Patents Examined by Brian L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6786494
    Abstract: A vehicle hardtop carrier has a rear wheels bar transversely of a mounting bar, and front wheels on separate wheel bars support the hardtop and are adjustably pivotally mounted on the mounting bar to accommodate various hardtops. A cushion bar extends generally upwardly from the mounting bar to support the hardtop. A retaining strap extends from the carrier and about the hardtop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Michael J. Garbiso
  • Patent number: 6786512
    Abstract: A shield for controlling air, spray and airborne debris generated by a wheel of an automotive vehicle when traveling on a roadway surface. The shield includes a planar frame having front and rear surfaces and top, side and bottom borders. The shield is adapted to be disposed above the roadway surface vertically depending from the vehicle and spaced rearwardly from the vehicle wheel in a plane extending transversely to the vehicle. A plurality of downwardly and rearwardly oriented louvers are fixed on the frame to extend rearwardly beyond its rear surface, so as to be oriented horizontally (when the shield is in position on the vehicle) between the side borders, and the louvers are shaped so as to permit, when the vehicle is moving, a flow of air, spray and airborne debris through the shield and downward deflection thereof as they pass between louvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Morin, Dale Richard Vranckx
  • Patent number: 6786502
    Abstract: An adjustable mount for use with a snowboard and a snowboard binding has a center-line and a channel which longitudinally extends along the center-line of the snowboard. The snowboard binding includes a binding base plate and a disc. The disc has a center-line and a bottom surface and is rotatably coupled to the binding base plate. The adjustable mount includes a rail and a locking mechanism. The rail is disposed in the channel and is fixedly coupled thereto. The rail is a flexible member and has a key-slot and two series of parallel notches. The binding base plate is disposed on the snowboard. The disc has a center-line and a bottom surface. The disc is rotatably coupled to the binding base plate. The locking mechanism securely couples the rail to the binding base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Stephen R. Carlson
  • Patent number: 6783145
    Abstract: A raising platform for a binding for a board for gliding over snow, including a planar central zone capable of receiving the front stop and the heel piece of the binding, and two lateral portions of which the lower edge is intended for interacting with the board for gliding, wherein the lower edge of the lateral portions has, in a longitudinal plane, a certain gradient relative to the plane of the central zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Skis Rossignol S.A.
    Inventors: Henri-Charles Deborde, Alain Zanco, Milena Stefanova, Jacques Fagot, Michel Echevin
  • Patent number: 6783134
    Abstract: A ski vehicle includes a frame having a first ski mounted thereon. A steering column having a handlebar attached thereto is rotatably mounted to the frame. A second ski is mounted to the steering column. A seat post has a first end and an opposing second end. The first end of the seat post is hingedly, removably, and/or slidably mounted to the frame. A seat is mounted to the second end of the seat post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Brad Geary
  • Patent number: 6782965
    Abstract: A powertrain configuration for a truck chassis includes a chassis having at least two frame rails and at least one intermediate cross member. A forward wheel assembly is attached to a forward region of the chassis and a rearward wheel assembly is attached to a rearward region of the chassis. An engine is positioned adjacent to the forward wheel assembly and attached to two chassis frame rails such that, at most, only ten percent of an overall engine height extends above a top of the chassis frame rails. The powertrain configuration may further include a transmission attached to the engine and a driveshaft attached to the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Spartan Motors Inc.
    Inventors: George W. Sztykiel, David L. Cain
  • Patent number: 6783147
    Abstract: Cooler carts are desirable for transporting coolers. Coolers come in various sizes, and can become quite heavy once filled with ice and food or beverages. The cooler cart adapts to a wide range of cooler sizes by having the ability to telescope both lengthwise and widthwise. A telescoping handle shaft is also provided to adjust the height of the handle. All four corners of the cooler cart are supported by either four wheels mounted on the corners or two legs on the front corners and to wheels on the rear corners. The handle shaft is hingedly mounted, allowing it to be folded down when the cooler cart is not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Morris E. Green, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6780215
    Abstract: The belt driven vacuum pump is provided on a work vehicle to supply the vacuum needed for the engine intake air pre-cleaner. The vacuum pump is driven at or proportional to the engine speed to ensure proper vacuum for the intake airflow. Preferably, the vacuum pump is integrated into an accessory support bracket that carries other belt driven components such as the alternator, etc. The support bracket forms the vacuum pump housing to reduce the number of components required for the vacuum pump. Air outlet passages are formed in the support bracket and are preferably directed toward accessories or engine components that can benefit from additional cooling provided by the vacuum pump exhaust air. The vacuum pump can also be equipped with a hose at the inlet and/or the exhaust sides of the vacuum pump to provide a vacuum cleaner or a blower for use on or about the work vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Eric A. Keen, Brent A. Lyman, Dennis A. Bowman
  • Patent number: 6779618
    Abstract: A vehicle having a tire pressure adjusting device for regulating the pressure of tires which has a valve arrangement between a compressed air source and the tires is described. To reduce the energy expenditure required for filling the tires and to be able to keep the filling pressure as low as possible, the turbocharger of the vehicle engine serves as the compressed air source. The charge air channel of the turbocharger is connected with the valve arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Nicolai Tarasinski
  • Patent number: 6779803
    Abstract: A hand-held ergonomic material-handling device capable of moving heavy objects, such as large waste containers and other large objects requiring mechanical assistance. The ergonomic material-handling device can be used with neutral postures of the back, shoulders, wrists and knees, thereby reducing potential injury to the user. The device involves two key features: 1) gives the user the ability to adjust the height of the handles of the device to ergonomically fit the needs of the user's back, wrists and shoulders; and 2) has a rounded handlebar shape, as well as the size and configuration of the handles which keep the user's wrists in a neutral posture during manipulation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Lance E. Barsnick, David M. Zalk, Catherine M. Perry, Terry Biggs, Robert E. Tageson
