Missouri Patent of the Month – February 2022
Bike racks are fantastic ways to make transporting your equipment easier. They’re used by public transportation systems to allow bikers to still use the bus, avid cyclists, and can even be modified for other equipment like surfboards. These racks have to be easy to use to ensure anyone can easily mount their bike, which is why many people opt for versions which attack to the tailgate. It’s much easier to mount your bike on a rack at that height than one on the roof of your car. Unfortunately, this means they are often in the way if you want to open your trunk or hatch.
Kuat Innovations, LLC has developed a wide array of racks to suit nearly any need. Recently, they have designed a pivoting rack which allows the entire system – bikes included – to pivot out of the way. To achieve this, they designed an extension arm on the rack which uses an actuator to rotate out and away. A latching mechanism can then lock it in place at different angles (i.e. 90° or 120° etc.). By using an actuator and a latch, the rack is secured in place and can only move when you want it to. This rotation improves the user experience tremendously, allowing you to easily move your bikes off to the side rather than unmounting them when you need to get in the trunk. Küat Racks designs lightweight, stylish and easy-to-use products that help cyclists and adventurers get out and do more.
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