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.

Abstract: An electronically operated cup holder includes a cup propping plate and at least one movable cup supporter mounted over the cup propping plate opposite a corresponding cup supporting face. The weight of a cup placed on the cup propping plate activates a motor which drives the at least one movable cup supporter toward a circumferential surface of the cup.

Abstract: A vehicle equipment rack that includes first, second and third rotatably interconnected members. The second and third members rotate between a first position in which all three members are aligned and a second position in which the second and third members are angularly offset from the first member. The second and third members may also angularly offset from one another when the second and third members are in the second position. The vehicle equipment rack may also include a drive train operatively connected between the second and third members. The drive train is configured to rotate one of these moveable members upon rotation of the moveable member.

Abstract: A container holding device of the invention is used for holding small things and a container. The container holding device includes a base having a bottom section and an upstanding section extending upwardly from the bottom section, a support member formed near an upper surface section of the upstanding section, and an arm member rotationally attached to the support member to take first and second positions. The bottom section and the upstanding section define at least a part of a holding space in the base. At the first position, the arm member is located on the upper surface section. The arm member can be located above the bottom section, i.e. second position, by changing the position to thereby form a container holding hole together with the upstanding section.

Abstract: A water bottle holder for a bicycle which employs a flexible spring-operated cage with tension, that allows for the easy removal and replacement of the bottle by the rider, as well as in holding the bottle securely while retained in the cage during a ride. The mechanism is designed to remain safely operable even after multiple usages. The holder itself comprises a cage element with main and front support members. The cage element is mounted on the frame of a bicycle such that it is rotatable right and left, in a horizontal plane over and parallel to the frame. In this manner, the bottle retained in the holder may be easily removed for use during the ride, without loss of concentration or duress to the rider.

Abstract: A phone presentation device for holding and displaying a portable telephone handset within an automotive vehicle has a housing, an adjustable cradle attached to an inner surface of the housing, and a pivoting mount member for pivotally mounting the housing to a trim piece in the vehicle for movement between a stowed position hidden from view within a depression in the trim piece and a deployed position in which the handset is presented for use. The adjustable cradle has an elongate base member with a handset receiving section, a fixed grip mounted on a first end of the base member, an adjustable grip mounted on a second end of the base member for movement between a first position biasing the handset longitudinally toward the fixed grip and a second position in which the handset may be released from the fixed grip, and a pair of springs for biasing the adjustable grip between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A mount for use in an automobile to support a camera for recording images during operation of the automobile. The camera mount comprises an elongate member extending between and rigidly connected to the headrest supports in the seat of the car. A camera mounts to a pivotable support connected to the member with bolts extending through an elongate slot, whereby the camera is selectively positioned along the member. The elongate member connects to the headrest supports with j-bolts that are received through a pair of second slots in the elongate member. The j-bolts extend around the headrest supports and a nut threaded on the j-bolt secures the member to the headrest supports. An alternate embodiment is disclosed for vehicles which do not have separate headrest supports. A method of mounting a camera in an automobile is disclosed.

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.

Abstract: A stowable accessory hook for an automobile is supported in a surrounding wall structure having an opening defined by a peripheral rim. The distal tips of the hooks are recessed behind the peripheral rim of the surrounding wall structure to protect against inadvertent snagging and abrasions. The hooks are configured such that the distal tips are recessed, at least when not in use. In one embodiment the tip extends into a surrounding cup to be recessed. In another embodiment, a pair of sockets are formed behind the surrounding wall to rotatably receive a pair of pintles extending from a concave cup disposed in the opening in the surrounding wall structure. The cup is manually rotated about a horizontal pivot axis between stowed and operative positions. In the stoved position the tips are recessed. Either single or multiple cantilever hooks extend from the cup for securing plastic grocery and merchandise sacks, garment hangers, or the like.