  • Patent number: 6779810
    Abstract: A ski binding or a snowboard binding having boot holder components on the front end or the toe end and on the rear end or the heel end. The invention includes a holding device which is arranged between the boot holder components and this holding device connects said boot holder components by means of connection elements. These connection elements have an adjusting device having an adjusting input which can be operated by a motor-driven tool, and the connection elements are adjustable against a self-locking effect, that is, adjustable to provide some resistance to further toe-to-heel movement of the connection elements once adjusted. The connection elements can be part of a threaded spindle. The boot holder components and holding device are secured displaceably on the ski or the snowboard in a fixed manner in the vertical direction with a form-fitting connection on a guide rail extending in the longitudinal direction of the ski or snowboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Marker Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Mangold
  • Patent number: 6779622
    Abstract: To cool a power drive unit for controlling the operation of a motor-generator connected to an engine and function as either a motor or a generator, an electric power drive unit-accommodating chamber is defined outside a side frame disposed on a side of an engine room with the engine accommodated therein in a widthwise direction of a vehicle, and is separated from the engine room. The electric power drive unit is accommodated in the power drive unit-accommodating chamber. A cooling device is integrally provided on the electric power drive unit to use cooling water to perform heat exchange with travel wind, and a heat shield plate is mounted between the engine room and the electric power drive unit-accommodating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takafumi Mizorogi
  • Patent number: 6779809
    Abstract: A retaining element for retaining the front of a boot sole on a ski. The element includes a jaw carried by a body which itself is mounted on a mounting base. The mounting base has a front zone that supports the body, and a rear zone positioned lower than the front zone. The retaining element can accept ski boots having a thicker sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Thomas, Michel Tessot, Pierre Desarmaux
  • Patent number: 6779804
    Abstract: A jogging stroller in which a control block is coupled to the front fork and pivoted with the front fork to the front side of the front frame tube of the stroller frame, and an operation rod is provided in the control block and selectively shifted between a first position where the control block and the front fork are unlocked for a swivel motion relative to the front frame tube of the stroller frame, and a second position where the control block and the front fork are locked and prohibited from a swivel motion relative to the front frame tube of the stroller frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventor: Ssu-Liu Liu
  • Patent number: 6776427
    Abstract: A toy sled for use with a wheeled item such as a floor scooter. The sled has a body having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface adapted for receiving a rider thereon and the bottom surface adapted for receiving the scooter. The scooter can be removed and replaced, as desired, from the body of the sled. Multiple scooters can be used with the sled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: The Prophet Corp.
    Inventor: Donald R. Glover
  • Patent number: 6776424
    Abstract: A sled includes a hull having walls defining an inboard hole. A lip extending outward from the hall forms an outboard hole opposed to the inboard hold. A support member extends through the inboard hold and the outboard hole, as well as through the hole of a strap, thereby securing the strap to the hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: David Sellers
  • Patent number: 6772542
    Abstract: A ski system for allowing a ski to slide in forward motion and grip in backward motion for a variety of people in a cost effective manner. The ski system includes a flat base member having an upper surface and a lower surface, a plurality of gripping members extending from the lower surface of the base member, and a securing structure attached to the upper surface of the base member for securing a shoe of a user. The gripping members each have a front portion having a downwardly angled structure. The gripping members each include a rear portion that extends upwardly from the lower end of the front portion towards the lower surface of the base member. The gripping members preferably have a U-shaped cross sectional shape. The front portion of the gripping members are for gliding upon a snow surface allowing forward movement and the rear portion is for engaging the snow surface for preventing rearward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 6773020
    Abstract: A binding to retain a boot on a gliding or rolling apparatus, such as a snowboard, ski, or roller skate. The binding includes a linkage that connects first and second flanges. The linkage includes a first band attached to the first flange, and a tightening device attached to the second flange. An abutment of the binding is fixed to the first band toward a free end of the band, so as to be located on the other side of the tightening device with respect to a fastening end of the band, thus preventing a separation of the first band and of the tightening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-François Gonthier
  • Patent number: 6773021
    Abstract: A spacer for a sliding device connects a deck to a runner. The spacer may allow relative rotation, pivoting and/or sliding of the deck and the runner. The sliding, pivoting and/or rotating may reduce the stresses experienced at the attachment points of the spacer and the deck or the spacer and the runner. The spacer arrangement may also provide a sliding device with a smoother ride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: The Burton Corporation
    Inventors: Christian P. Breuer, G. Scott Barbieri
  • Patent number: 6773024
    Abstract: The arrangement comprises a bottom part (1), which is mounted on the ski (3), and a top part (2), which can be fitted on the bottom part. The boot (4) can be connected to the top side (21) of the top part (2). The bottom part (1) comprises a base (13) which can be fastened on the body of the ski (3) and can be introduced into a correspondingly shaped central section (23) of the top part (2). In this central section (23), the base (13) is retained by means of a connecting devices (35). The central section of a flexible member (60) is retained between the base plate (10) and the body of the ski (3). This member (60) and the way it is secured on the ski are such that it acts as an automatically triggering brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignees: Sports Goods AG
    Inventor: Klaus Walkhoff