Patents Examined by Chris Schwartz
  • Patent number: 6886679
    Abstract: An axial setting device having two discs (24, 29) which are rotatable relative to one another, which are supported coaxially relative to one another and between which there are guided balls (35) in pairs of ball grooves (34, 39) whose depth varies across the circumference. One of the discs (24, 29) is axially supported and one is axially displaceable against elastic returning forces of first spring (33). At least one of the discs can be driven by a motor (11) via a gear drive. During the return movement of the discs (24, 29) after the balls (35) have reached their end position in the ball grooves, which end position is defined by the greatest groove depth, a second spring permits overshooting of the drivable disc (24) together with the disc (29) supported with respect to rotation against elastic returning forces of the second spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Alexey Katsnelson, Adrian Chludek, Andreas Kelbel, Kurt Müller
  • Patent number: 6880683
    Abstract: A brake disc for cycle brake systems includes an outer peripheral portion, a hub portion, and an air circulating device attached to the brake disc, and inclined relative to the brake disc, to propel and circulate air around the brake disc when the brake disc is rotated. For example, the air circulating device includes a number of spokes or fan blades secured between the outer peripheral portion and the hub portion of the brake disc, and inclined relative to the brake disc. The fan blades may be secured to the spokes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Lynn Allan Miles
  • Patent number: 6863354
    Abstract: In a hydraulic brake pressure control device of a load responsive type, a housing is attached to one of a rear wheel side member and a vehicle body side member which are connected with each other through a suspension mechanism and a lever is carried on the housing through a pivot axis to be pivotable toward the housing for direct or indirect abutting engagement with a piston formed with a valve portion. A spring member is interposed between a free end portion of the lever and the other of the rear wheel side member and the vehicle body side member for urging the lever toward the piston by means of a spring force depending on the distance between the rear wheel side member and the vehicle body side member. Further, an anti-vibration member is provided between the lever and the housing for moderating the collision of the lever with the piston when the lever is repetitively disengaged from, and engaged with, the piston during the vehicle running a bumpy road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuharu Ozaki, Naoki Iwata
  • Patent number: 6848545
    Abstract: A brake actuation assembly for a vehicle is actuatable to apply and release tension to one or more elements that connect to a brake system of the vehicle. The brake actuation assembly includes an electrically powered brake actuator, a manually operable control, and a manual brake actuator. The electrically powered actuator includes a motor with a driveshaft for driving connection with the elements. The motor is actuatable to rotate the driveshaft in a brake-applying direction to apply tension to the elements and in a brake-releasing direction to release tension to the elements. The manual actuator includes a handle and a cable. The manual actuator is movable between an operative position wherein the cable connects the handle to the driveshaft to enable rotation of the handle to rotate the driveshaft in the brake-applying and brake-releasing directions via the cable, and an inoperative position wherein the handle is disconnected from the driveshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Ventra Group Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Scheuring, III, Terry L. Reid, Michael R. Sykes
  • Patent number: 6845851
    Abstract: A system for controlling the braking system of a towed vehicle being towed by a towing vehicle having a towing vehicle subsystem for the towing vehicle and a towed vehicle subsystem for the towed vehicle. The towing vehicle subsystem includes a towing vehicle control mechanism having a brakes-on indicator and a towing vehicle receiver mechanism for receiving wireless modulated digital signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Automatic Equipment Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Robert A. Donaldson, Surgit Gill, Kyle Stanton
  • Patent number: 6811002
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disc brake with an integral parking brake, in which a push rod, a push rod biasing member and a spring cover are formed into an assembly in the form of a single cartridge. The push rod is divided into two separate bodies, namely, a front body portion threadably engaged with a clutch member and a rear body portion engaged with a cam rod. In this disc brake, it is possible to prevent a loss of an output force of a piston under a high fluid pressure. There is no need to increase a diameter of a piston for compensating for such a loss of an output force of a piston, and a reduction in size of a disc brake can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Tokico Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakayama, Satoru Tsurumi
  • Patent number: 6799662
