Patents Examined by Robert J. Oberleitner
  • Patent number: 6286630
    Abstract: A shopping cart brake assembly for securing a shopping cart in place includes a cart that has at least one leg. A wheel is coupled to a distal end of the leg. A brake member extends from a hollow lower portion of the leg. A brake pad is coupled to the brake member. The brake pad is for frictionally engaging the wheel, thus preventing the wheel from rotating. In addition, a lever is coupled to the brake member for selectively extending the brake member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventor: Christopher M. Obergfell
  • Patent number: 6286640
    Abstract: A shock absorber (1) having a longitudinal axis of rotation (XX′) comprises a shock absorber body (2), a principal piston (4), which is supported by a piston rod (5), and a principal compression chamber (3), in which the principal piston (4) slides. The piston (4) divides the interior of the chamber (3) into a front internal portion and a rear internal portion. The sliding occurs wit the compression of the shock absorber (1) from the front to the rear internal portion. Further, the shock absorber (1) includes an elastic return device (8), a volume compensation device (9), hydraulic fluid (7), and at least one rolling channel. The rolling channel is comprised of at least one portion of the internal surface of the peripheral wall of the principal compression chamber (3) and at least one portion of the external wall of the principal piston (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Etablissements Jean Perret
    Inventors: Michel Bertrand, Jean-Pierre Perret
  • Patent number: 6286639
    Abstract: A brake drum has an axially extending cylindrical flange formed with a radially outer surface and a radially inner braking surface. To reduce, if not entirely eliminate brake drum howling and squealing when the brakes are applied, a plurality of stabilizing sections are cast on the radially outer surface of the flange. The stabilizing sections are arranged in equally circumferentially spaced apart relation. Each stabilizing section is slotted or notched to form a plurality of circumferentially spaced serrations to increase flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Robert P. Uhlig
  • Patent number: 6286633
    Abstract: A parking brake for the automatic transmission mechanism of a vehicle so constructed as to affect no adverse influence on the operation of the automatic transmission mechanism even though a change lever is positioned in a parking range while the vehicle is running. The parking brake includes a first roller fixedly disposed to cooperatively rotate with an output shaft; a second roller coaxially movable with the first roller but disposed not to rotate; a restricting unit disposed at a facing surface between the first roller and the second roller to restrict the rotation of the first roller when the first and second rollers are in close adherence; and a driving unit for slidingly moving the second roller according to the selection or non-selection of the change lever to the parking position to couple and detach the first and second rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Woo-Yeol Kim
  • Patent number: 6286914
    Abstract: When it has been determined that a termination condition of brake TRC control has been fulfilled, SM valves 50FL and 50FR and a motor 80 are continuously placed in an ON state, and along with this, SR valves 70FL and 70FR are switched off, and furthermore holding valves 46FL and 46FR and pressure-reducing valves 48FL and 48FR of driving wheels are changed from an on-off switching state to an ON state, and termination control is initiated. Because of this, high-pressure brake fluid on the wheel-cylinder 2FL and 2FR side is expelled via the pressure-reducing valves 48FL and 48FR by drive of the motor 80. Consequently, high-pressure brake fluid can rapidly be expelled immediately after brake TRC control, and along with this, oil-shock noise can be alleviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Sawada, Kouji Okazaki
  • Patent number: 6286641
    Abstract: This invention pertains to an oil brake that includes a piston (3) which is mounted on the free end of a movable tubular rod (4) that moves in a hollow cylindrical body (2), limiting, on both sides of the piston, a first working volume (21) and a second working volume (22), whereby a central rod (34) is arranged inside of tubular rod (4), whereby tubular rod (4) has at least one lateral opening (24) that connects second working volume (22) to first working volume (21) via a central passage (25) that is made between tubular rod (4) and central rod (34) and is formed by a relative difference in transverse dimensions between central rod (34) and the inside diameter of tubular rod (4), whereby opening or openings (24) are formed on tubular rod (4) at a distance from piston (3) that is essentially equal to at least half the thickness of the piston, whereby the end of hollow cylindrical body (2) is tightly closed by a plug and/or a stem guide (5) that is designed in such a way that, before the end of the expansion
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Donerre Amortisseur
    Inventor: Pierre De Frenne
  • Patent number: 6286638
    Abstract: An ABS sensor bracket made up of two mounting wing plates engaged to a sensor receiver. The sensor receiver is generally cylindrical and is mounted between the wing plates such that the sensor receiver is asymmetric axially relative to the caliper anchor plate. When viewed from the side, there is a shorter end of the sensor receiver jutting out a shorter distance from the wing plates than an opposite longer end of the sensor receiver. In one embodiment, a first end of the sensor receiver has an outer diameter circumference greater than that of the opposite second end. The caliper anchor plate has an outer edge slot for mounting of the ABS sensor brackets. The outer edge slots are generally ‘U’ or ‘V’ shaped. There are mounting holes in the outer radial areas bordering the outer edge slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: International Truck and Engine Corporation
