Patents Issued in October 25, 2018
  • Publication number: 20180304922
    Abstract: A steering assist apparatus is provided with a steering drive unit driving a steering apparatus, a steering control unit executing an automatic steering mode where a steering drive unit is controlled such that a turning angle is determined based on at least either a running state of the vehicle or road information to produce the determined turning angle, and a target differential angle control unit determining a target differential angle. The target differential angle control unit determines the target differential angle to be close to an automatic steering target differential angle used for the automatic steering mode, when input variation through a steering input apparatus is not detected during a transition period from a manual steering mode where the steering apparatus operates in response to the steering angle inputted through the steering input apparatus to the automatic steering mode or during an elapsed period after completing the transition period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Yosuke HIRATE, Daiji WATANABE, Hisaya AKATSUKA, Toshiya KABAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20180304923
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system having a steering control, a rotation angle sensor for detecting a position of the steering control, an actuator for producing a counter-torque on the steering control, a steering actuator for adjusting a steering angle depending on the data of the rotation angle sensor on a final control element, wherein the final control element has a mechanical end stop and the actuator implements a software end stop on the steering control, wherein a transmission ratio is set between the rotation angle on the steering control and the steering angle, wherein a positive delta value and a negative delta value are defined for the set transmission ratio, wherein the steer-by-wire steering system is embodied so the adjusted transmission ratio is selected so that a remaining position error of the steering control is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Sebastian KILZ, Björn MAKKUS, Johannes Maria SCHÄFER
  • Publication number: 20180304924
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a system and method for providing stability control to a machine includes generating a yaw signal at a gyroscope disposed on the machine and receiving the yaw signal at a controller in communication with the gyroscope. The controller is also in communication with a user input that generates control signals for driving at least one plant of the machine. The controller is configured to alter the control signals provided to the at least one plant from the user input based at least in part on the yaw signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Brian Spranger
  • Publication number: 20180304925
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT) system, which turns the rear wheels of a lawn mower or similar vehicle at different speeds in a coordinated method with the front steering wheels in order to achieve the best turning radius (including a tight or zero turn radius, if desired) under most conditions. The system comprises two stages: the first stage comprising a Fixed Center Distance CVT pulley system, and the second stage comprising dual CVTs (e.g., left and right) that input into dual gear reducers (left and right), which are mechanically connected to the rear wheels. The second stage dual CVTs (left and right) are synchronized with the steering wheel, thus achieving different rear wheel speeds and/or directions based on the steering wheel position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: DENNIS BRANDON
  • Publication number: 20180304926
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for selecting a parking location for an autonomous vehicle includes: obtaining data pertaining to a current ride of the autonomous vehicle during operation of the autonomous vehicle; determining, by a processor using the data, when the autonomous vehicle is proximate a destination; and, when the autonomous vehicle is proximate the destination: identifying, by the processor using the data, a plurality of potential parking locations proximate the destination; calculating, by the processor using the data, a respective score for each of the potential parking locations using a plurality of factors; and selecting, by the processor using the data, a selected parking location of the potential parking locations based on the respective score of each of the potential parking locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shiva Ghose, Kevin Chu, Sohrab Haghighat
  • Publication number: 20180304927
    Abstract: A structural member (10) includes: a hat member (1); and a closing plate (2). The hat member (1) includes: a top-surface portion (1a); a pair of side walls (1b) extending from both edges of the top-surface portion (1a); and flanges (1c). The closing plate (2) is in contact with the flanges (1c). Each of the side walls (1b) includes a low-strength portion (1s) extending from one edge of the side wall (1b) to a position at a distance Sh. The distance Sh is 20 to 40% of the height H of the side wall (1b). The yield strength of the low-strength portion (1s) is 60 to 85% of the yield strength of the side wall (1b) as measured at a position (1mid) of one-half of the height of the side wall (1b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Satoshi HIROSE, Yuichi ISHIMORI, Hiroshi FUKUCHI
  • Publication number: 20180304928
