Patents by Inventor Neil Swanson
Neil Swanson 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).
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Patent number: 11945544Abstract: A control device includes a housing having a base portion and an extension portion. The base portion of the housing has an inward facing side and an outward facing side. The control device includes a lever coupled to and pivotable relative to the housing, and a master cylinder portion supported by the housing. The master cylinder portion has a hollow fluid cylinder. The control device also includes a piston assembly supported by the housing. The piston assembly is movable relative to the master cylinder portion. At least part of the piston assembly is disposed within the master cylinder portion. The master cylinder portion is angled relative to the outward facing side of the base portion of the housing, such that the first end of the fluid cylinder is closer to the outward facing side than the second end of the fluid cylinder is relative to the outward facing side.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: SRAM, LLCInventors: Patrick Gruse, Rebecca Greetis, Nathan Luman, Douglas Mahoney, Walter May, Neil Swanson
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Patent number: 11745824Abstract: A control device mountable to a handlebar of a bicycle includes a housing, a lever coupled to and pivotable relative to the housing, and a master cylinder portion supported by the housing. The master cylinder portion has a fluid cylinder. The fluid cylinder has a first end and a second end opposite the first end with a cylindrical wall therebetween. An opening extends through the master cylinder portion, from the first end to the second end. The control device also includes a plug removably connected to the master cylinder portion via the opening at the first end of the fluid cylinder, and a piston assembly supported by the housing. The piston assembly is movable relative to the master cylinder portion. The housing is made of a first material, and the master cylinder portion is made of a second material. The second material is different than the first material.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: SRAM, LLCInventors: Neil Swanson, Doug Mahoney, Ryan Grimm
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Publication number: 20230257062Abstract: A control device includes a housing having a base portion and an extension portion. The base portion of the housing has an inward facing side and an outward facing side. The control device includes a lever coupled to and pivotable relative to the housing, and a master cylinder portion supported by the housing. The master cylinder portion has a hollow fluid cylinder. The control device also includes a piston assembly supported by the housing. The piston assembly is movable relative to the master cylinder portion. At least part of the piston assembly is disposed within the master cylinder portion. The master cylinder portion is angled relative to the outward facing side of the base portion of the housing, such that the first end of the fluid cylinder is closer to the outward facing side than the second end of the fluid cylinder is relative to the outward facing side.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2022Publication date: August 17, 2023Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventors: PATRICK GRUSE, REBECCA GREETIS, NATHAN LUMAN, DOUGLAS MAHONEY, WALTER MAY, NEIL SWANSON
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Publication number: 20230234668Abstract: A control device mountable to a handlebar of a bicycle includes a housing, a lever coupled to and pivotable relative to the housing, and a master cylinder portion supported by the housing. The master cylinder portion has a fluid cylinder. The fluid cylinder has a first end and a second end opposite the first end with a cylindrical wall therebetween. An opening extends through the master cylinder portion, from the first end to the second end. The control device also includes a plug removably connected to the master cylinder portion via the opening at the first end of the fluid cylinder, and a piston assembly supported by the housing. The piston assembly is movable relative to the master cylinder portion. The housing is made of a first material, and the master cylinder portion is made of a second material. The second material is different than the first material.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventors: NEIL SWANSON, DOUG MAHONEY, RYAN GRIMM
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Publication number: 20220144378Abstract: A control device mountable to a handlebar of a bicycle includes a housing, a lever coupled to and pivotable relative to the housing, and a master cylinder portion supported by the housing. The master cylinder portion has a fluid cylinder. The fluid cylinder has a first end and a second end opposite the first end with a cylindrical wall therebetween. An opening extends through the master cylinder portion, from the first end to the second end. The control device also includes a plug removably connected to the master cylinder portion via the opening at the first end of the fluid cylinder, and a piston assembly supported by the housing. The piston assembly is movable relative to the master cylinder portion. The housing is made of a first material, and the master cylinder portion is made of a second material. The second material is different than the first material.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2020Publication date: May 12, 2022Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventors: NEIL SWANSON, DOUG MAHONEY, RYAN GRIMM
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Patent number: 11155319Abstract: A hydraulic brake control device for a bicycle includes a housing having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side. The housing includes a first hydraulic line path and a second hydraulic line path, the first hydraulic line path including a first recess at the first side of the housing and the second hydraulic line path including a second recess at the second side of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: SRAM, LLCInventors: Nathan Luman, Neil Swanson