    Abstract: A spring-actuated, hydraulically releasable brake has a brake disc extending between first and second brake pads, a spring assembly urging the first pad towards the brake disc, a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly for causing a brake releasing displacement of the first pad from the brake disc against the action of the spring assembly and a brake wear adjustment mechanism including an adjustable connection between the first brake pad and the piston and cylinder assembly, a force transmitting motion amplifier responsive to the releasing displacement, a rotatably adjustable connection provided between the piston and the first brake pad and operatively controlled by the force transmitting motion amplifier and a lost motion connection and a one-way clutch between the motion amplifier and the adjustable connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Hillmar Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Allan R. Murdoch
  • Patent number: 6793295
    Abstract: In a brake control method for a motorcycle which includes a front master cylinder, front wheel cylinders hydraulically connected to the front master cylinder, a rear master cylinder, a rear wheel cylinder hydraulically connected to the rear master cylinder and a hydraulic pressure pump. When only the front master cylinder is operated, brake pressure fluid is supplied to the front wheel cylinders and the fluid pressure pump is driven to supply discharging pressure fluid to the rear wheel cylinder, and when only the rear master cylinder is operated, brake pressure fluid is supplied only to the rear wheel cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Bosch Braking Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashige Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6793047
    Abstract: A hydraulic dashpot comprises, first, a cylinder and a piston. The cylinder (1) is charged with shock-absorbing fluid. The piston (3) is provided with ports and valves, is mounted on one end of a piston rod (2) and divides the cylinder into two chambers. The piston rod travels into and out of the cylinder and is provided with a central bore (20). The dashpot also comprises an adjustable bypass accommodated inside the piston rod or inside an extension (7) thereof. The bypass is provided with radial outlets (19, 23, 37) through the piston rod or extension. The cross-section of the bypass during the compression phase can be established independent of its cross-section during the suction phase and vice versa. There are two valves in the end of the piston rod near the piston or in the piston-rod extension. Each valve is provided with a rotating plunger (18, 21, 32, 33) with a rotary connection. Each plunger operates in conjunction with a radial inlet or outlet (19, 23, 27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Inventor: Steffen Lang
  • Patent number: 6786308
    Abstract: An anti-lock brake system for a bicycle having sliding assembly (having a brake shoe therein) and a plurality of springs defined in a brake shoe holder in turn, a bottom of the brake shoe holder and a connecting side of the sliding assembly are correspondingly in gradient formed and both of them to be abutted against each other and they are slanted formed outwardly in accordance with the direction of the rotation of the tire of the bicycle. The sliding assembly further includes a plurality of recesses formed therein for receiving sliding members, an abrasion-resistant member disposed at the bottom of the recess of the brake shoe holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Tan-Cheng Huang
  • Patent number: 6782976
    Abstract: A brake and wheel assembly featuring a brake band and an actuator capable of being moved between first and second braking positions. The brake band is carried by a support and is suspended tangentially across the surface of a wheel. The wheel is rotatably supported on an axle. The actuator is supported in the assembly, and applies a tangential force on the brake band so that first and second braking surfaces on the brake band frictionally engage the actuator in the respective first and second braking positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: HTC Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Hewitt
  • Patent number: 6776270
    Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit, in particular a gas spring, comprises a substantially cylindrical casing with a central longitudinal axis, the casing having a first end with an edge that is bent inwards, a closed second end, and an interior space that is filled with a working fluid; a guide unit which is disposed in the casing in the vicinity of the first end and supported outwards by the inwardly bent edge; a piston rod which is coaxial to the central longitudinal axis and which is displaceably passed through the guide unit and which has a piston on the end of the piston rod that is on the side of the interior space; the piston-cylinder unit is characterized in that a plastic sleeve is mounted on the edge, enfolding the edge on the outside of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: SUSPA Holding GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Krog
  • Patent number: 6776266
