Patents Examined by Tashiana Adams
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Patent number: 8459680Abstract: A bicycle assembly can include a bicycle frame that can have a main frame, a sub-frame and a shock absorber. The sub-frame can move in relation to the main frame and the shock can be used to regulate that relationship. A extension body can be used to establish a rear pivot point of the shock absorber. In some embodiments, the extension body can also be used to adjust the length of the combined shock absorber and extension body.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2011Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.Inventor: Jason L. Chamberlain
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Patent number: 8459685Abstract: A removable gooseneck hitch assembly transitions between an afterward position for hitching to a low bed trailer deck and a forward position by a pivoting arm that moves the forward end of the gooseneck an arcuate path. The invention minimizes the opportunity for debris to interfere with the sliding track assemblies known in the prior art. The assembly provides three degrees of freedom for the gooseneck in low bed mode and restricts the degrees of freedom in vehicle towing mode. A locking member for securing a low bed trailer hitch is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2010Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Aspen Custom TrailersInventors: Ron Wood, Graham Street
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Patent number: 8459677Abstract: A wheelchair includes a seat, one or more wheels and a seat weight sensing mechanism. The wheel includes a brake for stopping the wheel. The seat weight sensing mechanism is placed below the seat and is connected to the brake. When the seat is loaded by a weight more than a predetermined value, the seat weight sensing mechanism releases the brake to free the wheel. When the seat is not loaded by a weight more than a predetermined value, the brake stops the wheel.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2012Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Jeng Han Li, Yu Hsien Chiu, Yu Wei Hung
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Patent number: 8454046Abstract: A platform assembly for a towed implement comprises a bracket for securing the platform assembly to a vehicle; a frame connected to the bracket for supporting the towed implement; one or more wheels connected to the frame for contacting the underlying ground surface; and a biasing means for providing an upward force that counteracts a downward force applied to the rear of the vehicle by the platform assembly and the towed implement.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Brinly-Hardy CompanyInventor: Kenneth Patrick Hobbs, Jr.
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Patent number: 8448970Abstract: A suspension system for a steerable front wheel of a vehicle such as a motorcycle has two substantially identical, straight, elongate, tubular members that extend forwardly and downwardly from the vicinity of a handlebar of the vehicle along opposite sides of a lower rear quadrant of the front wheel and have open front end regions that at least partially enclose compressible coil suspension system springs. Elongate arms are pivotally connected to brackets that are rigidly secured either above or below the open front end regions of the elongate members, define surfaces that extend across the open front ends of the front end regions to be pressed against by the suspension system springs, and have upper end regions that support opposite ends of a front wheel's axle that extends between the two elongate arms. By adjusting the extent to which the suspension springs are compressed, the ride provided by the suspension system is adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Inventor: Douglas L. Vardon
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Patent number: 8444164Abstract: A pulsar ring includes a portion to be detected and a pulsar ring mounting portions that project in a radially outward direction from an outer peripheral portion of the portion to be detected. The portion to be detected and a pulsar ring mounting portion are arranged so as to form continuous planar surfaces. The pulsar ring is rigidly mounted on a mounting boss of a wheel using a bolt by fastening a brake disc wherein the pulsar ring overlaps with the brake disc mounting portion. Even when the brake disc thermally deforms at the time of braking so that the pulsar ring mounting portion is pulled radially outwardly, the portion to be detected and the pulsar ring mounting portion are arranged on the same plane thus forming the continuous planar surfaces. Thus, the portion to be detected is hardly twisted with hardly any deformation of the portion to be detected.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2012Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Keita Mikura, Kenji Kofuji
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Patent number: 8444169Abstract: A trailer hitch coupler to couple a trailer to a trailer hitch includes a socket adapted for receiving a trailer hitch ball; a clamp associated with the socket and operable for engaging the trailer hitch ball; a sensor operatively connected with the socket and operable for determining a distance between an inner surface of the socket and an outer face of the trailer hitch ball when the trailer hitch ball is positioned within the socket; a clamp prevention device operatively connected with the socket and with the clamp and operable to prevent engagement of the clamp with the trailer hitch ball; and a release mechanism operatively connected with the sensor and the clamp prevention device and operable to release the clamp prevention device to allow the clamp to engage the trailer hitch ball when the sensor communicates a desired hitch condition.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2012Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Inventor: Steven A. Katz
