Patents Examined by Marc A. Scharich
  • Patent number: 8899368
    Abstract: A steering apparatus for a two-wheeled motor vehicle includes a handlebars-side steering shaft supported by a head pipe, a wheel supporting cylindrical shaft supported by a front axle and over which a hub is fitted, and a steering link mechanism. First and second link members of the link mechanism are connected to each other in a plurality of articulations such that the link members can angularly move. An amount of angular movement is limited to a predetermined range, and a distance between a front wheel-side end and the steering shaft-side end of the steering link mechanism can be changed. The front wheel-side end of the steering link mechanism is connected to the wheel supporting cylindrical shaft through a brake caliper bracket member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishii, Daisuke Saeki
  • Patent number: 8887860
    Abstract: A steering apparatus may include a motor; a motor shaft connected to the motor and adapted to deliver torque of the motor; a variable steering section connected to a steering column coupled to a steering handle and adapted to change angle and length of the steering column; and a connecting section adapted to receive from the motor shaft and deliver to the variable steering section the torque of the motor, wherein the variable steering section includes a tilting device adapted to change the angle of the steering column, a telescopic device adapted to change the length of the steering column, a variable steering clutch adapted to be coupled with one of the tilting device and the telescopic device selectively, and a delivery member coupled to the variable steering clutch and adapted to deliver the torque of the motor received from the connecting section to the variable steering clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Daesuk Jung, Un Koo Lee, Soobo Park
  • Patent number: 8887854
    Abstract: A battery holder for containing a battery unit is provided above a driving motor body and below a main frame. The battery holder includes a holder body portion, a plate member which is detachable from the holder body portion at a lateral side of a vehicle and by which lateral movement of the battery unit is restrained, and a terminal part which is provided at a rear portion of the holder body portion and is used for connecting a power supply from the battery unit to the driving motor body. The battery unit and the terminal part are detachably connected to each other. A controller fixing part by which a controller for controlling the power supply between the battery unit and the driving motor body is fixed to the vehicle, is provided at a lower portion of the holder body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Ishikawa, Takeo Nakazawa, Hiroyuki Nishimori
  • Patent number: 8887842
    Abstract: Provided is an arm-wheel type vehicle including: a main body; an arm that is rotatably installed to the main body; a wheel connected to the arm; a first buffer device that is installed on the main body; and a second buffer device that is installed on the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-Yoon Peck
  • Patent number: 8882128
    Abstract: Stay members to which various parts are to be attached are provided at a rear portion of a motorcycle, and stay supporting portions that support the stay members are provided on a vehicle body frame. The various parts include side bag supporting members and a carrier member. The side bag supporting members and the carrier member are fastened together to the stay members by a plurality of fastening members, and the stay members to which the side bag supporting members and the carrier member are fastened together are fastened to the stay supporting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoji Komatsu, Shinichi Karube, Shin Yokoyama, Kaori Inada, Tomoki Fusano, Takaaki Kasai
  • Patent number: 8881858
    Abstract: A front wheel supporting structure for a vehicle includes a front arm for supporting a front axle and a suspension mechanism for resiliently suppressing vertical swinging motion of the front arm. The suspension mechanism includes a damper member disposed along a lateral direction between a head pipe and the front arm, and a connecting member for connecting the front arm with the damper member such that vertical swinging motion of the front arm is converted into lateral motion of the damper member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishii, Daisuke Saeki
  • Patent number: 8864160
    Abstract: A front fork in which a stroke amount of a spring leg that relies on an air spring can be detected precisely, wherein pressure leaks in the spring leg are detectable. The front fork has: a guide cylinder that extends from one of a vehicle body-side tube or an axle-side tube that make up a spring leg; a piston mounted to the leading end of a guide rod extending from the other one of the tubes; an inner airspring chamber in the interior of the guide cylinder; an outer airspring chamber, outward of the inner airspring chamber, in the interior of the vehicle body-side tube and the axle-side tube; first and second detectors for detecting pressure and temperature in the outer airspring chamber the inner airspring chamber, respectively; and stroke detection compensator for detecting a stroke amount on the basis of outputs of the first and second detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeki Awasa
