Patents by Inventor Todd W. Lassanske

Todd W. Lassanske 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: 8336400
    Abstract: A power sensing arrangement for the rear hub of a bicycle. The power sensing arrangement includes a torque sensing assembly including torque sensing elements configured to measure a user applied torque. The torque sensing elements are in communication with an electronics assembly configured to process the measured data and transmit it to a receiver. The torque sensing elements are interconnected with the free hub assembly of the rear hub, and are operable to detect torque applied to the free hub from the rear cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Saris Cycling Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd W. Lassanske
  • Publication number: 20110120232
    Abstract: A power sensing arrangement for the rear hub of a bicycle. The power sensing arrangement includes a torque sensing assembly including torque sensing elements configured to measure a user applied torque. The torque sensing elements are in communication with an electronics assembly configured to process the measured data and transmit it to a receiver. The torque sensing elements are interconnected with the free hub assembly of the rear hub, and are operable to detect torque applied to the free hub from the rear cassette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Todd W. Lassanske
  • Patent number: 7727124
    Abstract: A bicycle trainer includes a frame and a resistance unit movably interconnected with the frame by an adjustment arrangement for movement through a range of operative positions and to an inoperative position. The adjustment arrangement includes an adjustment member that is selectively engaged with, and disengaged from, an engagement member. When disengaged, the adjustment member slides relative to the engagement member. The sliding movement of the adjustment member provides a first mode of operation to move the resistance unit to an initial engagement position adjacent the wheel, and the adjustment arrangement can be operated in a second mode of operation, such as by cam-type movement, to advance the resistance unit from the initial engagement position toward and against the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Saris Cycling Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Lassanske, Benjamin R. Bass, Randy J. Hilgart
  • Patent number: 7083551
    Abstract: A system for supporting the non-driven wheel of a bicycle, in which the driven wheel of the bicycle is engaged with a stationary bicycle trainer. The system contemplates a support member that is configured for engagement with a supporting surface, and which includes wheel engagement structure for supporting the non-driven wheel above the supporting surface. A pair of support members are engaged together in different orientations, to raise the elevation of the wheel engagement structure of the upper support member above the supporting surface and to enable the user to adjust the angle of the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Saris Cycling Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Lassanske, Joshua G. Lohr
  • Patent number: 6948621
    Abstract: A collapsible rack or stand for supporting a bicycle or the like in an upright position includes a pair of supports that are pivotably interconnected together for movement between an open, operative position and a closed, inoperative position. Each support defines one or more vertically extending spaces, each of which is configured to receive one of the bicycle wheels for supporting the bicycle in an upright position when the supports are in the open, operative position. Each support includes a lower member and an upper member, between which the wheel-receiving spaces are located, and the upper members of the supports are pivotably interconnected via a hinge arrangement for enabling movement of the supports between the open, operative position and the closed, inoperative position. The hinge arrangement is in the form of a hinge barrel secured to the upper member of each support, and the hinge barrels define aligned passages through which a hinge pin extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Saris Cycling Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Lassanske, Brian W. Buttchen
  • Patent number: 6868976
    Abstract: A support for a bicycle having at least one wheel includes a pair of axially spaced apart base members, and a pair of laterally spaced apart support members which extend upwardly from and which are interconnected with the base members. The bicycle wheel is adapted for placement between the support members, which are configured to support the bicycle in an upright position. Engagement of the bicycle wheel with the base members prevents the bicycle wheel from rolling, to maintain the bicycle in engagement with the support. A variable position engagement arrangement is provided between at least one of the support members and the base members, to enable adjustment in the lateral spacing between the support members so as to accommodate different wheel widths. The support members may be formed of pivotably interconnected sections, which enable the support to be moved between an extended position for use and a collapsed position for shipment, transport or storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Graber Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Lassanske, Chang Shin Pin
  • Patent number: 6616023
