Patents Assigned to Softride, Inc.
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Publication number: 20110057008Abstract: A carrier for bicycles or other objects which is adapted to be mounted in a hitch receiver of a vehicle. The carrier being adapted to pivot downwardly away from the rear of the vehicle to allow for improved access to the rear doors of the vehicle. The carrier including one or more spring mechanisms such as cylinder and piston combinations, mounted to both control the rate of downward tilting of a rack and to assist in the lifting of the rack back to its load carrying position and release lever means for preventing loading or unloading of the cylinder and piston combinations when the rack is tilted.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2010Publication date: March 10, 2011Applicant: SOFTRIDE, INC.Inventors: Eivind Clausen, James D. Allsop, Ryan K. Allsop
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Patent number: 7832607Abstract: A bicycle support rack adapted to be mounted in a hitch receiver of a vehicle including a hollow upstanding tube having a parallel rod running therethrough, both extending from a lower hitch bar upwardly to a top plate. The top plate supporting a pair of rearwardly extending arms upon which one or more bicycles may be mounted for carrying by the vehicle. The tube and internal parallel rod both being adapted to pivot rearwardly while maintaining the bicycle supporting arms in a substantially parallel orientation with the vehicle hitch receiver. The tilting movement of the rack providing improved access to the rear of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Softride, Inc.Inventors: Eivind Clausen, James D. Allsop
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Patent number: 7815083Abstract: A carrier for bicycles or other objects which is adapted to be mounted in a hitch receiver of a vehicle. The carrier being adapted to pivot downwardly away from the rear of the vehicle to allow for improved access to the rear doors of the vehicle. The carrier including a cantilever mounted handle having a spring actuated locking member for holding the carrier in a horizontal or, vertically stored position, or, when released, allowing the carrier to tilt downwardly. The carrier including bicycle support members is adapted to grip the wheels of a bicycle mounted thereon. The bicycle support members are mounted on transverse members and are laterally adjustable to match the wheel span of a bicycle to be carried. The bicycle support members are adapted to be folded and the transverse members moved inwardly to make the carrier more compact for storage. In an alternative embodiment, a tiltable carrier rack is provided for carrying items other than bicycles.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2007Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Softride, Inc.Inventors: Eivind Clausen, James D Allsop
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Publication number: 20080099522Abstract: A carrier for bicycles or other objects which is adapted to be mounted in a hitch receiver of a vehicle. The carrier being adapted to pivot downwardly away from the rear of the vehicle to allow for improved access to the rear doors of the vehicle. The carrier including a cantilever mounted handle having a spring actuated locking member for holding the carrier in a horizontal or, vertically stored position, or, when released, allowing the carrier to tilt downwardly. The carrier including bicycle support members is adapted to grip the wheels of a bicycle mounted thereon. The bicycle support members are mounted on transverse members and are laterally adjustable to match the wheel span of a bicycle to be carried. The bicycle support members are adapted to be folded and the transverse members moved inwardly to make the carrier more compact for storage. In an alternative embodiment, a tiltable carrier rack is provided for carrying items other than bicycles.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2007Publication date: May 1, 2008Applicant: SOFTRIDE, INC.Inventors: Eivind Clausen, James D. Allsop
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Publication number: 20080093404Abstract: A bicycle support rack adapted to be mounted in a hitch receiver of a vehicle including a hollow upstanding tube having a parallel rod running therethrough, both extending from a lower hitch bar upwardly to a top plate. The top plate supporting a pair of rearwardly extending arms upon which one or more bicycles may be mounted for carrying by the vehicle. The tube and internal parallel rod both being adapted to pivot rearwardly while maintaining the bicycle supporting arms in a substantially parallel orientation with the vehicle hitch receiver. The tilting movement of the rack providing improved access to the rear of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2007Publication date: April 24, 2008Applicant: SOFTRIDE, INC.Inventors: Eivind Clausen, James D. Allsop
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Patent number: 6073949Abstract: A bicycle (10) including a novel suspension system (30) for supporting a bicycle seat (32). The suspension system (30) includes an elongate beam (34) rotatably attached at one end to the down tube (26) of the bicycle (10) and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. The seat (32) is attached to the distal end of the elongate beam (34). A slider (36) is attached to the down tube (26) at a location below the attachment of the elongate beam (34) to the down tube. The slider (36) includes a sleeve (38) that extends around the elongate beam (34). A shock absorber (40) is juxtaposed between the sleeve (38) and the elongate beam (34). By pressing downward on the seat (32), elongate beam (34) and the slider (36) rotate along their respective attachments to the down tube (26) and the sleeve (38) slides along the elongate beam (34). The shock absorber (40) slows and controls this sliding motion so that a shock absorber is created for the seat (32).Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1998Date of Patent: June 13, 2000Assignee: Softride, Inc.Inventors: Brady J. O'Hare, Michael G. Allsop
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Patent number: 5658119Abstract: A support rack for carrying articles behind a vehicle is disclosed. The rack includes a base member, a forward beam, a rearward beam, a top member, and lock arms. The base member is securable to the rearward end of the vehicle. The forward and rearward beams are pivotally connected to the base member and project upwardly therefrom. The beams are parallel to each other and together form a parallelogram with the base member and the top member. The top member is pivotally connected to the forward and rearward beams. The lock arms are for releasably locking the forward beam and the rearward beam in upright positions above the base member. Support arms are also slidably coupled to the top member for securing bicycles thereon. A crank clamp attachment structure is also provided, which fits on top of the top member to hold extra bicycles. The crank clamp attachment structure includes crank clamps and wheel rails.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: August 19, 1997Assignee: Softride, Inc.Inventors: Ivor J. Allsop, Eivind Clausen
