Patents Examined by Marc Scharich
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Patent number: 9174699Abstract: A bicycle tow device that attaches to a bicycle to allow the bicycle to tow one or more other bicycles or carry one or more bicycle tires. In some versions the tow device can be installed on the towing bicycle without tools and a towed bicycle can be attached to the tow device without tools. One version of the tow device includes an adjustable support to adjust the tow device so that bicycles of varying frame and tire sizes may be towed. The tow device may also include a skirt within a guide to gently secure the towed bicycle to the tow device.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2014Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Inventor: Patrick Lee
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Patent number: 9151379Abstract: A bicycle gear changing apparatus is basically provided with a controller. The controller is configured to be operatively coupled a first input to receive first shift signals. The controller is configured to be operatively coupled to a second input to receive sound shift signals. The controller outputs control signals to control at least one of a first gear changing device and a second gear changing device in accordance with a first prescribed shift route in response to receiving the first shift signals. The controller outputs control signals to control at least one of the first and second gear changing devices in accordance with a second prescribed shift route different from the first prescribed shift route in response to receiving the second shift signals.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2013Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Mao Kuroda
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Patent number: 9114849Abstract: A digital podium apparatus includes a base, front and rear pairs of wheels and a single wheel at a front of the base. A pair of front pedals can be moved by a user's toes to rotate the front wheels forward and a pair of rear pedals can moved by the user's ankles to rotate the rear wheels backward. A divider is disposed between the front and rear pedals. A height-adjustable pole is coupled to both the single wheel and a digital podium frame. A handle is disposed on the digital podium frame, and the user can change a direction of the base during movement of the digital podium apparatus by rotating the handle. A plurality of computer tablets are disposed on the digital podium frame. The digital podium apparatus may be ridden into a classroom and used to project and relay teaching material to students in the classroom.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2013Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Inventor: Gulshan Prem Choppla
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Patent number: 9114829Abstract: Construction is achieved wherein a steering wheel can displace smoothly in the forward direction during a secondary collision, even when an electric motor 13a of an electric power steering apparatus protrudes to the side. The distances from the center axis of the steering column 6c to the connecting sections between the installation plate sections 17e, 17f and a portion 34 fastened to the vehicle body are different from each other on both sides of the steering column 6c, such that the distance Le for the installation plate section 17e located on the side where the electric motor 13a is located is shorter than the distance Lf for the installation plate section 17f that is located on the opposite side from the electric motor 13a. The ratio of a separation load that is applied to the installation plate section 17e on the side where the electric motor 13a is located is made to be large.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2011Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Naoto Akutsu, Makoto Nagasawa
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Patent number: 9114679Abstract: Disclosed is a tow adapter suitable for coupling a device to be towed to a towing vehicle. The tow adapter includes a bracket for attachment to the towing vehicle and a loop and hook for receiving a tether attached to the bracket, the hook attached to the bracket central of the loop. The tether is threaded through the loop and attached to the hook, thereby enabling the towing vehicle to tow the device.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Amanda Bent-Bolt CompanyInventors: Michael Hood, Robert Gruschow, Wes Holmes
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Patent number: 9096265Abstract: A steerable trailer provides the ability to offset the center line of the trailer to the tow vehicle with a swivel tongue and pivoting axles. The steerable trailer can alter the turning radius of the trailer and improve the turning and backing of the trailer. Typically, a trailer moves relative to the tow vehicle. The steerable trailer allows a user to control the trailer steering independently from the tow vehicle and adds up to two more points to steer more accurately and safely in close areas, for example. The swiveling tongue and pivoting axles can be used independently or together to position the trailer safely in different radii.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Inventor: Kevin Stuart Carr
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Patent number: 9090310Abstract: A straddle-type electric vehicle includes a seat, a foot rest portion, a leg shield, and a receptacle configured to receive a gun-type plug and located in a position facing an opening portion. The opening portion is located in a position within a width of the leg shield and between the leg shield and a rear wheel, the receptacle is configured so that a connecting port faces upward, the receptacle is configured so that when the gun-type plug is connected with the receptacle, a grip portion of the gun-type plug is positioned farther leftward on the vehicle than a plug portion of the gun-type plug.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2012Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shidehiko Miyashiro
