Patents Examined by Vinh T. Luong
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Patent number: 7946193Abstract: An multi-piece foot peg for use with power sport vehicles such as motorcycles and ATVs is provided that, in one embodiment, includes a base that attaches to the frame of the vehicle and a cleat member that attaches to the base wherein the cleat member may be replaced without replacing the entire foot peg thereby enabling economical replacement of worn cleats and enabling the adjustment of foot peg height and aggressiveness of the cleats. The base is configured to define an opening between two sub-components that extend away from the frame of the vehicle. The cleat member includes cleats and at least one opening between the cleats positioned to facilitate the passage of debris through the opening in the cleat member and through the opening in the base such that debris will not build up on the upper surface of the cleat member.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2006Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Ed Tucker Distributor, Inc.Inventor: Brad Smith
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Patent number: 7946196Abstract: Rotation and positioning of a rotary index table supported from a base is effected using a cam supported from a conveyor and cam follower lock, with the conveyor and cam follower lock being mounted on a carriage set for radial movement on the base inwardly and outwardly with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotary index table, and a plurality of cam followers depending from the rotary index table.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2006Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Adaptek Systems, IncInventors: Joseph G. DePrisco, Michael D. Rudd, Matthew Lawrence
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Patent number: 7946191Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a vehicle speed sensor outputting a vehicle speed signal, an accelerator pedal, and a switch that generates a signal corresponding to at least one predetermined speed and a selected mode. An engine management system receives the signals from the vehicle speed sensor and the switch. A pedal control unit receives the vehicle speed signal and the switch signal, and outputs a control signal if a vehicle speed exceeds the predetermined speed. A reaction device is physically attached to the accelerator pedal and electrically connected to the pedal control unit. The reaction device applies force to the accelerator pedal based on the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2007Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Hangil Park
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Patent number: 7942077Abstract: A handlebar assembly for a bicycle includes a handlebar tube, a sleeve, a clamping member and an end cap. Thus, the clamping plate of the end cap is clamped between any two of the clamping member, an end portion of the sleeve and an outer wall of the handlebar tube without obstructing the contact space between the clamping member and the outer wall of the handlebar tube so that the clamping member can directly clamp the handlebar tube completely or indirectly clamp the handlebar tube locally through the clamping plate of the end cap, thereby enhancing the clamping effect of the handlebar assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2007Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Bikeforce International Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ching-Chuan Lai
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Patent number: 7934439Abstract: A steering wheel comprises a rim connected to spokes. A covering material is provided to enclose at least a portion of the rim and/or the spokes. The covering material includes an outer cover and a light element positioned under the outer cover. The light element is configured to emit light through at least a portion of the outer cover. The light element is positioned over a casing that is provided to give shape to the steering wheel so that a vehicle driver may easily grasp the steering wheel. The light element may provide continuous, pulsed, or non-continuous lighting.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2006Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventor: William E. Bostick
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Patent number: 7921749Abstract: A case includes an assembling hole portion and a snap ring preassembled hereto. When fixing a bearing to the case, a first distance between both ends of the snap ring can be expanded within the assembling hole portion. The bearing is used for supporting a rotational shaft of the case. The assembling hole portion includes dual hole portions, which open at respective positions where the both ends of the snap ring can be expanded within the dual hole portions.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignees: Aisin AI Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koji Wakabayashi, Daisuke Saito, Yoshiyuki Aoyama, Satoshi Munakata
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Patent number: 7908941Abstract: A steering wheel has a ring portion, spoke portions and a hub portion. The steering wheel is provided with a thermoelectric reversible heat pump to heat or cool a fluid. A closed hydraulic circuit includes a hydraulic pump and at least one duct extending along the ring portion of the steering wheel. The fluid is heated or cooled by the thermoelectric heat pump and is circulated by the hydraulic pump within the ring portion of the steering wheel to heat or cool the ring portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2004Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Lorenzo Menaldo, Giuseppe Testa, Alberto Muscio, Stefano Soragni