    Inventors: Richard R. Rowan, Jon H. Mann, Thasin A. Sayeed
  • Patent number: 6286637
    Abstract: A contactless eddy current brake for cars is disclosed. In the brake, two cores are arranged around the edge of a brake disc while being spaced apart from each other at an angle of 90°. Each of the cores is wound with a coil, thus forming an electric magnet. A speed sensor is positioned around the axle, thus sensing revolutions of the wheel. A control unit calculates a DC or AC control current in response to a speed signal output from the sensor, thus outputting an appropriate control current value to the coils. A current amplifier supplies the control current value from the control unit or a current value from a brake pedal to the coils of the cores. The control unit allows a DC current to be supplied to the coils when the car runs at a high speed or allows an AC current with different phases to be supplied to the coils when the car runs at a low speed or is stopped on a slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Kwangju Institute of Science & Technology
    Inventors: Kyi Hwan Park, Kap Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 6286819
    Abstract: A vibration damper for a seat suspension system is disclosed with a shock absorber which dampens seat vibrations when the shock absorber is coupled to the seat suspension system. The shock absorber includes a dampening cylinder housing with a dampening piston slidable therein. The dampening cylinder housing is coupled to one of the vehicle and seat, such as to the floor of the vehicle. An elongated latch engaging member, which may be in the form of a dampening piston rod is coupled to the dampening piston. A latch is shiftable between first and second positions. When in the first position the latch engages the dampening rod, and when in the second position the latch disengages the dampening rod. When engaged to the dampening rod, the latch couples the dampening rod to the other of the vehicle and seat so that the shock absorber applies a dampening force to the seat. Conversely, when the latch disengages the dampening rod, the shock absorber is relieved from applying a dampening force to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Freightliner Corporation LLC
    Inventors: Norman E. Ritchie, Marc Milobinski
  • Patent number: 6286912
    Abstract: A supply dump valve comprises a piston (1) of substantial differential outline adapted to work in a stepped bore (2) in a housing (3). Actuation of a park brake causes the piston (1) to be exercised in response to operation of the park brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Peter George Sturgess
  • Patent number: 6283258
    Abstract: A brake assembly includes a rotor and at least one backplate supporting a brake pad for frictionally engaging the rotor for braking. A sheet metal plate is operatively connected to the back plate. The sheet metal plate has a groove cut therethrough to form at least one tuning fork member. A damping material is engaged with the at least one tuning fork member for damping energy associated with vibrations of the tuning fork member, thereby sound-dampening brake squeal noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fang Frank Chen, Ronald Louis Quaglia, Patrick J. Harwood, Shih-Emn Chen, David Dean Smit
  • Patent number: 6283558
    Abstract: Hydraulic motor vehicle braking system with wheel slip controller, comprising a brake pressure applicator (8), which consists of a pedal-activated vacuum brake booster (18) and a main brake cylinder (19) and is connected via a brake line (14) to at least one pair of wheel brakes (2, 3), and a pump (1) connected to the brake line (14) for conveying pressure agent from the brake pressure applicator (8) in the direction of the wheel brakes (2, 3) during wheel slip control, and at least one pressure modulation valve (16, 16′) installed downstream in the brake line (14) to vary the brake pressure in the wheel brakes (2, 3) during the wheel slip control process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Peter Volz, Ronald Kley, Guido Angenendt
  • Patent number: 6283463
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a torsion bar for tilting the cabin of an automobile, particularly related to a torsion bar having a different number of serrations on its ends, which can improve the assembling work of the torsion and the tilting effect of the cabin. When the torsion bar is assembled to the hinge bracket and the torsion bar arm, at least one serration on the ends of the torsion bar are automatically arranged in a straight line and torque is not applied on the torsion bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sung Shik Park
  • Patent number: 6283259
    Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber includes an inner cylinder filled with a working oil, an outer cylinder, and a reservoir defined between the inner and outer cylinders. A piston is slidably disposed within the inner cylinder so as to divide the interior of the inner cylinder into an upper cylinder chamber and a lower cylinder chamber. A piston rod is connected to the piston. A tubular member is disposed between the inner and outer cylinders and has a radial port. A damper mechanism is attached to the outer cylinder so as to control the flow of the working oil to produce a damping resistance. The outer cylinder includes a mounting projection with a substantially flat top surface on which the damper mechanism is secured. A sleeve has one end inserted into the port of the tubular member and the other, flanged end terminating at the top surface of the mounting projection. A first sealing element is secured between the sleeve and the port to provide a seal between the sleeve and the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Tokico Ltd.
