Patents Examined by E Campbell
  • Patent number: 7017693
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle drive system is designed to have dimensions that are shorter in an axial direction and improved centering accuracy of a rotor, in order to prevent deterioration of motor performance. A rotor support plate (15) has a flat-plate shaped disk portion (15b), and is fixed to a front cover (32) of a take off device (5), such as a torque converter, or the like, at the disk portion with a set block (67) and a bolt (69). A forward portion of the take off device is centered and supported by fitting a center piece (33) to a crankshaft (3). A support-plate hub (15a) is in contact with the center piece (33) at a small area (33c) in a vicinity of a fixing plane P of the disk portion (15b) and the set block (67), and thus centering of the rotor (13) is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Omote, Satoru Wakuta
  • Patent number: 7011317
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for a material handling cart includes a wheel hub having first and second openings in first and second hub faces, each concentric with and extending along a central axis of the wheel hub. First and second ball bearings are located in the openings. Inner rings of the bearings are wider than the outer rings, and the inner rings contact one another. The outer rings are separated by, and are in contact with, a hub member. First and second bearing sleeves in the first and second openings contact and retain the bearings, and form first and second journal bearings. The sleeves contact journal surfaces on a portion of each inner ring that extends parallel to the central axis from an outer face of each outer ring away from a medial plane of the wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventors: E. David Hicks, Jimmy L. Hicks
  • Patent number: 7011334
    Abstract: The invention relates to a binding mechanism (1) for sports devices (2), in particular for a snowboard (4), provided with a base plate (11) for fixing to a sports device (2) and for supporting a sports shoe (3), on which a support (25) is retained, aligned substantially perpendicular thereto for supporting the rearward cuff region or back region of a sports shoe (3). This support (25) is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (27) and is restricted by stops extending substantially parallel with the standing plane (19) of the base plate (11) and substantially transversely to the binding longitudinal axis (18). This support (25) consists of at least a first and a second support part (38, 39), at least partially overlapping, and arranged one after the other in the direction of the binding longitudinal axis (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: ATOMIC Austria GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Holzer
  • Patent number: 7004274
    Abstract: An installation structure allowing installation of a capacitor as a battery unit in a hybrid vehicle, even in a vehicle not having a luggage compartment, is provided. A rear pillar cross member is mounted behind the rear seat in the cross section of the vehicle, and both ends of the rear pillar cross member are joined to inner panels of a wheel housing through a bracket and a reinforcing bracket plate. A top portion of the capacitor, which is a battery unit, is fixed to the rear pillar cross member, and the bottom portion of the capacitor is joined to the floor cross member, such that the capacitor is installed in a standing state. In addition, a setting structure for reliably setting a rear seat body on the floor of the vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Shibasawa, Tohru Ono
  • Patent number: 6991248
    Abstract: A baby stroller for transporting an infant at speeds faster than normal walking is disclosed. This baby stroller can be folded to make it easier to stow and transport. The folding mechanism, a unique feature of the design is directed toward compactness, ease of use, reliability, and reduction in manufacturing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Dynamic Brands, LLC
    Inventors: Martin E. Valdez, James Blubaugh
  • Patent number: 6986518
    Abstract: A combined baby car seat and stroller includes a base member removably attachable to the seat of an automobile and a seat member removably engageable and lockable with the base member. The seat member includes a hide-away canopy connected thereto and a plurality of wheels connected to the bottom portion thereof for allowing the seat member to be rolled on a surface. The device further includes an elongated carry handle connected to select ones of the plurality of wheels and a telescopic member connected to the seat member and extendable outwardly and away therefrom for aiding an operator in advancing the seat member when removed from the base member. The device further includes a foot lever and a rocker member positioned below the plurality of wheels so that the seat member can be oscillated along an arcuate path. The seat member may be reclined for convenient travel sleeping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Inventor: Gary Lee Besaw
  • Patent number: 6981711
