Patents by Inventor Thomas Melcher

Thomas Melcher 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).

  • Publication number: 20200070911
    Abstract: A device for preventing the front wheel of a bicycle from turning, comprising a clamp, a lever, and a receiver. The clamp is configured to be removably coupled with the steer tube of a bicycle, and is adjustable. The adjustable clamp is configured to be secured tightly around the steer tube to prevent rotation of the front wheel of the bicycle and to prevent rotation of the clamp around the steer tube. The lever is coupled with the clamp and is rotatable from vertical, through horizontal, to the proper angle to meet the receiver, which is disposed on a cross bar or down tube of a bicycle. The lever includes a knob and the receiver is configured to receive and slightly contract around the knob, temporarily coupling the steer tube and the cross bar or down tube, locking the wheel in its position when the lever is engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas Melcher
  • Patent number: 10065695
    Abstract: A device for preventing the front wheel of a bicycle from turning, comprising a clamp, a lever, and a receiver. The clamp is configured to be removably coupled with the steer tube of a bicycle, and is adjustable. The adjustable clamp is configured to be secured tightly around the steer tube to prevent rotation of the front wheel of the bicycle and to prevent rotation of the clamp around the steer tube. The lever is coupled with the clamp and is rotatable from vertical, through horizontal, to the proper angle to meet the receiver, which is disposed on a cross bar or down tube of a bicycle. The lever includes a knob and the receiver is configured to receive and slightly contract around the knob, temporarily coupling the steer tube and the cross bar or down tube, locking the wheel in its position when the lever is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas Melcher
  • Publication number: 20050040619
    Abstract: A frame and suspension for a vehicle provides automatic lean and alignment. The lean is determined by force sensors, the speed and/or the angle of turn and is provided by actuators in the suspension in accordance with a predetermined protocol in an electronic control unit (ECU). The protocol also provides shock absorption by rapidly tracking a contour of a surface on which the vehicle rides. The suspension is provided by a plurality of arm assemblies each including a lower arm, an upper control arm, and an actuator motively connected to the lower arm and to the upper control arm. The arm assemblies are pivotally connected to the frame on a common axis. The arm assemblies generally form parallelograms and are actuated in concert to remain generally parallel to each other through a range of angles to adjust the lean of the vehicle. The arm assemblies are also actuated independently of each other to accommodate variations in the contour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventor: Thomas Melcher