Patents Examined by Daniel G. DePumpo
  • Integrated control and power unit for use aboard a bicycle
    Patent number: 6669220
    Abstract: A housing (2) for an electronic control unit for use aboard a bicycle and a battery container (3) for powering electrical devices fitted aboard, are provided with quick coupling means (6, 10), that, when coupled, also provide the electrical connection between the batteries and the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Mario Meggiolan
  • Bicycle front fork assembly
    Patent number: 6669218
    Abstract: A wheel support portion for a bicycle, such as a front fork assembly, arranged to reduce vibrations that originate at the bicycle wheel and are transmitted to the rider of the bicycle through the wheel support. Desirably, the front fork assembly is configured to be supported by a bicycle frame and includes a pair of fork legs, which extend in a downward direction along opposing sides of a front wheel of the bicycle. Preferably, the fork legs are configured to support the front wheel at their lower ends. An intermediate portion of each of the fork legs defines a cavity. A damping member comprised of a vibration damping material is positioned within the cavity. Preferably, the cavity passes completely through each fork leg in a lateral direction and the damping member is retained within the cavity by a friction fit therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Sinyard, Bradley L. Waldron, Christopher P. D'Aluisio
  • Trailer hitch
    Patent number: 6669223
    Abstract: A vehicle trailer hitch including an aluminum tubular U-shaped strut and a cast aluminum receiver mounted thereto. Ends of the strut tube are flatted to form integral planar mounting flanges for mounting the hitch to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh C. Sekaria, John W. Cobes, Robert P. Evert, Walter R. Reichelt, Jeffrey M. Shoup, Kirit N. Shah
  • Forward and aft torque distribution control system for 4WD vehicle and method
    Patent number: 6662893
    Abstract: A forward and aft torque distribution system and a method of controlling forward and aft torque distribution for a four-wheel vehicle having an electronically controlled clutch to control split of drive torque to be transferred to front and rear wheels are disclosed. A 4WD controller is responsive to mode selection signals from a mode changeover switch and a vehicle speed signal delivered from a vehicle speed sensor, and has control modes involving at least a LOCK mode and an AUTO mode. When the vehicle speed becomes less than a vehicle's halt discriminative vehicle speed indicative of a vehicle's halt state during the LOCK mode, the controller allows the electronically controlled clutch to be released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Norio Iida
  • Method of using pontoon trailer travel kit
    Patent number: 6663130
    Abstract: A pontoon trailer travel kit minimizes transverse spaces between a pontoon boat trailer and the pontoons of a pontoon boat. The kit comprises a bunk bracket that is mountable to and adjustable along a lift arm of the trailer. A bunk assembly is fastened to and is adjustable on the bunk bracket in directions perpendicular to the directions of adjustment of the bunk bracket. A kit is installed on a lift arm on each side of the trailer. The kits are pre-set such that the bunk of each bunk assembly is in close proximity to a pontoon. The boat is substantially prevented from sliding laterally on the trailer. In a modified embodiment, only the bunk assembly is used, and it is clamped directly to the trailer lift arm. That embodiment is used with boats in which the pontoons are exceptionally closely spaced to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Karavan Trailers, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas A. Dray
  • Children's cycle
    Patent number: 6663115
    Abstract: A children's cycle comprising frames, wheels under the frames and a push-handle connected with the frames. The push-handle is arcuate in shape and movably connected with the frames. The push-handle may be turned down to the underside of the cycle body with its arcuate concave facing upward so that the cycle body is supported by the push-handle. The push-handle may be used for pushing or pulling the cycle, and may be turned down to the underside of the cycle body for rocking the cycle forward and backward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Goodbaby Child Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhenghuan Song
  • Tracked vehicle operable by a non-tracked vehicle
    Patent number: 6659214
    Abstract: A tracked vehicle adapted for receiving a wheeled vehicle and to be driven by the wheeled vehicle. The tracked vehicle has a chassis. Guide and drive wheels are mounted on the chassis at each side and a set of tracks are driven by the driven wheels and guided by the guide wheels. Rear wheels of the wheeled vehicle rest in a pair of drive rollers and rotating stiles are adapted for receiving steered wheels of the wheeled vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: R. Pollitt Oilfield Construction, Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas Laing
  • Steer-by-wire system with steering feedback
    Patent number: 6655490