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Patent number: 9085208Abstract: A device for electrically connecting a vehicle electrical system to the electrical system of a trailer is disclosed which automatically connects the same when the kingpin of the trailer is secured to the fifth wheel hitch of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2014Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Inventor: Gary Riibe
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Patent number: 9086269Abstract: A steering angle sensor 17 is provided which can minimize a detection error even when a steering shaft 6 is inclined. In an annular clearance t1 defined between the steering shaft 6 and an inner cylindrical wall of a first gear 24, there is compressed an elastic O-ring 23. Due to provision of the elastic O-ring 23, inclination of the steering shaft 6, which tends to occur during handling of a steering wheel 1, is suitably absorbed by the elastic O-ring 23, and thus, generation of detection error caused by inclination of the first gear 24, which would follow the inclination of the steering shaft 6, is suppressed or at least minimized.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2013Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS STEERING, LTD.Inventors: Naoki Takayanagi, Tatsuyoshi Maruyama, Kiyotaka Shirakubo
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Patent number: 9079628Abstract: The present invention is a bicycle having a frame capable of flexing under downward force so that when downward force is applied a front spring assembly and a rear spring assembly are able to store and release the energy allowing the bike to jump in the air. The spring assemblies of the present invention use bow springs made from fiberglass/epoxy, graphite/epoxy, or fiberglass/nylon instead of traditional coil springs. The bow springs allow the spring assemblies to return a greater amount of energy than their coil spring counterparts while keeping overall weight of the spring assembly down.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Inventor: David O'Neil
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Patent number: 9075699Abstract: A utility vehicle comprises a plurality of ground engaging members and a frame supported by the plurality of ground engaging members. The frame includes a front frame portion, a mid-frame portion, and a rear frame portion. The utility vehicle further comprises an attachment supported at the front frame portion. Additionally, the utility vehicle includes an operator area supported by the frame and including an operator seat and an adjacent passenger seat spaced apart from the operator seat. The operator seat and the passenger seat are in a side-by-side arrangement. The utility vehicle also comprises an auxiliary power assembly having an attachment shaft configured to be operably coupled to the attachment. The attachment shaft extends in a generally longitudinal direction of the utility vehicle and projects outwardly from the front frame portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventor: Marcus A Wetterlund
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Patent number: 9067634Abstract: A motorcycle is provided with a front fork cover which can suppress traveling resistance as much as possible while increasing a cooling effect of a radiator within a required range. A pair of radiators as viewed in a side view are arranged above a crankcase of an engine. A front fork is arranged over the radiators in the vertical direction as viewed in a side view. Upper surfaces of front fork covers arranged above lower ends of the radiators in the vertical direction extend toward the radiators, and lower surfaces of the front fork covers arranged below the lower ends of the radiators extend toward lateral sides of the crankcase extending to the outside more than the radiators.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2014Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Atsushi Takasaki, Yotaro Mori, Kineo Tomura
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Patent number: 9051020Abstract: A bicycle frame includes a seat tube, two chain stays and a down tube connected to the seat tube. A seat post is inserted into the seat tube and has a seat connected thereto. The chain stays is connected to a rear wheel and a head tube is connected to the down tube. A front fork is connected to the head tube. A tubular body is connected to the bicycle frame and the wall of the tubular body has a first slot. The seat tube is connected to a slide which is connected to the wall of the tubular body. A pin extends through the slide and the first slot. A first securing member and a second securing member are connected to two ends of the pin. The first and second securing members connect the wall of the tubular body to the slide.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2012Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Inventor: Chiu-Hsiang Lo
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Patent number: 9051002Abstract: An electrical power steering system is configured to assist steering by transmitting, through a belt, a rotational force of a driving pulley coaxially coupled to a rotational shaft of an electrical motor to a driven pulley coaxially coupled to a rotational member of a steering apparatus. The electrical power steering system includes a belt tension adjustment mechanism for adjusting a tension of the belt. The belt tension adjustment mechanism includes: a guide surface and an engagement surface, which are formed as mating surfaces of a housing of the steering apparatus and a casing of the electrical motor so as to engage with each other; and a connector capable of relatively moving the engagement surface along the guide surface due to a connection force for connecting the housing and the casing under a state in which the guide surface and the engagement surface engage with each other. The guide surface is inclined by a predetermined amount with respect to an axial line direction of the rotational shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2011Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Mitsuyuki Ouchi
