Patents by Inventor Scott R. Allen

Scott R. Allen 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: 6460708
    Abstract: A rack for carrying a bicycle on a vehicle. The rack includes forward and rear crossbars extending across a top surface of the vehicle and a pair of tower bodies associated with each crossbar to secure the crossbars to the vehicle. A wheel mount is attached to a first one of the crossbars. The wheel mount is adapted to support a wheel of the bicycle with a lowest point on the wheel positioned over a range of positions relative to the crossbar including with the lowest point positioned off the wheel mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Dean, Scott R. Allen
  • Publication number: 20020125280
    Abstract: Systems, including methods and apparatus, to facilitate loading a boat onto a vehicle. The systems include a load assist device mounted on a vehicle load carrier. The load assist device includes a support member that is stored substantially within a crossbar of the load carrier and telescopes outwardly from the crossbar to a deployed position. The support member may be returned to its stored position in the crossbar after the boat has been loaded onto the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventor: Scott R. Allen
  • Patent number: 6431423
    Abstract: A rack assembly for carrying recreational equipment on a vehicle. The assembly includes at least one mount attachable to the vehicle, and a load-carrying support member coupled to the mount and configured to support the recreational equipment adjacent the vehicle. At least one securing apparatus is associated with the load-carrying support member and configured to secure the equipment to the support member. The securing apparatus includes a strap adapted to extend at least partially around the recreational equipment, and a ratchet drive mechanism adapted to receive and grip one end of the strap. In one embodiment, the ratchet drive mechanism includes at least one drive actuator that is operable to grip successive portions of the strap and draw it tight around the recreational equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Allen, Stephen J. Cole, Gregory A. Dean, Duncan G. Robins, Joseph J. Settelmayer
  • Patent number: 6425509
    Abstract: A rack for carrying a bicycle on a vehicle. The rack includes a frame adapted to be secured to the vehicle and a securing structure mounted to the frame. The securing structure is adapted to receive and selectively secure and release a portion of the bicycle. The securing structure further includes generally symmetric adjustment mechanisms disposed on each side of a plane defined by the bicycle whereby the securing structure can be secured to or released from the portion of the bicycle from either side of the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Dean, Scott R. Allen
  • Patent number: 6425507
    Abstract: A fairing assembly system and method are provided. The fairing assembly includes a fairing, and a fairing support formed of an integral piece of material including a crossbar mount adapted to receive a crossbar, and a fairing mount adapted to support the fairing. The crossbar mount may include a clip, and the fairing mount may include a fastener configured to secure the fairing to the fairing mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott R. Allen
  • Publication number: 20020074764
    Abstract: A bicycle trailer has a bed portion supported by a frame assembly and a pair of wheels for transporting the bed portion over ground. The tongue member extends forward from the frame assembly. A hitch assembly is located on a distal end of the tongue member for coupling the trailer to a bike. The hitch assembly may include a ratchet device that permits tightening of a clamp to the bike preventing untightening of the clamp. Front and back hub members allow the trailer to be vertically collapsed to substantially reduce the side-to-side dimension of the trailer for storage or transport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Scott R. Allen, Joseph J. Settelmayer, James R. Penny, Duncan G. Robins, Steven J. Cole
  • Patent number: 6385822
    Abstract: An apparatus for securing articles to a vehicle-mounted rack. The apparatus includes at least one flexible strap associated with the rack. The strap is positionable around an article supported by the rack. A clamping buckle is adapted to receive and clamp onto the strap. A protective housing is adapted to receive and at least partially cover the buckle to protect the article and the vehicle from damage. In one embodiment, the strap may be attached to the housing to prevent the housing from being separated from the strap. In another embodiment, the housing may include one or more apertures to allow a user to operate the buckle when it is covered by the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Dean, Scott R. Allen, Joseph J. Settelmayer
  • Patent number: 6367673
    Abstract: A sports equipment rack for mounting to a vehicle, the vehicle including a first generally planar surface expanse and a second generally planar surface expanse disposed adjacent the first surface expanse in a concave relation thereto to form a corner. The rack comprises a base, the base including a first surface-contacting portion for supporting the base against the first surface expanse, a second surface-contacting portion for supporting the base against the second surface expanse, and an equipment-supporting portion for supporting equipment on the rack. The rack also includes at least one securing structure coupled to the base, wherein the securing structure is configured to simultaneously urge the first surface-contacting portion against the first surface expanse and the second surface-contacting portion against the second surface expanse to thereby secure the rack to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Smith, Gregory A. Dean, Scott R. Allen
  • Publication number: 20020038810
    Abstract: A bicycle rack for carrying a bicycle adjacent the rear of a vehicle. The bicycle rack includes an adjustable frame assembly having a first frame member attached to a housing and a second frame member attached to a connecting member. The connecting member is rotationally coupled to the housing to allow relative pivotal movement between the first and second frame members. A locking member is disposed within the housing and selectively movable between a first position, in which the locking member engages the connecting member to impede relative rotational movement between the connecting member and the housing, and a second position, in which the locking member is disengaged from the connecting member to allow relative rotational movement between the connecting member and the housing. At least one support arm is coupled to the housing and configured for sliding and pivotal movement between a stowed position and an extended position in which the arm engages the housing to support a bicycle adjacent the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventors: Duncan Robins, Joseph J. Settelmayer, Scott R. Allen
