Patents Examined by Vinh T. Luong
  • Patent number: 7360470
    Abstract: A bicycle crank comprises a mixture of aluminum and chromoly. The spine comprises chromoly, which serves as a backbone to the crank arm and thereby provides added strength. The body comprises aluminum, which reduces the crank arm weight. The body can therefore be thinner and lighter with the added support provided by the steel spine. In another embodiment the crank arm includes a spine having a crank boss and a spindle boss at opposed ends that are integrally formed with the crank arm. An outer shell includes an elongated member having an inner face having an outer perimeter with a shape approximately coincident with an outer perimeter of the spine The inner face is recessed to admit a portion of the spine and has crank and spindle boss apertures extending through to an outer face. The outer perimeters of the outer shell and the spine are joined together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: American Mentality, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald J. Bonner
  • Patent number: 7357051
    Abstract: A ratchet-type adjustment device for the ratcheting displacement of an adjustment body with respect to a fixed base element having an oblong actuating element, where the actuating element can be displaced along linear toothed portions, which are fitted to the adjustment body on either side of the actuating element, and latched into the first linear toothed portion, acting as driving toothed portion, by first ratchet elements, the adjustment device furthermore comprising at least two second ratchet elements mounted pivotably on the fixed base element, which ratchet elements can be latched into the second linear toothed portion, acting as blocking and braking toothed portion, to block a displacement movement of the adjustment body with respect to the fixed base element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventor: Holger Raum
  • Patent number: 7353733
    Abstract: A transmission apparatus for an automobile or the like includes: a transmission gear mechanism including, therein, a speed-reducing small gear at an axial one side of an intermediate shaft; a final driving mechanism including, therein, a speed-reducing large gear at an axial one side of an axle; a casing including: a first chamber; a second chamber; a first inner surface; a second inner surface; and a case rib; and a wall which is positioned between the first inner surface and the end surface of the speed-reducing large gear that faces the first inner surface; the wall including: a lower portion; and an edge portion, and the wall covering, at a short distance away, the end surface of the speed-reducing large gear that faces the first inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Aisin Ai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Suzuki, Yasuhisa Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7353730
    Abstract: A foot depressing parking brake apparatus including a brake pedal main body 3 pivotably supported by a support shaft 2, a ratchet plate 4 having ratchet teeth 4b and attached to the brake pedal main body 3, a ratchet pole 6 rotatably attached to a pivot pin 5 and constituting a shaft hole inserted with the pivot pin 5 by a long hole 7, and a toggle spring 10 for exerting a turning force to the ratchet pole 6, wherein a brake operating state in which a claw portion 6a of the ratchet pole 6 is brought in mesh with the ratchet teeth 4b of the ratchet plate 4 and a brake releasing state in which the meshing is released are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Fujioka, Masateru Momozu, Takayuki Kato
  • Patent number: 7353728
    Abstract: A conduit end fitting includes a length of conduit having a core wire extending therethrough and a fitting at an end of the length of conduit. An abutment is rotatably secured to the fitting and has an exterior groove configured to be seated on a substantially U-shaped bracket and a central aperture extending therethrough. A swivel guide tube has an aperture through which the core wire extends and extends through the central aperture of the abutment. A flexible joint member secures one end of the swivel guide tube to the abutment such that the swivel guide tube is rotationally fixed with respect to the abutment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory P. Ruhlander, David A. Choby
  • Patent number: 7347122
    Abstract: A filtering device is provided for filtering vibrations transmitted by a rotating engine component (11) adapted to drive in rotation an output shaft (19), which device comprises a drive shaft damper (20) tuned at a frequency substantially locked within a range of frequencies to be damped: electromagnetic modulating systems (23) are designed to adapt the frequency of the damper (20) to the frequency of the vibrations transmitted by the rotary component (11). Moreover, a transmission is provided for motor vehicle comprising a drive shaft (11), linked to a rotary component formed by the motor vehicle engine crankshaft, an output shaft (19) linked to the drive shaft releasable via a clutch, a gearbox (50), the output shaft (19) being the input shaft of the gearbox (50), a filtering device being provided for filtering vibrations emitted, hence transmitted, by the rotary component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventor: Jacques Clausin
  • Patent number: 7340976
    Abstract: A bicycle cable seal fitting seals a portion of an inner wire that is connected to a cable-operated device casing. The bicycle cable seal fitting includes a mounting member and an elastic seal member. The mounting member has a fastening portion to be fastened to the casing, and an inner wire guiding passage with a funnel shaped section that widens as it extends towards the fastening portion. The seal member includes an attaching portion, and a seal portion forming a sealing passage that communicates with the inner wire guiding passage. The seal portion includes a first section with a first width and a second section with a second width that is smaller than the first width of the first section to contact an outside surface of the inner wire passing therethrough. The first section is disposed between the funnel shaped section and the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Toshio Tetsuka