    Abstract: A telescoping skateboard having a telescoping member, a toe platform on one end of the telescoping member and a heel platform at the other end of the telescoping member. A front wheel assembly is attached to the front of the telescoping member and a rear wheel assembly is affixed to the other end of the telescoping member. A microboard extends from one side of the skateboard and may be movable to either side of the skateboard or over the heel platform when retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Roy Seta
  • Patent number: 6981705
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting cargo over snowy and icy surfaces includes a plurality of elongate ski members and a plurality of clamping members connected to the respective top surfaces of the plurality of ski members. The plurality of clamping members are movable between forward and rearward positions for receiving a bottom portion of a cargo and maintaining same in a substantially stable position during transportation. The plurality of clamping members include a plurality of support members extending upwardly from the respective top surfaces of the plurality of ski members and each have an elongate slot formed therethrough for allowing the plurality of clamping members to move between forward and rearward positions when a cargo is tilted forwardly and rearwardly, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Stephen C. Jolley
  • Patent number: 6971463
    Abstract: A work vehicle having a hydrostatic drive system provides for the recovery and reuse of the vehicle's kinetic energy by conducting pressurized hydraulic fluid out of the hydrostatic drive system into an accumulator during vehicle deceleration, and conducting the pressurized fluid back into the drive system during vehicle acceleration to assist the vehicle's engine in accelerating the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Daniel B. Shore, Peter J. Dix
  • Patent number: 6966574
    Abstract: A multi-functional cart for transporting objects including a frame, a first handle connected to the frame adjacent a first end of the frame, a second handle connected to the frame adjacent a second end of the frame, a first pair of wheels connected to the frame adjacent the first end of the frame and a second pair of wheels connected to the frame adjacent the second end of the frame. The handles are different sizes and are selectively movable between perpendicular to the frame and coplanar to the frame. The frame has a generally rectangular configuration and includes frame members which are telescopically connected to each other. The multi-functional cart transforms into eight or more configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Inventor: Gary-Michael Dahl
  • Patent number: 6966566
    Abstract: In a shopping cart comprising a rear gate, which has two leg openings, and a child seat, which comprises a seat base, a seat back, and a seat panel, the seat base includes a cupholder, which is covered when the seat panel is pivoted to a position wherein the seat panel covers the seat base but not when the seat panel is pivoted to a position wherein the seat panel rests against the rear gate and covers the leg openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Unarco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Val-Jean Duchene, Taft O'Quin
  • Patent number: 6962223
    Abstract: A flywheel-driven vehicle is powered by an electric motor. The rotation of the flywheel is initiated and maintained by an electric motor, wherein the electric motor is powered alternatively by a plurality of batteries (or sets of batteries). A charger assembly is connected to the plurality of batteries. In operation, one battery at a time powers the electric motor while, simultaneously, the other battery(s) is/are being recharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Inventor: George Edmond Berbari
  • Patent number: 6959938
    Abstract: A folding collapsible baby trailer is disclosed to include a bottom frame, two upright side frame, a transverse top bar, and a trailer bar, the bottom frame being formed of two side bars, a front bar and a rear bar, the front bar and rear bar of the bottom frame being substantially -shaped bars each having an elongated body disposed on the middle below the elevation of the side bars of the bottom frame and two angled end portions respectively extended from two ends of the elongated body and respectively pivoted to distal ends of the first and second upright side frames so that a flat horizontal space is defined above the elongated bodies of the front and rear bars of the bottom frame and below the elevation of the side bars of the bottom frame for receiving the transverse top bar and the upright side frames when the folding collapsible baby trailer collapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Inventor: Ssu-Liu Liu
  • Patent number: 6959937
