Patents Examined by Thomas Diaz
  • Patent number: 9127707
    Abstract: An improved trolling motor lift cord apparatus for assisting in the moving of a trolling motor between a lowered position and a raised position. The improved trolling motor lift cord apparatus includes a flexible, high-strength, cord-like member that engages the trolling motor locking mechanism and a handle end for the user to grasp and pull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: T-H MARINE SUPPLIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffery William Huntley
  • Patent number: 9126650
    Abstract: A control device for a bicycle with curved handlebars is described, comprising a support body fixable to the handlebars of the bicycle and a brake lever pivoted to the support body, a resisting arm of which integrally moves with an end of a brake cable, the support body having a grippable distal-upper projection, the brake lever having a first actuation area in a first riding condition gripping the support body, and a second actuation area in a second riding condition gripping the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Dal Pra′, Andrea De Pretto
  • Patent number: 9122299
    Abstract: A lever for use with a plug housing and a method of manufacturing. The method includes molding the housing and lever in one mold, with the housing and lever being separate parts. Extracting the housing and lever from the mold and moving a mating end of the lever into position relative to a mounting portion of the housing. The lever may include a first member having a first handle and a second member having a second handle which are mated together to form the lever. Additionally, the lever may have portions which are movably, hingedly or pivotably connected to a handle at a connection regions which are formed to provide a weakened area about which lever arms can move, rotate or pivot relative to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Galen M. Martin
  • Patent number: 9115782
    Abstract: Disclosed is a ball balancer that increases a rate of balls in ball detention portions and restricts aggravation of unbalance caused by balls outside of the ball detention portions. When a rotation speed of a rotator is less than a first rotation speed, the ball detention portion allows the ball moved from a rolling face to be detained therein and to allow the ball therein to come into contact with the released ball outside thereof to prevent separation of the released ball from the rolling face. Anti-separation portions are provided to come into contact with the released balls outside of the ball detention portions to prevent separation of the released balls from the rolling face. When the rotation speed is greater than the first rotation speed, the ball detention portion allows separation of the ball therein to the rolling face by centrifugal force applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shimada Yoshinari, Ohyagi Atsushi
  • Patent number: 9108280
    Abstract: A device having a rail and a block includes a rail and a block. The rail includes a body and a hollow inside, the hollow inside being located inside the body. The hollow inside of the rail is provided with a lightweight, shock absorption and sound absorption material, and the lightweight, shock absorption and sound absorption material is selected from a group consisting of foam metal material, polystyrene, asbestos, foam, plastic, and rubber. The block is adapted for sliding along the rail to finish a slide path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: METAL INDUSTRIES RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
    Inventors: Wen-Yen Wang, Yi-An Chen, Chun-Chieh Wang, Chia-Min Wei
  • Patent number: 9109627
    Abstract: A sliding device includes a sliding bearing, and a shaft which is rotatable and in slidable contact with the sliding bearing in presence of a lubricating oil. The sliding bearing has a surface hardness smaller than a surface hardness of the shaft. Additionally, the sliding bearing has a surface roughness Ra of not larger than 0.2 micrometer, and the shaft has a surface roughness of not larger than 0.05 micrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Higuchi, Yutaka Mabuchi, Benjamin Duffau, Alain Pasgrimaud, Carmelo Gugliotta
  • Patent number: 9110494
    Abstract: A pedal device for vehicles includes: a pedal arm provided in a pedal housing and connected to a pedal pad at a first end thereof, and rotated around a hinge shaft mounted to a second end of the pedal arm; a pressure member, a first end of which is held by the first end of the pedal arm, and a second end of which is placed between the hinge shaft and an inner surface of the pedal housing; and an elastic member provided between a middle portion of the pressure member and the inner surface of the pedal housing, and functioning to impose an elastic reaction force on the pressure member when a driver presses the pedal pad down. The elastic member brings the second end of the pressure member into frictional contact with the inner surface of the pedal housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, DONG HEE INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eun Sik Kim, Bum Jun Kim, Hee Soo Yang, Jeong Seon Min, Joon Young Park, Yang Rae Cho, Jee Hyuck Choi, Yong Hwan Mo, Jong Rae Lee, Dong Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 9090303
