Patent Application
20200353873
The present invention relates to a device for securing a bicycle on a bicycle rack. The means for securing the bicycles to the rack are of paramount importance. The device described in embodiments herein provides a secure and easy-to-use mechanism for engaging and releasing straps for securing a bicycle frame to the bicycle rack.
The inventive bicycle attachment mechanism releasably secures a bicycle to a support member of a bicycle rack. In varying embodiments, the bicycle attachment mechanism comprises a pawl pivotally mounted within an aperture in the support member, and a strap having teeth on one side. The second end of the strap may be attached to the support member and the first end of the strap is inserted into the aperture, where the pawl is configured to engage the teeth on the strap to retain the strap in the aperture. In some embodiments, the pawl further comprises an angled tooth configured to engage the teeth on the strap. In some of these embodiments the pawl secures the strap between the angled tooth of the pawl and a surface of the aperture. In some embodiments the pawl further comprises a pawl release lever configured to disengage the angled tooth of the pawl from the teeth of the strap to release the strap from the aperture.
In preferred embodiments of the bicycle attachment mechanism, the frame member of the bicycle is captured between the strap and the cradle when the second end of the strap is inserted into the aperture. In some embodiments of the mechanism, a bicycle cradle is disposed between the second end of the strap and the aperture for the strap.
Other embodiments of the inventive device include a bicycle attachment assembly for a bicycle rack with a support member. In these embodiments the bicycle attachment assembly comprises a component installed into an aperture extending through the support member, the component having an upper surface for receiving a frame of a bicycle, an aperture through the component having a latch mechanism configured to receive and retain a strap to hold the frame of the bicycle on the upper surface of the component. In some of these embodiments the component is disposed substantially inside the support member. The latch mechanism may comprise a pawl disposed at least partially within the aperture, and a rack of teeth on the strap for engaging the pawl. The pawl may have a release lever for disengaging the pawl from the rack of teeth. The strap may be attached to the component at a strap attachment point disposed apart from the aperture. In some embodiments an anti-sway device is disposed below the support member and is attached to the component through the support member.
Further embodiments include a bicycle attachment assembly for a bicycle rack with a support member for holding a bicycle, where the bicycle attachment assembly has a strap having a rack of teeth disposed on one side, and a ratchet pawl in an aperture extending though the support member. The ratchet pawl may be configured to engage the rack of teeth on the strap when an end of the strap is inserted into the aperture. In some of these embodiments the aperture extends from an upper surface of the support member to a lower surface of the support member, and the strap extends through the aperture and below the support member to secure a bicycle frame member on the upper surface of the support member. A second end of the strap may be attached to the support member at an attachment point on the upper surface thereof, and a bicycle cradle may be disposed on the upper surface of the support member between the attachment point and the aperture.
Bicycle racks are often provided for removable mounting onto the truck, rear hatch, or rear end of a vehicle. The racks often have an upper support structure or frame, and a lower support structure or frame, that rest on an upper and lower surface of a vehicle, respectively. In some uses of such racks, these surfaces may include a bumper as the lower surface, and the top of the trunk as the upper surface. In other embodiments, they upper and lower surfaces may comprise the upper and lower portions of a rear hatch, respectively. Other options for installation may also be used with various embodiments of these racks. The upper and lower support structures of such racks often need to be adjusted with respect to each other and to elements of the rack provided for the support of one or more bicycles. The inventive rack 100 described below is provided with improved devices for adjusting the various members of the rack with respect to one another to fit the rack to a variety of vehicles in a quick and secure manner.
Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of the inventive bicycle rack 100 for mounting on a vehicle trunk are depicted. In the various depicted embodiments, the rack 100 includes a lower portion 102, an upper portion 104, one or more bicycle support members 106, and one or more hinge assemblies 108. In the depicted embodiments, the rack 100 is provided with two hinge assemblies 108 disposed at either end of a central pivot member 110, however in other embodiments the rack 100 may have only one or more than two hinge assemblies 108.
In the depicted embodiments, the upper portion 104 comprises a U-shaped assembly with a first and second upper support member 112, and an upper base member 114. In the depicted embodiments, a first end 120 of each upper support member 112 is attached to a hinge assembly 108. The opposed second end 122 of the upper support member 112 is attached to upper base member 114. The upper base member 114 contacts the vehicle to which the rack 100 is attached to provide support to the rack 100. In other embodiments of the bicycle rack 100, only one or more than two support members 112 may be provided, and the upper base member 114 may comprise a shortened member or cap for each upper support member 112, or may be attached to the second end of the upper support member 112 at a midpoint of the upper base member 114. The scope of the present invention is not limited by the particular arrangement of support members shown in the depicted embodiments.
Similarly, in the depicted embodiments, the lower portion 102 comprises a U-shaped assembly with a first and second lower support member 116, and a lower base member 118. In the depicted embodiments, a first end 120 of each upper support member 116 is attached to a hinge assembly 108. The opposed second end 122 of the lower support member 116 is attached to lower base member 118. The lower base member 118 contacts the vehicle to which the rack 100 is attached to provide support to the rack 100. In other embodiments of the bicycle rack 100, only one or more than two support members 116 may be provided, and the lower base member 118 may comprise a shortened member or cap for each lower support member 116, or may be attached to the second end of the lower support member 116 at a midpoint of the lower base member 118. The scope of the present invention is not limited by the particular arrangement of support members shown in the depicted embodiments.
