Patents by Inventor David M. Earle
David M. Earle 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).
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Publication number: 20230365221Abstract: A gearbox may include a drive spindle and several interconnected gear clusters arranged in a housing. A first of the gear clusters is coaxially fastened to the spindle, and has an outboard gear and an inboard gear. The first gear cluster drives a belt to operate one or more of the other gear clusters, and the inboard gear is physically divided into a plurality of segments. A shifting system for the gearbox includes an actuator configured to urge the segments of the inboard gear of the first gear cluster into and out of the plane of the belt, such that a gear ratio of the gearbox is changeable without displacing the belt out of the plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: David ALLEN, David M. EARLE, Kyle BENNETT, William A. HILGENBERG, Rainer POKORNY, Ryan Kent MILLER
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Publication number: 20230294793Abstract: A method for shifting a segmented gear may include rotating a gear cluster including a first gear and a coaxial second gear using a power transfer mechanism (e.g., a belt or a chain). The power transfer mechanism defines a plane and is wrapped partially around the first gear. and wherein the first gear has a plurality of gear segments independently movable (e.g., pivotable or translatable) into and out of the plane. A plurality of radially transitionable sliders are rotated in tandem with the first gear, and each of the sliders is operatively coupled to a corresponding one of the gear segments of the first gear. In sequence, each segment of the first gear is moved out of the plane of the power transfer mechanism by urging the slider in a radial direction using a segment actuator, such that the power transfer mechanism wraps at least partially around the second gear.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Inventors: David ALLEN, David M. Earle, Ryan Kent Miller, Michael David Machado
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Publication number: 20230242211Abstract: A gearbox may include a drive spindle and several interconnected gear clusters arranged in a housing. A first of the gear clusters is coaxially fastened to the spindle, and has an outboard gear and an inboard gear. The first gear cluster drives a belt or chain to operate one or more of the other gear clusters, and the inboard gear is physically divided into a plurality of segments. A shifting system for the gearbox includes an actuator configured to urge the segments of the inboard gear of the first gear cluster into and out of the plane of the belt or chain via a toggle and slider mechanism, such that a gear ratio of the gearbox is changeable without displacing the belt or chain out of the plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: David M. EARLE, William A. HILGENBERG, David ALLEN, Kyle BENNETT, Ryan Kent MILLER
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Patent number: 11572135Abstract: A gearbox may include a drive spindle and several interconnected gear clusters arranged in a housing. A first of the gear clusters is coaxially fastened to the spindle, and has an outboard gear and an inboard gear. The first gear cluster drives a belt or chain to operate one or more of the other gear clusters, and the inboard gear is physically divided into a plurality of segments. A shifting system for the gearbox includes an actuator configured to urge the segments of the inboard gear of the first gear cluster into and out of the plane of the belt or chain via a toggle and slider mechanism, such that a gear ratio of the gearbox is changeable without displacing the belt or chain out of the plane.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2021Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Praxis Works LLCInventors: David M. Earle, William A. Hilgenberg, David Allen, Kyle Bennett, Ryan Kent Miller
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Patent number: 11572131Abstract: A gearbox may include a drive spindle and several interconnected gear clusters arranged in a housing. A first of the gear clusters is coaxially fastened to the spindle, and has an outboard gear and an inboard gear. The first gear cluster drives a belt to operate one or more of the other gear clusters, and the inboard gear is physically divided into a plurality of segments. A shifting system for the gearbox includes an actuator configured to urge the segments of the inboard gear of the first gear cluster into and out of the plane of the belt, such that a gear ratio of the gearbox is changeable without displacing the belt out of the plane.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Praxis Works LLCInventors: David Allen, David M. Earle, Kyle Bennett, William A. Hilgenberg, Rainer Pokorny, Ryan Kent Miller
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Publication number: 20210245836Abstract: A gearbox may include a drive spindle and several interconnected gear clusters arranged in a housing. A first of the gear clusters is coaxially fastened to the spindle, and has an outboard gear and an inboard gear. The first gear cluster drives a belt or chain to operate one or more of the other gear clusters, and the inboard gear is physically divided into a plurality of segments. A shifting system for the gearbox includes an actuator configured to urge the segments of the inboard gear of the first gear cluster into and out of the plane of the belt or chain via a toggle and slider mechanism, such that a gear ratio of the gearbox is changeable without displacing the belt or chain out of the plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2021Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: David M. EARLE, William A. HILGENBERG, David ALLEN, Kyle BENNETT, Ryan Kent MILLER
