Patents Examined by Russell Stormer
  • Patent number: 8075068
    Abstract: A track roller assembly for a track-type machine such as an excavator or a tractor includes an outer surface with no fluid ports and an inner surface free from any fluids. The track roller includes a shaft resting on self-lubricated bushings, which include a substrate that has lubricating properties, such as a substrate that carries a solid lubricant. The track roller assembly also includes a collar on either side of the shaft, with a retention pin passing through the shaft and connecting the two collars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. VanderVeen
  • Patent number: 8070235
    Abstract: A rim and a method of producing a rim for bicycles and the like includes a rim body and a rim base provided thereon and lateral rim flanks provided with rim flanges. The rim flanges include a fibrous composite material having at least one fiber layer. The rim flanges include inwardly overhanging bulges of squashed fiber layers between which a tire can be accommodated at the rim body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: DT Swiss, Inc.
    Inventor: Andreas Reuteler
  • Patent number: 8061397
    Abstract: A tightening system of straps for use in anti-skid and traction enhancement devices is disclosed. The tightening system comprises a central node which is located on the principle axis of the axle of a wheel and which has a plurality of extensions adapted to fasten a plurality of radially extending straps around its periphery. A plurality of radially extending flexible straps, which are attached to a surface contact member at their first 10 ends and to the central node at their second ends, are used to tighten the anti skid device. The flexible straps are passed through a buckle for tightening the surface contact members in the radial direction in order to eliminate outward bulging on the surface contact members as well as to avoid eccentricity in the strap system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventors: Emrah Bozkurt, Ender Bozkurt
  • Patent number: 8047247
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tire valve (10) comprising a valve body (11) which penetrates a bore (21) of a rim (20), particularly a vehicle rim, embodies a bottom valve body section (13) that is disposed on one side (23) of the rim (20), particularly in the interior of the rim, in the mounted state as well as a top valve body section (15) that protrudes from the rim bore (21), and is configured so as to cooperate with a cap nut (17) in the area of the top valve body section (15). The bottom valve body section (13) forms a stop collar (19) which is used as an abutment for a flat peripheral section (27) of the rim bore (21) and widens the bottom valve body section (13) relative to the top valve body section (15) beyond an internal width of the rim bore (21). The peripheral section (27) of the rim bore (21) can be braced against said stop collar (19) by tightening the cap nut (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Alligator Ventilfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: Renato Palaoro
  • Patent number: 8042585
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling tire inflation pressure includes an outlet side end portion of a supplying passageway provided in an axle hub that is opened on an outer end surface of a vehicle in a flange portion of the axle hub, and an inlet side end portion of an introducing passageway provided in a wheel that is opened on an inner end surface of the vehicle in the wheel of a vehicle wheel assembly, and by mounting the wheel onto the flange portion, the outlet side end portion and the inlet side end portion are air tightly joined each other. Thus, easiness in mounting the vehicle wheel assembly relative to the flange portion of the axle hub can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Isono
  • Patent number: 8037911
    Abstract: Wheels and methods of making wheels are disclosed including an inner portion and a tread mechanically coupled to the inner portion. The tread may be mechanically coupled to the inner portion on an inside and an outside of the wheel. The inner portion may include a rim including a plurality of apertures. The inner portion may be high density polyethylene and the tread may be thermoplastic elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Geo Plastics
    Inventor: Michael A. Morris
  • Patent number: 8038225
    Abstract: A bicycle hub assembly includes two end caps which are two collar-shaped member and an axle is connected between the two end caps. A casing is mounted to two respective outer peripheries of the two end caps and accommodates the axle therein. The two end caps and the casing form a smooth and curved outer shape. Two collars are connected to two distal ends of the two end caps and two ends of the casing. Two positioning bolts extend through the collars and are threadedly connected to the two ends of the axle. Multiple copper heads are connected to the two end caps and protrude outward from the casing at an angle so as to be connected to spokes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Joy Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Pi-Yun Chiang
  • Patent number: 8038224
    Abstract: A motor-vehicle wheel structure comprises a wheel rim and a wheel disk having a circumferential border bent and welded within the rim, and a central portion bearing a circumferential series of holes for engagement of bolts for fixing the wheel to the wheel support. The central portion is connected to the circumferential border of the disk by an intermediate annular portion having in cross section an arched configuration projecting outwards. Welded on the outer face of the wheel disk is an auxiliary disk having a substantially plane conformation, the outer border of which is welded to the main disk substantially in a position corresponding to the apex of the aforesaid projecting annular portion. The auxiliary disk integrates tubular columns that project from the inner face of the auxiliary disk and have their ends welded to the central portion of the main disk so that they are co-axial to the holes for the fixing bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Marcello Trentin, Davide Vigé, Benedetta Peyron, Giovanni Boreanaz, Giovanni Monfrino
  • Patent number: 8033617
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a wire wheel of the type comprising a rim and a hub secured to each other by a plurality of spokes. Each spoke includes a stem at the opposed axial ends of which are arranged respective anchorage members capable of being secured respectively to the hub and to the rim. The member for anchorage to the rim is received in a seat fixed on the rim with the capability of limited axial displacement in the seat. The seat is provided integrally on the rim in the form of a substantially tubular appendage thereof and the anchorage member is received in a sealed manner with coupling of the cylinder/piston type in the tubular appendage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Alpina Raggi S.p.A.
