Kuat Innovations, LLC

Jordan K Bowles

Luke Kuschmeader

Aaron A Houston

Austin Harrill

Jonathan Graif

Joshua Schwartz

Michael Buis

An improved ratchet mechanism for the tire arm of a bicycle carrier comprises a guide component disposed inside an extendable inner arm of the tire arm, a pushrod body movably held by the guide component, and a ratchet pawl rotatably supported in relation to the guide component. An actuator on the tire arm moves a pushrod inside the inner arm to move the pushrod body causing the ratchet pawl to disengage from a ratchet rack on the tire arm, allowing the inner arm to be extended by a user. The guide component guides the movement of the pushrod body to disengage a tooth portion of the ratchet pawl from the ratchet rack. The guide component, ratchet pawl, and the pushrod body comprise an improved ratchet assembly for use in an extendable tire arm for a bicycle carrier.

Ratchet mechanism for bicycle carrier tire arm

An equipment rack is described with an integrated lighting system. The integrated lighting system may connect to the vehicle's electrical system to provide tail light, brake light, hazard, reverse light, and turn signal functions. The lighting system may include an automatic connection for lighting attached to a rack extension when the rack extension is attached to a base rack. The lighting may also be visible on a pivoting rack when the rack is stowed or in use to carry bicycles. The lighting elements may be disposed on or inside the equipment rack and may be provided with internal wiring to connect the lights to the vehicle's electrical system.

Equipment rack with lighting

A bicycle rack is described with an actuated arm that pivots to an open position in response to user activation of the actuator. The actuator is attached to the rack and the arm and exerts a force on the arm by extension to pivot the actuated arm to the open position. The actuator extends only when a release mechanism has been actuated by a user, but a user may pivot the actuated arm back to a closed position, or a position securing a bicycle, without actuating the release. The actuated arm will then be retained at a position selected by the user until the release is actuated by the user again.

Bicycle rack with actuated arm

A rack is described for securing equipment, such as a kayak, to a vehicle. The rack has a base member for attaching to the vehicle, a support member pivotally attached to the base member, and an actuator that is operable to engage or disengage a latch mechanism that fixes the movement of the support member in one or more desired positions in relation to the base member. The actuator may be actuated from either side of the base. The actuator may extend transversely across the lengthwise axis of the base member. The opposite ends of the actuator may each be displaced toward one end of the base to release the support member and allow it to pivot with respect to the base member.

Foldable equipment rack

A mechanism for clamping a drawbar in a receiver hitch uses a clamp pad to engage two adjacent interior surfaces of the receiver hitch tube. The clamp pad presses outwardly on the receiver hitch tube causing the opposing corner of the drawbar to engage the other sides of the receiver hitch tube. The clamp pad is extended and retracted by a shuttle member disposed inside the drawbar tube. The clamp may be self-aligning with respect to the receiver hitch. An adjustment mechanism is described for translating the shuttle member. An extendable pin mechanism may be actuated by the shuttle assembly. A locking mechanism may be provided to prevent an unauthorized person from releasing the clamp pad and the extendable pin.

Receiver hitch clamp device

A rack is described for securing equipment, such as a kayak, to a vehicle. The rack has a base member, a support member, and a hinge assembly that pivotally connects the support member to the base member. The rack may be folded from an open configuration to a closed configuration. A handle or actuator on the base member may be operated to engage or disengage a latch mechanism to allow the hinge assembly to pivot or to be fixed to control the movement of the support member between desired positions in relation to the base member. The latch mechanism may comprise a shuttle assembly.

A bicycle rack for mounting on the trunk or rear hatch of a vehicle is described with improved mechanisms for adjusting the components of the rack to fit the rack to different vehicles. The rack is provided with hinge assemblies having releasable latches for quickly releasing the hinges to allow the rack components to be moved with respect to one another, and the latching components back into a fixed configuration during use for carrying a bicycle. The bicycle rack is also provided with inventive support members for holding a bicycle on the rack during use.

Trunk mounted rack

The present disclosure includes hitch-mounted carriers, including portable bicycle racks. One carrier may include front tire tray assembly; hook arm assembly; pivot assembly; hitch shank ball cam assembly; rear tire tray assembly; and a bike docking assembly. The pivot assembly allowing for adjustment between: storage, trunk access, and use configurations. The bike carrier having first and second wheel supporting tray assemblies for supporting wheels of a loaded bicycle. A hook arm assembly may be pivotally arranged relative to lock at least one wheel and ratchet clamped to at least one wheel. The hook arm assembly may also be configured to extend and retract and is frictionally locked into position. The bike carrier may include a docking assembly having inner and outer clamps configured to the hold a bike into position such that mechanical work may be accomplished at an elevated height.

Growing community of inventors

Ozark, MO, United States of America

Jordan K Bowles