Patents Examined by Thomas Diaz
  • Control wheel for aeronautics
    Patent number: 8997598
    Abstract: The invention concerns a control wheel (100) for aeronautics constituted of at least two half-shells (10) assembled one to the other, said half-shells comprising reinforcing ribs (11) on their internal surface, positioning and fixing means (12) and locating holes (13) to allow the passage of electrical wires connecting electrical actuating means (20) to a control unit. The control wheel (100) includes a central opening (15) intended to be connected to a control shaft/hub. The wheel comprises an intermediate guide part (50) disposed between the half-shells (10) and positioned inside the control wheel (100), said part including at least one guide conduit (51) adapted to connect on the one hand a locating hole (13) to the central opening (15) of the control wheel (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Crouzet Automatismes
    Inventors: Thierry Vinard, David Astier, Vincent Mangin, Nicolas Palusinski
  • Steering wheel with finisher
    Patent number: 8984988
    Abstract: In a lower end of a finisher having a substantially I-shape, an extending portion extending along a rim is provided. The finisher has an upper locking portion to be locked to an upper spoke and a lower locking portion provided in the extending portion and to be locked to a lower spoke. The lower locking portion has a protruding portion and a locking piece both standing upright from a back surface of the extending portion. The protruding portion and the locking piece are arranged away from each other in an up-down direction. The lower spoke has an engagement receiving portion for the protruding portion to be fitted and for the locking piece to be engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuya Muramatsu
  • Bearing device, method of manufacturing bearing device and bearing assembly having the bearing device
    Patent number: 8979377
    Abstract: A bearing device includes a body, a circular cover, and a through hole commonly defined through both the body and the cover. The body is an injection molded piece made from metal powder and molten binder. The cover is an injection molded piece made from metal powder and molten binder. Two passages are defined between the body and the cover, and each passage communicates the through hole with an exterior of the bearing device, whereby lubricant can flow from the through hole to the passages. A bearing assembly having the bearing device is also provided, and a method of manufacturing the bearing device is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Cheng Chen, Ming-Hsiu Chung
  • Recessed belt damper
    Patent number: 8973463
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper includes an inertia mass and a rotating shaft or hub with an elastomeric ring between the inertia mass and the rotating shaft or hub. A large portion of said elastomeric member is located in a channel located either in the inertia mass or in the hub. This allows one to achieve high contact pressure without creating a significant fatigue on the elastomeric member. This can be used with either a crankshaft damper or an internal or external drive shaft damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Dayco IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Suhale Manzoor, Bruce G. Christenson
  • Hydrodynamic bearing
    Patent number: 8967866
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing is provided that includes an annular main foil having axially spaced inner and outer surfaces. Bump foils are supported circumferentially on the outer surface. Top foils are supported circumferentially on the inner surface opposite the bump foils. In one example, spacers are arranged between the top foils and the main foils. The spacers can be provided by chemically etching the main foil, in one example. The bump foils include first and second corrugated portions respectively providing first and second axially heights. The first axial height is less than the second axial height and is arranged at a leading edge of the bump foil relative to the direction of airflow across the hydrodynamic bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Struziak, Christopher McAuliffe, Brent Merritt, Seth Rosen
  • Lock lever on steering column
    Patent number: 8960050
    Abstract: The invention provides a lever assembly for controlling a lock of a steering column assembly. The lever assembly includes a first lever portion pivotable about a locking axis between a locked position for substantially preventing adjusting movement of a steering column assembly and an unlocked position spaced from the locked position. The steering column assembly is moveable in adjusting movement when the first lever portion is in the unlocked position. The lever assembly also includes a second lever portion defining a handle portion and operable to rotate about the locking axis. The lever assembly also includes a lost motion linkage disposed between the first lever portion and the second lever portion. The lost motion linkage is operable to transmit rotation of the second lever portion about the locking axis to pivot the first lever portion between the locked position and the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Cymbal, Michael P. Anspaugh, Damir Menjak, Olivier Pugliese
  • Bicycle handle
    Patent number: 8950288
