Patents by Inventor Joseph V. Graber

Joseph V. Graber 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: 4848112
    Abstract: A lockable rotary attachment device including an axially threaded attachment member having an externally splined drive head and a flange defining oppositely facing annular shoulders, and a knob mounted for axial translation on the attachment member between first and second axial positions on the attachment member. The knob is freely rotatable relative to the attachment member in the first axial position and has an internally splined socket for non-rotatably receiving the drive head when in the second axial position. A lock is mounted on the knob for moving a latch member between a first latch position in which it is disposed outwardly of the flange on the attachment member to allow axial translation of the knob between the first and second axial positions, and a second latch position disposed radially inwardly of the flange for engagement with the first shoulder when the knob is in its first axial position and for engagement with the second shoulder when the knob is in its second axial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Graber Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph V. Graber, Ervin L. Severson
  • Patent number: 4733810
    Abstract: A foldable bicycle support device including first and second cross frame members and first and second bicycle wheel receiving channels extending crosswise of the cross frame members. First and second bicycle support members are pivotally mounted by hinge brackets to the same cross frame member for swinging movement about an axis paralleling the cross frame member, and the first and second bicycle support brackets each have a portion that converges toward a medial plane between the wheel support brackets and laterally extending upper portions that extend transverse to the plane for engaging and supporting a bicycle frame. The converging portions of the bicycle support brackets are rigidly interconnected so that the first and second support brackets form a laterally stable assembly that is movable as a unit between a lower and a raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Graber Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph V. Graber, Jeffrey G. Romenesko
  • Patent number: 4702401
    Abstract: A bicycle support device including a channel for receiving the wheels of a bicycle and a bicycle frame engaging structure for supporting a bicycle in a plane generally bisecting the channel with the wheels resting in the channel. A toggle type wheel engaging clamp is mounted on the channel and arranged to engage a bicycle wheel at a location above the channel and is movable to a clamp position in which it draws the wheel in a direction having one component toward the channel to firmly press the wheel in the channel and a second component lengthwise of the channel to aid in retaining the bicycle against movement longitudinally of the channel. The wheel engaging clamp is adjustable along the channel to accommodate different bicycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Graber Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph V. Graber, Ervin L. Severson
  • Patent number: 4452384
    Abstract: A foldable bicycle support device including an elongated channel for receiving the wheels of a bicycle, a mounting bracket attached to the channel, an elongated bicycle support member swingably mounted on the bracket for movement between a folded position alongside the channel and a raised bicycle support position. A latch releasably holds the bicycle support member in its raised position and the support member has a clamp at its upper end for engaging the frame of the bicycle to support the bicycle in the longitudinal medial plane of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1984
    Inventor: Joseph V. Graber
  • Patent number: 4432479
    Abstract: A vehicle attached carrier for mounting on the roof or trunk lid of a vehicle. The carrier includes a plurality of vehicle engaging devices for supporting a load support on the surface of the vehicle. The vehicle attaching devices each include an elongated load distributing member having a pair of relatively parallel pivot pins extending crosswise adjacent opposite ends. The load distributing member is attached intermediate its ends to the load support to transmit downwardly applied forces substantially equally to both pivot pins. First and second foot members are mounted on the pivot pins for pivotal movement about the axis of the pivot pins and for tilting movement in a direction crosswise of the pivot pins to allow the vehicle engaging surface on the foot members to conform to the longitudinal and transverse curvature of the surface of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1984
    Inventor: Joseph V. Graber
  • Patent number: 4416379
    Abstract: A bicycle storage device including an elongated wheel receiving channel adapted to receive the front and rear wheels of a bicycle, and a bicycle wheel engaging hook mounted on one end of the channel to extend crosswise of a medial plane bisecting the channel and at a location spaced from the open side of the channel so that the bicycle wheel can be moved laterally of the channel past the free end of the hook and then shifted in the longitudinal medial plane until both wheels rest in the channel with the weight of the bicycle supported by the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1983
    Inventor: Joseph V. Graber
  • Patent number: 4394948
    Abstract: A collapsible bicycle carrier for mounting on the rear body of a vehicle. The carrier includes a pair of U-shaped frames arranged to extend transversely of the vehicle and which are interconnected by side plates for angular adjustment relative to each other. Bicycle support arms are mounted on the side plates for angular adjustment relative to the side plates and relative to the transverse frames to enable the arms to extend generally horizontally when the carrier is mounted on different types of vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Inventor: Joseph V. Graber