    Inventor: Takao Nakadate
  • Patent number: 6283491
    Abstract: A generally inverted “T” shaped, resiliently self locking, integral sportboard fastener is adapted to be received in a countersunk aperture formed in a sportboard such as a snowboard, ski, boogie board, skateboard or any other board which supports a person and has one or more structures attached thereto. The fastener comprises a noncircular base portion to be received within a countersink defined in the sportboard. The base and the countersink comprise two parallel sides and two opposite concentric arcs forming two opposite ends. A generally cylindrical integral ferrule portion extends upwardly from the base, through a bore defined in the sportboard, concentric with the countersink. The ferrule defines internal threads to receive a screw to secure a binding or other fixture to the sportboard. An internal annulus portion is defined at the juncture of the base and ferrule. A generally circular, preferably nylon, resilient insert ring is disposed within the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: MacLean-Esna, L.P.
    Inventors: Duane Bush, Cliff Hufstedler, Don Kirby
  • Patent number: 6283235
    Abstract: A hydrostatic zero turn transaxle is provided with two transmission housings, wherein the housings and the output axle for the hydrostatic transmission can be easily adapted to be use for left-hand or right-hand drive, without the need for changing the casing or any of the internal gearing. Such housing may be used to improve tracking efficiency in a zero turn vehicle. Another feature of the invention comprises the arrangement of axles and shafts relative to one another. A further feature of the invention is an improved parking brake feature comprising a brake shaft forming part of the output gear train and means for securing said brake shaft when the gear train is stopped to prevent movement of the gear train and the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Ronald Sporrer, Raymond Hauser
  • Patent number: 6283256
    Abstract: A holding spring arrangement for a spot-type disc brake, in particular an integrated disc brake for automotive vehicles, wherein a brake carrier of the disc brake is integrated into the steering knuckle of the vehicle, and the holding spring includes at least one spring arm which extends generally in a circumferential direction and clamps the housing of the disc brake and the brake carrier to one another in a radial direction. To largely prevent tilting of the outward brake pad, according to the present invention, a holding element is provided for mounting the housing holding spring on the brake pad, which holding element is particularly made of sheet metal and supported on a part of the brake housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Günther Dahlheimer, Uwe Schwalm, Thomas Bender, Michael Meiss, Hans-Dieter Leidecker, Jürgen Musolf
  • Patent number: 6283559
    Abstract: A negative pressure control apparatus for a brake booster is provided which can always maintain a required negative pressure in a negative pressure chamber of the brake booster in a system including a direct-injection engine. The apparatus has a brake operation predicting part for predicting execution of a brake operation by a driver. When execution of a brake operation is predicted, negative pressure in the negative pressure chamber is controlled to be a required value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Yamada, Hiroaki Endo, Ryochi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6283484
    Abstract: A brake system for a wheeled walker frame having two walker frame legs with two telescopically adjustable frame tubes, of which one frame tube supports in its upper region a handle and a brake lever and the other is provided in its lower region with a brake device for braking a wheel. A telescopically adjustable brake rod is disposed within the frame tubes, between the brake lever and the brake device, and includes two parallel rods of which one is interconnected with the brake lever and the other is interconnected with the brake device. An axial longitudinal adjustment of the frame tubes to the desired vertical position synchronously causes a corresponding alteration of the length of the brake rod. At least one device is provided for locking the frame tubes and the parallel rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Inventor: Sven Malmström
  • Patent number: 6279701
    Abstract: An improved magnetorheological fluid damper is provided which closely approximates ideal performance requirements by providing an increased turn-up ratio and improving the linearity of damping force response. The MR damper includes a plurality of concentric annular flow gaps formed between concentrically mounted flux rings positioned on a piston core. By utilizing multiple flow gaps, the present damper increases the overall magnetorheological damping affect thereby creating a higher damping force and an increased tun-up ratio for a given piston size. Alternatively, the present multiple flow gap design permits a given damping force requirement to be achieved with a piston having a significantly reduced length thereby permitting a longer piston stroke. Also, multiple flow gaps permit greater design optimization for controlling damping force linearity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chandra Sekhar Namuduri, Alexander Apostolos Alexandridis, Joseph Madak, David S. Rule