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Patent number: 5527146Abstract: A support rack for carrying articles behind a vehicle is disclosed. The rack includes a base member, a forward beam, a rearward beam, a top member, and lock arms. The base member is securable to the rearward end of the vehicle. The forward and rearward beams are pivotally connected to the base member and project upwardly therefrom. The beams are parallel to each other and together form a parallelogram with the base member and the top member. The top member is pivotally connected to the forward and rearward beams. The lock arms are for releasably locking the forward beam and the rearward beam in upright positions above the base member. Support arms are also slidably coupled to the top member for securing bicycles thereon. A crank clamp attachment structure is also provided, which fits on top of the top member to hold extra bicycles. The crank clamp attachment structure includes crank clamps and wheel rails. A ski rack is also disclosed that may be pivotally coupled to the support rack.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 1994Date of Patent: June 18, 1996Assignee: Softride, Inc.Inventors: Ivor J. Allsop, Eivind Clausen
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Patent number: 5511444Abstract: A bicycle handlebar assembly (25) for damping and reducing the shock to which a cyclist is normally exposed. The assembly includes a mounting block (256) attached to the head (12) of a bicycle front fork assembly. An upper linkage member (252) and a lower linkage member (254) that are parallel and spaced apart from each other are pivotally attached at their tail ends to the mounting block. A handlebar claim (258) for securing a set of handlebars (24) thereto is pivotally attached to the front ends of the upper and lower linkage members. The static angle of the linkage members may be adjusted by movement of an eccentric bearing pin. A damping element is disposed against one of the linkage members for slowing the downward movement of the linkage members and serving as a sink for a downward force applied to the linkage members when the handlebars are urged downward. A spring element (268) may be the damping member.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 1994Date of Patent: April 30, 1996Assignee: Softride, Inc.Inventors: Eivind Clausen, James D. Allsop
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Patent number: 5456481Abstract: A bicycle (10) with a frame (12) formed of composite material is disclosed. The frame of this bicycle includes a head section or module (34) that is attached to two body units (36, 38). The body units are formed by injection molding and include outer shells and inner ribs 200. Alternatively, the body units may be formed of a urethane core with a stiffened fiberglass, carbon fibers, or like nonmetallic skin. The head section and body units are formed with bores (78, 81, 83, 90) in which sleeves and cables are seated to accommodate the installation of the other components of the bicycle to the frame. The body is further formed with a set of rearwardly extending members that form the chain stays (22) of the bicycle. Dropouts (104) are seated in recesses formed in the chain stays. The bicycle includes a front derailleur/rear brake assembly (30) with a front derailleur (134) that can be both selectively moved up and down and selectively pivoted along a lateral axis of the bicycle.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1994Date of Patent: October 10, 1995Assignee: Softride, Inc.Inventors: James D. Allsop, Michael G. Allsop
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Patent number: 5415423Abstract: A bicycle (10) with a frame (12) formed out of composite material is disclosed. The frame of this bicycle includes a head unit or module (34) that is attached to two body units (36, 38). The head unit and body unit are formed out of a urethane core and can be formed of stiffened fiberglass, carbon fibers, or like nonmetallic material. The head unit and body units are formed with bores (78, 81, 83, 90) in which sleeves and cables are seated to accommodate the installation of the other components of the bicycle to the frame. The body is further formed with a set of rearwardly extending members that form the chain stays (22) of the bicycle. Dropouts (104) are seated in recesses formed in the chain stays. The bicycle includes a front derailleur/rear brake assembly (30) with a front derailleur (134) that can be both selectively moved up and down and selectively pivoted along a lateral axis of the bicycle. By selecting an appropriately sized head unit, the frame of the bicycle can built to a specific size.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1992Date of Patent: May 16, 1995Assignee: Softride, Inc.Inventors: James D. Allsop, Michael G. Allsop
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Patent number: 5411280Abstract: A bicycle (10) with a frame (12) formed out of composite material is disclosed. The frame of this bicycle includes a head unit or module (34) that is attached to two body units (36, 38). The head unit and body unit are formed out of a urethane core and can be formed of stiffened fiberglass, carbon fibers, or like nonmetallic material. The head unit and body units are formed with bores (78, 81, 83, 90) in which sleeves and cables are seated to accommodate the installation of the other components of the bicycle to the frame. The body is further formed with a set of rearwardly extending members that form the chain stays (22) of the bicycle. Dropouts (104) are seated in recesses formed in the chain stays. The bicycle includes a from derailleur/rear brake assembly (30) with a front derailleur (134) that can be both selectively moved up and down and selectively pivoted along a lateral axis of the bicycle. By selecting an appropriately sized head unit, the frame of the bicycle can built to a specific size.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1993Date of Patent: May 2, 1995Assignee: Softride, Inc.Inventors: James D. Allsop, Michael G. Allsop
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Patent number: D632634Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Softride, Inc.Inventors: Eivind Clausen, James D. Allsop, Michael G. Allsop
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Patent number: D371093Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 1993Date of Patent: June 25, 1996Assignee: Softride, Inc.Inventors: James D. Allsop, Michael G. Allsop