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Publication number: 20210139104Abstract: A gearbox may include a drive spindle and several interconnected gear clusters arranged in a housing. A first of the gear clusters is coaxially fastened to the spindle, and has an outboard gear and an inboard gear. The first gear cluster drives a belt or chain to operate one or more of the other gear clusters, and the inboard gear is physically divided into a plurality of segments. A shifting system for the gearbox includes an actuator configured to urge the segments of the inboard gear of the first gear cluster into and out of the plane of the belt or chain via a toggle and slider mechanism, such that a gear ratio of the gearbox is changeable without displacing the belt or chain out of the plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2021Publication date: May 13, 2021Inventors: David M. Earle, William A. Hilgenberg, David Allen, Kyle Bennett, Ryan Kent Miller
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Patent number: 10989281Abstract: A gearbox may include a drive spindle and several interconnected gear clusters arranged in a housing. A first of the gear clusters is coaxially fastened to the spindle, and has an outboard gear and an inboard gear. The first gear cluster drives a chain to operate one or more of the other gear clusters, and the inboard gear is physically divided into a plurality of segments. A shifting system for the gearbox includes an actuator configured to urge the segments of the inboard gear of the first gear cluster into and out of the plane of the chain, such that a gear ratio of the gearbox is changeable without displacing the chain out of the plane.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2020Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Praxis Works LLCInventors: David Allen, David M. Earle, Kyle Bennett, William A. Hilgenberg, Rainer Pokorny
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Patent number: 10988207Abstract: A gearbox may include a drive spindle and several interconnected gear clusters arranged in a housing. A first of the gear clusters is coaxially fastened to the spindle, and has an outboard gear and an inboard gear. The first gear cluster drives a belt or chain to operate one or more of the other gear clusters, and the inboard gear is physically divided into a plurality of segments. A shifting system for the gearbox includes an actuator configured to urge the segments of the inboard gear of the first gear cluster into and out of the plane of the belt or chain via a toggle and slider mechanism, such that a gear ratio of the gearbox is changeable without displacing the belt or chain out of the plane.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2021Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Praxis Works LLCInventors: David M. Earle, William A. Hilgenberg, David Allen, Kyle Bennett, Ryan Kent Miller
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Publication number: 20200377174Abstract: A gearbox may include a drive spindle and several interconnected gear clusters arranged in a housing. A first of the gear clusters is coaxially fastened to the spindle, and has an outboard gear and an inboard gear. The first gear cluster drives a belt to operate one or more of the other gear clusters, and the inboard gear is physically divided into a plurality of segments. A shifting system for the gearbox includes an actuator configured to urge the segments of the inboard gear of the first gear cluster into and out of the plane of the belt, such that a gear ratio of the gearbox is changeable without displacing the belt out of the plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Applicant: Praxis Works LLCInventors: David ALLEN, David M. EARLE, Kyle BENNETT, William A. HILGENBERG, Rainer POKORNY, Ryan Kent MILLER
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Publication number: 20200263767Abstract: A gearbox may include a drive spindle and several interconnected gear clusters arranged in a housing. A first of the gear clusters is coaxially fastened to the spindle, and has an outboard gear and an inboard gear. The first gear cluster drives a chain to operate one or more of the other gear clusters, and the inboard gear is physically divided into a plurality of segments. A shifting system for the gearbox includes an actuator configured to urge the segments of the inboard gear of the first gear cluster into and out of the plane of the chain, such that a gear ratio of the gearbox is changeable without displacing the chain out of the plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2020Publication date: August 20, 2020Applicant: Praxis Works LLCInventors: David ALLEN, David M. EARLE, Kyle BENNETT, William A. HILGENBERG, Rainer POKORNY
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Patent number: 10160030Abstract: A cassette for a bicycle may include a plurality of sprocket portions joined together into a single unit. The cassette may include a cavity formed in the large end of the cassette. A related manufacturing method may include joining a first generally planar sprocket portion having a plurality of connector portions extending transverse to the plane of the first sprocket portion, to a second generally planar sprocket portion, e.g., by fusing at least one of the connector portions to the second sprocket portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2016Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Praxis Works LLCInventors: David M. Earle, Ding-Jiun Lin
