Patents Examined by Chong H. Kim
  • Patent number: 6986406
    Abstract: An axle driving apparatus having a housing having two members joined along a joint surface and a hydraulic axial piston pump and motor mounted on a center section located in the housing, wherein the pump and motor are mounted perpendicular to one another. The motor is engaged to a fixed thrust bearing located in the housing and the center section is located entirely between the joint surface and the thrust bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Raymond Hauser, John Schreier
  • Patent number: 6986296
    Abstract: A cam apparatus includes: a cam driver; a cam slide adapted to move in contact with the cam driver and having a through hole; a cam-slide supporting device having a cam-slide supporting base which movably supports the cam slide, has a front wall portion disposed at a forward position in a moving direction of the cam slide, and has an opening in a backward position opposing the front wall portion in the moving direction of the cam slide; and a returning mechanism for returning the cam slide to an initial position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Oiles Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Miyaji, Hideki Kiriaki
  • Patent number: 6986407
    Abstract: A lubricant injector having a body containing a reciprocal piston for dispensing lubricant from the body, a pin extending from the piston through an opening in the body, and a sealing assembly in the opening surrounding the pin for sealing against leakage of lubricant from the body along the pin. The sealing assembly includes a low-pressure sealing member for sealing at low pressures, and a high-pressure sealing member for sealing at higher pressures. The injector includes a measuring chamber, venting of the injector involving transmission of lubricant from its inlet to the measuring chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Lincoln Industrial Corporation
    Inventors: Paul G. Conley, Thomas M. Arens
  • Patent number: 6983672
    Abstract: A bottom bracket assembly for a bicycle is comprised of a spindle and at least two cartridge bearings. The inner races of the cartridge bearings are axially fixed on the spindle by abutting stop elements. Crank arms attached to the ends of the spindle axially abut the outer stop elements, thus ensuring the precise and consistent axial location of the crank arms. Since the inner bearing races are fixed axially, the outer race of at least one cartridge bearing may be allowed to float in an axial direction to ensure proper alignment of the inner and outer races and the greatest possible bearing life for the bottom bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Truvativ Int'l Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Garrett Andrew Smith
  • Patent number: 6978694
    Abstract: A handlebar throttle controller includes a cylindrical housing adapted to be rotatably mounted to an end of a handlebar, and a rotary shaft supported within the housing for relative rotation about a longitudinal axis. A first spring angularly biases the shaft toward a first angular position, while at least one of a cam and follower arrangement and a friction element and reaction element arrangement generates a first torque characteristic resisting relative rotation of the shaft when the shaft is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and a second torque characteristic resisting relative rotation of the shaft within the housing when the shaft is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing. A sensor on the housing generates an electrical output representative of an instantaneous angular position of the shaft relative to the housing, for use, for example, in an electronic throttle control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Peppard
  • Patent number: 6976402
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a parking brake lever that is operated by a hand. The parking brake lever has a supporting member fixed to a vehicle frame and which is provided with ratchet portion, and an oscillating member, which oscillates with respect to the supporting member between braking position and releasing position. A push button is provided in one end of the oscillating member. A pawl and a connecting member are operatively interposed between the push button and ratchet portion. The connecting member includes a flexible cable. According to the present invention, even if the push button is inadvertently pressed, the parking brake does not release unless the oscillating member is pulled upwardly. Thus, accident probability caused from inadvertent release of a parking brake is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Kyung Chang Industrial Corporation
    Inventor: Kyung Hee Cho
  • Patent number: 6976559