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire system of the preferred embodiment of the invention includes a steering subsystem, a turning subsystem, and a controller subsystem. The steering subsystem further includes a steering sensor to sense steering factors of a steering input, and a steering actuator to generate a steering feedback. The turning subsystem further includes a turning actuator to adjust a turning angle of a road wheel of the vehicle, and a turning sensor to sense turning factors of the turning actuator. The controller subsystem is connected to the steering sensor and to the turning sensor and controls the turning actuator and the steering actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Andonian, Bing Zheng, Gregory J. Stout, Muqtada Husain, Maged Radamis
  • Redundant inner tie rod assembly and assembly method
    Patent number: 6655704
    Abstract: The rack and pinion vehicle steering assembly has a steering rack slidably supported in a rack and pinion housing. An inner tie rod housing has a shank that screws into a threaded rack bore. A housing chamber receives an inner end ball and an open end of the housing chamber is crimped to retain the inner end ball. An inner support nut screws onto the steering rack and into contact with the tie rod housing. An inner support clamp has a central passage that receives an inner rod that is fixed to the inner end ball. Internal clamp threads on the clamp rim of the inner support clamp engage male threads on the inner support nut to retain the clamp and encase the tie rod housing and the inner end ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Jack McNalley, Lynn Charles Krom
  • H-infinity control and gain scheduling method for electric power assist steering system
    Patent number: 6651771
    Abstract: A steering system (10) and method (70) for controlling the steering of a vehicle having a steering assembly including a steering wheel (12), a steering column (14) connected to said steering wheel (12), and an electric motor (20) operatively engaged with the steering assembly for supplying torque assist. A steering angle sensor (32) is employed for sensing an angular position &thgr;c of the steering column (14). The steering system has first and second H-infinity controllers (64A and 64B) coupled in a feedback path (44) for generating first and second feedback signals as a function of the driver torque and first and second characteristics (JC and KC) of the steering system. One of the first and second feedback signals is selected and the selected feedback signal is combined with a feedforward signal to generate a motor control signal (U) as a function of the estimated torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Rakan C. Chabaan
  • Combination pontoon boat, trailer and travel kit
    Patent number: 6648360
    Abstract: A pontoon trailer travel kit minimizes transverse spaces between a pontoon boat trailer and the pontoons of a pontoon boat. The kit comprises a bunk bracket that is mountable to and adjustable along a lift arm of the trailer. A bunk assembly is fastened to and is adjustable on the bunk bracket in directions perpendicular to the directions of adjustment of the bunk bracket. A kit is installed on a lift arm on each side of the trailer. The kits are pre-set such that the bunk of each bunk assembly is in close proximity to a pontoon. The boat is substantially prevented from sliding laterally on the trailer. In a modified embodiment, only the bunk assembly is used, and it is clamped directly to the trailer lift arm. That embodiment is used with boats in which the pontoons are exceptionally closely spaced to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Karavan Trailers, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas A. Dray
  • Mobility device
    Patent number: 6644426
    Abstract: A universal adjustable-position mobility device for multiple use applications including robotics, industry and handicapped mobility facilitation. The device can be used to transport objects across varied terrain including inclines and declines and by utilizing a sliding extensible track system can bridge obstacles and traverse mud, sand and snow. The device further incorporates features which allow raising and lowering of the center of gravity of the load. By extending the rear wheels, the angle of the track mechanism relative to the ground to can be adjusted to facilitate engagement of the tracks with an abrupt incline such as when loading a wheelchair onto a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Ward Lincoln Larue
  • Automatic axle traction control
    Patent number: 6644428
    Abstract: An automatic axle engagement system utilizes wheel speed sensors, engine control, and braking control to provide optimal engagement of a front drive axle to provide all wheel drive under poor driving conditions. The system includes a transfer case that is coupled to a power source and which has output shafts for front and rear drive axles. The engine provides torque to the transfer case via an input shaft. Wheel sensors generate wheel speed signals that are transmitted to a controller, which determined whether or not there is wheel slip. The controller initiates a shift to drivingly engage the front drive axle if there is wheel slippage by controlling one or both of the output torque or axle braking forces to bring rotational speeds of the input shaft and the rear axle output shaft within a predetermined speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Richard E. Gady, Stephen A. Federighe
  • Rear wheel supporting device for vehicle
    Patent number: 6640922
