Patents by Inventor Ted K. Tanouye

Ted K. Tanouye 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: 8136829
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a mountain bike frame and method of making a mountain bike frame where a rear suspension shock absorber is configured to compress when a rear triangle moves upwardly with respect to a force channelling top tube and a seat tube. At least portions of forces generated by upward movement of the rear triangle with respect to the force channelling top tube and the seat tube are transmitted through elongated front and rear torque conversion devices to the shock absorber, a shock absorber mount and the force channelling top tube. An upper portion of the front torque conversion device and a rear portion of the rear torque conversion device, when the mountain bike frame is viewed from a right side view, each rotate in a clockwise direction when the rear triangle moves upwardly with respect to the force channelling top tube and the seat tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventors: Alan H. Kang, Ted K. Tanouye
  • Patent number: 7703788
    Abstract: An innovated rear suspension system for mountain bikes that includes five structural tubes—a force channeling tube, a front stabilizing tube, a rear stabilizing tube, a top tube, and a seat tube—connected to form an irregular polygon; reinforced with gussets, a torque conversion device pivotally connected to a compression strut, a shock-absorbing element and the force channeling tube, which transfers force or shock from the compression strut to the shock-absorbing element. The shock-absorbing element pivotally connected at the front to a pair of shock mounts attached to the force channeling tube absorbs and compresses force from the torque conversion device and transfers the force to the force channeling tube. The upward and forward direction of the force channeling tube guides the force along the force channeling tube propelling the bicycle and the rider forward, reducing jacking and efficiently utilizing pedal forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Inventors: Ted K. Tanouye, Alan H. Kang
  • Publication number: 20100096831
    Abstract: A lightweight mountain bike frame made out of welded aluminum tubing heavily reinforced with open ended gussets, whose design allows peak stress to be more evenly distributed. The design moves the shock mount forward so that the rocker arm fits around the seat tube without mounting a pivot to it, resulting in the weight of the suspension to move to the center of gravity for both bike and rider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Ted K. Tanouye, Alan Kang
  • Publication number: 20090250897
    Abstract: An innovated rear suspension system for mountain bikes that includes five structural tubes—a force channeling tube, a front stabilizing tube, a rear stabilizing tube, a top tube, and a seat tube—connected to form an irregular polygon; reinforced with gussets, a torque conversion device pivotally connected to a compression strut, a shock-absorbing element and the force channeling tube, which transfers force or shock from the compression strut to the shock-absorbing element. The shock-absorbing element pivotally connected at the front to a pair of shock mounts attached to the force channeling tube absorbs and compresses force from the torque conversion device and transfers the force to the force channeling tube. The upward and forward direction of the force channeling tube guides the force along the force channeling tube propelling the bicycle and the rider forward, reducing jacking and efficiently utilizing pedal forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Ted K. Tanouye, Alan Kang