    Inventors: Guido Cappellotto, Fabio Alberio
  • Patent number: 8029071
    Abstract: A take apart vehicle wheel assembly includes at least a first, a second and a third wheel part operatively connected together to form the take apart vehicle wheel assembly. A first one of the first, second and third wheel parts is provided with a plurality of first stud receiving holes spaced circumferentially therearound in a first unevenly spaced circumferential pattern such that each of the first stud receiving holes is spaced apart from a next adjacent first stud receiving hole by a different angular spacing. A second one of the first, second and third wheel parts is provided with a plurality of second stud receiving holes spaced circumferentially therearound in unevenly spaced circumferential pattern which corresponds to the first unevenly spaced circumferential pattern of the first stud receiving holes to enable stud bolts and nuts to be used to releasably connect the first one and the second one of the first, second and third wheel parts together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International
    Inventors: Chris Putz, Dave Hengstebeck
  • Patent number: 8025344
    Abstract: A spoke fastening device includes a spoke fastening hole drilled through a spoke bed of a wheel rim for receiving a head and a stem of a nipple and a collar of a ferrule, the collar includes an inner peripheral wall and an outer peripheral wall each having a lower portion for engaging into the spoke fastening hole of the spoke bed, the inner peripheral wall includes an outwardly curved rim for engaging with the spoke bed of the wheel rim, and the outer peripheral wall of the collar includes another outwardly curved rim for engaging with the curved rim of the inner peripheral wall, the head of the nipple flares and deforms the lower portions of the peripheral walls to engage with the spoke bed of the wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Inventor: Yu Ju Wang
  • Patent number: 8016369
    Abstract: A traction chain assembly for providing improved traction to elastomeric tracks is provided. The traction chain assembly comprises two side brackets adapted to be mounted on each side of the track and generally to the drive lugs thereof. The traction chain assembly further comprises generally two laterally extending chains which are attached to the side brackets and which further extend at least partially over the traction lugs located on the outer surface of the track and over which the assembly is disposed. Some of the chain links of the chains of the traction chain assembly are also generally equipped with outwardly projecting grousers for increasing the traction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Soucy International Inc.
