IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,469,808
Granted Patent B2
US 7,469,808 · App. 11/264,750 · Granted Dec 30, 2008

Stabilizing member for a bicycle carrier

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,469,808
App. No.
11/264,750
Granted
Dec 30, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

Stabilizer members for bicycle carriers often utilize a spool or hourglass shape that cannot accommodate different cross-sectional sizes of seat tube. This can often result in difficulties in adequately securing the bicycle to the bicycle carrier, and, therefore may result in damage to the bicycle, bicycle carrier, or even the vehicle. Accordingly, the bicycle carrier disclosed herein comprises a support member, a bracket attached to the support member, and a stabilizer member rotatably attached to the bracket, the stabilizer member including first and second faces, the first and second faces each including a channel having a radius of curvature wherein the radius of curvature of the first face is different than the radius of curvature of the second face.

Claims (35)

1. A bicycle carrier comprising:

a support member;

a first bracket attached to said support member;

a second bracket attached to said support member; and

a stabilizer member rotatably attached to said first and second brackets, rotatably attached to said support member, and including a substantially V-shaped slot extending therethrough, said stabilizer member having a first face located on a first side of said stabilizing member, a second face located on a second side of said stabilizing member, and a third face located on a third side of said stabilizing member, said first face, second face, and third face unitarily formed from a same material, and each face including a channel having a radius of curvature along said face wherein said radius of curvature of each face is different than said radius of curvature of each other face;

where said stabilizing member is rotatable to accommodate bicycle seat tubes of difference diameters.

2. The bicycle carrier of claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing member includes substantially arcuate edges.

3. The bicycle carrier of claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing member includes an aperture.

4. The bicycle carrier of claim 1 , further comprising a pin insertable through said V-shaped slot to rotatably attach said stabilizing member between said first bracket and said second bracket.

5. The bicycle carrier of claim 1 , further comprising a strap having a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is removably attached to said first bracket and said second portion is attached to said second bracket, and wherein said strap is capable of holding a bicycle tube in contact with said stabilizing member.

6. A bicycle carrier comprising:

a support member;

first and second brackets rotatably attached to said support member;

a saddle attached to said support member between said first bracket and said second bracket, said saddle capable of holding a portion of a frame of a bicycle; and

a stabilizer member rotatably attached to said first and second brackets, said stabilizer member including a first face located on a first side of the stabilizing member, a second face located on a second side of the stabilizing member, and third face located on a third side of the stabilizing member, said first, second, and third faces unitarily formed from a same material, each face including a channel having a radius of curvature along said face wherein said radius of curvature of each of said first, second, and third faces is different.

7. The bicycle carrier of claim 6 , wherein said stabilizing member has a triangular prismatic shape.

8. The bicycle carrier of claim 6 , wherein said stabilizing member includes substantially straight edges.

9. The bicycle carrier of claim 6 , wherein said stabilizing member is rotatable so that said first, second, and third faces of said stabilizing member can each accommodate a bicycle seat tube of a different diameter.

10. The bicycle carrier of claim 6 , wherein said stabilizing member includes substantially arcuate edges.

11. The bicycle carrier of claim 6 , further comprising a strap having a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is removably attached to said first bracket and said second portion is attached to said second bracket, and wherein said strap is capable of holding a bicycle tube in contact with said stabilizing member.

12. The bicycle carrier of claim 6 , wherein the stabilizing member is rotatably attached to said support member.

13. The bicycle carrier of claim 6 , wherein said stabilizing member is rotatable to accommodate bicycle seats tubes of different diameters.

14. The bicycle carrier of claim 6 , wherein the stabilizing member includes an aperture.

15. The bicycle carrier of claim 14 , further comprising a pin insertable through said aperture to rotatably attach said stabilizing member between said first bracket and said second bracket.

16. The bicycle carrier of claim 6 , wherein the stabilizing member includes a substantially V-shaped slot extending therethrough.

17. The bicycle carrier of claim 16 , further comprising a pin insertable through said V-shaped slot to rotatably attach said stabilizing member between said first bracket and second bracket.

18. A bicycle carrier comprising:

a support member;

a first bracket attached to said support member;

a second bracket attached to said support member;

a stabilizer member rotatably attached to said first and second bracket, rotatably attached to said support member, and including an aperture, said stabilizer member having a first face located on a first side of said stabilizing member, a second face located on a second side of said stabilizing member, and a third face located on a third side of said stabilizing member, said first face, second face, and third face unitarily formed from a same material, and each face including a channel having a radius of curvature along said face wherein said radius of curvature of each face is different than said radius of curvature of each other face; and

a pin insertable through said aperture to rotatably attach said stabilizing member between said first bracket and said second bracket;

where said stabilizing member is rotatable to accommodate bicycle seat tubes of difference diameters.

