Rear lift gate-mounted bicycle mount for passenger van
First Claim
1. In a passenger van having a passenger compartment and a rear lift gate selectively movable between an open position, wherein the lift gate does not cover the passenger compartment, and a closed position, wherein the lift gate covers the passenger compartment, the lift gate defining an upper portion and a lower portion when the lift gate is in the closed position, a bicycle mounting system, comprising:
- at least one upper mount including;
a base, the base including a base surface attachable to the upper portion of the lift gate and a hollow base holder spaced from the base surface and defining a channel therethrough, the base holder defining left and right ends;
a clamp element engaged with the channel of the base holder, the clamp element being movable between a release configuration, wherein left and right fork elements of a bicycle'"'"'s front fork can be advanced between the clamp element and the respective left and right ends of the base holder, and a clamp configuration, wherein left and right fork elements of a bicycle'"'"'s front fork can be clamped between the clamp element and the base holder; and
at least one lower mount attachable to the lower portion of the lift gate, the lower mount including a receptacle surface configured for receiving a bicycle rear tire therein, the lower mount further including a fastening element for holding a bicycle rear tire against the receptacle surface.
22 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for holding at least one bicycle onto the vertically-oriented rear lift gate of a passenger van includes an upper mount affixed to the upper portion of the lift gate and a lower mount affixed to the lower portion of the lift gate. The upper mount includes a quick release mechanism for clamping the front fork of a bicycle thereto, while the lower mount includes a mount surface for receiving the rear tire of a bicycle therein. A strap holds the tire onto the mount surface of the lower mount.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. In a passenger van having a passenger compartment and a rear lift gate selectively movable between an open position, wherein the lift gate does not cover the passenger compartment, and a closed position, wherein the lift gate covers the passenger compartment, the lift gate defining an upper portion and a lower portion when the lift gate is in the closed position, a bicycle mounting system, comprising:
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at least one upper mount including; a base, the base including a base surface attachable to the upper portion of the lift gate and a hollow base holder spaced from the base surface and defining a channel therethrough, the base holder defining left and right ends; a clamp element engaged with the channel of the base holder, the clamp element being movable between a release configuration, wherein left and right fork elements of a bicycle'"'"'s front fork can be advanced between the clamp element and the respective left and right ends of the base holder, and a clamp configuration, wherein left and right fork elements of a bicycle'"'"'s front fork can be clamped between the clamp element and the base holder; and at least one lower mount attachable to the lower portion of the lift gate, the lower mount including a receptacle surface configured for receiving a bicycle rear tire therein, the lower mount further including a fastening element for holding a bicycle rear tire against the receptacle surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A passenger van, comprising:
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a passenger compartment; a rear lift gate selectively movable between an open position, wherein the lift gate does not cover the passenger compartment, and a closed position, wherein the lift gate covers the passenger compartment, the lift gate defining an upper portion and a lower portion when the lift gate is in the closed position; at least one upper mount including; a base, the base including a base surface attached to the upper portion of the lift gate and a hollow base holder spaced from the base surface and defining a channel therethrough, the base holder defining left and right ends; a clamp element engaged with the channel of the base holder, the clamp element being movable between a release configuration, wherein left and right fork elements of a bicycle'"'"'s front fork can be advanced between the clamp element and the respective left and right ends of the base holder, and a clamp configuration, wherein left and right fork elements of a bicycle'"'"'s front fork can be clamped between the clamp element and the base holder; and at least one lower mount attached to the lower portion of the lift gate, the lower mount including a receptacle surface configured for receiving a bicycle rear tire therein, the lower mount further including a fastening element for holding a bicycle rear tire against the receptacle surface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A bicycle mounting system for a passenger van having a rear lift gate defining upper and lower portions, comprising:
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an upper mount affix able to the upper portion of the lift gate for holding a first component of a bicycle; and a lower mount affixable to the lower portion of the lift gate for holding a second component of the bicycle, wherein the first component includes left and right fork elements of a bicycle front fork and the second component is a bicycle rear tire, and the upper mount includes; a base, the base including a base surface attachable to the upper portion of the lift gate and a hollow base holder spaced from the base surface and defining a channel therethrough, the base holder defining left and right ends; and a clamp element engaged with the channel of the base holder, the clamp element being movable between a release configuration, wherein left and right fork elements of a bicycle'"'"'s front fork can be advanced between the clamp element and the respective left and right ends of the base holder, and a clamp configuration, wherein left and right fork elements of a bicycle'"'"'s front fork can be clamped between the clamp element and the base holder. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification