Vehicle attached bicycle carrying assembly

• US 5,476,201 A
• Filed: 12/29/1994
• Issued: 12/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Behm, Donald R., Hall, Mark D., Morley, Darrel L., Dayton, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory M.
• Application Number:
  US08/367,445
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 224/492, 224/493, 224/494, 224/533, 224/537, 224/309, 224/324, 224/924, 224/320, 224/321, 224/322, 224/323, 224/325, 224/326, 224/310, 224/311, 296/180.1, 296/180.2, 414/462
• US Class Current: 224/492
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/10 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/924 Vehicle attached carrier for bicycle or motorcycle

Abstract

A vehicle mounted bicycle carrying assembly for supporting at least one bicycle in an upward standing position on the upper surface of a vehicle for transport by the vehicle includes first and second laterally spaced and longitudinally extending rail members affixed to the roof, and an elongated member adapted to retain the at least one bicycle for pivotally movement between a first position and a second position about an axis. The axis is substantially coincident with the elongated member. A first end portion of the elongated member is adapted to be attached to one of the rail members and a second end portion of the elongated member is adapted to be attached to the other of the rail members. In the preferred embodiment, the assembly further comprises a permanently spoiler attached to the deck lid. The spoiler integrally includes a longitudinally extending member including a channel adapted to receive the rear wheel of the at least one bicycle. When attached to the vehicle through the assembly of the present invention, the bicycle can be pivoted about its fork to thereby provide access to a rear located storage compartment by moving the deck lid to an open position.

Claims

1. A vehicle mounted bicycle carrying assembly for supporting at least one bicycle in an upward standing position on the upper surface of a vehicle for transport by the vehicle, the vehicle being of the type including a deck lid pivotally movable between an open position and a closed position and a roof, the assembly comprising:

first retaining means for engaging a first portion of the at least one bicycle, said first retaining means adapted to be disposed substantially adjacent the roof of the vehicle; and

second retaining means for engaging a second portion of the at least one bicycle, said second retaining means adapted to be disposed on the deck lid of the vehicle wherein said first retaining means includes means for pivotally engaging said first portion of the at least one bicycle such that the at least one bicycle is pivotally moveable about said first portion between a first position and a second position, such that pivotal movement of said at least one bicycle about said first portion from said first position to said second position permits the deck lid to be moved between the closed position and the open position, respectively, wherein said second portion engages said second retaining means therebetween.

2. The vehicle mounted bicycle carrying assembly of claim 1, wherein said first portion of the at least one bicycle is a front fork.

3. The vehicle mounted bicycle carrying assembly of claim 2, further comprising support means for supportively engaging the at least one bicycle when the at least one bicycle is in said second position.

4. The vehicle mounted bicycle carrying assembly of claim 3, wherein said first retaining means comprises a laterally extending elongated member which is adapted to be fixedly supported above said roof in generally parallel relationship thereto.

5. The vehicle mounted bicycle carrying assembly of claim 4, wherein said first retaining means further comprises supporting structure for supporting said laterally extending elongated member above said roof.

6. The vehicle mounted bicycle carrying assembly of claim 5, wherein said elongated member includes first and second end portions, and further wherein said supporting means comprises first and second laterally spaced and longitudinally extending rail members affixed to said roof, said first end portion of said elongated member releasably affixed to one of said rail members, and said second end portion of said elongated member releasably affixed to the other of said rail members.

7. The vehicle mounted bicycle carrying assembly of claim 6, wherein said second portion of said bicycle is the rear wheel and further wherein said second retaining means comprises rear wheel locating means for receiving and locating said rear wheel relative to the deck lid.

8. The vehicle mounted bicycle carrying assembly of claim 7, wherein said rear wheel locating means comprises a longitudinally extending member including a channel for receiving said rear wheel of the at least one bicycle, said longitudinally extending member being attached to the deck lid.

9. The vehicle mounted bicycle carrying assembly of claim 7, wherein said rear wheel locating means comprises a spoiler attached to the deck lid, said spoiler integrally including a longitudinally extending member including a channel adapted to receive said rear wheel of the at least one bicycle.

10. The vehicle mounted bicycle carrying assembly of claim 9, wherein said at least one bicycle comprises two bicycles.

11. A vehicle mounted bicycle carrying assembly for supporting at least one bicycle in an upward standing position on the upper surface of a vehicle for transport by the vehicle, the vehicle being of the type including a deck lid pivotally movable between an open position and a closed position and a roof, the assembly comprising:

first and second laterally spaced and longitudinally extending rail members adapted to be affixed to the roof;

an elongated member including a center portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion, said first end portion of said elongated member being attached to one of said rail members and said second end portion of said elongated member being attached to the other of said rail members, said center portion being adapted to pivotally receive a fork of at least one bicycle for pivotally movement of the at least one bicycle between a first position and a second position about an axis substantially coincident with said center portion; and

a spoiler adapted to be permanently attached to the deck lid, said spoiler integrally including at least one longitudinally extending member including a channel adapted to receive said rear wheel of the at least one bicycle.

12. The vehicle mounted bicycle carrying assembly of claim 11, wherein said first and second end portions are longitudinally adjustable with respect to said first and second rail members.

13. The vehicle mounted bicycle carrying assembly of claim 11, further comprising an adjustable support mechanism for supportively engaging the at least one bicycle when the at least one bicycle is in said second position.

14. The vehicle mounted bicycle carrying assembly of claim 13, wherein said adjustable support mechanism comprises a gas prop adapted to be pivotally attached to the roof.

15. The vehicle mounted bicycle carrying assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one bicycle comprises two bicycles.

16. In combination with a bicycle of the type having a front fork, a rear wheel, and a frame, and a bicycle rack assembly for holding at least one bicycle in an upward standing position on the upper surface of a vehicle, the vehicle being of the type including a deck lid pivotally movable between an open position and a closed position and a roof, the improvement comprising:

a luggage rack arrangement including first and second rail members and an elongated member said first and second rail members being laterally spaced, longitudinally extending and adapted to be affixed to the roof, the elongated member including first and second end portions and being adapted to pivotally retain a first portion of the at least one bicycle for pivotal movement between a first position and a second position about an axis substantially coincident with said elongated member, said first and second end portions each being affixed to said first and second rail members, respectively; and

a spoiler adapted to be permanently attached to the deck lid, said spoiler integrally including a longitudinally extending member including a channel adapted to receive the rear wheel of the at least one bicycle.

17. The combination of claim 16, wherein said first and second end portions are longitudinally adjustable with respect to said first and second rail members.

18. The combination of claim 17, wherein the at least one bicycle comprises two bicycles.