  • Patent number: 7337693
    Abstract: An actuating lever (1), in particular for adjusting a vehicle seat, has an axle receptacle (2), an articulation device (4) for force delivery and a grip piece (3). The actuating lever (1) is manufactured in one piece from plastic, a core (5) which comprises the axle receptacle (2) and the articulation device (4) is manufactured from a material having higher strength than the grip piece (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Wolff, Johann-Georg Werner
  • Patent number: 7334500
    Abstract: A pedal crank includes a crank arm having a hole formed in one end to receive one end of a crank shaft which may be rotatably attached to a bicycle frame. An expanding device may be engaged in the end of the crank shaft for expanding the crank shaft to engage with the crank arm, and to solidly secure the crank shaft to the crank arm. The crank arm and the crank shaft may include knurled surfaces for solidly engaged with each other. The expanding device includes a locking member engaged into the crank shaft and having an inclined outer peripheral surface for engaging with the crank shaft, and for expanding the crank shaft when the locking member is moved relative to the crank shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventor: Leon Tseng
  • Patent number: 7322260
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly has a cleat releasably coupled to a pedal by a cleat engagement mechanism formed on an upper surface of its pedal body. The pedal body has a front end configured and arranged to include a sole guide portion that assists the rider in rotating the pedal body about its pedal shaft. In one embodiment, the sole guide portion is formed by a first concaved sole receiving recess located in a tip surface of the pedal body and a second concaved sole receiving recess located on the upper surface of the pedal body adjacent to the tip surface. Alternatively, the concaved sole receiving recesses can be replaced with either a pair of laterally spaced projections located on at the front end of the pedal body, or a V-shaped tip surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Muraoka, Tomohiko Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7305905
    Abstract: A rotatable member is adapted for dynamic balancing by the addition of balancing weights in the form of high speed projectiles fired at the member during rotation in timed relationship with the rotation of the member so as to impact the member at specific circumaxial locations required for balancing the member. The member has an annular groove for receiving the projectiles and securing the same at the desired locations. The groove has a cross sectional configuration slightly smaller than that of the projectile in at least one direction of measurement so as to engage and capture the projectile in retention in the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: The Bergquist Torrington Company
    Inventors: Drew M. Rocky, Russel H. Marvin, John F. O'Connor, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7299714
    Abstract: A telescoping lever arm comprises a tube and a rod. The tube has an opening at one end thereof and has an inner circumferential dimension along the inside thereof. The opening is smaller than the inner circumferential dimension of the tube. The rod has an outer circumferential dimension that is smaller than that of the tube's opening. The rod resides partially in the tube and extends therefrom via the tube's opening. At least one annular flange is coupled to the rod at a portion thereof residing in the tube. Each such annular flange is defined by a circumferential dimension that is larger than that of the tube's opening and smaller than the inner circumferential dimension of the tube. The other end of the tube is configured to be coupled to a workpiece or an adapter that can be coupled to a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Richard Jermyn
  • Patent number: 7284460
    Abstract: A weight 4 which is held by a weight holder 3 in a balancer has a pressing face 4b? which is pressed against a guide face 12a provided along the circumferential direction of rotation of the weight holder 3 by centrifugal force generated by rotation of a rotary body. When the rotary body rotates, the weight 4 which is pressed against the guide face 12a via the pressing face 4b? changes its position relative to the rotary body in the circumferential direction of rotation, whereby the weight 4 is disposed in a position in which it suppresses whirling motion of the rotary body. The guide face 12a and pressing face 4b? are inclined relative to the axial direction of rotation so as to tend to outward side in the diametrical direction of rotation as tending to one side in the axial direction of rotation. The weight 4 is pressed against a receiving portion 7a? by component of the centrifugal force, in which the component acts along the guide face 12a and pressing face 4b?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Akazawa Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7281449
