The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 10, 2007
Filed:
Feb. 03, 2005
Donald C. Miller, Fallbrook, CA (US);
David J. Allen, Santa Cruz, CA (US);
Robert A. Smithson, Cedar Park, TX (US);
Jeffrey A. Birchak, San Diego, CA (US);
Donald C. Miller, Fallbrook, CA (US);
David J. Allen, Santa Cruz, CA (US);
Robert A. Smithson, Cedar Park, TX (US);
Jeffrey A. Birchak, San Diego, CA (US);
Fallbrook Technologies Inc., San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
A continuously variable planetary gear set is described having a generally tubular idler, a plurality of balls distributed radially about the idler, each ball having a tiltable axis about which it rotates, a rotatable input disc positioned adjacent to the balls and in contact with each of the balls, a rotatable output disc positioned adjacent to the balls opposite the input disc and in contact with each of the balls such that each of the balls makes three-point contact with the input disc, the output disc and the idler, and a rotatable cage adapted to maintain the axial and radial position of each of the balls, wherein the axes of the balls are oriented by the axial position of the idler.