Patents Examined by Vinh Luong
  • Patent number: 11738825
    Abstract: A power pedal is provided, including: a shaft, including a first end configured to be assembled to a bicycle crank, a second end and a connection section connected between the first end and the second end, the connection section including a strain sensing module; a pedal body, connected to the second end; a power sensor, including a processing module and a shell member, the processing module being disposed on an outer circumferential wall of the connection section, the processing module including a processing unit and a wireless transmission unit electrically connected to each other, the processing unit being electrically connected to the strain sensing module, the shell member being disposed on the connection section and encompassing the processing module, the shell member including a receiving room, the receiving room being configured to receive a battery which is replaceable and electrically connected to the processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: WELLGO PEDAL'S CORP.
    Inventor: Chun-Rong Chen
  • Patent number: 11732798
    Abstract: A transmission case having a storage area inside for an assembling member, includes a first opening in the storage area; a seating portion provided in the storage area and on which the assembling member inserted from an opening direction of the first opening is to be seated; and a mirror-finished portion allowing an opposite portion of the assembling member facing the seating portion to be visually recognized when the assembling member is being inserted to the first opening from the opening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Itou, Aya Nakata
  • Patent number: 11731727
    Abstract: The bicycle stem structure includes a mounting seat, a housing, and a vertical pipe. The housing includes a first connecting member extending toward a front wheel and a second connecting member extending toward a rear wheel. The vertical pipe is located in the first through hole. The vertical pipe is spaced apart from an inner wall of the first through hole and forms an annular cavity in communication with the second through hole. The vertical pipe is provided with a third through hole along an axial direction thereof. The mounting seat is connected to the vertical pipe and provided with at least two cable through holes through which cables are passed. At least one cable through hole is in communication with the third through hole, and at least one cable through hole is in communication with the annular cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN COOGHI FUNKIDS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jun Zhang
  • Patent number: 11724768
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device comprises a base member, a brake operating member, an additional operating member, an electrical switch, and a wireless communication unit. The brake operating member is movably coupled to the base member. The additional operating member is movably coupled to the brake operating member. The electrical switch is to provide an electric signal in response to a movement of the additional operating member. The electrical switch is disposed at the additional operating member. The wireless communication unit is connected to the electrical switch to transmit a wireless signal based on the electric signal. The wireless communication unit is disposed at one of the base member and the brake operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi Komatsu, Takehiko Nakajima, Takafumi Nishino
  • Patent number: 11724770
    Abstract: A cycling footwear cleat for connection to a receiving portion of a pedal is shown. The pedal includes a mounting shaft to which the receiving portion of the pedal is rotatably mounted. The cleat including: a mount for mounting the cleat to an underside of cycling footwear; an attachment portion for receipt by the receiving portion of the pedal; and a resilient member provided between the attachment portion and the receiving portion when the pedal is attached to the cleat. The resilient member resists movement of the attachment portion relative to the receiving portion. The resilient member improves a cyclist's pedalling efficiency, as well as allowing for variable float of the cleat within the pedal as and when required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: KF CYCLING PTY LTD
    Inventors: Michael Craig Fouche, Antoni Ryszard Kowalewski
  • Patent number: 11725720
    Abstract: In a transmission case, a pattern exerting a water repellent effect is provided around a connection portion for a connection with an electrical component. A water passage is provided on an upper surface of an outer peripheral surface of the transmission case. A drain portion is provided on a downstream side of the water passage. The drain portion is a through hole provided in the transmission case, the through hole connecting with the water passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Itou, Aya Nakata
  • Patent number: 11718366
    Abstract: A pedal for bicycles comprising: a pedal-pin which extends along a reference axis, a pedal-body that comprises a hub coupled in a freely rotatable manner on the pedal-pin, an electronic measurement circuit firmly coupled to the pedal-pin to provide electrical measurement signals indicative of the deformation of the pedal-pin, a mechanical clamping member comprising: a first clamping element which is arranged on the pedal-pin to rotate around the reference axis and is positioned in abutment against a shoulder of the pedal-pin in order to be axially clamped along said axis), and a second clamping element that firmly couples the hub to the first clamping element so that the hub is axially clamped to the pedal-pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: FAVERO ELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Gino Favero