    Abstract: A bicycle handle, which is suitable in particular for trekking and mountain bikes, comprises a sleeve with a sleeve slot in it. The sleeve is connected to a grip element. For fastening the bicycle handle on a bicycle handlebar, the sleeve is mounted to the bicycle handlebar, and a clamping device is provided in a clamping region of the sleeve. A barend is connected to the clamping device. In order to avoid rotation of the barend, it is provided according to the disclosure that a rotation-prevention device is arranged between the clamping device and the bicycle handlebar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: RTI Sports Vertrieb von Sportartikeln GmbH
    Inventor: Franc Arnold
  • Controlled axial biasing unit
    Patent number: 8950289
    Abstract: A controlled axial biasing unit (1) is provided which substantially includes a first ramp disk (11) and a second ramp disk (12), each of which disks is configured with a plurality of ramp contours (8). An annular cage (2) that carries a plurality of rolling elements (3) is inserted between the first ramp disk (11) and the second ramp disk (12). At least the first ramp disk (11), the second ramp disk (12) and the cage (2) are made by a shaping method without chip removal. Each of the first ramp disk (11) and the second ramp disk (12) is configured with a continuous wall (32). Likewise through this shaping method, the first ramp disk (11) and the second ramp disk (12) have on an outer periphery (UA) an integrally formed safety stop device (14) for respective end positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Radinger, Tomas Smetana, Fritz Wiesinger
  • Connecting rod bolt having locating features
    Patent number: 8939046
    Abstract: A connecting rod bolt is provided for use with a connecting rod assembly. The connecting rod bolt may have a body portion having a first end, a threaded second end opposite the first end, and an outer surface extending in a length direction from the first end to the second end. The connecting rod bolt may further have a plurality of locating features having a radius aligned with the outer surface and a plurality of clearance features disposed on the outer surface between adjacent locating features, wherein a distance from a center of the body portion to an outer surface of each clearance feature is less than the radius of the plurality of locating features. The connecting rod bolt may also have a head portion connected to the first end of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Gamache Foege
  • Control pedal assembly
    Patent number: 8939045
    Abstract: A control pedal assembly includes a pedal bracket, a control pedal, an urging device and a communicating portion. The pedal bracket is secured to a vehicle body and has a housing space. The control pedal is swingably supported by a support shaft disposed in the housing space of the pedal bracket. The urging device is to urge the control pedal toward a rear of a vehicle body. The communicating portion is provided at a rear of the support shaft relative to the vehicle body between the control pedal and the pedal bracket to connect a space above the control pedal and a space below the control pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayumu Yamaguchi, Kiyohiro Mando, Kenso Imamura, Akio Matsuda
  • Manually operable mechanism for vehicle
    Patent number: 8935969
    Abstract: A manual operator for a vehicle, wherein the manual operator can be simply operated, has a good appearance, and allows a sufficient space for a manual operator for a parking brake. A first manual operator (13) pivotably mounted on a handlebar (11) has an output section (26) mounted so as to be pivotable about the center of a first support shaft (12). A second manual operator (15) has an input section (44) provided so as to be pivotable about a second support shaft (14) when pushed by the output section (26). The second manual operator (15) is a manual operator adapted for a vehicle parking brake and capable of setting the vehicle to a parked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hirukawa, Tetsuyoshi Kikuchi, Masaya Ishiguro
  • High speed ball bearing for dental or medical handpieces
    Patent number: 8931960
    Abstract: A bearing assembly (20) for use in a medical, surgical, or dental handpiece (10) that enables spindle rotation for a supported rotary tool (36) at high speeds. The bearing assembly (28) incorporates annular gap shields (50, 54) at each axial end to prevent contaminate ingress and to retain lubricating grease within the bearing assembly (28) to avoid re-lubricated after each use or sterilization cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventors: Frank J. Damato, Joseph P. Greathouse, Paul J. Carabello, Ryan D. Evans, Martin S. Galehouse, Steven R. Morel, John A. Zannotti
  • Cover for an aperture
    Patent number: 8931369
    Abstract: A cover for an aperture in a vehicle wall for a handbrake lever includes various elements. For example, the cover might include an opening region with an opening through which the force-transmitting means can pass and a support region for supporting the cover on the wall. In addition, the opening region might slidably attach to the handbrake lever, such that the opening region slides when the handbrake lever is adjusted. A flexible wall element at least partially attaches over the opening region and the support region, and spring devices are attached to the opening region and the support region to provide tension to the flexible wall element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Beyer, Simon Higgins
  • Bicycle pedal of the automatic engagement and disengagement type
    Patent number: 8931370
