Patents by Inventor Mark T. La Plante

Mark T. La Plante 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: 4671438
    Abstract: An attachment system for mounting a pannier on a bicycle carrier rack, the pannier being of a type having a substantially rigid back frame component providing two attachment points in the upper portion thereof and the rack being of a type having two longitudinally spaced-apart upper mounting points, comprises first and second hooks fastened to the respective attachment points of the pannier back frame component and adapted to be hooked over the respective two upper mounting points on the rack. An over-center lever is attached to the pannier back frame to pivot about a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the back frame and includes a first surface thereon engageable with the underside of a rack member in a locked position of the lever, said surface being spaced apart from the pivot axis a distance slightly greater than a line of shortest distance between said rack member and the pivot axis, whereby the locked position of the lever is over center with respect to said shortest distance line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Cannondale Corporation
    Inventor: Mark T. La Plante
  • Patent number: 4666071
    Abstract: A rear carrier rack for a bicycle comprises spaced-apart side members, each of which includes a horizontal portion and an L-shaped portion, an inverted U-bar, an inverted V-bar and a plurality of cross pieces, of which one between the two horizontal portions of the side members supports a pair of adjustable connecting bars and a locking mechanism for such bars. The free ends of the two bars and the two points where the free ends of the V-shaped and U-shaped bars meet serve as the four attachment points of the rack to the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Cannondale Corporation
    Inventors: David Irwin, Mark T. La Plante, David R. Graham
  • Patent number: 4603875
    Abstract: A bicycle front wheel holder is provided for releasably locking the front wheel of a bicycle in fixed rotational position relative to the bicycle frame and for keeping the front wheel from turning. The wheel holder comprises two bracket members adapted to replace the shift lever stopper members in conventional multispeed shifting assemblies. The bracket members receive a wire form member for pivotal rotation between a first position wherein the wire form contacts the front wheel, and a second position free of contact with the front wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: Canondale Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew S. Boughton, Mark T. La Plante