  • Patent number: 6336580
    Abstract: A vehicle load carrier configured to carry recreational equipment on the exterior of a vehicle, including a recreational equipment rack configured for exterior engagement with a vehicle and a coupling mechanism configured to secure an article to the recreational equipment rack. The coupling mechanism includes a tube having two opposed walls, a removable fastener member configured to be positioned between the opposed walls and a torque-receiving member for receiving an externally applied torque. The coupling mechanism is adapted so that the article is selectively clamped to and released from one of the opposed walls of the tube upon rotation of the torque-receiving member relative to the removable fastener member. The other of the opposed walls is configured to hold the removable fastener member fixed against rotation relative to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Allen, Joseph J. Settelmayer
  • Publication number: 20010054219
    Abstract: A strap for securing cargo on a vehicle includes a strap and a buckle. The buckle has a releasable strap gripping device, and a cushioning material at least partially surrounding the buckle without obstructing accessibility to the gripping device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: Joseph J. Settelmayer, Lyle R. Hilk, Duncan G. Robins, Scott R. Allen
  • Publication number: 20010040139
    Abstract: A rack for carrying a bicycle on a vehicle. The rack includes forward and rear crossbars extending across a top surface of the vehicle and a pair of tower bodies associated with each crossbar to secure the crossbars to the vehicle. A wheel mount is attached to a first one of the crossbars. The wheel mount is adapted to support a wheel of the bicycle with a lowest point on the wheel positioned over a range of positions relative to the crossbar including with the lowest point positioned off the wheel mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Applicant: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Dean, Scott R. Allen
  • Patent number: 6286738
    Abstract: A bicycle rack for carrying a bicycle adjacent the rear of a vehicle. The bicycle rack includes an adjustable frame assembly having a first frame member attached to a housing and a second frame member attached to a connecting member. The connecting member is rotationally coupled to the housing to allow relative pivotal movement between the first and second frame members. A locking member is disposed within the housing and selectively movable between a first position, in which the locking member engages the connecting member to impede relative rotational movement between the connecting member and the housing, and a second position, in which the locking member is disengaged from the connecting member to allow relative rotational movement between the connecting member and the housing. At least one support arm is coupled to the housing and configured for sliding and pivotal movement between a stowed position and an extended position in which the arm engages the housing to support a bicycle adjacent the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Duncan Robins, Joseph J. Settelmayer, Scott R. Allen
  • Patent number: 6283310
    Abstract: A rack for carrying a bicycle on a vehicle. The rack includes forward and rear crossbars extending across a top surface of the vehicle and a pair of tower bodies associated with each crossbar to secure the crossbars to the vehicle. A wheel mount is attached to a first one of the crossbars. The wheel mount is adapted to support a wheel of the bicycle with a lowest point on the wheel positioned over a range of positions relative to the crossbar including with the lowest point positioned off the wheel mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Dean, Scott R. Allen
  • Patent number: 6164507
    Abstract: A boat rack apparatus for carrying a boat on a vehicle roof rack. The apparatus includes one or more mounts configured for attachment adjacent a vehicle. Each mount includes a support region having a support surface constructed to slidably receive and support a boat above a vehicle roof, and a gripping pad movable from a recessed position to a protruding position to restrain the boat from sliding across the support surface. A securing strap is positionable over at least a portion of the boat and configured to hold the boat against the support regions when the strap is tightened. The securing strap passes around the gripping pad to move the pad to the protruding position and press it into contact with the boat. One or more connectors are optionally provided to attach the mounts to roof rack or boat trailer. The securing strap includes a lever-actuated buckle to join opposite ends of the securing strap. A buckle protective housing is optionally provided to protect the boat from damage by the buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Dean, Scott R. Allen, Joseph J. Settelmayer
  • Patent number: 5951231
    Abstract: A vehicle-top roof rack and boat mounting system for mounting a boat atop a roof of a car, the rack and mount is provided with a plurality of roof couplers attachable on the car roof, a plurality of crossbars attachable to the roof couplers, and a boat mounting system comprising a plurality of boat mounts. Each of the boat mounts include a crossbar grip coupled to the crossbar, a mounting frame coupled to the grip, a gimbal coupled to the mounting frame, and a roller support coupled to the gimbal. The gimbal allows the roller support to pivot with two degrees of freedom about a central gimbal point to adapt the mount to variously shaped boat hulls and to the varying curvature of each boat hull. The gimbal also adapts for the angle of loading in a one-person loading/unloading operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott R. Allen
  • Patent number: 5820002
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted, bicycle carrier includes an elongate arm movably mounted on the carrier for movement between an engaged position in which a bicycle is fixed on the carrier, and a disengaged position in which the bicycle may be removed from the carrier. A locking mechanism mounted on the arm lockably receives a carried bicycle's pedal crank when the arm is moved to the engaged position thereby fixing the bicycle on the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott R. Allen
  • Patent number: D442506
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott R. Allen
  • Patent number: D456694
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Allen, Gregory A. Dean
  • Patent number: D431523
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Smith, Gregory A. Dean, Scott R. Allen