    Abstract: A structural component connected to a structural element is provided. The structural component includes an extension extending in a longitudinal direction between a front end and a rear end, the rear end facing the structural element. The structural component also includes a stop element protruding from a longitudinal wall of the extension. The stop element has a contact surface facing a region of the structural element. When the extension is subject to an impact creating forces in the longitudinal direction, the contact surface comes into contact with the region and transmits a part of the forces created by the impact to the region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Cédric BOUTON, Edith LAHELLEC, Jean-Louis COLMONT, Thierry DERCHU, Maxime GABREL
  • Publication number: 20180304929
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a front room disposed at a front portion of the vehicle in the vehicle in a vehicle-longitudinal direction; a fuel cell stack disposed in the front room, the fuel cell stack including multiple cells stacked in the vehicle-longitudinal direction; and a buffer member disposed in front of the fuel cell stack in the vehicle-longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Hiroaki NISHIUMI, Yugo ICHIDA
  • Publication number: 20180304930
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure may include a side member, a bumper member arranged linearly at a vehicle frontmost end, a vehicle rear side of the bumper member being joined to the side member, and a front side member extension attached to a tip end part of the side member. A portion projecting outward and obliquely extending toward the vehicle rear from a curving point on the outer side is provided on both ends of the bumper member, a protrusion extending toward the side member is arranged on the inner side of the projecting portion, a planar portion opposite to a side face part on the vehicle outer side of the side member is provided on a tip end part on the vehicle inner side of the protrusion, and the planar portion and the side member extension are arranged so as to overlap each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Tanabe, Akihiro Hadano
  • Publication number: 20180304931
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes: a front pillar that includes an A-pillar provided to extend in an up-down direction, an A?-pillar provided to extend in the up-down direction in the rear of the A-pillar, and a lower frame disposed between lower ends of the A-pillar and the A?-pillar; and a bracket connected to the lower end of the A-pillar and provided to extend frontward from the lower end of the A-pillar. In the vehicle body front structure, strength of the bracket is set to be lower than strength of the A-pillar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Yasuyuki KATO, Sadayuki ASANO, Tomohide SEKIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20180304932
    Abstract: A rocker assembly includes a rocker reinforcement panel attached to a side inner panel to define a cavity and an elongated bar disposed within the cavity. The elongated bar is formed of a polymer resin that includes reinforcement strands of continuous fiber roving that are embedded in the polymer resin and extend along a full length of the bar. The elongated bar has a constant cross-section perpendicular to the length of the bar that may defines at least one elongated opening. A method of making a rocker assembly includes pultruding a polymer resin and a continuous fiber roving to form a reinforced elongated bar that is assembled into a cavity defined between the rocker reinforcement panel and the side inner panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Geoffrey John COOPER, Paul Kenneth DELLOCK, Stuart C. SALTER, Scott MAIR
  • Publication number: 20180304933
    Abstract: A front vehicle body reinforcing structure of a vehicle includes a front side member formed to extend along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, disposed on both right and left sides along a width direction of the vehicle, and formed by coupling a front side inner member disposed on an inner side of the vehicle and a front side outer member disposed on an outer side of the vehicle. A front end portion of the front side outer member is cut away and positioned behind a front end portion of the front side inner member; a side outer member coupled to a cut-away portion of the front side outer member; and a fender apron member disposed on an upper side in a height direction of the vehicle than the front side member and coupled to the side outer member, thereby improving front collision resistance performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: SeungMin KANG, Yunho LEE, Yong Kew KIM, Hyeyeon KIM
  • Publication number: 20180304934
    Abstract: The invention relates to a supporting structure (10) for a front-end module of a motor vehicle, said supporting structure comprising a lower crossmember (13), a first side post (11), a second side post (12) and an upper crossmember (14). According to the invention, the supporting structure (10) comprises a first (40, 140, 240) and a second (50, 150, 250) supporting arm received within the supporting structure (10), the first supporting arm (40, 140, 240) being connected via the first end (41, 141, 241) thereof to the first side post (11) and via the second end (42, 142, 242) thereof to the upper crossmember (14), and/or the second supporting arm (50, 150, 250) being connected via the first end (51, 151, 251) thereof to the second side post (12) and via the second end (52, 152, 252) thereof to the upper crossmember (14). The invention also relates to a front-end module comprising such a supporting structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Stephan Andre, Jean-Paul Herlem
  • Publication number: 20180304935