  • Patent number: 8864164
    Abstract: Provided is a tugger attachment apparatus configured for use with a pallet transport. The pallet transport has a front drive portion and a rear load portion having a pair of forks. The tugger attachment includes a body, a fork coupling member at a bottom side of the body that is configured to secure the body to the forks, and a hitch supported by the body. A linkage can be provided that opens and closes the hitch in response to raising and lowering of the forks of the pallet transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Seegrid Corporation
    Inventor: Mitchell Weiss
  • Patent number: 8857553
    Abstract: A radiator hose layout structure for a saddle type vehicle by which radiator hoses can be arranged while enhancing cooling efficiency of a radiator. Longitudinal wall parts projecting forward are provided at vehicle-width-directionally both end portions of an exhaust air guide. The front ends of the longitudinal wall parts are provided rearwardly of the radiator. An exhaust air passage for letting exhaust air from the radiator flow therethrough is provided between the longitudinal wall parts. A lower radiator hose and an upper radiator hose are arranged on the vehicle-width-directionally outer side of the longitudinal wall parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Nakamura, Hiroyuki Sasazawa
  • Patent number: 8851215
    Abstract: An electric wheeled apparatus comprises a main body, at least one wheel supported by the main body in a rotatable manner; an electric motor configured to apply torque to the at least one wheel, a battery interface configured to removably receive at least one battery pack which is originally designed as a power source of an electric power tool, and an electric circuit unit configured to electrically connect the at least one battery pack attached to the battery interface with the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Goto
  • Patent number: 8851500
    Abstract: A trailer for a trailer truck, comprising a chassis provided with a central chassis element and at least one axle with independent wheel suspension, which is connected to the chassis, the wheel suspension comprising a first, lower wheel suspension arm that is pivotally connected to the chassis about a first pivot axis that extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the chassis, a second, higher wheel suspension arm that is pivotally connected to the chassis about a second pivot axis, a steering knuckle connecting the first wheel suspension arm and the second wheel suspension arm, a wheel axle attached to the steering knuckle, on which a wheel is rotatably mounted. The second pivot axis extends substantially in the transverse direction of the chassis, with the second end of the second wheel suspension being spaced from the first end of the second wheel suspension arm, seen in the longitudinal direction of the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Transport Industry Development Centre B.V.
    Inventors: Jos Robertus Leonardus Dobbelaar, Johannes Gijsbertus Geradus Van De Ven
  • Patent number: 8851213
    Abstract: A motorized wheel chair is equipped with a safety system for bringing the wheel chair to a stop if a wheel chair user should experience an emergency situation which renders the user unable to safely control the wheel chair while in use. The safety system utilizes at least one switch mounted to an upright backrest for sensing whether or not the user's back is in contact with the backrest. If the user's back is in contact with the backrest, the wheel chair is operative and may be controlled in a normal manner. If the user's back moves out of contact with the backrest, whether voluntarily or because of an emergency situation, the safety system operates to disable operation of motors which operably propel drive wheels of the wheel chair, thus causing the wheel chair to be inoperative and bringing the wheel chair to a stop if in motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventor: Bryan Bradley Jones
  • Patent number: 8839903
    Abstract: A steering wheel for a motor vehicle is provided. In one form, the steering wheel includes: a steering wheel rim, via which the steering wheel can be actuated by a driver of the motor vehicle for generating a steering angle, a superposition drive for generating a steering angle which can be superimposed with a steering angle generated by actuating the steering wheel rim, a locking means different from the superposition drive, with which the superposition drive can be locked by mechanical action and bearing means, by means of which a housing of the locking means is elastically mounted on a housing of the superposition drive such that it can carry out a compensating movement relative to the housing of the superposition drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Takata AG
    Inventor: Dieter Markfort
  • Patent number: 8840127
    Abstract: A pedal drive system for a bicycle includes a front spiral cone pulley and a rear pulley. The front spiral cone pulley is attached to a crank arm, and the rear pulley is attached to a rear wheel on a bicycle in some embodiments. A power cable, or tension linkage, extends between the front spiral cone pulley and the rear pulley. The front spiral cone pulley is angularly moveable relative to the first crank arm such that the radial position of the point of engagement between the power cable and the front spiral cone pulley may be selectively manipulated for controlling the gear ratio between the front spiral cone pulley and the rear pulley. In some embodiments, the rear pulley is also a spiral cone pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Musgrove