    Abstract: The invention relates to a piston compressor, particularly a hermetically enclosed refrigerant compressor, with a crank drive, having a crank shaft with an eccentric crank pin and an oil channel arrangement, and a connecting rod with a first piston-side connecting rod eye and a second pin-side connecting rod eye, said eyes having between them a connecting rod shank with a longitudinal channel, which opens into the connecting rod eyes. In this compressor, it is endeavoured to improve the lubricating conditions. For this purpose a bearing element is arranged between the crank pin and the second connecting rod eye, which is unrotatably connected with the second connecting rod eye under formation of an oil channel, the longitudinal channel communicating with the oil channel and a control arrangement being provided, which ensures a communication between the oil channel and the oil channel arrangement at least once per rotation of the crank pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Danfoss Compressors GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Holm Iversen, Preben Bjerre
  • Patent number: 6976558
    Abstract: A clean check is performed on a gearbox by flushing an oil-based fluid through the gearbox and then through a filter. The filter is then weighed to determine the weight of contaminants collected in the filter. The contaminant weight is compared to a predetermined level, wherein the gearbox is acceptable if the contaminant weight is below the predetermined level. This method is carried out on a system that includes a source of the oil-based fluid fluidly connected to an inlet of the gearbox and a filter fluidly connected to an outlet of the gearbox. A device such as a pump is provided for causing the oil-based fluid to flow through the gearbox and the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Michael Bains, Robert James Puckett
  • Patent number: 6973851
    Abstract: Pull-handle arrangement for releasing a foot-operated parking brake of a motor vehicle. A pull-handle arrangement having a handle element which is held in a linearly movable manner in a handle mounting fixed on the vehicle and, with the aid of a cable, acts on the foot-operated parking brake, and also is in operative connection with a restoring spring of the foot-operated parking brake. Dampers which retard the return movement of the handle element are provided between the handle element and handle mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrylser AG
    Inventors: Falk Stadler, Jürgen Bronner, Ernst Franz
  • Patent number: 6957597
    Abstract: An adjusting apparatus for a bicycle brake control device comprises a brake control member bracket adapted to be mounted to a handlebar and a brake control member movably mounted to the brake control member bracket such that it can move from a brake release position toward a brake operating position. An adjustment member is disposed between the brake control member bracket and the brake control member to adjust an orientation of the brake control member relative to the brake control member bracket when the brake control member is in the brake release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Irie, Hiroaki Shiraishi, Satoshi Shahana
  • Patent number: 6957720
    Abstract: A self-lubrication cable assembly includes a cable with a sheath mounted thereto and an end cap is connected to an end of the sheath. The end cap has a chamber defined therein and a plurality of lubrication rings are received in the chamber and mounted to the cable which extends through the end cap. A hole is defined radially through a wall of the end cap and communicates with the chamber. A protection sleeve is movably mounted to the end cap and covers the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Inventor: Yung-Pin Kuo
  • Patent number: 6945134
    Abstract: An actuating pedal (1) for the brake system of a road vehicle has a fastening device (6) for fixing the actuating pedal (1) in a pivot bearing (12) on a pedal block (7) of the vehicle. The pedal block is a rigid part of the body, with a pedal body (2) and with an actuating surface (3). The pedal body (2) has at least one inner metal core (8) and a plastic jacketing (9) surrounding the metal core (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: ZF Lemforder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Waldemar Rogowski, Keit Wagener
  • Patent number: 6945135
    Abstract: A bicycle stem may include a body portion and a handlebar clamping portion connected thereto, and a handlebar clamping member cooperating with the handlebar clamping portion to clamp the bicycle handlebar. The handlebar clamping member and the handlebar clamping portion may each have a cavity in a respective medial portion thereof to accommodate an enlarged diameter portion of the handlebar. The handlebar clamping member may have a generally rectangular shape with a recess therein defining with the cavity a pair of spaced apart contact areas for contacting the handlebar. The handlebar clamping member may also be completely removable from the handlebar clamping portion in some embodiments, to facilitate installation of the handlebar. The handlebar clamping portion may also have a recess therein defining with the cavity a pair of spaced apart contact areas for contacting the handlebar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: L. H. Thomson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Loronzo H. Thomson, Brian Thomson, Mark P. McJunkin
  • Patent number: 6945362