Each support member 112 or 116 is a structural member formed from metal, composite, plastic, other similar materials, or a combination of those materials, and may be hollow, solid, or channeled as required by the material and application. In preferred embodiments, the support members 112 and 116 are formed from hollow metal members having a circular, oval, polygonal, rectangular, or similar cross-section. Similarly, the base members 114 and 118 may be formed from a variety of materials with suitable properties to provide support as required by the specific design of an embodiment of the rack 100, and may be metal, composite, plastic, rubber, similar materials, or a combination of those materials, formed with a variety of cross-sections, and may be hollow, solid, or channeled as required by the material and application. In some embodiments, the support members 112 and 116 may be formed unitarily as a single piece with the base members 114 and 118, respectively.
At least one of the lower portion 102 and upper portion 104 is attached to the pivot member 110 by hinge assemblies so that the orientation of that portion, with respect to the pivot member 110, may be adjusted with respect to the other portion.
In the depicted embodiment, each hinge assembly 108 is provided with first leaf 126 and a second leaf 124. The first end 120 of each support arm 112 is attached to a first leaf 126 of a hinge assembly 108. The first end 120 of each support arm 116 is attached to a second leaf 124 of a hinge assembly 108. The first leaf 126 and second leaf 124 pivot with respect to each other around the axis of the pivot member 110 to allow the angle between the lower portion 102 and upper portion 104 to be adjusted to fit a particular vehicle. In the depicted embodiments, the first and second leaf comprise sockets for receiving an end of a support member, but in other embodiments they may comprise inserts that fit into a hollow support member or channels therein, or comprise a mounting plate to which the support member is fastened. In the depicted embodiments, the second leaf 124 may be fixedly attached to the pivot member 110.
In some embodiments, the hinge assembly 108 may only have one hinge leaf for attachment to the portion (upper or lower) that pivots around the pivot member 110. The other portion may be attached to pivot member 110 by a part of the hinge assembly 108 or by another connection or mounting fixture.
Each bicycle support member 106 is provided with one or more bicycle attachment assemblies 128. The bicycle attachment assemblies 128 are provided with a means of attaching a bicycle to the bicycle support member 106 to hold the bicycle in place during use of the rack 100. In various embodiments of the rack 100, the bicycle attachment assembly 128 may comprise one or more types of attachments suitable for this purpose. In some embodiments, the assembly 128 may comprise a strap releaseably attached to the member 106 to hold the frame or another part of the bicycle against the member 106. In other embodiments, the assembly 128 may comprise hooks, clamps, or other types of releasable anchors. Specific embodiments of the bicycle attachment assembly 126 are described in relation to later figures.
Each bicycle support member is pivotally attached to the rack 100 by a bicycle support hinge assembly 130. The hinge assembly 130 allows the bicycle support member 106 to be rotated around the pivot member 110 so that the rack 100 may be adjusted for a variety of different vehicles or folded into a storage configuration where the members 106 pivoted around pivot member 110 until they are aligned with and substantially between the support members 112 and 116.
The adjustability of the various members allow the rack 100 to be “folded” into a compact “closed” configuration, such as shown in
Referring now to
In the depicted embodiment, the hinge leaf 126 is attached to or formed unitarily with hinge barrel 214. In various embodiments, hinge barrel 214 may completely or partially surround pivot member 110. Hinge barrel 214 is disposed around pivot member 110 and capable of revolving around pivot member 110. The hinge barrel 214 may be provided with an optional flange 216 extending around or over the channels 200. A latch pin 218 is moveably attached to hinge leaf 126 or hinge barrel 214 for selectively engaging the channels 200 to hold the hinge assembly 108 in a fixed position with respect to pivot member 110. An actuator 220 is provided for selectively engaging or disengaging the latch pin 218 from one of the channels 200. When the latch pin 218 is in a disengaged position, hinge leaf 126 and hinge barrel 214 may be rotated around the pivot member 110. When the latch pin 218 is engaged in a channel 200, the pin 218 prevents rotation of the hinge leaf 126 with respect to pivot member 110 and holds the hinge assembly 108 in a fixed position.
In a preferred embodiment, hinge leaf 124 may be fixedly attached to pivot member 110 to prevent its rotation with relation to the pivot member 110. In other embodiments, hinge leaf 124 may be pivotally attached to pivot member 110 with some method of fixing it in desired orientation with respect to the pivot member 110. In other embodiments of the rack 100, hinge leaf 124 may be formed as part of pivot member 110. In other embodiments, the hinge leaf 124 and the pivot member 100 may be formed from a single component. In other embodiments, pivot member 110 and lower support member 112 may be formed from a single component or attached together without a hinge leaf 124.