    Abstract: A running board support assembly (200) for fastening a running board step (104) to a vehicle includes a support bracket (204) for engagement with the running board step, and a mounting bracket (202) for coupling the support bracket (204) to the vehicle. The mounting bracket (202) includes a hooking end (212) and a pin (214). The support bracket (204) includes a hook (226) for engagement with the hooking end (212), and an aperture (218) for engagement with the pin (214). When assembled, the hook (226) and the aperture (218) cooperate to tension the mounting bracket (202) and thereby secure the support bracket (204) to the mounting bracket (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Decoma International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Schneider, Michael A. Quesenberry, Thomas M. Pilette, Leszek T. Derbis, Bruce E. McDougall
  • Patent number: 6959780
    Abstract: A vibration damping system for an engine mounted on a vehicle has mounting elements attached to frames of the vehicle, through which elements the engine is mounted on the frames, a damping weight provided outwardly of the engine, and a weight support unit fixed at one end thereof to the engine and having the damping weight attached at the other end thereof. The weight support unit includes a first arm extending along one lateral side of a vertical plane extending through an axis of a crankshaft and a second arm extending along the other lateral side of the vertical plane. The damping weight is attached to free ends of the arms. The damping weight is positioned above the cylinder head of the engine to extend transversely of the vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Oshima, Masashi Osuga, Yoshio Tomiyama, Hiroshi Kawabata
  • Patent number: 6955363
    Abstract: A toy shopping cart has a basket and seat that may be used for different functions and which are easily removed from and reattached to a frame of the shopping cart. The frame of the toy shopping cart has a pair of leg assemblies with four wheels and a number of cross-members with a holding channel formed on one of the cross-members to removably support the basket by a rim and the seat by a holding member in position at the front and the rear of the frame. The basket includes a housing with a base that is supported by a second of the cross-members when held in the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. Libretti, Frederick Loh Man Wai, Jon Marine
  • Patent number: 6938927
    Abstract: A telescoping, hand held pole includes telescoping pole segments releasably locked together by lock members. A lock release mechanism employed in the pole includes a manually engageable member which, when pushed, initiates unlocking of all of the lock members, allowing telescoping of all of the telescoping pole segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Inventors: Michael J. Martin, Leonard L. Hofheins
  • Patent number: 6938923
    Abstract: A curb-climbing rear wheel drive power wheelchair is disclosed having a pair of drive wheels, at least one ground-engaging idler wheel connected to the frame forward of the drive wheels and at least one anti-tip wheel mounted above ground aft of the drive wheels. The drive wheels and anti-tip wheels are mounted on common suspension arms, pivoted to the frame of the wheelchair behind the drive wheels and resiliently suspended, so that the anti-tip wheels move up and down in response to movements of the drive wheel suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Pride Mobility Products Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Mulhern, Gerald J. White, Jr., Mark E. Smith, Charles J. Martis
  • Patent number: 6938904
    Abstract: An adjustable strap assembly for securing a boot to a binding. The assembly includes a lateral strap, an instep pad, a medial strap and an adjustable retention assembly. In an implementation, the lateral strap has a first end for connection to a lateral side of the binding and a second end, and the instep pad includes a connection device positioned on a first distal end for adjustable connection to the second end of the lateral strap. The instep pad also includes an engagement device positioned on a raised ramp area adjacent a second distal end. The medial strap has a first end for connection to a medial side of the binding, and includes an elongated slot along its length that is positioned a predetermined distance from its second end. The adjustable retention assembly is associated with the elongated slot, and functions to releasably secure the medial strap to the instep pad which permits the length of the strap assembly to be selectively adjustable by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Vans, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Dalgaard
  • Patent number: 6935451
    Abstract: The inventive parallel drive system is particularly well suited to be supported at the axle of the vehicle. A coupling arrangement includes a clutching mechanism and a gear reduction device that selectively couple an electric motor to the drive wheels for providing torque to the wheels alone or in combination with input from an internal combustion engine. The drive torque can also be provided exclusively from the internal combustion engine. The inventive arrangement also allows for the electric motor to be used as a generator during coasting or braking, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Dale K. Bell, Dennis A. Kramer, Clive Harrup, Mehmet S. Ciray, Silvio M. Yamada, Dean M. House, David K. Platner, Dale J. Eschenburg