    Abstract: An apparatus for capturing oil dripping from the bottom of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a pan that is preferably made of a rigid material such as aluminum or hard plastic. Positioned within the pan is a pad that includes an absorbent layer, which readily absorbs oil, and a barrier layer, through which oil is unlikely to pass. The absorbent layer of the pad faces engine components that could potentially leak oil. The barrier layer faces the pan. The pad is also configured to be positioned within the pan so as to be easily replaceable once the pad becomes saturated with oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Inventor: Alray Sumpter, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6945136
    Abstract: A pivoting handlebar assembly for a cycle is characterized by a pair of handlebars and a mechanical linkage system that permit the handlebars to be moved with relative ease from one to the other of a rearward outboard position and a forward inboard position while the cycle is in motion. The assembly includes means for assuring that the two handlebars will move in unison with one another relative to a central support. A trigger and cable-operated lock mechanism is provided for releasably locking the handlebars against pivotal movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Inventor: Peter M. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 6938732
    Abstract: A chain with links made of plates connected with hollow pins containing a reserve of lubricant connected with the chain parts to be lubricated. The lubricant reserve is contained in replaceable cartridges inserted removably in the pins through an appropriate end passage. The cartridge can be made with an enlarged section to constitute a plug of the pin in which it is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Regina S.I.C.C. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Carlo Garbagnati
  • Patent number: 6929099
    Abstract: A rotary feed-through, which contains a hollow shaft, which is supported in a first housing part so that it can rotate, with a first sealing surface and a sealing bushing, which is arranged rotationally fixed within a second housing part and which is coaxial with the hollow shaft, with a second sealing surface for contact to the first sealing surface. In order to also enable lower leakage losses, in addition to less wear, with the supply of cooling lubricants and compressed air, the second housing part contains a first lateral supply channel, which can be attached to a coolant supply line or a compressed air supply line, for the supply of cooling lubricant or compressed air via at least one radial opening of the sealing bushing and a second supply channel, which is charged during the supply of cooling lubricant, for the supply of cooling lubricant to a pressure piston, which closes the rear end of the sealing bushing, to increase the contact pressure of the sealing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Ott-Jakob GmbH & Co. Spanntechnik KG
    Inventors: Ludwig Jakob, Josef Greif, Wolfgang Bechteler
  • Patent number: 6925907
    Abstract: A bicycle with a triangulated crank structure replaces the single span crank arm which connects the spindle to the foot pedal on bicycles today. The triangulated crank structure is typically comprised of several sections including two linear spans of structural material arranged so that one end of each linear span connects with the other to form the vertex of an acute angle, proximate to a pedal attachment area. From the vertex, the linear spans diverge and each connects at its opposite end to separate locations on a structural element attached to an end of the bicycle's crankshaft or spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Paul Odom
  • Patent number: 6925906
    Abstract: The vehicular shift lever has rubber bushes tightly fastened to the external surface of a lever axle and a cover pressed over the external side of the rubber bush. The shift lever includes: first and second rubber bushes fastened to the top and bottom of the lever axle with a preset interval therebetween; a plurality of protruders formed radially at the external circumferential surface of one or more rubber bushes; and a third rubber bush installed at the external side of the protruder with the internal and external sides thereof being attached to the external surface of the protruder and the internal surface of the cover, respectively. This reduces the amount of material required for the rubber bushes, and effectively absorbes vibration and decreases noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Byeong-Cheol Kwag
  • Patent number: 6926121
    Abstract: A cap for sealing an outer end of an oil filler tube of an engine where the oil filler tube has an inner end with ball valve having a float ball and mating valve seat for impeding any reverse flow of oil during engine operation. The cap includes a sealable plug mating the tube outer end; a rod extending from the plug toward the inner end of the tube; and a valve opening device mounted to the rod for dislodging the float ball from the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Roger Gates, Ian MacFarlane