    Abstract: A stabilizing support for engaging an article such as a bicycle with a vehicle-mounted carrier which includes a rearwardly extending support member. The support generally includes a first support section having a recess within which a portion of the bicycle frame is received. The support further includes a stabilizer section which is pivotably mounted relative to the first support section. The stabilizer section includes a pair of legs which are spaced apart from each other to define an open area therebetween. The stabilizer section can be moved in either direction to various positions so as to receive and engage portions of the bicycle frame or other parts of the bicycle within the open area. The stabilizer section engages the bicycle at a location vertically offset from the location at which the bicycle frame is engaged with the first support section, to stabilize the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Graber Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Dahl, Todd W. Lassanske
  • Publication number: 20030073546
    Abstract: A bicycle trainer includes a resistance unit engageable with the driven wheel of the bicycle, and a control console mounted to the bicycle in a user accessible location. The resistance unit is in the form of an AC alternator which generates power in response to rotation of the bicycle wheel, to power the various components of the bicycle trainer, including the control console and a resistance adjustment arrangement. In one form, the resistance is adjusted in accordance with inputs provided either from an operator or from a computer interconnected with the control console, by selectively connecting a resistor in a circuit including the AC alternator so as to provide resistance to rotation of the rotor of the AC alternator, and thereby resistance to rotation of the bicycle wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Todd W. Lassanske, Ying Che Lee
  • Patent number: 6516986
    Abstract: A support assembly for supporting an article on a vehicle-mounted equipment carrier having an axially-extending mounting member generally includes a first support member, a second support member and a locking member, all of which define openings or passages within which the carrier mounting member is received. The first support member includes a hub section from which a pair of arms extend, and the arms include first and second support areas for engaging the article at a pair of spaced locations. The second support member includes a hub section which is engageable with the hub section of the first support member, and an arm extending therefrom and including a third support area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Graber Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Lassanske, Joseph J. Schachtner, Neil T. Amundsen
  • Patent number: 6062451
    Abstract: A formed steel tilt bracket has a cylindrical section which wraps around a bike support tube forming a visually pleasing and cost-effective solution to the problem of joining a round tube with a square hitch extension. The tilt bracket engages and supports an upstanding circular tube for mounting bicycles or the like. The bracket has a plane of symmetry aligned with the rectangular hitch extension. The plane of symmetry passes through a cylindrical portion of the bracket which is intersected only once by the plane of symmetry, the cylindrical portion wraps over 180 degrees of the upstanding tube circumference. The cylindrical portion has a first substantially triangular extension and a second substantially triangular extension arranged symmetrically about the plane of symmetry and forming therebetween a passage for the square receiver tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Graber Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Lassanske, John M. Bloemer
  • Patent number: 5938093
    Abstract: An L-shaped support has a rearwardly extending tubular arm formed of a thin-walled tube. The end of vertical leg of the support is cold formed into a U-shaped, double-walled channel which fits between the sides of a brace which is rigidly mounted to the trailer hitch of a vehicle. A plastic bracket has a split ring clamp which fits over the rearwardly extending arm of the support. The entire bracket may pivot about the axis defined by the arm. An alternative embodiment attachment device for restraining a bicycle tube on a horizontally extending carrier arm is formed as a single molded part of thermoplastic rubber. The attachment device has a strap with an array of two rows of holes which engage with a square array of four mushroom-head type fasteners to attach the end of the strap to the attachment devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Graber Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Bloemer, John M. Kaloustian, Todd W. Lassanske
  • Patent number: 5775555
    Abstract: An L-shaped support has a rearwardly extending tubular arm formed of a thin-walled tube. The end of vertical leg of the support is cold formed into a U-shaped, double-walled channel which fits between the sides of a brace which is rigidly mounted to the trailer hitch of a vehicle. A plastic bracket has a split ring clamp which fits over the rearwardly extending arm of the support. The entire bracket may pivot about the axis defined by the arm. An alternative embodiment attachment device for restraining a bicycle tube on a horizontally extending carrier arm is formed as a single molded part of thermoplastic rubber. The attachment device has a strap with an array of two rows of holes which engage with a square array of four mushroom-head type fasteners to attach the end of the strap to the attachment devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Graber Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Bloemer, John M. Kaloustian, Todd W. Lassanske
  • Patent number: D507511
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Saris Cycling Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd W. Lassanske
  • Patent number: D533237
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Saris Cycling Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Lassanske, Douglas J. Golenz, William B. Stephens