Patents by Inventor Frederick G. Murray

Frederick G. Murray 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: 9457728
    Abstract: A roller load assisted roof-top carrier for elongate articles such as kayak boats. The roof-top carrier includes a space frame having at least a U-shaped portion, the legs of which are each slidingly mountable to each of a front and back cross bar of a vehicular roof rack. In this manner, the space frame translates unitarily relative to the vehicular roof rack. Forward and back cross members are provided that are mounted upon the space frame, the front cross member carrying a pair of kayak saddles, each faced with a friction inducing material for discouraging slippage between a secured kayak and the space frame and the back cross member carrying a pair of guide panels, each faced with a slip inducing material for encouraging slippage between a kayak being loaded on or unloaded from the space frame. A roller can be mounted on a back portion of the space frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Thule Sweden AB
    Inventors: Frederick G. Murray, Kevin W. Harris
  • Publication number: 20140252056
    Abstract: A roller load assisted roof-top carrier for elongate articles such as kayak boats. The roof-top carrier includes a space frame having at least a U-shaped portion, the legs of which are each slidingly mountable to each of a front and back cross bar of a vehicular roof rack. In this manner, the space frame translates unitarily relative to the vehicular roof rack. Forward and back cross members are provided that are mounted upon the space frame, the front cross member carrying a pair of kayak saddles, each faced with a friction inducing material for discouraging slippage between a secured kayak and the space frame and the back cross member carrying a pair of guide panels, each faced with a slip inducing material for encouraging slippage between a kayak being loaded on or unloaded from the space frame. A roller can be mounted on a back portion of the space frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: THULE SWEDEN AB
    Inventors: Frederick G. MURRAY, Kevin W. HARRIS
  • Patent number: 8733604
    Abstract: A roller load assisted roof-top carrier for elongate articles such as kayak boats. The roof-top carrier includes a space frame having at least a U-shaped portion, the legs of which are each slidingly mountable to each of a front and back cross bar of a vehicular roof rack. In this manner, the space frame translates unitarily relative to the vehicular roof rack. Forward and back cross members are provided that are mounted upon the space frame, the front cross member carrying a pair of kayak saddles, each faced with a friction inducing material for discouraging slippage between a secured kayak and the space frame and the back cross member carrying a pair of guide panels, each faced with a slip inducing material for encouraging slippage between a kayak being loaded on or unloaded from the space frame. A roller is mounted on a back bight portion of the space frame, the roller being located at a fixed spacing with respect to the front and back cross members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Thule Sweden AB
    Inventors: Frederick G. Murray, Kevin W. Harris
  • Patent number: 8387841
    Abstract: A load carrier for a rear end of a vehicle includes a load supporting member, a mounting member including a hub connecting arm and a vehicle contacting portion, and a releasable pivot locking member. The hub connecting arm and the vehicle contacting portion are pivotally coupled to one another and the releasable pivot locking member, in a locked state, prevents pivoting movement of the hub connecting arm and the vehicle contacting portion such that the hub connecting arm and the vehicle contacting portion are disposed at an angle with respect to one another. In an unlocked state, the releasable pivot locking member allows pivoting movement of the vehicle contacting portion with respect to the hub connecting arm such that the vehicle contacting portion may be pivoted toward the hub connecting arm, e.g., as may be desired to collapse the load carrier for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Thule Sweden AB
    Inventor: Frederick G. Murray
  • Patent number: 8109422
    Abstract: A load carrier for a rear end of a vehicle includes a load supporting member, a mounting member including a hub connecting arm and a vehicle contacting portion, and a releasable pivot locking member. The hub connecting arm and the vehicle contacting portion are pivotally coupled to one another and the releasable pivot locking member, in a locked state, prevents pivoting movement of the hub connecting arm and the vehicle contacting portion such that the hub connecting arm and the vehicle contacting portion are disposed at an angle with respect to one another. In an unlocked state, the releasable pivot locking member allows pivoting movement of the vehicle contacting portion with respect to the hub connecting arm such that the vehicle contacting portion may be pivoted toward the hub connecting arm, e.g., as may be desired to collapse the load carrier for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Thule Sweden AB
    Inventor: Frederick G. Murray
  • Publication number: 20110068137
    Abstract: A kayak carrier for a vehicle that can be adjusted infinitely for supporting a wide range of kayaks of various sizes is disclosed herein. The kayak carrier can include four supports, two for the front and two for the rear of a vehicle. The supports can be comprised of foam and have through holes to accept a guide to couple the supports together, thereby forming saddles which can rest on the rear and the front of a vehicle. The kayak carrier can be secured to the vehicle via straps. A kayak can be secured to the kayak carrier via straps or netting. The rear supports can further include a relatively low-friction surface, compared to the front supports, to facilitate sliding to ease kayak installation. The front supports can include a relatively high-friction surface, compared to the rear supports, to prevent slippage. Additionally, the bottom surfaces of the supports can include a similar relatively high-friction surface to prevent the supports from sliding on the roof of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Frederick G. Murray, William E. Fortune
  • Publication number: 20100078455