  • Patent number: 11713094
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a pedal for use on a device such as a bicycle or stationary bicycle are provided. A pedal may include a pedal body member having an internal cavity. The pedal may include an axle having a shaft adapted to extend into the internal cavity. The pedal body member may be adapted for transverse or side-to-side rotatable movement relative to a longitudinal axis of the axle shaft. The pedal body member may be self-centering and include one or more springs (such as coil, leaf, cantilever, torsion, etc., for example) to apply force to move the pedal body member toward a home or resting position relative to the axle shaft. The pedal may be adapted so that the user's foot can be placed on either a top surface or a bottom surface of the pedal body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventor: Kenneth Belknap
  • Patent number: 11702169
    Abstract: A hydraulic operating device is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The hydraulic operating device basically includes a base, an operating member and a handlebar mounting structure. The base includes a cylinder bore defining a cylinder axis. The operating member is pivotally coupled to the base about a pivot axis between a rest position and an operated position. The handlebar mounting structure is coupled to the base. The handlebar mounting structure defines a handlebar mounting axis that extends linearly along a handlebar in a mounted state. The cylinder axis is inclined towards the handlebar mounting axis as the cylinder bore extends away from the pivot axis as viewed in a pivot axis direction parallel to the pivot axis. The pivot axis is located in an area between the cylinder axis and the handlebar mounting axis as viewed in the pivot axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kosaka, Yusuke Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 11691692
    Abstract: A crank arm for a bicycle may include a body extending along a body axis and having a first body end and a second body end axially spaced apart from the first body end. The insert may also include an insert provided toward the first body end. The insert may include a base portion having a radially outer surface. At least one extension may extend outwardly from the radially outer surface and may be encased within a corresponding recess in the body whereby relative planar movement between the body and the at least one extension in a first plane. The retaining portion may have a retaining portion width measured in the first direction and the retaining width may be greater than the throat width thereby inhibiting relative radial movement between the at least one extension and the recess and preventing radial extraction of the extension from the corresponding recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Staples, Paul Sidlick
  • Patent number: 11691512
    Abstract: Brake adjustment dials, systems, and components adjust the brake bias in a vehicle. In one example, a brake bias adjustment dial includes an electronic display, an adjustment mechanism that transfers rotational torque to a shaft, and a rotation prevention feature that compensates the rotation of the adjustment mechanism to maintain the image displayed on the electronic display in a substantially fixed orientation with respect to a mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventor: James Tamati Holder
  • Patent number: 11679837
    Abstract: An integrally formed bearing free pedal includes a central axle and a pedal body. The pedal body has a rotation axis, and is provided with an axle bore formed along the rotation axis. The central axle has an installation portion and an opposite combination portion. The central axle and the pedal body are integrally molded. The combination portion is disposed in the axle bore. A rotation gap is formed between the periphery of the central axle and the axle bore, so as to allow the central axle to rotate with respect to the pedal body along the rotation axis. Thus, the pedal has no bearings and other related components, so as to be structurally simple, and the manufacturing cost is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: VP COMPONENTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wen-Hwa Lin
  • Patent number: 11673624
    Abstract: A cable clamping mechanism for a bicycle comprises a linkage member, a fixing screw, a nut and a linkage cable. The linkage member includes a first surface and a second surface. A through hole on the linkage member passes through the first surface and the second surface. The fixing screw is provided in the through hole and includes a cable hole passing through a radial direction of the fixing screw, where in the cable hole is on a side of the second surface. The nut joints a bottom end of the fixing screw. The linkage cable passes through the cable hole. The nut presses against the linkage cable so as to clamp the linkage cable in the cable hole. the fixing screw is rotatable within the through hole relative to the linkage member so that the linkage cable can also simultaneously rotate relative to the linkage member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SUN RACE STURMEY-ARCHER INC.
