Patents Examined by Jean Charleston
  • Patent number: 9242514
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a runflat device (2), particularly, but not exclusively, a combined runflat and double sided beadlock that can be fitted to any size and type of wheel (1) regardless of the shape and depth of the wheel well (10). The runflat device (2) can be fitted using standard tools and tightened through manipulation of a valve assembly (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: RUN FLAT SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventor: Richard Lust
  • Patent number: 9238472
    Abstract: The wheel set shaft of a rail vehicle is protected in an effective and economical manner by a protection device. The device includes an elastomeric mat which can be easily placed on the wheel set shaft and retaining means for retaining the elastomeric mat on the wheel set shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heiko Meyer, Hans Juergen Maerkl, Guntram Ruef, Ralph Schmidt, Robert Thiess, Jens Vollert
  • Patent number: 9238388
    Abstract: A tire pressure maintenance apparatus and system is disclosed. The apparatus and system comprises a high pressure reservoir and a pressure regulator secured to the high pressure reservoir. A high pressure relief valve is also provided. The high pressure reservoir is circumferentially continuous. Further, the pressure regulator has a passive valve in fluid communication with the high pressure reservoir and the pressure regulator opens at a low pressure point and closes at a high pressure point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: DAYCO IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: David Fletcher, James Miller, Craig Markyvech, Brian Graichen
  • Patent number: 9233577
    Abstract: A hub-bearing assembly (10) for a motor vehicle wheel is provided with a flanged hub (12), a disc brake rotor (40) and a disc-shaped sealing shield (50) having a radially inner mounting portion (51, 51?) mounted with radial interference on a cylindrical surface (30) of the stationary bearing ring (14), a shaped wall (52, 52?) extending radially from an axially inner end (53) of the mounting portion (51), and an outer, peripheral sealing edge (54) defining a labyrinth seal with a surface (46) of the disc brake rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Domenico Bosco, Ajay Thanwal
  • Patent number: 9227678
    Abstract: A locking wheel rim cover is described for attachment to the outer face of a spare wheel rim having a given diameter, an outer face and log openings. The cover includes a circular rim plate having a diameter substantial the same as the diameter of the wheel rim, an inner face and an outer face; a locking member extending inwardly from the inner face of the rim plate; a first attachment member extending inwardly from the inner face of the rim plate; and an attachment bracket mountable on the outer face of the wheel rim, the bracket including a locking member opening to receive the locking member, a second attachment member connectable with the first attachment member and inwardly extending adapters sized for insertion into the wheel lug openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Inventor: Gary Bolton
  • Patent number: 9221517
    Abstract: A bicycle rear hub includes a hub spindle, a drive part, a hub shell, at least one first opposed part, at least one second opposed part and a driving force measuring part. The drive part is rotatably supported on the hub spindle, and configured to receive a driving-force-input member. The hub shell is rotatably supported on the hub spindle and operatively coupled to the drive part for rotation by the drive part on the hub spindle. The at least one first opposed part is coupled to the drive part. The at least one second opposed part is coupled to the hub shell and being disposed oppose to the first opposed part with a gap therebetween. The driving force measuring part includes at least one sensor arranged to measure at least one of the gap between the first and second opposed parts and a displacement of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9216613
    Abstract: A FRP rim for a bicycle, including a radially outer tire-engaging portion and a radially inner spoke-engaging portion. A first sidewall is in a spaced configuration with a second sidewall. The first and second sidewalls extend between the radially outer tire-engaging portion and the radially inner spoke-engaging portion. A brake track is disposed on each of the first and second sidewalls including a layer of microparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Josh Poertner, David Morse, Michael Hall
  • Patent number: 9211922
    Abstract: A robotic vehicle is provided with improved traction and mobility via a specially designed wheel apparatus including a relatively rigid wheel structure formed from two circular, coaxial sprocketed wheel plates separated by a central hub. The sprockets on the wheel plates are circumferentially aligned with one another, with axially facing sprocket pairs being received in areas defined between circumferentially adjacent pairs of tread links in a series of tread links, equal in number to the number of sprocket pairs, arranged in a circular array around the periphery of the wheel structure. The sprocket pairs are sized and configured in a manner such that substantial relative axial and circumferential movement between the wheel structure and the tread link array are blocked, with the axially facing sprockets in each sprocket pair being axially and resiliently deflected toward one another by surface portions of their associated tread link area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Cardinal Gibbons High School
