Patents by Inventor Richard L. Ireland

Richard L. Ireland 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: 5839615
    Abstract: An adjustable article carrier track mount system that compensates for the cross-line radius or fall-away slope of a vehicle roof and easily and effectively locks the adjustable article carrier in place, has an elongated track, an end support operably connected to the track and adapted to slidably receive a crossbar, to slide longitudinally along the track, and rotate about the longitudinal axis of the track. To facilitate locking the adjustable article carrier in place, the track mount system includes a locking mechanism that is slidably received in the track and operably connected to the end support. The locking mechanism includes opposed wedges and a device adapted to force one of the wedges against another wedge to lock the locking mechanism within the track and thus the end support at a desired position along the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Sport Carriers, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph D. Ray, Richard L. Ireland, Jon Apogee
  • Patent number: 5551617
    Abstract: An adjustable article carrier track mount system that compensates for the cross-line radius or fall-away slope of a vehicle roof and easily and effectively locks the adjustable article carrier in place, has an elongated track, an end support operably connected to the track and adapted to slidably receive a crossbar, to slide longitudinally along the track, and rotate about the longitudinal axis of the track. To facilitate locking the adjustable article carrier in place, the track mount system includes a locking mechanism that is slidably received in the track and operably connected to the end support. The locking mechanism includes opposed wedges and a device adapted to force one of the wedges against another wedge to lock the locking mechanism within the track and thus the end support at a desired position along the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Sport Carriers, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph D. Ray, Richard L. Ireland, Jon Apogee
  • Patent number: 5505579
    Abstract: A sliding carrier comprising a frame and a sled, with the frame being mounted to the rooftop of a vehicle, and the sled adaptable for carrying certain objects being in sliding communication with the frame. The sled unlocks and slides out of the frame to a rearmost horizontal deployment position. The sled releases from the horizontal plane of travel into a pivoting plane of travel by lifting and pulling the sled over a stop block. The sled then pivots about a rearward wheel assembly until a landing gear assembly contacts the ground. A winch assembly is then used to control the further lowering of the sled from a grounded position to a loading position, at which time certain objects may be loaded onto the sled. The sled is returned to a locked traveling position atop the vehicle by reversing the steps above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Sport Carriers, Incorporated
    Inventors: Ralph D. Ray, Jon Apogee, Richard L. Ireland, Michael E. Turgeon
  • Patent number: D255322
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1980
    Inventor: Richard L. Ireland