    Abstract: A vehicle rear structure includes rear side members, a lower back panel, and a rear floor panel. The lower back panel includes a wall plate panel, and is joined to the rear side members. The rear floor panel includes a joint flange, joint portions, and coupling plate portions. A rear end of a central portion of the rear floor panel in a vehicle width direction is provided behind, in a vehicle front-rear direction, rear ends of both of side portions of the rear floor panel in the vehicle width direction. A bent portion that is projected toward a front side of the vehicle is formed by the joint flange and each of the coupling plate portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takuya NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20180304936
    Abstract: A work vehicle such as a tractor including a cooling fan (12a) arranged in front of the vehicle's engine main body (1), and is configured to feed air to the engine main body. The work vehicle further includes a DPF (19), which is arranged on one side of the engine main body and purifies exhaust gas exhausted from the engine main body, and an engine hood (7), which covers the engine main body, the cooling fan, and the DPF. An outside air intake port (21) is formed in both side surfaces of the engine hood at a position further forward than the cooling fan. On both side surfaces of the engine hood, a first opening (30) capable of exhausting air inside the engine hood in a direction away from the vehicle's operation seat in side view is formed in a position facing the DPF in the lateral direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji WATABE, Daisuke TAKII, Yoshiferu OSHIGE
  • Publication number: 20180304937
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle body floor structure capable of effectively preventing deformation of a floor panel by increasing bending strength of the floor panel even when an upper reinforcing member of the floor panel is removed. A vehicle body floor structure of the present invention includes a dash cross member disposed along a kick-up portion on a lower surface side of a floor panel, a novel front side frame having an outer frame and an inner frame at a rear portion of a side frame body, and a floor panel on which beads are formed to form a closed cross-section in cooperation with the outer frame and the inner frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Ryo KITA, Takuya MORISAWA, Takeshi YOSHIMOTO, Hirotaka YAMAGUCHI, Tomonari TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20180304938
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a tubular component for a chassis of a vehicle, wherein the tubular component may include an extruded profile made of an aluminum alloy. The extruded profile may include a rounded extruded profile base and profile walls extending from the rounded extruded profile base and facing one another, wherein the profile walls are curved towards one another to form the tubular component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Christian Smatloch
  • Publication number: 20180304939
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include power machine cabs, cab subassemblies, corresponding power machines such as skids steer loaders, and methods of assembling cabs and power machines. Some exemplary disclosed embodiments include features aiding in the manufacture of the cabs for power machines, features which allow the cabs to be configurable for different customer preferences or needs, and features which allow detection of tampering with the cab such that the power machine can be controlled accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Benjamin Storhaug
  • Publication number: 20180304940
    Abstract: Vehicles and methods for controlling operation of a vehicle and/or reducing aerodynamic drag of a vehicle are provided. A method for controlling operation of an unoccupied vehicle includes determining that the vehicle is unoccupied. The method further includes identifying an energy savings resulting from a reduction of aerodynamic drag of the vehicle due to a controlled vibration of a component of the vehicle. Also, the method includes applying the controlled vibration to the component of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: NICHOLAS D. THEIS, MICHAEL MCGUIRE, SCOTT W. DAMMAN
  • Publication number: 20180304941
    Abstract: A side underride system configured to be coupled to a trailer may comprise a first skirt wall coupled to the trailer, positioned below a first side wall of the trailer, and extending along a first length of the trailer between a skirt wall front end and a skirt wall rear end and a cable system including a first cable coupled to the trailer, positioned below the first side wall, and extending along a second length of the trailer between a cable system front end and a cable system rear end, the skirt wall rear end being positioned forward of the cable system rear end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Rodney P. Ehrlich, Andrzej Wylezinski
  • Publication number: 20180304942
    Abstract: A cantilever extension for a primary trailer is provided. The primary trailer includes a frame that extends from a hitch end to a rear end, and a primary trailer deck coupled to the primary trailer frame. The cantilever extension includes a cantilever deck. The cantilever extension is rotatably coupled to the primary trailer frame proximate to the rear end, and the cantilever extension is rotatable between a stow position, wherein the cantilever deck is oriented in a substantially face-to-face relationship with the primary trailer deck, and a deployed position, wherein the cantilever deck is oriented substantially co-planar with, and aft of, the primary trailer deck. The cantilever extension in the deployed position is supported solely via coupling to the primary trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Martin Schattgen, Rodney Dale Crim, Timothy John McGreal, Jeffrey Wilcox Ingels
  • Publication number: 20180304943