Abstract: The compact disc storage device of the present invention provides maximum storage capacity of compact discs while being interconnected to a visor, e.g. a sun-visor in an automobile. The invention allows the storage device to be temporarily pivoted on the sun-visor, for example, to expose a vanity mirror located on the sun-visor, without requiring the disconnection of the storage device from the sun-visor.

Abstract: A first mounting frame for articles rack in the car consists of a locking plate, a first connecting element and a mounting plate connected pivotally together, and a second mounting frame for articles rack in the car consists of a locking plate, a first connecting element, a second connecting element and a mounting plate connected pivotally together; through the locking plate, the first or second mounting frame for articles rack in the car can be optionally and firmly installed in a very small plane position in any one angle, and such articles rack as a drink rack or a mobile telephone set rack in the car or a fixing plate of such a rack can be fixed on the mounting plate; and before and after locking the rack or the fixing plate, or before and after fixing the foregoing locking plate, the fixing plate or the locking plate can be optionally swung left and right or up and down and turned clockwise and counterclockwise for a desirable adjustment of their mounting position.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a two-wheeled vehicle part includes an attachment part attached to a component of a two-wheeled vehicle, an attachment part fixed on a two-wheeled vehicle part, and an attachment part connecting the first and second attachment parts. Attachment parts rotate relative to each other, with a threaded hole serving as an axis, in a range where a convex portion engages with a projecting portion. By bringing attachment parts into pressure contact by means of a screw, the rotation is stopped. Meanwhile, attachment parts are detachable from each other by sliding of rail members with grooves. A stopper controls attachment/detachment of attachment parts.

Abstract: The storage device for an umbrella includes a quiver-shaped receiving housing (1, 30) provided with an opening (2) at one end for the umbrella (3) and a base wall (4, 34) at another end remote from the one end; a mounting device (18) including a base plate (19) and a mounting pillar (20) having a flange and arranged substantially at right angles to the base plate; and a joint (13) pivotally connecting the receiving housing (1,30) with the mounting means (18) so that the receiving housing (1,30) is pivotable from a stowed-away position (P1) into a swiveled-out position (P2) for insertion and removal of the umbrella (3). The joint (13) has a swivel axis (SA) about which the receiving housing (1,30) pivots and the swivel axis (SA) extends transversely to a receiving housing longitudinal axis (15). This joint (13) is arranged on a side of the base wall (4, 34) opposite from a receiving housing interior and hingedly connects a fixing bolt (14a) to the base wall (4, 34).

Abstract: A container holder device including a case which is installed in a body of a vehicle, the case having a pair of generally vertical side walls defining a part of a storage chamber. A base is pivotally supported by the case so as to be movable between a stored position and a use position. At least one movable arm has one end supported by the base so as to be movable with respect to the base to contact a periphery of a container when the base and the at least one arm are in the use position. The at least one arm is guided to move from an outside to an inside of at least one of the side walls upon movement of the base from the use position to the stored position so that the at least one arm contacts the at least one wall in the storage position. Urging structure is provided for urging the at least one arm toward the outside of the at least one side wall.

Abstract: A beverage container receptacle which supports the container above its center of gravity. When used with beverage containers having tapered sides, compressive force between the receptacle and the beverage container restrains vertical movement of the container. In other embodiments, the weight of the container and its contents or a self-actuating latch keep the container within the confines of the receptacle.

Abstract: A vehicle rack for ladders or other elongated cargo includes a carrying surface and a structure which permits the carrying surface to be adjusted between two fixed positions, both of which can be used for transporting ladders or other elongated cargo. The rack consists of a pair of frames, and each frame includes assemblies generally formed from elongated members. The frame's post assembly has a foot portion which can be releasably secured to the vehicle and an upper portion to which an arm assembly is rotatably connected at one of the arm assembly ends, thereby forming an inverted L-shape. A brace has one end connected to a mid-point of the post assembly and another end connected to a mid-point in the arm assembly. The brace can be attached to one or the other of two attachment areas to position the arm assembly in either of the two fixed positions.

