar marine craft over reasonable distances includes a pair of large diameter wheels rotatably mounted on opposite ends of an adjustable length axle. Wheel stabilizers, coupled to the axle, may be pivoted into interfering engagement with the wheels to prevent the wheels from rotating while the marine craft is positioned on the toting apparatus. A pair of resilient guide members are slidably mounted over the axle and adapted to receive the underside of the marine craft. An adjustable length strap, coupled to the axle, is securable about the gunwales of the craft to secure the craft against the toting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Inventor: Brian J. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 5201535
    Abstract: A stroller with a releasable seat, having a reclining backrest. The seat is releasably attachable to a stroller body. When not attached to the stroller body, the seat may be utilized as a carrier by virtue of an integral carrying strap. Either a leg guard or a leg cover may be attached to the seat for protection of the baby's legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Combi Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Yuichi Arai
  • Patent number: 5195781
    Abstract: A grass ski is designed to simulate a snow ski in skiing characteristics. The grass ski has an elongate footboard with forward, central and rear portions. The central portion is arched lengthwise in elevation. Suspended beneath the footboard are spaced pairs of rollers including at least one roller pair on the forward portion, at least three roller pairs on the central portion and at least one roller pair on the rear section. One of the roller pairs is mounted on a resilient T-shaped bracket. There are elevated side guards on the forward section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Inventor: Kazuo Osawa
  • Patent number: 5195778
    Abstract: A new and unique car utility apron is presented having a soft flexible outer layer with a number of pockets spaced on the two sides of the apron. The front of the apron has the upper half cut out and replaced with webbing so that the radiator can take air in if the engine is running while the apron is in place. One side of the auto apron has an air power connecting hose while the opposite side has an electrical power connecting hose. The auto apron is attached about the engine compartment of a car by hooks at the top and an elastic band and another set of hooks at the bottom. Tools may be placed in the pockets when not in use or in convenient slots near the upper portion of the apron while temporarily not in use. Electrical or air power may be connected through to the engine compartment simply by connecting the appropriate hose or electrical cord at the bottom of the auto apron. When the apron is not in use it may be folded or rolled into a small package to hold the tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Inventor: Keith T. Dismuke
  • Patent number: 5193841
    Abstract: A front jaw having a housing receiving a release spring therein, through which housing extends a pull rod acting onto two toggle levers. In order to improve the release operation in such a front jaw, the invention provides that the housing has two bearing surfaces designated for a bearing part, which bearing surfaces are vertically spaced from the pull rod, and that the axles of the two toggle levers are arranged in the bearing part which rests in the skiing position under the influence of the release spring on the two bearing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: HTM Sport- und Freizeitgeraete Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Karl Stritzl, Andreas Janisch, Hubert Wuerthner
  • Patent number: 5193840
    Abstract: A ski binding for a cross country ski or touring ski (1). The ski binding includes a swivel part (40) and a holding cup (50) both pivotal about a transversely extending first axle (3) against the force of an elastic element in unison as well as with respect to one another. The swivel part (40) is constructed as a two-arm toggle lever and carries therewith a locking pin (42) on a first lever arm (41) thereof and a second axle (7) for a lock part (60) on a second lever arm (43) thereof. The holding cup (50) has in a front area thereof a crossbar (54) connecting its sidewalls (52), which crossbar is constructed as a locking nose (55) at its front end. The locking nose is defined by a first arcuate surface (56) extending around the transversely extending first axle (3) and a contiguous arcuate holding surface (57). A lock part (60) is provided and includes an arcuate surface region (61 ) around the second axle (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: HTM Sport- und Freizeitgeraete Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Engelbert Spitaler, Heinz Wittman, Roland Erdei
  • Patent number: 5193842
    Abstract: A collapsible cart apparatus (10) for transporting a golf bag (100) and a cooler (150); wherein, the cart apparatus (10) comprises a pivoted framework unit (12) mounted on a wheel assembly unit (11) and having a golf bag support unit (13) and a cooler support unit (14) disposed in such a manner that the golf bag (100) overlies the cooler (150) in the operative mode of disposition of the cart apparatus (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Inventor: Joel K. Fontenot
  • Patent number: 5190305
    Abstract: A luggage hand cart has a luggage supporting platform supported on wheels, with a pair of uprights extending upwardly from the platform at each end. The upper ends of the uprights are compoundly angled to extend inwardly relative to both the ends and sides of the platform and a pair of opposed, molded, generally Y-shaped plastic fittings, each having a base with a pair of projecting leg parts extending at a compound angle from the base outwardly relative to the sides and ends of the platform and downwardly, telescopically receive the upper ends of the uprights. The fittings each have internal wall structure and the longitudinally extending hanger rod then has its ends telescopically secured in the base portions of the fittings in abutting relation with internal wall structure head parts, while the upper ends of the uprights are secured in abutting relation with internal wall structure in the leg parts of the fittings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Magline, Inc.
    Inventor: William A. Putman
  • Patent number: 5188394
    Abstract: A tire scraper for removing mud from a vehicle having dual tires, includes a plurality of scraper bars, each carrying a plurality of brush assemblies. An actuator moves the pivotal support member between a first retracted position and a second deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Inventors: Mortimer P. Roche, Ademar Scarpelli
  • Patent number: 5180184
    Abstract: A collapsible or foldable three-stage golf cart is provided having three-stage frames foldably connected by joint members. A collapsible wheel mechanism may be spread or unfolded to allow wheels to interface with the ground for using this golf cart. Alternatively, the golf cart may be folded in a manner that the wheel mechanism is folded adjacent the three-stage frames to minimize the volume dimension of the golf cart when it is to be stored or transported. A foldable club bag holder is further provided to hold the upper portion of a golf bag when the golf cart is unfolded or to be folded to a position adjacent the stage frame members for storage purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Sunshon Molding Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsiu-Hui Chiu
  • Patent number: 5169167
    Abstract: A mechanism for mounting the front fender for an agricultural tractor wherein the support structure includes an arcuate mounting bracket connected to the front wheel to be pivotally moveable therewith, an arcuate support bracket detachably connected to the mounting bracket and slidable over top thereof, and a stanchion interconnecting the support bracket and the fender to locate the fender adjacent the circumference of the front tire. The mounting bracket is provided with a plurality of slotted openings alignable with holes in the support bracket to permit fasteners to extend therethrough for detachably connecting the support bracket to the mounting bracket. Both the mounting bracket and support bracket have a center of curvature coinciding with the axis of rotation of the corresponding tire such that a slidable movement of the support bracket over the surface of the mounting bracket can adjustably position the fender around the circumference of the corresponding tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Ford New Holland, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard D. Willson, Iain G. Low