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Patent number: 10946928Abstract: A bicycle control device for use with a road bicycle includes a hydraulic brake control device and also may include a shift control device. The brake and shift control devices are disposed within a housing. The brake control device includes a master cylinder arranged in the housing. A piston assembly includes a piston slidably disposed within the master cylinder. A brake lever is operatively coupled to the piston such that the brake lever pulls the piston from a rest position to an actuated position.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2018Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: SRAM, LLCInventors: Neil Swanson, Mark Santurbane
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Publication number: 20200407011Abstract: A hydraulic brake control device for a bicycle includes a housing having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side. The housing includes a first hydraulic line path and a second hydraulic line path, the first hydraulic line path including a first recess at the first side of the housing and the second hydraulic line path including a second recess at the second side of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2019Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventors: NATHAN LUMAN, NEIL SWANSON
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Publication number: 20190106177Abstract: A bicycle control device for use with a road bicycle includes a hydraulic brake control device and also may include a shift control device. The brake and shift control devices are disposed within a housing. The brake control device includes a master cylinder arranged in the housing. A piston assembly includes a piston slidably disposed within the master cylinder. A brake lever is operatively coupled to the piston such that the brake lever pulls the piston from a rest position to an actuated position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventors: NEIL SWANSON, MARK SANTURBANE
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Patent number: 10183723Abstract: A bicycle control device for use with a road bicycle includes a hydraulic brake control device and a shift control device. The brake and shift control devices are disposed within a housing. The brake control device includes a master cylinder arranged in the housing. A piston assembly includes a piston slidably disposed within the master cylinder. A brake lever is operatively coupled to the piston such that the brake lever pulls the piston from a rest position to an actuated position.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2015Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: SRAM, LLCInventors: Neil Swanson, Mark Santurbane
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Patent number: 9663184Abstract: A hydraulically actuated rim brake with a pair of brake arms. Both brake arms may rotate about a common axis, which is the axis of a single bolt that mounts the assembly to the bicycle. The system has one piston slidably disposed in a piston cylinder. The piston's cylinder may be formed in one of the two brake arms. Actuation of the piston in the cylinder causes movement of both brake arms.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2011Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: SRAM, LLCInventors: Brian Jordan, Christopher Shipman, Neil Swanson
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Publication number: 20160264213Abstract: A bicycle control device for use with a road bicycle includes a hydraulic brake control device and a shift control device. The brake and shift control devices are disposed within a housing. The brake control device includes a master cylinder arranged in the housing. A piston assembly includes a piston slidably disposed within the master cylinder. A brake lever is operatively coupled to the piston such that the brake lever pulls the piston from a rest position to an actuated position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2015Publication date: September 15, 2016Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventors: Neil Swanson, Mark Santurbane
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Publication number: 20130112510Abstract: A hydraulically actuated rim brake with a pair of brake arms. Both brake arms may rotate about a common axis, which is the axis of a single bolt that mounts the assembly to the bicycle. The system has one piston slidably disposed in a piston cylinder. The piston's cylinder may be formed in one of the two brake arms. Actuation of the piston in the cylinder causes movement of both brake arms.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2011Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: SRAM, LLCInventors: Brian Jordan, Christopher Shipman, Neil Swanson
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Patent number: 7946432Abstract: A bicycle parking system includes a frame having a number of lower supports and a number of upper supports, each support being constructed to receive a bicycle. The frame includes a slide bar operatively engaged with each of the upper supports. Each slide bar includes a curved end to allow the attached upper support to rotate relative to the slide bar for loading and unloading of the upper support. A spring assembly biases each upper support toward a stored position.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2007Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Saris Cycling Group, Inc.Inventors: Neil Swanson, Heath A. Fossen, William B. Stephens
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Publication number: 20060213241Abstract: A combination locking tube comprising a base end cap connected to a base tube having a longitudinal channel and at least one notch contiguous with the channel, at least one locking ring having a longitudinal ring channel, a notch contiguous with the ring channel and an interlocking pin, each locking ring rotatably mounted on the base tube such that the locking ring's notch is positioned over a base tube notch, at least one indicia ring rotatably mounted on a locking ring having a plurality of characters and a plurality of teeth on its outer and inner surfaces, respectively, at least one static ring statically mounted to the base tube having an interlocking pin receptacle and an annular recess, an inner tube having an end cap and at least one pin received within the base tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2006Publication date: September 28, 2006Inventor: Neil Swanson