Abstract: A bicycle rack (10) may be supported by a base (40) on a tow bar of a vehicle. The bicycle rack (10) includes an upright post (11) having at its upper end a pivotally supported arm (12), which is adapted by way of grooves (20) to support a number of bicycles by engagement with the bicycle top tubes. To retain the bicycles in place, a retaining plate (13) is held against the pivot arm (12) by wing nuts applied to threaded fasteners (19) and a padlock which may pass through a hole (22) and a corresponding hole in the pivot arm (12). A gas strut (18) extends between the post (11) and the pivot arm (12) to aid in its pivoting. A number plate support (23) is pivotally attached to the remote end of the pivot arm (12) and connected to the post (11) by a parallelogram linkage to maintain the number plate in a generally vertical plane regardless of the orientation of the pivot arm (12).

Abstract: A ladder support accessory is disclosed for pivotally supporting a ladder on a truck rack. The ladder support accessory includes, in one embodiment, a pair of joints mounted to a side rail of the truck rack and a pair of ladder support members pivotably connected to the joints. The ladder support members extend inboard of and substantially transverse to the side rail and are pivotable in a substantially vertical plane between substantially horizontal and vertical positions. A ladder is secured to the ladder support members and is at least partially supported by front and rear rails of the truck rack when the ladder support members are in the horizontal position. The ladder is supported solely by the ladder support members when the ladder support members are pivoted to the vertical position.

Abstract: A portable desk and cooperative file folder holder for use in a vehicle seat or house chair. When used in a vehicle, the desk and file holder are placed in the passenger seat next to the driver. The desk includes a horizontally disposed rectangular base member which rests on the seat when in use, and a back member pivotally attached to the base member and which rests vertically disposed adjacent the back rest of the seat when in use. The back member is lockable into the vertical position. The base member serves as a work surface for papers or a note book computer and the like, and to support the back member. The back member serves to removably support and stabilize a file holder. The file holder is structured and positioned to orient held files so that the file identification tabs commonly at the top of each file are facing the driver seat.

Abstract: The brackets of this invention are mounted to the rearwardly extending tubular arms of a conventional carrier rack to alternatively support bicycles or skis by adjustable positioning of the brackets. Each bracket has a body configured on one side to engage with and support a bicycle frame tube, and on the other side to support a ski. The bracket is positionable on a support arm and may be locked to restrict sliding and rotating with respect to the carrier arm. The ski supporting side of the body has a planar surface and a lip which engages with the toe bracket of the ski binding to position and hold in place the ski. The bicycle supporting side of the bracket body has two pairs of opposed, outwardly extending resilient tipped fingers which engage either the vertical or horizontal tube of a bicycle frame. A rubber strap extends from one side of the body to encircle either a bicycle tube or skis and is engaged by a hook on the other side of the body.

Abstract: A combination boat/camper shell/pop-up tent apparatus which is mounted to a pickup's bed sidewalls. The apparatus includes an upper and a lower frame. The lower frame is shaped generally to conform with the pickup bed walls, and includes left and right lower side rails, and a lower front rail. The lower rails may be removably secured to the pickup sidewalls by clamps or the like. The upper frame also includes left and right upper side rails and an upper front rail. The upper front rail is hingedly connected to the lower front rail so the rear of the upper frame may be lifted. The upper frame is shaped to accept and hold a camper shell, thus, when the camper shell is on the upper frame and the frame is lifted access to the pickup bed is increased. While the upper frame is in the raised position, tent material may be attached to the frame to provide a tent. Supports hingedly connected to both the upper and the lower frame are provided to hold the upper frame in the raised position.

Abstract: To store a mobile phone in the console bin of a vehicle and easily swing it out and hold it in a working position, a bracket mounted on an inner top wall of the bin has a link hinged at both ends for coupling a main phone support to the mount and a slide on the main support for holding the phone. The hinged link allows the phone to swing in and out of the bin between working and storage positions, and the slide permits the phone to be moved further from the bin to allow the bin cover to close. The phone comprises a cradle attached to the slide and a removable handset which may be left in the cradle for use as held by the bracket.