    Inventors: Rémi Breton, Danny Roy
  • Patent number: 8011736
    Abstract: A collapsible wheel includes a rim formed of a number of arched rim elements pivotally connected into an endless series, a connector with a shaft for connection to a golf bag carrier, pushcart or baby cart, a hub sleeved onto the shaft of the connector, first spokes each having one end connected to the rim and the other end for stopping against the periphery of the hug, and second spokes each having an outer spoke segment connected to the rim and an inner spoke segment that has one end hinged to the outer spoke segment and the other end hinged to the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Fu-Hsing Tan
  • Patent number: 7997317
    Abstract: A tire pump that is housed within the hub of a wheel is described. The pump includes a piston that moves axially with respect to the wheel's axle. The pump also includes a pressure switch configured to stop the pump when sufficient tire pressure is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventor: Kevin Manning
  • Patent number: 7997664
    Abstract: A hub for off-road motorcycle includes a bearing having a first portion and a second portion respectively formed on two opposite ends thereof. Each of the first portion and the second portion has a connecting flange extended therefrom. A first annular element has a first through hole defined therein. The first annular element has a plurality of first spoke holes defined therein. A second annular element has a second through hole defined therein. The second annular element has a plurality of second spoke holes defined therein. When the hub adapts to be assembled with spokes, the first annular element and the second annular element are slightly pivotally rotated relative to the bearing for adapting to easily adjustably assemble the spokes with a rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventor: Judy Wu
  • Patent number: 7360847
    Abstract: A bicycle hub includes an axle, a hub shell and a plurality of fixing elements. The hub shell is rotatably disposed about the axle. The hub shell has a plurality of fixing portions disposed at an end thereof. Each of the fixing portions has a pair of spoke guide openings. The spoke guide openings are preferably unthreaded closed bores. The fixing elements are removably coupled to the fixing portions of the hub shell. Each of the fixing elements includes a pair of spoke attachment structures to receive inner ends of a pair of spokes. Preferably, the spoke attachment structures include threaded spoke attachment openings. Preferably, the fixing portions and the fixing elements are configured and arranged such that each of the fixing elements contacts an exterior surface of the hub shell when assembled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Kazuki Koshiyama
  • Patent number: RE45690
    Abstract: A damping structure for a turbomachine rotor. The damping structure including an elongated snubber element including a first snubber end rigidly attached to a first blade and extending toward an adjacent second blade, and an opposite second snubber end positioned adjacent to a cooperating surface associated with the second blade. The snubber element has a centerline extending radially inwardly in a direction from the first blade toward the second blade along at least a portion of the snubber element between the first and second snubber ends. Rotational movement of the rotor effects relative movement between the second snubber end and the cooperating surface to position the second snubber end in frictional engagement with the cooperating surface with a predetermined damping force determined by a centrifugal force on the snubber element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: John J. Marra
  • Patent number: RE45948
    Abstract: An apparatus for drilling a workpiece has a shaft portion including a holder to hold a drilling tool rotating around a first axis. A reduction gear is connected to the shaft portion. A cylindrical member, including an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, rotatably contains the shaft portion at an eccentric position. The cylindrical member is connected to the output shaft of the reduction gear and rotated around a second axis parallel to the first axis. A slide containing cylinder contains the shaft portion, the reduction gear and the cylindrical member. The slide containing cylinder has a sliding structure for axially moving the shaft portion, the reduction gear and the cylindrical member. A drilling tool is simultaneously rotated around the first axis, revolved around the second axis and is axially moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: OSG Corporation
    Inventor: Hukuzo Yagishita
  • Patent number: RE46106
    Abstract: A scroll compressor includes a fixed scroll having a fixed wrap, and an orbiting scroll having an orbiting wrap engaged with the fixed wrap to define a first compression chamber between an inner surface of the fixed wrap and an outer surface of the orbiting wrap, and to define a second compression chamber between an inner surface of the orbiting wrap and an outer surface of the fixed wrap. A rotation shaft is provided with an eccentric portion at one end thereof to drive the orbiting scroll. A protruding portion protrudes inwardly from an inner end of the fixed wrap, and contacts the orbiting wrap. A distance between a center of the eccentric portion and a tangent line at a contact point between the protruding portion and the orbiting wrap at an end of the first compression chamber is smaller than a radius of the eccentric portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sanghun Seong, Cheolhwan Kim, Byeongchul Lee, Samchul Ha
  • Patent number: RE46150
    Abstract: A three-fold three-wheel golf bag cart folding device includes a main shaft, a rear wheel set, a link mechanism, a lower cart frame, a front wheel set and an upper cart frame, and the upper cart frame can be pulled and rear wheels can be driven by the link mechanism to fold or unfold, such that the golf bag cart can be folded into a flat shape by a simple and easy operation to achieve the effects of reducing the storage space and facilitating users to carry and transport the cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: UNIQUE PRODUCT & DESIGN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Gordon Liao