Cycle rack

• US 5,236,110 A
• Filed: 10/11/1991
• Issued: 08/17/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ERIK Schmidt Autotilbehor APS
• Original Assignee: ERIK Schmidt Autoilbehlor As
• Inventors: Schmidt, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARRETT, GLENN
• Application Number:
  US07/768,658
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 224/42.03 R, 224/42.03 B, 224/42.07, 224/314, 224/319, 224/322, 224/324, 224/327, 224/42.42, 224/42.43, 224/42.44, 224/42.45, 269/95, 269/96, 269/97, 269/98, 269/99, 269/100, 269/101, 269/102, 248/434, 248/231.5, 248/227, 211/5, 211/8, 211/17, 211/18, 211/21, 211/22, 211/104, 211/145, 211/198
• US Class Current: 224/517
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/06 at vehicle front or rear rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/10 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/924 Vehicle attached carrier for bicycle or motorcycle

Abstract

A holding arrangement includes a pair of elongated branch members forming, for example, a support for a cycle rack, with a pair of links being arranged in a vicinity of lower ends of the branch members for connecting the branch members so as to enable a relative displacement between the branch members. An arrangement is disposed between the lower end portion and the upper end portion of the branch members for displacing the branch members from a closed position to an opened position and for applying a tensioning force to the branch member so as to lock the branch members to an object. The lower end of each branch member is provided with an arrangement for enabling a securing of the branch members to the object upon a displacement of the branch members to the opened position. A holding arrangement is provided on the object for firmly holding the branch members on the object with the holding arrangement including a pair of spaced abutments mounted on the object and defining a receptacle for receiving the lower ends of the branch members in the closed position. The lower ends of the branch members are respectively brought into a abutting relationship with portions of the spaced abutments when the branch members are displaced to the opened position so as to firmly anchor the branch members to the object by the tensioning force applied to the branch members.

Claims

1. A holding arrangement, comprising:

a pair of elongated branch members each having an upper end and a lower end;

a pair of link means arranged in a vicinity of said lower ends of said branch members for connecting said branch members in such a manner so as to enable a relative displacement between the branch members;

means disposed between said lower end and said upper end of each of said branch members for displacing said branch members from a closed position to an opened position and for applying a tensioning force to said branch members so as to lock the lower ends of the branch members to an object;

means provided on the lower end of each of said branch members for securing the branch members to the object upon a displacement of the branch members to the opened position; and

holding means provided on said object for firmly holding the branch members on said object, and

wherein at least one of the link means forms a joint with one of the branches whereby said joint permits a predetermined play between the link means and the branch, and

wherein said holding means includes a pair of spaced abutment means mounted on said object and defining a receptacle for receiving the lower ends of said branch members when said branch members are in said opened position, said lower ends of said branch members being respectively brought into an abutting relationship with portions of the spaced abutment means in the opened position so as to firmly anchor the branch members to the object by the tensioning force applied to said branch members by said means for displacing and applying the tensioning force.

2. A holding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said holding means comprises a pair of spaced U-shaped members opening in a direction facing each other so as to define a receptacle receiving the lower ends of said branches.

3. A holding arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said U-shaped members are at least partially closed to improve rigidity of the holding means.

4. A holding arrangement according one of to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein a further holding means is provided including a basket-shaped member disposed so as to extend to one side of an area occupied by the holding arrangement.

5. A holding arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the basket-shaped member includes a portion forming one of said pair of link means.

6. A holding arrangement according to claim 5, further comprising a removable locking means for preventing removal of the branch members from the abutment means.

7. A holding arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the branches include outwardly curved bending branch portions to prevent twisting of the branch members in the closed position relative to said abutment means.

8. A holding arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said means for displacing includes a toggle joint disposed at a location spaced from and end the outwardly curved bending branch portions.

9. A holding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a further locking means is provided and is cooperable with said means formed on the lower ends of each of said branch members for enabling a securing of the branch members, with said further locking means preventing removal of the branch members from the abutment means.

10. A holding arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said further locking means includes an angle pin member extending through openings provided in a portion of the respective abutment means.

11. A holding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a further holding means is provided including a basket-shaped member having a portion thereof forming one of said pair of link means.

12. A holding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said means for displacing and applying a tensioning force includes a toggle joint positioned above the pair of link means.

13. A holding arrangement according to claim 12, wherein each of the branch members include an outwardly bent branch portion, said outwardly bent branch portion terminating in a further branch portion extending substantially in parallel with a lower end portion of the branch member, and wherein the toggle joint is arranged in an area wherein the outwardly bent branch portion merges with the further branch portion.

14. A holding arrangement according to claim 12, wherein each of the branch members includes an outwardly bent branch portion, said outwardly bent branch portions terminating in a further branch portion extending substantially in parallel with a low end portion of the branch member, and wherein the toggle joint is arranged in the further branch portion at a position spaced from the bent branch portion.

15. A holding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the branch members form a support for a cycle carrier, and wherein a cycle carrier member is provided at the upper end of each of said branch members.