  • Patent number: 8840129
    Abstract: A trailer adapted to be coupled to a tow vehicle and including a frame including a draw bar tube defining a longitudinal axis. The trailer includes a drawbar support pivotally coupled to the draw bar tube and rotatable relative to the drawbar tube about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis. The drawbar support is biased toward a substantially horizontal orientation. A sliding member is receivable in the drawbar tube and is configured for movement along the longitudinal axis in response to movement of the tow vehicle. A latch member is connected to the sliding member. The latch member is configured to move in response to movement of the sliding member from a first position wherein the drawbar support is retained in a substantially vertical orientation to a second position wherein the draw bar support is free to rotate toward the substantially horizontal orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Peter Edgeller, Craig Buxton
  • Patent number: 8833506
    Abstract: A power steering apparatus including a power cylinder, first and second pumps, a control valve serving for selectively supplying a working fluid supplied from the first or second pump to one of a pair of pressure chambers of the power cylinder in accordance with a steering operation, first and second reservoir tanks, and a return passage changeover valve disposed between the control valve and the first and second pumps, the return passage changeover valve serving for communicating the first and second pumps with the control valve regardless of an axial position of a valve element and communicating one of the first and second reservoir tanks with the control valve in accordance with the axial position of the valve element to thereby carry out changeover between circulating fluid passages for circulating the working fluid to the first reservoir tank and the second reservoir tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Steering, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sosuke Sunaga, Shogo Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8833784
    Abstract: A vibration dampening bicycle fork assembly includes a pair of fork legs that sweep in a forward direction relative to a longitudinal axis of a steerer tube that extends in an opposite direction from a fork crown. A dropout is secured to a distal end of each fork leg and a dampener formed of an elastomeric material wraps about at least a portion of an exterior surface of each dropout. A passage extends through the dropout, is offset from the respective fork leg and is aligned with a pair of openings formed in opposite lateral sides of the dampener. An optional fastener cooperates with the passage and the openings and has a mass that is selected to further counteract vibration of the respective fork leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Trek Bicycle Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Moechnig
  • Patent number: 8833788
    Abstract: A trailer system or trailer includes a trailer body having one or more wheel axle assemblies underlying the trailer body at a rear portion. In the trailer system embodiment, included is a detachable trailer neck that has at least one swivel wheel assembly located at a rear portion of the neck. The swivel wheel assemblies can be lifted or lowered using hydraulic or air cylinders. The neck or tongue has a transversely oriented pivot joint with an adjustable tongue weight assembly using springs and an air or hydraulically operated cylinder to adjust tongue weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventor: Scott Chaddock
  • Patent number: 8814209
    Abstract: Hitch apparatus and a method of using the same with a vehicle hitch allows the use of a vise, anvil, grinder or other tool requiring mounting before use. Various apertures on the hitch apparatus allow for selected vertical or horizontal mounting on a vehicle hitch. The hitch apparatus further includes a leg to provide for additional strength and structural support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventor: Maxwell E. Way
  • Patent number: 8807599
    Abstract: A semi-tractor trailer for distribution of natural gas and a system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semi-tractor trailer supported fuel receptacle has a plurality of metered fuel dispensers along the sides thereof to permit customers to park along side the semi-tractor trailer and fuel their vehicles with clean natural gas, which may be compressed natural gas or liquid natural gas, for example. The semi-tractor trailer is filled at a central filling location and transported by a tractor to a convenient retail location. A volume monitor monitors the volume of clean natural gas in the semi-tractor trailer and transmits this information to the central filling location, which may dispense a replacement semi-tractor trailer upon the volume of clean natural gas reaching a pre-determined threshold and retrieve the spent semi-tractor trailer in one trip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: William Lamont Brown