    Abstract: A brake stroke sensor is disclosed. In particular, a digital brake stroke sensor capable of indicating a position of pushrod linear displacement is disclosed. The brake stroke sensor includes a prism attached to the pushrod. The prism includes a number of markers to code position information. Sensors read the coded position information and electronics convert the position information to a form useable humans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Veridian Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Fuglewicz, David G. Schabel
  • Patent number: 6776267
    Abstract: A brake device for cycle includes two brake arms pivotally secured together, and each having a brake shoe attached to one end for braking purposes, a brake cable coupled to the other ends of the brake arms for forcing the brake shoes to brake the cycle, and a spring member having one end attached to the cycle. One of the brake arms includes an extension having a depression for receiving the other end of the spring member. A cushioning member may be received in the extension and engaged with the spring member for cushioning the other end of the spring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: Shih Fan Tsai
  • Patent number: 6772864
    Abstract: A motorized cycle includes a base board, a brake crank, a first operation member, a first drive plate, two front brake wires, an oil pump, a second operation member, a second drive plate, and a rear brake wire. Thus, the two rear wheels are braked independently, and the four wheels are braked synchronously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: Tai-Yang Luh
  • Patent number: 6758465
    Abstract: A compression wave spring assembly including a base and a compression spring with three wave regions that are formed from a continuous elongate flat wire strip. The first wave region begins at one end of the spring with a terminal wave. The waves of the first wave region have a constant amplitude. The second wave region is positioned adjacent to the first wave region. The wave amplitude of the second wave region varies from the first wave amplitude to zero. The third wave region begins where the second wave amplitude reaches zero. The third wave region includes a zero amplitude thereby forming a flat circular shim end. The base assembly includes a recess that receives and supports the terminal wave at the non-shimmed end of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Smalley Steel Ring Company
    Inventors: Mark Greenhill, Michael Greenhill
  • Patent number: 6685281
    Abstract: A brake control device prevents movement of a vehicle, when an unsafe condition exists, by automatically applying the parking or other brake. The brake control system may prevent movement should the unsafe condition exist within, on or around, a towed device such as a trailer, a trailer-house or other recreational or non-recreational equipment. The brake control system may set a brake or parking device on the towed device whenever the towed device is disconnected from the motorized vehicle, or whenever equipment on the towed vehicle is extending outward or is otherwise un-stowed in a position unsafe for traveling, whether or not the towed vehicle is connected to the towing vehicle. Interface connections from the towed device to the powered towing vehicle may include wireless, electrical wire, fiber optics, analog, digital, or others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: 55 Brake Company
    Inventors: G. David MacGregor, Noble Hamilton
  • Patent number: 6668989
    Abstract: A portable crash attenuation system having a trailer frame and an energy absorption mechanism attached thereto. The absorption mechanism has a first stage pivotably connected to a second stage and the second stage is pivotably connected to the frame. By pivoting the stages about hinges the attenuation system may be folded from an extended, deployed position or mode to a shortened transit mode for easy relocation of the entire attenuation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Safety by Design, Co.
    Inventors: John D. Reid, John R. Rohde, Dean L. Sicking
  • Patent number: 6634629
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hydraulic engine mounting capable of supporting an engine mounted on a vehicle body so as to prevent mechanical interference of the engine with the vehicle body, and prevent transmission of engine vibrations and noises to the vehicle body. The hydraulic mounting comprises an upper plate coupled to one vibration source; a lower plate coupled to a supporting portion supporting the other vibration source; a body fixed to an upper portion of the lower plate, and having an air chamber therein which is communicated with an exterior through a plurality of orifices; a variable diaphragm covering an opened upper surface of the body; an elastic member fixed to a lower portion of the upper plate, and defining a liquid chamber together with the variable diaphragm; and a partition for dividing the liquid chamber into an upper liquid chamber and a lower liquid chamber which communicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Wu-Kwang Lee
  • Patent number: 6604751
    Abstract: A dampener including a valve movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively alter the compression damping rate of the shock absorber. The valve may include a self-centering feature which operates to keep the valve body centered about the valve shaft. The dampener may also include a timer feature, which retains the valve in an open position for a predetermined period of time after it is initially opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Fox