    Abstract: To provide a connecting rod assembly and a bearing-equipped connecting rod both manufacturable easily and inexpensively, a connecting rod assembly 2 includes a plurality of separate rod segments 3A and 3B each having a big end portion 3a, a small end portion 3b and a shank portion 3c intervening between the big and small end portions 3a and 3b. The separate rod segments 3A and 3B are laminated together to provide a laminated rod structure 3, and a ring member 5 is press-fitted to each of the big and small end portions 3a and 3b of the respective separate rod segments 3A and 3B forming the laminated rod structure 3 to thereby integrate the separate rod segments 3A and 3B together. The ring member 5 defines an outer race of, for example, a shell type bearing 4 and this shell type bearing 4 is press-fitted in the big and small end portions 3a and 3b of the laminated rod structure 3 to thereby provide a bearing-equipped connecting rod 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Harimoto, Masahiko Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7275460
    Abstract: A rotary indexing device for use in a group of treatment stations, includes at least one respective tensioning device for exchangeable tool holders disposed in a treatment zone. The rotary indexing machine has a rotary indexing unit with a lift-and-turn device on which support elements for tool holders are disposed. The lift-and-turn device of the rotary indexing unit is provided with a piston rod on which a first coupling element is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner. The first coupling element can be engaged with a further coupling element disposed above it by the lift stroke of the piston rod. The coupling element encloses the piston rod and is driven by a motor. The piston rod is rotationally fixed during the lift stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: WEMA Vogtland GmbH
    Inventor: Albert Gunter
  • Patent number: 7267030
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket crank assembly is comprised of first and second crank arms joined to a spindle. One of the crank arms and the spindle may be fabricated as a unitary structure, or both cranks arms may be formed as separate structures and joined together. In either case the spindle has at least a first coupling end with an internally tapped axial bore defined therein and the second crank arm forms at least a first socket at its axle end. At least a first wedging sleeve is provided and is disposed about the first coupling end of the spindle. The first wedging sleeve conforms to the shapes of both the first coupling end of the spindle and the hollow cavity in the first socket. Either the coupling end of the spindle or the hollow cavity is axially tapered, and the wedging sleeve is tapered to match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Bear Corporation
    Inventor: George French
  • Patent number: 7263915
    Abstract: A turret includes a central shaft, a piston sleeve positioned around the central shaft and having moving sticks thereon, a push rod, an actuating seat, and internal and external turrets; the piston sleeve is left and right movable by a power source; the moving sticks are passed through a ringed sleeve, which props a push rod passed through a fixed clutch claw, and facing the actuating seat; the actuating seat includes a rotary shaft, a pivotal shaft, and a toothed ring seat; the piston sleeve can be moved such that the moving sticks and the push rod move forwards, and the rotary shaft engages the toothed ring seat for a tool of a straight tool seat to function; alternatively the piston sleeve can be moved such that the moving sticks and the push rod move backwards, and the rotary shaft disengages the toothed ring seat for allowing replacement of the toothed ring seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Far East Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yung-Hsiang Lu
  • Patent number: 7258043
    Abstract: A gearbox housing with at least one first upper housing piece and a second lower housing piece, which may be detachably connected to each other. The gearbox housing has upper and lower housing pieces that are partially detachably connected to each other, with at least one rotating jointed connection between the upper housing piece and the lower housing piece, which are each arranged on a side described by the housing pieces in a view of the connection plane described by the profile and permitting a theoretical pivoting axis for pivoting the housing pieces relative to each other while maintaining the connection between the components. A catch is provided on the sides free of the rotating jointed connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Voith Turbo GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Tillmann Körner, Martin Nitsche, Hans-Peter Eubler
  • Patent number: 7258042
    Abstract: The pedal comprises a pedal body (2) mounted rotatably on a pedal axle (3) and provided with a retainer (7 to 10) of an engagement member fixed below a bicycle shoe, the retainer (7 to 10) comprising a first pair of arches (7, 8) mounted fixedly and a second pair of arches (9, 10) mounted pivoting between the fixed arches (7, 8). A resilient return (12, 13) acts on the pivoting arches (9, 10) to urge them toward a position of retaining the engagement member between a fixed arch (7, 8) and a pivoting arch (9, 10) following relative angular spacing apart of these latter by said engagement member against the action of the resilient return (12, 13). The pivotal axis of each pivoting arch (9, 10) is eccentric to the axis of rotation (A-A) of the pedal axle (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Look Cycle International
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Couturet, Frédéric Roudergues
  • Patent number: 7255020
    Abstract: A plunger with interchangeable handle system for machine tools. The plunger includes a shank adapted to engage a machine tool and having a retractable plunger and a threaded adapter, the interchangeable handle system includes a plurality of knobs, each having a discrete shape differing from the others and a socket to receive the threaded adapter of the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Northwestern Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Thomeczek, Thomas A. Thomeczek, Scott R. Williamson