19. The bicycle carrier of claim 18 , wherein said stabilizing member includes substantially arcuate edges.

20. The bicycle carrier of claim 18 , further comprising a strap having a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is removably attached to said first bracket and said second portion is attached to said second bracket, and wherein said strap is capable of holding a bicycle tube in contact with said stabilizing member.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (024120/0535) Recorded Jul 16, 2015
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS SECOND LIEN AGENT
To: CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 036125/0710 →
RELEASE OF REEL/FRAME 029537/0582 Recorded Nov 15, 2013
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: TRIMAS CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR TO MASCO TECH, INC.); TRIMAS COMPANY LLC; ARMINAK & ASSOCIATES LLC; ARROW ENGINE COMPANY; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC. (SUCCESSOR TO CEQUENT ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS, INC., CEQUENT TOWING PRODUCTS, INC., CEQUENT TRAILER PRODUCTS, INC., FULTON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC., HIDDEN HITCH INTERNATIONAL, AND THEODORE BARGMAN, INC.); COMPAC CORPORATION; INNOVATIVE MOLDING; LAMONS GASKET COMPANY; MONOGRAM AEROSPACE FASTENERS, INC.; NI INDUSTRIES, INC.; NORRIS CYLINDER COMPANY; RIEKE-ARMINAK CORP.; RIEKE CORPORATION; RIEKE LEASING CO., INCORPORATED; TRIMAS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 031645/0436 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2012
From: TRIMAS CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR TO MASCOTECH, INC.); TRIMAS COMPANY LLC; ARMINAK & ASSOCIATES LLC; ARROW ENGINE COMPANY; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC. (SUCCESSOR TO CEQUENT ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS, INC., CEQUENT TOWING PRODUCTS, INC., CEQUENT TRAILER PRODUCTS, INC., FULTON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC., HIDDEN HITCH INTERNATIONAL, AND THEODORE BARGMAN, INC.); COMPAC CORPORATION; INNOVATIVE MOLDING; LAMONS GASKET COMPANY; MONOGRAM AEROSPACE FASTENERS, INC.; NI INDUSTRIES, INC.; NORRIS CYLINDER COMPANY; RIEKE-ARMINAK CORP.; RIEKE CORPORATION; RIEKE LEASING CO., INCORPORATED; TRIMAS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 029537/0582 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2011
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TRIMAS CORPORATION; ARROW ENGINE COMPANY; BEAUMONT BOLT & GASKET, INC.; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT TOWING PRODUCTS, INC.; COMPAC CORPORATION; CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; CUYAM CORPORATION; DEW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DI-RITE COMPANY; ENTEGRA FASTENER CORPORATION; FULTON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.; HAMMERBLOW ACQUISITION CORP.; THE HAMMERBLOW COMPANY, LLC; HI-VOL PRODUCTS LLC; INDUSTRIAL BOLT & GASKET, INC.; KEO CUTTERS, INC.; LAKE ERIE PRODUCTS CORPORATION; LAMONS GASKET COMPANY; LAMONS METAL GASKET CO.; LOUISIANA HOSE & RUBBER CO.; MONOGRAM AEROSPACE FASTENERS, INC.; NETCONG INVESTMENTS, INC.; NI INDUSTRIES, INC.; NI WEST, INC.; NORRIS CYLINDER COMPANY; NORRIS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.; NORRIS INDUSTRIES, INC.; PLASTIC FORM, INC.; REESE PRODUCTS, INC.; RESKA SPLINE PRODUCTS, INC.; RIEKE CORPORATION; RIEKE OF INDIANA, INC.; RIEKE LEASING CO., INCORPORATED; RIEKE OF MEXICO, INC.; TOWING HOLDING LLC; TRIMAS COMPANY LLC; TRIMAS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; WESBAR CORPORATION; DRAW-TITE, INC.; RICHARDS MICRO-TOOL, INC.
Reel/Frame 026706/0434 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 4, 2010
From: TRIMAS COMPANY, LLC FKA K.S. DISPOSITION, INC; TRIMAS COMPANY LLC; TRIMAS CORPORATION; ARROW ENGINE COMPANY; BEAUMONT BOLT & GASKET, INC.; TRIMAS COMPANY LLC FKA COMMONWEALTH DISPOSITION, LLC; COMPAC CORPORATION; CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; CUYAM CORPORATION; DI-RITE COMPANY; DRAW-TITE, INC.; ENTEGRA FASTENER CORPORATION; FULTON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT TOWING PRODUCTS, INC. FKA HITCH 'N POST, INC.; INDUSTRIAL BOLT & GASKET, INC.; KEO CUTTERS, INC.; LAKE ERIE SCREW CORPORATION; LAMONS METAL GASKET CO.; LOUISIANA HOSE & RUBBER CO.; MONOGRAM AEROSPACE FASTENERS, INC.; NETCONG INVESTMENTS, INC.; TRIMAS COMPANY LLC FKA NI FOREIGN MILITARY SALES CORP.; NI INDUSTRIES, INC.; NI WEST, INC.; NORRIS CYLINDER COMPANY; NORRIS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.; NORRIS INDUSTRIES, INC.; PLASTIC FORM, INC.; REESE PRODUCTS, INC.; RESKA SPLINE PRODUCTS, INC.; RICHARDS MICRO-TOOL, INC.; RIEKE CORPORATION; RIEKE OF INDIANA, INC.; RIEKE OF MEXICO; RIEKE LEASING CO.; TRIMAS COMPANY, LLC FKA TRIMAS FASTENERS, INC.; TRIMAS COMPANY, LLC FKA TRIMAS SERVICES CORP.; WESBAR CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 024390/0471 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 28, 2010
From: HITCH 'N POST, INC.
To: CEQUENT TOWING PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 024294/0863 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 23, 2010
From: TRIMAS CORPORATION; TRIMAS COMPANY LLC; ARROW ENGINE COMPANY; CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; COMPAC CORPORATION; DEW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; HI-VOL PRODUCTS LLC; KEO CUTTERS, INC.; LAKE ERIE PRODUCTS CORPORATION; MONOGRAM AEROSPACE FASTENERS, INC; NI INDUSTRIES, INC.; NORRIS CYLINDER COMPANY; RICHARDS MICRO-TOOL, INC.; RIEKE CORPORATION; RIEKE LEASING CO.; RIEKE OF MEXICO, INC.; THE HAMMERBLOW COMPANY, LLC; TRIMAS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; LAMONS GASKET COMPANY; TOWING HOLDING LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS SECOND LIEN AGENT
Reel/Frame 024120/0535 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2006
From: MORALES, ANTHONY; BELINKY, JACOB
To: CEQUENT TOWING PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 016975/0481 →