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Patent number: 7908939Abstract: An accelerator pedal which has a housing; a foot plate coupled hingedly with the housing; a pedal arm; a carrier that penetrates the housing to connect the foot plate and the pedal arm; a compression spring to apply restoring force to the carrier; and a cover. The accelerator pedal has a plate coupling part that extends from a body of the housing. The foot plate has a first end is inserted into a coupling hole of the plate coupling part and is coupled hingedly with the housing. The compression spring is disposed between a lower side of the body of the housing and the carrier.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2006Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Donghee Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kyung Min Kim, Kwang Hyuck Lee, Yong Hwan Mo
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Patent number: 7905159Abstract: A torsional vibration damper having a hub carrying a radially projecting flange and an annular inertia mass defining an annular channel encompassing the radially projecting flange and an elastomeric member. An annular compression ring is attached to the opening of the annular channel to axially compress and extrude the elastomeric member to fill the annular channel around the radial flange within the inertia ring. Projections defining an intermittent annular inner rim of the inertia mass extend through openings between the spokes of the hub and cooperate with an annular outer rim of the inertia mass to retain the compression ring.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2006Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Metavation, LLCInventors: Suhale Manzoor, Bruce Christenson
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Patent number: 7905158Abstract: The described actuation device comprises a housing, intended for attachment to the handlebars or to the frame of a bicycle, a cable-winding bobbin, angularly mobile in the housing about a main axis (X) of the device, and support means of the bobbin in the housing. Such support means comprise a first support unit at an outer guide collar of the cable-winding bobbin, situated in an intermediate position of the bobbin in the direction of the main axis (X) of the device. An excellent distribution of the stresses between the bobbin and the housing is thus ensured, substantially reducing the risks of excessive deformation and breaking.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2005Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.L.Inventors: Giuseppe Dal Pra, Andrea De Pretto
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Patent number: 7895916Abstract: A vehicular operating device includes a lever movably attachable at one end to a housing such as a steering column such that the lever is pivotable relative to the housing between different positions. A connector connectable to the housing is adjacent to the first end of the lever and is in communication with the hollow body of the lever. A catch line having first and second ends runs through the hollow body of the lever with the first end of the catch line being connected to the connector and the second end of the catch line being connected to the second end of the lever. Upon the lever breaking, the catch line secures the lever to the connector as the catch line is connected to both of the second end of the lever and the connector to thereby prevent the lever from breaking away from the housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2009Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co., KGInventors: Knut Moldenhauer, Werner Volmer
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Patent number: 7891270Abstract: A grip includes a grip body to be fitted on a mounting portion. The grip body includes an inner piece, an outer casing mounted on the inner piece, and a resin member fitted on the inner piece so as to be exposed through an opening, such as a hole or a cutout provided in the outer casing. The resin member is inserted in the outer casing so as to be partly exposed through the opening, and the inner piece is then inserted in the resin member fitted in the outer casing.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2005Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Honda Access Corp.Inventor: Yumiko Higashi
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Patent number: 7878089Abstract: A trigger shifter for operating a bicycle gear change device that includes a housing mountable to handlebar, a cable spool for pulling and releasing a control cable connected to the gear change device, a pull lever mechanism and a release lever mechanism. The pull lever mechanism includes a pull lever rotatable about a first axis defining a first plane of motion perpendicular to the first axis. The release lever mechanism includes a release lever rotatable about a second axis defining a second plane of motion perpendicular to the second axis. The first and second planes of motion form an angle therebetween in the range of 20 to 70 degrees.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2005Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: SRAM Deutschland GmbHInventors: Scott McLaughlin, Martin Weiss, Robert Bohm
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Patent number: 7874230Abstract: A lockable handle assembly, having an operating handle rotatably mounted on a frame, with a bore therein, having an axis extending laterally, a blocking bolt slideably mounted in the handle, one end of the bolt being slideable into a strike in the frame, a drum rotatably mounted in the bore, with a second end of the bolt in contact with the drum so that rotation of the drum moves the bolt into and out of the strike, a lateral hole through the handle and passing through the bore, the drum having a throughhole therein coaxial with the lateral hole in the handle when the drum is positioned with the bolt in the strike, so that a bar extending through both the throughhole in the drum and the lateral hole in the handle prevents rotation of the drum to maintain the bolt is the strike thereby preventing rotation of the handle.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2006Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SASInventor: Patrick Maquet