    Abstract: A bicycle control device is provided with a mounting bracket, a first lever and an adjustment arrangement. The first lever is pivotally arranged relative to the mounting bracket about a first-axis and about a second axis being non-parallel to the first axis. The first lever is configured relative to the mounting bracket such that a free end of the first lever moves closer to the mounting bracket as the first lever pivots about the first axis from a rest position to an operated position. The adjustment arrangement adjusts the rest position of the first lever relative to the mounting bracket around the second operating axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Fukao, Tatsuya Matsushita, Makoto Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 9086719
    Abstract: A throttle control apparatus is configured to be capable of easy assembly. The throttle control apparatus also includes a rotor and an intermediate casing, which surrounds a portion of the rotor. The intermediate casing also houses a position sensor for detecting a rotational angle of the rotor. The rotor and the intermediate casing are both encased in an outer housing, which is configured and adapted to be mounted on a motorcycle handlebar. A return spring, for returning the rotor to an original position, has one end engaged with a first retaining pin on the rotor, and the other end of the return spring is engaged with a second retaining pin on the intermediate casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Nomura, Kunihiko Tanaka, Kenji Tamaki, Nobuo Shigemizu, Masaru Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9080600
    Abstract: Rotating control assembly with double cable, comprising a first and a second actuator device both having a respective rotating pulley and being connected together by two cables both fixed to the pulley of the first actuator device and to the pulley of the second actuator device, wherein the pulley of the first actuator device and the pulley of the second actuator device are identical to each other, each of the pulleys being mounted on a respective base, and wherein each actuator device comprises a guide part having a pair of resilient wings which press on respective sections of the cables in immediate proximity to areas where the cables are wound onto the respective pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Thermal Systems S.P.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Nicole', Claudio Ferrarese, Andrea Carbone, Stefano Bonetti
  • Patent number: 9067638
    Abstract: A handgrip for handlebars of a bicycle or similar vehicles includes a tubular group, which extends according to an axial direction (X) corresponding to the axis of the handlebars, the group being fitted onto an end of handlebars, the handgrip including padding means associated with the tubular group, means for attaching the handgrip to the handlebars, the tubular group including an inner body suitable for being fitted onto an end of the handlebars and a second outer body slidably fitted according to the direction (X) onto the inner body so as to adjust the axial length of the handgrip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: SELLE ROYAL S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Segato, Vincent Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 9061728
    Abstract: A bicycle handlebar assembly that includes a body having at least two grip areas positioned for interaction with the hands of a rider. The grip portions or grip areas are preferably spaced apart by a center portion that secures the assembly to a bicycle steerer tube. A channel or detent is formed in the body proximate at least one, and preferably proximate each grip portion or grip area. A dampener formed of a different material than the body is disposed in the detent and dissipates at least a portion of vibration of the body to reduce vibrations communicated to the hands of the rider from handlebar vibration. An optional grip assembly cooperates with the handlebar assembly and is constructed to further dampen handlebar vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Trek Bicycle Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Galstad, Jeffrey R. Staszak, Michael Leighton, Allen Hu
  • Patent number: 9051966
    Abstract: A linear guide apparatus maintaining a high dust-proof performance over an extended period of time and includes side seal units attached to end parts of a slider in the axial direction. Each side seal unit is provided with: a first seal member, at the slider, arranged in the axial direction of the slider; a second seal member at the outside of the slider in the axial direction; and a lubricating member held between the first and second seal members. The first seal member has first lip parts sliding against the rolling element rolling grooves of the guide rail, while the second seal member has second lip parts sliding against the rolling element rolling grooves. The lubricating member has a first oil-containing member for supplying lubricant to the rolling element rolling grooves. The first and second lip parts are arranged not to come into contact with the first oil-containing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Matsumoto, Ryoichi Sato, Masaru Hattori
  • Patent number: 9045193