    Abstract: To enable common use of the vehicle body frame even when the rear wheel diameter has been changed. In a rear wheel supporting device for a vehicle, the pivot member is removably attached to a rear portion of the vehicle body frame. The swing member is vertically swingably attached on the pivot member. The rear wheel is rotatably mounted on the rear portion of the swing member. A plurality of mounting portions, which are vertically arranged, are provided on the vehicle body frame. The plurality of vertically arranged mounting portions are selected in accordance with the rear wheel diameter. The pivot member is installed, so that the mounting height of the pivot member will be freely adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuo Nakagawa
  • Kick scooter shock absorbing structure
    Patent number: 6634661
    Abstract: A kick scooter shock absorbing structure includes a front wheel guard fastened the body of a kick scooter, two wheel holder arms pivoted to the front wheel guard to hold a front wheel, and a shock absorber connected to a front end of the front wheel guard and a front pivot hole of each of the wheel holder arms and adapted to absorb shocks from the front wheel, the shock absorber including a locating member coupled between the front pivot hole of each of the wheel holder arms, a shock absorbing body mounted on the front end of the front wheel guard at a top side, a rubber buffer element connected between the front end of the front wheel guard and the locating member, and a locking device, which fastens the shock absorbing body and the rubber buffer element to the front wheel guard and the locating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Inventor: Bill Huang
  • Load leveling weight distributing hitch
    Patent number: 6629701
    Abstract: A load leveling weight distributing hitch which provides enhanced flexibility of attachment and removal is described. This invention is directed to load leveling weight distribution hitches with enhanced strength and which are easy to install and adjust, without the use of special tools or equipment. This invention addresses the attachment of the spring bars commonly used with load leveling hitches by presenting a quick connect/quick disconnect which permits the user to easily install the spring bars without the use of special tools. Additionally, this invention provides a thumb screw adjustment for modifying the pitch angle of the ball hitch. This invention also provides a spring bar lift which provides a novel locking mechanism as well as a chain retention device for maintaining the chain tension during sway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Colibert Enterprises
    Inventor: Floyd A. Colibert
  • Trailer hitch with trailer hitch accessory mounting assembly
    Patent number: 6623025
    Abstract: A trailer hitch assembly includes a hitch bar and a hitch ball carried on the hitch bar. The hitch ball includes a ball head, a stem and a fastener for engaging the stem and securing the hitch ball to the hitch bar. The trailer hitch accessory also includes a trailer hitch accessory mounting assembly. That mounting assembly includes a bracket having a first aperture for receiving the shank of the hitch ball and two depending mounting flanges. Each of the mounting flanges includes a second aperture and a third aperture. In addition, the trailer hitch assembly includes a trailer hitch accessory having a trailer hitch accessory mounting bracket coupler. The coupler nests over the bracket. A pivot pin and a separate locking pin are each received in cooperating apertures in the coupler and bracket to complete the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Cequent Towing Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. McCoy, Katherine A. Adams
  • Metal gasket assembly
    Patent number: 6619666
    Abstract: A metal gasket assembly comprises a substrate metal sheet having at least one opening, and a peripheral member fitted into the opening along and welded to the periphery thereof. The peripheral member is made of a metal plate having a thickness greater than that of the substrate metal sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Leakless Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tanaka, Masamichi Hoshi
  • Recumbent cycle with improved seat system and method
    Patent number: 6616164
    Abstract: A recumbent or the like cycle includes an improved seat structure that can be used to facilitate angular positioning of the seat and/or handling of the cycle for transport and/or storage. The seat includes a mounting structure enabling fore-and-aft adjustment along the cycle as well as angular adjustment of the seat. The seat also preferably includes a material having reflective properties incorporated directly into the material of the seat, e.g., such as the fabric of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Rans Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Schlitter, John Schlitter
  • Releasable ball hitch system
    Patent number: 6616168
    Abstract: A removable ball goose hitch system. The ball member includes a ball portion and a body portion. A plurality of locking ball bearings in the body portion are engaged by an internal plunger that is actuated by a screw that protrudes from the top of the ball portion. The locking ball bearings are adapted to be engaged with a receiver in the hitch mechanism on the vehicle. When the screw is unthreaded, the ball bearings are allowed to retract and the hitch ball can be removed. All moving parts of the mechanism are located in the ball member and improper hookups are prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Draw-Tite, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob S. Belinky