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Patent number: 7870810Abstract: A rotary knob for an electrical system includes a body containing a rotary maneuvering member which actuates a cam-driving part and bears one or more electrical units. A cup is defined between an outer cylindrical flange of the body and an inner cylindrical sleeve, and contains a spring either of a helical type for urging a sliding ring separate from the driving part, or of a torsion type to return the maneuvering member. The ring provides a sensitivity function. The cylindrical sleeve defines in a central opening thereof a centering seat of the shank of the maneuvering member.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2005Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SASInventors: Hugues Da Dalt, Patrice Thizon, Bertrand Fruchard
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Patent number: 7856905Abstract: A pedal for a bicycle includes pedal body, and at least one locking hook unit detachably mounted on the pedal body. The locking hook unit includes a fixing hook and a movable hook. Thus, the locking hook unit is locked onto the pedal body by a plurality of locking bolts to assemble the pedal, so that the pedal is assembled and disassembled easily and quickly, thereby facilitating a user assembling and disassembling the pedal. In addition, the locking hook unit has a hollow inside so that after the locking hook unit is attached to the pedal body, the spindle of the pedal body will not be obstructed by the locking hook unit to prevent the mud from being choked between the locking hook unit and the spindle of the pedal body.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2007Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Inventor: Chin-Long Hsieh
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Patent number: 7856903Abstract: A bicycle crank axle comprises an axle body having first and second end portions, a plurality of first splines disposed at the first end portion of the axle body, a plurality of second splines disposed at the second end portion of the axle body, and a projection extending radially outwardly from the first end portion of the axle body, wherein the projection is structured to abut against a lateral outer surface of a bicycle crank arm to prevent the bicycle crank arm from moving axially outward. A separate projecting member is mounted to the first end of the axle body to form the projection. The plurality of first splines extend radially outwardly from an outer peripheral surface of the axle body for engaging a splined surface of the bicycle crank arm, but the plurality of second splines do not extend radially outwardly relative to the outer peripheral surface of the axle body.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2006Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventors: Masahiro Yamanaka, Etsuyoshi Watarai
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Patent number: 7856904Abstract: A multi-function pedal includes a body, wherein a pivot hole is disposed in the center for connection to the crank of a bicycle; a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is sloping at a predetermined gradient while the second surface is approximately parallel to the body. The first surface includes a first pedal set for a road-racing purpose and the second surface includes a second pedal set for a cross-racing purpose.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2006Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: VP Components Co., Ltd.Inventor: Wen-Hwa Lin
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Patent number: 7849764Abstract: A bicycle shift operating device includes a mounting member, a shift operating member, a take-up member and a retaining mechanism. The mounting member includes a clamping portion and a cover. The shift operating member is rotatably coupled to the mounting member to move in opposite rotation directions. The take-up member is arranged to selectively pull and release a shift control cable in response to rotation of the shift operating member. The retaining mechanism is arranged to retain the take-up member in a plurality of positions. Preferably, a rotational angle limiting structure includes a first limiting portion formed on the clamping portion and a second limiting portion formed on the shift operating member that selectively engages the first limiting portion to limit rotational movement of the shift operating member. Preferably, the cover has a bush integrally formed with the cover as a one-piece, unitary member.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2006Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Shimano (Singapore) Pte., Ltd.Inventor: Wei Hock Kua
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Patent number: 7849760Abstract: A speed changer is used to control derailleurs using cables from a single rotating handle, the deraileurs being connected respectively to an elastic return element. The speed changer includes at least two cable-maneuvering mechanisms. The mechanism for maneuvering the cable of the rear derailleur, which rotates integrally with the handle, can cause the rear cable to loosen or tighten when the handle is rotated in one direction. The speed changer is characterized in that the rotating assembly, formed by at least one mechanism for maneuvering the rear cable and the handle, can be connected to rotate intermittently with the mechanism for maneuvering the front cable of the front derailleur which, depending on the direction in which the handle is rotated, can cause the front cable of the front derailleur to tighten or loosen.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2004Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: EtceteraInventor: Norbert Rolland