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Patent number: 8443925Abstract: The motorcycle comprises a chassis frame (5); an engine (20), a hanger portion (21) suspended from the chassis frame (5); a pair of down tubes (9) extending downward in the fore portion of the chassis frame (5); and an engine hanger bracket (100), further comprising plate portions (101) and collar portions (106) disposed upon the plate portions (101), the engine hanger bracket (100) linked to the pair of down tubes (9) and the hanger portion (21). The motorcycle further comprises an upper suspension portion (112), which suspends the engine (20) by fastening the down tubes (9), the plate portions (101), the collar portions (106), and an upper hanger portion (22), in a state of being positioned in a linear state in the vehicle width direction; and a lower suspension portion (124), which suspends the engine (20) by fastening the plate portions (101) and a lower hanger portion (23).Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kotaro Fujiyama, Hideki Shimizu, Junichi Sakamoto, Satoru Ikami
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Patent number: 8444168Abstract: Invention patent application for one Lock Controller (1) made in a cast casing fitted with a closure lid (2) designed with a bearing for the solenoid (3) guiding axle (3a) and one micro-processed control unit (4), being said Lock Controller (1) installed in the free niche (C) of the bottom half of the fifth wheel (5) where the hole (5b) is made through the wall (5c) in order to allow the passage of the extension (1d) of the Lock Controller (1) and one hole (6a) made into the Locking bar (6) face coinciding with the wall (5c) limits the course and one safety ring (8) is welded or glued at section (7a) of the long rod (7), to limit its course.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Maxilock Industria E Comercio LtdaInventor: Jose Aldo Jacinto
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Patent number: 8439382Abstract: A bicycle frame is provided comprising: two substantially concentric rings connected along a front portion and flared out at a rear portion to enable a rear bicycle wheel to fit there between, the two substantially concentric rings enabled to absorb strain energy received from at least one of the rear wheel and weight from a rider; a seat post for receiving a bicycle seat, the seat post extending from a top portion of the two substantially concentric rings; a rear wheel bracket extending from a bottom rear portion of each of the two substantially concentric rings for supporting the rear wheel between the two substantially concentric rings; a bottom bracket located proximal a bottom front portion of the two substantially concentric rings, the bottom bracket for connecting at least a crank to the bicycle frame; a headtube for receiving a front fork; and, at least one support for the headtube to connect the headtube to the two substantially concentric rings.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Inventor: Lucio Tortola
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Patent number: 8439146Abstract: A motorcycle includes a pair of left and right main frames, a fuel tank placed on an upper side of the main frames, an engine suspended on a lower side of the main frames and provided with a cylinder assembly and a crankcase, and a canister that adsorbs an evaporated fuel gas generated in the fuel tank, wherein the canister is arranged inside the main frames in a plan view of the motorcycle and is disposed on a rear side of the cylinder assembly and on an upper side of the crankcase of the engine in a side view of the motorcycle.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2011Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventor: Koichi Tanaka
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Patent number: 8439147Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle, comprising a body and a drive train, wherein the drive train comprises a front axle (10), a rear axle (13), a drive unit, and a gearbox (20), wherein the drive unit is designed as a hybrid drive having an internal combustion engine (16) and at least one electric machine (17, 18, 19), wherein the internal combustion engine (16) can be supplied with fuel from at least one fuel tank (21), and wherein the or each electric machine (17, 18, 19) can be supplied with electrical energy from at least one electrical energy store (22) in motorized operation, and wherein the or each fuel tank (21) and the or each electrical energy store (22) are positioned in a common section (23) of the body.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2010Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche AktiegesellschaftInventors: Martin Fuechtner, Joerg Meyer-Ebeling
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Patent number: 8434584Abstract: The invention relates to an electric machine (1) comprising: —a rotor (4) having 14 rotor poles (8) which is arranged rotatably about a central axis and—a stator (2) having 12 stator teeth (3) which project in a radial direction relative to the central axis from the stator (2) in the direction of the rotor (4), characterized in that each of the stator teeth (3) is surrounded by a stator coil (9) which surrounds only one of the stator teeth.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2009Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Lin Feuerrohr
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Patent number: 8434778Abstract: A semi-trailer for transporting circular objects may include a coupler assembly configured to be connected to a towing vehicle, a rear frame member, a pair of side rails joined at rear ends thereof by the rear frame member and at front ends thereof by the coupler assembly, a rear wheel and axle assembly mounted to the side rails between the front and rear ends thereof and at least one transportation well mounted to and between the side rails. The at least one transportation well may extend below the side rails. The at least one transportation well is configured to receive and hold therein while being transported by the semi-trailer at least one circular object.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2012Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.Inventors: Rodney P. Ehrlich, Andrzej Wylezinski, David P. Kunkel, Michael Lee Brown
