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US 5,996,814 AGranted
Bicycle workstand
AssigneeUltimate Support Systems, Inc.
InventorsJonathan P. Workman, Kenneth W. House
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and method of supporting a bicycle load in a workstand, wherein the workstand can be supported on only two members which establish three individual points of support. The workstand can utilize at least one rotatable leg to collapse the workstand into a portable and manageable configuration that facilitates transporting and storage. The load support member to which the bicycle is either directly or indirectly coupled can be coupled to the support base off-center from the geometric center of the support base to provide a more stable configuration for the stand as well as to establish the member out of the way of the bicycle which must be supported. In addition, a space saving footprint established by the support base allows the workstand to be positioned against walls and in corners.
Claims96
A bicycle workstand comprising:
- a) a support base to support the workstand on a support surface;
- b) a plurality of points of support of the support base to contact the support surface;
- c) a shape defined by the plurality of points of support of the support base;
- d) a geometric center of the shape defined by the plurality of points of support;
- e) a bicycle support member coupled to the support base at a position off-center relative to the geometric center of the shape defined by the plurality of points of support of the support base;
- f) a force receiving location on the bicycle support member to receive a force from a bicycle mounted to the workstand.
3 more elements
A bicycle workstand comprising:
- a) a support base to support the workstand on a support surface;
- b) a bicycle support member coupled to the support base;
- c) a force receiving location on the bicycle support member to receive a force from a bicycle when a bicycle is mounted to the workstand;
- d) an open position of the bicycle workstand when erected on the support surface to receive a bicycle;
- and
- e) a centroid of the bicycle workstand when positioned in the open position and while not supporting a bicycle load;
- wherein the bicycle support member is coupled to the support base at a position off-center from the centroid.
4 more elements
A method of providing a workstand support for a bicycle, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a support base to support a workstand on a support surface, the support base having a geometric center;
- b) utilizing a plurality of points of support of the support base to contact the support surface, the plurality of points of support defining a shape having a geometric center;
- c) coupling a bicycle support member to the support base at a coupling point on the support base, the coupling point located off-center from the geometric center of the shape defined by the support base;
- and
- d) providing a force receiving location on the bicycle support member to receive a force from a bicycle when the bicycle is mounted to the workstand.
2 more elements
A method of providing a workstand support for a bicycle, the workstand having an open position that establishes a centroid of the workstand when in the open position and while not supporting a load from a bicycle, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a support base to support a workstand on a support surface;
- b) providing a bicycle support member;
- c) coupling the bicycle support member to the support base at a coupling point on the support base;
- and
- d) providing a force receiving location on the bicycle support member to receive a force from a bicycle when the bicycle is mounted to the workstand;
- wherein the coupling point on the support base is located off-center from the centroid.
3 more elements
A bicycle workstand comprising:
- a) a first member;
- b) a second member coupled to said first member;
- and
- c) a three point support established by the first member coupled to the second member;
- d) a first point of support of said three point support established by said first member;
- e) a second point of support of said three point support established by said second member;
- and
- f) a third point of support of said three point support established by said first member.
5 more elements
A bicycle workstand comprising:
- a) a first member;
- b) a second member coupled to said first member;
- and
- c) a three point support established by the first member coupled to the second member;
- d) a first point of support of said three point support established by said first member;
- and
- e) a second point of support of said three point support established by said second member;
- wherein said first member and said second member are coupled so as to create a third point of support, said third point of support comprising a support surface on said first member in juxtaposition with a support surface on said second member.
5 more elements
A method of supporting a bicycle workstand comprising the steps of:
- a) supporting the bicycle workstand with a first member;
- b) supporting the bicycle workstand with a second member coupled to said first member;
- c) supporting the bicycle workstand in a three-point support having three points of support,
- wherein the three points of support are provided by said first and second members.
1 more element
A bicycle workstand erectable on a support surface, the bicycle workstand comprising:
- a) a housing;
- b) a first member coupled to the housing;
- c) a second member coupled to said housing, wherein said housing permits the first member and the second member to be rotated relative to each other;
- and
- d) a three point support comprising the first and second member;
- wherein the housing is disposed in close proximity to the support surface when the workstand is erected on the support surface, wherein said first member has a first member rotation axis, wherein said second member has a second member rotation axis, and wherein said first member rotation axis and said second member rotation axis are parallel.
3 more elements
A bicycle workstand comprising:
- a) a housing;
- b) a rotatable first member coupled to the housing;
- c) a rotatable second member coupled to the housing, the second member rotatable relative to said rotatable first member;
- and
- d) a bicycle support member coupled to the housing and extending upward relative to a support surface to assist in coupling a bicycle to the workstand;
- wherein the first and second members are rotatable from an open support position to a closed position and wherein the first, second and bicycle support members are substantially parallel aligned when oriented in the closed position, wherein said rotatable first member has a first member rotation axis, wherein said rotatable second member has a second member rotation axis, and wherein said first member rotation axis and said second member rotation axis are parallel.