    Inventors: Ariana Jacqueline Keeling, Kirby Shane Cook, Timothy Paul Kowalczyk, Aaron Joseph Ruff, Sean Michael McDonald, Sean Michael Greene, Marc Celestini, Brian Alexander Nelson
  • Patent number: 9205701
    Abstract: A removable wheel cover includes a dome-shaped body having a perimeter edge and a central core. A body elevation increases from the perimeter edge to a maximum elevation between the perimeter edge and the central core. Concentric raised ribs between the perimeter edge and the maximum elevation decrease in diameter between successive raised ribs toward the maximum elevation. A central core sleeve wall has an end face. An apex of each of multiple sleeve wall tabs positioned proximate the end face together define a first plane positioned with respect to a perimeter edge second plane. A wheel having a central hub is mounted to a tire. In an installed position, the perimeter edge is positioned in continuous contact with the tire or the wheel and the body is elastically deflected toward the wheel to engage the tabs against a wheel hub aperture raised edge thereby resisting wheel cover removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Cadillac Products Automotive Company
    Inventors: Kevin E. Morse, Michael P. Williams, II, Robert J. Zander
  • Patent number: 9205713
    Abstract: A bolt assembly provides a reciprocating bolt. The bolt assembly includes a bolt assembly body, a cap affixed to the bolt assembly body, and a base affixed to the bolt assembly body opposite the cap, wherein the bolt assembly body includes a bolt carrier having a cap end disposed proximally to the cap and a bolt receiving end disposed distally from the cap. The bolt assembly also includes a biasing mechanism biasing the bolt carrier in a retracted position relative to the bolt assembly, and an extension actuator including a diaphragm having a center portion disposed between the cap and the bolt assembly body, the center portion of the diaphragm being deflectable to enable the biasing of the bolt carrier in the retracted position, the center portion of the diaphragm being oppositely deflectable to apply an actuation force to the cap end of the bolt carrier so as to move the bolt carrier from the retracted position to an extended position relative to the bolt assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ice Adaptive Tires, LLC
    Inventor: Norman S. Fink
  • Patent number: 9205700
    Abstract: A nipple for spokes of spoked wheels includes a head and a shank, both of which are traversed by one axial through hole which is at least partly threaded, with at least one recess which intersects the threaded surface of the hole and a deformable insert inserted in each recess. The recess and insert are shaped and positioned relative to the hole so that the insert is held in the corresponding recess in a position which partly projects over at least one length in the hole to interfere with the thread of the spoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: ALPINA RAGGI S.P.A.
    Inventor: Guido Cappellotto
  • Patent number: 9199678
    Abstract: A crawler belt and a master link for use in the crawler belt enable easy connection and disconnection of the crawler belt. The crawler belt has a track chain in which a plurality of regular links are pivotally connected at their ends, the master link for connecting the ends of the track chain to form the crawler belt into a loop, and track shoes attached to the regular links and the master link respectively. The crawler belt has a slit aperture which leads only to a pin insertion hole formed at the other end of the master link and is configured such that a clamping force, generated by tightening a master bolt that imparts a tightening force to the master link to narrow the slit aperture, is allowed to work on only the regular pin inserted into a pin insertion hole leading to the slit aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Tsubaki, Daijirou Itou, Kenichi Hisamatsu, Shigeto Marumoto
  • Patent number: 9193226
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air compressor mountable in an annular tire cavity of a pneumatic tire. The compressor comprises an air inlet, an air outlet, and a body in which are formed a blind hole having a sidewall and a compression chamber in fluid communication with the air inlet and the air outlet. Further, the tire comprises a compression piston configured for reciprocating in the compression chamber for providing compressed air to the tire cavity through the air outlet, and a hydraulic fluid passage for providing hydraulic fluid into the blind hole, as well as a guiding piston configured for reciprocating in the blind hole in sealed contact with the sidewall and for guiding a reciprocating movement of the body relative to the compression piston. The invention further relates to a tire assembly comprising a tire and the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Daniel Paul Luc Marie Hinque, William Alain Talbot