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal with automatic engagement and disengagement includes a body (2) rotatable on a pedal axle (3) with: a front abutment (4) cooperating with a conjugate abutment surface (5) provided on a cleat (6) fixed to the sole of a shoe; a retaining member (9) rotatable about a geometrical axis (A) parallel to that of the pedal, adapted to be pressed against the cleat by a flexing element (B, 15) to attach the cleat to the pedal, one end (15a) of the flexing element being immobilized against the body (2), the other end (15b) being in bearing engagement against the retaining member. The articulation axle of the retaining member (9) includes a rod (13) that extends transversely under the flexing element (B, 15), which is in bearing engagement on said articulation axle, the flexing element functioning in flexion at three points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Time Sport International
    Inventors: Hervé Servignat, Fabien Chappuis
  • Compliant cam with flexure cam arm
    Patent number: 8925419
    Abstract: A compliant cam system includes a one-piece cam including: a cam body rotatable with respect to a cam rotational axis and a having a cam body center spaced from the cam rotational axis and an outer surface; and a deflecting arm freely extending from the cam body having a free end elastically deflected toward the cam body in an arm deflected condition. A follower has at least one follower surface in direct contact with the cam outer surface at the deflecting arm. An arm non-deflected condition is defined when the outer surface is in direct contact with the cam follower surface prior to deflection of the deflecting arm. The cam when thereafter rotated with respect to the cam rotational axis acts to move the cam body center toward the follower thereby deflecting the deflecting arm to the deflected condition creating a biasing force acting toward the follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Ball, Christopher Corey, Patrick Waters
  • Foot stabilizer for a bike pedal
    Patent number: 8919222
    Abstract: A platform upon which a humans foot can be placed has an upper and a lower surface, distal and proximal ends respectively corresponding to the toes and heel of the humans foot, and a ridge extending approximately vertically from the platforms upper surface around the perimeter of the proximal end of the platform to aid in retaining the humans heel at the proximal position of the platform when positioned on the upper surface of the platform. Associated with the platform is a distal plate adjustably connected to the distal region of the lower surface of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Scheiman Rebuild Fitness, Inc
    Inventor: Donald R. Scheiman
  • Pedal device
    Patent number: 8910543
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a pedal device in which the pad member can be fixed to the stopper member easily at the time of mounting, and which does not tend to be degraded over the years. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pedal device including: a stopper member attached to a floor of a driver's seat of a vehicle; and a pad member which has a pad fitted into the stopper member and receives a depression force exerted by a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., F-Tech Inc.
    Inventors: Hideto Nebuya, Shinji Oka, Toru Ebara, Masato Kobayashi, Teruo Kato
  • Cam part for a variable sliding cam valve drive
    Patent number: 8910544
    Abstract: A cam part (1) is provided for a variable sliding cam valve drive of an internal combustion engine, which cam part (1) can be mounted on a basic shaft of the sliding cam valve drive fixedly so as to rotate with it but axially displaceably, and has one or more cam groups (2, 3) and at least one connecting link piece (4) with at least one spiral groove (5) for an actuator pin engagement. At least one weight-reducing groove (7) which does not coincide with the spiral groove (5) is formed on the outer casing (6) of the cam part (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Arne Manteufel, Andreas Biermann
  • Drive for an adjustment device with a worm wheel having a globoid toothing with a cylindrical section
    Patent number: 8904895
    Abstract: A worm wheel including first toothing regions transitioning into and on either side of a second toothing region and a complete annular surface on both ends of the worm wheel. The first toothing regions may have a constant outer diameter and the second toothing region may be depressed relative to the first toothing region. The first toothing regions may be globoid toothing regions and the second toothing region may be a cylindrical toothing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: IMS Gear GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Woehrle, Andreas Voeckt
  • Vehicle pedal system
    Patent number: 8899130
    Abstract: A pedal system or assembly can be provided to allow a driver of an vehicle to operate the vehicle. The pedal assembly can include a portion that will disengage or move to allow at least a foot engaging portion of the pedal system to discontinue movement towards the driver and allow movement of the pedal towards an engine compartment and away from a passenger compartment in the vehicle. The pedal of the pedal assembly, however, can remain engaged to the components that allow for operation of vehicle systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Autoline Industries Indiana, LLC
    Inventor: Randall Bushong