Patents Examined by Timothy J Murphy
  • Patent number: 7621200
    Abstract: A steering wheel adapter comprises a base having an opening, a plate with a plug formed, and a ring capable of sliding and rotating along the outer face of the base. In the steering wheel adapter, a guide hole penetrating the side face of the base from the outer face into the opening is disposed, a locking member capable of protruding into the opening is provided in the guide hole, and a cam face is provided facing the guide hole on the inner face of the ring. When the ring is slid and rotated in a state where the plate is mounted on the base to insert the plug into the opening, the cam face pushes and protrudes the locking member into the opening, and the locking member is pressed to contact the outer surface of the plug. Consequently, both easy attachment/detachment and prevention of rattle can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Works Bell Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuaki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7607369
    Abstract: A conduit guide clip is provided which includes a receiver and a single arm extending therefrom is provided for mounting to a tubular support such as the handlebar of a walk-behind lawn mower. The guide clip further includes a mounting post, which is inserted into a hole in the tubular support. The arm is curved to wrap around and clamp an arcuate inner surface of the receiver against the tubular support after installation. The mounting post is positioned to extend from the arcuate inner surface, and the arm includes a rearwardly swept remote edge and located whereby no portion of the arm is positioned to intersect the longitudinal axis of the mounting post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Wescon Products Company
    Inventors: Marvin Cox, Anthony F. Beugelsdyk
  • Patent number: 7597027
    Abstract: A motion transmitting remote control assembly (20) of the type for transmitting motion in a curved path by a flexible core element (22) in a conduit (24) is secured to a support structure (76) having a U-shaped slot. A coupling body (36) surrounds the core element (22) and is surrounded by a support body (66) for attachment to the support structure (76). A flange (42) extends radially about the coupling body (36) and is disposed axially between a first and second ends (38, 40) of the coupling body (36). First and second isolators (52, 54) surround the coupling body (36) on opposite sides of the flange (42) and include first and second ribs (63, 64) projecting radially from first and second head portions (61, 62) of the isolators (52, 54). The first and second ribs (63, 64) contact an inner radial surface (122) of the support body (66) thereby spacing the first and second head portions (61, 62) from the support body (66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Inventor: Young Dae Kwon
  • Patent number: 7597026
    Abstract: A cable assembly having a condensation drain provided for the conduit thereof, wherein moisture is enabled to escape the conduit through a drainage opening of the condensation drain, yet the operative interaction between the cable and the conduit of the cable assembly is unaffected by the presence of the condensation drain. The condensation drain may be provided with a drip initiator which assists removal of the moisture from the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Smith, Jeffrey L. Konchan, Joseph P. Fannon, Darren M. Van Houzen
  • Patent number: 7574940
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle includes a steering shaft, a support bracket rotatably receiving the steering shaft for rotatably supporting the steering shaft on the motor vehicle, and an anti-rotation device. The anti-rotation device is supported by the support bracket and is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the anti-rotation device prevents rotation of the steering shaft relative to the support bracket. The anti-rotation device may be moved from the engaged position to the disengaged position to allow rotation of the steering shaft relative to the support bracket. Prior to assembly of the steering column assembly to the motor vehicle, the anti-rotation device may be moved to the engaged position to lock the steering column in a common rotational position. After assembly, the anti-rotation device may be moved to the disengaged position to allow rotation of the steering shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason R. Ridgway, Marvin V. Manwaring, William D. Cymbal
  • Patent number: 7571659
    Abstract: A starting apparatus of a small-sized engine includes: a cylindrical cam; a drive gear connected to the cylindrical cam coaxially, wherein: whereas the drive gear is made to be connected to a rope reel by ratchet claws, the drive gear is made to be connected to a cell motor by at least two pieces of reduction gears; and a reduction gear in the reduction gears brought in mesh with the drive gear is divided into a small diameter gear portion and a large diameter gear portion to be arranged coaxially, side faces of the small and the large diameter gear portion opposed to each other are formed with engaging claws engaged with each other only in one direction, and the small and the large diameter gear portion are urged as the two side faces are brought into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Starting Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Horikoshi
  • Patent number: 7568406
    Abstract: An adjustable control pedal includes an upper arm and a lower arm carrying a pedal. The lower arm can be selectively moved relative to the upper arm to adjust the position of the pedal between a forward position and a rearward position. A control pin is operably connected to the upper arm for rotation with the upper arm to supply a control signal when force is applied to the pedal. An adjuster is operably connected to the control pin to adjust the position of the control pin relative to the pivot axis so that a ratio of a distance between the pivot axis and the pedal and a distance between the pivot axis and the control pin remains constant as the pedal is adjusted between the forward position and the rearward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Allen Booher, James Robert Allen, Brian John Eckerle
  • Patent number: 7562594
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric actuator capable of effectively absorbing shock exerted on its component part. The electric actuator has a housing, a rod cover, a piston, a feed screw, a sliding nut, two piston dampers for absorbing shock exerted on the piston, a first end damper attached to one of the opposite ends of the housing, a second end damper attached to the rod cover. The sliding nut is axially displaceable relative to the piston when the piston damper absorbs shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Shigekazu Nagai, Akio Saitoh, Toru Sugiyama, Masaki Miyahara
  • Patent number: 7536932
    Abstract: A spherical flywheel is described and specified that stores rotational energy more efficiently than cylindrical flywheels. The spherical flywheel is composed of multiple layers of material with the densest material at the surface. The flywheel surface is dimpled with a pattern similar to golf ball surfaces, to minimize aerodynamic drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Inventor: James Brown
  • Patent number: 7523681
    Abstract: A ball screw device includes a ball nut having an inner thread formed by a number of helical groove portions and helical ridges, and an opening and a depression communicating with each other, and a channel communicating with the depression of the ball nut, a radially inserted deflecting member has a block engaged into the opening of the ball nut and an extension extended from the block and engaged into the depression of the ball nut for anchoring the deflecting member to the ball nut. A fastener may be engaged through the deflecting member and engaged with the ball nut for securing the deflecting member to the ball nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Hung Sung Pan, Chien Wei Tsou
  • Patent number: 7478576
    Abstract: A controlled relative motion system comprising a base support, a pivot holder and a plurality of pivoting links with the pivoting links rotatably coupled to both the base support and to members of the pivot holder to rotate about axes which extend in different directions for each of these rotatable couplings in a link, typically in accord with specific geometrical arrangements, and in different directions from similar axes in another of such links. The foregoing various rotatable couplings are provided by insertable bearings or bushings in the supports and links. The pivoting links have larger portions thereof outside of the interior of the manipulator parts of which can extend outside in different directions. Such systems can incorporate a variety of force imparting members to control movements of various ones of the pivoting links or pivot holder members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Ross-Hime Designs, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Rosheim
  • Patent number: 7464624
    Abstract: A motor driven steering column system of a vehicle capable of interchanging tilt/telescopic modes using a single motor generating driving force by switching power transfer routes of the single motor using a small-sized motor in tilt/telescopic operations. The motor driven steering column system includes a driving motor generating rotational force for tilt/telescopic operations by receiving battery power according to a control signal of a mode control switch, an ECU selectively transferring the rotational force of the driving motor by determining the tilt/telescopic modes according to the control signal of the mode control switch, and a power switching unit controlled by the ECU for operating the motor driven steering column system in a selected mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jun Yong Min