Claims
- 1. A bicycle carrier adapted to be secured to an article carrier structure on a motor vehicle, to support a bicycle in a vertical orientation adjacent said motor vehicle, said bicycle carrier comprising:
a support structure adapted to be secured to said article carrier structure; a wheel supporting member secured to said support structure so as to project outwardly therefrom generally parallel to a ground surface, for supporting a wheel of a bicycle to thereby support said bicycle in a vertical orientation therefrom adjacent said motor vehicle; and a frame engaging member operably associated with said support structure for engaging a portion of a frame of said bicycle when said bicycle is suspended in said vertical orientation.
- 2. The bicycle carrier of claim 1, wherein said wheel supporting member forms a U-shaped member that is pivotally secured to said support structure and movable from a stowed position, wherein it rests substantially adjacent said support structure, to an operable position projecting generally horizontally from said support structure.
- 3. The bicycle carrier of claim 1, further comprising an elongated support rail operably secured to said support structure for engaging a wheel of said bicycle when said bicycle is suspended from said wheel supporting member.
- 4. The bicycle carrier of claim 1, further comprising a securing strap associated with said elongated support rail for securing said wheel engaged with said elongated support rail to said elongated support rail.
- 5. A bicycle carrier adapted to be secured to an article carrier structure on a motor vehicle, to support a bicycle in a vertical orientation adjacent said motor vehicle, said bicycle carrier comprising:
a support structure adapted to be secured to said article carrier structure; a wheel supporting member pivotally secured to said support structure and pivotally movable between a stowed position, wherein said wheel supporting member is disposed substantially parallel to said support structure, and an operable position wherein said wheel supporting member projects outwardly from said support structure and receives a wheel of a bicycle to thereby support said bicycle in a vertical orientation therefrom; and a frame engaging member operably associated with said support structure for engaging a portion of a frame of said bicycle when said bicycle is suspended in said vertical orientation.
- 6. The bicycle carrier of claim 5, further comprising an elongated support rail operably secured to said support structure for engaging a wheel of said bicycle that is not engaged with said wheel supporting member, to further support said bicycle in said vertical orientation.
- 7. A bicycle carrier adapted to be secured to an article carrier structure on a motor vehicle, to support a bicycle in a vertical orientation adjacent said motor vehicle, said bicycle carrier comprising:
an elongated support rail adapted to be fixedly secured to said article carrier structure such that said support rail extends in a generally vertical orientation adjacent said motor vehicle; a foldable wheel support operably associated with said support rail for engaging a wheel of said bicycle and substantially supporting said bicycle; and a frame engaging assembly operably associated with said support rail for engaging a frame portion of said bicycle and holding said bicycle against said support rail.
- 8. The bicycle carrier of claim 7, wherein said foldable wheel support comprises a U-shaped component adapted to engage a portion of a wheel of said bicycle.
- 9. The bicycle carrier of claim 7, wherein said foldable wheel support includes:
a wheel supporting component moveable pivotally relative to said support rail and adapted to engage a portion of a wheel of said bicycle; a mounting component, said mounting component adapted to be fixedly secured to said support rail; wherein said foldable support wheel is pivotably coupled to said mounting component; and wherein said mounting component includes a stop portion for limiting pivotal movement of said wheel supporting component.
- 10. The bicycle carrier of claim 7, wherein said frame engaging assembly includes:
a frame supporting member; and a mounting plate fixedly secured to said elongated support rail, said frame supporting member being pivotally secured to said mounting plate to allow a degree of adjustability to accommodate bicycle frames of various sizes.
- 11. The bicycle carrier of claim 7, wherein said frame engaging assembly includes a clamp assembly for clamping onto a portion of a frame of said bicycle.
- 12. The bicycle carrier of claim 7, further comprising:
a mounting plate fixedly secured to said elongated support rail, said foldable wheel support and said frame engaging assembly being pivotally secured to said mounting plate.
- 13. The bicycle carrier of claim 7, wherein said bicycle comprises a first wheel and a second wheel, said first wheel seated within said wheel support such that said first wheel is supported at a point on said elongated support rail above said second wheel.
- 14. A bicycle carrier adapted to be secured to an article carrier structure on a motor vehicle, to support a bicycle in a vertical orientation adjacent a lift gate of said motor vehicle, said bicycle carrier comprising:
an elongated support rail adapted to be fixedly secured to said article carrier structure such that said support rail extends in a generally vertical orientation and is spaced apart from said liftgate of said motor vehicle; a foldable wheel support adapted to be extended into an operative position extending outwardly of said support rail for engaging one wheel of said bicycle and substantially supporting said bicycle when said bicycle is lifted and placed with said one wheel on said foldable wheel support in a generally vertical orientation; and a secondary support assembly for engaging said bicycle at a position other than said one wheel to further assist in securing said bicycle in said vertical orientation.
- 15. The bicycle carrier of claim 14, wherein said secondary support assembly comprises:
a tube; a clamp carried by said tube, said clamp being adapted to engage a frame portion of said bicycle; and a support member for securing said tube to said elongated support rail.