    Abstract: Integrated control device for a bicycle, has a support body configured to be fixed to a handlebar of a bicycle and a single lever that is mobile with respect to the support body to command both a brake and a derailleur by movement of the lever in first and second directions of movement, opposite one another; the single lever has a rest position in which it commands neither the brake nor the derailleur and it is mobile in a first direction to command the brake; the single lever is mobile in a second direction different from the first direction by a first distance to command movement of the derailleur in its first direction and by a second distance different from the first to command movement of the derailleur in its second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Dal Pra′
  • Patent number: 9038499
    Abstract: There is provided an opening and closing apparatus for a fuel lid, including: a pushrod configured to shift between a locking posture and an unlocking posture and to reciprocate between a pushed-in position and a pushed-out position; a follower assembled to the pushrod so as to rotate relatively to the pushrod about the center line and to move together with the pushrod in the axial directions; and a case supporting the pushrod, the follower and a biasing member. The case includes a rod cam portion for rotating the pushrod and a follower cam portion for rotating the follower. The follower cam portion includes a plurality of follower securing portions for securing the follower so as to hold the pushrod in the pushed-in position against biasing force exerted by the biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 9032841
    Abstract: A housing for a transmission is disclosed. The housing may have a plurality of integrally-formed walls that together create an enclosure with an open first end and an open second end disposed axially opposite the first end. The housing may also have a first flange located at the first end of the enclosure and configured to engage an input housing of an engine, and a second flange located at the second end of the enclosure and configured to engage a differential housing. The plurality of integrally formed walls includes a lower wall having at least one impingement protection feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Cashatt, Darryl I. Hudson, Michael E. Watts, Cory J. Deppert, Michael G. Eddingfield
  • Patent number: 9027435
    Abstract: A control cable attachment structure for attaching a control cable to an anchoring member. A plate-part-side attachment groove, includes an anchoring groove in which an attachment part is positioned and anchored, and a constricted part that is connected to the anchoring groove and is narrower than the anchoring groove. The attachment part of the control cable has an engaging part that is engaged by the anchoring groove and is wider than the constricted part, an approximately parallel pair of opposing surfaces respectively opposing the front and rear of a plate surface of the anchor plate part, and an anchoring groove, the surface of which is formed by the pair of opposing surfaces, and in which the peripheral parts of the plate-part-side attachment grove of the anchor plate part engage. The one opposing surface is provided with a protruding part that protrudes toward the other opposing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiya Ohba, Nozomi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9016166
    Abstract: A pedal apparatus for a vehicle includes: a pedal arm mounted on a vehicle body by a hinge shaft and having one end connected with a pedal and the other end where a rack gear is formed; a link arm having a pinion gear at one end that meshes with the rack gear to pivot on a center shaft of the pinion gear with respect to the pedal arm, and having the other end where a locking pin is formed; and a plate mounted on the vehicle body, the plate having a sliding groove where the locking pin of the link arm is inserted, in which ridges and depressions are formed at regular intervals in the sliding groove so that the locking pin slides step by step while being locked to the ridges and depressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jeong Seon Min, Yang Rae Cho, Jee Hyuck Choi, Eun Sik Kim, Ho Jin Choi
  • Patent number: 9003921
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bicycle pedal which comprises a body, a platform, and a pin, where the pin comprises a traction spike, a thread, a shoulder and a head. The platform is removable, and the platform is constrained in relation to the body by the pin, where the shoulder and head are used to locate the platform away from the body during tightening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: The Hive Global
    Inventor: David Weagle
  • Patent number: 8997591
    Abstract: An encoder assembly including control knob return mechanisms and encoder elements. Each control knob return mechanism includes a frame assembly including return spring locators. A return rotor assembly, includes a rotor having a plurality of rotor located spring stops. A return mechanism rotatable shaft is operably positioned within the return rotor assembly and operably connectable to an encoder element. The rotor and the shaft are rotatably stationary relative to each other. A return spring is positioned about the rotatable shaft and operably positioned relative to the return spring locators and the rotor located spring stops to bias the return mechanism rotatable shaft and the rotor in a normally centered position. Each encoder element is connected to an associated return mechanism rotatable shaft of an associated control knob return mechanism, wherein the return mechanism rotatable shafts of the control knob return mechanisms are concentrically positioned relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley J. Vircks