Patents by Inventor Joel A. Cheek

Joel A. Cheek 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).

  • Transmission for off-road vehicle
    Patent number: 7690472
    Abstract: An off-road vehicle includes a frame and wheels. An engine of the vehicle has a crankshaft. A transmission transmits the rotation of the crankshaft to the wheels. A housing houses a transmission mechanism of the transmission. The housing has an air inlet duct through which ambient air enters the housing and an air outlet duct through which the air leaves the housing. The air inlet duct has an inlet opening. The outlet duct has an outlet opening. The inlet and outlet openings are positioned higher than the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Kato, Rusty Hayes, Colby Nash, Joel Cheek
  • Transmission for off-road vehicle
    Patent number: 7438147
    Abstract: An off-road vehicle includes a frame and wheels. An engine of the vehicle has a crankshaft. A transmission transmits the rotation of the crankshaft to the wheels. A housing houses a transmission mechanism of the transmission. The housing has an air inlet duct through which ambient air enters the housing and an air outlet duct through which the air leaves the housing. The air inlet duct has an inlet opening. The outlet duct has an outlet opening. The inlet and outlet openings are positioned higher than the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignees: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha, Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America
    Inventors: Eiji Kato, Rusty Hayes, Colby Nash, Joel Cheek
  • TRANSMISSION FOR OFF-ROAD VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20080015065
    Abstract: An off-road vehicle includes a frame and wheels. An engine of the vehicle has a crankshaft. A transmission transmits the rotation of the crankshaft to the wheels. A housing houses a transmission mechanism of the transmission. The housing has an air inlet duct through which ambient air enters the housing and an air outlet duct through which the air leaves the housing. The air inlet duct has an inlet opening. The outlet duct has an outlet opening. The inlet and outlet openings are positioned higher than the wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Kato, Rusty Hayes, Colby Nash, Joel Cheek
  • Golf car top
    Patent number: 6883846
    Abstract: A top for a small vehicle, such as a golf car, has a roof member and a set of struts that are pivotally attached to the roof member. The struts can be folded for shipping and storage. The top also has features that accommodate stacking of tops for shipping and storage. In addition, a handle is located inboard of an outer periphery of the roof member so that a hand grasping the handle is not exposed outside of the periphery. Furthermore, in one arrangement, the handle is mounted at a location that keeps an occupant's arm within the periphery if the handle is properly grasped. An improved drainage system also is provided to minimize splashing toward occupants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: YamahaMotor Manufacturing Corporation of America
    Inventors: Joel A. Cheek, Louis R. Doucette, Kendall A. Fisher, Keisuke Yoshida
  • Transmission for off-road vehicle
    Publication number: 20040195034
    Abstract: An off-road vehicle includes a frame and wheels. An engine of the vehicle has a crankshaft. A transmission transmits the rotation of the crankshaft to the wheels. A housing houses a transmission mechanism of the transmission. The housing has an air inlet duct through which ambient air enters the housing and an air outlet duct through which the air leaves the housing. The air inlet duct has an inlet opening. The outlet duct has an outlet opening. The inlet and outlet openings are positioned higher than the wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Eiji Kato, Rusty Hayes, Colby Nash, Joel Cheek
  • Golf car top
    Publication number: 20030209918
    Abstract: A top for a small vehicle, such as a golf car, has a roof member and a set of struts that are pivotally attached to the roof member. The struts can be folded for shipping and storage. The top also has features that accommodate stacking of tops for shipping and storage. In addition, a handle is located inboard of an outer periphery of the roof member so that a hand grasping the handle is not exposed outside of the periphery. Furthermore, in one arrangement, the handle is mounted at a location that keeps an occupant's arm within the periphery if the handle is properly grasped. An improved drainage system also is provided to minimize splashing toward occupants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Joel A. Cheek, Louis R. Doucette, Kendall A. Fisher, Keisuke Yoshida