Abstract: A carrying container that is releasably attached to various ambulatory appliances by a mounting arrangement that has a common interface. The common interface is adapted to snugly mate with several different ambulatory appliances. The carrying container includes several compartments which are dimensioned to receive articles in a snug manner to secure the same during travel.

Abstract: A store coupon organizing and dispensing apparatus. The apparatus has a coupon holder disposed in an elongated frame with a lower notch adapted to engage a handle of a shopping cart. The lower notch is adapted also to serve as a carrying handle. The coupon holder has a rotary mechanism which includes a drum with rods disposed on it. The rods are adapted to hold the coupon file cards, such that when the drum is rotated the coupons are serially revealed for selection by a user. Alternatively, the coupon file cards may be pivoted about an arcuate hub which is housed in a similar elongated frame. A calculator is preferably mounted on an external top face of the frame to allow a user to tally and compare prices of items. An internal enclosed storage cavity is included in the frame for storing coupons selected for use by the shopper.

Abstract: A garment support assembly includes a base element mounted on a vehicle wall. The base element has a transversely extending groove which is located adjacent the vehicle wall. The garment support assembly also includes a single continuous ring element. The ring element includes an inverted U-shaped hanger receiving portion closed by a transversely extending rod portion. The rod portion is slip-fittedly seated in the groove on the base element and is captured between the base element and the vehicle wall, thus pivotally connecting the ring element to the base element. This pivotal connection allows the ring element to move between a stored position in which the ring element is located in the same transversely extending vertical plane as the base element and an open position in which the hanger receiving portion projects into the interior space of the vehicle for receiving hangers thereon.

Abstract: A cup holder for use in various locations within the interior of a automobile includes a planar member, and a gimbal mechanism attached to the planar member which includes a C-shaped support member, and a cup retaining member. The planar member may be inserted and secured in various compartments, including the ashtray and glove compartment. The C-shaped member is pivotally mounted to the planar member, and the cup retaining member is pivotally mounted between the arms of the C-shaped member. Once mounted in the automobile, a container may be secured in the up right position within the automobile. An alternative embodiment includes a window attaching portion which allows the device to mounted from an automobile passenger window. Another alternative embodiment includes a cylindrical support base which allows the cup holder to be mounted in a cigarette lighter socket. Another embodiment includes a cup with pins attached for pivotally mounting the cup on the C-shaped member.

Abstract: A carrying container that is releasably attached to various ambulatory appliances by a mounting arrangement that has a common interface. The common interface is adapted to snugly mate with several different ambulatory appliances. The carrying container includes several compartments which are dimensioned to receive articles in a snug manner to secure the same during travel.

Abstract: A container for installing in a vehicle has a housing having an open front side, a cover pivotally mounted on the housing at the open front side, a storage receptacle formed as a storage tray and connected to the cover so that when the cover is opened the storage tray is displaced out of the housing into a removal position, a slide guidable and lockable in the housing, the storage tray being hingedly mounted on the slide, a drive member moving the slide toward the open front side of the housing, and a coupling link which connects the storage tray to the cover and having a control pin connected to the storage tray and displacing the storage tray outside the housing into the removal position in which the storage tray is partially uprightly oriented.

Abstract: A ride-ready bike carrier system has a support arm and handle assembly attached to a rear wheel holder via an extension arm, such that the handle assembly can engage a bike frame and wheel axle combination to further secure and stabilize a bike upon the system. The support arm and handle assembly, as well as the rear wheel holder, can be positioned such that the system can secure and stabilize bikes having wheels of differing size. Furthermore, since the handle assembly engages a portion of the bicycle which, for the most part, is consistent in size and design from one manufacturer to another, design incompatibilities are minimized.