Patents Examined by Lesley D. Morris
  • Patent number: 7628412
    Abstract: A kicktail concave skateboard includes a blank having opposite ends, at least one end being recessed. An element is mounted on the recessed end such that a portion of the element adjoining the blank is flush with the blank. The element is formed of a material having a lower mechanical damping capacity and a higher modulus of elasticity than the blank. The element includes a downwardly facing exposed side having a downward projection thereon, to facilitate the execution of an “ollie” maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Performance Sk8 Holding Inc.
    Inventor: Becket Colon
  • Patent number: 7628416
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel securing structure includes a shaft member, a head member, a lever member and a radial expansion structure. The shaft member has first and second end portions. The head member is coupled at the second end portion. The lever member is operatively mounted to move the shaft member in an axial direction relative to the head member in response to movement of the lever member. The radial expansion structure is disposed at the second end portion and includes an expansion member and the second end portion of the shaft member. The expansion member has a first inclined surface and the second end portion of the shaft member has a second inclined surface that cooperates with the first inclined surface to radially expand an outer diameter of the radial expansion structure in response to movement of the lever member from a release position to an attachment position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Nobukatsu Hara
  • Patent number: 7628410
    Abstract: A method of loading a cart into an enclosure, according to various embodiments of the invention, comprises the steps of: (A) providing a cart having a first end and a second end, the cart comprising at least one swiveled wheel adjacent the first end, and at least two non-swiveled wheels adjacent the second end, the swiveled and non-swiveled wheels being adapted to facilitate the rolling movement of the cart over a surface; (B) positioning the at least two non-swiveled wheels on a wheeled platform so that the non-swiveled wheels are supported by the wheeled platform; and (C) while the non-swiveled wheels are supported by the wheeled platform, and while the at least one swiveled wheel is disposed on a support surface adjacent an interior portion of the enclosure, using the wheeled platform and the at least one swiveled wheel to roll the cart into the interior portion of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Innovative Product Achievements, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Fitzgerald, Kyle Joiner, Ward P. Broom
  • Patent number: 7628240
    Abstract: An electronic traction control system for a vehicle having multiple hydraulic driven wheels includes a plurality of digital displacement pumps, a plurality of drive systems having counterbalance valves and motors used to drive wheels, and electronic flow control valves used in association with each drive assembly. Additionally the system has a steering mechanism that is electrically connected to a digital sensor and a proportional sensor that sends signals to a system controller that operates the functioning of the digital displacement hydraulic pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Sauer-Danfoss, Inc.
    Inventor: Niall J. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 7627972
    Abstract: A piece of printing stock for making, in combination with a badge base, an information badge, includes a face sheet and a liner. The face sheet includes a layer of adhesive, with the liner releasably adhered to the layer of adhesive. The face sheet also includes a badge label, for example, as defined by a weakening line cut into the face sheet. In addition, the liner includes a badge liner, for example, as defined therein by a weakening line cut into the liner. The badge liner is smaller in dimensions than the badge label and is positioned with respect to the badge label such that when the badge label is removed from the face sheet, the badge liner is removed from the liner and remains adhered to the badge label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry G. Hodsdon, Ronald Ugolick
  • Patent number: 7627970
    Abstract: A hanger for fluted polypropylene board has head and a shaft, the shaft having at least one barb extending outwardly therefrom. A variation of the hanger for a foam board comprises a head and a shaft with the shaft having a screw thread located thereon, the screw thread stopping short of a tip portion of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Inventor: Michel Berteau
  • Patent number: 7628417
    Abstract: A wheel spinner assembly for mounting on a bicycle and enhancement of the bicycle's aesthetic features. The bicycle wheel spinner assembly is adapted for use on a bicycle wheel having an axle and a plurality of spokes, includes a hub assembly, an end cap member and a rotor. The end cap member is operatively connected to the hub assembly and configured to contact an axle of a bicycle wheel and the rotor is operatively connected to the hub assembly and extends radially outwardly therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: SpinnerZ, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Michael Will, Aaron Thomas Frankel, Anthony Joeseph Honerkamp
  • Patent number: 7628418
    Abstract: A dolly trailer adapted to transport heavy elongated cylindrical objects such as towers used to support energy generating windmills. The dolly trailer comprises a first side rail member and a second side rail member with a plurality of curved support members therebetween adapted to receive the cylindrical load. The curvature of the support members is such that at least a portion of the curved support members extends below the plane created by top surface of the dolly trailer's first and second side rail members so that in use at least a portion of the cylindrical load is carried below this plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Holmes & Holmes, Ltd.
