Patents by Inventor Ben Hodge

Ben Hodge 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).

  • Patent number: 7631885
    Abstract: A motorcycle including a frame, an engine mounted to the frame, and a stand movable between an extended position in which the stand supports the motorcycle and a retracted position. The motorcycle includes a sensor operable to generate a stand signal indicative of at least one of the extended and retracted positions of the side stand and a controller electrically coupled to the sensor to receive the stand signal. The controller is programmed for preventing operation of the engine based on the stand signal during a first operating condition of the motorcycle and is further programmed to allow running of the engine during a second operating condition of the motorcycle, regardless of the stand signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, LLC
    Inventors: David Safarik, Ben Hodge, Frank Molinaro
  • Publication number: 20080252041
    Abstract: A motorcycle including a frame, an engine mounted to the frame, and a stand movable between an extended position in which the stand supports the motorcycle and a retracted position. The motorcycle includes a sensor operable to generate a stand signal indicative of at least one of the extended and retracted positions of the side stand and a controller electrically coupled to the sensor to receive the stand signal. The controller is programmed for preventing operation of the engine based on the stand signal during a first operating condition of the motorcycle and is further programmed to allow running of the engine during a second operating condition of the motorcycle, regardless of the stand signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: David Safarik, Ben Hodge, Frank Molinaro