3 more elements
A bicycle workstand comprising:
- a) a housing;
- b) a first member coupled to the housing;
- c) a second member coupled to the housing, wherein said housing permits the first member and the second member to be rotated relative to each other;
- and
- d) a bicycle support member coupled to the housing, the bicycle support member extending upward relative to a support surface to assist in coupling a bicycle to the workstand when the bicycle support member is positioned in an open position;
- wherein said first member has a first member rotation axis, wherein said second member has a second member rotation axis, and wherein said first member rotation axis and said second member rotation axis are parallel.
3 more elements
A method of supporting a bicycle comprising the steps of:
- a) coupling a first member to a housing;
- b) coupling a second member to the housing;
- c) coupling a bicycle support member to the housing;
- d) rotating the first and second members from an open position to a closed position;
- and
- e) aligning the first, second and bicycle support members in a substantial parallel alignment when in the closed position.
3 more elements
A method of supporting a bicycle comprising the steps of:
- a) coupling a first member to a housing;
- b) coupling a second member to the housing;
- c) coupling a bicycle support member to the housing;
- d) rotating the first and bicycle support members from an open position to a closed position;
- and
- e) aligning the first, second and bicycle support members in a substantial parallel alignment when in the closed position.
3 more elements
A bicycle workstand erectable on a support surface, the bicycle workstand comprising:
- a) a bicycle support member extending upward relative to the support surface when the workstand is erected on the support surface;
- b) a three point support coupled to the bicycle support member;
- c) a first leg of the three point support having a fixed length;
- d) a second leg of the three point support having a fixed length equivalent to the first leg;
- e) a third leg of the three point support having a fixed length shorter than the first and second legs.
2 more elements
A bicycle workstand comprising:
- a) a support base to support the workstand on a support surface, the support base having:
- a1) a first member;
- a2) a second member coupled to the first member,
- a3) a three point support established by the first member coupled to the second member;
- a4) a first point of support of said three point support established by the first member;
- a5) a second point of support of said three point support established by the second member;
- and
- a6) a third point of support of the three point support established by the first member;
- b) a shape defined by the first, second and third points of support of the support base;
- c) a geometric center of the shape defined by the first, second and third points of support;
- d) a housing coupled to the support base;
- e) a bicycle support member coupled to the housing at a coupling point located off-center relative to the geometric center of the shape defined by the first, second and third points of support of the support base;
- f) a force receiving location on the bicycle support member to receive a force from a bicycle load mounted to the workstand;
- and
- g) at least one rotatable leg member coupled to the housing, wherein the rotatable leg member extends outward from and above the housing relative to the support surface before bending toward the support surface to establish a point of support for the workstand.
12 more elements
A method of providing a workstand support for a bicycle, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a support base to support the workstand on a support surface, the support base comprising:
- a1) a first member;
- a2) a second member coupled to the first member;
- a3) a three point support established by the first member coupled to the second member;
- a4) a first point of support of said three point support established by the first member;
- a5) a second point of support of said three point support established by the second member;
- and
- a6) a third point of support of the three point support established by the first member;
- b) establishing a shape defined by the first, second and third points of support of the support base;
- c) establishing a geometric center of the shape defined by the first, second and third points of support of the support base;
- d) coupling a housing to the support base;
- e) coupling a bicycle support member to the housing at a coupling point located off-center relative to the geometric center of the shape defined by the first, second and third points of support of the support base;
- f) providing a force receiving location on the bicycle support member to receive a force from a bicycle load mounted to the workstand;
- and
- g) coupling at least one rotatable leg to the housing;
- h) extending the at least one rotatable leg member outward from and above the housing relative to the support surface;
- i) bending the at least one rotatable leg member toward the support surface to establish a point of support for the workstand.
14 more elements
The method of 92 and further comprising the step of extending the bicycle support member from the housing at an angle less than ninety degrees relative to the support surface.
The method of 92 and further comprising the steps of:
- providing a first socket of the housing;
- providing a second socket of the housing;
- providing a first rotatable leg member coupled to the first socket of the housing;
- providing a second rotatable leg member coupled to the second socket of the housing;
- rotating the first rotatable leg member about an axis of rotation of the first rotatable leg member;
- and
- rotating the second rotatable leg member about an axis of rotation of the second rotatable leg member;
- wherein the axis of the first rotatable leg member and the axis of the second rotatable leg member are parallel.
5 more elements
The method of 94 wherein the first rotatable leg member and the second rotatable leg member are of equivalent length and further comprising the steps of:
- providing a third leg member having a length substantially shorter than the first and second rotatable leg member.
The method of 95 and further comprising the steps of:
- providing a channel on the housing;
- retaining the rotatable leg member in the housing via the channel;
- and
- permitting rotation of the rotatable leg member via the channel.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.