- 16. The bicycle carrier of claim 15, wherein said tube is pivotally secured to said support member.
- 17. The bicycle carrier of claim 15, wherein said foldable wheel support comprises:
a generally U-shaped member adapted to engage a portion of said one wheel of said bicycle; and a support member secured to said support rail; and wherein said U-shaped member is pivotally secured to said support member so as to be foldable into a position extending generally parallel to said support rail, and extending into a position extending generally normal to said support rail.
- 18. The bicycle carrier of claim 15, wherein said elongated support rail forms a generally V-shaped well.
- 19. The bicycle carrier of claim 17, wherein said tube is foldable to a position generally parallel to said elongated support rail when not in use.
- 20. The bicycle carrier of claim 14, further comprising:
a support member fixedly secured to said elongated support rail, said foldable wheel support and said frame engaging assembly being pivotally secured to said support member.
- 21. The bicycle carrier of claim 14, wherein said bicycle comprises a first wheel and a second wheel, said first wheel seated within said wheel support such that said first wheel is supported at a point on said elongated support rail above said second wheel.
- 22. A bicycle carrier adapted to be secured to an article carrier structure on a motor vehicle to support a bicycle in a vertical orientation adjacent a lift gate of said motor vehicle, said bicycle carrier comprising:
an elongated support rail adapted to be fixedly secured to said article carrier structure such that said support rail extends in a generally vertical orientation and is spaced over but apart from said liftgate of said motor vehicle; a foldable wheel support adapted to be extended between a stored position, wherein said foldable wheel support is disposed generally parallel to said elongated support rail and an operative position wherein said foldable wheel is extended into a position outwardly of said support rail;
wherein said foldable wheel support engages one wheel of said bicycle and substantially supports an entire weight of said bicycle when said bicycle is positioned with said one wheel on said foldable wheel support in a generally vertical orientation; and a secondary support assembly secured to said elongated support member for engaging said bicycle at a position other than said one wheel to further assist in securing said bicycle in said vertical orientation.
- 23. The bicycle carrier of claim 22, wherein said secondary support assembly includes a frame supporting member for engaging a portion of a frame of said bicycle.
- 24. The bicycle carrier of claim 22, wherein said secondary support assembly includes a clamping assembly for engaging a portion of a frame of said bicycle.
- 25. The bicycle carrier of claim 22, wherein said secondary support assembly includes:
a frame supporting member operably secured to said elongated support rail and moveable pivotally relative to said elongated support rail; and a clamping assembly adjustably positionable along said frame supporting member for engaging a portion of a frame of said bicycle.
- 26. The bicycle carrier of claim 22, further comprising:
a mounting plate fixedly secured to said elongated support rail, said foldable wheel support and said frame engaging assembly being pivotally secured to said mounting plate.
- 27. The bicycle carrier of claim 22, wherein said bicycle comprises a first wheel and a second wheel, said first wheel seated within said wheel support such that said first wheel is supported at a point on said elongated support rail above said second wheel.
- 28. A bicycle carrier adapted to be secured to an article carrier structure on a motor vehicle, to support a bicycle in a vertical orientation adjacent a generally vertical wall portion of said vehicle, said bicycle carrier comprising:
a main support member adapted to be fixedly secured to said article carrier structure such that said main support extends in a generally vertical orientation and is spaced over but apart from said liftgate of said motor vehicle; a foldable wheel support adapted to be extended between a stored position, wherein said foldable wheel support is disposed generally parallel to said main support member, and an operative position wherein said foldable wheel is extended into an position outwardly of said main support member;
wherein said foldable wheel support engages one wheel of said bicycle and substantially supports an entire weight of said bicycle when said bicycle is positioned with said one wheel on said foldable wheel support in a generally vertical orientation; and a secondary support assembly operably associated with said main support member for engaging a frame portion of said bicycle to further assist in holding said bicycle against said main support member and in said generally vertical orientation.
- 29. The bicycle carrier of claim 28, wherein said main support member comprises an elongated support rail forming a channel.
- 30. The bicycle carrier of claim 28, wherein said secondary support assembly comprises:
a support element operably coupled to said main support member and moveable pivotally relative to said main support member; a clamping assembly disposed on said support element for clamping to a frame portion of said bicycle.
- 31. The bicycle carrier of claim 30, wherein said support element is positionable generally parallel to said main support member when said bicycle carrier is not in use.
- 32. The bicycle carrier of claim 30, wherein said clamping assembly is adjustably positionable on said support element.
- 33. The bicycle carrier of claim 28, further comprising:
a mounting plate fixedly secured to said main support member, said foldable wheel support and said frame engaging assembly being pivotally secured to said mounting plate.
- 34. The bicycle carrier of claim 28, wherein said bicycle comprises a first wheel and a second wheel, said first wheel seated within said wheel support such that said first wheel is supported at a point on said main support member above said second wheel.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/047,937 filed on Oct. 29, 2001, and presently pending.
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10047937 |
Oct 2001 |
US |
Child |
10287425 |
Nov 2002 |
US |