Patents by Inventor Klaus O. Winkelmann

Klaus O. Winkelmann 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: 4437535
    Abstract: Three-wheel motorcycle with cambering main frame supporting a front steering column and front wheel. The cambering frame is pivotally mounted on a centralized non-cambering rear support including the engine that carries the rear suspension and laterally spaced drive wheels. Operator footrests are mounted on rear support and automatically tilt with the cambering frame to improve operator balance of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1984
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Winchell, Klaus O. Winkelmann
  • Patent number: 4088338
    Abstract: An articulated frame type cambering vehicle employing a cable stabilizer and equalizer which interconnects the trailing arms for controlled pivotal movement and includes means for locking the trailing arms together for vehicle parking in an upright position and for allowing the vehicle to be folded and maintained in a compact configuration so as to facilitate stowage thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1978
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Winchell, Klaus O. Winkelmann, Jerry R. Mrlik, Richard E. Denzer, Jerry K. Williams
  • Patent number: 4087104
    Abstract: A cambering vehicle, having an upright main frame supporting a front steerable surface contact means and having a pair of trailing arms pivoted at one end to opposite sides of the main frame and having rear surface contact means mounted at the free ends thereof, is manually propelled by the vehicle operator who stands on foot rest means adjacent the rear wheels and, while camber steering the vehicle in a first curved path centered to one side of the vehicle, shifts his body weight from the outside to the inside foot so that the mass initially turning on a first radius is forced to turn on a smaller radius to increase velocity and conserve angular momentum. This stroking action is repeated as the operator steers the vehicle in a second curved path centered to the opposite side of the vehicle. The sinuous camber steering and body weight shifting strokes are repeated as desired to produce a net forward travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1978
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Winchell, Klaus O. Winkelmann