    Abstract: The invention relates to a protective covering (4) for sealing a flat spiral spring housing (2), to a flat spiral spring housing arrangement having a protective covering (4), and to a vehicle having a flat spiral spring housing arrangement of this type. The protective covering (4) has a first housing part (2A) and a second housing part (2B) which forms a housing cover, the first housing part (2A) forming, with the second housing part (2B), a receiving space for a flat spiral spring (3), and the two housing parts (2A, 2B) being rotatable with respect to one another. To this end, the flat spiral spring housing (2) has a gap between the first housing part (2A) and the second housing part (2B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: VALEO Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Simonis, Daniela Jaeckle, Laurent Raddaz, Uwe Hertl
  • Publication number: 20180304944
    Abstract: Provided are self-powered actively steerable converter dollies (SPASCDs) for long combination vehicles (LCVs), LCVs utilizing SPASCDs, and methods of operating such LCVs. These SPASCDs could be used with conventional tractors and/or specifically configured tractors. A SPASCD may include an electrical drive, which can generate power (e.g., to charge SPASCD's battery) or generate torque using the electrical power stored in SPASCD's battery (e.g., to assist the tractor during acceleration or going uphill). The SPASCD also comprises steerable wheels and a steering component, configured to change the steering angle of the steerable wheels. The steering angle may be changed in response to various inputs, such as the steering angle of the tractor's front steerable wheels, the steering angle of the steerable wheels of another trailer in the same LCV, sensor inputs, and the like. This steering feature allows change the track of the SPASCD, e.g., to follow the tractor's track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Wrightspeed, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Wright
  • Publication number: 20180304945
    Abstract: A self-centering grille assembly includes a grille having a first chamfer and a second chamfer, a first outboard component including a third chamfer and a second outboard component including a fourth chamfer. An additional alternative embodiment of self-centering grille assembly including a centering bar is also disclosed as are related methods of centering a grille between a first outboard component and a second outboard component on a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Joseph Prescott Hickey
  • Publication number: 20180304946
    Abstract: An electric handle lock structure for a saddled vehicle which can provide a compact arrangement around a handle to thereby achieve miniaturization of a vehicle body front portion. A handle lock structure for a saddled vehicle includes: a handle steering shaft operated by a handle; a front wheel steering shaft disposed to steer a front wheel in front of the handle steering shaft; a top bridge which is fastened to an upper end of the handle steering shaft and to which the handle is fixed; and an electric handle lock device that is electrically operated and is provided between the handle steering shaft and the front wheel steering shaft in the proximity of the handle, and the electric handle lock device is disposed so that at least part thereof overlaps below the top bridge in a plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Naoki Kuwabara
  • Publication number: 20180304947
    Abstract: A saddle device includes a first seat unit, a second seat unit mounted to and disposed behind the first seat unit, a saddle unit mounted to the second seat unit, and having a top surface unit, and a supporting member connected to the first seat unit, disposed behind the second seat unit, having a rear mounting end portion that is distal from the first seat unit, and trans formable between a lifted position and a lowered position such that, when the supporting member is at the lifted position, the rear mounting end portion is located above the top surface unit of the saddle unit, and when the supporting member is at the lowered position, the rear mounting end portion is located below the top surface unit of the saddle unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Hsin-Hsiang HSU
  • Publication number: 20180304948
    Abstract: A saddle device includes a first seat unit having a front mounting portion and a rear mounting end portion, a saddle unit having a front end edge unit and a top surface unit, and an elongate backrest including two spaced-apart long sides, and two spaced-apart short sides that are connected between the long sides, and removably mounted to a selected one of the front mounting portion and the rear mounting portion such that, when the backrest is mounted to the front mounting portion, at least one of the short sides is located in front of the front end edge unit, and when the backrest is mounted to the rear mounting end portion, at least one of the long sides is located above the top surface unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Hsin-Hsiang HSU
  • Publication number: 20180304949
    Abstract: A seat cover that generates heat, reflects the sun and repels water. The seat cover includes an interior side, an exterior side, and an open lower end. The open lower end can secure around a motorcycle seat and the exterior side can reflect heat and repel water. The open lower end further includes heating strips embedded in the interior side of the seat cover, which increases or decreases the temperature of the seat cover when activated by a heat control unit. The open lower end further includes a lip on the seat cover having a fastener for securing the seat cover over the seat of the motorcycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Harold R. Ingram
  • Publication number: 20180304950