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Patent number: 8430209Abstract: An articulated vehicle has front and rear sections that are connected via a vertically pivot, and the front section has one or more front wheels that pivot a horizontal plane. A first sprocket is mounted on a vertical axis, for movement with the front section, the axis of the first sprocket is offset from the axis of the pivot between the front and rear sections, a shaft transmit angular movement at a ratio of 1:1 and in the same direction from the front wheel or wheels to the first sprocket, and a second sprocket is mounted on the rear section of the vehicle coaxially of the axis of the pivot between the front and rear sections. The second sprocket is drivingly connected to a rotary sensor, the first and second sprockets are drivingly connected by way of a chain, and the first and second sprockets having a drive ratio of 1:1.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2009Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Translift Bendi LimitedInventor: Frederick Leslie Brown
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Patent number: 8430417Abstract: A bicycle includes a front wheel and a rear wheel. A main frame includes a rear pivot support defining a rear pivot axis. A front fork is pivotally coupled to the main frame and supported by the front wheel. A chainstay is pivotally coupled to the pivot support and supported by the rear wheel. The chainstay includes a left mounting portion and a right mounting portion. A bearing assembly pivotally supports the chainstay relative to the pivot support. The bearing assembly includes a pivot shaft having a left shaft portion and a right shaft portion movable relative to the left shaft portion along the rear pivot axis. The left mounting portion is secured to the left shaft portion and the right mounting portion is secured to the right shaft portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2012Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.Inventor: Ross E. Galson
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Patent number: 8424898Abstract: In order for a trailer hitch comprising a cross-member, which has its longitudinal direction extending transversely to a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and which can be connected to a body of a vehicle, a ball neck, which at a first end region is connected to the cross-member by means of a bearing unit and at a second end region carries a coupling ball, to be improved such that it has a lower weight, it is proposed that the cross-member is in the form of a hollow shaped body which varies in cross-sectional shape and has a central region and outer regions which adjoin the central region on both sides and extend as far as outer ends of the hollow shaped body, and that, starting from the outer ends, a cross-sectional shape of the outer regions has a cross-sectional area that increases progressively in the direction of the central region.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2009Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Scambia Industrial Developments AktiengesellschaftInventors: Bernhard Rimmelspacher, Joerg Riehle, Hartmut Haustein
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Patent number: 8419038Abstract: A fifth wheel trailer hitch with locking mechanism that includes a pin that extends axially from a pivotal mounting of a platform of a trailer tow bar. The pin is preferably cylindrical and is grooved circumferentially adjacent to its bottom end for fitting into an a key way forward end lip formed in a mounting plate that is attached to a truck bed for prohibiting the pin from lifting from the key way. The pin includes a plug that, by turning a cam rod journaled through the pin, will extend or retract axially from a pin center opening to fit into a plug hole formed in the mounting plate in the center of the key way forward end, preventing, when extended, the pin from sliding therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2011Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Inventors: Darrel J. Burns, Brigitte Paula Strecker Burns
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Patent number: 8419039Abstract: A trailer tongue assembly includes a trailer tongue having trader tongue front and rear portions, the trailer tongue front portion being configured for releasable attachment to a trader hitch, and an attachment frame connected to the trailer tongue rear portion and configured for attachment to a trailer. The trailer tongue front portion is independently translatable and rotatable in a vertical plane relative to the attachment frame.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Inventors: Osni Magalhaes, Ronald Diniz, Ricardo M. L. Amaral, Todd Kidd, Robson Diniz
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Patent number: 8419037Abstract: A fifth wheel travel trailer chassis includes a front frame member, a first inner side frame member substantially perpendicular to the front frame member, a first outer side frame member substantially perpendicular to the front frame member, and a first brace member. The first inner side frame member has a forward end connected to a first end of the front frame member. The first outer side frame member has a forward end that is rearward of the front frame member. The first brace member has a first end connected to the first inner side frame member rearward of the front frame member and a second end connected to the forward end of the first outer side frame member.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2011Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Open Range RV CompanyInventors: Randall L. Graber, Thomas R. Cramer