  • Patent number: 9193448
    Abstract: An aircraft wheel comprising two half-wheels (1, 2) assembled together by means of bolt fasteners (10; 110) clamping together disks of the half-wheels, each bolt fastener comprising a bolt (11; 111) with an end forming a screw head (12; 112) and a threaded end (13; 113) for receiving a nut (14; 114), the wheel also being fitted with drive keys (20; 120) that are fitted to one of the half-wheels for driving brake disks in rotation, the wheel being characterized in that each drive key has a first end (23; 123) that is shaped to co-operate with the screw head of one of the bolts so that said first end is held and prevented from moving when the key is in place on the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventors: Marie-Laure De Crescenzo, Christophe Verdurmen, Jacques Bussiere
  • Patent number: 9193401
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a rubber crawler having reduced vibration during running and further good soil-grasping property and soil-discharging property as well as improved durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuo Shimozono
  • Patent number: 9186934
    Abstract: A wheel assembly includes a rigid wheel and an airless tire configured to present some performance characteristics of a pneumatic tire. The wheel includes a pair of radially outermost axially spaced rim portions, each rim portion including a transversely flat outer surface extending at least partially around the circumference of the wheel. The tire is mounted on the wheel such that the tire engages the outer surfaces of the rim portions of the wheel. A central portion of the tire is configured to flex inwardly between the rim portions of the wheel in response to ground engaging pressure, thus minimizing ground penetration and soil disturbance during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Lindsay Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Korus
  • Patent number: 9180733
    Abstract: A variable-diameter wheel 1 includes at least one rim or hub 11 having a predetermined diameter, to which at least one drive axle 14 of the wheel 1 is connected; at least one outer surface external to the hub 11, having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the hub 11. At least one diameter-variation mechanism 3 is secured to the axle 14 and adapted to vary the actual diameter of the wheel 1 according to the torque applied to the drive axle 14 by at least one propulsion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: OTO MELARA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Guido Roberto Sgherri, Giovanni La Spina
  • Patent number: 9174510
    Abstract: A twistable closed profile crossmember for a rear axle of a motor vehicle, the crossmember making it possible to connect two longitudinal arms of the axle. The crossmember includes a tube including: end portions that are each connectable to one of the two arms; an intermediate portion that is deep-drawn so as to obtain a U- or V-shaped transverse section wherein the inner walls of the tube are separated by a space; and two transition portions having a transverse section modified to connect each end portion to the intermediate portion. The crossmember further includes two inserts, each closing one end of the intermediate portion on all or part of the length of each transition portion to avoid all contact between the inner walls at the intermediate portion when the crosspiece is subject to a twisting force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventor: Guillaume Hachet
  • Patent number: 9168961
    Abstract: In a tracklaying gear of a road finishing machine or a feeder with a drive chain wheel comprising circumferential teeth and being rotatably driven about an axis, and at least one idler wheel freely rotating about an axis inside a caterpillar track damping layers having damping material and exclusively radial sliding guides are integrated in the drive chain wheel and/or the idler wheel between the axis and the caterpillar track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: JOSEPH VOGELE AG
    Inventor: Arthur Braun
  • Patent number: 9169895
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel weight has a mass portion of nonlead material having a first side for juxtaposition against a wheel rim and an opposite second side, one of which defines a clip groove. The weight further includes a clip having an extended portion for engaging the wheel rim. The clip further has an attachment portion seated in the clip groove such that the clip is fixed to the mass portion. In this regard, the clip groove has an attachment member receiving hole defined therein. The attachment portion of the clip defines at least one securement hole in register with the attachment member receiving hole of the mass portion when the attachment portion of the clip is positioned in the clip groove. An attachment member extends through the securement hole and into the attachment member receiving hole such that the clip is fixed to the mass portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Hennessy Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross E. Everhard, James D. Howell