Patents Assigned to Kuat Innovations, LLC
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Publication number: 20220185196Abstract: An equipment rack is described with an integrated lighting system. The integrated lighting system may connect to the vehicle's electrical system to provide tail light, brake light, hazard, reverse light, and turn signal functions. The lighting system may include an automatic connection for lighting attached to a rack extension when the rack extension is attached to a base rack. The lighting may also be visible on a pivoting rack when the rack is stowed or in use to carry bicycles. The lighting elements may be disposed on or inside the equipment rack and may be provided with internal wiring to connect the lights to the vehicle's electrical system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2022Publication date: June 16, 2022Applicant: Kuat Innovations LLCInventors: Luke Kuschmeader, Aaron Houston, Jordan Bowles, Austin Harrill
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Publication number: 20220153205Abstract: Bicycle carriers or racks for attachment to vehicles may be provided with a pivoting mechanism to rotate the rack in a vertical plane to provide access to the rear of the vehicle without removing bicycles from the rack. An actuator may be provided for a user to engage and disengage the pivoting mechanism to respectively secure the rack in a desired orientation or allow it to pivot from one desired orientation to another. The actuator may be coupled to a bar that engages one or more protrusions in the pivoting mechanism to secure the pivoting mechanism at a desired orientation. In some mechanisms the actuator may be actuated by hand or by foot, or both.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2022Publication date: May 19, 2022Applicant: Kuat Innovations LLCInventors: Luke Kuschmeader, Joshua H. Schwartz
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Publication number: 20220134962Abstract: A latch mechanism for a pivoting bicycle rack provides a pivot release actuator on an extension that is added on to the bicycle rack. The latch mechanism comprises a connector body that is attached to the bicycle rack, and that may have an actuator for operating the pivot release. The rack extension assembly has an actuator and a linkage that connects to the connector body in the bicycle rack so that the actuator in the extension can release the pivot on the bicycle rack. The connector body may be shaped to guide the linkage during the process of attaching the extension assembly to the bicycle rack. The mechanism may be provided with a means for disconnecting the linkage from the connector body.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2022Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: Kuat Innovations LLCInventor: Austin Harrill
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Publication number: 20220055544Abstract: An equipment rack for use with a vehicle is described having a sliding member translatably attached to a lower cross member of the rack. The sliding member translates outwardly from the rack to a loading and unloading position. In the loading and unloading position, sports equipment may be placed on or removed from the sliding member. When the sports equipment has been loaded the sliding member may be translated back toward the rack into a stowed position. In the stowed position an upper cross member may be clamped to the lower cross member to secure the sports equipment on the rack.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2021Publication date: February 24, 2022Applicant: Kuat Innovations LLCInventors: LUKE KUSCHMEADER, JORDAN BOWLES, MIKE BUIS, AARON HOUSTON, JOSHUA SCHWARTZ
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Patent number: 11242101Abstract: An equipment rack is described with an integrated lighting system. The integrated lighting system may connect to the vehicle's electrical system to provide tail light, brake light, hazard, reverse light, and turn signal functions. The lighting system may include an automatic connection for lighting attached to a rack extension when the rack extension is attached to a base rack. The lighting may also be visible on a pivoting rack when the rack is stowed or in use to carry bicycles. The lighting elements may be disposed on or inside the equipment rack and may be provided with internal wiring to connect the lights to the vehicle's electrical system.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2020Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Kuat Innovations, LLCInventors: Luke Kuschmeader, Aaron Houston, Jordan Bowles, Austin Harrill
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Patent number: 11225199Abstract: A latch mechanism for a pivoting bicycle rack provides a pivot release actuator on an extension that is added on to the bicycle rack. The latch mechanism comprises a connector body that is attached to the bicycle rack, and that may have an actuator for operating the pivot release. The rack extension assembly has an actuator and a linkage that connects to the connector body in the bicycle rack so that the actuator in the extension can release the pivot on the bicycle rack. The connector body may be shaped to guide the linkage during the process of attaching the extension assembly to the bicycle rack.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2020Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: KUAT INNOVATIONS LLCInventor: Austin Harrill