    Inventors: Cecil E. Holmes, James R. Holmes
  • Patent number: 7627969
    Abstract: A visual display has front and rear display panels and a surrounding frame. The display is configured to be supported by and between rows of gaming machine by first and second downwardly extending support legs, the legs each having transverse stop plates extending in cantilever manner from opposite sides of the vertical support legs at a position spaced above the lower ends of the legs. The frame supports pivotal clamps for clamping signage over the display panels. In one embodiment, the display panels are illuminated. In a thin configuration of the sign, the front and rear panels are arranged back-to-back and are edge lit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Ericson Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg Ericson
  • Patent number: 7627971
    Abstract: A label holder including a transparent cover member overlying a main body panel to form a label-receiving pocket connectable to a flat front face shelf without tape. The main body panel faces the front face of the shelf. The label holder includes an attachment structure for attaching the label holder to a horizontally oriented shelf lip by defining a U-shaped slot or gap. The attachment structure includes a concave portion, preferably U-shaped, that is elastically stretchable or deformable. This allows stretching of the attachment structure to accommodate different depths of the shelf lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Fast Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jacob Fast
  • Patent number: 7628235
    Abstract: A track roller unit for a vehicle has at least one pivotable subframe, at least one further pivotable subframe, wherein each of the subframes rotatably accommodates at least one land wheel, at least one subframe is pivotably mountable on the vehicle, and at least the further substrate is pivotally mounted on the one subframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: CLAAS Industrietechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Ronald L. Satzler, David C. Jansen
  • Patent number: 7628244
    Abstract: A steering device includes a first housing, first and second cables, and first and second sheaths. The first housing includes a first part that supports a rotatable first cable pulley, and a second part that is disposed for relative displacement with respect to the first part. The first cable is at least partially wound on the first cable pulley in a first direction of rotation. The second cable is at least partially wound on the first cable pulley in a second direction of rotation. The first sheath surrounds the first cable and extends between first and second ends, and the first end of the first sheath is coupled to the second part of the first housing. The second sheath surrounds the second cable and extends between first and second ends, and the first end of the second sheath is coupled to the second part of the first housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naotaka Chino, Noriki Kubokawa, Takaaki Eguchi
  • Patent number: 7624835
    Abstract: A protective cover for the underside of a vehicle is formed substantially from plastic and can provide a skid plate for the vehicle. The protective cover includes at least one fastening portion which is configured to facilitate attachment of the protective cover to the vehicle. In one embodiment, the protective cover includes a rib that is movable to matingly contact a feature on an underside of a vehicle so that loading from an impact is distributed in a predetermined manner. In another embodiment, the fastening portion includes an abutment wall that substantially transmits a shearing load from the protective cover to a vehicle. In yet another embodiment, the fastening portion is adjacent to an edge portion of the protective cover. The protective cover may be included in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Lee N. Bowers
  • Patent number: 7625002
    Abstract: A vehicle frame includes a head tube, a fork, and a rotation limiting mechanism. The fork includes a steerer that extends rotatably through the head tube. The rotation limiting mechanism is operable so as to limit rotation of the steerer relative to the head tube, and includes first and second positioning units, and an engaging unit. The first positioning unit is coupled to the head tube. The second positioning unit is coupled to the steerer. The engaging unit engages releasably the first and second positioning units to thereby limit rotation of the steerer relative to the head tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Gomier Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshi Huang
  • Patent number: 7624826
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a kind of portable power-saving and foldable electric wheel chair, characterized in that there is a hand control direction device on the left elbow 10 to control the specific running direction of the electric wheel chair; the left and right rear wheels 3 are integrated with the motors 30 respectively, so as the two motors 30 can directly drive the two rear wheels; two disc brakes 20 are installed on the left and right rear wheels 3, the two disc brakes are connected to the brake handle 15 via the main steel string 24, by means of a single hand press brake handle 15, the two rear wheels 3 braked simultaneously; switches 18 for positive or inversion running control the main running direction of electric wheel chair; an intellectual control rod may also be installed on the right elbow 12 to replace the speed-adjusting turning handle 14 and switches 18 for positive or inversion running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Tianyun Zhao
  • Patent number: 7624836
    Abstract: A steering system for a machine having at least one steerable traction device is disclosed. The steering system may have a steering actuator operatively connected to the at least one steerable traction device, and a travel speed sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a travel speed of the machine. The steering mechanism may also have an operator input device having a deadzone. The deadzone may vary in response to the signal. The steering system may also have a controller in communication with the steering actuator, the operator input device, and the travel speed sensor. The controller may be configured to affect operation of the steering actuator in response to operation of the operator input device only when the operation of the operator input device deviates from the deadzone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Huang, John J. Krone, Brad A. Edler, Mark L. Westphalen, Yongmin Ma, Brent M. Carr
  • Patent number: 7624838
    Abstract: An electric power steering control apparatus can limit a motor impression voltage thereby to maintain an appropriate motor output even upon occurrence of a failure of a motor current detection circuit or a motor current feedback control system. The apparatus includes a motor that generates an assist force to the steering system, an input processing section that takes in a steering torque signal from a torque sensor, an output processing section that drives the motor, and a processing unit that provides an instruction to the output processing section based on the steering torque signal. The processing unit includes an impression voltage calculation section that calculates an amount of operation to the motor in accordance with the steering torque signal, and an impression voltage limiting section that limits the impression voltage to predetermined limit values or less corresponding to the direction of the steering torque signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Kifuku, Masaki Matsushita, Hiroyuki Kozuki
  • Patent number: 7625003
    Abstract: A drawbar assembly includes a drawbar and a hammer strap that is fixed to the drawbar forward of a drawbar hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: David L. Tveito, Russell V. Stoltman, Bob J. Overmann, John T Rasset
  • Patent number: 7624525
    Abstract: A tag has an in-mold graphic plate portion with a slot therein. Extending outwardly from the plate portion is an extension or tongue that has a neck and locking tip. The locking tip has an aperture adapted to receive a lock. The neck of the tongue is flexible such that the locking tip is received by and extends through the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Lomont Molding, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Frank, Jerry Saltzman, Jason Bender
  • Patent number: 7624832
    Abstract: With a drive power distribution control section, limited differential torque correction value TLSDS is estimated and calculated by a limited differential torque correction value calculating section based on input torque TCD. Also, a transfer torque calculating section calculates transfer torque TLSD2 by multiplying input torque sensing transfer torque TLSD1 by vehicle slip angular velocity correction coefficient K(d?/dt). A transfer torque correction/output section then subtracts limited differential torque correction value TLSDS from the transfer torque TLSD2 to calculate and output transfer torque TLSD. In this way, clutch engaging torque for carrying out front and rear drive power distribution is set with good accuracy, and it is possible to have both high cornering performance and high traction performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Yoneda, Tatsunori Nagura, Koji Matsuno