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Publication number: 20170056955Abstract: A cassette for a bicycle may include a plurality of sprocket portions joined together into a single unit. The cassette may include a cavity formed in the large end of the cassette. A related manufacturing method may include joining a first generally planar sprocket portion having a plurality of connector portions extending transverse to the plane of the first sprocket portion, to a second generally planar sprocket portion, e.g., by fusing at least one of the connector portions to the second sprocket portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: Praxis Works LLCInventors: David M. Earle, Ding-Jiun Lin
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Patent number: 9580143Abstract: An apparatus for driving a drive chain, such as on a bicycle, may include a chainring having teeth arranged around a circumference of the chainring, and one or more magnetic portions disposed adjacent to the teeth of the chainring. The one or more magnetic portions may be disposed on the chainring and/or on a frame to which the chainring is rotatably coupled.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2015Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Praxis Works LLCInventors: David M. Earle, Jordan Andrew Kestler
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Publication number: 20170035042Abstract: A small animal trap may include an actuator portion coupled to a trapping portion insertable into a burrow or tunnel of the target animal. The trapping portion may include an extension guide and a transversely-extending capture mechanism, such that the extension guide extends along a length of the tunnel and the capture mechanism extends across a width of the tunnel and generally conforms to the tunnel wall. A wireless communication system may be included to inform a remote user of an actuation state of the trap. An array of such traps may be deployed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2016Publication date: February 9, 2017Inventors: Eiran BEN-DASHAN, David M. EARLE
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Publication number: 20160272002Abstract: A bicycle wheel assembly may include a cassette having a plurality of sprocket portions, the cassette being configured such that a cavity or recess is formed in a large end of the cassette. A wheel hub coupled to the cassette may include a spoke connection flange that is disposed at least partially within the cavity of the cassette, facilitating a more acute spoke angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Applicant: PRAXIS WORKS LLCInventors: David M. Earle, Ding-Jiun Lin
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Publication number: 20150307156Abstract: An apparatus for driving a drive chain, such as on a bicycle, may include a chainring having teeth arranged around a circumference of the chainring, and one or more magnetic portions disposed adjacent to the teeth of the chainring. The one or more magnetic portions may be disposed on the chainring and/or on a frame to which the chainring is rotatably coupled.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2015Publication date: October 29, 2015Applicant: Praxis Works LLCInventors: David M. Earle, Jordan Andrew Kestler
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Patent number: 9168976Abstract: A cassette for a bicycle may include a plurality of sprocket portions fused into a single unit. The cassette may include a cavity formed in the large end of the cassette. Spokes of an associated wheel may be at least partially disposed in the cavity. A related manufacturing method may include joining a first generally planar sprocket portion having a plurality of connector portions extending transverse to the plane of the first sprocket portion, to a second generally planar sprocket portion by fusing at least one of the connector portions to the second sprocket portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2015Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Praxis Works LLCInventors: David M. Earle, Ding-Jiun Lin, David Allen, Shih-Min Lin
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Patent number: 9004771Abstract: An improved bicycle bottom bracket system and methods of manufacturing and installing such a system. The improved system may include bearings mounted within bearing cups on either side of the bottom bracket shell of a bicycle frame. The bearing cups may be threaded together, and one bearing cup may include a collet portion expandable by the other bearing cup.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Praxis Works LLCInventors: David M. Earle, Chin T. Chuang
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Publication number: 20130230266Abstract: An improved bicycle bottom bracket system and methods of manufacturing and installing such a system. The improved system may include bearings mounted within bearing cups on either side of the bottom bracket shell of a bicycle frame. The bearing cups may be threaded together, and one bearing cup may include a collet portion expandable by the other bearing cup.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2013Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: Praxis Works LLCInventors: David M. EARLE, Chin T. CHUANG