Modular bicycle rack system

• US 5,690,259 A
• Filed: 05/02/1996
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John J. Montani
• Original Assignee: John J. Montani
• Inventors: Montani, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory M.
• Application Number:
  US08/640,535
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 224/309, 224/310, 224/319, 224/321, 224/325, 224/326, 224/924, 414/462
• US Class Current: 224/310
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/042 Carriers characterised by means to facilitate loading or unloading of the load, e.g. rollers, tracks, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/10 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/924 Vehicle attached carrier for bicycle or motorcycle

Abstract

A modular bicycle rack system is useful with a vehicle that has a pair of rooftop transverse load bars that are spaced along the length of the vehicle. The rack system includes a base that is connected with the transverse load bars, and which may be one or more rail members, a slide connected in sliding engagement with the base to slide between a forward and a rearward position, a frame that is pivotally connected with the slide to pivot between an upper and a lower position, and which may be a channel member, and a clamp that connects between the base and the frame. A hanger releasably locks onto the frame to hang a bicycle on the frame when the frame is in the lower position. Alternatively, a cargo box may be coupled with the frame for convenient access to the cargo box.

Claims

1. A modular bicycle rack system for a vehicle that has a pair of transverse load bars, the transverse load bars being spaced along a length of the vehicle, said modular bicycle rack system comprising:

a rail that is adapted to extend at least between the pair of transverse load bars, and to connect with each of the transverse load bars;

a slide connected in sliding engagement with said rail to slide along a length of said rail between a storage position and an access position, said slide having a body with two opposing body ends and a slot, said slot extending through said two body ends and defining a rail receptacle, said rail being positioned in said rail receptacle with said slide extending around said rail to capture said rail in sliding engagement;

a channel pivotally connected with said slide to pivot when said slide is in said access position, between an upper position and a lower position; and

a clamp connected with said channel, said clamp being adapted to couple with one of the transverse load bars to damp said channel in said upper position when said slide is in said storage position.

2. The modular bicycle rack system defined in claim 1 wherein said rail is a first rail;

wherein said modular bicycle rack system further includes a second rail that is spaced apart from, generally parallel with, and generally aligned with said first rail; and

wherein said slide has a second cooperating rail receptacle, said second rail being positioned in said second rail receptacle with said slide extending around said second rail to capture said rail in said rail receptacle in sliding engagement.

3. The modular bicycle rack system defined in claim 1 wherein said rail includes two generally parallel rails.

4. The modular bicycle rack system defined in claim 1 wherein said channel defines a tire receptacle adapted to releasably receive a tire of a bicycle and hold the tire in alignment with said channel.

5. The modular bicycle rack system defined in claim 1 further including a hanger that is releasably connected with said channel, said hanger being adapted to releasably receive one of a tire and a front fork of a bicycle to support a bicycle on said channel, when said channel is in said lower position.

6. The modular bicycle rack system defined in claim 5 wherein said hanger includes a hanger lock, said hanger lock having a locked position in which said hanger is securely coupled with said channel, and an open position in which said hanger is movable from one location of said channel to another location of said channel.

7. The modular bicycle rack system defined in claim 6 wherein said hanger has a hanger body and a hook extending from said body, said hook being adapted to releasably receive a wheel of a bicycle whereby the bicycle hangs from and is supported by said hook, when said channel is in said lower position.

8. The modular bicycle rack system defined in claim 6 wherein said hanger has a hanger body and a fork bolt extending through said hanger body, whereby said fork bolt is adapted to engage a wheel fork of a bicycle for coupling the wheel fork with said channel.

9. The modular bicycle rack system defined in claim 6 wherein said hanger has a hanger body and a wheel bracket extending from said hanger body, said wheel bracket being adapted to engage a bicycle wheel to couple the wheel with said channel.

10. The modular bicycle rack system defined in claim 6 wherein said hanger has a support member, said support member extending generally perpendicularly from said channel for releasably receiving a tire of a bicycle, whereby a tire received by said support member is aligned with and seated in said channel and whereby the bicycle is supported by said support member when said channel is in said lower position.

11. The modular bicycle rack system defined in claim 1 further including a brace, said brace extending from said slide and being adapted to connect with a bicycle, said brace bracing the bicycle to hold the bicycle in a generally vertical plane.

12. The modular bicycle rack system defined in claim 1 further including a cargo box coupled with said channel to slide with said channel relative to said rail and to pivot with said channel between said upper and said lower positions.

13. A modular rack system for a vehicle that has a pair of transverse load bars, the transverse load bars being spaced along a length of the vehicle, said modular rack system comprising:

a rail, said rail having a front portion that is adapted to connect with a forward one of the pair of transverse load bars, and has a back portion that is adapted to connect with the rearward one of the pair of transverse load bars;

a slide connected in sliding engagement with said rail to slide along a length of said rail between a forward position at said front portion of said rail and a rearward position at said back portion of said rail, said slide having a body with two opposing body ends and a slot, said slot extending through said two body ends and defining a rail receptacle, said rail being positioned in said rail receptacle with said slide extending around said rail to capture said rail in sliding engagement;

a frame pivotally connected with said slide to pivot when said slide is in said rearward position, between an upper position and a lower position; and

a clamp connected with said frame, said clamp being adapted to couple with one of the transverse load bars to clamp said frame in said upper position when said slide is in said forward position.

14. The modular rack system defined in claim 13 wherein said rail includes two generally parallel rails.

15. The modular rack system defined in claim 13 further including a hanger that is releasably connected with said frame, said hanger being adapted to releasably receive one of a tire and a front fork of a bicycle to support a bicycle on said frame, when said frame is in said lower position.

16. The modular rack system defined in claim 15 wherein said hanger includes a hanger lock, said hanger lock having a locked position in which said hanger is securely coupled with said frame, and an open position in which said hanger is movable from one location of said frame to another location of said frame.

17. The modular rack system defined in claim 16 wherein said hanger has a hanger body and a hook extending from said body, said hook being adapted to releasably receive a wheel of a bicycle whereby the bicycle hangs from and is supported by said hook, when said frame is in said lower position.

18. The modular rack system defined in claim 16 wherein said hanger has a hanger body and an axle extending through said hanger body, whereby said axle is adapted to engage a wheel fork of a bicycle for coupling the wheel fork with said frame.

19. The modular rack system defined in claim 16 wherein said hanger has a hanger body and a wheel bracket extending from said hanger body, said wheel bracket being adapted to engage a bicycle wheel to couple the wheel with said frame.

20. The modular rack system defined in claim 16 wherein said hanger has a support member, said support member extending generally perpendicularly from said frame for releasably receiving and supporting a bicycle when said frame is in said lower position.

21. The modular rack system defined in claim 13 further including a cargo box coupled with said frame to slide with said frame relative to said base and to pivot with said frame between said upper and said lower positions.