    Abstract: The present document describes a system for hooking and unhooking a bag with respect to a fixed structure of a motorcycle that comprises a tubular fixing frame, configured to be constrained to the fixed structure, one or more fixing blocks, configured to be constrained on predefined portions of the bag and to engage with the tubular fixing frame, and a fixing group, configured to be constrained to the bag and provided with one or more hook-shaped movable hooking means. The movable hooking means are rotatably actuatable, by means of a lock mechanism, between a first operative configuration, in which the movable hooking means are engaged with the tubular fixing frame, and a second non-operative configuration, in which the movable hooking means are released with respect to the tubular fixing frame and it is possible to obtain the unhooking of the bag from the motorcycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Giuseppe Visenzi
  • Publication number: 20180304951
    Abstract: A bicycle basket capable of placing a cup includes a basket body and a positioning belt. The basket body includes a bottom portion and a fence. The fence surrounds the bottom portion and includes a first connecting structure and a second connecting structure. The positioning belt is disposed on the fence and has one end connected to the first connecting structure, wherein the positioning belt includes a positioning portion for connecting to the second connecting structure so as to position the cup on the basket body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Ming-En CHOU
  • Publication number: 20180304952
    Abstract: Example bicycle suspension components and analysis devices are described herein. An example suspension component includes a first tube and a second tube configured in a telescopic arrangement having an interior space, a spring system including a pneumatic chamber containing a mass of a gas forming a pneumatic spring configured to resist compression of the telescopic arrangement, and a suspension component analysis (SCA) device. The SCA device may include a pressure sensor to detect a pressure of the gas in the pneumatic chamber and provide a signal indicative of the detected pressure and circuitry configured to receive the signal. The circuitry and the pressure sensor are at least partially disposed in the interior space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: TREVOR KRUGMAN, JACK GREETIS, JAMES MEYER, KEVIN WESLING
  • Publication number: 20180304953
    Abstract: An inverted pendulum vehicle (10) comprises a main wheel (14) configured to be driven under an inverted pendulum control, a vehicle body frame (30) supporting the main wheel, an outer shell (12) covering the vehicle body frame, and a seat (16) mounted on the vehicle body frame in a vertically adjustable manner for seating a rider of the vehicle, wherein the seat is provided with an extension (92) extending downward therefrom along a front side of the outer shell, and the vehicle body frame is provided with a projection (102) projecting forward from the vehicle body frame and passed through a front part of the outer shell, the projection being provided with a free end configured to contact a rear side of the extension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Ryosuke ITAI, Seiji KATO
  • Publication number: 20180304954
    Abstract: Provided is an inverted pendulum type vehicle. A controller (20) includes a reference desired motion determiner (211), which sequentially determines a reference desired motion of a traveling motion unit (3) so as to stabilize the attitude of an object mounting unit (5), high-frequency idling state amount calculators (214), (42a) and (42b), which calculate the high-frequency idling state amount of the traveling motion unit (3), and a desired motion corrector (42g), which corrects the reference desired motion by a correction amount determined on the basis of the high-frequency idling state amount to reduce a high-frequency component of idling. The controller (20) controls an actuator unit (8) according to the desired motion obtained by correcting the reference desired motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Hideo Murakami, Kazumasa Ozaki, Tomohiro Kawakami, Kazushi Akimoto
  • Publication number: 20180304955
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a steering assembly for a vehicle, comprising two rotatable rods, oriented vertically and having a wheel attachment on one end wherein wheels can be rotatably secured. The rods are connected to a first cross bar in such a way that enables the steering assembly to be attached to the vehicle frame and allows the rods to rotate. The rods are also rotatably attached to a second cross bar on the opposite end of the rod in such a way as to allow the rods to rotate. The rods are also attached to a steering mechanism in a manner that enables them to be manually rotated in unison and which in turn pivots the wheels and steers the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Robert M. Cotter
  • Publication number: 20180304956
    Abstract: A bicycle handlebar system that ensures comfort, safety, increasing center of gravity control. An ergonomic bicycle handlebar system including a hood having: a hood sweep angle from a top bar hood to a first portion of a drop, a drop angle from the first portion of a drop to the second portion of a drop, a thumb index; and a palm flat segment. The coefficient ergonomic bicycle handlebar may be made of nano tube zlyte resin with graphene impregnated carbon fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Don Sheff
  • Publication number: 20180304957