Since in some embodiments the hinge assembly 108 described herein may be attached to the lower portion 102 of the rack, and in other embodiments to the upper portion 104 of the rack, it is necessary to be able to refer to whichever portion and subcomponents thereof are attached to the hinge assembly without reference as to whether it is the upper or the lower portion. Thus, when referring to the upper and lower portions, the upper and lower base members, and the upper and lower support members, a reference to the first portion, the second portion, the first base members, the second base members, the first support members, and the second support members shall refer respectively to either upper or lower portions or components. In this manner, references to the components in the claims may be described in relation to which components attach to the hinge assembly, and not which components are on the upper or lower portion of the rack.
Referring now to
When a user depresses actuator 220 in the direction of upper support member 112, the lever 226 pivots around latch pivot pin 224. The pivotal movement of lever 226 causes the latch pin 218 to move away from hinge leaf 126 and out of channel 200. Once pin 218 is out of channel 200, the hinge leaf 126 may be rotated around pivot member 110 to adjust the orientation of the support lower portion 102 and the upper portion 104 to each other. Once the hinge leaf 126 and upper support member 112 is in a desired orientation with respect to pivot member 110, the user may release actuator 220. The pivotal movement of the actuator 220 toward upper support member 116 also compresses spring 228. When the user releases actuator 220, spring 228 pushes the first end 226 away from upper support member 116, causing the lever 226 to rotate in the opposite direction and causing latch pin 218 to be reinserted into one of the channels 200.
Referring now to
A slot or aperture 310 having side surfaces is provided in support member 106, and a pawl 312 is pivotally mounted in slot 310. A second end 314 of strap 304 is inserted into slot 310 around the bicycle frame to hold it on the rest 302. The pawl tooth 316 on pawl 312 is disposed at an angle pointing into the slot 310, and engages angled teeth 308 on strap 304 to prevent the strap 304 from being withdrawn from slot 310, thus holding the bicycle frame against rest 302. The angle of the teeth 308 allows the pawl tooth 316 to slide over the teeth 308 while the strap 304 is being inserted into the slot 310, but to catch on the teeth 308 when a force attempts to pull strap 304 out of the slot 310. By pulling the strap 304 through the slot 310 until the strap 304 securely holds the bicycle frame against rest 302, a bicycle may be held on the rack 100.
When a user desires to withdraw the strap 304 from the slot 310 to remove the bicycle from the rack 100, the pawl lever 318 is depressed to cause pawl 312 to pivot and to pull pawl tooth 316 away from contact with strap 304, thus disengaging the pawl tooth 312 from the teeth 308 on strap 304.
Referring now to
In the embodiment of the rack 100 shown in
Referring now to
In a latched configuration, a first end 510 of latch pin 502 extends through an aperture in the pivot mount 400 and into one of the channels 508 in pivot member 110. The extension of the pin into the channel 508 prevents the rotation of pivot mount 400 and bicycle support member 106 with respect to pivot member 110.
A user may disengage the latch by applying a force to actuator 500 to slide it away from the pivot member 110. The movement of the latch actuator 500 causes carrier 504 to also move away from pivot member 110 thereby retracting latch pin 502 from the channel 508. While latch pin 502 is retracted, the bicycle support member 106 and pivot mount 400 may be rotated around the pivot member 110 to a desired position, at which time the user may release actuator 500 and the spring 506 forces carrier 504 towards the pivot member, and latch pin 502 into a channel 508.
The various members of the bicycle rack 100 may be manufactured from composite materials, aluminum or other metals, plastic, graphite, carbon fiber, laminates, or other materials with sufficient strength without departing from the scope of this patent.
To secure the rack to the trunk of a vehicle, multiple strap assemblies 132 are provided. It in the depicted embodiments, the straps 132 connect at or near the ends of pivot member 110. The number of straps may vary in embodiments of the rack, but in a preferred embodiment of the rack 100 two straps are provided to secure the rack to the vehicle. In some embodiments, three straps are provided at each end of the pivot member 100 to allow the rack to attach to the front, rear and sides of the vehicle trunk, hatch or bumper for greater stability at the rack to vehicle interface during use. This arrangement eliminates forward, rearward or side to side movement of the rack that is common with trunk mounted racks.
When the rack 100 is not in use on a vehicle, the lower portion 102, the upper portion 104, and the bicycle support members 106 may all be rotated into a folded or closed configuration having all of the members as close together as allowed by the design of the rack 100, to provide for reduced space requirements for storage. When the rack 100 is in use, the lower portion 102, the upper portion 104, and the bicycle support members 106 are all rotated around pivot member 110 to orient them as necessary to securely fit the rack 100 onto a specific vehicle for carrying a bicycle.
Comprise, include, and/or plural forms of each are open ended and include the listed parts and can include additional parts that are not listed. And/or is open ended and includes one or more of the listed parts and combinations of the listed parts.
Changes may be made in the above methods, devices and structures without departing from the scope hereof. Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.
This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/135,174 filed Sep. 19, 2018, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/560,521 filed Sep. 19, 2017, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62560521 | Sep 2017 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16135174 | Sep 2018 | US |
| Child | 16919405 | US |
