Patents by Inventor Barnabas LeBlanc

Barnabas LeBlanc has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220250715
    Abstract: Conveyance vehicles such as snow bikes and snowmobiles having an endless track system driven by a combustion engine are enhanced in performance with a torque assist system. The torque assist system includes an electric motor that is coupled to drive the track in parallel with the original internal combustion engine through either its own track drive, or through the drive system of the engine. The motor can be a spindle drive motor or hub motor. Torque assist is generated through a torque assist throttle input coupled to a motor controller. A battery temperature assist system diverts heated cooling fluid from the engine cooling system to heat the battery through its own heat exchanger. The controller is coupled to a processing device such as a smart phone that executes apps configured to provide parametric data to the controller and to receive parametric data from the controller through a user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventor: Barnabas LeBlanc
  • Patent number: 10597117
    Abstract: A snow bike includes a lightweight engine and transmission to power an endless drive belt (track) around a suspension under the rear of the frame. A unique aspect of the snow bike is that the front/rear weight distribution places less load on the ski and more load on the track, thereby providing lighter steering forces and increased track traction. The snow bike is steered by a fork mounted to a tubular/sheet frame that pivots around an axis and is connected to a ski. The drivetrain directly links the transmission to the track drive wheel, thereby powering the endless track. The centerline of the transmission drive shaft falls to the aft of the drive wheel of the track. This, combined with how the forward track suspension is attached, allows the mass of the track assembly to be more centralized, positioning the center of gravity of the bike nearer to the rider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Inventor: Barnabas LeBlanc
  • Publication number: 20190118904
    Abstract: A snow bike includes a lightweight engine and transmission to power an endless drive belt (track) around a suspension under the rear of the frame. A unique aspect of the snow bike is that the front/rear weight distribution places less load on the ski and more load on the track, thereby providing lighter steering forces and increased track traction. The snow bike is steered by a fork mounted to a tubular/sheet frame that pivots around an axis and is connected to a ski. The drivetrain directly links the transmission to the track drive wheel, thereby powering the endless track. The centerline of the transmission drive shaft falls to the aft of the drive wheel of the track. This, combined with how the forward track suspension is attached, allows the mass of the track assembly to be more centralized, positioning the center of gravity of the bike nearer to the rider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventor: Barnabas LeBlanc