    Abstract: There is provided a rear cushion device to be mounted between a vehicle main body and a rear suspension arm of a saddle ridden-type vehicle and including a spring and a damper. The damper includes: a cylinder; a piston; a rod; a cylinder-side mounting part; and a rod-side mounting part. The rod-side mounting part includes: a cylindrical inner member fixed to the other axial end side of the rod coaxially with the rod, and having an outer peripheral surface on which a screw is formed; and an outer member mounted to an outer peripheral side of the inner member. The outer member includes: a tubular part having an inner peripheral surface on which a screw to be screwed with the screw of the inner member is formed; and a coupling part for coupling the outer member to the vehicle main body or the rear suspension arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji KOBAYASHI, Keitaro MIYAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20180304958
    Abstract: What is disclosed is an improved rear suspension for a two wheeled vehicle. The improved rear suspension includes a rear triangle connected to a wheel. The rear triangle is connected to the front triangle by an upper linkage. A biasing member, such as a shock absorber, typically a spring and damper, is connected to the front triangle and functionally connected to the rear triangle, either directly or indirectly. The rear triangle is further connected to the front triangle by a pivoting connection. The pivoting connection can be a concentric pivot. Alternatively the pivoting connection can be a pivot connection located on the front triangle and a pivot connection located on the rear triangle and connected by a lower linkage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: DAMON MADSEN
  • Publication number: 20180304959
    Abstract: A bike brake lever with an adjustable sensor device includes a main body and a sensor device. The main body has a symmetry plane longitudinally defined through the main body and a pivot seat mounted on the main body and located along the symmetry plane. The sensor device is rotatably connected with the pivot seat of the main body and has a pivot portion rotatably connected with the pivot seat and a detecting portion connected with the pivot portion. The sensor device of the bike brake lever is adjustable for position switch. The bike brake lever is universal for both sides of a bike, meets the user's demand, and also reduces the manufacture cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: LEE CHI ENTERPRISES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Tsung LIU, Guo-Yuan HUANG
  • Publication number: 20180304960
    Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic device is basically provided with a base member, a piston, a guide rod and a guide rod seal ring. The base member includes a main body having a cylinder bore and a guide bore. The piston is movably disposed in the cylinder bore. The guide rod is coupled to the piston to move the piston. The guide rod is movably disposed in the guide bore. The guide rod seal ring is disposed on the guide rod and in sliding contact with the guide bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Yasuyuki KOMADA
  • Publication number: 20180304961
    Abstract: A bicycle apparatus includes an ABS unit, a wheel detection device and a control device. The ABS unit is configured to control a braking force, and the wheel detection device is configured to detect a rotational speed. The control device is configured to receive detection results to determine whether the bicycle is in a prescribed state. The control device is configured to control the ABS unit upon determining the bicycle is in the prescribed state. The prescribed state includes at least one of a state in which a difference between the rotational speeds of the front and rear wheels is greater than or equal to a prescribed rotational speed, and a state in which a change in the rotational speed of the at least one of the front wheel and rear wheels is greater than or equal to a prescribed value has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Makoto SHIMODA, Shinichiro NODA
  • Publication number: 20180304962
    Abstract: A brake fluid pressure control unit that can improve installability of a brake system in a motorcycle is obtained. A brake system for a motorcycle that includes such a brake fluid pressure control unit is also obtained. A brake fluid pressure control unit 50 includes: a first primary base body 31 provided with an inlet valve 21 and an outlet valve 22 of a first hydraulic circuit 2; a first secondary base body 32 provided with a pressurizing/transferring mechanism 25 of the first hydraulic circuit 2; a second primary base body 33 provided with an inlet valve 21 and an outlet valve 22 of a second hydraulic circuit 3; and a second secondary base body 34 provided with a pressurizing/transferring mechanism 25 of the second hydraulic circuit 3, and the first primary base body 31, the first secondary base body 32, the second primary base body 33, and the second secondary base body 34 are separated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Eiji Adachi, Hiroaki Atsushi
  • Publication number: 20180304963
    Abstract: A wheeled vehicle incorporating a frame; a drive shaft mounted upon the frame, the drive shaft having rotary power input and output ends; a drive wheel mounted upon the frame; a rotary power output linkage operatively interconnecting the drive shaft's output end and the drive wheel; rotary power pedals mounted upon the frame; a rotary power input linkage operatively interconnecting the drive shaft's input end and the rotary power pedals; a spiral spring having a rotary power input end and a rotary power output end, the spiral spring being mounted over the drive shaft; a clutch and one way bearing combination for anchoring the spiral spring's rotary power input end upon the drive shaft and upon the frame; and a one way bearing and brake combination for alternatively anchoring the spiral spring's rotary power output end upon the drive shaft and upon the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas M. Howe