    Inventor: Jhen-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 11668382
    Abstract: A differential assembly is disclosed herein. The differential assembly includes a case, a weld ring and a ring gear. The ring gear and case may comprise dissimilar materials. The case may be overmolded onto the weld ring. The weld ring may be welded to the ring gear such that the ring gear is attached to the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: METALDYNE, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Fredrick Broker, Carl A. Koerschner, Adam Turner, Hosam Z. Abdu, Charles V. Rupert, II, Cory J. Padfield
  • Patent number: 11661136
    Abstract: A foldable pedal includes a connection member, a shaft, a pedal body, and an engagement device. The connection member includes a first and a second connection ends along a first axis. The shaft includes a first and a second ends. The first end is pivotally connected with the second connection end along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, so that the shaft pivots with respect to the connection member. The pedal body includes a shaft bore receiving the second end. The engagement device is on the connection member and switches between engagement and release positions. At the engagement position, the engagement device is engaged with the first end, and the shaft is coaxial with the first axis. At the release position, the pedal body is foldable to the crank, preventing direct effect of pedaling force and reducing distance between the pedal and the crank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: VP COMPONENTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wen-Hwa Lin
  • Patent number: 11644063
    Abstract: An improved crankshaft for an internal combustion engine with a self-pumping feature for oil to lubricate the rod bearing journals. Leading faces of the lobes carrying the rod bearing journals contain funnel ports to gather oil as the crankshaft rotates about its axis of rotation. The funnel ports are fluidly connected to an internal passageway within the crankpin. Outlet ports oriented radially inwards and outwards from the internal passageway allow the oil to flow into the space between the crankpin and the rod bearing. In this way, as the crankshaft rotates within the crank housing, oil captured by the funnel ports flows through the internal passageway and through the outlet ports so as to lubricate the rod bearing around the crankpin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Christopher L. Gamble
  • Patent number: 11630474
    Abstract: A split calibration knob can include a lower knob with a lower-knob attachment interface and an upper knob with an upper-knob attachment interface configured to be engaged with the lower-knob attachment interface. One of the lower-knob attachment interface and the upper-knob attachment interface can include a tube with a first press-fit feature and a first positioning feature positioned on the tube. The other of the lower-knob attachment interface and the upper-knob attachment interface can include a hub having an outward facing surface, a second press-fit feature configured to be engaged with the first press-fit feature to secure the upper knob to the lower knob, and a second positioning feature configured to be engaged with the first positioning feature to fix an orientation of the upper knob relative to the lower knob, thereby linking rotation of the lower knob to the rotation of the upper knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Rahel von Arx, Fabian Ballat, Markus Bachmann, Thomas Strebel Marzano
  • Patent number: 11623713
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle includes a crank axle, a first rotational body, a wheel, a second rotational body, a transmission body that transmits a driving force between the first rotational body and the second rotational body, a derailleur configured to operate the transmission body to change a transmission ratio, and a motor configured to drive the transmission body. A control device has an electronic controller configured to control the motor and drive the transmission body with the motor upon determining the derailleur has been actuated to change the transmission ratio and a predetermined condition related to pedaling is satisfied, and control the motor to increase a rotational speed of the motor as a difference of a first rotational speed, which is calculated in correspondence with a rotational speed of the wheel and the transmission ratio, and a predetermined rotational speed or a rotational speed in a predetermined range increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Hayato Shimazu, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 11618528
    Abstract: A piston assembly is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The piston assembly includes a main body and a primary seal. The main body is configured to be movable from a rest position to an actuated position along an actuation direction in a cylinder bore. The primary seal includes a primary seal body arranged on the main body. The primary seal body is made of a resin material. The primary seal body has a primary lip portion configured to be in contact with the cylinder bore in an arranged state where the piston assembly is arranged in the cylinder bore. The primary seal further includes a biasing part configured to be in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the main body to outwardly bias the primary lip portion of the primary seal body in the arranged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kohei Obuchi, Yasuyuki Komada, Nobuyoshi Fujii
  • Patent number: 11618529
    Abstract: A lever system using a linkage assembly creates linear movement from a rotational movement of a lever. The lever system may be arranged as a grip assembly to activate a braking system of a vehicle. The linkage assembly may include a slide linkage, a bearing linkage, and a pivot linkage such that the lever may cause an end of the bearing linkage and an end of the pivot linkage to move toward the slide linkage, which causes the slide linkage to move in a linear direction. The grip assembly may have a lever that is pivotally connected with a housing of the grip assembly at a predetermined distance and with a contact region to prevent rotational movement in one direction while allowing rotational movement in the opposite direction. Further, the grip assembly may include a bearing linkage that is pivotally connected to the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Dextera Brakes, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Vorhies, John Doane Nichols, III, Nathaniel Bartholomew Egging, Scott Miller Padiak