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Patent number: 11208167Abstract: A bicycle rack is described with an actuated arm that pivots to an open position in response to user activation of the actuator. The actuator is attached to the rack and the arm and exerts a force on the arm by extension to pivot the actuated arm to the open position. The actuator extends only when a release mechanism has been actuated by a user, but a user may pivot the actuated arm back to a closed position, or a position securing a bicycle, without actuating the release. The actuated arm will then be retained at a position selected by the user until the release is actuated by the user again.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2019Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: KUAT INNOVATIONS LLCInventors: Luke Kuschmeader, Aaron Houston, Austin Harrill, Jordan Bowles, Jonathan Graif
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Patent number: 11077804Abstract: A rack is described for securing equipment, such as a kayak, to a vehicle. The rack has a base member, a support member, and a hinge assembly that pivotally connects the support member to the base member. The rack may be folded from an open configuration to a closed configuration. A handle or actuator on the base member may be operated to engage or disengage a latch mechanism to allow the hinge assembly to pivot or to be fixed to control the movement of the support member between desired positions in relation to the base member. The latch mechanism may comprise a shuttle assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2020Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: KUAT INNOVATIONS LLCInventors: Luke Kuschmeader, Aaron Houston, Jordan Bowles, Joshua Schwartz
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Patent number: 10723278Abstract: A bicycle rack for mounting on the trunk or rear hatch of a vehicle is described with improved mechanisms for adjusting the components of the rack to fit the rack to different vehicles. The rack is provided with hinge assemblies having releasable latches for quickly releasing the hinges to allow the rack components to be moved with respect to one another, and the latching components back into a fixed configuration during use for carrying a bicycle. The bicycle rack is also provided with inventive support members for holding a bicycle on the rack during use.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2018Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: KUAT INNOVATIONS LLCInventors: Jordan K. Bowles, Joshua H. Schwartz, Aaron A. Houston, Michael Buis, Luke Kuschmeader
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Patent number: 10668866Abstract: The present disclosure includes hitch-mounted carriers, including portable bicycle racks. One carrier may include front tire tray assembly; hook arm assembly; pivot assembly; hitch shank ball cam assembly; rear tire tray assembly; and a bike docking assembly. The pivot assembly allowing for adjustment between: storage, trunk access, and use configurations. The bike carrier having first and second wheel supporting tray assemblies for supporting wheels of a loaded bicycle. A hook arm assembly may be pivotally arranged relative to lock at least one wheel and ratchet clamped to at least one wheel. The hook arm assembly may also be configured to extend and retract and is frictionally locked into position. The bike carrier may include a docking assembly having inner and outer clamps configured to the hold a bike into position such that mechanical work may be accomplished at an elevated height.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: KUAT INNOVATIONS, LLCInventors: Luke Kuschmeader, Michael Buis, Jordan K. Bowles, Joshua H. Schwartz, Aaron A. Houston
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Patent number: 10206461Abstract: A latch system has a socket assembly and a plug assembly. When the socket assembly is within a predetermined distance from the plug assembly, a socket magnet member and a plug magnet member displace the socket assembly towards the plug assembly. To place the latch system in an engaged configuration, the head portion of the plug member passes through a main opening in a socket housing and a plug opening in a socket plate such that the head portion is within the primary chamber. To place the latch system in a latched configuration, the socket assembly is displaced relative to the plug assembly to arrange at least a portion of the socket plate within a head gap defined by a head portion of a plug member.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2017Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: Kuat Innovations LLCInventor: Thomas Ryan Swetish
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Patent number: D602420Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2008Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Kuat Innovations, LLCInventors: Luke Kuschmeader, Brian Atkinson
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Patent number: D701163Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2013Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Kuat Innovations, LLCInventors: Luke Kuschmeader, James G. Quintus
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Patent number: D863200Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2018Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Kuat Innovations, LLCInventors: Luke Kuschmeader, Joshua Schwartz
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Patent number: D895530Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2019Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Kuat Innovations LLCInventor: Parker Lathrop