Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Butkiewicz

Christopher J. Butkiewicz 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: 8579063
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a steering head, a steering assembly pivotably coupled to the steering head, at least one longitudinal frame member extending rearwardly from the steering head, and a rear frame member coupled to the longitudinal frame member. The rear frame member includes a mounting portion having a mounting surface, and first and second walls extending from the mounting surface at an oblique angle to the mounting surface. The motorcycle also includes a support coupled to the rear frame member. The support includes a coupling portion having a coupling surface, and first and second walls extending from the coupling surface at an oblique angle to the coupling surface. The first and second walls of the mounting portion are wedged against the first and second walls of the coupling portion, respectively, to substantially prevent rotation of the support with respect to the rear frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brendon Smith, Andrew Holtan, Christopher J. Butkiewicz, Francis Giunta
  • Patent number: 8225972
    Abstract: A luggage rack and passenger seat combination for a motorcycle includes a luggage rack assembly configured to mount to the motorcycle. The luggage rack assembly has a support member operable to support cargo on a support surface thereof, the luggage rack assembly including a first engaging feature and a second engaging feature. A passenger seat assembly includes a movable mounting member and a fixed mounting member. The movable mounting member is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. The movable mounting member is engageable with the first engaging feature and the fixed mounting member is engageable with the second engaging feature to removably couple the passenger seat assembly to the luggage rack assembly to support a passenger of the motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Butkiewicz, Kenneth A. Dietzler, Anthony N. Pink, Steven C. Ausloos
  • Publication number: 20090000845
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a steering head, a steering assembly pivotably coupled to the steering head, at least one longitudinal frame member extending rearwardly from the steering head, and a rear frame member coupled to the longitudinal frame member. The rear frame member includes a mounting portion having a mounting surface, and first and second walls extending from the mounting surface at an oblique angle to the mounting surface. The motorcycle also includes a support coupled to the rear frame member. The support includes a coupling portion having a coupling surface, and first and second walls extending from the coupling surface at an oblique angle to the coupling surface. The first and second walls of the mounting portion are wedged against the first and second walls of the coupling portion, respectively, to substantially prevent rotation of the support with respect to the rear frame member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brendon Smith, Andrew Holtan, Christopher J. Butkiewicz, Francis Giunta
  • Publication number: 20090001113
    Abstract: A luggage rack and passenger seat combination for a motorcycle includes a luggage rack assembly configured to mount to the motorcycle. The luggage rack assembly has a support member operable to support cargo on a support surface thereof, the luggage rack assembly including a first engaging feature and a second engaging feature. A passenger seat assembly includes a movable mounting member and a fixed mounting member. The movable mounting member is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. The movable mounting member is engageable with the first engaging feature and the fixed mounting member is engageable with the second engaging feature to removably couple the passenger seat assembly to the luggage rack assembly to support a passenger of the motorcycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Butkiewicz, Kenneth A. Dietzler, Anthony N. Pink, Steven C. Ausloos
  • Patent number: 6904722
    Abstract: An elongated truss boom structure is adapted to be flattened and coiled to a stowed configuration. The truss boom includes longerons, battens, and diagonals. A fixed ladder shaped structure is formed by a plurality of fixedly coupled battens which interconnect two adjacent longerons. The truss boom is flattened for stowage by arranging all of the longerons coplanar to the plane of the fixed ladder shaped structure. The longerons preferably have a corrugated cross section. For stowage the longeron is heated and compressed into a ribbon shaped cross section, and upon deployment the longeron is heated to restore its corrugated cross section. A mechanical assembly machine includes a drum, a stowed flattened truss boom rolled into a coil around the drum, a device for unrolling the coil, an actuating and locking mechanism, and a control arm which connects the actuating and locking mechanism to the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Michael A. Brown, Christopher J. Butkiewicz
  • Patent number: 6808219
    Abstract: A detachable windshield assembly for a motorcycle including at least one clamp coupled to the windshield. The clamp is securable to the motorcycle in a secured condition and releasable from the motorcycle in an unsecured condition. The clamp includes a linkage movable between first and second positions such that the clamp is in the unsecured condition when the linkage is in the first position and the clamp is in the secured condition when the linkage is in the second position. The linkage has a center position and the clamp is biased toward the unsecured condition when the linkage is over center in a first direction and the clamp is biased toward the secured condition when the linkage is over center in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan N. Barber, Christopher J. Butkiewicz
  • Publication number: 20040183332
    Abstract: A detachable windshield assembly for a motorcycle including at least one clamp coupled to the windshield. The clamp is securable to the motorcycle in a secured condition and releasable from the motorcycle in an unsecured condition. The clamp includes a linkage movable between first and second positions such that the clamp is in the unsecured condition when the linkage is in the first position and the clamp is in the secured condition when the linkage is in the second position. The linkage has a center position and the clamp is biased toward the unsecured condition when the linkage is over center in a first direction and the clamp is biased toward the secured condition when the linkage is over center in the opposite direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan N. Barber, Christopher J. Butkiewicz
  • Patent number: 6736441
    Abstract: A detachable windshield assembly for a motorcycle including at least one clamp coupled to the windshield. The clamp is securable to the motorcycle in a secured condition and releasable from the motorcycle in an unsecured condition. The clamp includes a linkage movable between first and second positions such that the clamp is in the unsecured condition when the linkage is in the first position and the clamp is in the secured condition when the linkage is in the second position. The linkage has a center position and the clamp is biased toward the unsecured condition when the linkage is over center in a first direction and the clamp is biased toward the secured condition when the linkage is over center in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan N. Barber, Christopher J. Butkiewicz