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Patent number: 9045032Abstract: A drive train of a motor vehicle has a front axle (10) and a rear axle (13). An internal combustion engine (16) is positioned behind the front axle (10) and in front of the rear axle (13) in a mid-engine arrangement. A transmission (17) enables the internal combustion engine to drive the rear axle (13). An electric drive (18) is associated with the front axle (10) and has at least two electric machines that can drive the front axle (10). A further electric drive (18) is associated with the rear axle (13) and can drive the rear axle (13) in addition to or alternatively to the internal combustion engine (16).Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2010Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventors: Martin Fuechtner, Joerg Meyer-Ebeling
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Patent number: 9033090Abstract: A brake hose guide includes a guide portion constructed of a pair of vertical wall portions with a connecting portion for connecting the vertical wall portions to each other. The brake hose guide is fastened to a support body for allowing a brake hose to pass through the inside of the guide portion. A mounting portion is connected to a specified vertical wall portion that constitutes at least one of the pair of vertical wall portions and is formed such that a portion of the mounting portion projects more toward the inside of the guide portion than the specified vertical wall portion. At least a portion of a fastening hole, that is formed in the mounting portion so as to allow a fastening member to pass therethrough, is arranged inside an outer end portion of the specified vertical wall portion as viewed from the fastening direction toward the support body.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2012Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Naoki Kuwabara
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Patent number: 9022169Abstract: An electrical power steering system is configured to assist steering by transmitting, through a belt, a rotational force of a driving pulley coaxially coupled to a rotational shaft of an electrical motor to a driven pulley coaxially coupled to a rotational member of a steering apparatus. The electrical power steering system includes a belt tension adjustment mechanism for adjusting a tension of the belt. The belt tension adjustment mechanism includes: a guide surface and an engagement surface, which are formed as mating surfaces of a housing of the steering apparatus and a casing of the electrical motor so as to engage with each other; and a connector capable of relatively moving the engagement surface along the guide surface due to a connection force for connecting the housing and the casing under a state in which the guide surface and the engagement surface engage with each other. The guide surface is inclined by a predetermined amount with respect to an axial line direction of the rotational shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2011Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Mitsuyuki Ouchi
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Patent number: 9004522Abstract: Disclosed is a tow adapter for coupling a device to be towed to a towing vehicle. The tow adapter includes a bracket adapted to be attached to the towing vehicle, a loop suitable to support a tether to enable the towing vehicle to tow the device to be towed, the loop having first and second ends operably mounted to the bracket, a hook operably mounted to the bracket and positioned central of the loop such that at least part of a curved portion of the hook is disposed within the loop, the hook and the loop being pivotable relative to the bracket about a pivot operably attached to the bracket. The tether may be threaded through the loop and attached to the hook to enable the towing vehicle to tow the device to be towed.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2014Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Amanda Bent-Bolt CompanyInventors: Michael Hood, Robert Gruschow, Wes Holmes
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Patent number: 9004517Abstract: A bicycle wheel carrier assembly is equipped with a rim brake with pads (5) which is built into the structure of the carrier assembly. The rim brake includes two actuating arms (3) and two pad-bearing brake arms (4). Each actuating arm (3) associated with a pad-bearing brake arm (4) is articulated in a recess of the structure of the carrier assembly between a first position in which it is retracted within the structure and a second position providing access to the pad-bearing brake arm (4).Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Look Cycle InternationalInventor: Sébastien Servet
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Patent number: 8998232Abstract: A powered unicycle device for use upon a riding surface. The unicycle device includes a single wheel rotatably coupled to an axle, the wheel extending substantially in a fore-aft direction. A motor for driving the wheel is provided and electronic equipment, in communication with the motor, is configured to maintain fore-aft balance of the unicycle device while being ridden. An elongated curved rail, defining a curved path, is coupled to a support frame of the unicycle device and extends laterally in a side-to-side direction substantially transverse to the fore-aft direction. A seat is disposed above the wheel and is movably coupled to the rail such that the seat is capable of moving laterally along the curved path of the rail, in the side-to-side direction substantially transverse to the fore-aft direction, while the unicycle device is being ridden.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2011Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Inventor: Shane Chen