  • Patent number: 4386709
    Abstract: A bicycle support device including a pair of upwardly opening channels for receiving the wheels of a bicycle mounted in relatively parallel relation on a pair of cross frame members and having bicycle support members swingably mounted on the lower ends of a respective one of the cross frame members for movement between a lower folded position between the channels and a raised support position extending upwardly from the respective cross frame member at an acute angle to the horizontal to cross each other at a location intermediate their ends, with a fastener detachably interconnecting the bicycle support members intermediate their ends at a crossing location. The channels have a stepped V-shaped cross-section to accommodate bicycle tires of widely different size. The channels are provided with outwardly rolled rims along their upper edges. Wheel engaging devices are slidably mounted in the rolled rims for adjustment in a direction lengthwise of the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1983
    Inventor: Joseph V. Graber
  • Patent number: 4345705
    Abstract: A vehicle attached bicycle carrier including a pair of upwardly opening channels for receiving the wheels of a bicycle mounted in relatively parallel relation on a pair of cross frame members and having bicycle support members swingably mounted on the lower ends of a respective one of the cross frame members for movement between a lower folded position between the channels and a raised support position extending upwardly from the respective cross frame member at an acute angle to the horizontal to cross each other at a location intermediate their ends, with a fastener detachably interconnecting the bicycle support members intermediate their ends at a crossing location. The cross frame members are supported adjacent their ends on side support frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1982
    Inventor: Joseph V. Graber
  • Patent number: 4318501
    Abstract: A bumper mounted carrier rack of the type having spaced downwardly extending rack legs on the bumper of a vehicle. The carrier rack is detachably mounted on the vehicle bumper by bumper mounting brackets which include tubular posts dimensioned to receive the legs of the carrier rack. The tubular posts have an outwardly flared leg on their upper end and are clamped to the bumper by a bumper clamp having an opening for receiving the post and arranged to underlie the lip to support the post at a level closely adjacent the top of the bumper. Bumper hangers secure the bumper clamp and posts to the bumper. In one embodiment, the bumper hangers are provided with multiple purpose hooks for use on flange type as well as flangeless bumpers. In another embodiment, bumper engaging hangers are provided for use on box type bumpers as well as covered bumpers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Inventor: Joseph V. Graber
  • Patent number: 4182467
    Abstract: A vehicle attached carrier for bicycles comprising spaced U-shaped side frames each formed with an arcuate intermediate portion and two straight leg portions extending from the ends of the arcuate intermediate portion, the side frames having a plurality of openings spaced apart along the arcuate intermediate portion in non-linear relation, and bicycle support frame including relatively parallel support arms having spaced openings adapted to register with different selected pairs of openings in the arcuate intermediate portion of the side frames to receive bolts for securing the arms to the side frames in different selected positions extending generally chordwise of the arcuate intermediate portion of the side frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Inventor: Joseph V. Graber
  • Patent number: 4085874
    Abstract: An automobile bicycle carrier having spaced rigid side frames providing vehicle engaging feet on the ends thereof and bicycle support members attached by mounting plates to the side frames for angular adjustment relative thereto about a pivot axis extending crosswise between the side frames. The mounting plates have a plurality of openings arranged in an arcuate pattern concentric with the pivot axis to enable adjustment of the support members relative to the side frames so that the support members can extend generally horizontally when the carrier is mounted with the vehicle engaging feet in different positions between a generally horizontal plane and a generally upright plane to adapt the carrier for use on vehicles of widely different types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1978
    Inventor: Joseph V. Graber
  • Patent number: 3994425
    Abstract: An automobile bicycle carrier of the type including a pair of upwardly opening channels for receiving the wheels of a bicycle and a support frame for mounting the channels in spaced parallel relation on a vehicle and for engaging the frames of the bicycles resting in each of the channels to support the same in upright position. The support frame is formed of a plurality of separate and detachably connected frame members and includes a pair of front frame members that are attached to the channels and which are detachably interconnected to each other intermediate the channels and a corresponding pair of rear frame members which are connected to the channels and detachably interconnected intermediate the channels to support the channels in spaced parallel relation. One of the front and rear frame members each have a leg that extends upwardly with a laterally extending arm at its upper end for engaging and supporting the frame of the bicycle in a respective one of the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1976
    Inventor: Joseph V. Graber