    Abstract: A load carrier for a rear end of a vehicle includes a load supporting member, a mounting member including a hub connecting arm and a vehicle contacting portion, and a releasable pivot locking member. The hub connecting arm and the vehicle contacting portion are pivotally coupled to one another and the releasable pivot locking member, in a locked state, prevents pivoting movement of the hub connecting arm and the vehicle contacting portion such that the hub connecting arm and the vehicle contacting portion are disposed at an angle with respect to one another. In an unlocked state, the releasable pivot locking member allows pivoting movement of the vehicle contacting portion with respect to the hub connecting arm such that the vehicle contacting portion may be pivoted toward the hub connecting arm, e.g., as may be desired to collapse the load carrier for storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: THULE SWEDE AB
    Inventor: Frederick G. MURRAY
  • Publication number: 20080035689
    Abstract: A roller load assisted roof-top carrier for elongate articles such as kayak boats. The roof-top carrier includes a space frame having at least a U-shaped portion, the legs of which are each slidingly mountable to each of a front and back cross bar of a vehicular roof rack. In this manner, the space frame translates unitarily relative to the vehicular roof rack. Forward and back cross members are provided that are mounted upon the space frame, the front cross member carrying a pair of kayak saddles, each faced with a friction inducing material for discouraging slippage between a secured kayak and the space frame and the back cross member carrying a pair of guide panels, each faced with a slip inducing material for encouraging slippage between a kayak being loaded on or unloaded from the space frame. A roller is mounted on a back bight portion of the space frame, the roller being located at a fixed spacing with respect to the front and back cross members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Frederick G. Murray, Kevin W. Harris
  • Patent number: 6131781
    Abstract: A load assist to a vehicle rack carrier that includes a brace bar coupleable to a vehicle rack carrier where the brace bar is positionable between extended and retracted configurations relative to the vehicle rack carrier when coupled thereto. A connector is adapted for coupling the brace bar to the vehicle rack carrier and includes a brace bar receiver adapted for accommodating reciprocating motion of the brace bar therein. A handle is coupled to an outer distal end of the brace bar and is adapted for preventing slippage of an object off of the distal end of the brace bar. The couplement of the handle to the outer distal end of the brace bar is by a threaded fastener that establishes a friction fit between the handle and the brace bar. The brace bar has an insert pin receiving aperture therein and there is also included a biased insert pin adapted for insertion into the insert pin receiving aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventor: Frederick G. Murray
  • Patent number: 6079601
    Abstract: An anchorage device is intended for securing a load carrier on a load carrier strut which is disposed on a vehicle. The anchorage device includes an openable clamp (9) produced from a flexible material and a tensioning device (18). The tensioning device (18) extends through mutually overlapping end portions (10, 15) of the clamp (9). The clamp (9) is, in the open state, movable to a position surrounding the load carrier strut. On tightening of the tensioning device (18), the end portions (10, 15) are fixed against the load carrier. The one end portion (15) has a closed aperture through which the tensioning device (18) extends. The other end portion (10) has an open recess for accommodating the tensioning device (18). Each of the end portions have abuttable surfaces configured for abutting engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventor: Frederick G. Murray
  • Patent number: 6062450
    Abstract: A mechanism for releasably fixing a bicycle's fork upon a support. The mechanism includes a bicycle fork anchor having a fork pinching assembly that has two bicycle fork prong receiving portions. A handle is operably coupled to, or associated with the fork pinching assembly for configuring the fork pinching assembly between a bicycle fork pre-pinched position and a bicycle fork pinch-secured position. Also, the handle is located between the fork prong receiving portions. Supplementarily, an adjustable mounting may be included for permitting the bicycle fork anchor to be canted to a side within a substantially horizontal plane thereby turning the handle bars of a bicycle that is secured upon the bicycle fork anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventors: James R. Noel, Thomas A. Chimenti, Frederick G. Murray, Jan Erik Johansson
  • Patent number: 6023821
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a safety device in a clamping strap (12) with a clamp (10). A casing (11) is designed for accommodating the clamp (10), and the casing (11) is designed with a first aperture (13) for insertion and removal of the clamp (10) and a second aperture (14) for passage of at least a part of the clamping strap (12). The casing is produced from a soft or elastic, preferably shock-absorbing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventor: Frederick G. Murray
  • Patent number: 5875947
    Abstract: A mechanism for releasably fixing a bicycle's fork upon a support such as a vehicular load carrier or a storage mount. The mechanism includes a pair of skewers (123) that are at least partially received within a bicycle fork anchor (100) and the skewers (123) are movable one skewer (125) relative to the other skewer (130). The pair of skewers (123) are configured for fixing a bicycle's fork to the anchor (100). Each skewer (125,130) of the pair (123) is operable between a bicycle fork pre-pinched position and a bicycle fork pinch-secured position. Each skewer (125) of the skewer pair (123) is longitudinally aligned with the other skewer pair (130) and the skewers (125,130) are spaced apart from one another in at least one of the two positions. At least one handle (110) is coupled to the bicycle fork anchor (100) for operating at least one skewer (125,130) of the skewer pair (123) between the bicycle fork pre-pinched position and the bicycle fork pinch-secured position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventors: James R. Noel, Thomas A. Chimenti, Frederick G. Murray, Jan Erik Johansson
  • Patent number: D656080
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Thule Sweden AB
    Inventors: David Budd, John Laverack, Frederick G. Murray, Greg Weaver
  • Patent number: D665725
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Thule Sweden AB
    Inventors: John Laverack, Greg G. Weaver, Frederick G. Murray