  • Publication number: 20180304964
    Abstract: An auxiliary bicycle transmission for a bicycle has a crossbar formed by a telescoping bar slidably mounted in an outer channel member. One end of a half chain or half V-belt is connected to the telescoping bar, the other end is connected by means of a spring to the upper end of a down tube, and the chain or V-belt that engages a freewheeling sprocket or pulley so that when the telescoping bar extends out of the outer channel member against the spring force, the freewheeling sprocket rotates and provides additional motive force to the standard transmission of the bicycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Dan Ogden
  • Publication number: 20180304965
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body and a plurality of sprocket teeth provided on an outer periphery of the sprocket body and including at least one first tooth and at least one second tooth. The at least one first tooth has a driving surface side and a non-driving surface side. The at least one first tooth has a bevel cut shape in the non-driving surface side. The bevel cut shape is configured to avoid initially engaging with a bicycle chain in a shifting operation where the bicycle chain shifts from an adjacent smaller bicycle sprocket to the bicycle sprocket. The at least one second tooth is configured to initially engage with the bicycle chain in the shifting operation. The at least one second tooth is disposed adjacent to the at least one first tooth in a circumferential direction with respect to a rotational center axis of the bicycle sprocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi FUKUMORI
  • Publication number: 20180304966
    Abstract: An easy-adjustment bicycle gear-shifting system consisting of a microcontroller unit, a memory, a driver and a derailleur is disclosed. The memory has stored therein more than three position tables each containing the position information of the derailleur relative to the chainrings. The position information contained in one position table has a part or all different from the position information contained in every other position table. The position tables are arranged one after another in a proper order corresponding to one same chainring in such a manner that every two adjacent position tables are differed by a distance value corresponding to one same chainring. The microcontroller unit selects one position table, and drives the driver to shift the derailleur to the corresponding position according to the position information of the selected position table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Chi-Ming CHIEN
  • Publication number: 20180304967
    Abstract: A derailleur system is provided that moves the derailleur cage in a substantially rectilinear path. The derailleur is mounted to a frame having a gear cassette mounted thereon. The gear cassette includes an axis of rotation. The derailleur includes a drive member engaging the gear cassette. The derailleur is positioned on the frame adjacent the gear cassette, and including a spatial linkage having a stationary link, a floating link, and a cage assembly having two pulleys each defining an axis of rotation. The drive member engages each of the pulleys. The path of the floating link is substantially linear through substantially its entire range of motion and variously aligns at least one of the pulleys with the gear cassette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Peter ZAWISTOWSKI
  • Publication number: 20180304968
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to underwater wings for providing lift to boats. More particularly, the invention comprises an underwater wing that attaches to the hull or hulls of a pontoon or tri-toon boat. The purpose of the wing is to provide a designated amount of lift to reduce drag and improve performance of the watercraft. This is different from a traditional hydrofoil, which is designed to lift a boat completely out of the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Jason Bernard Minor
  • Publication number: 20180304969
    Abstract: An exemplary method for a marine vessel having a propeller mounted to a rotatable shaft for converting rotative shaft power transferred from the shaft to the propeller into thrust to propel the marine vessel across water, includes obtaining measurement values that are descriptive of the shaft power, the thrust and speed through water of the marine vessel; separately estimating at least one of first excess shaft power caused by fouling of the propeller and second excess shaft power caused by fouling of the hull of the marine vessel; and issuing an indication of propeller cleaning in dependence of the first excess shaft power and hull cleaning in dependence of the second excess shaft power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: WÄRTSILÄ FINLAND OY
    Inventor: Ronald Van Miert
  • Publication number: 20180304970
    Abstract: The present invention provides a controllable float module for a modular offshore support structure assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: Trevor M. Hardcastle
  • Publication number: 20180304971
    Abstract: A multi-anchor depth control system for a boat or other watercraft having a line for securing anchors to the boat, at least two anchors attached at or near opposing ends of the line, a depth finder, and a controller configured to automatically adjust the amount of line released from the boat to maintain the anchors on the floor of the body of water in which the boat is floating, based upon information obtained from the depth finder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: William MAWSON, Stephen V. WEIGMAN